Tuesday evening prior to their council meeting Bishop Haas Council # 4362 gained two members and advanced one more to the third Degree by conducting an Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity.
Back row, Staff, lft to rt Tony Arbanas, Ken Skonecki, Don Robinson, Dave Erdmans, Jim Worth
Front, lft to rt new member Hillary Maiyo, now 3rd Degree Kevin Mcvoy, new member Kip Chemjor
Congratulations to all!
Ticket Reservation Form HERE
Each year our State Council recognizes the best program in each area of the Service Program areas: Faith, Family, Community, Culture of Life, at the State Council Convention.
A team of judges chosen by the State Deputy awards the top prize in each category to the winning Council at the State convention. The form used to tally scores is here: MI03.
The winning entries are then endorsed by the State Deputy and submitted to the Supreme Council office by June 10 for judging to determine the International Service Program Award Winners. From each jurisdiction winners are chosen as the single best Faith, Family, Community, Culture of Life, program Order-wide for the fraternal year.
DO NOT SEND MATERIALS DIRECTLY TO THE SUPREME COUNCIL.
Service Program Awards Entry Form #STSP
Read the instructions HERE. A change is that your submission needs to be emailed, no physical copy or binder necessary except for display at your council functions.
Compile the application, see the guide for explanation: SERVICE AWARD GUIDE.
Submission of all applications need to be made before April 15.
Examples of past winning entries may be viewed here: Rock and here: Living Rosary.
Don’t forget to complete and include the form STSP.
Congratulations to the eight newest Brother Knights at today's exemplification at Sacred Heart Major Seminary!
I’m proud to have served on the Staff which presented this ceremony, giving the discourses on Unity and the Rosary to the candidates. I always enjoy being on the Exemplification team.
Paul Thorn SDRR
Back Row: - Paul Thorn - SDRR 5, Seminarian, Fr. Zachary Mabee - Instructor of Philosophy, Student Advisor, & Pastor at St. Joseph Shrine in Brooklyn, Fr. Steve Pullis Archdiocesan Evangilization Team, John Hundiak - State Special Olympics Director, Dan Fuller - State Membership Director
Middle Row, Jim Escott - State Training & New Council Director Jim Escott
Front Row Travis Baker - DD120, Nicholas Holoman - Supreme Council Manager of College Councils (to Walter's right), Walter Winkle Jr. - State Deputy, others are new members.
Our councils are on the move again Taking Action for Life.
This week are two, 76th and 77th Ultrasound dedication ceremonies
to help defend life and provide expectant mothers a window to the womb.
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 at 5:00 PM
Life Choices of Central Michigan
1985 Parkland Drive, Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48858
989-773-6008
Lead council: Sacred Heart Council #1297, Mt. Pleasant.
Grand Knight Robbie Waclawski
Thursday, February 24th at 6:00pm (rescheduled from February 17th)
Heartbeat of Monroe
123 W. First St., Monroe 48161.
734-243-6550
Lead Council: Monroe Council #1266, Monroe
Grand Knight Julian Rios
Thank you for Rising Up and Answering the Call for Life!
From the City Council of Wayne. MI.
Thank you!
At the Tuesday, February 15th, City of Wayne City Council meeting, Paul Sposite, Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus (Wayne) Notre Dame Council #3021, presented the City Council with the following:
"A Certificate of Appreciation Awarded to the City of Wayne as an expression of grateful appreciation for outstanding participation in the 2021 Coats for Kids Program."
Presented by: Officers and Members of Notre Dame Council #3021
The city would like to thank Paul and all of the members of the Wayne Knights of Columbus for their incredible community outreach and for being a fantastic city partner.
We have a new Knights Council at St. Michaels!
“We’re small, we’re nimble and we’re in service to the Church,” said Grand Knight Matt Surrell of the new Knights of Columbus Father Jacques Marquette Council 17772. St. Michael Parish in Marquette is the home of the only new K of C council to form this fraternal year in Michigan. The council has 33 members and is growing, according to Surrell.
A former Grand Knight of the Msgr. Nolan McKevitt Council 689, also in Marquette, Surrell described the new council as “Catholic men of faith, who are charitable in action, focused on our families and serving St. Michael as liturgical ministers, committee members and volunteers, as a parish-based council”
Father Greg Heikkala, parish pastor and Knight himself said, “Father Dustin (Larson, council Chaplain) and I are grateful to be part of the beginnings of a new Knights of Columbus council at St. Michael Parish. The Knights are the backbone of many parishes and live out Catholic values that are compelling to all. We encourage men to consider becoming Knights.
“The Knights are a welcomed and great asset to St. Michael, even though they always had an active presence, their works have expanded greatly in just the few months since formation, and I expect their impact to grow with each passing year.”
During the formation of the council, Surrell said several “Meet the Knights” gatherings were held to survey members’ interests and to see how they would like to serve the parish. A “Faith in Action” plan was put in place with the first goal of providing friendship and financial support to a seminarian. Advent wreath sales raised $500 to be presented to a seminarian.
Other projects include supporting the Care Clinic in Marquette. The council joined with Council 689 in Marquette to decorate the clinic’s building for Christmas with wreaths and garland. Surrell said a “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest was conducted garnering 92 entries from area youth.
Choosing a council patron was a difficult challenge. Surrell said, “Eventually, we narrowed down our list and ultimately choosing the French Jesuit priest Father Jacques Marquette, not because our county, city, or diocese bears his name, or that he was an intrepid explorer, but because of who this holy man was and is, his witness, his fortitude, his courage, his drive to evangelize and his selfless devotion to God is what he represents to us and he will be a motivating example for our council.”
The fledgling council had its charter unveiled following a special Mass at St. Michael Parish on Jan. 14, 2022. State Deputy Walter Winkle Jr. was in attendance and commented, “It’s nice to see new growth in our order, especially with the age range of this council. We have a good, young group. I’m excited that it’s up here in Marquette. The more men we have as Knights, the more we can help our priests and parishes.”
The photo and article that released by The UP Catholic authored by John Fee.
Those interested in joining the Knights of Columbus may visit www.kofc.org/joinus for more information or to join.
My Brother Knights and Families, The Good Friday Promotion program is very simple and here are some suggestions on getting it done. Ask Father if your Council can promote Good Friday services by downloading the poster located on the Supreme website. I am sure that the church will already be promoting this in the bulletin, but here are a couple of ideas. If you have a Council newsletter put it in there, maybe ask a few of the Christian businesses in your area to place the poster in a prominent place. Many Christians also observe Good Friday, and this may be a way to evangelize. Perhaps your Council has access to Catholic Radio or maybe a newspaper ad.
As I said the program is simple but from a spiritual point of view there is so much that we can do to enrich our Lenten journey. Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Catholics are joined by almost all other Christians in solemn commemoration on this day. The events of Good Friday are commemorated in the Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross are commonly recited on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. Another devotional, the Acts of Reparation, may also be prayed. Here is a great way to get involved in your Parish, ask Father if your Council can lead Stations during Lent. Perhaps if you are able, you can help with the meal that usually accompanies Stations.
In the seventh century, the Church in Rome adopted the practice of Adoration of the Cross from the Church in Jerusalem, where a fragment of wood believed to be the Lord's cross had been venerated every year on Good Friday since the fourth century. According to tradition, a part of the Holy Cross was discovered by the mother of the emperor Constantine, St. Helen, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326. A fifth century account describes this service in Jerusalem. A coffer of gold-plated silver containing the wood of the cross was brought forward. The bishop placed the relic on the a table in the chapel of the Crucifixion and the faithful approached it, touching brow and eyes and lips to the wood as the priest said (as every priest has done ever since): 'Behold, the Wood of the Cross.'
We are so fortunate to have such a rich history and tradition in the church. Here is another opportunity. Teach children and grandchildren about the sign of the cross. It is a visible sign of one's belief in Christ and of one's hope in the redemption which flows from His Cross. By making this sign both in public and in private we affirm our faith in Christ crucified and ask for His blessing and protection. It is also a gesture of reverence to the Blessed Sacrament. Please get involved and use this as an opportunity to contact the homebound, ask if they need a ride to services. Invite some one you have not seen at church lately, sometimes it is just a matter of inviting them to get them involved again.
For Good Friday Family Promotion resources, visit Good Friday Family Promotion - Family Programs | Knights of Columbus (kofc.org)
Your Brother in Christ Garret A. Kelenske
State Family Director
