CARROLLIAN NEWS December 2017 GRAND KNIGHT S REPORT I want to start by saying Thank You to all of you who either called or visited during my recovery from knee replacement surgery. I go back under the knife for my right knee Dec. 27 th. Thanks again. We have a lot going on in December. We will be having our Annual Christmas Party in lieu of our regular meeting on Dec. 12. The party will start at 6 p.m. John Dudzik is preparing a nice turkey and ham dinner while Art Bertol will man the open bar. Please feel free to bring some appetizers or desserts. We will be taking financial donations for the 18th Street Center. We will also draw the winner of our 50/50. Proceeds will be deposited into our Charity Fund. If you plan to bring youngins, please let me know so we can plan ahead. There will be no officers meeting in December. Sunday, Dec. 31 st is a Fifth Sunday. We will be praying the Rosary at the council home at 2 p.m. What a great way to finish the year, see you there. I d like to thank the card players for donating a Dolly and metal ladder. Your 2018 dues letter will be mailed on December 15th. We finally distributed our proceeds from the Tootsie Roll Drive to ARC of Ohio County and RNS. Please see the council web site for a photo and details. Great job guys on the Coats for Kids campaign. We collected 103 coats and gave them to the YSS of Wheeling. We will be using our tubs to collect food after the Christmas season. We will be initiating two young men this week via our video Degree. We will have a formal First Degree at our February meeting. Now is a great time to ask those gentlemen, sometimes that s all that s needed. Please see the upcoming events for other KofC events. Merry Christmas, Ray Blust, Grand Knight P.S. Congratulations to fellow Knight, Mike Young on winning the WV State A State Championship. FOURTH DEGREE A BIG Thank You to the Honor Guard for your service at the close of the Infant of Prague Novena and our annual Memorial Mass. The termination of the use of the old regalia and start of the new regalia has been pushed back to the end of Fraternal Year 2018. So in other words we can continue to use the current regalia until July 2019. Our Christmas party will be in place of our December meeting on the 19th. Wives/significant others and kids are invited. The Assembly will supply a meat and cheese tray and drinks. Bring a "finger food" or snack to share. The Assembly's Christmas gifts to the seminarians will be going out. We will also be sending out dues notices along with requests to support our monthly 50/50 raffle. That raffle supports our seminarian gifts. Anyone can participate in it. If you would like a ticket please see a 4th Degree member. The monthly 50/50 was won by Mark Evans and the attendance bowl would have been won by Richard Leffe. 1
The Charles Carroll Assembly hopes you and your family has a Very Safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year with all the blessings God has to offer. Faithful Navigator Matt Koval MEMBERSHIP MATTERS In response to the Holy Father's exhortation to strengthen the Domestic Church and the Order s strong commitment to families, the Supreme Knight announced at the Mid-Year Meeting of State Deputies a lottery incentive for 10 couples to attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Ireland with all expenses paid. Here s how it works: beginning December 1st, 2017, every time that you recruit a member into the Order through June 30th, 2018, your name will go into a drawing and on July 1st, 2018, ten names will be drawn at random. If you are a winner, you will be notified immediately so you can plan this once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with families from all over the world. The more men that you recruit, the greater the probability you will have to win this trip. This incentive is open to all members, so please start recruiting now so that you increase your chance to win this experience of a lifetime. Recruiting Tip of the Month: Show unity when conducting a charitable service project. When members, their families and other volunteers wear Knights of Columbus-branded apparel while conducting a charitable project, it identifies your council to the community and entices prospective members to inquire about joining your council. Remember, it s not about the numbers, but membership matters because God wants us to take care of our families and live out our faith in love. TRAINING OPPORTUNITY The next Supreme Training Webinar, entitled Setting the Stage for Success, will be presented on December 13 th at 8 pm. Charity, Unity and Fraternity are attractive council traits that will engage members and attract new ones. Council action creates visibility. Join this webinar and learn the key steps to building a stronger council. To register go to www.kofc.org and click on the For Members button in the upper right corner. Then go to the Resources tab and click on Fraternal Training Webinar. You will also find all of the Webinars on Demand section there as well. Even if you can t attend live, registering will allow you to be able to access this presentation on demand at a future date. Brian Gordon, Membership Director KNIGHTS ARE PRO-LIFE Facing A Huge Underpopulation Crisis, Poland is Urging People to Have More Children Mark Basich, Pro-Life Director 2
OFFICERS FOR FRATERNAL YEAR 2017/18 Grand Knight: Ray Blust Inside Guard: Patrick Baltzell Chaplain: Fr. Bill Matheny Deputy Grand Knight: Art Bertol Outside Guard: Joe Markovich District Deputy: Brian Gordon Chancellor: Matt Koval Trustee 1 Year: Bernie Grubler Recorder: Bill Buchanan Trustee 2 Year: Chuck Wagner Field Agent/ Treasurer: Ed Novotney Trustee 3 Year: Brian Gordon Fraternal Benefits: Eric Mowry Advocate: Steve Borkoski Financial Secretary: Ken Staley Warden: Pat Plunkett Newsletter Editor: Matt Mandarino Life Insurance as a Gift Knights of Columbus Insurance The initial reaction for many people when you mention life insurance as a gift is a step back and a questioning stare. How morbid, they think. While it may seem that way when you first mention it, life insurance is really a thoughtful gift that can be a financial life preserver in tough times. The general perception about life insurance is misleading. Many think of death instead of the great benefits it provides, and the security that it offers even while you re alive. Life insurance should be thought of as a protective measure for a family unit. The purchase of life insurance can mean saving your home, sending your children to college, and preserving your spouse s quality of life in the event of your death. One of the times you may want to purchase life insurance for someone is when a family has a new baby. It s a great, low-cost way to set money aside for the future (i.e. college tuition, housing, business start-up, etc.). Of greater importance, it ensures these children will have insurance as adults, in case an illness later in life makes him or her uninsurable. Newlyweds are also ideal recipients for life insurance. As they join their lives and financial responsibilities, young couples need to make sure that their early investments are fully protected. If something were to happen to one of them, the other may be faced with serious financial hardship. A life insurance policy is an ideal way to ensure their future and protect their assets. As nontraditional as it may be, life insurance is a wise and caring gift to purchase. Contact me today to learn more about this thoughtful gift. 3
CANDLES AT THE BLESSED MOTHER S SHRINE DECEMBER 2017 WK 3 RD BETTY AND LEW NEWMAN III DEC. KATIE AND JACK FAHEY WK 10 TH NICK AND ANN ENDRIZZI DEC. DOT SCHMITT DEC. WK 17 TH JIM POWELL AND RV BURKE FAM JOANNE AND KEN BURKHART WK 24 TH CEIL & DUTCH FROHNAPFEL DEC. CHUCK AND PAT WAGNER ANNIV (26 DEC) WK 31 ST JEAN AND CHUCK GRIFFITH DEC. Please contact Phil Emmerth at 304-312-0403 for candles at the Blessed Mother s shrine. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! - UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday, Dec. 5 th, Video First Degree, 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 th, Spaghetti Dinner for Ohio County Special Olympics, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. @ YWCA Tuesday, Dec. 12 th, Christmas Party, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 th, Fourth Degree Christmas Party Sunday, Dec. 31 st, Fifth Sunday Rosary, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 th, Carroll Council Regular Meeting, 7 p.m. 4
December JOY Joy is an attribute of God s divine love. To reflect God in our family life, we are called to be joyful by developing our relationship with Christ. Breaking Open the Theme It is often remarked that faith is caught more than taught in the family. One of the best ways faith is caught is through joy. Joy is not an emotion that can be faked or forced. There is something authentic about it that points to a deeper reality. Joy should be part of the regular fabric of Christian life. The Lord promises his disciples that no one will take your joy from you (Jn 16:22), and we are instructed by St. Paul to rejoice in the lord always (Phil 4:4). But how is it possible to be joyful when there is sorrow in our lives? The answer is that joy in its deepest sense is not dependent on positive circumstances or upbeat feelings. Joy means having an encounter (encuentro) with God s infinite love for us, which is always present in our lives. It adapts and changes, but always endures, even amid great sorrow. It takes the form of a quiet assurance, a reminder that we are God s beloved sons and daughters. At other times, joy means that one rejoices with the truth (1 Cor 13:6), praising aloud the Lord and thanking him for his gifts. But above all, joy comes from an expansion of the heart through prayer and gestures of love toward others, creating a bright, warm and cheerful atmosphere. Meditation From Pope Francis amoris laetitia The expression chaírei epì te adikía [ rejoice over wrongdoing ] (1 Cor 13:6) has to do with a negativity lurking deep within a person s heart. It is the toxic attitude of those who rejoice at seeing an injustice done to others. The following phrase expresses its opposite: sygchaírei te aletheía: it rejoices in the right. In other words, we rejoice at the good of others when we see their dignity and value their abilities and good works. This is impossible for those who must always be comparing and competing, even with their spouse, so that they secretly rejoice in their failures. When a loving person can do good for others, or sees that others are happy, they themselves live happily and in this way give glory to God, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7).Our Lord especially appreciates those who find joy in the happiness of others. If we fail to learn how to rejoice in 5
6 the well-being of others and focus primarily on our own needs, we condemn ourselves to a joyless existence, for, as Jesus said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). The family must always be a place where, when something good happens to one of its members, they know that others will be there to celebrate it with them. 40 What are some joys we have experienced in our family? Are there ways to build upon these joys to create a more joyful home? In what ways could we add more joy to our family? Could we be more cheerful in giving and complain less? Could we focus less on our own needs and more on the happiness of a family member? Could we rejoice in our family s love by affirming each other more with compliments? Could we smile more at our family members? Do we base our lives on the joyful awareness that we are beloved sons and daughters of God, or do we let something rob us of the joy of the Gospel? What is it that robs us? Is it anxiety, fear or impatience? How might prayer help with these things? Scripture Reading Psalm 33:1-7, 20-22 A prayer of praise and rejoicing before the Lord Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. Sing to him a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant. For the Lord s word is upright; all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. By the Lord s word the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathered the waters of the sea as a mound;
he sets the deep into storage vaults. Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and shield. For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust. May your mercy, Lord, be upon us; as we put our hope in you. Family Project Put joy into practice by singing together advent and Christmas hymns, hosting an advent or Christmas party with special treats, and reading a Christmas story out loud. The story could be Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol or a book more suitable for young children, like The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie depaola. Also consider creating a family book of favorite religious hymns and carols. Have each family member choose a song that they enjoy and make copies to share. Then sing together advent and Christmas songs at times that are convenient. For instance, a family could sing before its family prayer, before bed, before lighting the advent wreath, before opening presents at Christmas, or at another time. If you have young children, sing a few simple songs to them so they can begin to learn the lyrics. 7
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. Interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith? Visit the Knights of Columbus on-line Catechism at: http://www.kofc.org/un/en/catechism/index.html. Nuptial Blessing Holy Father, who formed man in your image, male and female you created them, so that as husband and wife, united in body and heart, they might fulfill their calling in the world; O God, who, to reveal the great design you formed in your love, willed that the love of spouses for each other should foreshadow the covenant you graciously made with your people, so that, by fulfillment of the sacramental sign, the mystical marriage of Christ with his Church might become manifest in the union of husband and wife among your faithful. May they also sustain, O Lord, by their deeds the home they are forming and prepare their children to become members of your heavenly household by raising them in the way of the Gospel. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 8