Knight Life. Fr. Donnelly Assembly 566. In service to One. In service to all. Volume 14 Number 5 September / November, 2017.

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1 Knight Life Fr. Donnelly Assembly 566 Fr. Bernard J. Donnelly Assembly Memo from our Faithful Navigator Greetings Ladies & Sir Knights, Please mark your calendars now and plan to join us for our Memorial & Corporate Communion Mass on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 9:00 AM. The Mass will be celebrated at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church at 8100 Longview Road in Kansas City, Missouri. If you read my several weeks ago, or if you follow social media, there has been some controversy regarding the regalia of the Honor Guard. Being aware that there are some differing opinions on this matter, the officers of the Assembly discussed this issue at our recent meeting. It was the opinion of the majority of the officers that we should make our opinion be known to our leadership at Supreme. Representing you we should be accurate in this endeavor and therefor a petition that is circulating around the United States is being included in this publication for your review. Should you wish to sign this petition (which I hope you would attend) I ask that you attend our September 21st dinner meeting. However I value each opinion yea or nay and will report such to Supreme as a body of Officers. Quis ut Deus In service to One. In service to all. Volume 14 Number 5 September / November, 2017 VIVAT JESUS! JESUS LIVES! SMA, Protect Us Mike Mike Murtha Faithful Navigator mikemurthakc@gmail.com

2 Dear Ladies, Message to the Ladies At the July meeting, the following slate of officers was voted on and approved: Kathy Vervaecke: President Pat Knight: Vice President Barb LaDue: Secretary Kathy Harlow: Treasurer Mary Day: Trustee Mary Chapman: Trustee Peggy Gregory: Trustee Positions still open: Sergeant at Arms Parliamentarian The main dish for the September meeting is brisket and pulled pork. Ladies, if you do not receive a phone call for a side dish, please bring something suitable. And gentlemen, please remember that if you are coming alone, you are expected to bring a side dish, as well, please. See you in September! God Bless, Kathy Vervaecke, President ksvervaecke@gmail.com Mark Your Calendar Please check the website on a regular basis to stay current on Assembly 566 happenings. Monday, September 4 Labor Day Saturday, September 16 Sporting Clay Shoot o Contact: Ed Johnsonbaugh; o Host Council: Our Lady of the Lake #6470 o Ozark Shooters Sports Complex 759 US-65, Walnut Shade, MO Thursday, September 21 ASSEMBLY DINNER MEETING Sunday, October 1 Pilgrimage to Laurie, Missouri o Contact: Harry Lee Beste; pilgrimages@mokofc.org o National Shrine of Mary Mother of the Church 176 Marian Drive, Laurie, MO Monday, October 9 Columbus Day Weekend, October KofC State Bowling Tournament Weekend, October KofC State Bowling Tournament o Contact: Joey Allgier; o Host Council: Fr. Lewis Tucker #1321 o Farmington Family Fun Center 765 Weber Road, Farmington, MO Tuesday, October 31 Wednesday, November 1 Sunday, November 5 Saturday, November 11 Halloween All Saints Day Daylight Saving Day Veterans Day ASSEMBLY 566 DINNER & BUSINESS MEETING 3 RD THURSDAY OF EVERY OTHER MONTH, BEGINNING IN JANUARY DINNER BEGINS AT 6:30 PM, FOLLOWED WITH THE ROSARY BUSINESS MEETING BEGINS AT 7:00 PM LOCATION: RAYTOWN COUNCIL 5101 BLUE RIDGE CUTOFF, KCMO

3 REPOSE OF THE SOUL Please take a moment to pray for the souls and families of our dearly beloved Brother Knights who have passed away over the past few months. Sir Knight Harold H. Bruce, Sr. of Archbishop O Hara Council 4387 o Passed away on July 25, 2017 The song has ended, but the melody lingers on. Irving Berlin ALL GRAND KNIGHTS: When a Brother Knight departs, please notify Larry Lackamp, State Chairman, Fraternal Recognition (llackamp@centurylink.net) PROJECT HEALING WATERS FLY FISHING PLEASE JOIN US AT OUR POTLUCK DINNER MEETING FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION ON THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT FOR HELPING ACTIVE AND VETERAN DISABLED MILITARY PERSONNEL. PRESENTED BY SIR KNIGHT PAT SAVIANO. Regalia To Be Replaced? From: Earlier this month, the Knights of Columbus board of directors unanimously voted to adopt a new uniform for the Fourth Degree. The decision was made with the good of the entire Order in mind. While we understand that some members may prefer the old regalia, the supreme master and vice supreme masters urge all Fourth Degree members to put the good of the Order before any personal preference. The board decided to make this move based on the following factors: 1) the aging of our Fourth Degree membership 2) the slow growth of the Fourth Degree (fewer than 20 percent of Knights are Fourth Degree members, and only a fraction of that number even serve as honor guards) 3) consistent reports that the old regalia presented a barrier to Fourth Degree membership, especially among younger men Here are a few bullet points that may answer some of your questions, but keep in mind that with the well-publicized reaction from Honor Guard members across the nation, some things may yet change. Or not. Ceremonial swords will continue to be part of the Fourth Degree. When swords are used, gloves should also be used. Colored patches will be worn on the beret as follows: o Dark Blue Supreme Master o Light Blue Vice Supreme Masters o Gold District Masters o White Faithful Navigators o Green District Marshals o Purple Color Corp Commanders o Those not holding office will wear berets with no patch. The Order will subsidize the new uniform with a 25 percent discount offered to all members who order the new uniform prior to 9/30/17. Any member who purchased the old regalia after May 1, 2017, can submit their receipt to receive a $200 credit toward the new uniform. The new uniform is being sold at (or sometimes below) actual cost. The new uniform was field tested by Fourth Degree members attending the Warriors to Lourdes pilgrimage. The old regalia may be worn for a time. While the preference is for the new uniform wherever possible, the old regalia can still be worn until the end of the current fraternal year (6/30/18). After that date, only the new uniform should be worn. The board of directors made this decision earlier this year after a three year period of testing and discussion. In addition, changing the uniform/regalia was previously discussed with the vice supreme masters at the Supreme Assembly. For years, supreme officers and directors have received comments from members and prospective members that the old regalia was a barrier to membership overall, or to membership in the Fourth Degree.

4 Editorial: How Bout Those Duds! Well, now. This was a surprise unless you have been reading minutes from Supreme Council meetings over the last couple years or noticing how the average age of our Assembly continues to approach the century mark. The social media pages are going ballistic (nothing new there), and private discussions are all abuzz with personal opinions and comments about the new Honor Guard uniform. And, as Mike described in his memo on page one, there s a petition circulating across the nation to make major changes to this Supreme Council decision. It s possible the new outfit will be output. But really, what s the big deal? Well, the big deal is probably the financial issue. All the rest is just some old dogs ranting about new tricks. It s actually just a funny-looking cap and a sport coat. It s not like a funny-looking cap and a cape for crying out loud! As for the financial issue, well yes that s an issue. An article on indicates that discounted pricing and a rebate are available to qualified buyers, but those two incentives will not cover the entire purchase. The real question will be: what is membership in our world-renowned organization worth to you? One would hope that being a member of the Knights of Columbus is priceless. So, yes, when a bunch of current members fade away because they can t handle the new look, the Honor Guard will become smaller in number. But maybe, just maybe it will then grow and prosper with the addition of younger Catholic gentlemen men who can relate more to the 21 st Century than to the 1400 s. Change is constant in our lives, and our success is based on how well we adapt to it. Failure to accept a new idea, a new procedure or a new hat leaves us only with our memories and a full closet. When and IF this change in attire becomes the law, those of us who accept it and run with it will not only have our memories of gallant, colorful parades, but we ll have the respect of those who see us as leaders and examples for the i-gen kids. Plus, our closets will have room for more cardigans. It s Different.

5 From: [As mentioned in our Faithful Navigator s Memo] A PETITION the membership at large of the Knights of Columbus To: the members of the Board of Directors, the Supreme Knight and the Supreme Council. Whereas it has come to the attention of the members at large via the announcement made by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson at the 2017 Supreme Convention in Saint Louis, Missouri that a new uniform is to replace the regalia of the Fourth Degree, which would eventually be phased out. We, the members of the Order, were grief stricken by this news and the attempt to console us with the concession of allowing limited and temporary use of regalia has not been favorably accepted. While we see no need to replace our regalia, regardless of the particular motives of the Board of Directors that purport to be for the good of the order, we would welcome a compromise that includes the unrestricted use and permanence of our regalia that truly makes us the visible arm of the Order, beloved by the public who spectate the parades and ceremonies where it has been traditionally utilized. We would welcome the use of the new uniform in particular settings where a corporate blazer combination would be more appropriate. The regalia is not just a uniform, but a representation of the Order s origin. As our Order was named in honor of the famed Italian mariner Christopher Columbus, who like the many immigrants for whom Father Michael McGivney formed this fraternal organization, bore diversity in his mission while maintaining his credence in the Catholic Faith. Columbus was chosen as a symbol of the immigrant man; arriving from the Old World to establish the New. Father McGivney founded the Order so that its men could be proud of its American Catholic heritage. The Patriotic Degree is the subgroup of men who have matured through the virtues of the Order to attain a level of patriotism for their respective nation in their duty to God and country. It is amongst this group of men that the regalia of the Fourth Degree is utilized. A uniform that is relevant to the history of the Order and its ideals. We, the membership, call upon the Board of Directors in conjunction with the Supreme Council and Supreme Knight, to reverse its decision to replace our regalia with this new military-style blazer combination that has no connection with our past or relevance to the Order s namesake as a mariner. We desire to establish permanency for our distinguished historical regalia without limit of any kind for its use. This change was not called for by the membership and since both the Board of Directors and the Supreme Council serve the membership, we are dumbfounded as to why any change is necessary. This is NOT progress but the opposite of it that could only harm the image of our Order as a whole. Since the Patriotic Degree s establishment over a century ago, the members have provided honor guards in ceremonial aspects of religious and secular life. Generations of Catholic men have distinguished themselves by the donning of the Degree s official regalia. The regalia is the beloved sight in the public s eyes the same public who holds our Order in high esteem with great admiration for the charitable works that captivate the hearts of the community members to whom we serve. The traditional regalia is elegant enough for formal occasions both joyous and solemn, religious and secular. As the conceptualization and design of the new uniform was done in absence of the membership lacking invitation to give our input, we find this to be the prime cause for the new garb not meeting the ceremonial requirements that the regalia does with both honor and distinction. This change called the modernization of the uniform actually erases the heritage of the Order that binds us to Columbus and links us to our sense of knighthood. The new uniform too closely resembles that of military commandos who repel from helicopters on ropes. There is nothing regal about the new regalia. Our suggestions for the new uniform include the following: 1.Eliminate the beret. 2. Eliminate the display of regalia medals. 3. Keep the sword for use with regalia and not with the new uniform. 4. Eliminate the Fourth Degree patch. This new uniform should be kept simple as a corporate blazer combination for use at community functions and business meetings. We have outlined our suggestions below for the appropriate use of each uniform. REGALIA: Ceremonies, Mass, installations, exemplifications, funerals, wakes and parades. TUXEDO: Formal dinners and Fourth Degree candidates. BLAZER COMBINATION: Community meetings, business meetings, and convention business. LOCAL ATTIRE: Items like polo-style shirts and other embroidered garments are most appropriate for council and assembly meetings as well as casual dress during community service projects. These recommendations both exemplify the necessity of the traditional regalia where the corporate blazer combination might not serve appropriately, as well as demonstrating our willingness of compromise welcoming this additional style of dress for the use of Fourth Degree members with the possibility to expand its use by the Third Degree by the substitution of the tie with one emblazoned with the emblem of the Order so that it can be used as a universal form of dress. Be it resolved that these are the recommendations of the general membership of the Knights of Columbus to our dear brothers who serve us in the capacities of the Board of Directors and Supreme Council. We pray that while we welcome this new uniform addition that a reciprocation of respect be shown in the granting of the unlimited use of the current regalia and its permanence. Signed for the honor of our Order. VIVAT JESUS! [4 th Degree members can sign the petition at our September Assembly Meeting.] MINUTES - JULY MEETING For a complete report, contact Steve Roberts at srkroberts@sbcglobal.net. There was no meeting in July; we held installation of officers for Navigator: Mike Murtha Captain: David Chapman Scribe: Steve Roberts Purser: Bill Massop Comptroller: Bob Ladue Pilot: David Knight Admiral: George Owen Outside Guard: John Dill Inner Sentinel: Felipe Rangle 3rd Year Trustee: Keith Gregory Our Ladies Auxiliary installed these ladies as their officers for : President: Kathy Vervaecke Vice President: Pat Knight Secretary: Barb LaDue Treasurer: Kathy Harlow Trustee: Mary Day Trustee: Mary Chapman Trustee: Peggy Gregory Next Meeting: September 21, 2017