PRAY TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE!
JANUARY 21-29, 2021
· The annual, pro-life novena, 9 Days for Life, starts today, Thursday, January 21! You can sign up to receive the novena by email or text message, or find the novena online. Available in both English and Spanish.
9 Days for Life is a novena for the protection of human life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life.
Brother Knights,
While the March for Life in Washington, D.C. and many other in-person pro-life events across the country have been curtailed, there are still opportunities to advocate for life.
Virtual March for Life Events
Councils may earn two (2) program credits towards the Columbian Award through the March for Life program by organizing 25 participants in any of the events listed below (or similar state/local events). One (1) program credit is earned for less than 25 participants (members and non-members). Councils can measure participation by hosting a virtual watch party and counting participants (for example) or by promoting an event and asking members to inform the council of their individual/family’s participation.
Thurs. Jan. 28th
9:00am ET, 12:00pm ET, 5:00pm ET
This one-hour online training sessions will give participants the opportunity to learn how to make their voices heard by elected officials.
Virtual March for Life
Fri. Jan. 29th
11:00am to 12:00pm ET: Pre-rally show and Matthew West concert
12:00pm-1:00pm ET: March and Rally coverage
A full guide to the virtual broadcast and schedule can be found here.
Virtual March for Life Rose Dinner (Ticket costs $25)
Fri. Jan. 29th
7:00pm-8:00pm ET
Virtual Prayer Events (Novena for Life)
Councils can earn 1 program credit towards the Columbian Award through the Novena for Life program by organizing any amount of council participation in any of the following prayer events (or similar state/local events). Councils can measure participation by hosting a virtual prayer event and counting participants (for example) or by asking members to inform the council of their individual/family participation.
Virtual National Prayer Vigil
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Thurs., Jan. 28th
8:00pm-11:00p ET
Rosary, Mass, and Holy Hour Fri., Jan. 29th 8:00am-9:00am ET
Closing Mass. Supreme Chaplain Archbishop Lori is the celebrant and homilist for this Mass.
Virtual Diocesan Prayer Events
Dioceses will host live-streamed prayer events and offer Mass leading up to the Jan. 29th, March for Life in Washington, D.C. and other state marches across the country including:
Thurs., Jan. 21 - Fri., Jan. 29
Live-streamed Masses or prayer events during the USCCB 9 Days for Life novena.
Thurs., Jan. 28 - Fri., Jan. 29
Live-streamed diocesan Holy Hours in concert with the virtual National Prayer Vigil for Life.
To receive program credit, please submit your council’s participation through the online Fraternal Programs Report Form #10784 (after the event) and the online Columbian Award Application #SP-7 (by June 30th).
For more information and guidance on how to promote and run your own virtual event, please review the Remote Programming Supplement resource.
State Program Director Paul Palka
Join Us in Lansing on January 27
Every year, many Right to Life of Michigan affiliates host events on or around Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. These include marches, vigils, memorial services, etc. to call attention to the value of every human life and mourn the ongoing loss of so many lives to abortion. Some affiliates organize bus trips to the national March for Life in Washington, D.C.
Unfortunately, pandemic restrictions and closures are making trips to the March for Life so much harder. Mundane questions like, where do tireless red eye travelers visit to stay warm or go to the bathroom the morning of the March become serious logistical problems. Pro-lifers don't have an army of government employees living in Virginia who can make the easy commute to attend rallies, we have to come from all over the country.
So, this year, we wanted to give Michiganders a more doable option to publicly speak out for unborn children. Every year, Ingham County Right to Life holds a rally at the Capitol, generally with just local residents attending. This year, we want to encourage everyone in the state to attend.
Right to Life of Michigan and Protect Life Michigan (which works with prolife college groups) are co-sponsoring Ingham County Right to Life's event, making it a march and memorial at the Capitol on Wednesday, January 27, at 1 p.m.
More details will be released in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, please let all of your prolife friends and family know. It's scheduled to avoid other local affiliate events (which you should attend!) and the few bus trips to the national March for Life still scheduled.
Let's remind Governor Gretchen Whitmer that her support for abortion-on-demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy will never, ever be acceptable.
Click here for more information → Protect Life MI | Michigan Memorial & March
Our participation and promotion of Right to Life is more important than ever.
For details of each march click HERE.
Rise Up and Answer the Call!
Iosco County RTL March for Life
Sunday January 17, 2021 @ 2:00 p.m., East Tawas, MI
Sanilac County RTL March for Life
Sunday January 17, 2021 @ 2 p.m., Sandusky, MI
Roscommon/Crawford RTL March for Life
Friday January 22, 2021 @ 3:00 p.m., Roscommon, MI
January 22 & 23, 2021 Hillsdale, MI
Bay County RTL Together Strong Life Unites
Friday January 22, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m., Bay City, MI
Ogemaw County RTL March for Life
Saturday January 23, 2021 @ 11:00 am, West Branch, MI
Saturday January 23, 2021 @ 11:00 am, Holland, MI
Tri-Cities RTL Memorial Service for the Unborn "By our Love" Grand Haven, MI
Saturday January 23, 2021
Upper Downriver RTL March for Life
Sunday January 24, 2021 @ 12:00 pm, Wyandotte, MI
St. Clair County RTL March for Life
Sunday January 24, 2021 @ 1:00 pm, Port Huron, MI
Grand Rapids RTL Memorial Procession for the Unborn
Sunday January 24, 2021 @ 1:30 pm, Grand Rapids, MI
Midland County RTL March for Life
Sunday January 24, 2021 @ 2:00 PM, Midland, MI
Kalamazoo RTL Prayer for Life Rally
Sunday January 24, 2021 @ 4:00 pm, Kalamazoo, MI
Michigan’s Roe v. Wade Memorial & March Lansing
Wednesday January 27, 2021 @ 1:00 PM, Lansing, MI
Prayer Vigil for Life RTL Grosse Point/Harper Woods
January 30, 2021 @ 10:00 am, Eastpointe, MI
Saginaw RTL Memorial for the Unborn
January 31, 2021 @ 2:30 pm, Saginaw, MI
To View a detail listing of these events click HERE
Keep Christ in Christmas Diocesan and District winners are past due. If you want your contestants to be considered for the State level competition, please contact State Family Director Garret Kelenske immediately.
Family of the Month Changes
The online Fraternal Programs Report Form (#10784) has been updated to accurately report more programs, including Family of the Month. Going forward, we are asking all councils to submit their Family of the Month entries each month through this online form. Please watch this training video on submitting the Fraternal Programs Report Form (#10784) online and share it with your district deputies and council leaders. There are specific instructions on submitting Family of the Month entries in the video. I know that this will be a transition process for councils, and I am happy to help that process in any way I can. I understand a copy will be sent to the person filling out the form 10784, Please forward a copy to Gary Kolbicz at g.kolbicz@mikofc.org to be recognized in the State Columbian. Please send a copy to forms@mikofc.org and to the State Family Director g.kelenske@mikofc.org
Thank you to all the Councils participating in this easy and worthwhile program. It is a great recruiting tool and a wonderful way to recognize a Family in your Council or Parish. If your Council has not been participating in this program here is an opportunity to get a member active that perhaps has been sitting on the sidelines.
Garret A. Kelenske State Family Director
Many of us will not be going to the March for Life this year as normal. With the benefits of techmology we are able to watch LIVE!
Watch the livestream of the March for Life beginning at 11 a.m. ET. The live broadcast will include inspiring speeches from pro-life leaders, information on how to stay involved in the pro-life movement all year long, and a performance by Christian singer and songwriter Matthew West.
Knights have supported the March for Life, the largest pro-life demonstration in the United States, since the very beginning
Since the very first march in 1974, the March for Life has been a vital part of Knights’ efforts to defend life from conception to natural death. Today, the March for Life is featured as part of the Order’s Faith in Action program, through which councils are encouraged to participate in or sponsor demonstrations in the U.S., Canada, the Philippines and other places around the world.
As March for Life president Jeanne Mancini said about the Knights of Columbus’ participation, without the K of C “there would be no March for Life.” And no weather, no pandemic, no circumstance has stopped the Knights from taking a stand for life.
Red the entire article by Andrew Fowler here in Knightline.
Dear Brother Knights,
During the month of February 2021 – the Virtual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Michigan will take place all around the state. The Virtual Polar Plunge is a way to safely raise funds in a zany way for Special Olympics Michigan as participants freeze their fur in a wide variety of creative and “socially distant” ways:
*Take a dip in a kiddie pool *Make a snow-angel in your bathing suit
*Outdoor squirt-gun fight *Toss pails of cold water on each other
*Run through the sprinkler *Spray each other with the garden hose
*Other – be creative….
In an effort to support Special Olympics Michigan we are seeking participation from local councils for the Virtual Polar Plunge. By getting involved you are helping to fund Special Olympics Michigan athletes who compete in every county around the state. There are many ways to support this fun event:
What kind of impact do our virtual events have? Here are our Social Media Analytics Data from 2020:
· Virtual Summer Games: 173,818 engagements, 11,526 views, ceremony videos = 32,411 views
· Virtual Fall Games: 213,000+ engagements; 13,000 views, ceremony videos = 13,945 views
For more information on the Virtual Polar Plunge and to register, please visit PlungeMI.org.
Special Olympics Michigan provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Athletes build physical fitness, develop self-confidence, and prepare for participation in society. Special Olympics Michigan is supported entirely by private funding and without support of state or federal funds. The generosity of our partners – like the Michigan Knights of Columbus, enables the program to continue.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
Best regards,
Robbie Waclawski
Special Gifts Manager
Robbie.Waclawski@somi.org 989-774-1427
Watch the mail for your State Raffle Tickets
To view a list of other prizes and information click here.
If you don't receive your tickets or to order additional ones,
Contact - Kevin Rowley State Raffle Director 586-596-8649
- Larry Grabowski State Executive Secretary 586-883-9473
This year's State Raffle is off to the best start in years.
I have some great news to report today. As of January 12, 2021 = $200,285.00 Dollars. We are ahead of last year by $71,045.00.
Keep the momentum going.
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What does this mean to you? Money back to your councils. Remember one dollar from every ticket sold goes back to the selling council. So far, the local councils have made $40, 057.00. Keep selling those tickets!Rise Up and Answer the Call! |
K OF C WINTER MEETING COLLECTION
Not withstanding the current restrictions in place because of the COVID pandemic the annual HCS winter drive continued. With the efforts of the SDRRs, DDs and the councils, the drive was a success!
Here is a quick estimate of the items collected during the Winter Meeting on Saturday, December 5, 2020.
· Just under 2,100 sweatshirts
· 352 hygiene baskets
· 250 bottles of soaps and lotions
· 230 hats and scarves
· 200 pairs of socks
· 175 winter jackets
· 80 hygiene bags
· 50 sets of sheets
· 35 blankets
· $1,760 in cash and checks and
· $15,425 in gift cards
Contributions are still coming in.
If you would like to donate to this worth cause, it is never too late.
Contact HCS Liaison Mike Fontana.
