December 2018 Dear Worthy Brother Knights All: Here we are in the middle of the holiday season. What a great time of year. Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, and a New Year. All this in six weeks. Wow, is this better than March Madness or what. I know it s better than vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and a late night movie. Huh, did I say that. Yes, I did! What a great time to be a Catholic Christian and a Knight of Columbus. A time when many of our young people look to their elders for example. We can give so much to them and ourselves. These are times in our lives they will always remember. Be there to pray with them as a family. To thank God for all He has done for us, given us, and will continue to do for us. The members of the Knights of Columbus have so much to be thankful for. Think of the good we do for our parishes, our seminarians, the unborn, our schools, and our youth to name a few. I am sure all of you would join me in thanking God for the ability we have to do His will. Now, let s ask all Catholic Christians to join the Knights family in this stewardship of service. Now, and into the future, we owe it to these men and their families to be part of this service to God. We need to prepare ourselves this Advent season for the coming of Jesus Christ on Christmas day. Is shopping, sending cards, going to parties, visiting family and friends, and eating all kinds of good things getting ready for the birth of Jesus? You bet it is. Celebrating this birthday is mandatory. As long as we remember what we are celebrating. So pass the word and pass the gravy. My prayer for all of you this holiday season is for you to hold your family close, tell them you need them and love them. March Madness will come soon enough. And there will always be a late night movie. From my family to yours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God Bless you, your family, and your work. Vivat Jesus, Jim Venjohn, Wyoming State Deputy.
December 2018 Page 2 Fourth Degree Report Dear Worthy State Officers, District Deputies, Committee Chairmen and brothers all, On Nov. 10 a 4 th Degree Exemplification was held in Lander. It was very successful and 17 new Sir Knights were exemplified. Then on Nov. 17, an exemplification was held, and despite the snowstorm that prevented 5 candidates from attending, 9 new Sir Knights were brought into the 4 th degree. I urge all councils to work toward getting degree work done, and I will gladly do my part to schedule and provide 4th Degree exemplifications. I have eligibility information on the state website, and will try to keep that updated. As far as dress, a candidate only needs a dark suit, black footwear and a dark necktie. There is no requirement to purchase the new uniform, as a 4th degree member does not have to participate in the Honor Guard. I would urge that no candidate purchase a tuxedo nor regalia. As of Nov. 18, 2017, Supreme has stated that regalia will be phased out as of June 30, 2019. There is no change to that date. Supreme has also approved the social baldric to be worn with a suit under the coat, but over the necktie. It is not worn with the new uniform. The service baldric with sword is approved for the new uniform and only the original 4th degree pin (No flag pin, no enlarged pin). The new uniforms, as well as appropriate patches may be ordered from www.kofcuniform.com. There will soon be a United States manufacturer that may help reduce the costs of the uniform, so keep tabs on that ordering website. Baldrics, swords, etc. are best ordered from The English Company. At this time the Wyoming District is 100% for reports of officers elected, however, the vast majority were quite late. Again the audit reports are now at 83%. These reports are very important, and I will be addressing that by urging assembly leadership in each assembly to comply with The Rules and Regulations of the Fourth Degree. Please acquire and read the 2017 Rules and Regulations, the Protocol Handbook, and Color Corps Drill Manual. These should be all updated in all Assemblies. The next critical report will be the Survey of Fraternal Activity. I hope this report is taken seriously, and that none of the reports reflect zero activity. It should not be up to the District Master to make attempt after attempt to get assemblies to get the reports in. With the information on the state website available to all, and access to training and reporting on the Supreme website being very user friendly, I find it very difficult to understand why all reports, except the audit, can't be done in a timely manner and in electronic format. It is a leadership responsibility to keep current with reports. Please review the report deadlines in the booklet you receive, or online, and observe those deadlines. The activity of the 4th Degree is mostly unreported. Please review the activities you are doing and report those to the District Master, including meetings held. If existing leadership lacks enthusiasm, how can enthusiasm be passed to Sir Knights or prospective Sir Knights? This is the real challenge. I further urge younger or new Sir Knights to step up to leadership positions, and press your leadership to get involved in activities. No one wants to be just a part of membership to attend meetings. Activities provide the source of pride and achievement that attract new members. Please read some of the possible projects that 4 th degree should be involved in, and please attempt to get at least one activity a month added to the things you do as an assembly. This is my challenge to all and I hope that 2019 will be a fruitful year. Thank you for what you all do, but let s do our best to improve. Thank you. Vivat Jesus, Bob Taylor MFD WY
December 2018 Page 3 Ceremonial News There are currently no degrees scheduled To schedule a Second & Third Degree, Contact: Mike Dahl, Ceremonials Director at: 307-875-7831 {home} 307-871-1030 (cell) mikenlin@vcn.com To schedule a Fourth Degree, Contact: District Master, Robert Taylor @ 307-321-0357. Council 9917 Gun-A-Week Raffle Drawings have begun for the 7th Annual Gun-A-Week Raffle Congratulations to our latest winners : Week 14 - #7810 -Emily Sines of Casper WY won a Ruger 10/22 Wood Week 15 - #7639 - Chad Brutlag of Sheridan WY won a Remington 700 SPS.270 Win Week 16 - #7045 - Louis Braun of Saratoga WY won a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Synthetic Week 17 -#7607 - Kelsey Fisher of Deaver WY won a Weatherby Vanguard Synthetic.300 Win Mag Weekly winners are posted each Wednesday at www.kofc9917.org. Please feel free to make any submissions to wyokcnews@gmail.com. I will do my best to put out an issue of The Cowboy Bulletin every month, but I need your help to know what s going on out there. Upcoming events, council projects or sharing ideas that could benefit other councils, are all things we as Knights are interested in hearing about. Remember that we are Brother Knights, united in one cause. Vivat Jesus Steve Grapes Public Relations Director Wyoming Knights of Columbus ============================================================================================= There is a wealth of information on our State Council web site. Check out www.wyomingkc.org. All members are encouraged to check it out.
December 2018 Page 4 BROTHER KNIGHTS, SPOUSES, and FAMILIES: As we begin our new church year, keep in mind how important our CLERGY is to our church. Please show your appreciation by your actions as Catholics. Also, remember our seminarians and the RSVP program. Make a habit of praying for our clergy every single day. Jerry Hoefler PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY Whenever we interact with our priests, do we see them as human and frail like the rest of humanity? Or on the other hand, do we see them as supermen, able to withstand all the stresses and strains of being human? I hope you see your priest as very human. Quite possibly, even more human than most of us. Why? Because they not only have their own struggles being human, but they accompany us in our humanness too. Therefore, this Priesthood Sunday, turn the tables. Attempt to be the listener to the human side of your priest. Do not automatically tell him your troubles; begin by asking him what is going on in his life. Thank him +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ warmly for giving up so much to spend his life in service to others. Try it. You might be surprised to find out your priest is just like you! Prayer for Priests Lord God, most holy, we approach you in gratitude for your holy ordained priesthood. You have called these men to be set apart and to shepherd your people, as you shepherd your entire church. We pray for them in their daily work. Grant to them an increase in spiritual gifts and grace, so they may be prepared for the tasks at hand. Lead them not into temptation and protect them from the grasp of the evil one. It is through the sacraments they confer that we encounter the divine in a real and profound way. May your church never lose sight of these, your special sons, and may we, the body of Christ, never fail to cherish the gift of their lives, which they have freely given to YOU and your holy church, We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son. Amen. Reprint from the St. Rose of Lima Bulletin, Torrington WY A Prayer for Our Priests We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry. Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love. Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Lead them to new depths of union with your Son. Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us. Lord Jesus Christ grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will. O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son. Intercede for our priest, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
December 2018 Page 5 Monthly Challenge from the Supreme Chaplain December 2018 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. (Gospel for 12/23, Lk. 1:39; 41-42) In great haste : my brother Knights, these three words teach us volumes! Mary set out in great haste and the rest is history. Mary is the first evangelist. With the incredible news of the annunciation, she wastes no time fulfilling the command to visit her cousin Elizabeth. My brothers, we know that so many things can weigh us down and prevent us from delivering the good news to others with that speed and urgency. The Lord knows our every sorrow, weakness, fear, or excuse. And yet He invites us to look to our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and call upon her intercession. May we be known as her reliable sons who likewise carry the news in great haste, leaving behind everything that impedes us. Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori: This month I challenge you to pray at least a decade of the Rosary daily. Secondly, we are often in situations in which faith topics come up and we choose to say nothing. This month I challenge you to engage in those conversations and share what you love about the Catholic Faith. Supreme has announced that Faith in Action has replaced the Surge with Service Program. With this change, nine new programs were introduced. One of the new programs will be featured in each Cowboy Bulletin edition for the next few months. GOOD FRIDAY FAMILY PROMOTION A Higher Purpose Bring families into more robust practice and better understanding of the Catholic faith and the Easter services. In an effort to increase attendance and involvement, Knights of Columbus councils will conduct a promotional campaign to educate their parishes on the vital importance of Good Friday. Overview Despite Good Friday s central role in the heart of Christianity, attendance at services remains low. In an effort to change this, councils will encourage participation in Good Friday services through a promotional campaign. Setting an example for their community, Knights will attend Good Friday services with their families and work with their pastors to encourage increased parishioner involvement at these liturgies. In conjunction with these efforts, councils will also work to educate their parishes about the plight of Christians in the Holy Land and other areas around the globe where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Action Steps can be found at http://kofc.org/en/programs/family/good-friday-familypromotion.html#/
December 2018 Page 6 Join the Father McGivney Guild As the sainthood process for Venerable Father Michael McGivney continues, it becomes ever more important to increase membership in the Father McGivney Guild. Membership stands at over 171,000, but only 464 listed to be from Wyoming. There are 2600 members shown in Wyoming. Please encourage every Knight in your council, and their families, to join the McGivney Guild. Membership is open to everyone, not just Knights and families. It is easy to sign up at http://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/ index.html. And please continue to pray the canonization prayer for Father McGivney. Shawn Moody, Father McGivney Guild Chairman