Howard County
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.
We meet on the 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30pm at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center in Columbia. No business meetings are held in July and August. We enjoy getting together socially, attending many 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 levels. In addition to supporting the National LAOH charities, we currently contribute to 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, and the Maryland Foodbank. These are just a few of the organizations we have supported through our monetary, food and clothing donations.
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!
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