KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS JOHN F KENNEDY COUNCIL 1257 NEWSLETTER January 3, 2017

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1 Officers and Directors Father GeorgeThayilkuzhithottu Chaplain Bill Chrostowski Grand Knight Randy DeMars Deputy Grand Knight Mark Aebly Financial Secretary Bob Kortes Recorder Jerry Whalen Treasurer & Council Director Dallas Short Chancellor John DeLestry Advocate Mike Sheehan Warden Inside Guard Scott Stagliano Outside Guard James Stachura Field Agent John Blaeser Bowling Secretary Tim Carroll 3 Yr. Trustee tcfromec54703@gmail.com Kevin Friederichs 2 Yr. Trustee kfriederichs@charter.net Bob Sieben 1 Yr. Trustee Knights of Columbus John F. Kennedy Council #1257 P.O. Box 923 Eau Claire, WI Meetings & Socials at K of C Hall 2708 Thomas Drive Eau Claire, WI Men, let us be brothers, and brothers, let us be men. I would like wish everyone a blessed, prosperous healthy and happy new year. All those wishes are more like necessities so far as it pertains to K of C goals. Because, before charity can be achieved at home or elsewhere, those supplying the charity need to possess a certain amount of spiritual, financial, physical and emotional fitness themselves. The amount of those attributes need to be able to contribute to others varies by person, of course. To lessen the individual variabilities and to unite in strength a common denominator is usually needed. We already have that in the Knights of Columbus at the local, regional, state, national and worldwide levels. Here in Eau Claire, Council 1257 and its' predecessors have been a great common denominator for over 109 years. Last month was no different whether it was putting up the Nativity scene at Regis, playing Santa at the Bolton House, welcoming new members or sharing yuletide fellowship at the Duchesneau's Tom & Jerry party. When we work, pray and play together good things always happen. It would all happen on a much grander level with more brotherly participation. Look, over the years the Knights have been described in many ways and called many things (almost all of them good). Pope John Paul II, for example, referred to us as "the strong right arm of the church". And while that's flattering and usually very true, in a basic, generic sense, we are really a Catholic fraternal organization. And to put action to the adjective 'fraternal', to turn fraternal into a verb, we have to 'fraternize'. In other words, we have to rub elbows and get together. My great hope for 2017 and beyond is that more of us get together. Men, let us be brothers! No intention to preach to the choir here but I want to address some negative traits that seem to have permeated much of our modern society. I call it skittishness, you/others may refer to it as fickleness, 'wishy-washiness' or an overall lack of conviction. You see these traits in indecisive, oversensitive and seemingly perpetually offended people. The only thing they seem to be sure of is that they're not part of the problem and they want no part of any work/sacrifice that the solution might require. Men of faith are decisive, committed and convicted. Let these virtues become contagious throughout our ranks. Brothers, let us be men! See you at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday 1/10/17. Vivat Jesus! GK Bill. Two reminders from our Financial Secretary Mark Aebly. First, please pay your dues promptly: A second notice will come in mid-january. That means extra postage expense for the council. About 220 members were

2 billed. Thank you to the 56 who paid already!!! That is only about 1/4 of those billed. Second to Knight's families and significant others: We hope your Knight is sharing this newsletter with you. Now, you need to do yourself a favor. Make your Knight take you to the council's socials. Fr McGivney set the Knights up to support families. If you are not coming to socials, you lose out on making friends and building a social net in case something happens to your Knight. We will be here when you need us and it makes it easier if we know you. Saturday January 21 KC Free Throw Contest 8 am-noon at Immaculate Conception School gym. The Council contest will start at 9 am followed by the Diocesan contest. Council 1257 and will run the Council contests together. LifeSavers for Life January 21 & 22, January 22 marks the 44th anniversary of Roe v Wade, which legalized abortions in the United States for any reason throughout pregnancy. The result has been the death of nearly 60 million innocent unborn children. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, by volunteering your time at your parish the weekend of January 21 and 22. We need Knights to be present at all Masses and at all doors to your church. We ask you to be at these locations about 10 minutes before Mass starts, and for about 10 minutes after Mass is over. Please call your parish coordinator to volunteer for this event. We need your help for this fundraiser to be success - this is an event which would require a minimal time commitment on your part, and can result in major benefits towards enhancing a culture of life within our nation. Parish coordinators are: IC: Dallas Short or & Bill Chrostowski , St. James: Tom Kempen , St Olaf: Wally Svoboda , St Pats/Sacred Heart: Bob Kortes & Chad Ronnander Donations from this event will allow us to address a variety of life issues, including abortion, assisted suicide and any other assault to the dignity of human life. I wish to thank you in advance for making this a successful campaign. May God bless your efforts, Bill Hawn Prolife Coordinator. The Annual Council Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest was conducted from December 1st through December 15th. We had 95 posters entered this year. Grade one had 24, grade two-24, grade three-33, and grade four-14. The following are the winners of the contest: GRADE ONE: 1st place Michelle Ahrendt; 2nd place Emilia Lee; 3rd place Adelle Vlacek. GRADE TWO: 1st place Candy Hanny; 2nd place Cash Cerny; 3rd place Madeline Miller. GRADE THREE: 1st place Ysabella Boston; 2nd place Lillian Lewis; 3rd place Olivia-Zavaleth- Postelwaite. GRADE FOUR: Julianna-Lemanski Trujillo; 2nd place Brade Nololf; 3rd place Alina Nilner. The first place posters will be sent on to the Diocese coordinator for further competition. Local winners will receive awards from our council Our December Knight of the Month is Al Weix. Al has been instrumental with our involvement with the Bolton Refuge House and recently spearheaded an effort to get a $1,000 donation to the Homeless Veteran s Shelter in Chippewa Falls through donation for toys he made, money he donated and donations from the council. Thank you Al. Tuesday January 10 - Regular Business Meeting 7 pm at the Kennedy Hall. Tuesday members as possible can be Santa's helpers/elves. Tuesday January 24 Potluck dinner and social at the Kennedy Hall. Social hour begins at 5:30pm with dinner at 6:30. Bring your family and a dish to pass. Corporate Communion Sunday January 29, 8 am Mass at St James & St James Round Table will have their December breakfast in the parish hall. They will begin serving at 8:30 am in the parish hall and will have scrambled eggs, ham, hash browns, biscuits & sausage gravy, cinnamon rolls, coffee, orange juice & milk. The cost is $7.00 for adults, $3.00 for children and $20.00 family price for parents with small children. Friday February 3, First Friday Mass 7 am at I.C. Church.

3 Council Amazon Link: Please remember that if your family makes purchases on Amazon that if you use the Amazon link form our UKNITE Site that we can receive a portion of the purchases. You must go to our council s page and from there Amazon should work as it normally would from your Amazon account. The program works similar to the scrip program where there is no cost to you and we receive a portion of purchases that you would normally make. Council Members enjoying holiday cheer and comaraderie at the the annual Council Tom & Jerry Party. Council members brought Santa to the Bolton House for Domestic Abuse to help bring Christmas to the the children of the Bolton House on Tuesday Dec 20, 2016 Dan and Verna Dushesneau hosted the Tom & Jerry Party in their beatiful home on Tuesday December 27, 2016

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