Knights News Knights of Columbus Council # 7773 Paradise, CA September 2017 What s Inside... Chaplain s Report Page 1 & 4 Chancellor s Report Grand Knight s Notations Knight Humor Calendar of Events Page 3 September Birthdays Page 3 Insurance Info Page 3 & 4 Knights Corner Page 4 Officer s Contact List Page 5 CHAPLAIN S REPORT DEACON RAY HELGESON The Virtues that Lead Us to God The title of this reflection may seem a little odd, since as Catholic men and as Knights, we all strive to live the virtues that lead us to God, it s part of who we are. However, we live in an age and in a society that does not naturally strive to live this way. No matter how hard we try not to be, we are continually influenced by the mindset and conditioning of our secular surroundings. One example, which is the subject of this reflection, is the virtue of truth, or truthfulness. In his book entitled The Virtues that Lead Us to God, Father Romano Guardini lists truthfulness as the first of the virtues to be considered. He writes: A virtue that has suffered great damage in our day is truthfulness, which, taken in its widest interpretation, includes also the love of truth, and the will that truth should be recognized and accepted. Father Guardini continues, First, truthfulness means that the speaker should say what is so, as he sees and understands it, and that he should express what is in his mind. One way that this definition could be construed, especially in our day, is that truth is subjective, in other words, whatever the person sees and understands it to be. Truth is simply in the eyes of the beholder. Everyone has their own truth. This position is gaining more and more ground today however this is false. Truth is the ability, or the virtue, to see reality what actually is, and to express it when necessary. Further, knowing what is true enables us to live according to the reality one recognizes and understands. Truthfulness means that the speaker should say what is so A contrast may be helpful. There may be times when we are confronted, or asked a question that may expose something we did that we should not have done. For example, I went somewhere or did something I should not have done. However, when asked directly by a friend, or loved one, I tell a lie in order not to be exposed. This could be a little thing, or something greater. In any event, I was not honest; I was not truthful. Not too many years ago, this would never have to be explained, but today it is becoming so common that it is widespread in our society and can easily make it into our lives if we are not diligent. (Continued on page 4)
Knights News September 2017 CHANCELLOR S REPORT Please pray for those on our prayer list: Larry Campbell, Gary Behne, Chuck Hofschroer s wife Rita, Primo & Marilyn Incerty, Fr. Michael, Jim & Lani McManus, Sam & Maggie Zuckerman, Greg Wright, Russ Cangialosi, Greg Foreman, Yvonne Kidder, Mike Hohenthaner, Bernadette Sanchez, Carol Voss, Tom & Nonie debettencourt, Phil Kelly, Bill Lawson, Tom Hegenbart, Leon Riley, Kathy Viale, Tom Cunningham Sr., Jim Brown, Leo Benedetti, Lou & Lois Gervais. Please remember those who are serving our country in the armed forces. For additions, deletions, corrections, or current status reports, please call your Chancellor, Greg DeCristofaro at 873-4132. GRAND KNIGHT S NOTATIONS I would like to personally welcome Tom Schaub who was appointed on August 7, 2017 as our Financial Secretary. Tom, we are all here to help one another and I personally promise that I will go the extra mile needed to get you fully up to speed. Thanks for stepping up and accepting this most important officer s position. Our STAR COUNCIL and I personally welcome Salvador Macias who was exemplified in our Admission Degree (1 st Degree) on Aug. 9, 2017. Congratulations and welcome from all of us. Now you will be challenged to meet or exceed the requirements of our Shinning Armor Award. Please accept this challenge and know that each Knight here in our council is here for you. Just ask any one of us anytime. We are inching along and on track to meet our membership quota for this new fraternal year. We are currently at 29% of established quota leaving us with just five more new members or readmissions. We also have achieved 33% of our insured quota leaving us but two more. We are planning a membership drive during the month of September so let s us stay on course and blast through those quotas established by Supreme. I know that we can do this IF we continue doing what we both know that we are capable of. Our August potluck dinner featured our very own STM priest, Rev. Father Joseph Michael Baricuatro, who did an outstanding job in talking about Vocations and how he received his calling and what he did to become a priest. We had about 40 attendees but much to my surprise very few Knights. On Sat., August 26 we were called upon to help our parish with a Parish Work Day from 8:00 am to noon with lunch provided. Thanks to all that participated and again we had a very few knights that participated. Our parish is holding their first Parish Picnic on Sunday, September 24 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and are asking for help with this event. We will begin the field (field behind and west of the Achieve Charter School) on Wednesday, September 20, and continue each day through the end of the picnic. Please contact Greg DeCristofaro to sign up and, yes, you must be certified in the Safe Environment program as required by the Dioceses. Sincerely yours in Christ, Lou Gervais Council 7773 GK KNIGHT HUMOR Golf appeals to both the idiot in us and the child. Just how childlike golfers become is proven by their frequent inability to count past five. ~ John Updike (Cont d next column)
Knights News Page 3 September 2017 Calendar of Events September / October September 5 -- Flags: Captain needs to establish a signup sheet and monitor September 13 -- Officers Meeting, 5:30pm, Rosary, 6:30pm, Business Meeting, 7:00pm. September 17 -- K of C Hosting Coffee & Doughnuts after 8:00am and 10:30am masses September 24 Parish Picnic 10:00 to 3:00 pm September 27 Knights of Columbus Open House and recruitment dinner. October 11 -- Admission Degree. 5;30pm (No Officer s meeting); Rosary, 6:30pm, Business Meeting, 7:00pm. October 14 --Columbus Day Dinner and Recognition Event (Event proceeds for ID Drive) October 15 -- no coffee and doughnuts; Fatima Anniversary Celebration; parish potluck October 25 Potluck Dinner Speaker Jim Collins October 29 -- 5 th Sunday Rosary, 10:00 am SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS: Russ Canglialosi 6 th Darrell Voelker 7 th Steven Barnes 9 th Chris Bolshazy 9 th Sotero Toca 18 th Ed Gregorio 23 rd Alphonse Sperske 30 th INSURANCE INFO SEPTEMBER: LIFE INSURANCE AWARENESS MONTH These days, in the midst of a volatile market and an unsettled economy, there s too much left to chance. In an ideal world, every product would come with clear-cut guarantees that would put you at ease and eliminate the guesswork, or at least some of it. The reality is that guarantees are hard to come by. But not for the Knights of Columbus. Here are eight guarantees from the Knights of Columbus that you and your family can count on when you do business with the Knights. We guarantee the cash value in your whole life insurance. The beauty of whole life or permanent insurance is that it is truly permanent. It s a way to insure your life for life. That s true not only of the death benefit but also of the cash value, which is guaranteed provided that you continue to pay premiums according to the contract. We guarantee the rates on your level term insurance. Our level term policies are predictable. Your rates as laid out in your contract will not change. No surprises just reliable, affordable coverage. We guarantee a minimum interest rate on your retirement annuity. Your retirement is not something worth leaving up to chance. A Knights of Columbus annuity can help to remove some of the uncertainty. Your contract includes a guaranteed interest rate that you will continue to earn for the life of the contract. The actual rate you earn may be greater than that and often is but it will never be lower. We guarantee the principal on your retirement annuity. Not only will the rate on your Knights of Columbus retirement annuity never fall below your guaranteed minimum, the principal in your Knights of Columbus annuity will never decrease, guaranteed. If you put $10,000 into your annuity, the value in your account before you begin to withdraw funds will never drop below $10,000. If you put $20,000 in, it will never drop below $20,000. Quite simply, unless you execute an early surrender or withdrawal, you will never lose money on a Knights of Columbus annuity. We guarantee an income stream for life. With a properly structured Knights of Columbus annuity, you can be assured of a guaranteed income stream for as long as you live. Whether you live 5 years, 15 years or 25 years into retirement, by working with your Knights of Columbus field agent, you can be assured that you will have guaranteed income during each of those years. We guarantee high-quality, professional services. (Cont d on Page 4)
Knights News Page 4 September 2017 Chaplain s Report (con t) This notion that truth is subjective is not something new. However, over the past few decades it has gained enormous ground. Although this position has numerous proponents, one of particular influence is Supreme Court Justice, Anthony Kennedy. In a 1992 Supreme Court Decision Justice Kennedy wrote the following: At the heart of liberty is the right to define one s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe and of the mystery of human life. Look again at these words: the right to define one s own concept of existence (and) meaning... In other words, the right to define reality, of what actually is so. I hope I don t have to connect the dots to show the craziness that is happening in the sexual gender realm, or sexual orientation in relation to the absence of truth. The same approach occurs in so many other areas; for example, the It s okay if I don t get caught mentality. Father Guardini ends his reflection on truth with these words: In the last analysis, what is truth really? It is the way which God is God and knows Himself. From Him truth moves into the world and gives it solidity, Truth penetrates all being and gives it its nature; its light shines into the human mind and gives it that brightness which we call knowledge. He who holds to the truth holds to God. Sincerely in Christ, Deacon Ray Helgeson Knights Corner I join our Grand Knight Lou Gervais in congratulating all of us on being a STAR council for 2017. On August 9 th, we welcomed Salvador Macias into our council. We served coffee and donuts on August 13 th and on August 26 th, we enjoyed Fr. Michael s story of becoming a priest and discerning our own vocation in life. Thanks to all of you who helped out with our Parish work day August 26 th. Keep in mind Labor Day September 4 th along with our Parish Picnic on September 24 th. Sign up with Greg D.C. to help with the Parish Picnic. INSURANCE INFO (con t) We re not just an insurance company we re an insurance company for brother Knights, run by brother Knights. We pride ourselves on the quality of service that we provide to members and their families. Our dedicated, full-time professional agents will be there for you and your family whenever you call on them. We guarantee not to purchase junk bonds or derivatives. We do not take our brother Knights financial futures lightly. We invest carefully and make business decisions motivated not by profit or greed, but by service and commitment. Our safety, security and fiscal responsibility are the principle reasons why we have earned A.M. Best s highest financial strength rating, A++ (Superior), for 41 consecutive years. We guarantee not 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. The Knights of Columbus is Catholic both professionally and fraternally. Our faith informs our work at every level, including the evaluation of each investment we make. Father McGivney wouldn t have wanted it any other way. The Knights of Columbus should be different than all other insurance companies and we are. We are looking out for you in a way that no other company can because we re your brothers. So join the hundreds of thousands of brother Knights who have chosen to help protect their future with the Knights of Columbus. Contact me to schedule an appointment. Richard Reinero F.I.C.F. Phone 530-410-4952 Email: richard.reinero@kofc.org
Knights News Page 5 September 2017 Officer s Contact List for 2017-2018 Name Phone Email Grand Knight Lou Gervais (Lois) (530) 872-0278 Loug@stmparadise.org Chaplain Deacon Ray Helgeson (Donna) (530) 413-9520 Servant@ksdmm.com Dep. Grand Knight Israel Garcia (Maria) (530) 413-3154 Israelvgarcia@yahoo.com Chancellor Greg DeCristofaro (Kathy) (530) 873-4132 Gregdec@att.net Financial Secretary Tom Schaub (Peggy) (530) 521-9663 Tsheloguy48@gmail.com Recorder Jim Collins (Barbara) (831) 821-9369 Jimcollins_95991@yahoo.com Warden Leo Benedetti (Beverly) (530) 896-1532 leoshorsehoeing@gmail.com Treasurer Alphonse Sperske (530 413-9447 alphonse.sperske@sbcglobal.net Lecturer Ron Martin (Susan) (530) 762-2979 rckoharry@sbcglobal.net 1 Year Trustee Greg Kidder (Yvonne) (530) 228-6163 Two_saints@sbcglobal.net 2 Year Trustee Larry Campbell (Kittya) (530) 877-0682 lawrencecampbell8@comcast.net 3 Year Trustee Dave Porter (Elizabeth) (530) 514-6901 DavePorter7773@gmail.com Advocate Steve Neeley (Mary) (530) 872-9325 neeleymas2@yahoo.com Inside Guard Chuck Knechtell (Bessy) (530) 520-1173 Chucknechtel@att.net Outside Guard Dave Lemire (530) 762-9275 Djlemire9@yahoo.com Council Support District Deputy David J. Mulqueeney (Chris) (530)-895-3745 davemulqueeney@sbcglobal.net General Agent Todd Cabral (916) 997-9999 Todd.cabral@kofc.org Field Agent Richard J. Reinero (Cathy) (530 )410-4952 Richard.reinero@kofc.org Newsletter Editor Russ Neal (Mary Ann) (530) 877-0283 Rustynail68@att.net