Year End Reflections from the State Deputy!

By: Barry M. Borsenik - Thu, Jan 1, 2026 7:21 AM

My Brother Knights,
 
As we await the arrival of 2026, I have been reflecting on the last year.  It has been an honor to witness the amazing accomplishments of our Knights throughout the State of Michigan.  There are so many good things happening!  Membership has slowed recently but we are still on a good pace.  There is a growing interest by younger men to strengthen their faith and be more engaged in the Church.  COR activities are being embraced by many councils, resulting in meaningful adult male faith formation.  Many councils have already made good progress toward the Star Council Award with great execution and reporting of their diverse programs.  We continue to install more ultrasound machines and support pregnancy centers through the ASAP program.  Knights and their families from around the state have gathered to support important events like the Michigan March for Life and for fraternal events like the Detroit Tigers outing.  Many knights including Color Corps members have participated in Special Olympics athletic events and fundraisers.  Michigan was even recognized at the Supreme Convention with an international award in the Life category.  We have fed the hungry, put thousands of coats on kids and donated tens of thousands to support vocations.  Our state leadership team has done a great job to provide training and mentorship, giving councils and council officers the tools they need to be successful.  Mandy and I have personally experienced true Charity in the thousands of occasions you have reached out to offer prayer, encouragement and support.  This is a great fraternity!    
 
For the past six months I have asked you to ASPIRE to do just "a little bit more" and many of you have, improving your councils, districts, dioceses and the State.  Now as we turn into the last six months of the fraternal year I ask you to focus on the RESPONSIBILITY we have as Knights of Columbus, especially as Knights of Columbus leaders.  We are called as Catholics, to evangelize.  We have many opportunities to do this through our vocation as Knights!  We can bring men and their families closer to God through the programs we offer and the resources we have to share.  Our insurance benefits help them protect their families and invest in their future financial security.  Our efforts lead to real conversion by welcoming others to join us.  Take that responsibility seriously.
 
My hope for the New Year is that you will have the courage to invite more Catholic men to join our order.  It is a surprisingly low percentage of registered parishioners who are KofC members.  It may not seem that way as you look around your church but many of those we need to invite, are not regularly attending Mass.  These are the men that can really benefit from membership.  Extend the invitation.  Online membership makes it quick and easy.  Let's start 2026 with a surge of membership growth.  We can have a record year of membership intake if we don't wait for the end to try and get it done.
 
Mandy and I wish you and your family a happy New Year and all the blessings you deserve; maybe even a few you don't.  I hope to see many of you soon at the upcoming diocesan meetings.
 
Peace be with you!
 
Barry Borsenik
State Deputy
 
 
SOAR with us!
 

No Greater Pleasure...

By: Matt Hoxsie - Wed, Dec 31, 2025 8:18 AM

 
There is no better way for a District Deputy to end the year than to present an award to his home council. Pictured are DD404, John Huyge presenting a DOUBLE STAR AWARD to PGK Dennis Dreyer at St Peters Church in Douglas, MI. Dennis and the members of council 8687 more than doubled (nearly tripled) their quota for the last fraternal year and provided immeasurable service and charity in the Saugatuck, Douglas and Fennville communities. Congratulations men !!
 
VIVAT JESUS
JRH
DD#404
John R Huyge

Feeding the Neighborhood

By: Matt Hoxsie - Mon, Dec 29, 2025 12:44 PM

 
 
On Sunday, December 21, 2025, members of Bishop Murphy Council #3257 and Knights on Bikes served a hot turkey lunch with lots of sides and desserts, at St Charles Borromeo in Detroit, to the parish congregation and neighbors, including delivering toys for the kids.
 
Photos attached, courtesy of David Bandranke, KOB.
 
 
 
 
 

Council 13318 hosts Council Christmas Party!

By: Matt Hoxsie - Mon, Dec 29, 2025 12:27 PM

 

The Bishop Plagens Council #13318 Detroit, held their council Christmas party at The Polka Dot Bar in Hamtramck. The event celebrates another successful year for the council with over 40 Brothers and guests in attendance. We enjoyed entertainment by our PGK Joe Pas and food from Polish Village Cafe. Also in attendance was District Deputy Andy Assenmacher and his lovely wife.

 

 

 

Bishop Plagens Council 13318 hosts Corporate Communion!

By: Matt Hoxsie - Mon, Dec 29, 2025 11:59 AM

The Bishop Plagens Council #13318 Detroit, had a good turnout of Brothers for its Winter corporate communion 12/21/25. The Mass was held at Sweetest Heart of Mary. Besides those members in attendance, its Council was also represented at Holy Mass by; the lector, ushers, the cantor, alter servers and District Deputy Andy Assenmacher.

 

Fr. Patrick O'Kelley Council 3896 Hosts Memorial Mass!

By: Matt Hoxsie - Mon, Dec 29, 2025 11:41 AM

The November 2025 Fr. Patrick O'Kelley #3860 Mass and Memorial Service at Dearborn Sacred Heart Church was special in that one of the 28 Brothers engraved on the Chalice was Dn Pat Bruen. His son, newly ordained Fr Pat Bruen, was gifted the Chalice during the Offertory.

Families whose loved ones names are engraved on the Chalice were deeply moved to participate in the Chalice's inaugural use.  Sir Knights of Msgr Schulte 0492 Color Corps ensured the Mass and Memorial Service was extra special. The event concluded with a coffee and donut reception. (Fr Bruen graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1975, and he recognized many of the names on the Chalice. 

 

 

Au Lac Council 10724 Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sun, Dec 21, 2025 6:38 PM

Au Lac Council 10724 Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest
 
Congratulations to Atticus Yaros for winning 1st Place in the K of C Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest! He was presented with an award during the Immaculate Conception School Christmas Concert on December 18th. The entire 8th grade class was treated to a pizza party for submitting essays in the contest.
Pictured with Atticus is Council Deputy Grand Knight and Program Director Brian Webster. Atticus will advance to the Archdiocesan Contest later this winter. Good luck Atticus!
 
 

Council 5436 exemplifies two Brothers!

By: Thomas Kendziorski - Sun, Dec 21, 2025 6:31 PM

Pope St. John XXIII Council #5436 serving Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes parish exemplified 2 new members to the 3rd Degree.  Pictured L-R are:  Larry Jasinski (Brother Knight and father of son Luke, a new member), Tom Kendziorski (State NCD and council Membership Director), Grand Knight Eric Gillanders, new Brother Knights Luke Jasinski and Tom Freundl, PGK John Buchanan, FS & PGK Michael Mandziuk, Trustee Brad Hasenfratz, DD113 Chis Scheuer, and Advocate Tom Binasio.

 

St. Maximilian Kolbe Council 6539 holds Christ-centered Breakfast with St Nick!

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sun, Dec 21, 2025 6:24 PM

 
On December 6,2025 St Maximilian Kolbe Council 6549 had their first "Breakfast with St. Nicholas. The breakfast was designed to be Christ Centered and called  Santa (a member) St. Nicholas. There was a fresh breakfast  cooked by Brother Knights and arts and crafts for the children to do. All proceeds went to a local food bank. Despite competition we did have a good turnout and raised $300 for the food bank. All comments were very positive and we plan on doing this annually.
 
 

Add to narrative that Fr Shackett read the children a story about St Nicholas and there was signing of Christmas Carols