No. 2016-01 The Compass By The Numbers By Richard Conte, Financial Secretary Membership continues to increase thanks to council notoriety and referrals from existing members. As of July 1, 2015 (beginning of Fiscal Year (FY) 2016), we were 82 members: 56 Associates; 26 Insurance; including 3 Honorary Life Members and 1 Honorary Member. Since the beginning of the FY2016, we added one new member Br. Paul Frizzell and had two transfers in from another council, Br. Ronald J. McClure and Br. James Crooks. Also an Associate transferred into the insurance program. At the conclusion of the quarter, we were at 85 members (58 Associates and 27 Insurance). For the year, Supreme establishes goals for membership growth as a part of the Father McGivney Award and Founders Award. Along with the Columbian Award for service, achieving all three awards makes us Star Council. Our goals for new members is 6 (will be seven, with the loss of a member in the Arrears) and for new insurance members is 3. As of the end of the first quarter for FY2016, we have 1 new member and 1 new insurance member in meeting these goals. Unfortunately at the turn of the quarter, we lost a member, Br. John Ferreira who suffered many years from ALS (Lou Gehrig s disease). Our hearts and prayers go out to the John s family. 2 7 1 48 Page 1
FYI on Schedule Need for Volunteers By Eugene Raser, Grand Knight For the second quarter of the fiscal year 2015 to 2016 (FY016) the following activities will be conducted. Volunteers are always needed. 10 OCT 6:00pm Beef and Brew featuring BINGO 01 NOV 2:00pm Nativity Scene for Picnic Grounds repair/touch up painting 07 NOV (8:00am to 5:00pm) to 08 (8:00am to 12:30pm) Knights support to Christmas Bazaar (kitchen, blood mobile help, etc. 11 NOV 7:00pm Social Hall setup for Bishop s Confirmation reception the following day. 14 NOV 5:00pm Memorial Mass 14 NOV 8:00am Setup for Memorial Mass and Dinner 14-NOV - 6:00 PM Celebration of Life Dinner in the Social Hall, immediately following Mass 22 NOV 1:00pm Basketball Free Throw Shoot Out at Robeson Lutheran Church DEC Look for Children s Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest and Light Up for Christ Ceremony sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Look for updates on the website WWW.knightsofsaintbenedict.org Page 2
OF SERVICE IN THE FIRST QUARTER COLUMBIAN LOG CHURCH - On July 11, 2015 three (3) Knights provided the cooking and waiting service for the Church namesake celebration on the Feast of St. Benedict. The council also provide hamburger and hot dog supplies for the feast. Participating Knights were led by Tom Connelly. COMMUNITY/FAMILY - On July 1, 2015 ten (10) Knights assisted in the setup for Family Promise in the Parish Education Wing. Family Promise assists homeless families to establish themselves with a home and job for a family member. Participating Knights were led by Jim Pleitner. COMMUNITY/FAMILY - On July 19, 2015 nine (9) Knights and a family member assisted in the take-down of the facility available for Family Promise in the Parish Education Wing. Family Promise assists homeless families to establish themselves with a home and job for a family member. Participating Knights were led by Jim Pleitner. CHURCH - On July 27, 2015 thirteen (13) Knights assisted in the cleanup of the BBQ pits at the Church picnic grounds in preparation for the Church Chicken BBQ Fundraiser on August 1. Participating Knights were led by Tom Dobson, Matt Martini, and Tom Connelly. CHURCH - On July 29, 2015 and the early morning of August 1, 2015, six (6) Knights and a family member of one assisted in the repair of the three BBQ pits at the Church picnic grounds in preparation for the Church Chicken BBQ Fundraiser on August 1. Participating Knights were led by Tom Connelly. COMMUNITY/FAMILY On or about July 30, 2015 eight (8) Knights and Knight family members assisted in the reassembly of classrooms at the Parish Education Wing, the site had been vacated by the Family Promise guests. Participating Knights wer led by Jim Pleitner. CHURCH AND COMMUNITY - On August 1, 2015 thirty (30) Knights and other Knight family members/friends volunteered for the various stations at the Parish Chicken BBQ. Participating Knights were led by Father Phil and Co-Chairs Knights Tom Dobson and Matt Martini. CHURH AND FAMILY - On August 30, 2015, seven (7) Knights and a Knight family member setup and conducted a complimentary pancake and sausage breakfast for the Parish at the three Sunday morning Masses in appreciation for parishioner support for the Council activities throughout the year. Participating Knights were led by Jim Gregor. Page 3
From the Chaplain s Desk A loud, clear announcement came over the loudspeaker, All priests concelebrating with His Holiness, Pope Francis should get vested and line up in the basement hallway by 1:30 PM. The mass will begin promptly at 4:00 PM. I thought to myself, this is real. This is really going to happen. In a few hours I will be concelebrating a mass with our Holy Father and about 1,000 priests and bishops. We got to our seats rather quickly. It was now two hours til the start of mass. I got to meet the priests sitting around me. One was from Lithuania, the other from Chicago. All of us sharing the excitement of the Papal visit to the USA. I got two rosaries in before the Pope started to pass through the crowds. Everyone, including the priests, was standing on chairs to look over the crowd and to try to get a glimpse of the Pope. When mass started, the Holy Father passed in front of me about 30 feet away. It was real. This man we read so much about; this man who is bringing some fresh air to the papacy; this man who is the Vicar of Christ is now standing before me. It was awesome and I began to pray for him and for our church. Certainly a highlight of my experience at the Papal Mass was to be one of the priests asked to distribute communion. I followed the volunteer holding a white and yellow umbrella and immediately started to give out communion at my station. It was so evident on the faces of the people, that to share in this Eucharist consecrated by the Holy Father would enable us all to be a little closer to the man who wears the fisherman s shoes. The response to the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist and the presence of the Pope was a profound silence after communion, reflecting on this once in a lifetime experience. Pope Francis stops to honor local boy and relative of the Keating Family from the Parish! Page 4
The Good of the Order "I say to you. As a question, so everyone can respond. In my house, do you shout? Or, do you speak with love and tenderness? It s a good way of measuring our love. And how beautiful it would be if everywhere, even beyond our borders, we could appreciate and encourage this prophecy and this miracle! We renew our faith in the word of the Lord which invites faithful families to this openness. It invites all those who want to share the prophecy of the covenant of man and woman, which generates life and reveals God! Which helps us participate in the prophecy of peace. Of tenderness. Of family love. With tenderness, with patience and with love for our children and for our grandparents. An excerpt from Pope Francis' Homily at the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia A Book Review By Richard Conte Truth Overruled - The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom by Ryan T. Anderson This book was written in response to the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. It is an easy read and only about 181 pages. What is interesting is how the author presents arguments against homosexual marriage with no theological basis. For the future, the same arguments for homosexual marriage related to adult rights can be used to extend to polygamy. All of his arguments have a basis in sociology and psychology. The book is endorsed by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia along with a number of other religious leaders from a number of different denominations. The law as a teacher accepts that marriage can be whatever consenting adults make it to be (includes polygamy). Like abortion, the right of the child is ignored. In this case the right of a child to a father and mother each uniquely providing influence to the child in a legitimate marriage based on natural law. As the case of abortion, the right of a child to life is completely ignored in deference to the right of adult. Many other compelling sociological and psychological reasons are provided against homosexual marriage. For the future in this country, it is only a matter of time that polygamy will become the law of the land and he makes several points on how America s first freedom, freedom of religion, will be in jeopardy. A great statement toward the end of the book is: Freedom untethered from the truth is freedom s worst enemy. I have this book in a NOOK file and it is available using the Lend me function. Contact me at 610-223-8846 or email me conteitalia@aol.com. Page 5
From Supreme and State Next Quarter 14 OCT Crazr Football Tickets Stubs Due 31 OCT Soccer Challenge To Supreme 1 NOV Start of Football Chances on Selected NFL Games 15 NOV COAL Tickets Book Due at 3.25 per Book 26 NOV Thanksgiving 29 NOV 1 st Sunday of Advent 3 DEC COAL Tickets Due 8 DEC Feast of the Immaculate Conception COAL Drawing Knights support to Christmas Bazaar (kitchen, blood mobile help, etc. 1 DEC Spread the Light of Christ 12 DEC Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 14 DEC Soccer Challenge Report 18 DEC Christmas Poster Report Due 25 DEC Christmas Day 1 JAN (2016) Mary Mother of God Council Officers Chaplain, Father Phil Rodgers 610-856-1006 Grand Knight, Eugene (Gene) Raser Jr. C610-858-2354 Deputy Grand Knight, Matt Reagan C610-7216395 Chancellor, John Cocco C610-842-8426 Recorder, Matt Clayton C610-484-332-7986 Treasurer, Willian (Bill), Brann C484-955--2838 Advocate, John Coccia C610-582-3056 Warden, Jim Gregor C610-858-5235 Inside Guard, Zachary Brann C484-955-6054 Outside Guard, David Jones C610-413-5276 Financial Secretary, Richard Conte Sr. C610-223 8846 Trustees One Year Trustee, Matt Martini C610-742-6629 Two Year Trustee, Mike Mider C717-951-2320 Three Year Trustee, Tom Connelly C610-724-3469 Reminder! Please pray for Pope Francis each day Please email comments on the newsletter to R. Conte, conteitalia@aol.com Page 6