Cowboy Bulletin Wyoming Knights of Columbus This year, on May 2 th, the calendar reminds that Mother s Day has come around again. Many of us will take this time to honor our own earthly mother in a very special way with pretty cards, flowers, thanks, and even a day off from her daily chores. Why is this day so special? It s in part because Mom chose life for us. And, every day since our conception, she continues to nurture, love, pray for, and protect us, never giving up no matter what. During the month of May the Catholic Church has traditionally honored our heavenly mother, Mary. For, it was by her submission to God s will and her choice that Christ came into the world to bring us eternal life. Hail Mary, Full of Grace. The Lord is with Thee. As brothers and sisters of Christ, we take time this month of May to honor both our mothers in a very special way for the wonderful gift of life and for always being there when we need them the most. M a y, 20 In this Issue Page 2 Chaplain & SD Page Program and Activities Page 4 Membership Page State Directory Update Form Page Around Wyoming Page 7 State Officer Election Results, Wyoming Special OlympicsSchedule, and DeSmet Monument Repair Page 8 rd Degree News Page 9 4 th Degree News May 0 th, 20 MEMORIAL DAY In memory of all who gave their life to earn the freedom and liberty in these United States of America. We have not forgotten!
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page 2 Rev. Tom Ogg State Chaplain Don Scott State Deputy LORD HAVE MERCY! In 970, I was caught in a dust storm and was suffocating when I first consciously appreciated God s MERCY. Ever since I ve used the word, mostly in prayer, as an automatic ejaculation. Pope John Paul II gave the church Divine Mercy Sunday on April 0, 2000. We pray often (hopefully daily) Lord, have mercy! What are we asking for? Mercy is compassion shown to an offender. It is forgiveness extended to someone who doesn t deserve it. Throughout Scripture we see God portrayed as a God of mercy. At one point God even reveals himself to Moses as a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness (Exodus 4:). And Thomas Merton said: Mercy is the deepest thing that has been revealed to us by God. Maybe it s the highest form of forgiveness. Mercy inplies compassion that removes punishing even when justice demands it. We are not only the recipients of God s divine mercy, we must also be the dispensers of mercy as well. How do we do this? One way is by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Every time we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned or sick, shelter the homeless, instruct the ignorant, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, we are practicing mercy. Other ways include speaking kindly to others, refraining from gossip, assuming good in others, giving someone another chance. In the words of Thomas Merton, When we do these things, we will imagine our God who is mercy within mercy within mercy. Fr. Tom Ogg State Chaplain Greetings to all of my Brothers and their Families, Thank you so very much for allowing me the privilege to serve as your State Deputy over the last 2 years. I pray that all I did was positive for the Knights of Columbus in Wyoming. I so enjoyed the convention and it appeared that most everyone did too. Casper Council 997 did a superb job in putting the convention on and they should be proud of their efforts. Thank you, State Chaplain, Father Ogg, and the rest of the clergy for the opening Mass. Our preliminary a and general sessions accomplished so much, not to mention the food was superb. Bishop Etienne is such a pleasure to have in attendance at our functions. Supreme Director, Brother Ken Stockwell, and his wife Lesa were so good and gracious in representing Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. Thank you Ken and Lesa! I look forward to serving as IPSD with Joe Welte, our State Deputy elect, and the other officers and chairman during the 20-204 fraternal year. One year later and we are still fighting for our religious liberties and right to live in accordance with our Catholic Church s teachings. In the days to come we will all need to put forth the positive input gained at the convention. As the Bishop said, Nobody promised being a Catholic Christian was going to be easy. May and June are traditionally two excellent months for recruiting. If your council has not brought in any members this year, please put forth an extra effort to recruit new members. Several councils are close to making their annual goals. I will continue to attend your meetings or celebration. If you have some activity that I can help with, please ask. Let s celebrate your successes together! Vivat Jesus, Donald J. Scott, State Deputy
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page I read an article written by Sharon Cohen, AP National Writer, in the Rock Springs paper the other day about an Army Chaplain who was recently awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, 2 years after his death. The article was honoring the heroic efforts of Catholic Chaplain Emil Kapaun (pronounced Kah-PAH-WN). Father Kapaun was with a group of soldiers from the rd Battalion, 8 th Cavalry regiment when, in November 90, Chinese soldiers overran the position and took several of the soldiers prisoner. One of the group, a World War II veteran, Sgt. Herbert Miller, was wounded and huddled in a ditch. A Chinese soldier came up to him and pointed his rifle at Miller. He thought he was dead! Miller then noticed a GI approaching across a dirt road. As he approached, Miller noticed that he had a small silver cross on his helmet. Father Kapaun pushed the Chinese soldier aside and picked up Miller and started to carry him away. Almost 0 years later Miller said Why he never shot him, I ll never know. Father Kapaun administered to his fellow prisoners of war amidst the squalor and disease of the Camp. The article describes many heroic deeds and actions of Father Kapaun. This Saintly Chaplain died in the POW camp on May 2, 9. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star with a V for Valor. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on April, 20, 2 years after he had given his life for his fellow prisoners of war. Shortly after reading this article, I was sitting at Mass listening to a sermon by Father Glen Szczechowski, the pastor of the Holy Spirit Parish in Rock Springs. Father Glen was speaking on the need for Priestly vocations in our Diocese and he presented a list of the number of priests who have come from another country, a religious order, or another state to work in our Diocese of Cheyenne: Philippines, (one came via California and one via a religious order); Columbia, 2; India, 2; Kenya, 2; Nigeria, 2; Zambia, ; SOLT Religious Order, ; Benedictine Religious Order, ; Illinois, ; Michigan, (Father Glen); and three others who came from a religious order and are now serving as diocesan priests or discerning joining our diocese. Right now, the Diocese of Cheyenne is conducting a fundraiser known as the Living and Giving in Christ: Unity through Diocesan Ministries (also formerly known as the Bishop s Appeal). This appeal covers many areas for which funding is required one of these is the promotion of vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. I would urge you to participate in the Diocesan program. The Knights of Columbus also has several programs through which we can promote vocations to the Priesthood in the form of vocations to our Diocese as well as to support vocations of future Military Chaplains. I think it is wonderful that so many Priests are willing to leave their native homeland and come here to serve in the Diocese of Cheyenne. However, we in the Knights of Columbus need to ask ourselves, what can we do to bring more priests to our Wyoming Parishes? What can we do to assure that we have more young men who are called to not only take on the Priesthood, but to do so as a Military Chaplain! Through the Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP), Councils are rewarded by Supreme for donations to seminarians. For every $00 yearly donation to seminarians to help with personal expenses, the Supreme Council will refund $00 up to a yearly limit of $400. This effort is so important ant it needs the support See Program Director Page 7
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page 4 Y.T.D STATE Membership Status Source: Supreme Council As of May, 20 Total: 277 Gain: 89 Loss: 0 Net: -40 % of Goal: 4% Y.T.D. DISTRICT Membership Status Source: Supreme Council as of May, 20 District # Net Gain % of Goal - 0% 2 4 % 7 7% 4 % 4 9% 8 2% 7-0% 8-0% MEMBERSHIP ACTION PLANS.FOR MAY 20: Has the council hosted or participated in 4 first degrees this year? Commit to making Star Council a goal. GK and MD clean off membership contact list by making all contacts on the list a priority.. Assign a recruiter to a prospect on the list. 2. Invite prospect to join and help with this month s council event/program.. Encourage contact and conversation with each prospect after each Mass for a period of 2- weeks. 4. On week 4, ask the man and his family to join the Order. Work each member on the contact list until they either join or say NO. If they say NO save the data for future contact. FOR JUNE 20: End of year push Continue to strive for Star Council. GK & MD: clean off membership contact list by making all contacts on the list the priority for this month. Assign a recruiter, family, friend to a member on the list. Invite the prospect to join in and help with this month s event that was planned in April. On week 4, ask the man and his family to join. Work each member on the contact list until they are in the Order or have said NO. Conduct Multiple First Degrees to facilitate clearing of the contact list. Communicate a strong positive membership message at business meeting. Y.T.D. Council Membership Status Source: Supreme Council as of May, 20 Council Number Net Gain % of Goal 80-0% 2 29% 204 42% 228 00% 27 0 0% 244 % 278-0% 2720-0% 04 0% 27 0 0% 2 0 0% 477 2 % - 0% 40 8 89% 447 2 22% Council Number Net Gain % of Goal 2 0 0% 4 % 8 2 0% 2 0% 724 0 0% 74-0% 7789-2 0% 842 Susp Susp 8 7% 94-0% 97-2 0% 997-2 0% 0027 20% 077 Susp Susp 29 % Well, looks like we survived another State Convention, and what a convention it was. With that behind us, we now have the next two months to further increase our membership. As was mentioned in my report to the Convention delegates, if every council would bring in one member by June 0, 27 new knights and their families would be participants in the Experience of a Lifetime. These next two months provide Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries to review their council s membership roster for any changes that are required in membership status. Let s start the new fraternal year with a clean slate. If you plan on suspending some of your members, now is the time to do it. Don t burden a newly elected Grand Knight, Membership Director, or appointed Financial Secretary with that chore. This would also be a very good time to review your forms booklet for reports that have not yet been submitted. When Council officers are elected or reelected, please completed and send your Report of Officers Chosen for the Period ASAP. Vivat Jesus. Raoul A. Laganière, Membership Director
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page ATTENTION ALL COUNCILS In order to publish the state directory in a timely manner, I m asking that, as soon as your Council Officers are elected, please fill in the information requested on this form and mail it to Douglas Gasseling, PSD, P.O.Box2024, Cheyenne, WY 8200. STATE DIRECTORY UPDATE FORM Please print legibly so we can read the information as this will go in the directory. Information on this page is for (Check One) Council # Assembly # Council Website Address: Meeting Day (i.e.: Second Tuesday of each month, etc.): Meeting Time (i.e.: 7.00 p.m.) Meeting Place (Street Address) GRAND KNIGHT OR FAITHFUL NAVIGATOR: Full Name: Home Telephone: Spouse s First Name: Work Telephone: Mailing Address: Cell Phone: Fax Number: Email address: CHAPLAIN OR FRIAR: Full Name: Mailing Address Home Telephone: Work Telephone: Mailing Address: Cell Phone: Fax Number: Email address: FINANCIAL SECRETARY OR COMPTROLLER: Full Name: Home Telephone: Spouse s First Name: Work Telephone: Mailing Address: Cell Phone: Fax Number: Email address: Check here, it you have added explanatory remarks or other comments on the back of this form. NOTE: Submit this form every year for all elected and reelected officers or when you have a change in any of the officers listed above.
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page Around Wyoming features KofC information of council and/or statewide activities in and around Wyoming. GOLF TOURNAMENT IN SCENIC PINE BLUFFS, WYOMING SPONSORED BY COLUMBIA COUNCIL # 7789 MAY, 20 Where: Leaning Rock golf course in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming on May th. Four person team competitions can be co-ed $80 per team. Prizes include: Better Ball, Hole, and Door prize for men and women. Lunch is provided, and refreshments on each hole. Contacts: Dennis Talich at (07) 24-807 Bob Plover at (07) 42-0 Recently the much needed roof of the DeSmet Monument was complete by Trapper Contractors, Karl Maunch of Pinedale, WY. The $,00 for the repair was initially paid by the Diocese of Cheyenne, which has since been reimbursed by Bishop Newell Assembly #89 with Sir Knights from Rock Springs, Green River, Evanston, Kemmerer and Forth Bridger. The Knights of Columbus State Council committed to pay for the repair at last year s state convention. In order to reimburse Assembly #89, collections were scheduled at this year s state convention. Thus far amounts from three sources have been received. Don Scott, State Deputy Council #80 Assists in Disaster Relief Rev. Father Thomas George was presented with a $,000 check by the members of Council #80 to help in disaster relief for his native village which was devastated by a recent severe storm. During a recent rd degree, Fr. Thomas also blessed and vested members present with the Brown Scapular to members who were not already invested. Jim Krasovich, 80 Membership Director Recent Gun Raffle Winners Week : William Harns Jr. of Farson -- Weatherby Vanguard.22-20. Week 7: Richard A. Kohler of Gillette Mossberg 8 Ulti-Mag. Week 8: Joseph E. Cecil of Radcliff, KY -- Savage Axis.22. Week 9: Silvia Tilton of Cheyenne Ruger M77.0-0. Week 0: Vilbur Barry of Lander Ruger M77.24 The Gun-A-Week raffle is sponsored by Council #997, Casper, WY. The proceeds of this raffle are to benefit the Retired Priest of the Diocese of Wyoming. During the Wyoming State Convention banquet, a check was presented to Bishop Paul Etienne, for the St. Joseph s Society, in the amount of $,000, the net proceeds of this raffle. Your response and generous donations made this $,000 contribution to the St. Joseph Society for Retired Priests possible. Thanks you all for your help in and support of this project and helping our Wyoming retired priests. Steve Grapes, Raffle Chairman
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page 7 Program Director Continued from Page of every Knights Council in our Great State of Wyoming. I urge you to participate. For more information, please contact Church Director Grant Havens and Vocations Chairman Greg Kinstetter. Their contact information was given in my article in the April Cowboy Bulletin. The other thing that is desperately needed is your prayers for our Priests and Religious. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions or comments for me, I can be reached at (07) 82-72, or email me at smckee@wyoming.com. Thanks and Vivat Jesus! Stan McKee, State Program Director Good Programs Build Good Members. Good Members Build Good Programs. DELEGATES ELECT STATE 20/04 OFFICERS During the recent Wyoming Knights of Columbus Convention held at Casper, the delegates elected the following officers to lead us through the 20/204 Fraternal Year. C. Joe Welte State Deputy John Benedik Jr. Secretary James Venjohn Treasurer John Kaiser Advocate Sherwin Buddy Cater Warden Also serving as an officer of the State Council in the position as the Immediate Past State Deputy will be Donald Scott, PSD. An announcement of who will be serving in the capacity of State Chaplain has not been made pending Bishop Paul Etienne s approval. Directors and various chairman, etc. will be forthcoming, in the very near future, as soon as selected by the State Deputy Elect, C. Joe Welte. Protect What Matters the Most: Your Life, Your Family, Your Future. Wyoming Insurance Field agents are: For Council 80 (Cheyenne Only) Cory Cummings Tel.: (970) 48-4 Email: Cory.Commings@kofc.org All other Wyoming Councils Jerome Jerry Hoefler Tels.: (07) 40-099 Email: j0hoef@yahoo.com During the State Convention State Deputy Donald Scott presented checks to Wyoming Special Olympics CEO Priscilla P. Dowse. She thanked the Knights for their continued support of Wyoming Special Olympics. Priscilla P. Dowse also shared the schedule of activities remaining to be held in Wyoming as follows: May 4 th Torch Run, Sweetwarer City co-ordinated by Dwane Pacheco. May th Area Summer Games in Riverton at Riverton High School. May th & 2 th Area Summer Games in Casper at Frontier Middle School and Kelly Walsh High School. May th through 8 th State Summer Games In Laramie at the University of Wyoming and Laramie High School. Priscilla P. Dowse CEO Special Olympic Wyoming Note: Ms. Dowse may be reached at: (07) 2-02 or fax to (07)2-0
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page 8 2 ND & RD DEGREE INFORMATION st, 2 nd,and rd Degrees were held at Green RIver on April th. Five st Degree candidates were initiated into the Order and 4 received their rd Degree. A Special thanks goes to all those who made the degree work possible. New rd Degree members pictured above include: John Motto, Michael Sikorski, John Farrell, Bolivar Muniz, Carl Salerno, Joe Graig-Tiso, Chuck Hardesty, John Price, Victor Hardesty, Dan Amsberry, James Themig, Edward Subourin, Nathan Amsberry, Kenny Becker. On April 20 th, 20 Council #80 held st, 2 nd, and rd Degree ceremonies at the KofC hall in Cheyenne. Pictured at right are the new third degree members and the council to which they were from. From Council #80: Alan Christofferson, Jim Storey, W. Cole Manlove, Patrick Lang, John A. Kretzschmar, Brian Bone, and Reverend Father Thomas George. From Council #7789: Michael J. Rucker, and from Council #2: Micholas Vetter and Richard Lara. April was a busy month for council #477, Gillette. On the 4 th two new candidates were initiated into the st degree. On April th eight members were advanced to the rd Degree. Pictured at left and their council affiliation are: (Left to Right) First Row: Justin Tysdad (4), Timothy Meuer(47). Second Row: David A. Paulin (204). Third Row: David G. Pallin (204), Rod Mathis, Jules Voctor B. Marinas, Keving Reid, and Kirby Norris (all from 477). Back Row: Buddy Cater (DD#), Don Scott ( State Deputy), Greg Kinstetter ( rd Degree Team member), and C. Joe Welte ( rd Degree Conferring Officer). Congratulations to all new rd Degree Members!
Cowboy Bulletin May 20 Page 9 4 th DEGREE INFORMATION NEXT SCHEDULED EXEMPLIFICATION DATE May 8, 20: Jackson. Contact: Stewart Palmer, tel: 77-9 For further details contact: Wyoming District Master, Richard Adamski Tel.: 07.87.2 (home) 07.87.048 (cell) Email: erndud@hotmail.com Pictured rights are new 4 th Degree Sir Knights who were exemplified at Rock Springs on April th. The exemplification was sponsored by Bishop Hubert M. Newell Assembly #89. The exemplification was held in honor of Pope Francis. New Sir Knights, pictured from left to right are Front Row: John Nelson (Rock Springs), Rev. Fr. Jaime Bueno (Evanston/Brudger), Charles Catterall and Hipolito Gonzalea, (Rock Springs), and Jonathan Gross (Green River). Back Row: Lou Depoyster (Rock Springs), Jonathan Gross (Green River), Eddy Lopez and Juan Silva (Rock Springs). The annual banquet was held the evening of April th with members and their spouses attending. All attended Mass followed by a wonderful Italian dinner. A total of about attended the dinner. James Jim Borzea, Faithful Navigator Assy. #89 COWBOY BULLETIN SCHEDULE for remainder of the Fraternal Year Pictured at left are the seven Sir Nights who were exemplified during ceremonies conducted at the K of C Hall, Cheyenne, on May 4, 20. All new Sir Nights were from Council #80, and will now join Assembly #22, Cheyenne. They include (not order shown): Gonzalo Aragon, Brian Lambert, Jose Vigil, Jim Lewis, Ryan Amedee, and Darrell Schroeder. The Cheyenne 4 th degree team officiated at the ceremony. Jerry Plumley, Faithful Navigator, Assy. 22 Month Published Submit Articles by Newsletter Published by June May 0 June Cowboy Bulletin is a publication of the Wyoming State Council and is published monthly on the State Website www.wyomingkc.org according to the above schedule. Articles for inclusion in the newsletter should be submitted to Newsletter Editor, Loretta Drive, Wheatland, WY 8220 or email: wyokcnews@gmail.com.