Cross Catholic Food Packing Event - Grand Rapids Diocese

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


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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

 

Gaylord Diocesan Free Throw Winners

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

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

 

9 year old Boys

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

 

10 year old Girls

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

 

10 year old Boys

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

 

11 year old Girls

1st Place – Amelia Thayer/Grayling

 

11 year old Boys

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

 

12 year old Girls

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

 

12 year old Boys

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

 

13 year old Girls

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

 

13 year old Boys

1st Place – Tate Zigila/Frederick     

 

14 year old Girls

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

 

14 year old Boys

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

 

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Patrick Oliver

Diocesan Membership/Program Assistant

 

 

2025 State Raffle Update

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
 
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2025 Respect Life Benefit Dinner

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


Join Us - Respect Life Benefit Dinner, Wednesday, April 2, 2025
By: Ed Strach, Sunday, February 2, 2025
 
Join us on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 for the 47th Annual Respect Life Benefit Dinner.  The joint sponsorship between the Michigan State Council Knights of Columbus and Right to Life of Michigan continues our partnership efforts to Defend Life from conception to natural death.
 
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See Lisa's personal invitation to the Knights of Columbus by clicking here

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2025 Grand Rapids Free Throw Contest

By: Randy Kinsey - Tue, Feb 18, 2025 7:19 AM


GRAND RAPIDS DIOCESAN Free Throw Contest 2025
By Randy Kinsey, Diocesan Program Director - Grand Rapids-North
 
The Grand Rapids Diocesan Free Throw Contest was held on Saturday,
February 8 th at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belmont hosted by
Council 13526. Sincere thanks to Jason Schwieters, and all the Knights and
District Deputies that volunteered to make the event a success.
 
Congratulations to the Winners!
 
BOYS
Age 9, Colson Basler, #944, 312
Age 10, Charles Curcio, 2975, 304
Age 11, Pratt Parker, 1492, 303
Age 12, Easton Schneider, 8071, 301
Age 13, William Albert, 8564, 312
 
GIRLS
Age 9, Marissa Harrington, 7869, 308
Age 10, Avery Courtney, 1300, 308
Age 11, Grace Hackert, 1492, 303
Age 12, Francesca Dolci, 13641, 313
Age 13, Joesie Russman, 2168, 301
Age 14, Isabella Keefer, 12258, 315
 
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Detroit Archdiocesan East Spelling Bee Winners

By: Ronald DePestel - Thu, Feb 13, 2025 3:26 PM


On Saturday February 8th, the Archdiocesan East Spelling Bee contest was held at St. Peters Church in Mt. Clemens.
 
We had 9 participants in the Level 1 Group (4th, 5th, 6th grades) and 3 Participants in the Level 2 Group (7th, 8th, 9th Grades).
 
The competition was great and the students did an outstanding job!
 
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Ronald DePestel - FDD, PGK
Archdiocesan Program Director East

 

2025 KofC Night at LCA

By: Michael A. Kozakiewicz - Thu, Feb 13, 2025 8:53 AM


On behalf of the State Deputy, the State Board, and myself, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who attended the recent Fraternal Knight at Little Caesar's Arena on February 8th. While the outcome of the game may not have been what we had hoped for, the true victory was in the spirit of fraternalism that the Knights of Columbus brought to the arena.
 
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Our next Fraternal Knight event is the State Tribute Dinner on February 22nd, in honor of our State Chaplain. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Executive Secretary Larry Grabowski at l.grabowski@mikofc.org.
 
Mark your calendars for Fraternal Knight at Comerica Park on August 9, 2025, when the Detroit Tigers will take on the Anaheim Angels. Stay tuned for more details to come.
 
Thank you for your continued support and participation in our fraternal events and may God Bless You all!
 
Michael Kozakiewicz
Chief of Fraternal Activities

 

 

2025 Michigan State Raffle

By: Kevin Rowley - Fri, Feb 7, 2025 6:40 AM


Thank you to all our Brother Knights who have sold or bought and returned their raffle tickets with check, to the State Office P.O. Box. You’ve done a great job!
 
Thanks also to all the brothers who have taken extra books of tickets to sell. Thanks to all of you, we’re off to a really good start again this year, raising much needed funds for our Michigan Charities and local councils.
 
"I’ve got a Golden Ticket” 100 Golden Tickets have been randomly placed in the State Charity Raffle envelopes mailed to each Brother Knight in the State of Michigan. Find a “Golden Ticket” and redeem it for a $50.00 Cash Prize. (See Golden Ticket for details)
 
"Early Bird Raffle Drawings " You have FOUR (4) chances to win $250.00 for a total of $1,000.00. Every single book of tickets includes an EARLY BIRD RAFFLE TICKET for sellers. The more books you sell the greater your chances to win. Simply fill-out and return the Early Bird ticket with your check and SOLD book of tickets. The Earlier you return your sold tickets, the more chances you have to win. Remaining Drawings: February 27th and March 27th.
 
Charities this raffle helps to support:  Angela Hospice, Bishop Baraga Association, Capuchin Community Center, Catholic Radio, Diocese of Michigan, Gianna House, Guest House, Heart of Christ Clinic, Madonna University, Most Holy Trinity Church, Right to Life Programs, Holy Cross Services, Special Days Camp, St, Francis Cabrini Clinic, St. Francis Camp on the Lake, St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Vocations Programs, Catholic High School Sports Programs (Prep Bowl, Catholic Cross Country Meet, Catholic Track Meet) Catholic Publications (Michigan Catholic, U. P. Catholic) And additional charitable causes addressed by the Michigan State Council.

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Please ensure all checks are made payable to:  
MICHIGAN STATE COUNCIL  
Knights of Columbus  
P.O. Box 1027  
Sterling Heights, MI 48311-1027
 
Kevin Rowley and Michael Haughey
State Raffle Directors