President’s Message
Howard County Division 1 of the Maryland Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians was established in 2000, making us one of the youngest Divisions in Maryland. We are always happy to welcome new members to our Division.
During 2021, Covid-19 restrictions prevented us from gathering at St. John the Evangelist, Wilde Lake Interfaith Center in Columbia. To date, the meeting spaces at St. John’s remain closed so we are currently working on locating a meeting place, date and time for meetings in 2022. Despite the challenges in 2021, we met virtually via Zoom and personally outdoors as members were able. We enjoy getting together socially, attending Maryland LAOH-sponsored events throughout the year to foster our Irish heritage and Catholic faith, and proudly participate in the Maryland Irish Festival and Baltimore’s St. Patrick’s Parade to support and highlight work of the Irish community in Maryland.
Our Division currently makes the Irish tri-color sashes used by our LAOH Sisters and many of our Ancient Order of Hibernian (AOH) Brothers. The money we receive from the sale of the sashes is used to support our charitable activities at the local, state, national and international level. In addition to the National LAOH charities and Freedom for All Ireland, a few of the organizations that we support through our monetary, food and clothing donations include: the Sisters’ Academy in Baltimore, the Little Sisters of the Poor, the St. John the Evangelist Conference of the Knights of Columbus’ Tanzanian Children’s Project, the Columbia Pregnancy Center, the Grassroots Day Resource Center serving the homeless of Howard County, Columbia Community Cares, and the Maryland Food Bank.
Howard County Division 1 may be young in history, but we are proud of our Irish hearts and commitment to the LAOH motto of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity. Come join us and help make a difference in our community! Fáilte! No business meetings are held in July and August.
Division Officers
- Chaplain: Deacon Paul Gifford
- President: Sharon Strobel
- Vice President: Mary Anne Mohler
- Recording Secretary: Mary Laura Ensey
- Treasurer: Laura Ensey
- Financial Secretary: Laura Ensey
- Irish Historian: Holly Mills
- Missions and Charities: Mary Anne Mohler
- Catholic Action: Carol Hayes-Gegner
- Mistress-at-Arms: Maria Benitez
- Sentinel: Ruth Talbot
- Immediate Past President: Patti Gifford