By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Divine Sanctuary Renovation Project St. Patrick – White Lake Council #13319

Tucked in a far corner, behind the choir, was the smallish slowly failing 50-year old pipe organ.  The instrument was not loud enough for the large St. Patrick’s Church in White Lake, Michigan, and many audible voids were very noticeable towards the back.

St. Patrick’s new music minister, Aaron Kaleniecki, had a deep love for playing the organ, and the rather poor musical situation left him dreaming of something different. He dreamt of something that would fill the church with great sound, enveloping every person in every pew.

The parish’s pastor of 30 years, Father Tom Meagher, shared the same dream.

Conversations on the possibilities led to the discovery of a large unused Kilgen organ previously installed at St. Benedict Church in Highland Park.  An internet search also discovered another smaller Kilgen organ, also available for the taking, at a Serbian Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

So the divine vision became clearer for both pastor and music minister - renovate the entire St. Patrick church sanctuary, and obtain, refurbish and install the two Kilgen organs there.

Recognizing the extent of the project, Father Tom recruited St. Patrick Grand Knight Stan Politowicz, and Immediate Past Grand Knight John Wisely, to join him in forming a Sanctuary Renovation Steering Committee.  Stan volunteered to chair the committee, knowing he had an army of Knights ready and willing to assist whenever and wherever needed.

Many tasks ensued over the months that followed for the Knights of Council #13319.  A large parish-wide fundraising effort was led by Father Tom and the Knights.  The larger Kilgen organ was retrieved from a storage warehouse in Detroit.  A team travelled to Massachusetts to disassemble and transport the smaller organ to Michigan.  And still there was the sanctuary renovation itself including removal of the old organ, choir riser, altar parts, walls and other structures, along with other demolition and clean-up.   Adding to the challenge, the sanctuary needed to be presentable for Masses each Saturday and Sunday, and for weddings and several First Communions on the calendar.

An old phrase was appropriately descriptive of the needed approach, ‘When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time.’

Installation of the new organ and sanctuary parts began, and the Knights were again alongside Father Tom, unloading trucks, and stacking parts on pews and behind the kitchen.  As the first structures went up, it gave all a new sense of the grandeur of what was about to happen.  Our music minister, Aaron, explained the progress, and the details and hurdles to anyone interested.  And as the months went by, the instrument took shape.  Two additions, the Trompette en Chamade (horned trumpet) and the chimes, added to the anticipation and the conversation.

Finally, on November 26, 2017, Father Tom led the sanctuary dedication ceremony, and our packed church joined together in prayer, thanksgiving and blessing.  All were then entertained in grand style by three different organists, plus the Motor City Brass band.  It was an event to behold.

God’s grace, received in every Mass, is a powerful experience, with or without music and song.  But now through the work of so many, following where the Holy Spirit led them, St. Patrick Parish in White Lake Michigan has this wonderful new sanctuary and instrument. And the organ and music do exactly what had been hoped, enveloping every person in every pew.

We invite you to come to Mass with us, listen, and please bring your friends.

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

The highlight of the Awards cermony on Friday morning is the Family of the Year presentation. Pictured is the Tom & Sue Schmidt family selected as Family of the Year for 2017/2018 along with State Program Dir. Dale Schaedig

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Congratulations to the  Thomas Schmidt Family!   2018 Michigan State  Family of the Year

Tom and Sue Schmidt are no strangers to the Michigan Knights of Columbus Family. As a member of the Knights of Columbus for 35 years Tom has held positions as Grand Knight, District Deputy, Diocesan Membership Director, State Church Director and Navigator. Within his home Council #7487, Bishop Fulton Sheen Council in Jenison he is also active as Council Church Director, Annual Fish Fry Chairmen and a member of the Wild Game Dinner Fund Raiser Committee.

Let’s not forget about Sue’s support and involvement with Tom at Holy Redeemer Parish. Throughout Tom’s positions with the Knights of Columbus she has been at his side. Their sons, Paul and Ryan, are also members of the Knights of Columbus through the Patriotic Degree.

Tom and Sue promote the Domestic Church by their involvement at Holy Redeemer. Tom is a Mass Facilitator, Lector and Usher and both serve as Eucharistic Ministers. Last year Tom and Sue served on the 25^th Anniversary Committee of the Ordination of Fr. Roc and the 40^th Anniversary Celebration for Holy Redeemer. This year, Tom assisted at the Divine Mercy Celebration.

Tom and Sue have a granddaughter with Juvenile Arthritis. Every year since the diagnosis of Juvenile Arthritis they have held a community fund raiser in the effort to eliminate this terrible disease. They are also active supporters for sports in the Jenison Public School System.

This is truly a family with a love of God, their fellow man and commitment to Holy Redeemer Parish and the Knights of Columbus. As seen by their involvement in their home parish, council and community is a shining example of Building the Domestic Church.

Congratulations to the Schmidt Family as our 2018 Michigan State Family of the Year! 

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Trees for Life Holy Rosary Council 13579 Muskegon Hts.

Kacey Kersman, Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Grace & St Mary Parishes in Muskegon is the daughter in law of Robert “Buzz” Kersman whose family owns a Christmas Tree Farm. Kacey was thinking of a way to earn enough money to send her Religious Education Students & Chaperones to Washington DC in January for the annual March for Life. She recollected that her father in law had donated 100 Christmas Trees to his Methodist Church in North Muskegon to sell the previous year.

When Buzz Kersman agreed to donate 100 Christmas Trees to Our Lady of Grace & St Mary’s Church Kacey immediately went to Pastor Fr. Matthew Barnum to see what he thought of the idea. Fr. Matt being a member of Holy Rosary Council knew that the Council would have the manpower as well as the desire to support the youth.  Fr. Matt then spoke to Garret Kelenske, District Deputy, Council member, & parishioner who then took it before the Council at which time the project received overwhelming support.

On November 18, 2017 Chairman Mike Lewis, Grand Knight Dan Wagenmaker, & District Deputy Garret Kelenske from Holy Rosary Council met with the Kersman’s and about a dozen young men from the Kersman’s son’s school and began cutting down 200 Christmas Trees which were to be sold at both churches. Within a couple of hours the first hundred were cut and loaded to be delivered to St. Mary’s Church in Muskegon. These weren’t just any old Christmas Trees, these were beautiful Frazier Firs which sold for $35 each, a real bargain. This was just the beginning as many of the Council members began to build racks & string lights around the trees for better visibility at night, while creating a workshop & office in Fr. Matt’s garage just in time to sell on Thanksgiving weekend.

This turned into a community project with all trees being sold raising $5,444.00. This allowed the Parish to send 13 youths with chaperones to the March for Life in January spending $325 per student. As you can see in all the photos everyone had a wonderful time & religious experience. Kacey Kersman remarked at the conclusion of the March for Life trip that made all our efforts worthwhile, “This year, they got to sleep in a bed.”

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Divine Sanctuary Renovation Project St. Patrick – White Lake Council #13319

Tucked in a far corner, behind the choir, was the smallish slowly failing 50-year old pipe organ.  The instrument was not loud enough for the large St. Patrick’s Church in White Lake, Michigan, and many audible voids were very noticeable towards the back.

St. Patrick’s new music minister, Aaron Kaleniecki, had a deep love for playing the organ, and the rather poor musical situation left him dreaming of something different. He dreamt of something that would fill the church with great sound, enveloping every person in every pew.

The parish’s pastor of 30 years, Father Tom Meagher, shared the same dream.

Conversations on the possibilities led to the discovery of a large unused Kilgen organ previously installed at St. Benedict Church in Highland Park.  An internet search also discovered another smaller Kilgen organ, also available for the taking, at a Serbian Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

So the divine vision became clearer for both pastor and music minister - renovate the entire St. Patrick church sanctuary, and obtain, refurbish and install the two Kilgen organs there.

Recognizing the extent of the project, Father Tom recruited St. Patrick Grand Knight Stan Politowicz, and Immediate Past Grand Knight John Wisely, to join him in forming a Sanctuary Renovation Steering Committee.  Stan volunteered to chair the committee, knowing he had an army of Knights ready and willing to assist whenever and wherever needed.

Many tasks ensued over the months that followed for the Knights of Council #13319.  A large parish-wide fundraising effort was led by Father Tom and the Knights.  The larger Kilgen organ was retrieved from a storage warehouse in Detroit.  A team travelled to Massachusetts to disassemble and transport the smaller organ to Michigan.  And still there was the sanctuary renovation itself including removal of the old organ, choir riser, altar parts, walls and other structures, along with other demolition and clean-up.   Adding to the challenge, the sanctuary needed to be presentable for Masses each Saturday and Sunday, and for weddings and several First Communions on the calendar.

An old phrase was appropriately descriptive of the needed approach, ‘When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time.’

Installation of the new organ and sanctuary parts began, and the Knights were again alongside Father Tom, unloading trucks, and stacking parts on pews and behind the kitchen.  As the first structures went up, it gave all a new sense of the grandeur of what was about to happen.  Our music minister, Aaron, explained the progress, and the details and hurdles to anyone interested.  And as the months went by, the instrument took shape.  Two additions, the Trompette en Chamade (horned trumpet) and the chimes, added to the anticipation and the conversation.

Finally, on November 26, 2017, Father Tom led the sanctuary dedication ceremony, and our packed church joined together in prayer, thanksgiving and blessing.  All were then entertained in grand style by three different organists, plus the Motor City Brass band.  It was an event to behold.

God’s grace, received in every Mass, is a powerful experience, with or without music and song.  But now through the work of so many, following where the Holy Spirit led them, St. Patrick Parish in White Lake Michigan has this wonderful new sanctuary and instrument. And the organ and music do exactly what had been hoped, enveloping every person in every pew.

We invite you to come to Mass with us, listen, and please bring your friends.

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Going to New Heights Fr. Patrick J. Cullinane Council No. 8710

During the Spring of 2017, a member of the Fr. Patrick J. Culliane council identified the steeple cross for Sacred Heart Catholic Church was deteriorating.  This issue was brought to the council, were the membership took up the challenge, and Council Project was set in motion.  Brother Knight Wally Ostrowski and his two sons Mike and Scott volunteered to determine what it would take to replace the 115 year old cross. 

Many challenges were encountered and overcome in the council’s quest to properly replace this very visible sign of the Catholic Faith within the community:

First how do you determine the dimensions of the original cross, when it stands 100 feet in the air?

Second what material should be used to construct the replacement Cross?

Third how to safely work on a structure without damaging the church?

Each obstacle was taken on and properly addressed in due time.  Wally was able to calculate the cross dimensions to be 72 inches tall and 42 inches across, with the post to be 6 inches wide.  These dimensions proved to be spot on when compared to the original cross, with less than 1 inch variation from old to new.

The material selected to construct the new cross was Copper Sheet metal.   This also proved to be challenging, as research was needed to determine the best methods to construct the cross out of Copper.  The team learned that fabricating the cross out of copper, required techniques and tools that were not readily available. So the Ostrowski family learned the proper techniques for soldering copper sheets and found the soldering equipment required not readily available today.  Wally searched and located the proper soldering Irons required by visiting many of the local Antique Shops.Once the Cross and supporting frame work was fabricated, the next step was to secure a man lift with a reach of at least 120 feet.  With the winter months approaching locating a man lift that was not in use was difficult.  Another Council Member, Eric West, made contact with a local farmer who was working with 150 foot man lift outside of town.  Through this connection the Lift was rented and delivered to the Church in early December 2017.

With the Grace of God, the weather held and the work was completed on a brisk Saturday morning.  The old cross was removed, new support brackets installed, and the new cross placed on top of the steeple.  Additional repairs were made including replacement of missing roof tiles and some aluminum facing provided to replace material lost in a wind storm.

With the mornings work completed, Council Member Mark Kettlewell invited the crew to his A&W Restaurant for lunch at his expense.  The council project inspired others in the parish to get involved as well; the Ladies Auxiliary contributed $1,126 dollars to cover one half of the man lift rental.  The direct material cost and man-lift rental totaled $2,589 with 145 direct man-hours contributed by Council 8710 membership. 

Going to new Heights for Our Church, Providing a shining beacon of faith for the community! 

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Wood for Warmth Project Blessed Sacrament Parish Council #13452 Midland

Council 13452 has provided firewood to local families in the Midland Michigan area for more than ten years.

It all began when a Brother Knight offered cut maple trees from his property to provide firewood for local families in need.  That first year, Brother Knights worked together with the parish staff to help find three or four needy families and deliver wood to their homes.

One delivery in particular touched many of us, and set in motion the ongoing effort. The weather was very cold late that November, and when we arrived at a home for delivery, we realized the family had just a few pieces of firewood left in storage.  We learned the wife was in treatment for cancer, putting a big strain on the family finances.  The husband had been laid off and was looking for work while helping care for his wife.  As we unloaded two pickup truck loads of firewood, the wife broke down and began to cry.  She went inside the home and wrote us a thoughtful thank you note.  Those of us there that day were greatly impacted and knew we had found an important mission, and we agreed to build upon the project the following year.

The next year, a Brother Knight offered us the downed wood on his 80 acre lot north of town.  This new site became a traditional wood collection location for our Knights council, and we used this source for the next six years.  Knights would go to his property on Friday evenings, and he and his wife would treat us to a delightful meal and good fellowship.  The next day we would cut and split wood, load trailers and pickup trucks, and deliver fire wood to families.

Our council soon began working with local cancer services and community mental health agencies to help find more local families in need.  The parish youth group, boy scouts, Delta Community College veterans group, Knights from another council, and family members all came out to help.

During this journey, we’ve made many memories together, and we’ve made even greater friends.  We’ve assisted a neighboring parish remove nearly 100 dead trees from their Stations of the Cross Pathway, and we’ve even advised our local Lutheran Church pastor on how to implement a similar program in their congregation.

This project has been a very rewarding experience for our Knights of Columbus council members.  We’ve been able to work and have fun together, engage with the community, and provide winter warmth and assistance to those who need it most.  This is one of the ways our council has helped build the domestic church, and we look forward to continuing this special ministry.

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Chess Tournament/Scholarship Bishop Foley Council 2660 Dearborn

When Dominic Raona approached Bishop Foley Knights of Columbus Council 2660 seeking financial support to buy 25 new chest sets for the growing chest club, at Devine Child Elementary School, he had no idea how both the program and he himself would grow with the Knights. 

The first couple of years Dominic was involved with the chess club, students attended several State Chess Tournaments.  These tournaments were often costly, requiring students to purchase memberships in State and National Chess Clubs to participate.  Seeking a better way for his students to participate in true tournament competition, Dominic again turned to the Bishop Foley Knights of Columbus for support in starting a new tournament.  With the Knights of Columbus providing seed money and with participation from three neighboring Catholic Schools, the first Catholic Schools Tournament was held in 2008 and deemed a success.   But that wasn’t good enough for Dominic or the Knights.

With hard work and determination the Catholic Schools Chess Tournament continued to grow.   In 2014 all seventy five Catholic Elementary Schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit were invited to participate.   The same year, recognizing the overwhelming success of this program, Bishop Foley Council decided to repurpose the net gains from the tournament creating a scholarship fund.  Each year two students are awarded a $500.00 scholarship for their Catholic Education.

This program has been a great way to promote the game of chess, Catholic Education and Bishop Foley Knights of Columbus Council.  The tournament is in its tenth year and continues to grow with recent participation of One Hundred Fifty-Four (154) Players. 

The Catholic Schools Chess tournament surely has grown with the Knights of Columbus.  And Dominic Raona, he’s grown with the Knights too.  When Dominic first approached the Knights for their support, he was not a member.  Today Dominic Raona is not only a member; he’s the Proud Grand Knight of Bishop Foley Knights of Columbus Council 2660.   Yes, brother Knights and Ladies, “Every program is truly is a Membership opportunity”.   

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

Building Upon Family Faith Through Family Interaction Saline Council #6674

The mission of this Family Service project was to develop and deploy programs with a religious focus that would positively impact the family with special emphasis on children and their family.

This initiative included working and coordinating efforts with St. Andrew ministries, subject matter experts and parishioners. The two focal programs included the Family Christmas party and Easter Egg Hunt.

The Family Christmas party included dinner, candle lighting, adoration, caroling and crafts. Some of the crafts included cookie decorating and building of tin can lanterns. A welcome to “Bethlehem” games and skits included themes named Bethlehem Parks and Rec and Bethlehem Hotel District all to have fun while ensuring the true meaning of Christmas was told.

The Easter Egg Hunt focused on why we celebrate Easter and the significance that the egg plays during Easter. This included sharing an understanding of the celebration of the “rebirth” of mankind, the meaning of the egg as a renewal or rebirth is vital in the Easter theme. Families were given the opportunity to discuss the meaning and significance of Easter while including the traditional Easter Egg Hunt.  

These programs have brought the parish families of St. Andrew together with a purpose that provides the structure in Building the Domestic Church!

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, May 31, 2018 7:30 PM

* State Warden & State Training Dir. Joseph Munie * DD #14 Hans Hanson * DD #40 & Regional FS Training Dir. William Grover * DD #41 James Highfield * DD #47 George Walrath * DD #58, Asst. State Membership Dir & Lansing Diocesan Membership Dir. Edward Nickel *DD #73 William Bernesser *DD #75 Paul Carbone *Mentally Impaired Programs Dir. George Stump *State Fund Raising Dir. Gary DeCarlo *Asst. State Program & Detroit Archdiocesan Membership Dir. David Bergeman * Grand Rapids Diocesan Membership Dir. Martin Brown * Detroit Archdiocesan Program Dir. Mike Haughey * Grand Rapids Diocesan Program Dir. Kenneth Skonecki

Posthumous Golden Knight Award State Secretary Antonio G. Vittorini