Shamrock Club of Columbus - 60 W. Castle Road - Columbus, OH 43207 Office: 614.491.4449 Fax: 614.295.8486 Email: [email protected]Web Site: www.shamrockclubofcolumbus.com December 2020 Volume 84 - Issue 8 Seanachai Inside this issue: OFFICERS President: Andrew Shuman Vice-President: Karen Komatsu Secretary: Nancy Murphy Treasurer: Chaplain: Msgr. John K. Cody Director: Nora Feeney Director: Jim McDonald Director: Christina McConahay Director: Patrick Conley Sgt-At-Arms: Rich Finn OPERATIONS MANAGER Irene M. Kenney PUB SUPERVISOR Penny Giesemann Central Ohio’s Largest Irish Organization President’s Message “Last Call” It’s December, and the end of 2020. There may be few who are sad to see it go. 2020 has chal- lenged us all in so many ways. We’ve lost friends, businesses have suffered, many have been sick or impacted by the virus we’ ve crowned “Corona”. The Irish have never cared much for crowns, and this year has been no exception. As I think back on the year, I can only say that I have received better than I deserve. I wish everyone one could say the same, but I know that is not the case. At the Club, we have had people step up in ways not expected and we have managed to get through this year better (Continued on page 2) Chaplain’s Comments Dear Shamrock Club Members and Friends- Advent and the Christmas Season are coming fast upon us and we all have lots to do – that in addition to having to cope with the continuing threat of the Covid 19 epi- demic. This will be a season like no other we have ever experienced! Advent is a time of preparation and waiting – the Lord comes: at Bethlehem, at the end of time, and especially in the present moment. Will we welcome Him when he comes? And will we do what He asks of us? This is a time to grow in quietness and personal reflection: since the epidemic has slowed down all of us, and as this is usu- ally a time of much socializing and merriment, it would be a great time for us to spend a lot of time on the phone with loved ones and others, and per- haps spend our at- home time sending Christmas cards or letters to those we love and value. Of course, we are upset and disappointed about the limita- tions placed on us by this pandemic. But I assure you, it will come to an end – then we can really catch up on our socialization! (Continued on page 3) President’s Comments Cont. Sunshine Report Chaplain’s Comments Cont. Membership Report 2 3 3 4 President/C-Note Club Club Calendar DOE Adopt a Family/Kids Christmas Party 5 6 7
Transcript
Shamrock Club of Columbus - 60 W. Castle Road - Columbus, OH 43207
“Last Call” It’s December, and the end of 2020. There may be few who are sad to see it go. 2020 has chal-lenged us all in so many ways. We’ve lost friends, businesses have suffered, many have been sick or impacted by the virus we’ve crowned “Corona”. The Irish have never cared much for
crowns, and this year has been no exception. As I think back on the year, I can only say that I have received better than I deserve. I wish everyone one could say the same, but I know that is not the case. At the Club, we have had people step up in ways not expected and we have managed to get through this year better
(Continued on page 2)
Chaplain’s Comments
Dear Shamrock Club Members and Friends-
Advent and the Christmas Season are coming fast upon us and we all have lots to do – that in addition to having to cope with the continuing threat of the Covid 19 epi-demic. This will be a season like no other we have ever experienced!
Advent is a time of preparation and waiting – the Lord comes: at Bethlehem, at the end of time, and especially
in the present moment. Will we welcome Him when he comes? And will we do what He asks of us? This is a time to grow in quietness and personal reflection: since the epidemic has slowed down all of us, and as this is usu-ally a time of much socializing and merriment, it would be a great time for us to spend a lot of time on the phone with loved ones and others, and per-haps spend our at- home time sending Christmas cards or letters to those we love and value. Of course, we are upset and disappointed about the limita-tions placed on us by this pandemic. But I assure you, it will come to an end – then we can really catch up on our socialization!
(Continued on page 3)
President’s Comments Cont.
Sunshine Report
Chaplain’s Comments Cont.
Membership Report
2
3
3
4
President/C-Note Club Club Calendar DOE Adopt a Family/Kids Christmas Party
5
6
7
Page 2 Seanachai
than imagined. All year I have said that “the best is yet to come.” As we look forward to next year, I’d like to share with you where my optimism comes from. You may have seen it on the internet, but I think it is a story worth retelling. Mildred was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. As she was getting her things in order,
she asked the pastor to her house to discuss her final wishes. She told him which songs
she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she
wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave
when she remembered something very important. "There's one more thing," she said ex-
citedly. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The woman explained. "In all
my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when
the main course was being cleared, someone would always lean over and say, "Keep your
fork".
It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming... like velvety
chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I
just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to
wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork.... the best
is yet to come."
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He
knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also
knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that some-
thing better was coming. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the
fork?" And over and over he smiled. The pastor told the people of the conversation he
had with the woman shortly before she died, and about the fork.
In the midst of the famine, the Irish encouraged each other with the phrase “keep the
faith.” As we enter the shortest days of the year and look to the time when the days grow
lighter, “keep the faith.” The “best is yet to come.” On behalf of the Executive Board,
we wish you all “Nollaig shona dhuit!”
Andy
(Continued from page 1)
President’s Message Continued
Page 3
Sunshine Committee Report
Volume 84 - Issue 8
As your chaplain, I am vey concerned that all of you do your best to observe the guidance given to us by the scientists and public health officials. It grieves me that so many have made this into a po-litical issue when it is above all a health and safety issue. Yes, following the guidelines is a bother – I don’t like wearing a mask, washing hands often, sanitizing hands and keeping distance. But I do it as a penance, and as the good sisters taught us, to “offer it up!” It’s still good spiritual advice! God forbid that any one of us would become infected and die because of our thoughtlessness or the thoughtlessness of others. As you should know, this is very serious business. Prayer for one an-other and for the world community, especially our fellow country men and women is called for dur-ing this difficult time. Prayer never hurt any of us, and has indeed helped many of us!
We will greet the New Year 2021 with great hopes of a better tomorrow, after the vaccinations begin and this virus is finally defeated or at least controlled. As Christians, we are people of faith, hope and love. We all need lots of this.
We also will be welcoming a new President and Vice President in January. We congratulate Presi-dent-elect Biden and Vice-president elect Kamala Harris and wish them well. We also pray for and bid farewell to President Trump and Vice-president Pence. Most of all, let us pray for na-tional and world peace, in the Name of the Prince of Peace, Our Lord Jesus Christ, whose coming among us at Christmas we celebrate with joy and thanksgiving. Let’s continue to pray for our loved ones, and for all the members of our Irish organi-zations and their families.
Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!
Msgr John Kelly Cody, Chaplain
(Continued from page 1)
Chaplain’s Comments Continued
We are saddened to report the sudden pass-ing of Susan Berkemer, wife of Fred and mother to Beth and Matt. Also, Fred’s brother, Bill has had recent surgery for cancer. Jim O’Connor is home after sur-gery for cancer. He reports not ready for calls and visits just yet. Brian Morse, (Cowboy) is having further treatment for his cancer. If you would like to send him a card, his address is 3432 London Lancaster Rd, Groveport, Oh 43125. Please pray for these as well as the following. David Is-slenmann, Irene Cassady, Mary Jo Kitch-en, Devin Doyle, Judy Douglass, Pat O’Neil, Nick Voit, Jean .Cotter, Mary Valus, Betty Quinn, Mary Jo McGarity Wheeler, Sam Severence, Brandy Carroll Higgins, Denise Walter, Marian Morrison, Ryan Graves, Annie Graves, Rick Byrne, Tony Sobony, Anne O’Farrell Devoe , Bet-ty Regan, Laura Geist, Correne Wade, Kevin Ryan, Joe Motika, Shelly Beal, Bill Morbitzer, Rick Ralston & Peggy Rigg.
Have a blessed and Merry Christmas and a great New Year!!!
Mike McConahay
614-354-5742
Page 4 Seanachai
Membership Report
Remember to renew your Shamrock Club Membership!
Junior Members $5 Pub Members $25
Senior Members $30 General Members $50 Family Members $90
1172 Current Members - 137 New Members YTD 1 New In Nov
Keep your membership information up to date, especially your email address! Email member-
[email protected] or call Irene Kenney in the office with changes. Using electronic media in-
stead of US mail saves our Club money. It currently cost the Club $2.00 a copy to print and mail the
Seanachai to members. So keep those email addresses current and use our web sites:
www.shamrockclubofcolumbus.com and www.facebook.com/shamrockclub
You can also renew and pay securely online at www.shamrockclubofcolumbus.com
It is time to renew your Shamrock Club Membership for 2021!
Renewals can be done online with a credit card by going to our website or if you would like to renew
by mail/check please use the application below
The Shamrock Club of Columbus MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL ONLY
We have appreciated the support of the Central Ohio Irish Community over the years for their great gener-osity purchasing gifts to fulfill the needs of our Adopt-A-Families.
This year, possibly more than ever due to the COVID pandemic, we are asking for your help.
We have 10 families that are in great need of assistance. We have created a Sign-Up Genius page or https://bit.ly/doeEnews with items that you can purchase for the families, or you can make a monetary do-nation and we will purchase the gifts on your behalf. There are 26 children in these families. If you pur-chase a gift and would like to have it shipped directly to us, please put the following shipping information on the package: Cheryl Costello, 235 Walhalla Road, Columbus, OH 43202.
View the Sign-up Genius Adopt-A-Family web page or https://bit.ly/doeEnews.
If you would like us to pick up the gift from you (we can do no contact pick-up), those arrangements can be made easily. We will need to have all the gifts by Saturday, Dec. 12 to give us a week to prepare before delivering to the families the week before Christmas.
If you have any questions or just need additional details, please call or text Cheryl Costello at 614-774-8879 or email at [email protected]. Thank you for your generous support of this charity work.
2020 DAUGHTERS OF ERIN ADOPTED FAMILIES
In order to keep our children and family members safe from the Covid Virus there will be
no Kids Christmas Party this year. Hopefully we can all get together next your for this an-
