Knight Worthy News April 2017 St. Joseph Council 10627, High Bridge, New Jersey A Catholic men s organization promoting Charity, Unity, Fraternity, Family and Patriotism (Area Code 908 unless otherwise noted) Brothers all, As we move through Lent toward the glorious celebration of Easter I want to give a shout out to our family director Mark Kucharski for putting on two outstanding family events: the delicious Lenten pasta supper and FUN family bowling- two events that were great successes! Mark's entire family gets behind these events to help us be more visible to our church. These events are excellent opportunities to find new members! Thank you Jen and Mark for all that you do! A second shout out this month to the membership team of Mario Bernardo and Greg Boyle. These are the "go to guys" that keep our council moving forward. Without all the work they do behind the scenes, #10627 would not be the thriving group we are. One example is the newly devised online membership application PDF which potential Knights can fill out electronically instead of being chased with a paper form 100. Go to our website and check it out. Mention it to a new recruit and he may just go there and fill out the form and submit it! It's ideas like these that make us a better council. Have I mentioned that we have our 4th annual charity golf day on Friday, June 9th? Please do your part by securing sponsors, gifts or players for the outing. Many hands make light work...thanks for getting involved. If you don't know how you can help, call me. Vivat Jesus Kevin 1 Officers: Grand Knight Kevin Loughney 797-0061 Chaplain Fr. Gerard Lair (973) 538-3231 Deputy G. K. Tom Corrado 638-0177 Chancellor Bruce Teeling, PGK 730-7538 Recorder Steve Bauernfeind 638-4285 Fin. Sec. Dennis Noonan 638-9949 Advocate James McCloskey 328-5176 Treasurer Paul Lipani 638-4585 Warden Tom Klawunn 537-6744 Inside Guard Mario Bernardo 638-6318 Outside Guard Jim Codd 892-1089 Past Grand Knight Bill Mahoney Trustees: John Furnari, PGK 693-2782 Bill Cerwinski, PGK (732) 715-0057 Chris Wade, PGK 638-6895 Directors: Program Tom Corrado 638-0177 Church Bill Cerwinski (732) 715-0057 Community Robert Young 832-2721 Council Tom Klawunn 537-6744 Family Mark Kucharski 323-0749 Membership Mario Bernardo 638-6318 Culture of Life Rich Mirocco 638-4804 Youth Chris Denis 617-5345 Dist. Deputy: Ed Schilke Ins. Agent: (973) 886-3884 J ohn Fasanello 319-9359 Website: www.kofc10627.org
IF THE BONES OF JESUS WERE TO BE FOUND? That question may seem ridiculous and hypothetical. Yet, hypothetically speaking, if the bones of Jesus were to be found, the foundation of Christianity would crumble. After all, we know that our Christian faith is totally dependent on the fact of the Resurrection as Paul rightly said: If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless (1 Corinthians 15:14). In fact there are a surprising number of theories against the resurrection: the Swoon theory (Jesus only swooned and so was resuscitated to life), the Hallucination theory (the disciples hallucinated that Jesus was alive), the Impersonation theory (people saw the look alike of Jesus), the Theft theory (soldiers were bribed to say the body was stolen: Matthew 28:11-15), the Unknown Tomb theory (those crucified were thrown into a pit), the Spiritual Resurrection theory (real resurrection is of spiritual nature), etc. Hence here s the question worth reflecting as we approach the Feast of Easter - this most important pillar of Christianity: if someone tells you that he or she does not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, are you able to speak convincingly of your firm faith in the resurrection? We should be. There are many arguments. But here are just three that we can easily use: 1. Crucifixion of Jesus is recorded not only in the Bible, but also in extra-biblical sources of non-christian historians like Josephus (a Jew) and Tacitus (a Roman). 2. The disciples experienced the risen Christ, even though Fr. Abraham Orapankal they had lost all hopes with his crucifixion. In fact when the women reported the resurrection, they refused to believe (Luke 24:11). Jesus himself had to rebuke their unbelief because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen." (Mark 16:14) 3. We cannot explain the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (the persecutor of Christians) into Paul (the greatest missionary of Christianity) without his experience of the Risen Christ as he himself narrates in Acts 9:1-19) Every one of the false theories fails to explain the reality of Resurrection evidenced in the phenomenal growth of Christianity into the largest and greatest religion in the world. Yes, we need to make Paul s words our own: And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless.. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:14-17). Let us reinforce our reasons for believing in the One who rose from the dead! Happy Easter! Your brother in the Risen Lord, Fr. Abraham Orapankal 2
Reminder Council meetings during Lent begin at 7:45 pm to permit us to attend the 7 pm evening mass at St. Joseph Church. April meetings are: April 6th at 7:45 pm Our council offers Joseph F. Labuta scholarships to high school seniors. A student who is the child of a St. Joseph parishioner must use the St. Joseph Parish Scholarship Application Form available at www.sjchb.org/ scholarships.html A student who is the child of a St. John Neumann parishioner or the child of a St. Joseph Council member who is a parishioner elsewhere must use the Joseph F. Labuta Scholarship Application Form available at www.kofc10627.org/councilscholarships.html April 20th at 7:30 pm In May, we return to the 2nd & 4th Thursdays schedule (7:30 pm). Classified Ads (See the calendar on the last page) Application deadline is May 1. Questions should be directed to brother Mario Bernardo who chairs both the council program and the St. Joseph Parish program. Contact Mario at 638-6318 or mbern67@yahoo.com CAT Free to good home: Serious inquiries only. Call (732) 715-0057 3
The 2017 brochure is available from our council website "News & Information" page. This is our council's biggest fund raising event each year and supports many of the great things we accomplish. Recruit foursomes and sponsors ASAP! 4
St. Joseph Parishioners enjoyed another outstanding Pasta Supper prepared by Jen and Mark Kucharski, with key kitchen help from Rich Mirocco Other Knights helping were Peter Sandrian, Paul Lipani, Tom Klawunn, Tom Waldron, Tim Waldron, Mario Bernardo and Kevin Loughney. The Pasta Supper also was the kick-off for the council s annual Baby Shower.) (Below and next page photos by Kevin Loughney.) 5
Meanwhile, at St. John Neumann parish, the Friday evening Lenten Soup N Stations program continues through Lent. Different ministries provide a delicious meatless soup each week at 6 PM, followed by Stations of the Cross led by Father Abraham at 7 PM. Council members Hunt Patterson, Tony Sorgi, Jim Codd, Walter Laskowski, Rich Nacamuli and Tom Klawunn assist the parish groups that host each supper. (Below photos by Tom Klawunn.) 6
St. Joseph Parish thanks the Knights and others on the volunteer snow team that clears the parking area and walkways around the church! The Blizzard of 2017 provided a recent opportunity for brothers Bob Buckley, Kevin Loughney (above) and Tom Newman, Lisa Buckley and Maureen Feury. The blizzard provided plenty of snow for the stalwart volunteers, working under the guidance of the George Mehaffey whose diligent and dedicated efforts keep the parish grounds looking great all year long! Message to God The Knights of Columbus 5th Sunday Rosary Program encourages greater devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Devotions are conducted following the 11am Mass at St. Joseph Church on each 5th Sunday with the assistance of the St. Joseph Altar Rosary Society. The rosary offers a great opportunity for all parishioners and their families. Members are encouraged to attend with their families. Please plan to attend! 7
Many thanks to Jen and Mark Kucharski for organizing another successful Family Bowling event. This year s event at Oakwood Lanes had the best attendance we ve experienced! (Dennis Baucom & Kevin Loughney photos.) 8
Happy Birthday! Pam Nicholson April 1 Jim McCloskey April 3 Kathleen Boyle April 3 Karin Teeling April 3 Peter Gavigan April 4 Clyde Mowrey April 4 Ed Schneider April 9 Ed Santillo April 12 Brenden Coughlin April 13 Julia Schneider April 15 Barbara Kinsky April 16 Monika Boyle April 23 Margaret Lipani April 24 Loren Dietrich April 24 Tom Waldron April 25 Greg Boyle April 26 Brenda Chacon April 30 Giuseppe Razzano April 30 Happy Anniversary! Brenden & Debbie Coughlin April 22 Joe & Therese Maretta April 24 Jim & Melinda McCloskey April 25 Brendan & Theresa O Shea April 27 Mario & Brenda Chacon April 29 Chris & Loren Dietrich April 30 See the Notice on Page 3! Lyons Masses April 2, April 16, May 7 5th Sunday Rosary April 30 4th Annual Charity Golf Day, Friday, June 9 Admission (First): Chapter 4 Degrees Tuesday, April 18, 2017, Milltown Thursday, May 18, 2017, Spotswood Formation (Second): Tuesday, April 18, 2017, Milltown Thursday, May 18, 2017, Spotswood Knighthood (Third): Patriotic (Fourth): None Saturday, April 1, 2017, Toms River See latest statewide degree information at: www.njkofc.org and click the Degrees Tab All the News That Fits. Knight Worthy News is published monthly and distributed via E-mail. Send letters & comments to: gaboyle1 @ comcast.net Find St. Joseph Council at: www.kofc10627.org 9
~ April 2017 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 ARC Collections, SHOP-RITE & St. Joseph Parish 2 Lyons Mass ARC Collections, SHOP-RITE & St. Joseph Parish 3 4 5 6 7:45PM Council 7 8 9 Palm Sunday 10 11 12 13 Holy Thursday 14 Good Friday 15 16 Easter Lyons Mass 23 24 4th Degree 30 5th Sunday Rosary 17 18 19 20 7:30PM Council 21 22 25 26 27 28 Arbor Day 29 ~ May 2017 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Activate Nomination Committee 2 3 4 Pride in Priests Dinner 5 6 7 Lyons Mass 8 9 10 11 Council 12 13 14 Mother's Day 15 16 17 18 19 20 Armed Forces Day 21 22 4th Degree 23 24 25 Ascension of Jesus Council Nomination Committee Report 26 27 28 29 Memorial Day 30 31 Notes: Mother s Day Carnations Form #100s issued to Suspend Delinquent Members Bourbon Street Blues Fest??? Calendar updates available at www.kofc10627.org/council-calendar.html 10