Michigan Knights of Columbus 87th Ultrasound

By: Ed Strach - Thu, Jun 29, 2023 6:21 PM


In the neighborhood of Southwest Detroit is a home that brings hope to the unborn and guidance for expectant mothers. This is home to Guadalupe Workers where the 87th Ultrasound dedication ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. This Ultrasound placement was led by Sacred Heart Council #13475, Grosse Ile.

Comments of support were also given by Past State Deputy Kenneth Unterbrink.

Other council support include:

Msgr. Eppenbrock Council #3615             Fr. Maurice Veryser Council #13810

Riverview Council #13980                         St. Edith Council #13645

Wyandotte Council #1802                          Msgr. Clement Kern Council #8284

Robert H. Jones Council #3078                 Bishop Foley Council #2660

Fr. Patrick O’Kelley Council #3860            St. John Neumann Council #16169

St. Francis of Assisi Council #440             Fr. John Kenna Council #11430

Special thanks to Livingston County Ultrasound Initiative for their contribution and continued support of the Ultrasound initiative!

 

Ed Strach State Life Director

GR Diocesan Knights Priests, Religious, Clergy Dinner 2023

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Jun 29, 2023 1:47 PM


Another succesful Priests Appreciation Dinner was held in the Grand Rapids Diocese.

The Honor Guard of the Fourth Degree posted the Colors and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Opening prayer and grace was led by Fr. Tony Russo, 8117 Council Chaplain and Pastor of St. Robert of Newmister. Our emcee for the evening, Scott Hamilton, welcomed all in attendance. After dinner he introduced the speakers and kept things moving.

The lighthearted atmosphere of the evening was shown when Fr. Mark Bauer was mistakenly introduced as the State Chaplain. Although Fr. Mark appreciated the promotion, he did not accept; he said he is comfortable serving as the GR Diocesan Chaplain.

 

Bishop David Walkowiak's address highlighted the importance of this type of an event, where we can gather, religious and lay in a casual atmosphere. Renewing old friends and making new ones. He thanked the Knights for their service to the church and its principles.

Fr. Logan Weber had the pleasure of leading us in the St. John Vianney Prayer for Priests.

The Fraternity and visiting continued long after the closing prayer.

A Special Experience at the Michigan Convention

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Jun 29, 2023 6:19 AM


A Miracle for my family at the convention.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” Matthew 11:19

 

On Friday May 26, just after midnight during the recent Michigan Knight of Columbus Convention, my family and I were enjoying the hospitality rooms.at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, eating and drinking while going from room to room. We were having an incredible time, seeing the sights from the Presidential Suite, the lights on the Mackinaw Bridge and the new pool at the Hotel. The delicious taste of foods from around the state that we experienced in the various rooms was amazing!

While in the Yooper’s suite, with simple conversation holding our family for the perfect timing of what was to come next! What are the chances with so many knights and their families at the event this would happen to us?

A simple miracle? A calling from Jesus! I believe so!

As our young adult children were in conversation, mom, my wife, would say, “We should just leave and see if they will notice we’re gone.” Leaving we would go down the hall and sit at a bench outside a different room. A couple minutes later my son TJ would meet up with us and we were approached by Father Al, a priest from the UP. “You’re sitting on my bench.” We responded, “Really, how is that? “Mine is the Teddy Rosevelt Room and the animal carvings on the bench go with the room and his love of hunting! Father Al then said, “I also have Jesus with me!”  I responded, ”That’s great, I have Jesus with me too all the time!” Father Al responded back, “No I mean I have Jesus with me in my room in a different way. Come in and see!” 

There in his room was the tabernacle for Jesus in the Eucharist to be kept there with bishop’s approval for the Mass while on the Island. I immediately went in and genuflected with my wife Liz by my side and son TJ doing the same! Then my daughter Chelsea and her husband Chad would be allowed to pay their respects! There as a family we were eating and drinking having a merry time and there was Jesus in our midst in an unusual way, calling us! Reminding us that he is always with us but here in a unique way, a physical reminder of his presence in our lives!

What are the chances of this happening to us? A Miracle for my family!

Jim Dennis Incoming Grand Knight 2024/25 Pier Marquette Council #1492 Ludington.

6824 Motor City Mission Youth Dinner!

By: District Deputy 113 - Wed, Jun 28, 2023 6:26 PM


A Big thank you to Bill Venglar and Jeff Mackey for helping with the Motor City Mission Youth Dinner! 

We had almost 100 youth and sponsors that came together for a BBQ dinner on Tuesday 6-27. 

Many of the youth personally thanked us for making them dinner after a day of volunteering. 

Seasoned BBQ'ers Jeff and Bill flipped over 100 hot dogs, 85 burgers and even a few cheese-burger tacos.  It was a great success!

Thank you.
Paul Miner
Grand Knight
Fr. George Ging Council #6824

Membership Plans for July Forward

By: Jim Escott - Mon, Jun 26, 2023 6:45 PM


The new Fraternal Year begins in only FOUR days. Is YOUR council ready???

     Do you have any recruiting events planned?

          Summer is a great time for Church Picnics.

          Reach those college students home for the summer.

          Hold a Delta Drive this summer.

     Did you update the Council Activity Tracker (CAT) system?

          Council Activity Tracker resources

     Do you have Exemplifications scheduled?

        District Deputies - Get those Exemplifications scheduled for July August, and September.

        To schedule an exemplication and view schedules

Council 3956 Exemplification

By: Richard Shelt - Mon, Jun 26, 2023 10:28 AM


Bernard P. O'Brien Council #3956 hosted an Exemplification on Sunday June 25th at St Pius Catholic Church in Southgate. Four new candidates were brought into the Order.

Pictured left to right , front row, Mike Masciovecchio, Patrick Bevier, Joe Lange and John Moczydlawski,

back row Travel degree staff Tim Casey, Ray Bilyk DD105, Richard Shelt SDRR and Pat Girard.

Congratulations and Welcome 

Fraternally and Vivat Jesus

Richard Shelt
State Deputy Regional Representative
Detroit Archdiocese West

Tiger Night 2023

By: Gary Merritt - Sun, Jun 25, 2023 9:29 AM


A great time was had by all attending the Michigan Knights of Columbus State Council Fraternal & Family Tiger Night at Comerica Park June 24 as the Detroit Tigers hosted the Minnesota Twins!

Supreme Knight Kelly Observes Dobbs Decision

By: Gary Merritt - Sun, Jun 25, 2023 9:10 AM


Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly 'gratefully' commemorates Dobbs, says 'there is still much to be done'

(OSV News-- The head of the Knights of Columbus "gratefully" commemorated the first anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, saying that "today, and for generations to come," the June 24, 2022, ruling "will be viewed as one of the most significant human rights achievements in our nation's history."

"By allowing abortion on demand, including late-term abortions up to birth, Roe had a devastating impact on women and took the lives of over 60 million unborn children," Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said in a June 22 statement, which he issued "on behalf of more than 2 million Knights of Columbus and their families worldwide."

"By the grace of God, the nearly fifty-year reign of national abortion on demand has been put to an end. Roe v. Wade, a seemingly insurmountable blight on our nation -- is no more!" he said June 6.

But, he added, "over the past year, while some states have acted to protect preborn children, others have tragically moved to enshrine abortion in law -- enacting extreme abortion policies that leave children vulnerable to abortion, even until the moment of birth. … The work that lies ahead continues to be not just changing laws but also helping to change hearts, with steadfast faith in the power of God to do so."

In his statement Kelly, too, said that, "There is still much to be done."

"In the Dobbs era, the Knights of Columbus will continue to fight for the lives of the unborn -- both in Washington and on the state level -- and we will strengthen our support for mothers and their children," he said.

Blessed Michael McGivney, the founder of the fraternal organization, "had a particular concern for widows and orphans, and the Knights' mission to support mothers in need and their children is a sacred responsibility we've carried for over 140 years," Kelly added, noting some of the Knights' pro-life efforts.

Those include the Aid and Support After Pregnancy initiative, which was started last year "to greatly expand the Knights' already robust support for pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes," he said, adding that Knights across the U.S. and Canada have exceeded their first-year goal for ASAP, as it's known, by raising more than $5 million to support mothers and their babies.

The Knights of Columbus and its local councils also cover the entire cost of ultrasound machines for pregnancy resource centers. Since 2009, the Knights has funded the purchase of 1,730 of "these life-saving machines," valued at more than $82 million, according to Kelly.

In his statement Kelly also urged Congress to act to maintain a long-standing practice "of keeping taxpayer dollars out of the abortion business and ensuring that federal agencies maintain their mission of serving the people -- and not serving as facilitators of abortion. In fact, 60% of Americans oppose the use of federal tax dollars to pay for abortions."

 

You may read the entire article from Detroit Catholic HERE.

 

St. Louis Center 2023 Raffle

By: Kenneth Unterbrink - Fri, Jun 23, 2023 5:45 AM


The St. Louis Center is conducting an Alaska Cruise Raffle.  The St. Louis Center supports some sixty full time residents.

The Drawing will be held at the Golf and Glory Golf outing on Monday June 26th.

By scanning the QR code, you will be directed to the SLC website to purchase tickets online.  Once purchased, the SLC will forward you the ticket stubs.

You may go directly to the site for raffle tickets by clicking here.

For more info call St. Louis Center’ 734-475-8430 or go to www.stlouiscenter.org

Ken Unterbrink PSD