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

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.”