The Knights Line. Our Faith Should Transform Our Politics

Transcription

1 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Holy Family Council 9236 Blessed Theodore G. Romzha Assembly 2279 P.O. Box 1391 Windermere, FL The Knights Line MAIL TO: DATED MATERIAL PLEASE DO NOT DELAY BLESSED BISHOP THEODORE G. ROMZHA THE HOLY FAMILY VOLUME 18, No. 11 WEB SITE - November /5/2012 Our Faith Should Transform Our Politics The start of the Year of Faith and our country's elections will take place less than a month apart. And we have an excellent opportunity as Catholics to apply the principles of our faith to our political system -- not only in how we vote, but in how we choose to influence our country's political discourse, too often marred by angry and hateful rhetoric. Carl A. Anderson In this effort, two themes from Pope Benedict's message announcing the Year of Faith are of great importance to Catholic Americans. First, he called for public witness by Catholics, writing: "Faith implies public testimony and commitment. A Christian may never think of belief as a private act.... Faith, precisely because it is a free act, also demands social responsibility for what one believes." Second, he called on Catholics to redouble their commitment to charity: "Faith without charity bears no fruit," he wrote. Seldom does America suffer a more profound lack of charity today than in its political process. Often, we see that commentators and politicians don't see the ideas of their political adversaries as deficient. They see their political adversaries themselves as personally deficient. The result is an almost endless cycle of personal attacks in our country's political conversation. For the vast majority of Americans -- who know how to have civil disagreements over everything including politics with family and Council - council9236@hotmail.com friends -- this doesn't sit well. Our K of C-Marist poll has found that almost 8 in 10 Americans say they are "frustrated" with the tone of our political debates. Almost three-quarters say the problem is getting worse, and just under two-thirds say this is harming our political process. But we need not accept this status quo as "good enough." Now numbering one in four Americans, our country's Catholics can offer a better alternative. Charity demands respectful discourse -- on every issue. For this reason, the Knights of Columbus launched the Civility in America petition, asking politicians and the media to focus on debates on issues and policies rather than on personal attacks. Cardinal Timothy Dolan has asked both presidential candidates and their running mates to sign it, joining the more than 1 million members of the Knights of Columbus and more than 25,000 other Americans supporting it. Such a project is consistent with the best of Catholic thought. In "The City of God," St. Augustine observed, "Let this city bear in mind, that among her enemies lie hidden those who are destined to be fellow citizens, that she may not think it a fruitless labor to bear what they inflict as enemies until they become confessors of the truth." And St. Thomas More wrote this prayer while awaiting execution in the Tower of London for refusing to take an oath supporting King Henry VIII's takeover of the Catholic Church in England: "Almighty God, have mercy... on all that bear me evil will, and would me harm, and their faults and mine together... vouchsafe to amend and redress, make us saved souls in heaven together, where we may ever live and love together with thee and thy blessed saints." We are called to public witness in all circumstances. In the early days of evangelization, when St. Paul preached to the Athenians, he chose to do so at the Areopagus: a powerful council, and the oldest in Athens. Those men who made up the Areopagus were not Assembly - romzha@me.com

2 Christians: that was precisely why they needed to be evangelized. With Cardinal Dolan calling for civility from our political candidates and delivering prayers at both the conventions of both the Republicans and the Democrats, a descendant of the apostles is once again bringing Christ's message into the halls of power. Today, most in both political parties are Christian -- and many are Catholic -- but the call to conversion is endless. In what is becoming an increasingly secularized country -- where many believe religion ought to be kept out of our modern Areopagus -- this form of new evangelization is timely and needed. By calling on our candidates and the media to show charity and civility, Catholics can help Cardinal Dolan and our bishops to bring the new evangelization to our own public square as St. Paul did in Athens. By witnessing to charity and civility in our own discussions and our own lives, we can lead the way and show that such a goal is attainable. To sign the civility pledge, go to civilityinamerica.org. Vivat Jesus District Deputy s Report Dear Brother Knights, No Report available for this newsletter Grand Knight s Report Always remember to put into practice charity, unity and fraternity before, during, and after meetings. The Father and Daughter Dance was a huge success. The couples had a wonderful time dancing together. The one on one was so wonderful to see. The DJ music was great again. It was fun for all. Preliminary results indicate that about $800 was raised for the school. This was the most ever raised for the school. The Princesses were Haileigh Irving and Sarah Roberts. The King and Queen were Stephanie Hernandez and Miguel Hernandez. The following from K of C Council 9236 supported the dance: Jeff Jones, Youth chairman, and his wife, girl scouts; Joe Chenette, Grand Knight and his wife; Alan Spears, Recorder and head chef, and his wife; Don Abate, Trustee: Richard Crane, balloons, Chancellor; Jean Claude Edme, Guard; Joe Pompa, Treasurer:; George Davis, Guard; Robert Rabba, chef; Louis Ramos, Warden, chef; Mike MacMenamin, Trustee, a little of everything; Peter Krochmalni, chief photographer; Mike Krochmalni, photographer and past FS. The girl scouts also need to be thanked for making the corsages. Did someone say that this dance should not be done? We need to thank all our members for the great support. We have not had this amount of support in a long time. WE DID IT!!!! GO TEAM!!! Would you be interested in being our Financial Secretary? Our Financial Secretary resigned! Without a Financial Secretary (FS) we cannot have membership drives, bring in new members, process vouchers, and submit reports. You would receive help from other Financial Secretaries from other councils. In fact they would help setup and get you going and provide help along the way. Do you know someone who is not a Knight but could become one who could join and be our FS? Requirements: Know Microsoft Word and must be somewhat computer literate. Organized. Have some storage space for records i.e. about a file cabinet. Must be able to work with the members. 2 Have integrity and operate under K of C requirements. Be available for most of the meetings and degrees. Need to be firm and speak-up if a financial problem or opportunity is noted. You are the conscience of the Order. Must not have a criminal record. Note: Supreme pays for bonding for you. Be committed for three years. Note: This is the only paid position. You will get about 8% of dues paying members. For example 30 members at $35 each X.08 = $84 per year. WOW! Many FSs skip it since it is so paltry. Along with Chaplain and Lector, this is the only non-elected position. Grand Knight along with Trustees approval submit name to Supreme. If you have any interest please contact me for any details that will help you make a decision SHORT TERM FS OPTION There is a possibility for three months as FS simply to sign vouchers, membership applications, and membership cards and process the end-of-year report with help from another FS. This special waver is allowed by Supreme. This would allow time to find another FS. Maybe you would enjoy it so much that you would want to continue. Would you be willing to try for three months? If you can please contact me. THIS IS URGENT!!!!!! OUR COUNCIL CANNOT OPERATE WITHOUT A FS!!!!!! Lesson Learned: For transfers check with previous councils to determine if the Knight transferring would make a good Knight in your council. Pro-Life Seminar Pro-Life seminar is postponed until February 23, The seminar will deal with several Life issues. I am working with Father THE HOLY FAMILY COUNCIL OFFICERS (Continued on Page 3) BLESSED BISHOP ROMZHA ASSEMBLY OFFICERS Faithful Navigator Michael Crawford Faithful Captain John Adams Faithful Admiral Joseph Chenette Faithful Pilot John Butcher Faithful Comptroller John Bomm 407 Faithful Purser Peter Shine Faithful Scribe Henry Abbott Faithful Friar Fr. Sal Pignato Yr Trustee Eugene Hawk Yr Trustee Donald Abate Yr Trustee John Long To request Honor Guard please contact the Faithful Navigator Grand Knight Joseph Chenette Deputy Grand Knight John Butcher Warden Louis Ramos Chancellor Ainsley Reid-Hart Financial Secretary Michael Krochmalni Treasurer Joe Pompa Recorder Alan Spears Advocate Robert Crane Chaplain Fr. Sal Pignato Yr Trustee Michael MacMenamin Yr Trustee Donald Abate Yr Trustee Dan Buckley Insurance Agent Alvin T. Smith, Sr District Deputy John Adams

3 Leo and Debra Shera from the Diocese. If interested in helping contact me. Miracle in the Manger Father Leo at St. Andrew would like our council to do all masses for Epiphany that is both Saturday and Sunday. There will need to be practices also for St. Nicholas mass. Volunteers will be needed. We already have volunteers for a King and Mary for all masses. St. Andrew School and the Cub Scouts have volunteered to help. This will be an enjoyable challenge. THANK YOU FATHER SAL!!! You are the best!!!!!! Vivat Jesus, Joe Chenette, GK Blessed Romzha Feast Day Hosted by Blessed Theodore Romzha #2279 Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church 5135 Sand Lake Road Orlando, Fl Saturday November 10th, 2012 Mass- Divine Liturgy 4:30 p.m. Father-Dughter dance King, Queen and her court. L to R Sarah Roberts, Miguel Hernandez, Stephanie Hernandez and Haileigh Irving St. Michael and the Heavenly Angels We are all familiar with the angels that surround the Christmas story because they announced the good news of the birth of Christ to the shepherds and protected the Infant Child and the Magi from the terror of Herod. Who are these creatures? And how are they important to us? Before persons, God created holy angels who are invisible, immortal, perfect beings and pure spirits, possessing a keen intellect and free will. Shortly after their creation God put the angels to a test and a number rebelled against the goodness and power of God. At the head of the good angels stood the Archangel Michael who overcame Lucifer and the other evil angels. The holy angels have a twofold task: one in relation to God and the other in relation to us. The chief task of the angels is to praise and glorify God. Our Divine Liturgy speaks of this noble task of the angels in several places. Angels also serve God as messengers, which is the meaning of the word in Greek - one who announces. Angels are God s messengers. Many examples of announcements by angels are given in the scriptures. In regard to us, in the goodness of God, the angels are our guardians and protectors. Psalm 90:11 says: For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. In the Ektenia of Petition of the Divine Liturgy we beg God for a guardian angel, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask Dinner 6:00 p.m. Slavic Dinner: Kielbasa, Golabki, Pierogi *Live Music & Dancing* Tickets: $12.00 each Family $20.00 RSVP: Mike Crawford Or Donald Kahrer the Lord. On November 8 we celebrate the feast of St. Michael and the Heavenly Angels. The angels offer us protection and inspiration. We need to imitate their beautiful example of holiness by doing everything for the honor and glory of God. 3

4 The Timeless Ten Commandments by Rev. Peter M. Girrad, OP PART 5 The Eighth Commandment You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Ex 20:16; Dt 5:20) As I began to reflect on this commandment, a vivid memory came to mind. The year was 1987 and the place was the San Fernando Mission in Southern California. The occasion was the meeting of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, with the bishops of the United States. It was a spiritually powerful moment as some 300 bishops from every part of the United States gathered with their chief shepherd, Peter in our midst. The media, however, had predetermined that this was not news. There was another story. The predetermined story for the pope s arrival in the United States was Catholic dissent. As the buses carrying the bishops entered the San Fernando Mission area, a handful of protesters (no more than 20) stood at the entrance. What seemed like two or perhaps even three times as many media people with cameras, lights, microphones and note pads gathered around them. What remains vivid in my mind was the sight of camera people lying on the ground so they could shoot an angle that would make the crowd appear to be larger. The fact that we gathered with the pope in a session of prayer and wonderful dialogue was totally ignored. The 11 o clock news showed what appeared to be some people with placards. The anchor people and news reporters breathlessly proclaimed the contestation that plagues the pope even when he visits with the bishops. For those of us who were at Denver for the visit of the pope for World Youth Day in 1993, the phenomenon repeated itself. You would think that there were actually two papal visits. One was a time of faith, joy, affirmation and prayer. The other was an occasion for some members of the media to promote their own agenda and rehash anything negative that could be said about the Church for the one hundredth time. One group was part of a pilgrimage of faith. The other was creating a story. Not too long ago, I read some articles in a couple of Catholic publications that cater to different groups on the fringes of the Church. Since I was familiar with the material about which they were writing, I knew that the stories were filled with inaccuracies and made unsubstantiated and false charges against individuals and groups within the Church. As I prepared to write this article on the commandment You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, those newspapers and the media events in Los Angeles came to mind. Truth is one of the great casualties of the modern media era. We are told that the medium is the message. Once this is accepted, truth remains incidental. For example, I remember standing at a rally of the Communist Party in Rome in the 1970s and listening to the speaker announce that any means that carries the party to power are justifiable and any word spoken to advance the party is truth. What a far cry from the simple proclamation in the Decalogue, You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. A just and properly functioning society is impossible without a 4 level of trust and understanding rooted in the truth. Human interchange, whether it be personal, economic, cultural or moral, is not possible unless we agree that words must convey truth, at least the objective truth available to us all or the truth as one understands it. It is on this principle that our human efforts at community-building rests. We have a duty to seek the truth and to speak the truth. We must be honest with ourselves and with others. God s truth is fully revealed in Jesus Christ who came as the light of the world so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness (Jn 12:46). When he stood before Pontius Pilate, Jesus proclaimed that he came into the world to testify to the truth (Jn 18:37). As a follower of Christ we should never be ashamed to testify to the truth. We also recognize that people cannot live together if they do not trust one another and if they are not truthful. The virtue of truthfulness requires that we be honest with one another. Proper communication is essential to life and all communication must be rooted in truth. Lying contradicts what one believes to be truthful and, therefore, remains a sin. It destroys human bonds built on trust. St. Paul reminds us: You must put on that new man created in God s image, whose justice and holiness are born of truth. See to it, then, that you put an end to lying; let everyone speak the truth to his neighbor (Eph 4:24-25). The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the seriousness of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who tells it, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself is only a venial sin, it can become mortal when it seriously violates the virtues of justice and love (cf. 2484). Lying merits being condemned because it is a profanation of language whose very purpose is to communicate the known truth to others. It is a lack of justice and love to say things contrary to the truth with the deliberate intention of misleading a person. The culpability is even greater when the intention of deceiving involves serious and harmful consequences to the one deceived. Someone once described a gossip as a person who will never tell a lie if a half-truth will do as much harm. In all situations Christians must not only be sincere and authentic in representing themselves, but also be trustworthy and honest in their representation of others. Hence the demand that we serve the truth when we speak of others. Once again, St. Paul states: Stop lying to one another. What you have done is put aside your old self with its past deeds and put on a new man, one who grows in knowledge as he is formed anew in the image of his Creator (Col 3:9-10). Lying under oath is a particularly serious wrong. In swearing an oath, one calls on God, the source of all truth, to witness to the truth of one s testimony, assertions, or intentions. In accord with the injunction of Leviticus 19:12, the Church has faithfully taught that deliberate perjury is always a grave sin, whatever the reason or occasion. Other offenses against truth include rash judgment, detraction, calumny, any of those acts that diminish or destroy a neighbor s reputation and honor. The other side of the coin is the challenge

5 to respect the truth. We must hold the truth in high esteem and correct any way in which it is distorted. Precisely because a search for truth is central to human dignity, and because an authentic grasp and personal acceptance of truth, especially the truth about God, are so precious, human persons have a right to religious truth. Anyone who accepts the responsibility to teach the faith accepts the obligation to teach the whole truth presented by the Church lest in some way Christ s very teaching be distorted and become less than the truth. The 20th century, an era of mass and almost unending communications, is an age that needs to understand, accept and respect the divine injunction that when we deal with each other and speak to and about each other, we do so fully aware that You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. The Ninth Commandment You shall not covet your neighbor s wife. (Ex 20:17; Dt 5:21) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges each of his followers to a life that is not reduced merely to external actions, but reflects what is deeply rooted in our hearts: You have heard the commandment imposed on your forefathers You shall not commit murder; every murderer shall be liable to judgment. What I say to you is: everyone who grows angry with his brother will be liable to judgment... (Mt 5:21-22). Jesus is speaking about the importance of the heart in living our lives. This is true, for example, of the commitment of husband and wife to each other. You have heard the commandment You shall not commit adultery. What I say to you is: Anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his thoughts (Mt 5:27-28). In commenting on this text from the Sermon on the Mount, Pope John Paul II, early in his pontificate, taught: It is significant that Christ, speaking of the object of this act, does not stress that it is another man s wife, or a woman who is not his own wife, but says generically a woman. Adultery committed in the heart is not circumscribed in the limits of the interpersonal relationship which make it possible to determine adultery committed in the body...adultery in the heart is committed not only because man looks in this way at a woman who is not his wife, but precisely because he looks at a woman in this way. Even if he looks in this way at the woman who is his wife, he would likewise commit adultery in his heart ( Lust and Dignity, Oct. 1980). Significantly, on an occasion when the Pharisees asked Jesus about the external adherence to the law, he pointed out: What comes out of the mouth originates in the mind...from the mind stem evil designs, murder, adulterous conduct, fornication, stealing, false witness, blasphemy. These are the things that make a man impure. As for eating with unwashed hands, that makes no man impure (Mt 15:17-20). One of the truths Christ taught us, therefore, is that our heart is the seat of our personal morality. The struggle between good and evil, between right and wrong, involves purifying our heart and controlling our desires. In the Sermon on the Mount, as in the conversation with the Pharisees on the indissolubility of marriage, Christ speaks from the depth of the divine mystery. At the same time, he enters into the very depths of the human mystery. For that reason Jesus makes 5 mention of the heart of that intimate place in which there struggle in man good and evil, sin and justice, concupiscence and holiness. Within everyone there is the mystery of sin and redemption and the interior dimension of the struggle of good over evil. It is this interior battle between concupiscence and grace that can be referred to as the condition of our heart or our attitude. In describing one s attitude or condition of the heart, some people speak about a new morality, a phrase often used to describe a way of life with full freedom but with little responsibility. This philosophy compromises hopes and dreams by appealing to our weaknesses. It believes that commitments which traditionally have revealed the depth of true love are not necessary. In contrast with this morality is a condition of the heart or a true morality worthy of the name new. This is the morality to which Christ calls us, an interior attitude or disposition of the heart that is vibrant, strong and able to change everything. It is the way of life that Jesus taught which offers us joy. Morality, therefore, is more than just a set of actions, it is an attitude and condition of the heart. Christian morality offers a fully human response to life. In Jesus we discover that questioning itself is part of the wonderful movement of God s grace within us. Religion is neither extraneous nor a burden to our development and growth. In it we can find answers to the most important questions with which we struggle as we grow and try to determine who we are, how we should live and what our responsibilities are in this life. God is not an extra in life but the answer to life. In his beautiful encyclical The Splendor of Truth (Veritatis Splendor), Pope John Paul II teaches us: Following Christ is not an outward imitation, since it touches man at the very depths of his being. Being a follower of Christ means becoming conformed to him who became a servant even to giving himself on the cross (cf. Phil 2:5-8). Christ dwells by faith in the heart of the believer (cf. Eph 3:17), and thus the disciple is conformed to the Lord. This is the effect of grace of the divine presence of the Holy Spirit in us (VS 21). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus further taught: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Mt 5:8). Who are these pure of heart? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that they are those whose intellects and wills are on the same wavelength or frequency as the requirements of God s holiness, primarily in three areas: love or charity, chastity or sexual integrity, and the love of truth or the orthodoxy of the faith. It goes on to point out that there is a connection between purity of heart, that of body and of faith (cf. 2518). If we are right before God, all else will be well. Anyone who loves me will be true to my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him and make our dwelling place with him (Jn 14:23). The pure of heart are promised that they will see God face to face and be like God. It is the sacrament of baptism that provides the grace of purification that enables the baptized person to attain this purity of heart that carries with it the power to live a chaste, modest and pure life. The Ninth Commandment calls us to that purity of heart proclaimed by the sixth beatitude. Such purity involves us in a struggle against being overwhelmed by the desires of the flesh or any other disordered human appetite. Hence the Church challenges us to accept chastity as a virtue and a gift and calls us to purity of mind, heart and action. The same Christian sensitivity calls us to modesty that protects the mystery of persons and their

6 love and invites patience and moderation in a loving relationship. Decency is another name for modesty. It is basic human decency that frees us from the overwhelming preoccupation of our society and its culture with eroticism and its companion vice of voyeurism. Christian purity calls us also to purify the social climate and places obligations on the communications media to demonstrate a respect and restraint in the information that they disseminate. The Ninth Commandment is a reminder that Christ s redemption and our conversion is working its way out slowly in our lives. Much of us still need to be redeemed and washed white in the blood of Christ s sacrifice. Not just our actions, but our intentions, our motives and our hearts need to be washed clean every day in the blood of Christ s loving sacrifice. Next Month - The Timeless Ten Commandments - Part 6 The Holy Spirit Guides the Church Every human family and community needs to verify its reason for existing by living in communion with its roots. The roots of the Church were put down by Jesus Christ into the community of the Twelve Apostles. The Church's active faithfulness to her roots in the Apostolic Community has taken the form of Holy Tradition. This Holy Tradition, that some of the Father of the Church call "sacred instinct," guides the lived expression of our faith and faithfulness to Christ in Sacred Scripture, in sacraments, in worship and in ministry. Holy Tradition has always played a most important role in the Eastern Church. The Incarnation of Christ is a definite, historical event; but it is also meant to have impact and meaning for every person of every age. The role of the Apostolic Community was to make the events of our salvation as real for us as they had been for the eyewitnesses of these events. The eye-witnesses set down what they had seen and heard from the Word of Life in the form of Sacred Scripture as a manual for our worship and our living. They also provided the necessary guidelines so that the authentic spirit of the first Christian community would continue through the ages. The mystical inner link between this continued work of the eyewitnesses and Christ Himself that is Holy Tradition, is the creative work of the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who accomplished the incarnation of the Son of God in the Virgin Mary. Sharing Christ's fullness with His Body the Church is also the work of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the true faith is guarded by the whole Church and transmitted from generation to generation as the tradition of the Church. Tradition is the living memory of the Church, containing the true doctrine that manifests itself in its history. Tradition is a living power inherent in a living organism. Each member of the Church is called within the living tradition, to be a link inseparably connected with all the chain of history. Holy Tradition is the living connection with the entire past experience of the Church - twenty centuries during which the Holy Spirit has been acting and speaking through the Church. We must be aware that entrusted with the sacred gift of Holy Tradition, we have been entrusted with something precious for a brief time. Attuned to the Holy Spirit, it is our duty to hand it on, like those Greek runners who passed on the lighted torch, one to another. Keep your eyes on the prize! Fr. Frank Pavone National Director, Priests for Life We re in the home stretch to Election Day, and our job now is to keep our eyes on the prize. There s only one thing counted on election night, and it s the number of votes actually cast for each candidate. The job between now and then is to increase those numbers. Get people to utilize early voting. Remind people to vote. Drive them to the polls. And for those who can t get there, make sure they fill out their absentee ballots. There will be many things that will arise to distract us from this simple numbers game. Don t get caught by them. - There will be abstruse arguments about the interpretation of Church documents. Now I have the highest respect for Church documents; in fact, I ve helped to write some of them. And I think we all need to read and study them more, which is why Priests for Life prepares study guides for many of them. But this is not the time to get caught up in arguments about what a document means or doesn t mean. This is the time to spend our energy getting people to the voting booth. - One of the avenues, by the way, where some people will spread confusion about these documents is through various seminars on faithful citizenship. Despite the fact that Church documents place clear priority on the right to life, some try to muddy the waters and say all issues are equal. Don t get distracted. Answer them with your feet and get people to the voting booth. - You will hear about silly fears and arguments about crossing tax-exempt lines, or all kinds of assertions that we can t distribute this or that voters guide in our diocese. Thank the priest for letting you know, but don t waste time arguing with him. Go pick up the slack, educate voters, and get them to the voting booth. - There will be psychological warfare about who is ahead or where the polls are leaning or how hard it is for one or another to win. The fact is that the presidential race is too close to call and for all practical purposes it s going to stay that way. So just focus on getting votes. - You may be tempted to have arguments with the hard of heart, to persuade those who always vote the wrong way to vote the right way. We ll work on their conversion later. For now, focus on getting people to the polls. - Finally, some will criticize candidates who call themselves pro-life, saying that they are not pro-life enough. They may have a point, but now s not the time to make it. Go out and get as many votes as possible for the best candidates who are actually within reach of winning. In my next columns, I will discuss the Election Day Traps and how to avoid them. In the meantime, please a) Pass this column along to others. b) Say the daily prayer at ElectionPrayer.com. c) Distribute our voter guides, available at PoliticalResponsibility.com. Thank you! 6

7 REPORT FROM OUR INSUR ANCE AGENT THE THANKS IS IN GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE INSURANCE 829 Grovesmere Loop Ocoee, FL Donald T. Kahrer, Jr. State Advocate (407) happy birthday! To all brother Knights who were born during the month of November some years ago: Henry M. Abbott Donald F. Lella Michael T. MacMenamin Vincent S. Samosky Knights Of Columbus Florida State Council Robert C. Chandler Eric Lizama-Bomm Bishop Gregory J. Mansour Vincent P. Samosky Believe it or not, the holiday season is upon us. A popular movie, shown often this time of year, is It s a Wonderful Life. In it, the lead character (played by Jimmy Stewart), in a moment of desperation proclaims it would have been better if I had never been born. His guardian angel then gives him the opportunity to see how much different the lives of his friends and family would have been had he, in fact, never been born. None of us will have that opportunity. But, like George Bailey, we do have a positive impact on the lives of our friends, our families, and those in our communities. We do this through our membership in the Knights of Columbus, by volunteering in our Churches and communities and, not insignificantly, by making sure we have enough life insurance. Life insurance will allow your family to remain in their home, and maintain their lifestyle, if something should happen to you. It will guarantee a college education for your children, or even your grandchildren. It will ensure a comfortable retirement for you and your wife. It can even help your favorite charity to continue its humanitarian work. No doubt about it being an insured member of the Knights of Columbus helps make this a wonderful life. Make sure your family has everything they ll need. Unlike George Bailey, you won t get a second chance to give the gift of life insurance Call Alvin T. Smith at for his assistance in setting up a plan that will protect your wife and family. ( alvin.smith@kofc.org) 7

8 Dates to Remember NOVEMBER 2012 Thursday 8 FEAST OF ARCHANGEL MICHAEL Thursday 8 7:00 P.M. Council business meeting Saturday 10 6:00 P.M. Feast of Bishop Romzha Dinner-St Nicholas Hall Sunday 11 VETERAN S DAY Monday 12 7:30 P.M. Assembly business meeting Tuesday 20 All articles and reports due for next month s newsletter Wednesday 21 FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF MARY Thursday 22 THANKSGIVING Saturday 24 4th Degree Exemplification in Orlando DECEMBER 2012 Thursday 6 Light up for Christ - 8PM Saturday 8 FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Sunday 9 Pageant Cast Rehearsal/meeting 1:30 PM - St Nicholas Church Monday 10 7:30 P.M. Assembly business meeting Thursday 13 7:00 P.M. Council business meeting Wednesday 19 All articles and reports due for next month s newsletter Monday 24 CHRISTMAS EVE - Miracle in a Manger Pageant - St. Nicholas Church-8PM Tuesday 25 CHRISTMAS DAY Monday 31 NEW YEAR S EVE JANUARY 2013 Tuesday 1 NEW YEAR'S DAY Tuesday 1 FEAST OF THE MOTHER OF GOD Saturday 5 Miracle in a Manger Christmas Pageant - St. Andrew Church-4:30PM Sunday 6 FEAST OF EPIPHANY/ THEOPHANY Thursday 10 7:30 P.M. Council business meeting at St. Andrew Church hall Monday 14 7:30 P.M. Assembly business meeting Saturday 19 All articles and reports due for next month s newsletter ARCHANGEL MICHAEL If anyone knows of a member or family member that should be listed in our Pray For column please contact Michael P. Krochmalni at so that we can add their names. You can send this information by mail to: Michael P. Krochmalni 2207 Viento St. Orlando, FL or to: mpkmak2@me.com Pray For HEATLH: Thomas Prebee John Wisdo Fr. Peter Boutros Helen Obuch Henry Dugan George Chandler Lois Swirderski Juanita Ortega Bob & Mary Jane Spencer Anna Kocur Josie Johnson Eugene & Shirley Hawk IN MEMORY OF: Marika A. Krochmalni Charles Leppert George Molchan Joseph Obuch Ed Podugal 8