The Knight Line. Grand Knight s Corner. St. Ignatius of Loyola Council 12853, Division #4 Holy Family Parish, 4848 Pearl Ave., San Jose, CA 95136

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1 The Knight Line St. Ignatius of Loyola Council 12853, Division #4 Holy Family Parish, 4848 Pearl Ave., San Jose, CA Issue 157; February 2019 Editor: Gary Miskimon Grand Knight s Corner ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA COUNCIL #12853 Grand Knight Mark Williams markrw50@gmail.com Chaplain Rev. Celso Singson csingson@dsj.org Deputy Grand Knight TBD Worthy Brothers, As I struggle to come up with a topic this month I find my thoughts lingering on aspects of my failed attempt to have a New Year s Eve party. There are many things that might be discussed about what I didn t do right and what I could have done different and better. But those are subjects for a different day should we try to do New Year s next year. What struck me was how guys wondered why I didn t quit trying to get the event going. But as Father Andrew has told us recently, the new pews didn t come from heaven. The new pews came from a community banding together and working hard towards a common goal. I don t know whether I started too late, or pursued the wrong event, but there was too little banding together to get this event off the ground. I ll do better next time, and will ask if perhaps we try something next time. There is the notion of not giving up just because something is hard. It has become too easy for so many to not try hard, or to quit too easy. Many worthwhile things are difficult to achieve or do, and Chancellor Don Nordloff don_nordloff@hotmail.com Recorder Brad Vandehey Brad_vandehey@yahoo.com Financial Secretary Toby Laufer Theatretec@yahoo.com Treasurer Chuck Blalock cblalock@pacbell.net Lecturer Jon Bosco Yak_for@hotmail.com Advocate Marv Lewis marvlewis408@gmail.com Warden James Lucarotti lucarotti@aol.com Inside Guard Eric Bateman Ericjbateman@hotmail.com Outside Guard Joe Franco alarmsys2001@yahoo.com 3-Year Trustee Len Piazzon lepazz@hotmail.com 2-Year Trustee Rich Carlson rj_carlson@att.net 1-Year Trustee Eugene Okafor Gene_okafor@sbcglobal.net Program Director TBD Activity Directors: Membership Steven Sayle S4sayle@yahoo.com Faith TBA Family TBA Community Ernie LaScola blesern@reagan.com Life Eric Bateman Ericjbateman@hotmail.com Columbiettes President Delana Romero (408)

2 Grand Knight s Corner (Cont d) sometimes it is the difficulty that makes it worthwhile. We shouldn t continue to our own detriment. We should be smart enough to know when to understand that sometimes the answer is no. As we say our prayers, and as I prayed for the event to be a success and for people to sign up, sometimes the answer is no. As I stood there Mass after Mass trying to sell tickets, I was joined by some brothers who were helping me. One of the brothers asked me what the chances were of selling enough tickets to have the event and I told him, It would take a miracle. With my next breath I then began speaking about the plans for the event. When asked why I would be making plans for an event that it would take a miracle to have, I responded that if the miracle came, I wanted to be ready. It would after all, seem pretty rude to pray for a miracle, get it, and not be ready. Vivat Jesus! Mark Williams Grand Knight St. Ignatius of Loyola Council #12853 Pope Francis' February prayer intentions Universal Say No to Corruption That those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption. Jesus Christ: The LIGHT of the world On the 2 nd day of February we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple. The fortieth day after the birth of Jesus and the day of Mary s purification after giving birth, which the law rendered her unclean and reinstate all her legal privileges. This is also called the Candle Mass since the blessing of candles is included in this liturgy. This Feast invites us to reflect on Mary and Joseph as a couple who embark a long journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem to fulfill the tradition mandated by the Law of Moses to offer the firstborn male child to the Lord. (Exodus 22:29) Here comes a couple who respect the Mosaic Law and faithfully practice their faith in God by offering their child to Him. They are a good example for parents in nurturing their children to the practice of the faith. When Jesus entered the Temple with His parents, His presence made a difference to the life of Simeon and Anna. Two venerable elderly people who dedicated their life through prayer and fasting. Their strong spirituality led them to recognize the presence of the Messiah. Jesus presence is worth dying for as Simeon is willing to die having encountered the Savior, which simply completed and satisfied all his longings. Jesus satisfies. Chaplain s Message

3 Chaplain s Message (Cont d) Then Simeon prophesized, Now my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people, a LIGHT for revelation to the gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2:30-32) Jesus is the light that brought us out from the darkness of sin to the light of life eternal. Let the light of Christ shine in your life and radiate it to everyone you meet along the ways all the days of your life. Brother Knights, be the light of Christ in your life. Be an example of living in the light with a life of honesty, sincerity and faithfulness to God s commandments. I challenge you to be honest husband to your wife and father to your children. And be honest also to your job, even if no one sees, because God knows everything you do. May the Blessed Mother Mary & St. Joseph be your guides in your journey to Jesus. God bless you. Fr. Celso Singson Chaplain ANNUAL CATHOLIC CITIZENSHIP ESSAY CONTEST Brother Ernie LaScola, Chairman of our annual Catholic Citizenship essay contest, has announced the awards. This year s theme was: How does your family keep its Catholic Faith in Action? Selected as the best essays reflecting this theme were 3 of our Eighth Graders: Uyen-Thy Ngo 1 st place, Alexandra Cordero 2 nd place, and Hazel Mulinyawe - 3rd Place. The winning entry for our Council s Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest at Holy Family Education Center is attached and all three award winning essays can be read on our K of C website - Please read and enjoy; they address a topic of great current interest! IS YOUR INSURANCE ENSURED? Calculate This! Life insurance is something too many of us don t often think about, but your financial plan is NOT complete without it. Also, if you haven t started to think about that financial plan, a life insurance policy is a quick and easy part of the plan to consider. How much life insurance is appropriate for your family? We are all different, so the K of C insurance guru s developed an easy-to-use insurance calculator. Enter some basic information on your family s resources, debt and expenses, current coverage and your estimate of your future income needs, and the calculator will estimate your needed coverage. Find the life insurance calculator at: kofc.org/insurance Do your plan and the insurance calculations along with your wife. Part of that planning process is the absolute need for creating wills for both of you, or to review your wills, or consider if you would benefit from a Living or other Trust Agreement establishing your wishes to beneficiaries. Complete your planning by executing an Advance Health Care Directive and filing it with your health care service and those you entrust with those decisions. Vivat Jesus, Gary Miskimon, PGK Editor Second Collections in February: February 3 rd Bldgs & Grounds February 10 th Community Center/ Youth Hall

4 OUR COLUMBIETTES Birthdays in February Everyone is invited to the Columbiettes First Annual Mardi Gras Dinner & Dance Celebration Saturday, March 2, 6:00-10:30 p.m. At Holy Families Community Center Tickets are only $35 per person Columbiettes Fundraising Supports: St. Vincent de Paul Grateful Garments Holy Family Youth Ministry Village House Women's Rotating Shelter Our Retired Nuns Douglas Allen 2/1 Federico Cortez 2/4 John Marks 2/8 Thomas Lancaster 2/10 Tom De Hoyos 2/13 Fr. Andrew V. Nguyen 2/17 Eladio Cruz 2/18 Steven Sayle 2/19 Tim Wheeler 2/26 Robert Chubb 2/28 DAVID GOMEZ RECEIVES KNIGHT OF THE MONTH AWARD Monthly Trivia for February: The only month that can pass without a single full moon! It s the shortest of 12, so we fill it up with neat events: Tet, Groundhog Day, Valentine s Day, Presidents Day, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Black History Month, Chocolate Lover s Month, American Heart Month (too much chocolate??), and National Dental Month (Sugary chocolate?). Brother David Gomez receives the San Jose Chapter s Knight of the Month award from District Deputy Eugene Okafor & Grand Knight Mark Williams at our January Business meeting.

5 PRAY DAILY FOR OUR PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS Seminarians not in Pastoral Years are studying at Mundelein Seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois (30 miles north of O Hare Airport, Chicago) February 1 Rev. Mr. John Hoang, Theology 4 February 2 Rev. Mr. Victor Trinidad, Theology 4 February 3 Rev. Andrew Vu Nguyen February 4 Mr. Robain Lamba, Theology 3 February 5 Mr. Angelbert Chikere, Theology 3 February 6 Mr. Manuel Barrios, Theology 1 February 7 Mr. Joseph Nguyen, Theology 1 February 8 Mr. Joseph Tran, Pastoral Year February 9 Mr. Tony Famave, Pastoral Year February 10 Rev. Celso Singson February 11 Mr. Robert Lamorena, Pre-Theology 1 February 12 Mr. Ryan Mau, Pre-Theology 1 February 13 Mr. Duy Nguyen, Pre-Theology 1 February 14 Mr. Ricky Ferrer, Pastoral Year February 15 Rev. Mr. John Hoang, Theology 4 February 16 Rev. Mr. Victor Trinidad, Theology 4 February 17 Most Rev. Patrick J. McGrath February 18 Mr. Robain Lamba, Theology 3 February 19 Mr. Angelbert Chikere, Theology 3 February 20 Mr. Manuel Barrios, Theology 1 February 21 Mr. Joseph Nguyen, Theology 1 February 22 Mr. Joseph Tran, Pastoral Year February 23 Mr. Tony Famave, Pastoral Year February 24 Most Rev. Oscar Cantú, S.T.D February 25 Mr. Robert Lamorena, Pre-Theology 1 February 26 Mr. Ryan Mau, Pre-Theology 1 February 27 Most Rev. Patrick J. McGrath February 28 Mr. Duy Nguyen, Pre-Theology 1 Support our seminarians with notes or letters to these men preparing for ordination at Mundelein. Write to them using the following address: [Name of Seminarian] Mundelein Seminary 1000 E Maple Ave, Bldg 300P Mundelein, IL Upcoming Events Sunday, February 3 Pancake Breakfast 7:30-11 am Community Center Thursday, February 7 Business Meeting 7 pm Youth Hall Saturday, February 16 Simbang Gabi Dinner/Dance Fundraiser 6 10 pm Community Center Monday, February 18 Washington s Birthday (US), President s Day (CA) Parish office & School closed Tuesday, February 19 Columbiettes Board Meeting 6:30 pm Hope Room Tuesday, February 26 Portola Assembly (4 th Degree) Meeting 6:30 9:00 pm - Santa Maria Hall Thursday, February 28 Columbiettes Meeting 6:30 pm Youth Hall Thursday, February 28 Officer s Meeting 7:00 pm Hope Conference Room Saturday, March 2 Mardi Gras Dinner/Dance Fundraiser 6 10 pm Community Center Sunday, March 3 Pancake Breakfast 7:30-11 am Community Center Thursday, March 7 Business Meeting 7 pm Youth Hall

6 FEBRUARY THOUGHTS If we use these concepts to supplement our outlook on dealing with others, would we be any different? Young Catholic Professionals - Silicon Valley (YCP) encourages working professionals in their 20s and 30s, single or married, to 'Work in Witness for Christ.' YCP welcomes professionals who may not be Catholic, but are interested in learning about the Catholic faith. YCP s Executive Speaker Series continues Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 9:00 pm featuring Bishop Oscar Cantú, Coadjutor Bishop, Diocese of San Jose. Join the members at St. Williams Church, 611 South El Monte Ave, Los Alto. Interested or want to share with friends/family members who are in this age group? Go to: membership@youngcatholicprofessionals.org Catholic Professionals Mass & Breakfast: Catholic Professionals meet Thursday, February14 th. Mass at 7:00 a.m. Breakfast & Networking: 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m.: Rev. Kevin O Brien, J.J., J.D., S.T.L. TOPIC: The Human Faces of Immigration My Walk with Migrants as a Jesuit and Educator Location: Three Flames Restaurant Banquet Hall 1547 Meridian Ave., San Jose (north of Hamilton Ave) Reservations for the Speaker & Breakfast: $18 Members, $25 Non-Members (Brother Knights are being offered the Member price! RSVP: 1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything. 2. Do not think it worthwhile to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light. 3. Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed. 4. When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, try to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory. 5. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you. 6. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric. 7. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter. 8. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it. 9. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness. Bertrand Russell

7 SAVE THE DATES: Saturday, March 16 Knight s St. Patrick s Day Dinner Community Center Letters to the Editor None received in January Whew! Send comments, complaints and your suggestions for future topics to PGK Gary Miskimon macvguy69@gmail.com, or the Knights mailbox at the Parish or text to: (408) Membership Director Steven Sayle: Always keep an Interest Card handy they are in the church vestibule for you, along with our latest Council newsletter and the What Have We Done This Year? fact sheet. Help by inviting your friends and newcomers you meet at Coffee & Donuts to the St. Patrick s Day Dinner. Program Director Mark Williams: Our meetings are on the 1 st Thursdays, unless preempted by a major Church activity or Special Notice. Activities asking for your volunteer support include: Volunteering in one of the areas such as helping at our Columbiettes Mardi Gras event or at our St. Patrick s Day Dinner in March. Contact Brother Mark on any of these. St. Ignatius of Loyola Council Calendar of Key dates and Service Program Events: FEBRUARY 2019 MARCH APRIL 4 th Degree Exemplification Santa Rosa Double Tree 2/2 Pancake Breakfast 2/3 Business Meeting - 2/7 Admissions Degree - 2/16 Washington s Birthday/ Presidents Day 2/18 (Office/School closed) Officer s Meeting 2/28 Mardi Gras Dinner - 3/2 Pancake Breakfast 3/3 Business Meeting - 3/7 St. Patrick s Dinner - 3/16 Officer s Meeting 3/28 Cesar Chavez Day 3/31 (Office closed 3/29) Business Meeting - 4/4 Pancake Breakfast 4/7 Good Friday 4/19 Holy Saturday 4/20 EASTER 4/21 School Vacation 4/19-26 Officer s Meeting 4/25 MAY JUNE July Business Meeting - 5/2 Pancake Breakfast 5/5 Mother s Day 5/12 Memorial Day 5/27 Office & School Closed Officer s Meeting 5/30 Pancake Breakfast 6/2 Business Meeting - 6/6 Father s Day 6/16 Officer s Meeting 6/27 Independence Day - 7/4 (Office Closed July 4-5) Business Meeting - 7/5 CHANGED from Thursday Pancake Breakfast 7/7 Officer s Meeting 7/25 Nominations from all Knights for our Knight of the Month & Family of the Month and suggested Articles for February s The Knight Line are due by Friday, February 23

8 Author: Uyen-Thi Ngo First Place Award A Family of Faith Although God will forever be present in each moment of our lives, it is hard to believe what the eye alone cannot see. People tend to solely base their faith off of sight, oblivious to the fact that true vision comes from the heart and mind. There are so many signs of God's existence in the world, whether those are simple acts of love or fragments of creation itself. It is only a matter of hope that keeps us anchored to the formation of these beliefs. Anchors, however, are not certain to be permanent- at times, they fall loose from the sand, causing a ship to slowly float further away into the massive ocean blue. As Catholics, our mission is to keep our anchors firm by following Christ in our everyday lives and extending His community with actions of love. To teach us the real meaning of faith, God gifts us with our families. A family is God's way of bringing the presence of Jesus into our lives for us to understand the feeling of love and the virtue of respect. He surrounds us with people who are always there for us; people whom we both teach and learn from. In my family, we work to keep our values and faith alive by constantly reminding each other to always put God first in our lives. We incorporate positivity into each day by encouraging each other to live as Jesus has taught us. Although my mother is a poor believer, the rest of us try in our best ability to teach her the meaning of Christ's existence. Whenever we are given the chance, one of us gives her a pep talk on the importance of following in the footsteps of Jesus and believing for the sake of not only ourselves but the people who surround us. "Just believe, Mommy," we urge. "Remember who you live for- God. Life is so much easier when you believe. You know there's a friend who's always at your side." Then, my dad would usually turn on the K-Love radio station. We would praise the Lord in song; dancing and singing our hearts out until my mom would force us to stop. We do not take her weakness in faith as a burden but instead as an opportunity to extend our discipleship. After all, we are called to spread the will of God as followers of Jesus. Putting effort into building the foundation of my mother's beliefs has proven to be the glue of my family itself. By fully trusting in God's plans for the future, we unite to celebrate the improvements in my mother's faith and to give thanks for how fortunate we are. My Dad and I constantly remind each other to ask God for the well-being of others and make it a habit to pray every night. No matter how difficult reality is becoming, the two of us manage to maketime for prayer with the knowledge that people are experiencing conditions ten times worse. We surprise ourselves every day with the mysterious works of Jesus and the way He answers our prayers. Although my family's faith is scattered, my mom, dad, sister, and I continue to hold onto our relationship with God, even when the doubts at the back of our minds leave us hanging by a thread.

9 Being Catholics, there is always a point in life when we feel our relationship with God slipping away due to self-doubt and discouragement. Though my family and I have so much faith in each other, our commitment to how we carry this out in the real world sometimes fails to meet up to the fantasies of our words. Jesus's teachings are powerfully inspiring to us, yet my dad and I are the most faithfully-driven people in my family and still slack off when making an effort as followers. A number of Catholics refuse to engage in interactive religious activities; centering themselves around simple prayers at home and making the occasional donation to charity. This is very relatable for my family, as none of us have any nameable position in the Church or community except for being followers, citizens, and occasional donors during the holidays. Nevertheless, we still make an effort to attend Mass as a family. We believe that contributing a single hour of our time to God each week is a small but necessary contribution. God tells us to use our abilities to our fullest potential, and both of my parents have truly committed to encouraging us to do so by having us attend Holy Family School. They sacrificed so much in order for us to become better followers of Christ and good-natured people. In return, my sister and I know the only way to give back to them is to share our faith in order to cultivate theirs. The two of us enjoy sharing the weekly Gospel and the lessons we have learned in religion class. Again, a family is there for us to both teach and learn from every day. A society is built upon these values. Even with the endless number of doubts we have about God's presence, we know that family is the one thing keeping us anchored to our faith. And, with that being said, faith is what keeps us all anchored as a community of followers. By being true to what is really important, my family works hard each day to keep our anchors firm and our connection secure. Believing in each other and offering the support and encouragement needed is enough to make any family followers of Christ.