A message from our Past Grand Night

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1 Grand Knight: SK Greg Kirchmeier Chaplain: Fr. Mathias Thelan Deputy Grand Knight: SK Philip Balmforth Financial Secretary: SK Doug Hayes Treasurer: SK Dan Zimmerman Recorder: Larry Bacon Chancellor: SK Bill Dunlop Lecturer: SK Doug Beilharz Advocate: SK Gary Delamielleure Warden: SK Kevin Roach Outside Guard: SK Mike Avery-SK Scott Jackson Inside Guard: SK Michael Carrigan One Year Trustee: Ben DeRocher Two Year Trustee: SK Robert Flynn Three Year Trustee: Jim Birney Editor: SK Tony Martin Mailer Editor: SK Ralph LeRoy A message from our Past Grand Night Building the Domestic Church Supreme has instituted programs to help Counsels hold practical activities to help build the Domestic Church as urged by Pope Francis. Our Council, with the support of Fr. Mathias, has held two activities that can lead to the strengthening of Family Prayer. First, we purchased and passed out copies of Fr. Matthew Kelly s book, The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic. Then we held a one-day retreat. What I propose is a follow up activity to promote Family Prayer. The book and the retreat offer us some exciting practical advice on how to pray. Read the first sign by Kelly on prayer. Then take one of the tips from the retreat; read a story or parable from the Gospels and put yourself in the story as one of the characters. The retreat also gave us some questions to ask ourselves. Fr. Mathias recommends that we form groups to discuss Kelly s book. If you have small children, the check out Magnificat.com for children s books. Maybe we can try a family prayer session on Sundays using the book or retreat notes and recording our successes on our Facebook page. In this way, we can spread our successes to other families and report it in our newsletter. I suggest starting slowly to build the habit. Maybe one thought from the book, one decade of the rosary, and one Bible story. If anyone has any ideas of how to start this, please let me know. I took the liturgy of Sunday: the story of Jonah and the calling of the four fishermen as my starting point. The Holy Spirit suggested this idea to me. Election of Officers The new fiscal year for the Knights of Columbus begins on July 1 st. According to the by-laws, we must elect new officers before the middle of June. To prepare for the election, we must come up with a slate of nominations no later than April 1 st. The first duty is to elect two delegates for the convention held at the end of May and two alternative delegates. Our Council can only be strong if we have volunteers who will learn the duties of the office they seek and faithfully fulfill those duties. When a position is left empty or the tasks are not fulfilled, then the council is weakened. We now suffer from three serious problems: 1) we have many elderly members who can no longer participate in many functions; 2) we have many open management positions; and, 3) many of our officers have multiple jobs or have been in the same position for many years. Many important positions are not on the election ballot, but are just as important for the good of the council. This is the time for each member to decide what job he can afford to perform for the good of the council. The following table list the various positions: Position Elected Nominee Notes Grand Y Phil CEO Knight Deputy Grand Knight Y Balmforth Bill Dunlop Program Director Chancellor Y Membership Financial N Supreme Rep Secretary Treasurer Y Bank

2 Recorder Y Keeper of minutes Warden Y In charge of assest Inside Y Help Warden Guard Outside Y Help Warden Guard Lecture N Entertainment Trustee 1 st Y 3 year term Year Membership Mgr N Help Chancellor Retention Director N Help Chancellor Committee N Help DGK Chairs Church N Chair Youth Chair N Family chair N Committee N Chair Council N Chair Lenten N Breakfast Tootsie Roll N Program Charity N Gambling Catholic N College N Need Captains N List of serious problems: Doug Hayes has been FS for 6 years. His second term is up. Dan Zimmerman would like a new job, not treasurer Chancellor is the 3 rd officer in line to become GK. Bill will be DGK. Steve Shafer has been Church Chair for 4 yrs. Family and Council Chairs are empty. We need sub-chairs for our four biggest events. Those jobs would be easier if we could identify captains to help them like we have for the Tootsie Roll campaign. We need at least 70 active Knights to fulfill all the duties. There are many activities planned by members of the committees that we have not listed. Newsletter, Publications, Ultra Sound Initiative, Retreats, Free Throw Contest, Poster Contest, and many other activities supporting our Pastor. Please contact any officer to explore how you can help. You can contact me if you wish. Bob Flynn, PGK, PFN, Trustee, District Warden, Retention Director, member of the color guard, and a member of the first degree team. (703) or me at pgkstpats@gmail.com. Or send me a letter at at Brighton Mi January Knight of Month Larry Bacon: for faithful service of being council's recorder, co-chair of the MI Drive, and C0-chair of Parish Raffle. January Family of Month Tom and Helen Singer: For being active with Friday morning and Monday evening Bible Study, volunteer for scrap drive, and Catholic College night. Also distributed Building Domestic Church booklets during Christmas season and was a volunteer for church raffle. Tom and his wife Helen were instrumental with Ron Garrison in helping repair parishioners home in danger of condemnation proceedings by city. Tom is twice past President of the Ferndale Rotary and is active with Livingston County Catholic Charities and the Michigan Public Senior Golf Association. Helen is involved with

3 Quilts of Valor and volunteers every Friday at the Howell Nature Center Infirmary. Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest SK Jim Birney and St. Pat's Art Teacher Rose Bloomer awarding the winners of the contest. Coats for Kids The program coats for kids was very successful this year. We helped 75 families by providing winter coats and some other winter wear. We first ordered 48 coats from Supreme and then presented a check for $500 to the Livingston County Education Service Association (LESA). The Director of LESA, Kristen, told me that she took some parents and purchased 23 more coats, some gloves, scarves, and sweatshirts with the money. The coats were a smaller size than we get from Supreme. The money was sufficient thanks to Target for the sale prices they gave to LESA. It would help to make this activity more successful next year, if we start in September to contact local churches and special services to identify families in need. I contacted Arc of Livingston, LESA, and local churches in Howell this year. SK Bob Flynn PGK Kara Downey age group First Place Collin Moore

4 11-14 age group Second Place Christmas baskets for the priests and St. Patrick's staff Makayla Choate 8-10 age group First place Sarah Hatty 8-10 age group 2nd Place

5 45th Annual March for Life January 19,2018 Knights of Columbus councils along with Supreme council has funded 752 Ultrasound machines costing $36 million for placement

6 in pro-life pregnancy centers. Our council along with other local councils have donated several ultrasound machines to the Pregnancy Helpline facility in Brighton as part of our ultrasound initiative. This initiative enables expectant mothers to see and hear their babies in utero thus in most cases preventing abortions because after seeing images have decided to carry the baby full term. There have been over 58 million babies aborted since Roe vs. Wade went to effect in Following statistics is disgusting. Got Insurance? Need Insurance? Call Nicholas M. Lugo New Field Agent Council News & Events Be sure to visit and our Council's Facebook page at Knights of Columbus Council 7304 and tweet at our new twitter Remember to attend rosary before the next meeting at 7PM in the chapel on Wednesday February 7th. Catholic Schools Week pancake Breakfast Sunday January 28 planned following 9:30 Mass. Volunteers needed. Call SK Phil Balmforth at or SK Ray Bonomo at if you can help. American Red Cross St. Patrick Blood Drive Saturday, February 3 at 10 AM to 3:45PM at the Parish Life Center. Volunteers are needed to help set-up and take down. Corporate Communion February 4th after 8:30 Mass and catered breakfast in McCann hall afterwards. Free Throw tournament on Saturday February 10 from Noon to 3PM at Parish Life Center. Volunteers needed.

7 Regional Free Throw tournament on Saturday February 24 from 1PM to 4PM at St. Patrick School Gymnasium. Volunteers needed. Dave Cooney Memorial Chili Cook-off Saturday February 24 from 6PM to 9 PM at the Parish Life Center. Be a chef or just come and taste. Along with chili tasting, Hot dogs, and Beverages will be provided. Fee for entering as a chef $20 or for tasting and dinner $10. NOTE: Important info and registrations form attached. 2/26 Richard Spore 2/27 Pat O'Donnell 2/28 Ralph V Yackley Try and surprise some of the following February Birthday Knights by saying "Happy Birthday" when you see: 2/2 James Helwig 2/3 Michael Bryja 2/4 SK Bill Nagle 2/6 Rick Ruder 2/7 William Goodwin 2/8 John Murphy 2/10 Robert Adams 2/10 John Janosik 2/10 Carlo Martina 2/11 Pail Benedict 2/12 Ed Bedner 2/12 Richard Mason 2/12 SK Chester Pesmark 2/16 Paul Bachelor 2/16 SKSteven Schafer 2/22 Michael Panczyk 2/23 SK Ronald Garrison 2/25 Joseph Lapham A Valentine's Day Message May the Valentine's Day spirit fill your heart With love and joy on this special day. A time to exchange messages - a spirit of love, Sentimental verses sent in a poetic way. Valentine's Day has long been a day of romance, A sparkle of love glowing in the heart, A tribute to your love one so precious and dear, Where the tradition of Saint Valentine plays a part. May Valentine's Day be extra special to you With the beauty of red roses to proudly show, And the symbol of a heart and cupid with arrow and bow That will enlighten your heart with a festive glow. May you have joy and satisfaction unending Bestowing to love one jewelry, candy or flowers To prove your sincere affection on Valentine's Day With memorable, happy and unforgettable hours. May those you love surround you To share and cherish this Valentine's Day, May the spirit of Saint Valentine, the patron saint, Come into your life and forever stay.

8 Retreat January 13, 2018

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