By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 9:38 PM

Worthy Knights, spouses and friends from St John Neumann Knights of Columbus Council 7115 in Holland attended Right to Life of Holland's annual Focus on Life Benefit Dinner on Tuesday, October 20, at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville.

They were joined by members of Our Lady of the Lake's Celebrate Life Ministry, along with parishioners from Our Lady of the Lake and St Francis de Sales.

Standing for the dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death, is at the heart of the Knights of Columbus. Supporting local pro-life organizations like Right to Life of Holland is one of the ways councils across Michigan put that commitment into action in their own communities.

The Knights of Columbus welcomes practical Catholic men to join in a brotherhood of faith, charity, unity and fraternity. Men interested in joining are encouraged to contact their local council.

Submitted by Gary P. Pullano.

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 9:19 PM

On Friday evening, October 23, Brother Knights of Anchor Bay Council 5981 handed out cider and doughnuts to families at the New Baltimore Trunk or Treat on Washington Street. The council sponsored the cider and doughnut station as its gift to the community.

"Beautiful evening handing out cider and doughnuts at the New Baltimore Trunk or Treat!" wrote Brother Knight Dale Valliere. "Thanks to all the Brothers in the council for sponsoring this community event!"

Left: Steven Jewell (left) and Dale Valliere at the council's sponsor sign. Right: the donuts and cider table on Washington Street.

Events like this are a simple way for a council to be present in its hometown, meet local families and show what the Knights of Columbus are about. Well done, Anchor Bay Knights!

The Knights of Columbus welcomes practical Catholic men to join in a brotherhood of faith, charity, unity and fraternity. Men interested in joining are encouraged to contact their local council.

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 8:28 PM

Chesaning Council 2943 donated 150 coats for kids on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The coats were shared equally among three local schools, with 50 going to Chesaning Elementary, 50 to St Charles Elementary and 50 to New Lothrop Elementary.

The donation is part of the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program, which provides new winter coats to children in need. Thanks to the generosity of Knights and their supporters, 150 children in the Chesaning area will have a warm coat as the weather turns colder.

Jerry Birchmeier shared the news with the council's Facebook group. Thank you to the brother Knights of Chesaning Council 2943 and everyone who helped make this donation possible.

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 8:16 PM

Au Lac Council 10724 in Ira Township hosted a Euchre party fundraiser on Friday, September 25, 2026. Over 40 people attended the event.

The money raised will help fund the many charitable activities of the council. Thank you to everyone who came out to play cards, enjoy an evening of fellowship and support the work of the Knights.

Fundraisers like this one are an important way Knights of Columbus councils support their charitable work in their parishes and communities. They also give Knights, their families and friends a chance to gather and enjoy one another's company.

The Knights of Columbus welcomes practical Catholic men to join in a brotherhood of faith, charity, unity and fraternity. Men interested in joining are encouraged to contact their local council.

Submitted by Grand Knight Mark Kehoe.

By: Thomas Kendziorski - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 5:47 PM

Members of Pope St John XXIII Council #5436 manned the Knights of Columbus information and recruiting table at the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD) Human Dignity Formation Day and "White Mass" for Healthcare Professionals forum. The event was held at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Council #5436 serves Our Lady of the Lakes parish in Waterford, MI. Its members volunteered to operate the KofC recruiting table at the event, making information about the Knights available to those in attendance.

The Knights of Columbus welcomes practical Catholic men to join in a brotherhood of faith, charity, unity and fraternity. Knights are proud to stand in support of the dignity of every human life, which made this event a natural place for the Order to be present.

Pictured from left to right: Michael Mandziuk, AOD East Evangelization and Faith Formation (EFF) Director, Financial Secretary (FS) and Past Grand Knight (PGK); Council #5436 Lecturer Mike Swillum; Council #5436 Trustee and PGK Kevin Wisely; and joining them, State Deputy Diocesan Representative (SDDR) for AOD West Ray Bilyk.

Submitted by Tom Kendziorski, PGK, FDD, State Deputy Diocesan Representative (AOD East).

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 5:32 PM

Bows, arrows and plenty of smiles filled the gym at Immaculate Conception School in Ira Township on October 20, as the Youth Archery Program supported by Au Lac Council 10724 kicked off its season. The kickoff was well attended, with young archers lining up along the shooting line, foam targets set up across the floor and volunteer instructors on hand to coach every step.

Grand Knight Mark Kehoe shared the good news with the council and thanked the volunteers who made it possible: Joe and Theresa Whitenight, Ashley Sebastian and Carl Scheer. Their time, patience and know how got this program started, and Mark noted that it “promises to be a big success.”

Now in its second year, the program is growing with the backing of the council. As Ashley Sebastian put it, “The 2nd year is even bigger and better thanks to the generous support of our Knights!”

The photos tell the story. Instructors work one on one with young archers, showing them how to hold a bow, nock an arrow and draw with care. Kids wait their turn along the line, take aim together, and then head downrange to pull their arrows from the targets. Safety, focus and encouragement are on display in every shot.

Programs like this are at the heart of what it means to be a Knight. Our Order has always been committed to youth and families, and few things build confidence, discipline and friendship quite like learning a new skill alongside caring adults. By supporting this program at a local Catholic school, Council 10724 is helping young people grow while bringing families together in their parish community.

Congratulations and thank you to Joe and Theresa Whitenight, Ashley Sebastian, Carl Scheer and all the Brother Knights of Au Lac Council 10724. Keep up the great work, and may this season hit the bullseye!

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 5:17 PM

On Saturday, October 17, the priests at the Senior Clergy Village in Livonia were treated to a feast of Pork Tenderloin Roulade with all the trimmings, including tiramisu for dessert. The meal was prepared and served by the brother Knights of Dearborn O'Kelley Council #3860.

This dinner was not a one-time event. The Dearborn O'Kelley Council #3860 provides dinner every other month for these most worthy priests as a thank you for their many years of service. The men who call Senior Clergy Village home have spent their lives celebrating the sacraments, preaching the Gospel, and caring for the faithful. For the Knights, sharing a good meal with them is a small way of giving something back.

The afternoon brought council members and volunteers into the kitchen in their green council aprons, plating the meal and keeping things moving, while the priests, joined by a religious sister, gathered around tables set with autumn placemats to enjoy dinner and conversation. It is a simple act of hospitality, but it carries a clear message: the service of these priests has not been forgotten.

The Knights of Columbus was founded by a parish priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, and support for our clergy remains close to the heart of the Order. Ongoing efforts like this one show charity and fraternity at work in a very personal way, one plate at a time.

The council's next dinner at Senior Clergy Village is scheduled for December. Thank you to the Knights and volunteers of Dearborn O'Kelley Council #3860 for honoring our priests with your time, your cooking, and your gratitude.

By: Charles E. McCuen - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 10:33 AM

Our Worthy State Deputy Charlie McCuen has a message of encouragement for every Brother Knight and every Lady across Michigan, and he is asking all of us to pass it on.

In a note sent to the Michigan Knights of Columbus on Monday, October 19, 2026, Charlie shared that our state leadership is united and ready to lead. "Our State Chaplain Fr. Paul has joined forces with First Lady Pam and Charlie, the State Deputy in our bid to be all we can be in the Michigan Knights of Columbus," he wrote.

Together, State Chaplain Father Paul Ballien, First Lady Pam McCuen and Charlie are setting a bold goal for our jurisdiction. "It will be great to be leading the Order, as only Michigan should, by the Winter Organizational Meeting with a huge surge in inviting men and their families to join!"

That surge starts with a simple invitation. Every one of us knows a Catholic man from our parish, our workplace or our own family who would be a great Brother Knight. Charlie reminds us that we already have what we need to reach him. "Let's use our Programs and Values as Catholic leaders to show us the way!"

Our programs give men and their families a real way to live out their faith, serve their parish and community, and grow together. When a man sees Knights at work, whether at a fundraiser, a Mass, a family event or a service project, he sees what membership means. The best recruiting tool we have is simply living our principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism, and then asking him to join us.

Most of all, Charlie wants us to remember that none of us does this alone. "When we work as a team we cannot lose. Pass it on!"

That spirit of teamwork is at the heart of Michigan's Big Four, Spirituality, Membership, Communication and Accountability, and of the State Deputy's theme, "In the One, We are One." When councils, assemblies, districts and state leaders pull in the same direction, there is no limit to what Michigan can do.

So this week, take Charlie's challenge to heart. Invite a man and his family to your next council meeting or event. Share this message with your council. And let's show the Order what Michigan can do by the Winter Organizational Meeting.

Ready to invite a man to join? He can become a member online at kofc.org using promo code BLESSEDMCGIVNEY for free online membership.

As Charlie closed his message, "Thanks for all you do for Michigan."

Vivat Jesus!

By: Matt Hoxsie - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 7:45 AM

Harrison Butker at Chiefs training camp in St Joseph, Missouri. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Lunn, via DVIDS (public domain).

Football fans know Harrison Butker as the reliable right foot of the Kansas City Chiefs. The three-time Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII and LVIII) set a Super Bowl record with a 57-yard field goal in February 2024. What many fans may not know is that he is also a brother Knight.

Butker joined the Knights of Columbus as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech and has been a member since 2015. When he kicked a game-winning field goal in his first career game with the Chiefs in 2017, the Supreme Council congratulated "brother Knight Harrison Butker, member of Council 14496," the Georgia Tech college council. Today kofc.org features him as a member and college council alumnus.

His return to the faith began in college. A teammate, punter Grant Aasen, pointed him to the Catholic Center on campus, where the chaplain answered his questions. "My conversion, my reconversion back to the faith, really started with the sacrament of reconciliation," Butker said. Both friends went on to join the Knights, and Aasen later served as best man at Butker's wedding. Their story is told in the Knights of Columbus video series "Everyday Heroes." You can watch it on the Knights of Columbus YouTube channel: "NFL Super Bowl Champion Harrison Butker Finds Catholic Faith, Friendship" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRFqqP5D0_Q

"I really enjoy the fraternal aspect of these Catholic men coming together," Butker said. "These are all a bunch of Catholic guys trying to live out their vocations. To have that to unite us, I think creates a lot of great friendships and bonds."

In 2020 he spoke to the Order's 55th annual College Councils Conference. He told the young Knights that the morning after winning the Super Bowl, he still had to take out the garbage. "The greatest impact that I will make with my time on this earth is remaining dedicated to my primary vocation, helping my family get to heaven," he said. He challenged them to show "what a Christ-centered life looks like put into practice," and added, "Men need to play active roles within our Church, and I believe being a Knight is a great start."

Butker lives that faith at home and on the road. He has served at the altar at Mass, and during the season priests celebrate Mass for him the night before away games. Each evening he leads his wife, Isabelle, and their children in the rosary, and the children are learning their prayers.

Brothers, his witness is a reminder that every Catholic man, whether he plays on Sunday or sits in the pew, is called to live his vocation with conviction and joy. If you know a Catholic man who is looking for that kind of brotherhood, invite him to join us at kofc.org/joinus.

Vivat Jesus!

By: Matthew Wierzgac - Sat, Oct 24, 2026 7:04 AM

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, Father Bill Ashbaugh and the St Thomas the Apostle Catholic community in downtown Ann Arbor opened wide their doors and their hearts to the pro-life community as they again hosted a Pro-life Mass and Eucharistic Procession as part of the Ann Arbor 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign.

An estimated 125 people of all ages attended the Mass, including members of the pro-life community, parishioners of St Thomas the Apostle, and a small delegation of Sir Knights from the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, who brought up the gifts during Mass.

Following Mass, Father Ashbaugh, Deacon Rich Badics of St Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor, and Deacon Larry Gjernes of St Joseph in Ypsilanti led the Eucharistic Procession, with Sir Knights of the Honor Guard walking beside the canopy. More than thirty participants of all ages walked the almost two-mile route on a cold fall day, onto the University of Michigan Diag and through the streets of Ann Arbor. Along the way, women bowed and made the Sign of the Cross, and a gentleman tipped his hat in respect.

The procession paused on the front steps of St Thomas the Apostle to pray a Litany for Life, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, before entering the church for Benediction.

Thank you to Father Bill, Deacon Rich, Deacon Larry and the St Thomas the Apostle community for hosting, and to the Sir Knights of the Honor Guard who joined this public witness for life.

Reported by Sandie Weathers, Campaign Director, 40 Days for Life Ann Arbor. Submitted by SK Matt Wierzgac, State A/V Director.