May 11th Degree In Gaylord

By: Patrick Oliver - Fri, May 10, 2024 3:00 PM


A Charity, Unity, and Fraternity Exemplification was held at St Mary Cathedral in Gaylord on May 11th following the 5pm Mass.
Seven new members were welcomed to St Mary Council #2781 plus two new members to Grayling Council #1982, including Father Jackuba Philibus, the newest priest to the Gaylord Diocese!
 
Also in attendance was our Worthy State Director of Ceremonials, Gene Murawski!
 
collage

5 Things You Should Know About the Sign of the Cross

By: Robert Bagley - Wed, May 8, 2024 7:02 AM


1

FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

 

Each time we make the Sign of the Cross, we renew our profession of faith; express our belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and acknowledge the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification. We invoke the Holy Trinity.

 

Never leave your house without making the sign of the cross. It will be to you a staff, a weapon, an impregnable fortress. Neither man nor demon will dare to attack you, seeing you covered with such powerful armor. Let this sign teach you that you are a soldier, ready to combat against the demons, and ready to fight for the crown of justice. Are you ignorant of what the cross has done? It has vanquished death, destroyed sin, dethroned Satan, and restored the universe. Would you then doubt its power?

 

1. The Sign of the Cross is a sacramental.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church recommends the practice of sanctifying our daily life with sacramentals, chief of which is the Sign of the Cross. Many Catholics don’t know that the Sign of the Cross is sacramental!

 

When we make the Sign of the Cross before we begin an activity, we elevate whatever it is we are doing. It becomes an opportunity for drawing nearer to God.  Sacramentals are sacred signs that bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects—especially of a spiritual kind—that are obtained through the Church’s intercession and “are extremely powerful in our fight against the evil one.”

 

Other sacramentals are material, such as the Brown Scapular, Holy Water, liturgical or blessed candles, Holy relics or items such as crucifixes, medals, or rosaries. The Sign of the Cross is a sacramental gesture.

 

2. The Sign of the Cross should be made intentionally, never casually.

 

St. John Chrysostom said:

“When you sign yourself, think of all the mysteries contained in the cross. It is not enough to form it with the finger. You must first make it with faith and good will. When you mark your breast, your eyes, and all your members with the sign of the cross, offer yourself as a victim pleasing to God.”

 

The ritual of making the sign of the cross—if we aren’t careful—can become quick and sloppy. Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, in private or in public, we need to be attentive to what it is we are doing…Whether we are at Mass or in a restaurant it should be large and deliberate. Large because it is a witness to our faith and deliberate because it keeps our mind engaged on what we are doing.

 

3. The Sign of the Cross is rooted in ancient tradition.

It is clear from circumstances and from early Church fathers that the holy gesture of making the Sign of the Cross had its roots as a prayer in apostolic times.  For instance, Tertullian, who lived from 160 – 240 A.D., said the following about the Sign of the Cross:

 

“At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.”  Tertullian, 160 – 240 A.D.

 

And St. Basil (ca. 329 – 79 A.D) said that the Apostles “taught us to mark with the sign of the cross those who put their hope in the Lord,” that is, those who presented themselves for baptism.

Initially the Sign of the Cross was made with the thumb, usually on the forehead but sometimes on the lips and chest. This small Sign of the Cross was commonly used by the end of the 4th century and is still used today at every Mass and in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Anointing of the Sick. It is also used for marking the forehead with ashes on Ash Wednesday.

 

By the 6th century, people were using the first two fingers, held together to make a large sign of the Cross touching the forehead, chest, and shoulders. The two fingers symbolized the two natures (divine and human) of Jesus Christ.

 

The use of three fingers became popular in the 9th century, by which the thumb and first two fingers were held outstretched together to symbolize the Trinity, while the remaining two fingers were bent to signify the two natures of Christ. This form of the large cross is still used today in Eastern churches where the right shoulder is touched before the left.

 

4. The Sign of the Cross is a blessing.

A priest will make the Sign of the Cross when blessing someone, or a group of people, such as the congregation during Mass or other liturgical celebrations. However, many parents also bless their children with this ancient sign—and this is a good thing to do!

 

5. The Sign of the Cross is a weapon against the devil.

St. Athanasius wrote that before the coming of Christ, demonic powers used to deceive the pagans into worshipping them and obeying their oracles. “But now,” he observed in the fourth century, “since the divine appearance of the Word (Christ), all this deception has come to an end. For by the Sign of the Cross, if a man will only use it, their deceptions are driven out.” Knowing this, it is appropriate to make the Sign of the Cross whenever we are feeling spiritually attacked. The devil hates this sign, so we wield a spiritual power when we use it.

Silver Rose visits St Filipe de Jesus

By: Robert Bagley - Sun, May 5, 2024 4:12 PM


header

Knights of Columbus Council #8687 celebrated the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadlupe Silver Rose at St. Felipe de Jesus on Thursday, May 2nd. The Silver Rose was brought to San Felipe de Jesus by Sir Knight Robert Bagley. Parishioners from San Felipe and St. Peter prayed a bi-lingual Rosary prior to a bi-lingual Mass said by Sir Knight Rev. Evelio Rameriz and Sir Knight Deacon Jose Alfaro. The Silver Rose Litany was led by Brother Joe Marble and veneration was conducted for about 100 combined parishioners and Knights of Columbus from Council 8687 and Assembly 2135.  Eighteen Knights of Columbus were present for the event.

collage

Special thanks to SK Rev. Evelio Rameriz, SK Deacon Jose Alfaro, SK Robert Bagley, Brother Joe Marble, Lady Susie, wife of the late Leandro Hernandez, and CeCi Garcia for all of the coordination, Mass, and pictures!

McGivney Field opening ceremonies pt 4

By: Ken Warzybok - Sat, May 4, 2024 6:15 AM


Brother Knights,
 
I am thrilled to announce that a baseball field within the Archdiocese of Detroit is officially being dedicated to our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney. After much hard work and dedication, the Clinton Valley Little League Challenger Division Senior League Baseball Field will be blessed and named in honor of Blessed Michael McGivney on Saturday, June 15th, 2024. The ceremony will take place at 1pm at Neil Reid Park, located at 37705 Harper Road in Clinton Township. We will all meet in the school parking lot at Noon.
 
As this initiative is in partnership with Special Olympics, we are honored to have Robbie Waclawski, the Director of Civic Partnership and State Sponsorship at Special Olympics of Michigan, as our guest speaker. Director Waclawski also serves as the Director of Special Olympics for the Michigan Knights of Columbus State Council.
 
In addition, I am pleased to share that Daniel Downey, a member of St. Jane Francis DeChantel Council 13340 and a league athlete, will be presenting League President Marilyn Wittstock with flowers as a token of appreciation for her dedication to the league. Daniel will be accompanied by his fellow council delegates.
 
I will provide further details as the event gets closer. I look forward to seeing you all at the field for this momentous occasion!
 
Vivat Jesus!
 
Ken Dumais
Knights of Coumbus Council 13950
St. Mary of the Hills
dumaisk59@outlook.com
1

 

Support Your Future Priests

By: Ken Warzybok - Wed, Apr 24, 2024 9:44 PM


Brothers, you will be receiving your tickets in the mail soon!

1

88th Exemplification for Michigan 4th Degree District 2

By: Joseph Yekulis - Wed, Apr 24, 2024 11:38 AM


On Saturday April 20th, MI District 2 of the Fourth Degree Exemplified 107 new Sir Knights at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Brighton, MI.
1
Former State Chaplain, Fr. Paul Erickson, was the Class Honoree, and Fr. Evelio Rameriz from Otsego Assembly #2135 and Fr. Georges Bidzogo from Burton Assembly $510 were also exemplified in this class.
 
Sixty-nine ladies attended the Ladies Program, and 290 attended the banquet. Guest speakers were FN Don Powell of Brighton Assembly #2050, Master Joseph Yekulis, Former Master David Buick, Fr. Paul Erickson, and PSD/Supreme Regional Membership Director William Chasse'.
 
Joe Yekulis, Master, MI District 2
Lansing/Kalamazoo Dioceses

2023-2024 Michigan Knights of Columbus State Raffle Winners Announced

By: Kevin Rowley - Mon, Apr 22, 2024 7:08 AM


Congratulations to the winners of this year's State Charity Raffle!

Thanks to all those who supported the raffle by purchasing and selling tickets.

Here is the list of our lucky winners:

1
2

VIVAT JESUS!

Your State Raffle Directors,

Kevin Rowley

Michael Haughey