By: Michael A. Kozakiewicz -
Sun, May 11, 2025 6:13 PM
Bishop Gallagher Council 2569 in Royal Oak celebrated its 100th Anniversary recently. Worthy State Deputy Barry Borsenik is seen here presenting Grand Knight Timoty Gignac with a plaque from Supreme honoring the achievement!
Congratulations to all of our Brothers in Council 2569 for 100 years of continuous service to the Order!
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Leo, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Worthy Council Officers, District Deputies, Directors,
Hope all is well. New this year, we have been promoting the Hockey Challenge to councils across the state. Very similar to the Soccer Challenge, councils are encouraged to hold a council level event, and then encourage winners to participate at the state level.
All boys and girls ages 10 to 17 are invited to participate in the State level of competition for the 2025 Knights of Columbus Hockey Challenge. THIS YEAR ONLY: participants only need to compete in one prior competition event (council, district or Diocesan).
The State event will be held on Saturday, May 31st at the following location:
Holy Redeemer Parish 2700 Baldwin St Jenison MI 49428 Activity Center - Please use Door C
Registration at 12 pm Event Competition at 1 pm
Please contact the State Community Director if you have any questions Larry Herman 231-357-5621 l.herman@mikofc.org
We look forward to seeing you and your participants there.
God uses people, especially Knights, to help others in unexpected ways. A Brother Knight in Au Lac Council 10724 (we’ll call him Don) and a friend went fishing in the Detroit River recently.
On the way back to the launch they came upon a boat that looked like no one was in it. As they got closer they saw there was a dog in the boat. Then as they got even closer they saw a man crumpled down in the boat. They got close enough to hook the boat and the friend jumped into the other boat and discovered that the man (we’ll call him Ed) was having a stroke. The friend drove the other boat to the launch and Don followed him in his boat.
They got out and several people were just standing around. Don went to Ed’s boat to help him out. Ed wanted to call his wife and Don helped him find his phone in the boat. Ed was able to talk well enough for Don to understand him. Ed called his wife then Don talked with her and she was understandably hysterical about what happened.
Don got Ed’s car keys out of his pocket and EMS took him to the nearby hospital.
Don and his friend pulled Ed’s boat out of the water and took care of his dog. They called Ed’s brother and waited until he came.
Don said that it was a last minute decision to fish in the Detroit River that day.
They had been fishing closer to home recently but decided to try a different location on that day. It turned out to be a lifesaving decision by brother Knight Don and his friend for someone named Ed who they just happened to meet that day.
As we prepare for the 125 th State Convention next month this is a reminder that the “Pass the Hat” Aid & Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) Supreme incentive is back again this year. This will mark the third year of the Supreme Council’s initiative and incentive to support pregnancy centers throughout the Order.
Results from the “Pass the Hat” incentive for Michigan in the past two years have been wonderful. During this time councils, personal donations and the state council have combined to raise a total of $171,740. With the Supreme Council’s incentive of $36,800 has resulted in a total of $208,540 donated to Heart of Christ Clinic in Detroit. With the doors of the clinic open for only over a year and a half these funds were critical to its start-up and successful growth in the future.
Why is this important? All funds collected at the State Convention will provide our designated ASAP location, Heart of Christ Clinic, the necessary funds to continue providing Catholic based health care. This is the model for future Heart of Christ Clinics in other dioceses.
What can you do? Promote and vote (if necessary) on Pass the Hat funds at your council meeting.
What next? Have your check payable to: Michigan State Council, memo: ASAP.
Bring your check to the State Convention or mail to: Ed Strach, Life Director, 522 Berkshire, Saline, MI 48176 by Monday, May 12, 2025. I
If you have any questions, contact Ed at 734-476-6296 or email at e.strach@mikofc.org.
Let’s continue our work of Service and Optimism for Heart of Christ Clinic to Aspire to continue providing Responsible health care to those in need.
The 32nd annual Detroit Archdiocesan Vocations League (DAVL) dinner was held on Sunday night, May 4th at Zuccaro's Banquet Center in Chesterfield, MI.
Fr. Anthony Camilerri was the keynote speaker and gave a wonderful presentation about his own journey to the Priesthood as well as how vocations come from the family.
Over three hundred people attended, with Polish food being catered and raffles and prizes to help with the fundraising.
Chairman Greg Brunson and the committee did an excellent job with the dinner and presentations.
Council 1492 will be hosting a Pere Marquette Kayak/Canoe/Walk Pilgrimage on May 18th, the 350th anniversary of Pere Marquette's death.
For those that are kayaking, please bring your kayak and meet at the Pere Marquette Conservation Park boat launch by 12:15pm. We will start the kayak pilgrimage from there at 12:30pm, then kayak along the South shore to the Memorial Cross Shrine. We'll dress for the weather (bring a raincoat, shell, etc. if needed). With it being the anniversary, those who would like to dress in historic garb for the kayak trip, feel free to. We'll start the Rosary at the Pere Marquette Memorial Cross Shrine at about 1:30pm.
For those not kayaking, please meet at the Cross Shrine by 1:30pm. The wider community has been invited to be at the Cross Shine at 2:00pm. At that time we'll have a presentation with some dressed in historic clothing, have coffee and donuts, maybe have a parade around the Cross Shrine grounds, etc.. After the event, those who kayaked will kayak back to the Pere Marquette Conservation Park starting point.
