By: Gary Merritt - Tue, Jun 18, 2019 7:30 PM

Michigan State Deputy William Chasse presented Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron with a check for $150,256.58 for the seminary as part of the Knights’ national match program in which the Supreme council in New Haven, Conn., contributed a $31,000 match to the overall donation.

After accepting the check, Archbishop Vigneron took to the podium, where Chasse had another gift for the Archbishop – a large icon of Our Lady Help of Christians, a devotion near and dear to the Knights of Columbus.

By: Dane Jurkovic - Fri, Jun 7, 2019 7:30 PM

How Michigan Is Reversing the Trend and Finding Committed, Catholic Men

Michigan Knights are growing thanks to these helpful recruiting strategies

Michigan has had a steady decline in membership for 10 years. It’s a decline that matches the sharply decreasing numbers of Catholics in Michigan parishes. The state council had to do something fast if it was going to ensure the future of the Knights — and the Church — in the state.

The state has more than 430 councils. State Deputy William Chasse said the state’s leadership realized that growth would depend on all of them working together.

To achieve this, state officers created the “Fresh Start” program that rolled out July 1, 2018. At the program’s center is the phrase “council sustainability.” The state officers chose this term as a way to avoid talking about “membership” or “membership numbers.” “[We need] to always be here to help our community as they count on the Knights of Columbus,” Chasse said. “This sustainability is a key to our renewed success — to support our priests, our parishes and our communities.” Another key to success was creating membership and retention teams. The state held training sessions for these teams, who were taught to think of membership as a lifelong process. “Retention starts with having a Form 100 signed and continues until we present the family with a Bible after the member passes away,” Chasse said.

As part of the Fresh Start Program, council retention teams were encouraged to keep in touch with fallen away members. They hoped this regular contact would help inactive Knights remember the joy of being involved and get re-engaged. Online membership was also promoted as a way to welcome new men. “We have seen a strong trend of these members converting to their local councils,” Chasse said. “We inform the council leadership and district deputy within a day of the new member joining, so they can reach out to the man about their council and share with them how to join.”

Another benefit of the Fresh Start program is that it helps keep state leadership accountable, as it allows Knights on the council level to offer their own suggestions. This communication process “has seen a positive return of council engagement” and has helped ensure that “councils remain strong and able to remain a vital part in our faith communities,” Chasse said.

And it’s working, too. Not only were two new councils formed at the end of April, but the state is on track for earning the Circle of Honor Award.

>> Read it right from the Knightline here <<

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Jun 6, 2019 7:30 PM

DETROIT – 1^st SESSION                Tuesday, June 25^th

St John Neumann Church 44800 Warren Rd.  Canton

Registration and Meal 6 p.m. Meeting Starts at 7:00 p.m.

LANSING                                          Thursday, June 27^th

Council 7418, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Fenton

Registration and Meal 6 p.m., Meeting Starts at 7 p.m.

MARQUETTE:                                 Saturday, June 29^th

St Joseph Catholic Church 1889 Prairie Ave, Ishpeming

Registration and Lunch 12:00 p.m., Meeting Starts at 1:00 p.m.

GAYLORD                                        Sunday, June 30^th

Council 2781, 2763 Wilkinson Rd, Gaylord

Registration and Lunch at 11:00 a.m. Meeting starts at 11:30 a.m.

GRAND RAPIDS                              Tuesday, July 2^nd

Our Lady of White Lake, 5149 Dowling St, Montague

Registration and Meal 6 p.m., Meeting Starts at 7 p.m.

DETROIT – 2^nd SESSION               Monday, July 8^th

St. Isidore’s Parish, 18201 23 Mile Rd, Macomb

Registration and Meal 6 p.m., Meeting Starts at 7 p.m.

KALAMAZOO                                 Tuesday, July 9^th

St Thomas More Student Parish. 421 Monroe St. Kalamazoo

Registration and Meal 6 p.m., Meeting Starts at 7 p.m.

SAGINAW                                         Thursday, July 11th

Council 2740, 1021 Woodside, Essexville

Registration and Meal 6 p.m. Meeting Starts at 7:00 p.m.

By: Gary Merritt - Mon, Apr 29, 2019 7:30 PM

The drawing for the winners was on April 24th. We put together a “Super” 1st Prize for a ‘Super Charity’! This is a Top Bucket List Trip for any of our members or family and friends.

 1st Degree Charity Prize -Trip for 2 to 2020 SUPER BOWL

Hard Rock Stadium - Miami, Florida February 2, 2020

Congratulations to MARK PYTLESKI of Council 7018 in Romeo winner of the Charity prize, the trip to the Super Bowl!!!    

2nd Degree Unity Prize - $1,500.00 Cash was won by           

RONALD OSTROWSKI of Council 4055 in Watervliet.

3rd Degree Fraternity Prize - $1,000.00 Cash went to             

RON RAPA, council 2515 in Allegan.

4th Degree Patriotic Prize - $ 500.00 Cash awarded to     

DARWIN SEMANN of Council 3292 in Plymouth.     

To view a list of all 40 prize winners click here.

  THE CHARITIES WE SUPPORT ARE THE BIGGEST WINNERS

By: Gary Merritt - Tue, Apr 23, 2019 7:30 PM

And last but far from least, let us not forget Supreme Council Knights of Columbus for their matching funds program which has surpassed its original goal of 1,000 Life Saving Ultrasound Machines Order wide.

God Bless, Tim & Cindy Donovan

Pro Life Chair Couple Michigan State Council

Knights of Columbus                                                                                                                  

By: Gary Merritt - Fri, Apr 19, 2019 7:30 PM

VS

 TIGERS VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 — 6:10 PM

The 2019 Knights of Columbus Tiger Day will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 6:10 PM against Central Division rivals the Chicago White Sox. As it has been done over the past years all ticket requests must be sent to the State Director of Special Projects and Athletics, Mark Gaworecki.   m.gaworecki@mikofc.org -313-388-6912.

 DO NOT SEND TICKET REQUESTS TO THE TIGERS BOX OFFICE!!

This year once again we have tickets in the baseline box seat area along the right field line and in the mezzanine area. The Lower Baseline Box Seats are $32.00 each and the Mezzanine Seats are $19.00 each. We currently have 200 box seats and 200 mezzanine seats for sale to our Brother Knights for this Saturday night game. Since there are no fireworks and it is after Labor Day the ticket prices are less than games during June through August. Also, it is the last weekend the Tigers are at home and it is Fan Appreciation weekend. The cost of the ticket you pay is the same as the Knights pay for them from the Tigers.

All ticket requests must include payment in full. Orders, which do not include payment, will not be processed.

Make all checks payable to the MICHIGAN STATE COUNCIL with Tiger Day on the memo line.

What a great way to spend a warm July weekend evening with your Brother Knights and the 2016 Detroit Tigers. So don't delay and get your ticket requests in early. You don’t want to be left out.

ALL TICKET REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN

 MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019.

You may access the order form here!

If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 313-388-6912.

 Mark F. Gaworecki

By: Gary Merritt - Sat, Apr 13, 2019 7:30 PM

For all the info including entry form use this link.

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Apr 11, 2019 7:30 PM

By: Gary Merritt - Wed, Apr 10, 2019 7:30 PM

By: Gary Merritt - Tue, Apr 9, 2019 7:30 PM

The actual heart of a French priest, who died in 1859, was in Metro Detroit the weekend of March 30th as part of a national tour. 

St. John Vianney, "who is held up as the ideal for Catholic priests," is said by the Archdiocese of Detroit to have an "incorrupt heart" that "has resisted decay for more than 150 years," according to a news release.

The major relic was displayed Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Blvd. in Detroit. On Saturday, it was at St. John Vianney Parish in Shelby Township. 

“I know many priests and lay faithful are very excited for the opportunity to pray with the incorrupt heart of St. John Vianney,” said Father Stephen Pullis, director of evangelization, catechesis and schools at the archdiocese, who helped arrange for the relic to visit southeast Michigan. “We are in the midst of a time of great trial and purification in the Church. What better model of priestly holiness and dedication to priestly service can we have than the patron saint of all priests?"

More: The actual heart of a beloved priest is going on tour in metro Detroit

More: Path to Sainthood: What does it take?

Vianney's heart is normally kept at a shrine in France, and it was entrusted to the Knights of Columbus for the tour. 

The news release describes relics as physical objects associated with saints that are signs, but not proof, of a person's holiness. "Incorrupt" refers to a human body part that has avoided the normal decomposition process after death, according to the news release. 

More information on the tour is available on the Knights of Columbus website.