The 3rd Annual 

Rockland Country Club

Hope Charity Golf Tournament will be held at the beautiful  Rockland Country Club at  Sparkill, New York on Monday, June 28, 2010.  This event benefits the Hope Charity projects in developing countries around the world. This is our main fundraiser every year, so we hope that it will be well-supported again this year. 

* Tuesday June 22nd was a special day for members, Pat and Bridie Buckley and their family. Pat arranged for a group of dancers to entertain some of the residents in St. Patrick's Retirement Home in the Moshulu area of the Bronx. Included among the entertainers were not only Pat and his daughter, Patrice, but also Patrice's elegant daughter, Catriona, and her young brother, Conor. The dancing troupe, who were highly appreciated by the old people, also included two other HOPe members, Loretta King and Fergal O'Halloran.

 

* Fr. Owen Lambert, a member of the Holy Ghost Fathers, and the man who founded the international non-sectarian organization, AIDS PARTNERSHIP with AFRICA, will be in New York for a few days starting at the end of this month. HOPe is partnering with APA in a major Aids prevention program in Ethiopia which is also designed to help families who are trying to deal with this terrible disease. Owen will meet with HOPe members and supporters in the Kerry Building, 305 McLean Ave. in Yonkers at 7.00pm on Wednesday, June 30th. Feel free to join us.

* It was great to see Mary O'Sullivan back on door duty at the May ceili. Mary had a minor setback a few weeks ago, but she is planning to be on her perch greeting people and collecting the money at the June ceili on Saturday, June 26th.

 *  At the recent AGM meeting, Tenille Defreitas and Siobhan Kennedy, both in their early 20's, closed the meeting with a thoughtful presentation of the work they are committed to in Africa, namely locating water and digging wells for people in remote villages.  For those of us in the US, it is difficult to imagine the reality of life without easily accessible water.  For example, the young children whose job it is to walk for miles to get their family water, face danger daily from predators.  Without running water, the food supply is unsafe.  Without effective hygiene, many children refuse to go to school on a regular basis.  Having fresh, accessible, local water has such a positive impact on village life, it is difficult for us in the US to imagine.

* We are still hearing unconfirmed rumors that former HOPe president, Tom Kennedy, is in training for the New York marathon in November. He has been spotted jogging  early in the morning in a few parks in Westchester. We need a photograph to confirm these rumors. Is he determined to join Sean O'Shea representing HOPe in this year's marathon?

* Congratulations to HOPe member Jack Kennington, historian and Redemptorist priest, who is completing an historical book on the American Civil War. The book is based on his Order's archives which contain the reports of a few priests who served as chaplains in the confederate armies. We will keep you informed about the official launch of Jack's book.