By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Jul 12, 2018 7:30 PM

To view the recent Michigan Columbian News click on the logo below;

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Jul 12, 2018 7:30 PM

Our Worthy Supreme Membership and Program Consultant Dannie Harris has made his Key Take-Aways presentation from the recent Summer Leadership Conference available. It may be found as PDF under Resources/Manuals and Documentation/Training Powerpoints and is linked here.  Dannie is allowing it's use for training sessions or meetings.

By: Gary Merritt - Tue, Jul 10, 2018 7:30 PM

The State Officers along with State and Supreme Leadership personnel have developed the Action Plan for the new Fraternal Year 2018-2019. To view this booklet click on the logo;

By: Gary Merritt - Fri, Jul 6, 2018 7:30 PM

Sunday November 12, 2017 marked the dedication for the 43rd Ultrasound Machine in Michigan. Fr. Steve Mattson lead us in prayer and blessed the machine which took place at Pregnancy Services of Greater Lansing’s west side location. In attendance from the K of C State Board was our Worthy State Deputy Ken Unterbrink and wife Ellie. Others in attendance were District Deputy Jim Kraus, Pro Life Chair Couple Tim & Cindy Donovan, along with Grand Knight Andrew Rademacher Brother Mitch Dobrzelewski & other Members from Council #7237 from Dewitt.

 Also pictured are Board President Jim Smiertka and Executive Director Nancy Kujawa.

Executive Director Nancy Kujawa provided everyone with the history of the West Lansing Center while thanking the Knights of Columbus for their generosity & commitment to Protecting the Unborn.

Many thanks to all who participated and donated that may not be mentioned, please know that without all of you none of this would be possible.

 Let us not forget Supreme Knights of Columbus for their matching funds program which has now crested well over 750 machines Order wide.

 God bless, Tim & Cindy Donovan

 Pro Life Chair Couple  Michigan State Council Knights of Columbus 

By: Gary Merritt - Wed, Jul 4, 2018 7:30 PM

Wednesday June 27th 2018 marked the dedication for the 47th Ultrasound Machine in Michigan. Fr. Aaron Ferris began the ceremony with an opening prayer & blessing the Ultrasound machine which took place at Alpha Family Center in Lowell.

In attendance, GK Tim Hess, FS Joe Sejat, incoming GK Matt VanderWerff and many of our Brother Knights from Msgr. Hugh Michael Beahan Council #7719, MI K of C State Deputy Ken Unterbrink, Pro Life Chair Couple Tim & Cindy Donovan, and Executive Director Christa Wetzel. Others in attendance and pictured are Alpha Board President Jayne Matthews & Vice President Pastor Jon Pickens, incoming District Deputy Patrick Smiggens, District Deputy's Garret Kelenske and Mike Terwilliger, and K of C Grand Rapids Diocesan Program Director Ken Skonecki.

Executive Director Christa Wetzel communicated the importance of this Ultrasound Machine while thanking the Knights of Columbus for their generosity and commitment to Protecting the Unborn. Board President Jayne Matthews also thanked the Knights of Columbus for their overwhelming generosity that has and will continue to change the hearts and minds of those facing difficult decisions.

 Many thanks to all who participated and donated that may not be mentioned, please know that without all of you none of this would be possible.

Let us not forget Supreme Knights of Columbus for their matching funds program which has now crested over 925 machines Order wide.

By: Gary Merritt - Tue, Jul 3, 2018 7:30 PM

By: Gary Merritt - Mon, Jun 18, 2018 7:30 PM

By: Gary Merritt - Tue, Jun 5, 2018 7:30 PM

If you have been unable to attend a Officers Training Session there is one more opportunity; 

Detroit Diocese 

Saturday August 11^th – 8:30am-11:30am -

Mike Fontana – 248-224-5583

St. Isidore Catholic Church 18201 23 Mile Rd. Macomb, MI 48042

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