By: James Kelly - Sat, Mar 1, 2025 6:16 PM

Detroit West held its spelling bee on Sunday February 23 with several dozen children participating. Special thanks to Archdiocesan Program Director for Detroit West-South Bill Corey and Heather Shina, wife of Brother Knight Harry Shina of Council 8500 for judging, DD119 Andy Assenmacher for helping with registration, DD106 Michael King and DD116 John Schrot for helping to organize the event, SDRR Ray Bilyk for presenting trophies, my wife Stephanie Kelly for concessions, and the members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Council 3830 and the Holy Rosary Hall for hosting the event.

 

Very special congratulations to our winner for Grades 4-6 Ivanke Hamze (6th Grade - Sacred Heart) and runner up Elizabeth Mazur (6th Grade - St. Paul’s on the Lake) and our winner for Grades 7-9 Kishan Zelmanski (8th Grade - St. Paul’s on the Lake) and runner up Sebastian Lewandowski (8th Grade - Sacred Heart).

Vivat Jesus!

 

James Kelly, PGK, FDD

State Family Director

Michigan Knights of Columbus

By: Garret Kelenske - Sat, Mar 1, 2025 6:02 PM

On Saturday March 1st, Brother Knights and volunteers gathered at St John's Retreat in Plymouth for the Cross Catholic Outreach Food Packing event.

 

We had an incredible turnout of volunteers who showed up to lend a hand in packing 61,254 meals! Best of all, 7,038 of those meals stayed in the local community and were donated to the Capuchins!

 

Special thanks to State Secretary Charles McCuen and Lady Pam!

It was truly a remarkable day filled with compassion, teamwork, and the joy of making a difference. We are immensely grateful to everyone who came out and contributed their time and effort to this worthy cause. Together, we are making a positive impact on the lives of those less fortunate.

 

Lord, bless the work of the hands of our volunteers and donors...may this life-giving food nourish those who are most in need, both in body and spirit. As additional food packing events are being planned throughout Michigan, may we continue to spread love and kindness in Your Holy name, one meal at a time. Amen.

By: Ed Strach - Sat, Mar 1, 2025 5:37 PM

The 100th Ultrasound dedication ceremony marked a significant event in the Michigan Knights of Columbus continued support to Defend Life.

The 100th Ultrasound dedication took place on February 26th at the Oxford Pregnancy Center, Oxford and lead sponsor Fr. Thomas R. Carey Council #4764, Lake Orion. Through their leadership, and that of Jim Roback, Past Grand Knight, they were able to raise funds totaling $18,536, half of the required amount of $37,072 for the cost of this Ultrasound unit. Special thank you to the supporting councils and assembly and to the Livingston County Ultrasound Initiative for their significant donation. The dedication was made extra special by the presence of several Knights (pictured below) at the 1st Ultrasound dedication in Michigan at the Women Care Center in Jackson in 2009.

This Ultrasound placement was possible through the leadership of Fr. Thomas R. Carey Council #4764, Tom Tiffany, Grand Knight. The council was able to collect $18,536 toward the cost of the Ultrasound and the other 50% provided by Supreme Council Knights of Columbus totaling $37,072!

Supporting councils and assembly include: Monsieur AXM Assembly #477, Waterford Pope John XXIII Council #5436, Waterford Fr. Baumgartner Council #5452, Rochester St. Patrick’s Council #13319, White Lake St. Daniel Council #15967, Clarkston Sacre Heart of the Hills Council #8659, Rochester Hills St. Benedict Council #13485, Waterford

SOARing for Life!

By: James Kelly - Sat, Mar 1, 2025 2:23 PM

The Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest was a huge success this year, with councils from every diocese participating! We received hundreds of submissions and judging was very tough, but in the end we are pleased to announce the following winners:

Kindergarten Michael Jordan Council 6534
Grades 1-2 Pedro Yeshua Pena Sanchez Council 13930
Grades 3-4 Jacob Miles Council 13319
Grades 5-6 Bianca Frusciano Council 744
Grades 7-8 Elayna MacDonald Council 10724

Winners were forwarded to Supreme for the next level of the contest. Thank you to all who participated!

James Kelly, PGK, FDD
State Family Director

By: Robert Bagley - Wed, Feb 26, 2025 7:28 PM

FROM YOUR STATE FAITH DIRECTOR 

Brothers and Sisters

 

For the last few years I have given a warning that the government was going to try and get Assisted Suicide into our State. Well, this warning is starting to become a reality. On Monday March 10th the Michigan Alliance for Ethical Care is hosting a Town Hall on this subject at the Ryerson Auditorium at the Grand Rapids Public Library. Level 3 Main Library on 111 Library Street NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.

 

As I had said, Canada already has this atrocity. This goes against our Faith. Please plan on attending this Town Hall and hear for yourself. This is another way the Great Deceiver is trying to turn us against Christ! More attacks on the Family in this Spiritual Warfare. Attend and know what you are fighting against.

 

Not only do we need to attend the Living Rosary at the Capitol Lawn to Defend the Unborn but also to stop the MURDER by assisted suicide.

 

To attend please RSVP to miethicalcare@gmail.com and also see the Flyer below:

 

PAX

Bob Bagley

State Faith Director

 

 

By: Ken Warzybok - Wed, Feb 26, 2025 10:04 AM

Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 30th, and join the fun, food, and prizes at Top Golf in Auburn Hills in support of Mary’s Mantle!

Mary’s Mantle is a Catholic maternity home that provides a nurturing environment for expectant mothers to experience love and healthy relationships during their stay. The dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to help these women understand their roles as mothers and plan for their futures.  All of their work is guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ and carried out under the protective mantle of our Blessed Mother.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, and to register for this event, please click here

Thank you for your prayerful and generous support and making a difference in the lives of these mothers and their children!

By: Garret Kelenske - Tue, Feb 25, 2025 4:46 PM

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the Knights and councils who have generously supported us in raising funds for this weekend's Cross Catholic Outreach Food Packing event in the Detroit Archdiocese. Thanks to your contributions, we will be able to pack 60,000 nutritious meals for children and families in need.

Our upcoming Food Packing event will take place in the Grand Rapids Diocese, with the date to be determined as we continue to receive donations from individuals and councils.

If you would like to contribute, personal donations can be made to your local KofC council. Council contribution checks should be made payable to the Michigan State Council, with "CCO" indicated in the memo line. Please mail checks directly to:

State CCO Director Garret Kelenske

1439 Maple Ridge Street

Muskegon, MI 49445

Thank you for demonstrating your commitment to putting Faith into Action by supporting efforts to alleviate hunger both globally and locally through Cross Catholic Outreach. Your generosity is truly making a difference in the lives of those in need.

Vivat Jesus!

Garret Kelenske

State Cross Catholic Outreach Director

g.kelenske@mikofc.org

By: Patrick Oliver - Sun, Feb 23, 2025 6:19 PM

The Gaylord Diocesan Free Throw was held on February 23rd.  Congratulations to all who participated. Here are the Winners!

9 year old Girls

1^st Place- Kenzie Kincka/Posen       2^nd Place – Charley Barkett/Grayling

9 year old Boys

1^st Place – Bennett Manne/Tawas City      2^nd Place –  Quentin Johnson/Grayling

10 year old Girls

1^st Place – Jozlyn Kinka/Posen      2^nd Place – Braylee Hadd/Lewiston

10 year old Boys

1^st Place – Tyler Gajewski/Rogers City      2^nd Place – Roscommon

11 year old Girls

1^st Place – Amelia Thayer/Grayling

11 year old Boys

1^st Place -  Johnny Flynn/Harbor Springs      2^nd Place – Kasen Christopher/Lewiston

12 year old Girls

1^st Place – Alexandra Koss/Posen      2^nd Place – Kennedy Burkett/Grayling

12 year old Boys

1^st Place – Cameron Shiffer/Hillman      2^nd Place – Kallen Tunney/Grayling

13 year old Girls

1^st Place – MaKinzee DeFisher/Posen      2^nd Place – Veronica LaRose/Lewsiton

13 year old Boys

1^st Place – Tate Zigila/Frederick     

14 year old Girls

1^st Place – Elaina Flynn/Harbor Springs      2^nd Place – Peyton Hadd/Lewiston  

14 year old Boys

1^st Place – Juan Wing/Roscommon      2^nd Place – Landen DeVries/Posen

Patrick Oliver

Diocesan Membership/Program Assistant

By: Kevin Rowley - Sun, Feb 23, 2025 5:18 PM

State Charity Raffle 2025 UPDATES

 

EARLY BIRD DRAWING

We congratulate the $250.00 Early Bird Drawing winners for the months of December and January. December drawing winner Michael Myers of Canton Michigan and January drawing winner Keith Weber of Fowler Michigan. There are still two remaining opportunities to win $250.00 in our upcoming Early Bird Drawings, February 27th and March 27th. Find your charity raffle tickets envelope, sell your 12 tickets to family, friends and coworkers and turn them into the State Office for a chance to win $250.00 in the next two drawings.

 

A CHARITABLE CALL TO ACTION

Recently all State Officers, SDRR’s, District Deputies, Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries, received communication regarding the State Charity Raffle, requesting their active participation in motivating our 65,000 plus Michigan Knights of Columbus to sell their raffle tickets. We want to thank those State and Council leaders who have responded to this request and are happy to report that sales are heading in the right direction. District Deputies and Grand Knights in particular, your active participation in promoting our State Charity Raffle to the membership is the key to our charitable success. If we can’t get the message to our members to open their raffle tickets envelope, we have limited opportunity to answer the request for charitable assistance. Please contact your members via email, newsletters, at meetings, events and through phone calls to encourage them to sell their raffle tickets. Have you sold and turned in your raffle tickets?

 

FISH FRY / LENT

Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, welcomes the season of Lent and for many councils the annual Fish Fry season as well. Fish Fry is traditionally a great opportunity to sell our State Charity Raffle Tickets. We have posters, flyers and extra tickets available to those councils conducting Fish Fries or other Lenten programs where you may sell raffle tickets. Please contact us for more information.

ONLY $5.00 / SELL ONE KEEP $1

 

Two things recently a couple of our top sellers shared.

 

1. As you’re selling raffle ticket remind people that as the cost for almost everything has risen, our State Charity Raffle tickets have remained the same price for the past 20 years, only $5.00.

 

2. For every ticket your council members sell, your council receives $1.00. He uses the tag line “Sell One, Keep One.”

 

Thank you for all you do to promote our State Charity Raffle!

 

Kevin Rowley (k.rowley@mikofc.org)

Michael Haughey (m.haughey@mikofc.org)

State Raffle Directors

 

 

By: Ed Strach - Sat, Feb 22, 2025 9:16 AM

See Lisa's personal invitation to the Knights of Columbus by clicking here