By: Kevin Rowley - Mon, Dec 5, 2022 6:10 AM

Brother Knights, you should have received your packet of tickets for this year’s Michigan State Council charity raffle. We’re off to an impressive start, as knights and friends of the order have been sending in their purchased and sold tickets. This year we’ve added an incentive to get your sold tickets in as soon as possible. You’ve likely noticed an early bird ticket included in your packet that can be sent in with your 12 SOLD tickets. By getting your tickets in early, your early bird entry will be placed in all 4 monthly drawings held in December through March. That’s four chances to win $250 just for getting your tickets in! So don’t let the tickets sit forgotten in a drawer, get them in!

As in previous years, 20% ($1 per ticket) comes back to your council. So not only will your ticket sales allow the Michigan State Council to support great charities and Catholic endeavors, but your home council can also earn a lot of money for the causes that you support. Add to that the chances to win early bird drawings, incentives for top council sales and individual sellers, there’s a lot of reasons to get these tickets purchased and returned!

You can request extra tickets if needed, the more you sell the more your council earns. Additionally, why not reach out to brother knights that are not going to purchase and offer to sell their tickets at your events? While our annual raffle has done phenomenally well over the years, a large number of tickets that are printed and mailed go unsold. This leaves a lot of potential revenue untapped. The councils that perform the best have a knight or group of knights that take the lead on efforts to sell. Like any program, having a plan and a committed leader(s) makes all the difference. We are approximately four months out from the drawing, so that gives you a lot of time to sell and earn.

The prizes are great and the incentives are huge, so help make this year’s raffle a giant success!

Kevin Rowley, State Raffle Director

Michael Haughey, State Raffle Director

Check out the new Early Bird drawing, new this year.

2023 JOINT FUNDRAISER FOR COUNCILS AND STATE CHARITIES INCENTIVES

By: Gary Merritt - Mon, Dec 5, 2022 5:25 AM

Keep Christ in Christmas

 A Higher Purpose

Promote the true spirit of Christmas in homes, schools, parishes and communities. Councils will evangelize society through their faithful acts, celebrations and a variety of activities.

The Knights of Columbus offers multiple activities that promote Christmas and the season of Advent in their proper context: Journey to the Inn, Spread the Light of Christ, Christmas Poster Contest, Crèche or Advent Wreath Blessing and other ideas.

These programs are centered on the example of the Holy Family and the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The new Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) Program brings all KCIC activities together under one umbrella. It encourages councils to prompt their neighbors to shift from a preoccupation with materialism to the light of Christ and the spirit of giving. KCIC activities include whatever efforts best suit the parish and community of a particular council and do not need to originate from the Supreme Council.

By: Gary Merritt - Mon, Dec 5, 2022 4:44 AM

On Monday November 21st District Deputy #119 Harry Wisniewski presented Past Grand Knight Jim Priskey of Bishop Plagens Council #13318 with the only Star Council awarded to a council in the city of Detroit for the Fraternal Year 2021/2022.

By: Paul Thorn - Mon, Dec 5, 2022 4:43 AM

On December 7, 2022, Detroit East State Deputy Regional Representative Paul Thorn presented Our Lady Queen of Peace Council #4556 Grand Knight Richard Woodworth with the Supreme Council Columbian and Founders Awards for the Fraternal Year 2021 - 22, during their meeting in Imlay City.  

The awards recognize excellence in Council Programs and Fraternal Benefits Promotion.

Congratulations to Council 4556.

Paul Thorn SDRR Detroit Archdiocese East

By: Garret Kelenske - Mon, Dec 5, 2022 4:42 AM

Youth Sportsman Program - The goal of this program is to encourage men to get involved in setting great examples for the youth of the Parish and community by getting them outside and enjoying what Michigan has to offer in the way of hunting and fishing.

This is an open-ended program. Have a member of the Council collect the information about taking a youth sportsperson out this year participating in a hunting or fishing event.  An example would be taking a son or daughter out Deer Hunting, taking a grandson out Fishing or perhaps taking a neighbor and their youth out for the first time for an event.  It does not have to be just a contest.  Please collect the data and fill out form #10784 for your Council.

 Just like many of the programs in the Knights you are probably already doing this program.  Please take the time to fill out the form and take credit for it.  Councils, please make sure you are up to date with your Youth Protection. 

Look under Family on the State web site for more information https://mikofc.org/resources/family-state-programs

By: Gary Merritt - Sun, Dec 4, 2022 6:10 AM

 On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Fr. Thomas R. Carey Council #4764 in Lake Orion held an Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Lake Orion and welcomed 5 new members into the Council.

 The evening began with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass led by Council Chaplain Rev. William Promesso.

 The new members welcomed into the order were Christopher Groscurth, Alexander Kearns, John Wosina, John Bieda and Gary Arenz.  They are shown in the front row of the picture without ties.  Also included in the picture are DD113 Tom Kendziorski, Grand Knight Frank Kramarczyk, Former District Deputies Ron Hines and Ken Simpson along with members of the Council.

 Congratulations to both District 113 and Council 4764 who are both now at 50% of their Membership Goal for this Fraternal Year.

Thanks, Paul Thorn, State Deputy Regional Representative Detroit East

By: Gary Merritt - Sun, Dec 4, 2022 6:08 AM

At Msgr. Vizmara Council #3725 of St Clair Shores annual Past Grand Knights Dinner, District Deputy #115 Dr Peter Nwoke presented current Grand Knight John J Bartony with the council's Columbian Award for the 2021/2022 Fraternal Year.

By: Martin Brown - Sun, Dec 4, 2022 6:07 AM

Grand Rapids Membership Director Larry Adams presented Council of the Month for October to St Sebastian Council 14642 in Byron Center to Grand Knight Matt Millard. This was Council 14462 second Council of the month this year they are at 120% membership as of November 1st. Great job!

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Dec 1, 2022 6:40 AM

On Tuesday November 29th, National Shrine of the Little Flower Council #12408 in Royal Oak added to the Order by holding an exemplification which was immediately followed by the Fraternal Benefits Webinar.

In attendance were over 20 Brother Knights and families of the candidates.

Pictured are Frank Jones, Victor Claudio, Wesley Hobbs, Steve Bartoli, Doug Phillips, Kevin Walker, Doug Osborn, Don Shreves, and Grand Knight Bill Kostrzewa.

And then on Wednesday November 30th, Victor J Renaud Council #3292 in Plymouth grew their council with an exemplification.

Pictured are Mark Miller, Edward Wray, Chris Hoff, Kevin Kieliszewski, Steve Cooper, Mark Bustamante, Tom Filipczak, Michael Bindon, along with the Degree staff and Grand Knight Mike Driscoll.

In attendance were 20 Brother Knights and families of the candidates.

Great turnout! Good job guys!

Richard Shelt State Deputy Regional Representative

Detroit Archdiocese West

By: Gary Merritt - Mon, Nov 28, 2022 1:01 PM

After years of Covid and other issues postponing this event, Bishop Haas Council #4362 was able to celebrate the members awards dinner and celebration. It seemed that this dinner may have been jinxed because another postponement occurred because of the first major snowstorm of the season on the original date. Finally, the event happened on Saturday evening November 26^th. This year the 65^th anniversary of the council’s was included in the celebration.