By: Paul J. Palka - Sun, Jun 27, 2021 8:30 AM

We will be having our traditional Diocesan Meetings this summer  during July. All weekday meetings will have dinner at 6:00 pm, with an Exemplification at 7:00, with our meeting following. Grand Knights, Program and Membership Directors are asked to attend, along with any other council members who would like to know more about the coming year in our Order. We are looking forward to seeing you at these meetings.

                                      Diocesan Meeting Schedule 

By: Gary Merritt - Fri, Jun 25, 2021 12:01 PM

George J. McCarthy Council 2975 in Grand Haven, Michigan, consists of members from St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish, Grand Haven and St. Mary’s Parish, Spring Lake. Ours is not a large council by any means, but with dedicated members we have hosted several events and fundraisers.

Last year we lost long time member, and our council Advocate, Tim McGraw, Former State Special Olympics Director. Only months earlier, he’d lost his wife, Linda, to Alzheimer Disease. He and Linda were both avid supporters of Area 12 Michigan Special Olympics. Not only were they in attendance as state and regional events, they were key to the success and growth of our annual Snowflake Dance during the Christmas season for the special needs community, where they were known as Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

With our sources of income, Bingo, and summer rib and fish fry events on hold and the Lenten Fish Fry dinners approaching, the Board began to plan in December 2020, to prepare for the Lenten Friday night fish fry events with a similar venue to the summer drive up dinner sales. 

On Fish Fry Fridays, some volunteers arrived as early as 3:00 PM while others arrived hours prior to the sale time. After the sale required a cleanup crew tasked with cleaning the kitchen equipment which included a weekly sanitization of the deep fryers.

With the overwelming succes of the program, our Grand Knight, Robert Wassick, and former District Deputy, Bill Bernesser, encouraged our council to submit this endeavor to State Council for consideration of a State Program Award during the State Convention.

Did we win an award? Nope, but the time we Brother Knights and families spent together on this project, drew us closer together. It’s the way Tim and Linda would have wanted it. Besides, it’s how God works through us and in us. First, we understand Tim’s and Linda’s lives were rich with memories, both those they have already lived and those still in the making.

By David Bukala, Council Program Director, Chancellor and Lecturer.. He also serves as Faithful Pilot for the Bishop Baraga Fourth Degree Assembly. He is in his fourth year as a member of the Knights of Columbus.

By: John Hundiak - Fri, Jun 25, 2021 10:12 AM

The State Special Olympics programs are back in full swing (well, almost).  With all of the programs being impacted over the past 18 months, I thought a quick refresher about Special Olympics would help our Brother Knights understand what this program is all about. First, Special Olympics are about sports competition, but it is so much more.  The State Special Olympics programs include the following programs.

As you can see, Special Olympics is more than competition, it is a way for individuals to become more inclusive into society and for society to build relationships, at all ages, with the intellectually disabled communities.

Stay tuned for more information and schedules of events in Michigan,

John Hundiak State Special Olympics Director years 

By: Gary Merritt - Tue, Jun 22, 2021 10:52 AM

Our Council, #12186 sponsors a rodeo annually with the proceeds helping us fund our scholarship program along with different events throughout the year for our church and our community.

Our council’s budget is dependent on the rodeo which is our main fund raiser for the year. So, whatever we spend or donate will come from the rodeo proceeds.  Some the council’s larger donations include scholarships, supporting the church youth group, pantry, Christmas giving  tree, clergy formation, fallen knights, soldiers who return home with problems, local community events. We also support the church as unexpected expenses arise through the year. We helped both financially and physically with a couple of Habitat for Humanity projects.

In good years the event may raise over $50,000.00 with the council portion near $30,00.00!  Of course, the success is very dependent on the weather. In 2019 the event was shortened due to inclement weather and last year the event had to be canceled due to the pandemic. Good or bad we still have a lot of expense to the rodeo people themselves regardless of what is made in gate sales.

Manpower that is needed for the rodeo is a big issue. We start out early in the year securing financial help from our local merchants by selling ads for the rodeo book. This is usually done with around 10 key people. I did a quick survey a couple of years ago and the actual man-hours put in for the week of the rodeo figured to be well over 2,000. The actual rodeo usually takes around 40 people This is for food preparation and serving, parking, maintenance, crowd control. Setup and teardown usually requires  around 6-8 people. Not all those assisting are Knights or even Catholics. We use a lot of high school students and local residents. Many of these people help from start to finish. Without all the helping hands we would have a hard time making this happen.

Two years ago, a representative from Supreme came to observe and commented that he couldn't believe a little town like Gaines, Mi could put on this size event.

Unfortunately, this year we are not going to have an entertainment tent due to the lost revenue from the past 2 years,.

PGK 12186 Mike Gentry

By: Greg Brunson - Tue, Jun 22, 2021 9:24 AM

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Please - forms@mikofc.org

 fraternalmission@kofc.org 

I will be talking more about this at ALL Diocesan summer meetings.    Remember that what separates Major League batters from Minor League batters in baseball is the ability to hit the curve and Supreme Council likes throwing us curve balls.

 Thank you all for supporting vocations – it is one of the most important things we do as Knights of Columbus.

Greg Brunson, State Faith/Vocations Director Rise Up and Answer the Call!

By: Greg Brunson - Sat, Jun 19, 2021 12:18 PM

On May 15^th the All Saints Council 10501 in partnership with Knights on Bikes held a Bike & Custom Car Blessing at Holy Family Parish in Memphis – it was very successful!  The weather was fabulous, the turnout was great, and there were plenty of hot dogs and brats.  Everything was free will and all proceeds were earmarked for the Spero Pregnancy Center in Port Huron.  

On June 9^th the Spero Center had an open house and were presented at that time with a check in the amount of $1,500 (plus a $20 ‘on the spot’ donation….) from the Bike Blessing event earlier.  The money will be used for client ultrasounds over the next year, at no cost to the client of course.   At the open house Knights from Memphis 10501 saw firsthand how Spero saves lives and Defends Life each and every day.   It was an education for us all and illustrates how only 1 council can make a difference.    Pregnancy centers across the state are so appreciative of Knights of Columbus Councils who have Risen Up and Answered the Call.

State Faith/Vocations Director Greg Brunson

By: Ed Strach - Thu, Jun 17, 2021 9:28 AM

On a warm Tuesday afternoon on June 8^th the 68^th Ultrasound dedication took place at Immaculate Conception Parish in Three Rivers. This was a unique dedication blessing of a 31ft mobile unit that included a lifesaving Ultrasound graciously sponsored and lead by Pope Paul VI Council #4141, Three Rivers.

As the dedication proceeded the love of Christ became a common theme in the scripture readings and comments. Dcn. Mike McCloskey asked for support to name this mobile life saving unit the “Love Bus” as a following of the love of Christ and not to be mistaken by the love buses in the sixties.

Fr. R. Mathias lead a wonderful blessing of the Love Bus and Ultrasound that was followed by a check presentation to Dawn Bowen, Executive Director, Pregnancy Helpline Center. A plague presentation by Deputy Grand Knight John Stedman and Financial Secretary Larry Lalsh followed with congratulatory remarks by State Life Director, Ed Strach and State Warden, Jim Kraus.

Special thanks were expressed by Jim Highfield to the Livingston County Ultrasound Initiative and the following councils that supported this initiative to Defend Life.

St. Ann Council #13633                            St. Joseph Guardian of Mary Council #13749

Paw Paw Council #3798                           St. Mary’s Council #9962

St. Martin of Tours Council #13305           St. Basils Council #2594

Fr. Korst Council #2900                             Deacon Jerry Mix Council #2508

Fr. John V. Dillon Council #3447                Dowagiac Council #2113

St. Catherine of Sienna Council #6980      Fr. Owens Council #11114

St. Margaret Council #7796                       Immaculate Heart of Mary Council #1120

St. Augustine Cathedral Council #15439

Ed Strach Life Director

Michigan State Council Knights of Columbus

734-476-6296

By: Gary Merritt - Thu, Jun 17, 2021 8:46 AM

To view the latest Michigan Columbian click the logo below

By: Don Wesley - Thu, Jun 17, 2021 8:38 AM

Statewide Fraternal Benefit Event Wed Aug 18, 2021 7:00 PM-8:00 PM

LIVE Virtual Seminar with Joe Jordan

Inspirational Speaker and Behavioral Finance Expert

Registration will be limited

Register Now

Join us for an informative online presentation by inspirational speaker and behavioral finance expert Joe Jordan. Joe will discuss “Stress-Free Retirement Planning,” including how to plan for your financial future and a secure retirement. Joe believes in the mission of the Knights to protect families by providing economic security and stability. Only by helping others can we truly “Live a Significant Life.” Here are some of the topics Joe will cover:

1.     The importance of “Living a Significant Life” that goes beyond merely accumulating wealth

2.     Eight steps to financial security

3.     Capital markets explained in 5 minutes

4.     The importance of having a plan and a partner

5.     Why long-term care doesn’t have to be a financial nightmare

6.     How to turn hard earned assets into reliable retirement income

7.     Protecting your loved ones with life insurance

8.     Why patience pays when claiming Social Security

9.     Six risks to a secure retirement and how you can insure against them

His talk will give you new insights into your financial affairs without losing sight of your faith and values.

Joe’s special message to the Knights

 Joe is a Catholic, a Knight, and a member of Legatus, a Catholic CEO organization. For three consecutive years, he has been honored by Irish America magazine as one of the "Top 50 Irish Americans on Wall Street."

He was inducted into the Fordham Football Hall of Fame and has played rugby for the New York Athletic Club for 30 years

We look forward to Joe’s presentation on Wednesday, August 18^th, at 7:00 PM ET.

By: Gary Merritt - Sun, Jun 13, 2021 9:54 AM

In his remarks, Supreme Knight Kelly emphasized the example of St. Joseph as a model of Catholic Knighthood.

Read the Supreme Knight’s Address       

Read the entire article from Supreme News

Warch the Supreme Knights message HERE.