By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 17, 2026 8:06 AM

Se lanza nuevo grupo de Facebook para los Caballeros de Colón Hispanos de Michigan y sus familias

El Consejo Estatal de Michigan se complace en anunciar el lanzamiento de un nuevo grupo de Facebook creado especialmente para nuestros Hermanos Caballeros de habla hispana y sus familias en todo el estado.

El grupo, titulado Caballeros de Colón Hispanos de Michigan, será un espacio acogedor donde los miembros hispanos y sus familias podrán compartir las buenas obras, actividades, recaudaciones de fondos y eventos de sus Consejos, Asambleas y Parroquias en Michigan.

El Hermano Caballero Armando Figueroa, nuestro Director Estatal de Alcance Hispano, será el moderador del grupo. Bajo su liderazgo, los miembros podrán esperar una gran variedad de contenido emocionante diseñado especialmente para nuestros Hermanos Hispanos y sus familias en las próximas semanas y meses.

Invitamos a todos los Caballeros de habla hispana y a sus familias a unirse a nosotros y ayudar a convertir este grupo en un centro vibrante de fe, fraternidad y servicio.

Únete al grupo hoy:

Caballeros de Colón Hispanos de Michigan

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1453450713349442

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 17, 2026 8:03 AM

New Facebook Group Launches for Spanish-Speaking Michigan Knights and Their Families

The Michigan State Council is excited to announce the launch of a new Facebook group created specifically for our Spanish-speaking Brother Knights and their families across the state!

The group, titled Caballeros de Colón Hispanos de Michigan, will serve as a welcoming space where Hispanic members and their families can share the good works, activities, fundraisers, and events of their Councils, Assemblies, and Parishes throughout Michigan.

Brother Knight Armando Figueroa, our State Hispanic Outreach Director, will serve as the moderator of the group. Under his leadership, members can look forward to a steady stream of exciting content designed especially for our Hispanic Brothers and their families in the weeks and months ahead.

We invite all Spanish-speaking Knights and their families to join us and help make this group a vibrant hub of faith, fraternity, and service.

Join the group today:

Caballeros de Colón Hispanos de Michigan
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1453450713349442

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 17, 2026 7:42 AM

Los Caballeros de Michigan apoyan la educación católica mientras el nuevo crédito fiscal federal ofrece mayores oportunidades

Las escuelas católicas han sido durante mucho tiempo una piedra angular de la misión de la Iglesia de formar a los jóvenes en la fe, la virtud y la excelencia académica. En todo Michigan, los consejos de los Caballeros de Colón han apoyado de manera constante y discreta esa misión a través de becas, donaciones directas a las escuelas, reconocimiento a los estudiantes y programas más amplios que fortalecen a las familias y a las parroquias.

Un informe reciente del National Catholic Register destaca una nueva oportunidad significativa que podría amplificar estos esfuerzos. El Crédito Fiscal por Libertad Educativa (Education Freedom Tax Credit), que entra en vigor el 1 de enero de 2026, permite a las personas y a las parejas casadas recibir un crédito fiscal federal dólar por dólar (hasta $1,700 para individuos y $3,400 para quienes presentan declaración conjunta) por donaciones a organizaciones que otorgan becas (SGOs). Estos fondos pueden ayudar a las familias a cubrir la matrícula, tutorías, materiales y otros gastos educativos en escuelas católicas y otras escuelas privadas, así como ciertos costos de escuelas públicas y de educación en el hogar. Los obispos de Estados Unidos han calificado el programa de transformador, señalando que se alinea con la enseñanza de la Iglesia de que los padres son los primeros educadores de sus hijos. Las estimaciones sugieren que el crédito podría generar miles de millones de dólares en donaciones para becas a nivel nacional. ( NC Register - Catholic Schools Expecting Windfall of Scholarship Money From New Tax Credit )

Los Caballeros de Michigan ya están poniendo en práctica ese mismo espíritu de apoyo a nivel local. Los consejos de todo el estado otorgan regularmente becas que ayudan a las familias a elegir la educación católica. El Consejo Au Lac 10724 ha entregado premios de $1,000 a graduados de octavo grado de la Escuela de la Inmaculada Concepción que planean continuar en escuelas secundarias católicas, basándose en ensayos sobre la importancia de una educación católica. Otros consejos, incluido el Consejo Fr. Baumgartner #5452 en el área de Rochester y el Consejo Papa San Juan XXIII #5436, han establecido programas continuos de becas para estudiantes de escuelas católicas y jóvenes que van a la universidad. Estos esfuerzos eliminan barreras financieras para que más niños puedan beneficiarse de una educación arraigada en la fe católica.

Más allá de las becas, los consejos colaboran directamente con las escuelas de sus parroquias. El Consejo de Lake Orion 4764 contribuyó recientemente con $5,000 como patrocinador Diamante para las celebraciones del 75.º aniversario de la Escuela Católica de la Parroquia de San José. El Consejo de la Catedral de Santa María #18819 en Saginaw apoyó a la Chesterton Academy of Lake Huron proporcionando premios para una rifa que ayudó a recaudar fondos para la misión de la escuela. Muchos consejos también reconocen a estudiantes destacados a través de programas de Joven o Estudiante del Mes, celebrando el rendimiento académico, la formación en la fe y el servicio — exactamente las cualidades que las escuelas católicas buscan cultivar.

A nivel estatal, los Caballeros de Michigan mantienen un fuerte apoyo a la próxima generación de líderes de la Iglesia a través de la asistencia para la matrícula de seminaristas y el Fondo de Becas Dotadas del Seminario Mayor del Sagrado Corazón. Estos programas, financiados por contribuciones voluntarias de los miembros y evaluaciones aprobadas en la Convención Estatal, ayudan a garantizar que quienes se preparan para el sacerdocio reciban la formación que necesitan.

El nuevo crédito fiscal federal representa una herramienta adicional que podría complementar el trabajo práctico que los Caballeros de Michigan ya realizan. Debido a que el programa se basa en donaciones privadas y no en fondos estatales, evita las restricciones constitucionales de Michigan sobre la ayuda pública a escuelas no públicas. Sin embargo, para que las familias de Michigan reciban becas, el estado debe optar por participar. La Conferencia Católica de Michigan ha instado al estado a participar, señalando que el crédito ayudaría a las familias a afrontar los costos educativos de su propio bolsillo sin desviar recursos del Fondo de Ayuda Escolar.

Los Caballeros de Michigan siempre han entendido que apoyar la educación católica es un acto de caridad y una inversión a largo plazo en la Iglesia. Ya sea a través de una beca local, un donativo a una escuela parroquial, el reconocimiento a un estudiante o el apoyo a los seminaristas, los hermanos de todo el estado continúan viviendo los principios de la Orden. A medida que se desarrolla esta nueva oportunidad federal, el mismo espíritu de servicio que ha sostenido a las escuelas católicas en Michigan durante generaciones seguirá siendo esencial, ayudando a las familias a elegir la educación que forma a sus hijos en la fe y los prepara para servir a la Iglesia y a la sociedad.

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 17, 2026 7:27 AM

Michigan Knights Stand with Catholic Education as New Federal Tax Credit Offers Expanded Opportunity

Catholic schools have long been a cornerstone of the Church’s mission to form young people in faith, virtue, and academic excellence. Across Michigan, Knights of Columbus councils have quietly and consistently supported that mission through scholarships, direct gifts to schools, recognition of students, and broader programs that strengthen families and parishes.

A recent National Catholic Register report highlights a significant new opportunity that could amplify these efforts. The Education Freedom Tax Credit, effective January 1, 2026, allows individuals and married couples to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit (up to $1,700 for individuals and $3,400 for joint filers) for donations to scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs). These funds can help families cover tuition, tutoring, supplies, and other educational expenses at Catholic and other private schools, as well as for certain public-school and homeschool costs. The U.S. bishops have called the program transformative, noting that it aligns with the Church’s teaching that parents are the primary educators of their children. Estimates suggest the credit could generate billions in scholarship donations nationwide. ( NC Register - Catholic Schools Expecting Windfall of Scholarship Money From New Tax Credit )

Michigan Knights are already putting that same spirit of support into practice at the local level. Councils across the state regularly award scholarships that help families choose Catholic education. Au Lac Council 10724 has provided $1,000 awards to eighth-grade graduates of Immaculate Conception School who plan to continue in Catholic high schools, based on essays about the importance of a Catholic education. Other councils, including Fr. Baumgartner Council #5452 in the Rochester area and Pope St. John XXIII Council #5436, have established ongoing scholarship programs for Catholic school students and college-bound youth. These efforts remove financial barriers so that more children can benefit from an education rooted in the Catholic faith.

Beyond scholarships, councils partner directly with their parish schools. Lake Orion Council 4764 recently contributed $5,000 as a Diamond Sponsor for St. Joseph Parish Catholic School’s 75th anniversary celebrations. St. Mary’s Cathedral Council #18819 in Saginaw supported Chesterton Academy of Lake Huron by providing raffle prizes that helped raise funds for the school’s mission. Many councils also recognize outstanding students through Youth or Student of the Month programs, celebrating academic achievement, faith formation, and service—exactly the qualities Catholic schools seek to cultivate.

At the state level, Michigan Knights maintain strong support for the next generation of Church leaders through seminarian tuition assistance and the Sacred Heart Major Seminary Endowed Scholarship Fund. These programs, funded by voluntary member contributions and assessments approved at the State Convention, help ensure that those preparing for priesthood receive the formation they need.

The new federal tax credit represents an additional tool that could complement the hands-on work Michigan Knights already do. Because the program relies on private donations rather than state funds, it sidesteps Michigan’s constitutional restrictions on public aid to nonpublic schools. However, for Michigan families to receive scholarships, the state must opt in. The Michigan Catholic Conference has urged the state to participate, noting that the credit would help families afford out-of-pocket educational costs without diverting resources from the School Aid Fund.

Michigan Knights have always understood that supporting Catholic education is an act of charity and a long-term investment in the Church. Whether through a local scholarship, a gift to a parish school, recognition of a student, or support for seminarians, brothers across the state continue to live out the Order’s principles. As this new federal opportunity takes shape, the same spirit of service that has sustained Catholic schools in Michigan for generations will remain essential—helping families choose the education that forms their children in faith and prepares them to serve the Church and society.

By: Armando Figueroa - Wed, Oct 14, 2026 10:22 PM

Nuevo Podcast Planeado para los Caballeros de Colón de Michigan

El Director de Alcance Hispano del Estado, Armando Figueroa, compartió recientemente la noticia de un almuerzo productivo con el Padre Edwin Carreño y los emocionantes planes para un nuevo podcast al servicio de los Caballeros de Colón de Michigan.

En una publicación bilingüe, Figueroa escribió: “Having lunch with Fr. Edwin Carreño. Excited about starting our new podcast for Caballeros de Colón Michigan.” / “Almorzando con el Padre Edwin Carreño. ¡Emocionado por comenzar nuestro nuevo podcast para los Caballeros de Colón de Michigan!”

El Padre Edwin Carreño Carreño es párroco del Santuario de San Francisco Javier y Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, así como de la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores en Grand Rapids. Ordenado en 1999, ha sido una presencia pastoral importante en la comunidad católica hispana de la Diócesis de Grand Rapids.

El nuevo podcast representa un paso natural en los crecientes esfuerzos de alcance hispano en Michigan. Bajo el liderazgo de Figueroa como Director de Alcance Hispano del Estado, la jurisdicción ha visto resultados alentadores, incluyendo una fuerte participación en la Conferencia de Hombres Hispanos a principios de este año que trajo 30 nuevos miembros a la Orden, además de ejemplificaciones en español y trabajo continuo de reclutamiento en varias diócesis.

Un podcast en español ofrece una forma accesible de fortalecer la formación en la fe, compartir los principios de Caridad, Unidad y Fraternidad, destacar las actividades de los consejos locales e invitar a más hombres hispanos y sus familias a los Caballeros de Colón. También se alinea con la larga devoción de la Orden a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y su compromiso de servir a las comunidades católicas en su propio idioma y cultura.

Se esperan detalles adicionales sobre la fecha de lanzamiento del podcast, la plataforma y el calendario de episodios en las próximas semanas. Se anima a los Caballeros de Michigan a seguir las comunicaciones del Consejo Estatal y las actualizaciones de Alcance Hispano para más información.

La reunión entre Figueroa y el Padre Carreño es una señal bienvenida de la colaboración continua entre el liderazgo estatal y el clero que sirve a las parroquias hispanas. Esfuerzos como este ayudan al Consejo Estatal de Michigan a cumplir su misión de invitar a los hombres a crecer en la fe y el servicio mientras construyen una Orden más fuerte e inclusiva.

¡Viva Jesús!

By: Armando Figueroa - Wed, Oct 14, 2026 10:20 PM

New Podcast Planned for Caballeros de Colón Michigan

State Hispanic Outreach Director Armando Figueroa recently shared news of a productive lunch with Fr. Edwin Carreño and the exciting plans underway for a new podcast serving Caballeros de Colón Michigan.

In a bilingual post, Figueroa wrote: “Having lunch with Fr. Edwin Carreño. Excited about starting our new podcast for Caballeros de Colón Michigan.” / “Almorzando con el Padre Edwin Carreño. ¡Emocionado por comenzar nuestro nuevo podcast para los Caballeros de Colón de Michigan!”

Fr. Edwin Carreño Carreño serves as Pastor of the Shrine of St. Francis Xavier & Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Grand Rapids. Ordained in 1999, he has long been a pastoral presence in the Hispanic Catholic community of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

The new podcast represents a natural next step in Michigan’s growing Hispanic outreach efforts. Under Figueroa’s leadership as State Hispanic Outreach Director, the jurisdiction has seen encouraging results, including strong participation at the Hispanic Men’s Conference earlier this year that brought 30 new members into the Order, along with Spanish-language exemplifications and continued recruitment work across multiple dioceses.

A Spanish-language podcast offers an accessible way to strengthen faith formation, share the principles of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity, highlight local council activities, and invite more Hispanic men and their families into the Knights of Columbus. It also aligns with the Order’s longstanding devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and its commitment to serving Catholic communities in their own language and culture.

Additional details on the podcast’s launch date, platform, and episode schedule are expected in the coming weeks. Michigan Knights are encouraged to follow State Council communications and Hispanic Outreach updates for more information.

The meeting between Figueroa and Fr. Carreño is a welcome sign of continued collaboration between State leadership and clergy serving Hispanic parishes. Efforts like this help the Michigan State Council fulfill its mission of inviting men to grow in faith and service while building a stronger, more inclusive Order.

Stay tuned!!!

Vivat Jesus!

By: Martin Brown - Wed, Oct 14, 2026 9:59 PM

We had the best membership intake in September in 24 years!

Great Job!

Invite one new member to receive a $10.00 gift card.

Receive an additional $5.00 for every new member you invite after the first.

To qualify, your membership number must be listed as the proposer on the new member’s application.

The incentive runs from October 15 through October 31.

You’ll also receive one entry into a $200.00 drawing for each new member you invite.

******************************************************

¡Buen Trabajo!

Invita a un nuevo miembro para recibir una tarjeta de regalo de $10.00.

Recibe $5.00 adicionales por cada nuevo miembro que invites después del primero.

Para calificar, tu número de membresía debe aparecer como proponente en la solicitud del nuevo miembro.

El incentivo es válido del 15 al 31 de octubre.

Además, recibirás una participación en el sorteo de $200.00 por cada nuevo miembro que invites.

By: Matt Hoxsie - Wed, Oct 14, 2026 10:16 AM

Michigan Knights Ask for Prayers for Pope Leo XIV Following Lung Cancer Diagnosis

October 14, 2026

Brother Knights and Ladies,

The Michigan State Council joins Knights of Columbus worldwide in asking for your prayers for our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.

On Sunday, October 11, during the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo announced that doctors had discovered a localized nodule on his lung during routine examinations. He said the growth had been detected “at a very early stage” and was well contained, and that physicians recommended its removal. On Tuesday, October 13, the Holy Father underwent thoracic surgery at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital. The lower lobe of his right lung was removed using video-assisted techniques. Intraoperative examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer that preoperative tests had suspected.

The Vatican reported that the surgery was successful, completed according to plan, and without complications. The Holy Father regained consciousness normally and returned to his room. An update on Wednesday morning noted that he had a quiet night. All public audiences have been canceled through October 20 while he recovers. Oncologists familiar with early-stage cases of this type have described the outlook as favorable when the disease is detected and surgically addressed promptly.

As the world’s largest Catholic fraternal organization—founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney and dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism—the Knights of Columbus have a special duty to pray for and support the Vicar of Christ. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and the leadership of the Order have already invited the entire membership to pray for the Holy Father’s recovery and continued strength in shepherding the Church.

Here in Michigan, we add our voices to that prayer. We particularly ask the intercession of our founder, Blessed Michael J. McGivney, whose own life of pastoral care and concern for the sick remains a model for every Knight, and of St. Peregrine Laziosi, the 14th-century Servite priest and patron saint of those suffering from cancer. St. Peregrine himself experienced a miraculous healing from a cancerous condition after a night spent in prayer before the Crucified Christ.

We invite every council, assembly, and family to remember Pope Leo XIV in their prayers—at Mass, in the Rosary, at council meetings, and in personal devotion. A simple intention may be offered:

“Almighty and merciful God, we ask You to look with favor upon Your servant Pope Leo XIV. Through the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney and St. Peregrine, grant him strength in recovery, healing of body and spirit, and the grace to continue leading Your Church with wisdom, courage, and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Please share this request with your parish, family, and fellow Knights. Together we lift up our Holy Father.

Vivat Jesus!
Michigan Knights of Columbus State Council

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sun, Oct 11, 2026 5:47 PM

Remembering Brother Knight Mike Ditka: A Life of Faith, Toughness, and Charity

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the Church and the sports world lost a legendary figure and a Brother Knight. Michael Keller Ditka—known to millions as “Iron Mike” or simply “Da Coach”—passed away at the age of 86. While he will long be remembered as a Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and the coach who led the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX, his life was also deeply shaped by the Catholic faith and by his membership in the Knights of Columbus.

Ditka was raised in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, the son of a steelworker father and a mother who was a fervent convert to Catholicism. His mother made sure the family attended Mass and that her children received a Catholic education. He often spoke with gratitude about the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught him, recalling both their firm discipline and the lasting formation they provided. He served as an altar boy throughout grade school and even assisted at Mass while attending the University of Pittsburgh. In a 2018 interview, he reflected, “I am so grateful for the Roman Catholic faith with which I was raised… Going to Catholic school and learning the faith, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

That foundation remained with him throughout his life. While coaching the Bears, Ditka occasionally served as a lector at the early morning team Mass on game days. He spoke openly about the importance of the sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Communion, saying, “I believe every bit that the Church teaches. Confession matters. Communion matters.”

As a member of the Knights of Columbus, Ditka put that faith into action through charity. In 2017 he headlined a Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids event at St. Agnes of Bohemia Elementary School in Chicago. He spoke to roughly 200 students about effort, leadership, and living in the present, then helped distribute new winter coats to children in need. The moment was a living expression of the Order’s principle of Charity—using one’s public platform to serve the vulnerable.

Ditka’s life reminds us that toughness and faith are not opposites. The same competitive fire that made him a Hall of Famer was rooted in a Catholic formation that taught accountability, perseverance, and service to others. In an age when many public figures keep their faith private, Brother Ditka was willing to credit his mother, his Catholic education, and the sacraments for shaping the man he became.

As we pray for the repose of his soul, we can also be inspired by his example. May his witness encourage more men to embrace the faith, live the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, and put those principles into concrete action in their communities.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sun, Oct 11, 2026 4:06 PM

The first group of men to become Knights of Columbus this school year for College Council #17237 at St. Albert the Great parish at Michigan Technological University in Houghton. Following the exemplification, the Council held its monthly general meeting. Congratulations to our new Brother Knights!!!