George and Vicki Master and First Lady. Knights of Columbus. Patriots for God and Country. Volume 1, Issue 3 December 2012

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1 Knights of Columbus Patriots for God and Country Volume 1, Issue 3 December 2012 Worthy Brother Sir Knights and Lovely Ladies of Michigan District II This special edition of the Patriot is to say thank you for all the support you have shown Lady Vicki and I since we took the helm of Michigan District II, and to wish each of you a very Blessed and happy Christmas celebration and the best that 2013 has to offer. Next Meeting Saturday, Jan 19th, :00 am Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Michigan Center This is the time of year when we tend to reflect, thinking of family and of the year all but gone past as we prepare for the Celebration of Christmas and the start of another year. A new year filled with the uncertainty of the future, hope, plans along with those new year resolutions. As we reflect and think about this past year, most likely things did not turn out quite as good as we had hoped a year ago, the economy has not yet bounced back, and our dollars do not seem to go quite as far as they used to, some have had health issues and others have experienced the loss of a loved one, yet somehow we find ourselves once again heading into Advent and a time of reflection and preparation. A time to get into the Christmas Spirit, a time to put behind us the disappointments of 2012, and to look forward to the Celebration of our Lord s Birth. It is important, as Catholics, we do not get hung up in to whether Christ was born on December 25 th, or there were animals in the Manger, or Angels singing on high, but rather the lesson of Christ s short time on earth, that being to Love and bring peace to those we touch in our daily lives. As Catholics we are special in this secular world and especially this time of year when all roads do tend to lead to Rome, or more precisely the Vatican. Interestingly our world today views the Vatican and the Catholic Faith as the center of Christianity, maybe because of the daily struggles in the Holy Land the world tends to look past it and the small manger in Bethlehem as the root of Christianity. However, as Patriots for God and Country it is our task especially at this time of every year to remind people that there is a very real and special reason for this season; that being the Child born 2000 plus years ago in that tiny manger, our Lord, Jesus. This year let us be politically incorrect and simply say Merry Christmas or May you have a very Blessed Christmas season. Maybe if this message spreads and God hears us remembering Him and His Son as the Reason for the Season, then just maybe he will smile once again on our great nation and it will be a truly happy New Year. Newsletter Editor: SK Ken Watterson aarrdy@sbcglobal.net Again from Lady Vicki and I, may you have a Very Blessed Christmas Season, and may the New Year be filled with God s Blessings and Peace. George and Vicki Master and First Lady As to those New Year s Resolutions : How about resolving to pray one Rosary a week for our Nation, that she may be healed and grow in God s Light.

2 Brother Knights and Ladies of the 4th Degree 2 Vivat Jesus! I pray that all of you have a blessed and joy-filled Advent season. In centuries gone by, Advent was closely linked to Lent, with both seasons marked by periods of fasting and self sacrifice. Now, this season is more about feasting and we save the fasting for another time. To help all of us 'keep the Christ in Christmas,' perhaps we could add a little Lenten flavor to Advent trying to pray more, sin less and treat people better. Maybe some of the money we would normally spend on lavish gifts for our family and be given to a charity, helping the helpless to have a Merrier Christmas this year. This is also a season where we hope for peace, that the nations of the world may turn swords into ploughshares. That dream became a reality during the height of the Great War, later known as World War I. The German and British troops fighting to the death against one another at Ypres, Belgium in 1914 sought a truce that lasted for all of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that year. When the mortar shells stopped firing and the guns were laid down, the Christian men from both sides met in 'no man's land' between their trenches and exchanged simple gifts -- some rations, a little tobacco, pictures from home, they drank a toast together and tried to sing the traditional Christmas hymns from their homeland. Unable to find a single song both sides know in their native tongue, they settled on the traditional 'Adeste Fideles,' 'O Come All Ye Faithful' in Latin. I have told this story many times. It did not end the war. The fighting resumed the next day, many of those men would die, some of them would end up killing some of the very men they sang with under the Belgian sky that cold December night, but, for one night that little baby from Bethlehem, meek and lying in a manger, once again proved himself a King of Kings and a Prince of PEACE, convincing grown men to throw down their weapons in his honor. May the birth of our newborn Prince of Peace, and the promised return of our king in glory inspire us to be peacemakers this Christmas, especially in our homes and families and even in our 4th degree assemblies. Merry Christmas! Fr. Tim MacDonald District Friar Faithful Friar

3 3 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40) After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47) Michigan District II Event Calendar Brother Knights, We are assembling a Traveling US Flag Display that will remain the property of District II and will be used in various 4th Degree functions. If you have a 5x10 Military Funeral Flag that you are willing to donate, please contact Master George Walrath or SK Ken Watterson. Be Assured that this Flag will be Handled Respectfully and Displayed Patriotically..

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6 Michigan District II 7045 Country View Jackson, Mi Knights of Columbus Hennepin Province This Newsletter is published to our Website at by the 1st week of every odd Month. Please contact SK Ken Watterson at if you have any problems. Membership: Souvenir Books: VAVS Program : Color Corps: Newsletter & Website: For all other questions: Contact Information Sir Knight Gayland Meeks at or meeksgm@acd.net Sir Knight David Buick at or dbuick@cablespeed.com Sir Knight Gus Groat at or jngroat@gmail.com Sir Knight Bill Currie at or CURRIEWMM@aol.com Sir Knight Ken Watterson at aarrdy@sbcglobal.net (after addressing them with your Faithful Navigator) Master, Sir Knight George Walrath george.walrath@saint-gobain.com Please remember the Chain of Command and check with your Assembly contacts first. Announcing the Michigan District II 65 th Exemplification of the Fourth Degree April 5, at the Lansing Lexington Hotel In combination with Saint Gerard Parish For more information come to the District Meeting on January 19 th