Officers Chaplain Very Reverend Tom J. Anastasia, V.F. Grand Knight Jack Hughes Deputy Grand Knight Mike Harris Warden Al Adams Chancellor Edwin Maisonet Financial Secretary Bill Taylor Treasurer Joel Martinez Recorder Robert J. Safransky Advocate Harry Bologna Lector Ray Kerker Inside Guards Bob Thompson Bill Swengros Outside Guards Ron Wahlers Dan Weise 1 Year Trustee Dennis Hamel 2- Year Trustee Carl Sferrazza 3-Year Trustee Bob Smith Field Agent Francesco Franzese (727)324-8200 Francesco.franzese @kofc.org GRAND KNIGHT S MESSAGE NEWSLETTER OF ST. MATTHEW KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL # 11226 Dear Fellow Brother Knights of Columbus. February, 2018 Well we made it to February. Valentine s Day and Ash Wednesday are on the same day. May not be a coincidence. Lent is the time to prepare for the basis of our Religion. Christ dies and is resurrected for our sins. Last month we held our monthly Pancake Breakfast. The Parish should be thankful that we have so many Brothers willing to help to make our Parish better. The Pancake Breakfast offers us a time to talk and share ideas along with cooking the best pancakes. I would like to thank all the Brothers who showed up to make this a successful event. In particular, I would like to thank Brother Joe Lafrazia. He was there at 5:30 in the morning setting up the room and when I left at 1:30 in the afternoon he was still there. It goes without saying that everyone who worked the Pancake Breakfast worked hard. Again, THANK YOU BROTHERS!!! Last Saturday we held our 1 st annual KoC Social picnic. Brother Dennis Hamel, along with his wife s help, made this event a great success. We had over 36 people there who enjoyed the fine food, friendship and we were able to meet the families of our Brothers. The weather was fantastic, a bit windy, but a beautiful day overall. A special thanks to Brothers Bob Smith and Bill Taylor, who cooked the best burgers and dogs in town. The side dishes were exceptional, we all wished we had larger stomachs. I would like to welcome our newest Brother Daniel Soto. Not only is he a great guy with a great family, but name is not Bill or Bob. Brother Dan has a wife and three boys (which means his wife goes straight to heaven). Please welcome him warmly to our Council. I look forward to seeing you all on February 5 th at 6:00 PM for our next Council meeting. Special guest is Karen Malo from Guardian ad Litem. Food will be provided by Brother Bill Taylor. Please remember in your prayers our sick and disabled Brothers and their loved ones. Lastly, please remember our Lady and pray the Rosary daily for our Country and our Council. Again, THANK YOU ALL for the good that you do for our Parish, our Community and your fellow Brothers. Your Brother in Christ, Jack Hughes GK SK Jack Hughes Council 11226
St. Matthew Catholic Church And Jesus said, Know that I am with you always, until the end of time. Matthew 28:20 Chaplain's Column Dear Brother Knights, 2/1/18 As I mentioned in this column last month, our Holy Day of Opportunity known as Ash Wednesday to begin our Lenten journey will fall on St. Valentine s Day this year. On the secular calendar Valentine s Day is a big money maker for restaurants, movie theatres, entertainment venues, candy and card companies, and of course florists. It s a strange year for us in the Church that our Ash Wed. takes place on Valentine s Day and Easter falls on April Fool s Day. The photo of the laughing Jesus comes to mind when I think of the Resurrection happening on April fool s day. It s like the Lord is laughing at the evil one after the victory is won. To help your brother Knights get ready for the holy Season of Lent the Suncoast Catholic Ministries is hosting the 8 th Annual Tampa Bay Men s Conference at St. Lawrence s Higgins Hall in Tampa on Saturday February 10 th beginning early in the morning and concluding by 3pm. This year the featured speakers will be Jeff Cavins, John Pridmore, and Fr. Dwight Longenecker with a special father and son rate if you get your tickets in advance or $ 50.00 at the door. For more information please visit www.suncoastcatholicministries.com. On Sunday February 11 th it will be the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. Since Fr. Terry is scheduled for the 9am Mass and has agreed to stay after to help out at the 11am, we will offer a communal anointing of the sick. It s flu season and many are carrying a virus without even knowing it so any help to prevent sickness is much appreciated. As Knights we concluded the month of January with a picnic and in February we begin with our famous pancake breakfast for the parish just prior to the celebration of Mardi Gras. From the festivities at the beginning of the month to the Spring Training known as Lent in the second half of the month we are looking at a full February filled with opportunities to grow in God s grace. Peace in Christ, Fr. Tom J. Anastasia Chaplain
An Ethical Responsibility In March of 2017, the Knights of Columbus was named one of the World s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute for the fourth year in a row. This is a tremendous honor and achievement that all Knights should be proud of. You are part of a fraternal benefit society that puts integrity above everything. But tremendous though it is, being one of the world s most ethical companies is not just an achievement; it s our legacy and our responsibility. We won t settle for less. We owe it to our founder, to our Church, and to our members. As a business, the Knights of Columbus holds a unique place in the world. For starters, we were founded by a Venerable Servant of God, who, we pray, is on the path to Sainthood. How many companies can say that? It is our responsibility to continue the business in a way that Father McGivney intended. He founded this organization so that a caring community of Catholic families could come together and protect widows and orphans from financial devastation upon the death of the bread winner. Our mission remains the same 136 years later. From our founding to the present day, we are and have been an unapologetically Catholic company. For us, this means that we must conduct our business in accordance with Catholic principles. We have established a strict screening process for our investments, and we refuse to invest in companies that deal in abortions, contraception, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, for-profit health care that pays for any of the aforementioned, and pornography. We are an organization by brother Knights, for brother Knights. We don t worry about stock price, shareholders, or corporate takeovers. We worry about doing what s right for our members and their families. After all, we re brother Knights too. As agents, we are rigorously trained to adhere to the highest ethical standards. Each of us must sign a Code of Ethics, which is modeled after the Ten Commandments. Among its commandments is Thou shall present, honestly and accurately, all the facts necessary to enable a member to make an informed decision. Our fraternal ties to our members, it goes on to say, make it more incumbent on us, in our dealings with them, to assure that their interests are uppermost in our minds as we provide solutions to their financial needs. It all boils down simply to the golden rule Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. After all, we are our brother s keeper. That s our commitment to you. And that s our commitment to conducting our business in line with Church teaching, and in line with the vision of our holy founder. We are honored that the Ethisphere Institute has acknowledged that commitment. Discover the benefits of doing business with one of the World s most ethical companies. Contact me today.
THE FEBRUARY MEETING AND ACTIVITY DATES February 3 & 4 February 5 th February 11 th February 14 February 17 & 18 February 26 MARCH 9 Pancake Breakfast Pre-sales COUNCIL MEETING @ 6:00 PM with Pulled Pork Sliders Dinner. & Karen Malo, Area Recruiter for Guardian Ad Litem Program. Pancake Breakfast Ash Wednesday & Blessing of Throats at 8:30 AM Mass. Tootsie Roll Sales at all Masses K of C Officers Meeting @ 6:30 P.M. K of C Lenten Soup Supper DEGREE SCHEDULE Feb. 3 -- 1 st Degree @ St. Catherine s 10:00 Feb. 17 2 nd Degree @ St. Catherine s 10:00 March 3 3 rd Degree @ St. Catherine s 10:00 Candidates should be wearing suit and tie and report at 9:30 AM with their sponsor to Rooms 5 & 6. St. Catherine 1955 S. Belcher Road, Clwtr FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS!!!!!!!!!!! Robert W. DeSteph 02/02 Albert E. Lacroix 02/02 Bill Taylor 02/03 William Pourchot 02/04 Frank Iliana 02/07 John F. Merkler 02/13 William Slatic 02/14 Andrew Mclane 02/14 George R. Doll 02/19 Joseph G. Mattingly 02/22 David L. Mallory 02/25 Brot
SPELLING BEE WINNER FROM ST. MATTHEW - Brother Vince Asciutto reports that MARIA SERVAS was the 1 st Place Winner in 7 th & 8 th grade levels of Regional Spelling Bee which had participants from five districts. Maria will be advancing to the State Spelling Bee in Kissimmee on Saturday, Feb. 3 rd. Brother Vince wishes to thank all of his Brother Knights who came out and assisted in running a smoth event.!