Fr. Ryszard Kulma. A Few Words From Our Chaplain. St. Edith Stein Council Knights of Columbus. April 2014 Volume 1, Issue 3.

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1 April 2014 Volume 1, Issue 3 Inside this Issue A Few Words From Our Chaplain Fr. Ryszard Kulma April General Meeting Tuesday 4/8 A Message From Our Field Agent SK Henry Rangel Recent Events & March/April Calendar GK Corner SK Kevin Bradford Membership Report Knight of the Month Knights Run Texas Major Degrees Catholic Men s Retreat In Memory of Our Brothers Lenten Fish Fry 2014 All Knight Meeting Council Officers About the Knights of Columbus St. Edith Stein Council Knights of Columbus A Few Words From Our Chaplain Fr. Ryszard Kulma I am glad to write a few words for this edition of the St. Edith Stein Knights of Columbus bulletin. Father McGivney On Ash Wednesday we entered the new liturgical season of Lent. We started this season with holy fasting, so that as we take up battle against spiritual evils, so we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. This is the time to perform acts of charity and prayer. This is our annual retreat that should bring us closer to Jesus, and help us to be ready as we approach the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter. I also would like to use this opportunity to say thank you to all our Brother Knights for being so visible and active in our parish life. The range of the works of your charity is very wide: from directing traffic, cooking taco breakfasts, Fish Fry to organizing Blood Drives, helping our military, giving scholarships, and many others. Those acts of charity that you have been doing not only this Lent but all year around have been a blessing for me and for St. Edith Stein Catholic Church. Thank you for all your work and may God continue blessing you, your families, and St. Edith Stein. April General Meeting Tuesday 4/8 Because of the Lenten Penance Service on Thursday, April 10, our General Meeting for April has been moved to Tuesday, April 8. As usual, there will be a Rosary in the church starting at 6:30, followed by a meal prepared by the Blue Team. The meeting will start at about 7:30 in Carmel Hall. Come to the meeting on Tuesday for good food, good fellowship and to find out and help shape what is going on in our Council. The meeting will be a great time to join one of our Committees to help steer the future course of the Council: Church, Community, Council, Pro-Life and Youth Committees all need support! Do you have an idea for an article or would you like to submit something for a future issue of Knight Life? it to Rick Johnson at rixmail27@gmail.com.

2 A Message From Our Field Agent SK Henry Rangel, FICF, MDRT A Founding Notion: Protecting the Breadwinner s Income While jobs may be safer in 2014, accidents, injuries, and illnesses that can impact your ability to work still happen. Most, in fact, do not happen on the jobsite or place of employment. Did you know that a 2011 study revealed that more than 95 percent of the long-term disability claims on file were not work related? The Knights have always sought to protect members families from the loss of a breadwinner. I m sure you know all about Father McGivney s vision for our first insurance program. But you may not know that Father McGivney also wanted to find a way to help members who couldn t work because of an illness. After all, the loss of the breadwinner does not have to mean that person s death; it can also mean the loss of the breadwinner s income. Consider that loss for a moment. How would your family fare if a source of income suddenly stopped? Could a dual-income family manage on one income stream? What about young families with a working father and a mother who cares for the children? What if his income halted due to an accident or illness? I ve heard some people say they have coverage at work, but too many aren t sure what this coverage entails, how much income it would provide or for how long. Having this protection counts for something, certainly, but it isn t yours ; it s provided by the company for which you work at their discretion. It could be eliminated tomorrow. That s where a personally-owned disability income insurance product, like Armor, comes into play. It can offer valuable income replacement in the event of an injury or illness. If you have a job, you must know about this coverage. Fraternally, Henry (281) henry.rangel@kofc.org Recent Events All Knight Meeting 3/13 Thanks to all who helped put this event together, including cooks, decorators and entertainment. It was great to see all of the Brothers who came! Fish Fries Five Fridays have come and gone, and all were smooth and easy thanks to all the Brothers who have come out to help. This is a premier event for our Council! First Degree 3/20 It was great to see all of the Knights come out to welcome new Knights to our Order. Thanks to the Rangel Agency for a grand job! Pope Francis Documentaries Two memorable nights learning about the Holy Father. Thanks to the Knights who helped make them happen. Taco Breakfast 4/6 As always, plenty of help made this event go smoothly. April Chapter Meeting - Tue 4/8 General Meeting Tue 4/8, 6:30 pm Blue Team Dinner Fisher House Dinner - Wed 4/9 Fish Fry - Fri 4/11 VA Hospital Visit Sun 4/13 (Palm Sunday) TRIDUUM 4/17 4/19 Easter Sunday 4/20 Business Meeting Thu 4/24, 7:00 pm Parish Cookout Sun 4/27 After 11 AM Mass Popes JPII & JXXIII Canonization May Scholarship Interviews TBA State Convention Dallas 5/2-4 Bingo Night Fri 5/2, 6:30 pm Taco Breakfast - Sun 5/4 General Mtg - Thu 5/8, 6:30 pm Red Team Dinner Officer Nominations Stewardship Weekend Sat/Sun 5/10-11 Fourth Degree Exemplification Sat 5/10 Humble Mothers Day Flowers Sat/Sun 5/10-11 Chapter Mtg Tue 5/13 Fisher House Dinner Wed 5/14 Committee Mtgs Thu 5/15 Military Care Packages 5/17-18 Assembly Mtg Tue 5/20 St. Bart s, 7:00 pm Business Mtg Thu, 5/22 7:00pm Military Care Packages 5/24-25 Memorial Day Mon 5/26 Ascension Day Thu 5/29 Page 2

3 GK Corner SK Kevin Bradford, GK April is a time of renewal. As Christians we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord and throw off the shackles of suffering, sin and death. This month would be a good time to renew our commitment to our Order and recall our pledges as Knights of Columbus. We are a fraternal benefits society some 1.8 million members strong throughout the world. Let us strengthen that brotherhood first by committing to our families and making sure we have time for them. Let us then become more involved with our wider communities by serving those in distress or in need of a kindly word or deed. Let us not look inward but reach out to others. At last month s Diocesan Conference where some of the leadership gathered together, I was saddened to hear that on some Sundays there is not one Council from the entire Galveston-Houston Archdiocese that sends representatives to spend a few minutes with Catholic veterans who are in the hospital. For these who have given so much can we not share a little support, a good morning or thank you? Together with Fr. Emil Kapaun Assembly, we visit the VA Hospital every couple months or so just for a few short hours on a Sunday morning. I know many have other liturgical commitments on Sundays but for those who can spare the time I know that they will find it an uplifting experience. We do not dwell in the hospital rooms or pry into the lives of servicemen, but we do offer an ear to listen should they wish to talk. With greatest respect for the medical staff who aids these patients, it is a relief for these men to meet someone who is not going to poke them with needles or wheel them to a room for some procedure or other. Following the visits we join in Holy Mass in the hospital chapel and are back to St. Edith Stein before the 11am mass finishes. Our sign up sheet may be found online at or contact Sir Knights Ed Cabiro or Dave Larson for more information. Another great service is provided to families of those patients who stay at one of the two Fisher Houses. Every second Wednesday of the month together with some other great volunteers from our Military Care Ministry we provide a meal to families of those supporting loved ones who are spending time in the VA Hospital. We take their minds off their burdens as we play Bingo with them. For more information contact SK Alex Garza or Past Grand Knight Rick Johnson. Helping our veterans and their families is just one example of something we can do but we can also look around us let us remember our own brother knights who may be in need of our prayers and support. May we reach out to those who have been unable to come to a meeting or activity recently, so that they may find out more about what we are doing and what we can do for them, or what they can do to strengthen our Council. I wish you and all your families a blessed Easter and pray that our Council will be renewed by all the great works you do. Membership Report Membership Director Michael Masek Council continues to grow. During March, Ed Burke became the newest First Degree member of our council at a First Degree Exemplification held at our home council here at St. Edith Stein. Congratulations to Brother Ed on becoming a First Degree Knight. He was joined by new Brother Knight Christopher Pratt of Epiphany parish. Christopher's mom, Mary Pratt, is a parishioner of St. Edith Stein parish. Many thanks to the Insurance Degree Team headed up by Council Sir Knight Tony Rangel for a beautiful ceremony which reminded us of our first priority as Knights, the virtue of Charity. Many thanks also go out to those members of our council who attended the First Degree in support of our new Brother Knights. Michael Masek, Membership Director Page 3

4 Knight of the Month March Next time you see him, congratulate the Knight of the Month for Council 12955, Brother George Wohnoutka.. If you come to any KC event, you likely will see George. He was honored for his tireless dedication to the Knights, and his willingness to be one of the first to volunteer for any activity. As any active Knight knows, we wouldn t get anything done without people who pitch in and make it happen. George epitomizes the fundamental tenets of our Order: Charity, Unity and Fraternity. Thanks for all you do, George! Council Knights Run Texas Pictured above are the twelve members of the Sole Survivors, a long-distance running relay team who successfully completed the 203-mile Texas Independence Relay on March 29 th and 30 th. Team Captain Sam Holmes (a Sir Knight and Worthy Advocate for our Council) is pictured fifth from left, along with team members SK Abraham Kamara and Brother Sebastian Powell at the far left. About 150 teams ran from the historic town of Gonzales, TX to the San Jacinto Monument, following in the footsteps of General Sam Houston in The Sole Survivors started at 10:46 a.m. on Saturday 3/29, and finished at 3:20 p.m. on Sunday 3/30, for a time of 28 hours 34 minutes at an average pace of 8:26.6 minutes per mile. Major Degrees Congratulations to Rafael Gomez for completing his Major Degrees Ceremonial on Sunday, 4/6 in LaMarque! Page 4

5 Congratulations to the Knights of St. Edith Stein Council who attended the Catholic Men s Retreat March 7-9 at the Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center. In Memory of our Brothers As a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, upon passing to eternal life, a chalice is presented to the family to give to a priest, parish or mission in need. This beautiful gift memorializes a Sir Knight with their name engraved on it and the emblem of the fourth degree. At Emil Kapaun Assembly #2721 on April 2nd we presented Denise Lesak a chalice in honor of our departed brother and Sir Knight, Lin Lesak. Denise will let us know where this chalice will be sent. Additionally, Lin's name appears on the memorial plaque together with our dear brother Milton Bourdier. We remember all our deceased brothers and pray that they may share in the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Page 5

6 Lenten Fish Fry 2014 Hello Brothers, We have passed the halfway point of our Fish Fry. We are having a tremendous turnout from the Parish and from the Brothers. From a financial point of view, we are holding our own. Please continue to make sure to invite friends and family to join us for the final fish fry. Clark will have up-to-date financial numbers at the next general meeting. We continue to have support from wives, family and friends of the Knights for the fish fries. They stand alongside us and make the event as successful as it can be. Please take time to thank the Ladies and Gentlemen that help us. I am so proud of the Band of Brothers that make it a point to be involved in any capacity at the event. The leadership is made easy by the support of the Men that need little guidance due to the dedication and devotion to our Order. Please continue your support and make our Council proud. The Fish Fry has a unique way of making us stand out among the Parish. It builds a bond that is solidified within the Church and our Organization. Our Parish Members look at us with admiration because of our Service to Christ and our Church. May God Bless each of you and your families. Jessie Garcia, Fish Fry Czar All Knight Meeting A special thanks to Ann Bennett, wife of Brother Ron Bennett, for Decorating Carmel Hall for our annual All Knight meeting on March 13. Your efforts helped to make it a festive occasion for all of the Council Members who came out for an evening of good food, fellowship and fun. Thanks also to SK Ed Cabiro for organizing the entertainment for the evening, including his performance as a human basketball goal. Thanks to all who contributed to Organization of this special event! Page 6

7 Fraternal Year Grand Knight Kevin Bradford Deputy Grand Knight Alex Garza Chaplain Fr. Ryszard Kulma Financial Secretary Jim Roadarmel Chancellor Ed Cabiro Treasurer Clark McMurtry Advocate Sam Holmes Recorder Jeff Zarse Trustees Dave Larson Emil Stavinoha Jessie Garcia Warden Pat Hinson Inside Guard George Wohnoutka Outside Guard Fred Henneke Membership Director Michael Masek Retention Committee Chairman Ed Cabiro Church Director Michael Masek Community Director Alex Garza Council Director Rick Johnson Family Director Jessie Garcia Pro-Life Director Craig Ortega Youth Director Ed Cabiro Squires Chief Counselor Brian Powell Newsletter Rick Johnson About the Knights of Columbus Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity. The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works. The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities. The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. Want to Know More? Visit the following websites for much more about the Knights: KC Supreme Website: Texas KC Website: Galveston/Houston KC Website: Council Website: Interested in Joining Us? Contact Membership Director Michael Masek by phone at or at masekmichael@att.net or talk to any of the officers or other members of the Council. Page 7