When using a scissor lift to install new fans in Immaculate Conception Church in Anchorville a few months ago, Brothers in Au Lac Council 10724 noticed that the church floor seemed soft and in need of repair. The Council jumped into action and worked with Fr. Joseph Esper to set up a time where Council 10724 could move the pews and replace the church subfloor, install a new laminate, along with examining the joists.
Au Lac Council donated approximately $30,000 in materials and provided free labor to the project and promisted to Fr. Esper that they could get the work done in between weekend masses.
Upon ripping up the subfloor, Brothers noticed that several floor joists in the main aisle had rotted and needed to be replaced. This set the team back about an estimated two days behind to get the materials and perform the needed repairs.
Worthy Grand Knight Mark Kehoe and Brother Joe Whitenight rallied the Brothers and the families and at one point had over thirty-three people in the church performing repair work, laying down the new subfloor, and putting the pews back in place (repaired and better than ever) to allow the Saturday evening mass to take place in the church as promised.
This next week, the Council will be working on the other side of the aisle, where they will move the other pews and replace the subfloor on the opposite side.
It is estimated that the Council will be saving Immaculate Conception Parish approximately $60,000 in both labor and materials over the entire course of the project!
Rotted joists under the subfloorBrothers and families repairing pews before putting them back in place
Removing cement off of the floor before replacing the floor and the joists.
Brothers bolting the pews back in place on the new floorBrothers putting the new subfloor down on top of the new joists
This weekend, during Greenville's 61st annual Danish Festival, celebrating the original community settlers' cultural background, St. Charles Council 2084 once again was the only group to offer actual Danish food to the crowds. Money raised during the weekend goes toward the council's many charitable activities.
People line up and extend around the block for the Knights' Danish aebleskivers, sort of a cross between a pancake ball and a doughnut that crowds can't get enough of.
Golden aebleskivers finish cooking in their special pan over an open flame at Council 2084's street booth.
Amy Norton, mother of Grand Knight Kevin Norton and wife of Brother Knight John Norton, joins Margaret Karpus, wife of
District Deputy 312 Mike Karpus, to crack and separate eggs to add to the aebleskiver batter.
Knights and family members make the aebleskivers in specialty pans in the Council 2084 street booth.
Brother Knights Jacob Woycehoski, left, and his dad, Ron Woycehoski, man the Knights' newest Danish offering,
Rød Pølse, or Danish hot dogs, just like you'd find in carts on the streets of Copenhagen.
Congratulations to Council 16199 Cathedral of St. Andrew and Grand Knight Paul Fricke, they received Council of the Month for June in the Grand Rapids Diocese.
Great job, keep up the good work.
First picture SDRR Marty Brown Presenting award to Past Grand Knight Paul Fricke.
Second picture Members of Council 16199, Grand Knight Mark Bordner, Father Ryan Casey and District Deputy Ike Yskes.
Please join us for the Mandy Borsenik Golf Outing on Saturday, September 27th at Green Acres Golf Course in Bridgeport, sponsored by Council 7233 and Assembly 2365. Proceeds go the assist with First Lady Mandy Borsenik's medical expenses including purchasing the upright wheelchair that Lady Mandy needs for her recovery.
On August 12, I travelled to Richmond to present Richmond Council 2667 with the June Council of the Month for my Region.
The award was given to now District Deputy Shaun Rapske who was Grand Knight at that time.
I also congratulated the Council for earning the Star Council Award for 2024 - 2025. I then learned that it was the first time in over 20 years that the Council earned the award.
Current Grand Knight Dan Evans challenged the Council to earn the award again this Fraternal Year.
The Color Corps of St. Joseph Assembly #2211 proudly participated in the joyful celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of the Very Reverend James Jude Batcha. The event took place on Sunday, August 11th at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Flushing, MI.
Following the celebratory Mass, a reception was held where Worthy State Deputy Barry Borsenik and Worthy State Advocate Dan Fuller presented Fr. Jim with a special T-shirt signed by both current and Past State Deputies of Ukraine. This meaningful gift was connected to a fundraising initiative led by Fr. Jim’s council, Blessed Paul Gojdic Council 17509, which sold the shirts to support relief efforts for Ukraine.
Pictured with Fr. Jim Batcha (center), from left to right: Color Corps Commander Gene Richards, Don Fyock, PFN Don Pollard, Tom Roke, PFN Ken Lixey, Ed Smeader, PFN Jerry Mead, and PGK Mike Trundle.
Worthy State Deputy Barry Borsenik and Worthy State Advocate Dan Fuller present Fr. Jim Batcha with a signed t-shirt showing support for Ukraine.
