from the State Deputy

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1 from the Texas State Council Volume 9 Issue 11 Publication of the Texas State Council Knights of Columbus We Are One STATE DEPUTY Terry Simonton (Estelle) (cell) simonton48@gmail.com STATE CHAPLAIN Most Reverend Bishop Joseph E. Strickland Tyler, Texas (office) STATE SECRETARY Doug Oldmixon (Jo-Dee) (cell) doldmixon@austin.rr.com STATE TREASURER Mark Evans (Mary) (cell) tmmpevans@embarqmail.com STATE ADVOCATE Diego Pena (Pia) (cell) djpena57@me.com STATE WARDEN Paul Bettge (Patti) (cell) pbettge@comcast.net IMMEDIATE PAST STATE DEPUTY Jim Collins (Duchess) (cell) jcollinskc@comcast.net from the State Deputy WOW!!! What a Great Finish to October Terry Simonton, State Deputy Terry Simonton STATE DEPUTY My Brother Knights, WOW!!!!!!!!!! What a great finish to October! We finished the month recruiting 488 new members. We will be having a drawing for the October lucky proposer cruise winner very soon. Since we did so well in October and if we gain at least 365 new members in November, we will have another cruise winner for a lucky proposer. We also reached the 102,000th member club. Texas is truly a recruiting machine. We now have six new councils in Texas. The following Dioceses each have one new Council since the start of our fraternal year: El Paso, Fort Worth, Dallas, Laredo, Tyler, and the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Which Diocese will our next Council come from? Remember that the judging of the Council Essay Contest and Council Poster Contest will be at the end of November. Please don t forget about the Coats for Kids Program. If you have any questions about either of these, please contact our State Program Director Daryl Entrop. Please remember that it is not too late to send us your form 365. This is a requirement for the Star Council Award. State Star Councils Director Bobb Mahrer reports that we are down to 125 councils who have not yet submitted this form. Thanks to all the councils that have already made their Charity contributions. I see by the report from our State Charities Director Chris Johnson that we are at 40%. We still have November and December for the other councils to earn the Quick Start Award. Thank you for believing in the First Principle of our Order. I just returned from the State Deputies Mid-Year meeting with our Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. At our meeting he reminded us of three international events in which the Knights of Columbus are a major sponsor. They are Continued on next page FINISH LINE 1

2 We Are One SUPREME DIRECTOR Javier Martinez (Marietta) (cell) ASSOCIATE STATE CHAPLAIN Reverend Monsignor Louis Brum (office) ASSISTANT TO STATE CHAPLAIN TBA TBA tba Continued from page 1 (1) the World Game of Special Olympics in Los Angeles this summer, (2) the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, and (3) the 2016 World Youth day in Krakow, Poland. And also discussed was the Building the Domestic Church, The Family Fully Alive initiative. More on this later. In the meantime, thank you Brothers for all that you do for the Knights and thank you Ladies for supporting your husbands and the Knights. Estelle and I wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving. May we all give thanks for the many blessings that we have all received. Vivat Jesus! Terry Simonton, State Deputy We Are One The First Thanksgiving --- Was it in New England or in Texas? EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Mike McLaughlin (Dawn) (office) mikem@tkofc.org STATE ADMIN ACCOUNTANT Kari Jordan (office) kjordan@tkofc.org STATE ADMIN COUNCIL RECORDS Kathleen McLoughlin (office kathleenm@tkofc.org STATE COUNCIL OFFICE 6633 Highway 290 East Suite 204 Austin, TX (office) (fax) FINISH LINE Editor Bobb Mahrer (cell) r-mahrer@geusnet.com THE FIRST THANKSGIVING: In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a poorly documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. Pilgrims and Puritans who began emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England. Several days of Thanksgiving were held in early New England history that have been identified as the "First Thanksgiving", including Pilgrim holidays in Plymouth in 1621 and 1623, and a Puritan holiday in Boston in However, the traditional representation of where the first Thanksgiving was held in the United States is now a subject of debate, Continued on page 22 Copyright 2014, Knights of Columbus, Texas State Council, Austin, Texas The FINISH LINE is published monthly by the State Deputy and electronically posted on the tkofc website by the Editor. This publication is a running outlook of the activities, events, award criteria, and due dates for the next days. Specific questions about Membership, Charities, Programs, Council Development, Communications, and the specific subjects therein should be directed to the appropriate State Director. [Bobb Mahrer, Editor] FINISH LINE 2

3 We Are One MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Alfredo Vela (Rosa) (cell) RECRUITMENT Tony Fontanelli (Madeline) (cell) ALL COUNCILS ACTIVE Ken Driska (Jenette) (cell) BLITZ / 365 Tom Watters Sr. (June) (cell) twattersassoc@netzero.com CEREMONIALS Clarence Fey (Helen) cfey@swbell.net MEMBERSHIP BREAKING NEWS Another Cruise Winner Announced Alfredo Vela, State Membership Director Dear Brother Knights, The winner of the September 2014 VIP Cruise was determined on Sunday October 12, At a First Degree in the Diocese of Laredo, several KC members witnessed our State Deputy pull out the winning ticket. Witnesses included including our Past State Deputy, Jacob Gaona, Past State Deputy and Current State Deputy from Mexico, Assistant Diocesan Deputy Eduardo Benavides, Diocesan Deputy Carlos Rene Ramirez, Former Diocesan Deputy, Lupe Medellin, and Field Agent George Martinez. (Hopefully, I didn t forget anybody). The winner of the cruise is Victor Quesnot of San Antonio Council He will be joining our State Deputy and his wife, Estelle, along with July winner Edward Arredondo from Waco Council Fraternally, Alfredo Vela State Membership Director Alfredo Vela MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR October Gain: We brought in 391 new members during the month of October. We are only 64 new members away from another cruise MEMBER RETENTION Ed Glisky (Karen) (cell) edglik@satx.rr.com COMMITTEEMEN Patrick Quilan quinpjjp1@hughes.net Martin Leal mleal4@rgv.rr.com Lynn Slaughter LRS338@hotmail.com Don Shaheen Jr djshaheen@hotmail.com Football Frenzy: San Antonio leads Division 1, Brownsville leads Division 2, and Lubbock leads in Division 3 as well as the entire state with over 400%. FINISH LINE 3

4 RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE for Councils thru June 30, ,000 VIP Points 40,000 VIP Points 20,000 VIP Points GUIDELINES Any council that recruits twelve (12) new members during the current fraternal year and is recorded at Supreme Council by that time will earn the following: done by September 30, 2014 done by December 30, 2014 done by June 30, 2014 For your council to claim its points which can be redeemed for Knights of Columbus merchandise, please complete the form below and mail it to Knights of Columbus, c/o Membership Growth, One Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT Submitted by: FINISH LINE 4

5 RECRUITMENT UPDATES Membership Plan for Oct-Nov-Dec Terry Simonton, State Deputy Our Membership Team under the leadership of Alfredo Vela has been working very hard. We have gained 982 new members in the first quarter of this fraternal year. This was the fourth highest in the past 19 years. We gained 426 new members in September, the second best September in the last nineteen years. As State Deputy I m very proud of where Texas is in Membership. October is the Month for Church Drives. Our Blitz chairman Tom Watters has been getting the information out. The Church Drives will even carry over into November. We will continue to have a cruise give away during the month of October. The cruises have been going over really well. We also have many, many incentives through the months of October through December. Our membership goal for October is to make our 10% goal that Supreme set. If we get 10% we have a chance to defeat Mindanao in the World Series Contest. We also have our own Football Frenzy Contest that runs through November. Our goal for November and December is to reach 400 members each month, which is above the last 10 year average for those months. After we reach those goals, that will put us on pace to make over 5,000 members for the year. Texas has only been over 5,000 members three times. At the start of the year we created a new Directorship position. I felt like the importance of making the Star Council played a huge part in making the Circle of Honor, so we created the Star Council Director. Bobb Mahrer has already been monitoring their progress. Bobb will make sure the councils know what is required of them to make the Star Council, I know we will achieve the 100 Star Councils in Texas. Once we make our goal of 100 Star Councils this will make it a lot easier to reach our membership goal. Jack Gunn and his Council Growth team have been extremely busy the first quarter. We have four requests at Supreme for forgiveness of Supreme per capita for the purpose of reactivation. We are working on 6 or 7 more councils to get reactivated by December.We have 3 new councils this year and we will get 3 or 4 new councils in October. We are working on 15 strong possibilities for new councils this fraternal year. Hopefully we will get several of those in November and December. We also have many incentives for the months of October, November and December. As you can see with these three Brother Knights that Texas is going to have a banner year in Membership. FINISH LINE 5

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12 We Are One CHARITIES DIRECTOR Chris Johnson (Jean Ann) (cell) FUNDRAISING John Maher (Carol) (cell) SPECIAL OLYMPICS Henry Gonzales (Mary) (cell) INFIRMED PRIESTS CARDINAL MEDEIROS Joe Picard (Jeanne) (cell) CHARITY REPORTS HISTORICAL DATA David Zwingman (cell) STATE CHARITIES BOARD Terry Fruge (Beth) CHARITIES When We Think of November We Think of Thanksgiving We Think of Our Blessings Chris Johnson, State Charities Director Chris Johnson CHARITIES DIRECTOR My Brother Knights, When we think of November, we think of Thanksgiving. It is the month most associated with giving thanks for our blessings. As I reflect on the past year, I have a great many things to be thankful for. Of course, first things that come to mind are my wife and family. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful wife that loves me and takes care of me. I feel very blessed to still have my mother and my wife s mother. Both are in their 80 s and very independent. God has given me a large family with 6 kids, if I dare call them that they are all grown. And 13 count them, 13 grandkids. And we are very fortunate that we all have good health. But we have been blessed with much more. We have had the opportunity to meet so many good people across this great state through the Knights of Columbus. From the good folks at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Keller, Texas, who recently asked us to participate in a Culture of Life rosary balloon launch, to the hospitality of St. Joseph parish and Council 1422 in Marshall for a State Council meeting. We have met Catholics in Temple, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Austin, Houston, Amarillo, and Dallas just to name a few. Everywhere we have traveled across this great state we have met wonderful brother knights and their families. We are so thankful for the chance to meet everyone. As you may have heard, the Knights of Columbus membership in Texas stands at about 102,000 Catholic men. We have experienced a steady growth in membership in recent years and we have continually grown in our charitable giving. But in many years we have ended up just short of our goal. This means that we need everyone s help. We have started this year on a strong note in our giving. We are just at 40% of our goal. But we must continue the momentum. Most of us have much to be thankful for. But Father McGivney began our Order to help those less fortunate. We are charged with continuing his mission. Through you and your councils contributions, we can Jerry Janecka (Ann) answer the call of those in need. As has been said many times, charity is the first principle of the Knights of Columbus. So in this JerryJanecka@sbcglobal.net time of thankfulness, when we reflect on all that we have to be Ron Alonzo thankful for, please consider contributing to the charities of the Texas State Council of the Knights of Columbus. When YOU mpdunne@sbcglobal.net contribute more, we can do more to help those in need. Joseph Hernandez (Cyndi) We the members of the Texas State Council and the Texas State Charity Team, wish you and your family a happy and joseph.hernandez@kofc.org blessed Thanksgiving! Fraternally in Christ, Chris Johnson, Charities Director FINISH LINE 12

13 We Are One COUNCIL GROWTH DIRECTOR Jack Gunn (Lori) (cell) NEW COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT Boyd Burris (Patricia) (cell) COUNCIL REACTIVATION Joe Torres (Alicia) (cell) COLLEGE COUNCILS Cris Martin (cell) COUNCIL RETENTION John Daly Jr. (Lenera) (cell) ROUND TABLE Gregg Tatum (Melba) (cell) HISPANIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR Cruz Hinojosa Jr DESCRIPTION GOALS Council Reactivation 23 New Council Develop 15 Round Tables 200 COUNCIL GROWTH It s Been Another Active Month Three New Councils Are Formed During October Jack Gunn, State Council Growth Director Jack Gunn COUNCIL GROWTH Greetings Brother Knights across Texas, It s been another active month in the Council Growth arena. This article will provide a brief update on our progress in Round Tables, New Councils, Re-Activated Councils, and Supreme Per Capita. As the Texas State Council Leadership team prepares to gather in Houston in early December, I encourage you to reach out to your Diocesan Deputy or District Deputy if you know of opportunities to create a New Council, to Reactivate a Suspended Council, or to create a new Roundtable. The Council Growth Team objective for the mid-year meeting is to leave with a plan to reach our goals for the year. That means identification and confirmation of specific opportunities, accountable leaders, and time frames. You may also reach out to anyone on the Council Growth team for assistance. Let s begin with Supreme Per Capita. All councils were billed their per capita charges on July 1, According to the Supreme Council bylaws they were due October 10, We ve been notified that 14 councils were suspended October 10th for failure to pay their amounts due to the Supreme Council. The action plan is for Per Capita Chairman John Daily to reach out to the appropriate Diocesan Deputies, District Deputies, and Grand Knights of these councils to resolve these outstanding amounts in very short order. Our objectives is to ensure these councils remain viable and active in the Knights and in their parish communities. As a reminder, according to our by-laws, dues collected from members are to be used to pay per capita amounts and a council vote for the amounts to be paid to the Supreme Council is not required. Our New Council Chairman Boyd Burris reports another successful month. We are proud to announce the formation of three new councils during October. They are: San Antonio (Mission San Juan Capistrano) The council was formed on 10/20/14 by District Deputy Victor Quesnot (DD-49) with the assistance of PSD Jake Gaona. Laredo (Sagrado Corazon Mission) The council was formed on 10/30/14 by District Deputy Eduardo Benavidez (DD-191) with assistance from Diocesan Deputy Carlos Rene Ramirez. Emory (Tyler Diocese; to be named) The council was formed on 10/31/14 by District Deputy Kurt Sehnert with assistance from Diocesan Deputy David Ziegler, Jr. We are further encouraged by additional activity currently underway in the Dioceses of Dallas, San Antonio, Galveston-Houston, and Laredo for a Continued on page 17 FINISH LINE 13

14 We Are One STAR COUNCILS DIRECTOR Bobb Mahrer (Glenda) (cell) STAR COUNCILS Paul Fehmel (cell) STAR COUNCILS Jack Ferguson Jr. (Jennifer) (cell) STAR COUNCILS David Perry (Donna) STAR COUNCILS Jim Wade (Betty) (cell) STAR TRACKER Bobb Mahrer (Glenda) (cell) STAR COUNCILS COMMITTEEMAN Forms Collection Henry Gonzales (Mary) (Cell) STAR COUNCILS Recognize Outstanding Achievement Bobb Mahrer, State Star Councils Director Submitted by Jack Ferguson Jr., Star Councils Chairman Bobb Mahrer STAR COUINCILS My Brother Knights, What better way to demonstrate Charity, Unity and Fraternity than to become a Star Council. The Star Council Award recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance, and service program activities. In the past, many councils have met the qualifications but failed to turn in the paperwork. If you need help understanding the requirements and required forms, please contact any member of the team. The following is a brief summary of the requirements. Prior to the end of the fraternal year on June 30, make sure that your council achieves the requirements for the Father McGivney Award (Membership), Founder s Award (Insurance), and the Columbian Award (Programs). Together, these constitute the Star Council Award. Star Council Award: To be eligible to earn the Star Council Award, a council must qualify for the Father McGivney Award, the Founder s Award, and Columbian Award. Also, a council must have submitted its Survey of Fraternal Activity Report (1728) and be current with its Supreme Council Per Capita payments. There are no application forms required for the Father McGivney and Founder s Awards Columbian Award: Complete and submit the Columbian Award Application (SP-7) in the Council Report forms booklet (1436) or at A council must conduct and report at least four major programs in each of the Service Program categories of Church, Community, Council, Family, Culture of Life (includes pro-life), and Youth. Completed applications must reach the Supreme Council office prior to June 30th. However, a council is encouraged to submit completed applications as soon as possible. There is no need to wait until the last minute. Remember that there are feature programs that can qualify for all four major program requirement in each service programs area. For Community, Habitat for Humanity and the Global Wheelchair Mission satisfies the requirement. For Council, the featured program is Special Olympics. For Family, a council participating in the Knights of Columbus Food for Families program meets the qualification. For Culture of Life, the requirement is met by participating in either the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative or a local, regional, or national March for Life. For Youth, the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program meets all the requirements. Let s make this a year where every council is a Star Council. Contact me or any member of the Star Councils team if you have any questions or need additional information. Fraternally Jack Ferguson, Star Councils Chairman FINISH LINE 14

15 We Are One PROGRAMS DIRECTOR Daryl Entrop (cell) PRO-LIFE Tom Clark (Lisa) (cell) SONOGRAM Lynn Williams (cell) ATHLETICS Daryl Entrop (cell) SQUIRES Kevin Quinn (Emily) (cell) SQUIRES ASSISTANT Lawrence Prather (Darla) (cell) FAMILY / YOUTH Ed Tydings (Carmen) (cell) edwardtydings@gmail.com VOCATIONS Ron Alonzo (Margo) mpdunne@sbcglobal.net PROGRAMS Be Recognized Through Service Program Awards Daryl Entrop, State Programs Director Service Program Awards Daryl Entrop PROGRAMS DIRECTOR The following are excerpts from the State Programs presentation given at the Organizational Meeting held during July 2014 Every year councils all across the State of Texas conduct programs and activities for the benefit of their parishes, their councils, and for their communities that are never reported or recognized. We are all volunteers and our only reward is the simple recognition of our families, our friends, and our local parishes. So why not let these programs or activities be recognized on a larger state by submitting them for consideration for one or all of the State Service Program Awards. The contest and awards are given for each of six Service Program categories. They are Church, Community, Council, Family, Pro-Life, and Youth. The contest is really simple. Begin with plenty of advanced notice of the event. Let people know what the event is that is being held, the date of the event, its location, and what time it will begin. Submit this notice to your local newspaper and your local church bulletin. Get as much exposure as you can for the event. Be sure to have someone on hand to take plenty of pictures. Prepare a scrapbook for the event. In this scrapbook, write a detailed description of the event. Be sure to include the total number of hours needed to plan and put on the event, the number of volunteer men and women, along with the percentage of council members working on this event, and what was the final outcome of the event. Finally, submit the entry on the standard entry form STSP by March 1st for consideration of one of the state council awards. FREE THROW Carl Bernal (Theresa) chbernsyc@yahoo.com FREE THROW ASSISTANT Victor Quesnot (Marie) vmqkoc@yahoo.com WHEELCHAIR Sam Szalwinski (Beverly) (cell) samkc@sbcglobal.net WHEELCHAIR ASSISTANT Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Elena) (cell) chrisrodjr(sbcglobal.net SILVER ROSE Olie Dangerfield (Evelyn) (cell) oliedangerfield@gmail.com MARIAN HOUR OF PRAYER Olie Dangerfield (Evelyn) (cell) oliedangerfield@gmail.com FINISH LINE 15

16 We Are One COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Craig Modrzynski (Barbara) (cell) SOCIAL MEDIA Adrian Gutierrez (Tiffany) (cell) PUBLICATIONS TEXAS KNIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY Mark Johnson (B) FINISH LINE EDITOR Bobb Mahrer (Glenda) (cell) PRESENTATIONS Chris Diaz (cell) AWARDS PROCUREMENT James DeGhelder (Nan) (cell) TRAINERS Pete Muceus (Carol) Robert Hernandez (Anna) Craig Modrzynski (Barbara) COMMUNICATIONS Share The Joy of Helping Others Craig Modrzynski, Communications Director Craig Modrzynski COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Dear Brother Knights, November is a time of giving thanks for all the gifts we have received from God welcoming friends and family into our homes and sharing our blessings at Thanksgiving is one way. Our councils need to do the same welcome new members in to our Order, share the joy of helping others, and help our members plan for their family and their family s future. Has your Council hosted a membership drive recently? What better Christmas present is there than joining the Knights of Columbus and becoming a stronger Catholic for Christmas? Has your Council hosted an Insurance Night? The first reason Father Michael J. McGivney had for forming the Order was to protect widows and orphans. He had to leave his studies at the seminary and return home to help his family after his father died. He knew how hard it was on families when the breadwinner died and wanted to provide a safety net for Our Families. We need to help our members protect their families. Talk to your agent and plan for an Insurance Night this year. Make sure you invite members and their wives along with prospective members and their wives. Please, remember our seminarians in this time of thanks giving. Send them a card thanking them for their calling to serve the Church. Make sure you invite them to your Council Christmas party and plan to send them a Christmas gift. Fraternally, Craig Modrzynski Communications Director Lights, Camera, Action!! How would you like to be in a Supreme Council Video or Publication? The Supreme Council is looking for Councils that are holding well attended, efficiently run, events who have a diversity of membership, and would be willing to cooperating in filming/photographing their activities as well as staging some of those activities. The activities we are looking for include (but are not limited to): Free Throw Contests Soccer Challengs Coats For Kids Distributions Food for Family Events Vocations Activities Veteran s Assistance Events Wheelchair Distributions Light Up For Christ Events Disaster Relief Activities Continued on next page FINISH LINE 16

17 State Communications Message continued The Supreme Council is also looking for high resolution photos of our activities. We have been honored to have our councils in Texas to be represented on the Supreme Council website banner and on the cover of the Financial Secretaries manual. If you can help with the donation of photos or events please contact me at HELP WANTED Help Support in needed for the Texas State Council Communications Team. Are you a computer programmer, a graphic artist, or into video production? Would you like to create content for the Texas State Council? I have several projects to create software for our State Officers and Chairmen to modernize our IT infrastructure. We would like to start producing audio, video, and printed training materials to help our councils with their activities. Please me at craigmod@get.net if you would like to help. Fraternally, Craig Modrzynski, Communications Director DO NOT FAX FORMS Submit forms to Supreme Council via Member Management or forms@kofc.org Submit forms to Texas State Council via forms@tkofc.org Do you have your charities pin yet??? New Council Development Message continued possible five additional councils. We are hopeful all of these will result in New Councils and that would bring us to a total of 11 New Councils against our goal of 15. Next up is Council Reactivation with Joe Torres as our leader. I m happy to report that we are complete with reactivating four councils. The most recently reactivated council is in Seminole in the Diocese of Lubbock. Thanks goes todiocesan Deputy Arlie Markusen and his team for making this happen! As you can see, we have much to do to reach our goal of 23 reactivated councils and we need your assistance to accomplish this objective. At this point in the year, efforts are underway in an additional ten councils that may result in a reactivation. In these locations, we need to develop a plan, execute it and monitor performance to ensure we continue timely progress towards reactivation. The remaining opportunity is nine councils to exactly meet our goal. Ignoring the numbers for a moment, our real goal is to reignite the flame of Columbianism that existed at some point in these locations and continue our legacy of service to our Priests, our brother Knights, and the parish communities to which we all belong. As of this writing, we have 109 Round Table forms in hand against our goal of 200. If your council has a Round Table and you have not submitted form 2629 for the current fraternal year, the time to do so is NOW (due date was 9/30). Here is a link for you to submit the report pdf. Don t forget to copy Kathleen McLaughlin in the state office at forms@tkofc.org and she will get them to us. I would like to remind everyone that our Hispanic Council Chairman Cruz Hinojosa and College Council Chairman Cris Martin are available to assist your diocesan teams in any way they can. Feel free to contact them directly for assistance. On behalf of the Council Growth team, thank you for all you do for the Knights and your communities. As we all look towards the Thanksgiving holidays, please take some time to reflect upon the many blessings present in all of our lives. Vivat Jesus and may God abundantly bless each of you and your families. Fraternally Jack Gunn, Council Growth Director FINISH LINE 17

18 NOVEMBER 2014 REMINDERS q November 1, All Saints Day Remember our deceased brother Knights with a special prayer service or memorial mass during November. P R A Y q November 1, Free-Throw Contest Kit Order Form Councils must submit their order for the Free-Throw Contest Kit from the Supreme Council supply department no later than November 1 st. Note that this event may be reported in the Youth Activities section of the Columbian Award application. q November 2, All Souls Day CATHOLIC q November 4, Local Elections Election day in the United States is always on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Texas has several amendments. VOTE CATHOLIC! q November 11, Veterans Day World War I, known at the time as The Great War, came to an end when an armistice, an end to the hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany, went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of On November 11, 1919, President Wilson proclaimed this day as the first comemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with the solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country s service and with gratitude for victory In 1954, Congress passed a bill that was signed by President Eisenhower proclaiming this day as Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor America s veterans for their Patriotism. Councils hosting a patriotic community event may report the event in the Community Activities section of the Columbian Award application. q November 15, America Recycles Day Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on November 15 to celebrate America Recycles Day (ARD). More than a celebration, America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States. Through ARD, Keep America Beautiful, and Keep Texas Beautiful, in partnership with the State of Texas Alliance of Recycling, organizations like the Knights of Columbus are able to inform, educate, and support their local communities. Plan a community activity that may be reported in the Community Activities section of the Columbian Award application. FINISH LINE 18

19 NOVEMBER 2014 REMINDERS continued q November 15, Family of the Month (Form 1993A) Due Form 1993A is due to the Supreme Council office by the 15th of the month for the immediate past month. Two families are selected from each jurisdiction each month to represent the Supreme Council and those families receive a small statue of the Holy Family in recognition of their selection. Participation in the Family-ofthe-Month will count for one of the requirements of the Youth Activities section of the Columbian Award. A council that participates at least eight times in a timely manner during the fraternal year will be recognized with a special certificate from the State Council. The Family of the Month for October is due NOW. q November 22 30, National Family Week National Family Week in the United States takes place during the week of Thanksgiving and was first proclaimed by Ronald Reagan on November 19, The main purpose for the observation is to celebrate the contribution that families make to the fabric of American society, and second to distribute resources to the needy. Plan a family activity event that may be reported in the Family Activities section of the Columbian Award application. q November 27, Thanksgiving Day Plan a community activity, such as a soup kitchen for the unfortunate and needy, that may be reported in the Community Activities section of the Columbian Award application. 64th Running of the Silver Rose q November 2, Transfer of Silver Rose to Texas The transfer of the Silver Rose #2 from Oklahoma to Texas (Fort Worth Diocese) and Silver Rose #1 from Arkansas to Texas (Tyler Diocese) and Silver Rose #3 from New Mexico to Texas (El Paso Diocese) are all scheduled to occur on November 2nd. The Our Lady of Guadalupe Silver Rose Program began in 1960 as a project of the Columbian Squires of North America to honor the Blessed Virgin under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. The program has continued since then as a project of Squires Circles, Councils, and Assemblies. In 2001 Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson expanded the program by beginning the Running of the Silver Rose from the 119th Annual meeting of the Supreme Council in Ontario, Canada to Monterrey, Mexico through the United States. The Running of the Silver Rose is a perfect program for the Knights of Columbus, said Supreme Knight Anderson. Through it we honor not only Our Lady of Guadalupe and express the Unity of the Order, but we also reaffirm the Order s dedication to the sanctity of human life. It is to the Blessed Mother that we turn to in prayer as we work to end the Culture of Death that grips our society. As we think in terms of One Life, One Rose, it is most appropriate we turn to our Lady of Guadalupe who made known her will through Juan Diego and the miracle of the roses. The Silver Rose program features a sculpted silver rose carried by Knights from Canada through the United States to Mexico, bringing he Culture of Life message on its journey. The silver rose is received by councils and parishes along its journey, and Masses and prayer services are offered. Special border ceremonies > Silver Rose continued with the Fourth Degree Honor Guards are held when the rose is transferred from one state to another and one country to another. FINISH LINE 19

20 National Vocations Awareness Week November 2-8, 2014 National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. NVAW began in 1976 when the U. S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for NVAW. In 1997, this celebration was moved to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 13 in Beginning in 2014, NVAW was moved to the first full week of November. The Catholic Church invites us to reflect on Jesus mission as our own calling and to pray for all vocations. Ten Things You Can Do To Support Vocations may be found at (note that ideas for Church Activities may be found in the Surge With Service booklet and note how they may be reported in the Church Activities section of the Columbian Award application.) Prayer for Vocations God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Becoming a priest or a man or woman religious is not primarily our own decision... Rather it is the response to a call and to a call of love. Pope Francis, Address to Seminarians and Novices, July 6, 2013 FINISH LINE 20

21 Gerald Ford signed into public law the return of the observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th. Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American flag is hung at half mast. A period of silence lasting two minutes may be held at 11am. Veterans Day is officially observed on November 11th. However, if it falls on a week day, many communities hold their celebrations on the weekend closest to this date. This is to enable more people to attend and participate in the events. Veterans Day November 11, 2014 HONOR THEM World War I, known at the time as The Great War, came to end when an armistice, an end to the hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany, went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in On November 11, 1919, President Wilson proclaimed this day as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country s service and with gratitude for the victory In 1954, Congress passed a bill that was signed by President Eisenhower proclaiming this day as Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor America s veterans for their patriotism. On June 28, 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill was signed with the intent to insure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington s Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would be will received. However, many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th due to its historic and patriotic significance to a great number of Americans. So, on September 20, 1975, President FINISH LINE 21

22 The First Thanksgiving continued The first Thanksgiving in America actually took place in 1598 at San Elizario near what is now El Paso, TX. though the debate is often confused by mixing up the ideas of a Thanksgiving holiday celebration and a Thanksgiving religious service. These claims include an earlier religious service by Spanish explorer Juan de Onate and his expedition in Texas at San Elizario (near what is now El Paso) on April 30, Juan de Oñate was a member of a distinguished family that had loyally worked for the Spanish crown. His father had discovered and developed rich mines in Zacatecas, Mexico. Oñate, himself, had opened the mines of San Luis Potosí and performed many other services for the Spanish king. But he wanted to carve an unquestioned place in history by leading an important expedition into unexplored land. He was granted land in the northern Rio Grande Valley among the Pueblo Indians by the viceroy of By early March 1598, Oñate's expedition of 500 people, including soldiers, colonists, wives, andchildren and 7,000 head of livestock, was ready to cross the treacherous Chihuahuan Desert. Almost from the beginning of the 50-day march, nature challenged the Spaniards. First, seven consecutive days of rain made travel miserable. Then the hardship was reversed, and the travelers suffered greatly from the dry weather. On one occasion, a chance rain shower saved the parched colonists. Finally, for the last five days of the march before reaching the Rio Grande, the expedition ran out of both food and water, forcing the men, women, and children to seek roots and other scarce desert vegetation to eat. Both animals and humans almost went mad with thirst before the party reached water. Two horses drank until their stomachs burst, and two others drowned in the river in their haste to consume as much water as possible. The Rio Grande was the salvation of the expedition, however. After recuperating for 10 days, Oñate ordered a day of thanksgiving for the survival of the expedition. Included in the event was a feast, supplied with game by the Spaniards and with fish by the natives of the region. A mass was said by the Franciscan missionaries traveling with the expedition. And finally, Oñate read La Toma -- the taking -- declaring the land drained by the Great River to be the possession of King Philip II of Spain. After the celebration, the Oñate expedition continued up the Rio Grande and eventually settled near Santa Fé. When Jamestown and Plymouth were established early in the 17th century, they were English attempts to gain a foothold in the New World. Santa Fé was but one of hundreds of towns the Spanish already had established in the New World. Historically, most Americans view Thanksgiving as a tradition beginning with the pilgrims at Plymouth celebrating their first harvest of the year with the local native Indians. President George Washington proclaimed a National day of Thanksgiving for November 26, 1789 New Spain. The viceroy moved to a new post, however, and his successor was slow to grant Oñate permission to begin his expedition. Finally, in 1597, approval came. To reach his new holdings, Oñate chose to bypass the traditional route that followed the Rio Conchos in present-day Mexico to the Rio Grande and then northward along the Rio Grande to honor the formation of the United States into New Mexico. In the summer of 1597, Oñate sent government. But his effort failed to become an Vicente de Zaldívar to blaze a wagon trail from Santa annual tradition. Barbara in southern Chihuahua, along which could It was not until President Abraham Lincoln be found adequate water supplies. Zaldívar proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving and underwent many hardships, including capture by Praise in 1863 during the Civil War did the annual Indians, in carrying out his instructions. No mention tradition take hold in the United States. of the hardships was made, however, when he made In 1941 the U. S. Congress passed legislation his report to Oñate. (The trail blazed by Zaldívar has designating the fourth Thursday in November as a become the route of the modern highway between national day of Thanksgiving. Chihuahua City and El Paso.) FINISH LINE 22

23 q November 30, Advent Begins November 30th is the First Sunday of Advent, signifying the beginning of Advent. All Catholics are encouraged to set an Advent Wreath in their homes. Councils, assemblies, and circles are encouraged to have a ceremony with the blessing of an Advent Wreath by their chaplain and the lighting of its candles. q December 1, Order Membership Cards Financial Secretaries and Comptrollers are reminded that it is time to order Membership Cards for Year 2013 from the Supreme Council Supplies Department. q December 5-7, 2014 Mid-Year Meeting The Mid-Year meeting for all District and Diocesan Deputies will be held the weekend of December at the Omni Houston Westside Hotel near Katy, Texas. q December 2, Light Up for Christ The Supreme Council has designated the first Tuesday of December of each year as the day for Light Up For Christ. On this day, councils and assemblies and circles are invited to turn on a switch and light a Nativity scene, and/or Christmas Tree at 8:00 pm local time. A Lights Up for Christ poster (#2757) is available from the Supreme Council Supply Department. q December 7, Pearl Harbor Day Plan a patriotic community activity that may be reported in the Community Activities section of the Columbian Award application. q December 12, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Plan a pro-life activity in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, and report it in the Pro-Life Activities section of the Columbian Award application. q December 15, Family of the Month (Form 1993A) Due The Grand Knight of each council should appoint a Family Activities Chairman and Select a Family of the Month each month. Form 1993A is due to the Supreme Council office by the 15th of the month for the immediate past month. Two families are selected from each jurisdiction each month to represent the Supreme Council and those families Receive a small statue of the Holy Family in recognition of their selection. Participation in the Family-of-the-Month will count for one of the requirements of the Youth Activities section of the Columbian Award. A council that participates at least eight times in a timely manner during the fraternal year will be recognized with a special certificate from the State Council. The Family of the Month for November is due NOW. FINISH LINE 23

24 DECEMBER 2014 REMINDERS continued q December 25, Keep Christ in Christmas Plan a church, community, family, or youth activity that may be reported in the appropriate section of Columbian Award application. q December 31, State Council Charity Goal is Due (Early Date Grand Knights needs to make sure their council s Charity Goal to the Texas State Charities is paid by December 31st (early deadline) in order to qualify for the prestigious Lone Star Award with Distinction from the Texas State Council. q December 31, State Council Per Capita is Due (Early Date) Grand Knights need to make sure their council s State Per Capita assessment is paid by December 31st (early deadline) in order to qualify for the prestigious Lone Star Award for Excellence and the Lone Star Award for Excellence with Distinction. First Call for State PER CAPITA & CHARITY 102,000 + MEMBERS Texas is now the largest jurisdiction in the America s Plan now for a First Degree Dec Keep Christ in Christmas Jan March for Life!!! Feb Be My Valentine Congratulations to our 100,000th Member Samuel Esparza of Waco (Baylor Univ) Council #13577 Pope Francis often says that true power is service. FINISH LINE 24

25 JANUARY 2015 REMINDERS q January 1-31, 2015 Council Free-Throw Contests Councils are encouraged to participate in the Supreme Council sponsored Youth Basketball Free-Throw Contest and to schedule their local council contests during the month of January. The contest is for boys and girls ages as of January 1st. Councils should verify ages via a copy of a birth certificate at the time of acceptance of the parent consent form. Councils must also be current with their State Per Capita in order for contestants representing their council to be eligible at the district, diocesan, and state level contests. The State contest will be held at Antonian High School in San Antonio on March 1, Contact Texas State Council Free-Throw Chairman Carl Bernal in San Antonio at (cell) or at chbernsyc@yahoo.com for more information. q January 15, Family of the Month (Form 1993A) Due The Grand Knight of each council should appoint a Family Activities Chairman and select a Family of the Month each month. Form 1993A is due to the Supreme Council office by the 15th of the month for the immediate past month. Two families are selected from each jurisdiction each month to represent the Supreme Council and those families receive a small statue of the Holy Family in recognition of their selection. Participation in the Family-of-the-Month will count for one of the requirements of the Youth Activities section of the Columbian Award. A council that participates at least eight times in a timely manner during the fraternal year will be recognized with a special certificate from the State Council. The Family of the Month for December is due NOW. SUBMIT ANNUAL SURVEY OF FRATERNAL ACTIVITY Form 1728 DUE January 31st FINISH LINE 25 t

26 JANUARY 2015 REMINDERS continued q January , 2015 Columbian Squires Mid-Year Convention Keller Squires Circle 4020, in conjunction with the Keller Council 759 is proud to host the 2015 Texas State Columbian Squires Mid-Year Convention in Keller, Texas. The convention will be hosted on January , 2015 at the Knights of Columbus Hall located at 1907 Whitley Road in Keller, Texas. Mass will be at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Everyone is responsible for their own hotel reservations. A block of rooms have been arranged at the Hampton Inn and Suites, North Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas ( ). When making reservations, please refer to SQUIRES MID- YEAR STATE CONVENTION and or code CJS to get the group rate of $89 (plus tax) per night. Remember to bring your circle s or council s tax exemption certificate in order to avoid the tax. Room availability and price will not be guaranteed after December 7, Request registration materials by contacting the Chief Counselor for Circle 4020 at or State Squires Chairman Kevin Quinn in Sachse at or him at kevin@the quinns.us or Assistant State Squires Chairman Larry Prather at (cell) or him at ldprather@embarqmail.com. There is a $35 registration fee for each Squire ($45 after January 3, 2014). Please make all checks payable to Columbian Squires Circle Registration materials must be received by January 2, q January 22, nd Annual March for Life Every Life is a Gift is the theme for the 42nd Annual March for Life and Rally which is from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The march begins immediately after the rally and will follow the route up Constitution Avenue to the U. S. Supreme Court Building on Capital Hill. The Renaissance DC Downtown Hotel is the new host hotel. Contact Texas State Council Pro-Life Chairman Tom Clark in the Dallas area at or at tjclark123@comcast.net for more information about the Dallas March or other Pro- Life Activities, particularly, the ACE Wings program. q January 31, Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity Report Due Councils (and Assemblies and Circles) must complete and submit their 2013 Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity Report (Form #1728) to the Supreme Council by January 31st in order to qualify for the Columbian Award and the Star Council Award. q January 31, Partnership Profile Report Due The Knights of Columbus have always had a close relationship with Special Olympics. To further track local councils involvement, make sure that the councils in your district complete the Partnership Profile report with Special Olympics located in the Council Reports Form Booklet and submit it to the Supreme Council office by January 31st with a copy to the State Council office. The Supreme Council of Knights of Columbus provides funds to support the State Special Olympics activities based on the number of volunteer hours provided by Knights. Councils which report the greatest number of volunteer hours per member and greatest monetary donation per member will be recognized with a special award by the State Council. Form 4584 must be submitted to the Supreme Council office and the State Council office by January 31st. FINISH LINE 26

27 STAR COUNCIL Checklist FORM REPORT DUE DATE COMPLETE 185 Report of Officers JUL 01 P 365 REPORT OF PROGRAM PERSONNEL* AUG 01 P 1295 Semi-Annual Audit (ending Jun 30) AUG 15 P SUPREME PER CAPITA* OCT 10 P SUPREME CATHOLIC ADVERTISING* OCT 10 P FT-Kit Supreme Basketball Free Throw Kit NOV 01 State Per Capita (LSAFE w/distinction)** DEC 31 State Charities (LSAFE w/distinction)** DEC ANNUAL SURVEY OF FRATERNAL ACTIVITY* JAN Partnership Profile Special Olympics Report JAN Semi-Annual Audit (ending Dec 31) FEB 15 State Per Capita (LSAFE)** MAR 01 State Educational Grant Application MAR 01 State Programs Award Entries MAR 01 State Family of the Year Entry MAR 01 SUPREME PER CAPITA* APR 10 SUPREME CATHOLIC ADVERTISING* APR 10 SP7 COLUMBIAN AWARD APPLICATION* JUN 30 State Charities (LSAFE)** JUN 30 MEMBERSHIP GAIN (7%, minimum of 4)* JUN 30 INSURANCE GAIN (3%, minimum of 3)* JUN RSVP Application JUN 30 Star Council Award requirement* LSAFE Lone Star Award for Excellence requirements** Other requested forms FINISH LINE 27

28 MARKET PLACE Donate Now Texas State Charities Texas State Charities has an online donation page on the state council s website to assist generous Knights and others with a paper trail to support individual income tax deductions for donations made to six separate charitable projects. Select the Donate Now button on the main page and you will be linked to a special page with details on each of the six charity projects (1) Bishops Fund; (2) Disaster Relief; (3) Texas Special Olympics; (4) American Wheelchair Mission; (5) Wounded Warrior Project; (6) Frontline Faith Project, (7) Cardinal Medeiros Fund, and (8) Fr. McGivney Icon. Donations may be made by VISA or MASTERCARD to one or more of these state sponsored charity projects with the donor receiving a receipt by return . Texas State Council Charities, Inc, is qualified under the United States Internal Revenue Code as a section 501(c)(3) charity. Donations to it and projects funded through it are tax deductible to the extent allowed by federal law. Bishop s Fund Special Olympics Wounded Warrior Cardinal Medeiros Fund Disaster Relief Wheelchair Mission Frontline Faith Fr. McGivney Icon Two Sizes Available Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Send donations to: Texas State Council Charities Knights of Columbus 6633 Highway 290 East, Suite 204 Austin, TX ATTN: (Specify Fund) FINISH LINE 28

29 Father McGivney Icon Is Now Available Special New Icon of Our Beloved Founder Last year (2013) marked the 13th anniversary of service to our Order by our 13th Supreme Knight, Carl Anderson. Also in 2013, Texas hosted the Supreme Convention in San Antonio and reached 100,000 Knights in Texas. To mark all of these significant achievements, Texas State Council Charities commissioned a special new icon of our beloved founder. A Legacy of Hope depicts Father McGivney comforting a widow and orphan, with the emblem of the Order as a backdrop. Four key sites with very special significance to the Order are integrated into the framing of the main image. Rendered by renowned religious artist G.E. Mullan, the original was donated to the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven, Connecticut. Our Supreme Knight, Supreme Chaplain, and all 17 Bishops in Texas received one print of a limited Founder s series. Other series prints are now available to councils, assemblies, individual knights, and others by making a donation to Texas State Council Charities fund. This vivid print will make an excellent addition to a Council chamber or as a gift for your Bishop, Chaplain, or other clergy; Knight or Family of the Year. Two sizes are available: the Major Series image is 75% (18 x26 ) of the original, and the Minor Series image is 50% (12 x17 ) of the original. The Major Series prints are available for a $200 donation to the Texas State Charities fund and the Minor Series are available for a $100 donation. Packaging and shipping fees are extra. Prayer Cards at 4 x 5 are also available in packets of 50 for a donation of $25. All net proceeds support the charitable works of the fund. About The Artist G. E. Mullan In 1987, Mullan was privileged to create a work entitled San Antonio de Yanaguana which was presented to Pope John Paul II as an official gift of the bishops of Texas on the occasion of the Papal Visit to San Antonio in September of that year. The unique painting style of G. E. Mullan is noted for its lyrical line set against an ordered and complex geometry of interdependent shapes. His technique of precise color overlaid on fluid washes and splatters of color creates a visual excitement that involves the viewer and invites close study of the technical excellence of the work. In other media, such as Prismacolor, lithography, and collage, the artist employs a variety of techniques suitable to each distinct medium to achieve the same texture and visual FINISH LINE 29

30 MARKET PLACE K of C Insurance Thomas Supak, General Agent Thomas R. Supak FICF, LUTC Texas State Council Insurance Liason General Agent Knights of Columbus Insurance P. O. Box 398 La Grange, TX (B) (Fax) thomas.supak@kofc.org Now at 909 FINISH LINE 30

31 MARKET PLACE Mark Johnson, Editor Mark Johnson, Website Master Visit us at Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney Aug 12, 1852 Aug 14, 1890 Founder of the Knights of Columbus like us on OUR NUMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE Year 2013 sets new records for Charitable giving VOLUNTER SERVICE More than $1.475 billion in charitable contributions and over 673 million volunteer hours have been provided in the last 10 Years CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS 70.1 MILLION HOURS $167 MILLION DOLLARS FINISH LINE 31

32 MARKET PLACE Texas State Charities Donations of $20.00 or higher will be recognized with a State Charities Pin. Make check payable to Texas State Council Charities. Texas State Council Charities 6633 Highway 290 East, Suite 204 Austin, TX Name: Council No. Address: City, State, Zip: Telephone: ( ) - Amount Enclosed $ Presented (Y/N) Mark Johnson, Editor Send articles and photos to: Find An Agent Join The Guild Fr. Michael J. McGivney Guild Editor, Texas Knight 707 Harbor Drive Georgetown, TX mark.johnson@texasknight-news Published 3 times annually KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS C E L E B R A T I N G 132 YEARS OF FAITH IN ACTION Texas State Council Wheelchair Chairman Sam Szalwinski samkc@sbcglobal.net FINISH LINE 32

33 MARKET PLACE See next page Ladies Pro-Life Project Texas State Council Making Texas the Number 1 Pro-Life State in the Nation Contact Estelle Simonton simon@vvm.com where good guys wear black Charity, Unity, Fraternity, Patriotism The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas For information on the exciting life of the priesthood, please contact the Vocations Office at Send submissions to Bobb Mahrer, Editor r-mahrer@geusnet.com FINISH LINE 33

34 MARKET PLACE The theme for the Texas State Council Ladies Program is Pro-Life. This year we will do something a little different and I believe it will create excitement in every diocese, says First Lady Estelle Simonton. This year we will raise funds for the Pro-Life Ministry in each diocese. I have come to learn that there are many Maternity Homes and Pregnancy Resource Centers throughout Texas that are in need of financial and spiritual help. I would like to raise enough money to be able to send a generous donation to one Pro-Life Ministry in each diocese on behalf of the ladies of the Texas Knights. Here is how it will work. Each donation of $250, regardless if it comes from an individual or from a council will be able to choose one of three incredible gifts. If a council, for example, sends in a gift of $1000, we will send them four items of their choice. One can go to the Grand Knight and the rest can go to the Knight of the Year, the Parish priest, or perhaps some of the ladies that work so hard for the success of the local Council. Of course, any donation of any size will be acceptable, but in order to receive one of the following items, a donation of at least $250 is necessary. Pro-Life - First Lady s State Program Olive Wood Lourdes Rosary and Box This special 150 Anniversary Olive Wood Lourdes Rosary and Box is made of 8 MM round olive wood beads with a polished pewter center and crucifix. The center features an image of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette and holds a third class relic from the Grotto blessed by the local Bishop on the feast of the Assumption. The rosary box, also made of olive wood, measures 2 x 2.5 x 1.5 and has a bronze-colored pewter emblem of the Grotto on the lid. The olive wood is from Bethlehem. Make checks payable State Council Charities and note The Ladies Project in the memo section Olive Wood Rosary and Box with Relic This Olive Wood Rosary and Box with Relic features a rosary box featuring a third-class relic that was touched to Jesus tomb. It measures 2.75 x 2.75 X 1.5. It includes a rosary with either round or oval olive wood beads. It is imported from the Holy Land. Olive Wood Crucifix with Holy Sepulcher Relic At the base of this beautiful Olive Wood Crucifix with Holy Sepulcher Relic from the Holy Land is a small brass finished case containing a piece of cloth that was touched to Jesus tomb. The corpus is made of pewter with an antique brass finish. It measures 4.75 X The following Pro-Life Ministries will be assisted DIOCESE Amarillo Austin Beaumont Brownsville Corpus Christi Dallas El Paso Fort Worth Gal-Houston Laredo Lubbock San Angelo San Antonio Tyler Victoria MINISTRY Amarillo Agency for Women The Annunciation Maternity Home Hope Women s Resource Center Gift of Life Pregnancy Center Hope House Dallas Catholic Maternity House* House of Hope Pregnancy Center Fort Worth Pregnancy Center Life House Maternity Home Casa la Esperanza Pro-Life Center Nurturing Center Pregnancy Help Ctr of Concho Valley Guadalupe Home Living Alternative and Crises Center Love for Life Crises Center * The name was changed due to a request from the Sisters who operate the facility. FINISH LINE 34