Grand Knight's Message. Fundraiser Fun for Seminarians. Kneeler Project. Spring is Around the Corner. Grand Knight Deacon Kevin Mukri

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1 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL NEWS Monsignor Thomas M. Wells Council Volume 9, Issue 6 #13008 Silver Spring, MD February/March 2011 Grand Knight's Message Grand Knight Deacon Kevin Mukri Spring is Around the Corner February ushers in an intense period for our council. Meeting, reports, and projects are all going on even with the inclement weather. Don t think a little snow will slow down the Knights of Monsignor Wells Council. The Council Trustees John O Donnell and Dave Czarnecki, along with our Deputy Grand Knight Marvin Schuttloffel and I, met to review the council books and conduct our semiannual council audit. The good news is that every thing is in order and our council has the finances to support the many important projects we are involved in. Our Worthy Financial Secretary Paul Sannneman and our Worthy Treasurer Dave Keefe did their normal thorough job of accounting and processing council funds. We seldom thank Paul and Dave for their efforts and the outstanding job they do for us. So much we do as a council is dependent on council funds and Paul and Dave ensure that the funds are managed properly so there are never any issues on how much funds are available. On behalf of the council, I want to thank Paul and Dave for their commitment to the Knights of Columbus and our council. Looking ahead, Deacon Mike Bond is coordinating adinner at 5 Guys at the Aspen Hill Shopping Center on the evening of Wednesday February 23. The council will receive 20% of purchases accompanied by a Council flyer that evening for our seminarian fund. More details will follow soon. I want to thank Deacon Mike ahead of the event for contributing to the council in spite of the many demands on his limited time. Perhaps the best way to thank Deacon Mike would be for all of us to take our families to dinner at the 5 Guys on February 23 to ensure that the seminarian fund drive is a great success. Fundraiser Fun for Seminarians On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, from 5:30-8:30 pm, join us at Five Guys-Aspen Hill Town Center for our Seminarian s Fund fundraiser. Five Guys will donate 30% of all receipts to Msgr. Wells Council #13008-Knights of Columbus. Although they are not calorie-free, their burgers, hot dogs, and fries are rated "Washington s Best" by Zagat s (and the shelled peanuts are free!) Be sure to bring a copy of the attached flyer with you and try to get twenty or thirty of your closest friends and relatives to do the same, especially if they are prospective members; we ll provide free Form 100 s. If you forget to bring them (flyers or forms), don t worry; we ll have plenty available at the door. It promises to be a great time for family fun and fellowship. We ve invited our parish priests, seminarians, and brother Knights from other councils as well. Be sure to wear your council red shirt to help brighten up the evening. Please contact Associate Chaplain, Deacon Mike Bond for more information at mbond@adwdeacon.org or (cell).* Kneeler Project John H. O'Donnell, Kneeler Project Chairman We are coming down to the end of the project just about 2 more weeks and we will be done This week the work crews are on Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:30 and Sunday 2 to 4. Activities this week include marking and cutting vinyl, installing padding and fabric and working the punch list of kneelers needing repair or corrections. Hope you all can make it especially on Wednesday.* Because the 5 Guy dinner is on the same day the council normally holds its social meeting, we will resume our social Grand Knight Message continued to page 2 Knights Of Columbus 1

2 Grand Knight Message continued from page 1 gatherings on March 23. Our Worthy Lecturer Tom Beck is planning some terrific talks in the coming months. Tom has organized two talks which the council has really enjoyed. Please plan on attending the next talk. You will not be disappointed. The talks are normally minutes followed by a council social which gives us a chance to just chat and catch up. Our Past Grand Knight John O Donnell reports that we are half way through the pew repair. John has done the lion share of the work thus far. His injury to his hand has slowed him down, but this has given us the opportunity to pitch in. Many Knights have assisted John. I ask all of you to check your s as John announces the times and dates for pew work parties. We are in the closing stretch, so let s all pitch in and help John to complete this important council project for Saint Andrew s parish. Worthy Warden (Coach) Bill Taylor reported a very successful council sponsored youth free-throw competition. I wish to thank Bill again for his top-down management of the council s youth athletic programs. Our council athletic programs are among the best in the District and even the State due to Bill s commitment. March will also start the process for the election of officer s for the council s next Fraternal Year. Please consider serving the council as an officer and throw your name in the ring. Our Knight of the Month is Dave O Keefe. Dave is a real rock for the council and the award is well deserved. I hope all are surviving the snow and that we can soon retire our snow shovels. Stay warm and stay involved.* of our Catholic faith. Every February at St. Andrew Apostle, the Scouting community celebrates Scout Sunday. As every Boy Scout knows, the twelfth and last point of the Scout Law is A Scout is reverent. What better time to re-commit ourselves to reverence to God. As Knights, reverence to God should have a deeper meaning for us. Beyond acknowledging God as our omnipotent and omniscient Creator, our deep and personal love for God should manifest itself by our living our lives in accord with His will. Lent offers us a time for spiritual introspection and examination of conscience. In doing so, we must first acknowledge that we, as sinners, are powerless against evil by ourselves alone. Our reverence for God should compel us to sincere humility. Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season, leads us to that end by reminding us that we ourselves are no more than ashes and dust. On our own, we are unworthy to be co-heirs in Christ to God s kingdom. God s over-abiding and never-ending love for us makes it so. His mercy, grace, and forgiveness are the harvest of our repentance. This Lent, let us commit ourselves to deepening our reverence to our Lord. Let our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving include spending time in Adoration, daily Mass, frequent confession, and unselfish giving of our time and talent, in addition to our treasure. As disciples and Knights, we should sincerely invite the men of our parish, as well as their wives, and families, to be part of the Knights of Columbus--a century-old American Catholic tradition of family service. * Chaplain's Message Deacon Michael Bond for Chaplain Msgr. Michael Mellone A Lenten Renewal of Reverence Are you planning to give up something for the coming Lenten season? For many Catholics, this annual ritual often tends to go the same way as New Year s resolutions. Indeed, many may consider it an occasion for a do over to re-commit ourselves to a New Year's resolution that we have already blown just six weeks or so into Perhaps we should focus such time and efforts on a recommitment to some of the basic tenets Knights Of Columbus 2

3 C O U N C I L #13008 OFFICERS: Chaplain Chaplain Emeritus Associate Chaplain Grand Knight Deputy Grand Knight Chancellor Warden Recorder Financial Secretary Treasurer Advocate Lecturer Outside Guard Trustee(3) Trustee(2) Trustee(1) CHAIRMAN: Program Director Church Activities Dir. Community Activity Dir Council Activities Dir Family Activities Dir Youth Activities Dir Vocations Chairman Membership Director Recruitment Committee Retention Chairman Tootsie Roll Chairman Pro-Life Couple Health Services Newsletter Editor Webmaster Msgr. Michael Mellone Rev. Joseph Kennedy Deacon Michael Bond Deacon Kevin Mukri Marvin Schuttloffel Marc Ramsey William Taylor William Bolin, PGK Paul Sanneman David Keefe Marc Ramsey Michael Caruso Werner Moeller Prosper Youm John O Donnell, PGK David Czarnecki, PGK Marvin Schuttloffel John O Donnell, PGK William Bolin William Taylor Deacon Michael Bond Wayne Miller, PGK William Bolin, PGK Wayne Miller, PGK Paul Sanneman John O Donnell Stephen & Beth Nichols Harold Tarver Dave Czarnecki David Keefe June Knight of the Month Chancellor David Keefe.* February Birthdays Chaplain Msgr. Michael Mellone on the 5 th ; George Hardman on the 6 th ; Carl Stitz on the 9 th ; Dennis Gorres on the 10 th ; Fred Gorschboth on the 14 th ; David Keefe on the 16 th ; and Russell Barrett on the 22 th. Also, Erin, wife of Jeffery Sylvester on the 19 th ; and, Elesa, wife of FN, PGK Wayne Miller on the 25 th.* February Anniversaries Trustee, PGK Prosper Youm and his wife Josephine celebrate their twenty-sixth on the 25 th.* Remember In Your Prayers Your prayers are requested for Sherry "Bud" Cowen, PGK, PFN, who died yesterday afternoon. Bud was a Past Faithful Navigator of Cardinal O'Boyle Assembly and a long time member of Fr Rosensteel Council. He was a Past Grand Knight of Fr Maher Council before transferring to Fr Rosensteel about 25 years ago. M E M B E R S H I P M E E T I N G S All council meetings are held in the KoC Meeting Room in the old convent. Officer s meetings are held at 7:30 on the first Wednesday of the month. Business meetings are held at 7:45 on the second Wednesday of the month. Social meetings are held at 7:45 on the fourth Wednesday of the month. February Meetings Feb 02 Officer s meeting 7:45 PM Feb 09 Business meeting 7:45 PM Feb 23 Social meeting 7:45 PM March Meetings Mar 02 Officer s meeting 7:45 PM Mar 09 Business meeting 7:45 PM Mar 23 Social meeting 7:45 PM Marvin and Mary Ann cranking out another kneeler Knights Of Columbus 3

4 Monsignor Wells Message [From the Pastor s Desk, Spiritual Reflections by Msgr, Thomas M. Wells] Catholic Giving: The Cardinals Appeal March 12, 1995 There was a time when giving to the poor seemed, somehow, easier. We may chuckle about giving money to ransom the pagan babies that Catholic school classes of the fifties collected for and named by the thousands, but we knew that dedicated missionaries were giving their lives to bring the Good News to needy people. Or closer to home, most Catholics were near enough to their own immigrant roots that they could identify with families, often fleeing from Communism, who needed help to get started in a new country with its strange language and economic demands. Likewise, when we saw the poverty of Appalachia, the memories of the Depression and its devastation sparked a willingness to try to help. These were our kind of people, in the sense that we perceived that they shared our goals of family, hard work and self-reliance. It is so different now. The twin curses of drugs and the sexual revolution have brought about a poverty that is no different than the hard but understandable press of economic hard times. In addition, we see some of its effects in the street people who are apt to be in any neighborhood, and often, the way they press for money makes anyone question how effective is anything given to the poor. Even immigrants seem so different than we knew in earlier times (though to be certain, anti-immigrant sentiment is not new to this country). In this environment, the Cardinal's Appeal is taken up this Sunday. The Church reminds us, through the collection, that we are not allowed to isolate ourselves from the weakest of the Lord's brothers and sisters, no matter how unattractive they seem. The Church must be involved with the homeless, especially when we recognize that so many of them would formerly have been institutionalized because of mental and emotional disorders. The Church must continue to try to make Catholic education available to the poor; parish schools cannot become slightly less expensive private schools for the middle class. The Church must try to make marriage and other types of counseling available to those of modest means: their lives are as stressed as those who can afford expensive help. The Church must seek to serve the rural poor who, because they are isolated and without political clout, can be ridden. All these things and so many more the Church tries to do with what we contribute to the Cardinal's Stewardship Appeal.* Insurance Agent's Message Bob Callaway, LUTCF, FICF Retirement Income You Can t Outlive. People are living longer today than in any other time in history. While this is certainly a good problem to have, it creates a new worry for those facing retirement: what if I outlive my savings? How does a retirement income that you cannot outlive sound to you? This sounds pretty good to most members and this can be true if you open a Knights of Columbus annuity, which is designed to provide guaranteed long-term security. As a knight, you can open a retirement annuity for as little as $300. Consistent and disciplined savings placed into this annuity over time can guarantee you an income at retirement that you cannot outlive. Couple that guarantee with the fact that no one has ever lost money put in a Knights of Columbus annuity (remember, absolute safety of principal) and you will have peace of mind. Don t forget contributing money an annuity will allow you to save some money on your income tax return. And our annuities offer a very competitive interest rate, consistent with our primary goal of absolute safety of principal. These benefits are similar to those of an IRA or similar product, but ours is backed by the strength and financial stability of the Knights of Columbus. At your convenience, I will happily meet with you to explain in detail the benefits of selecting our annuity, along with the benefits of our top-rated life insurance and long term care insurance plans. As you consider options as you proceed toward retirement, think about one thing guaranteed to help you and open a Knights of Columbus annuity. I m at or rjcalla@gmail.com talk.* Fraternally, Robert J. Callaway, FICF, LUTCF Call me let s Knights Of Columbus 4

5 Reflections Lawrence P. Grayson Unto Caesar, Unto God In October s Reflection, we discussed the consonance of two concepts of Catholic teaching -- the dignity of the human person and freedom with responsibility -- with core principles upon which America was founded. Here we will discuss the accord that exists on two other concepts: the balance between union and separateness, and the relationship of church and state. This nation was formed as individual states united. The 13 colonies did not possess sovereignty of their own. They owed their existence and legality to Great Britain. When they declared themselves to be Free and Independent States, they did so as the united States of America. After gaining independence, they adopted the Articles of Confederation to enter into a firm league of friendship with each other. The confederation of separate sovereignties did not work, and in 1789 was replaced by a Constitution that formed a single nation. In doing so, the states surrendered their external sovereignty in matters of war and commerce, but maintained their internal sovereignty with regard to their individual citizens. Thus, as citizens of the United States of America, we are citizens of both the nation and the state in which we reside. We are subject to the laws and regulations of the federal government, which apply to all people throughout the nation; we also are subject to the laws and regulations of our home state, which may differ from those of other states. In an analogous, but not identical manner, the Catholic Church reflects diversity within unity. Oneness is the very essence of the Church. As St. Paul said in his Epistle to the Ephesians, there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. The unity was established and is maintained by Christ, who reconciled all men to God by the Cross. St. John tells us that Jesus, at the time of his Passion, prayed for His disciples, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also be in us. universally power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered. The liturgical and ecclesiastical aspects of the Church, however, are not universally identical. Although the Church is one in its body of faith and in its supreme governance, when the Apostles went forward to teach the Gospel to the Corinthians, the Galatians, the Colossians, the Thessalonians, and others, they encountered people of different cultures, historical understandings, and social practices. As a result, although they taught a single body of faith, there evolved a variety of ecclesiastical disciplines, liturgical rites, and spiritual heritages, which were proper to the local churches. Today, the local churches or diocese are governed by bishops, who are the successors of the Apostles. They exercise their pastoral authority over the portion of the Church assigned to them. Their authority, operating in communion with the Pope, is definitive in their own dioceses. Thus, Catholics are members of a diocese and are subject to its practices and the authority of the local bishop, as well as members of the universal Church and subject to the supreme authority of the Pope. American political principles and Catholic teaching also coincide on the relationship between church and state. In the ancient world, religion and the state were inseparable. The emperor stood as head of both. Religious practices were developed and mandated to support the political strength of the state. With arrival of Christianity, a doctrine of dual authority arose. When asked whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus replied: Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar s and unto God the things that are God s. This distinction spread with the growth of Christianity and gained formal pronouncement in a letter from Pope Gelasius I to Emperor Anastasius in 494. The Pope identified a separation of powers, with priests being subject to the emperor in secular affairs, and the emperor being subject to religious leaders in spiritual matters. It recognized that there is a God who is superior to the emperor, and a divine law which is reflected in nature itself that supersedes any man-made edicts. This division was fundamental to the development of Western society, and is a dominant principle in America s founding political philosophy. The state and the church exist as distinct entities, neither merged one with the other nor one subservient to the other. Religion is meant to be separate from government, but not excluded from the public square. The Church has one ruler, Christ, whom the Father made as head over all the church. Before He returned for the Father, however, Christ appointed a visible head for the Church when He said to Simon, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. Peter s mandate and authority have been handed down to his duly appointed successors. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, the pope, as Peter s successor, has full, supreme, and Reflections continued to page 5 Knights Of Columbus 5

6 Reflections continued from page 4 Many American colonies were settled to gain religious freedom. When America declared its independence, the Founders could have proposed a totally secular state, especially with the diversity of religious groups that were resident. They recognized, however, that to create a government of the people required a strong moral foundation in society, which could be maintained only through the practice of religion. In order to assure that religion would not be infringed upon by government, the Founders separated church and state. But convinced of the importance of religion to the state, they wished to allow individual denominations to practice and promote their own religious beliefs. The protection of religion was set forth in the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prescribes that the government shall not interfere with the right of the people to practice religion by either supporting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. In this manner, the political and religious spheres are meant to be distinct. The state is not to interfere in the activities of the church, and the church is not to dictate policy to the state. The First Amendment does not mean that any mention of God or the expression of religious beliefs cannot be made in the public sphere, but rather that the state is to remain neutral toward religion, neither promoting a given set of religious beliefs nor interfering in their practice. We are blessed to live in a country in which Catholicism has thrived, where we can practice our faith openly. But freedom is fragile, and once lost is rarely regained. As Knights of Columbus, our individual vigilance and organizational voice is needed to maintain that freedom. * Brother Knights: Abortion is the key moral issue of our day, and Maryland is a leading pro-abortion state. It has some of the most lenient laws on abortion in the nation. That is why late-term abortionist, LeRoy Carhart, recently relocated his clinic from Nebraska to Germantown, Maryland. He and other abortionists throughout Maryland must be stopped. With the recent changes in Congressional leadership, the negative publicity about Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry, and the dramatic conversion story of Abby Johnson, there is an increasing favorable public attitude toward the right to life. Your help and prayers are needed to continue this shift and end abortion in our own neighborhoods, our state, and our nation. On Ash Wednesday, 243 cities -- reaching from coast to coast in the United States, plus eight other nations -- will simultaneously launch local 40 Days for Life campaigns. This international effort will be conducted from March 9 through April 17, coinciding with the season of Lent -- and will be the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization to date. Abortion, as the church tells us, is an "intrinsic evil" that can never be tolerated. It can only be overcome if there is a spiritual as well as temporal effort in this cause. Every aspect of the 40 Days for Life campaign -- prayer, fasting, and vigil efforts -- begin and ends with God. That is why it will be effective. Every Knight and his family can do something. While the most visible component is a peaceful vigil outside a local abortion or Planned Parenthood facility, prayer and fasting are equally important. Whether you join a vigil for one hour once a week or only once, whether you pray and fast at home, or pray in church, your help is needed. If you have never prayed outside an abortion facility before, you are not alone. At least one-third of prayer vigil volunteers for 40 Days for Life have never done so. There are five locations in Maryland where there will be vigils at abortion clinics. Help at one of them. BALTIMORE The Hillcrest Clinic (located at 5602 Baltimore National Pike, Catonsville, MD) is one of the longest operating and busiest abortion facilities in the Baltimore area. The goal is to have fervent prayer at the site of the Clinic, six days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To learn more, contact the local leadership team: Johanna Coughlin , johanna.coughlin@archbalt.org Ann Boland , vigil@bolandgroup.com Linda Brenegan , Life@archbalt.org COLLEGE PARK Metropolitan Family Planning, 5915 Greenbelt Rd, Berwyn Heights, MD To learn more, contact Thomas Trunk, (301) , 40daysforlifeMD@gmail.com GERMANTOWN Germantown Reproductive Health Services, Executive Park Terrace, Germantown, MD This is Knights Of Columbus 6

7 the site of the late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart. Success here will gain national attention. To learn more, contact Andrew Glenn, HAGERSTOWN Hagerstown Reproductive Services, 160 West Washington Street, Hagerstown, Maryland To learn more, contact Andy Haines, (304) , SILVER SPRING Planned Parenthood, 1400 Spring Street, Silver Spring, Maryland To learn more, contact For more information about the national campaign go to Free Throw Winners Bill Taylor - Youth Activities Director We had another good turnout (31 participants) for the Council Free Throw Championship on 1/25/11, but we did not have any girls participating this year. In addition to certificates, t-shirts were provided to all participants to commemorate our annual event. The Council winners were: Stephen Smith 14 y.o., Marco Torchia 13 y.o., Micky O'Neill 12 y.o., Alex Beard and William Alvarez tied for the 11 y.o. and Charlie Beard was the10 y.o. winner. A shoot-off will be scheduled to determine a winner for the 11 year olds. * Support the Sanctity of Marriage Write you state senator expressing your opposition to SB 116, a bill that would redefine marriage in our state. Click on this URL to take action now 28&c=&u=capwiz.com%2Fmdcath%2Fhome%2F. * Knights Of Columbus 7

8 March 2011 Monsignor Thomas M. Wells Council #13008 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Officers Meeting 7:30PM Business Meeting 7:45PM Social Meeting If you have an address, please send it to the editor at: david@czarnecki.com Council Newsletter Msgr. Thomas M. Wells Council # Claybrook Drive Silver Spring, MD Change Service Requested ««AddressBlock»» Zip code not valid! Knights Of Columbus 8