O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E M I C H I G A N S T A T E C O U N C I L K N I G H T S O F C O L U M B U S
PPLEMENT LUMBIAN SU MICHIGAN CO
December 2012
Almighty God and Father of light, a child is born for us and a son is given to us. Your eternal Word leaped down from heaven in the silent watches of the night, and now your Church is filled with wonder at the nearness of her God. Open our hearts to receive his life and increase our vision with the rising of dawn, that our lives may be filled with his glory and his peace, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen
Rev. Scott A. Thibodeau State Chaplain Micharl J. & Maureen Malinowski State Deputy Robert W. & Sandra Fox State Secretary Kenneth B. & Ellie Unterbrink State Treasurer Antonio G. & Sue Vittorini State Advocate Richard F. & Beth McCloy, Jr. State Warden Thomas A. & Arlene Marcetti, Sr. Immediate Past State Deputy Thomas M. & Joyce Wegener, PSD Supreme Director
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Michigan Columbian Supplement
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Knights Co-sponsor Conference at the Vatican
From December 9, the feast of St. Juan Diego, to December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Knights of Columbus co-sponsored the “Ecclesia in America” conference at the Vatican. The conference, which addressed the history and future of the Church in America, was co-sponsored with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and with assistance from the Institute for Guadalupan Studies in Mexico City. Pope Benedict XVI addressed the conference at a private audience on the 9th – the feast of St. Juan Diego. Fifteen years after Pope John Paul II held the Synod for America to discuss the future of the Church in North, Central and South America, the conference brought together a diverse group from throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Vatican, Europe and beyond to discuss the history, present situation and future work of the Church on the American continent – defined as from Alaska in the North to Argentina in the South. Members of the hierarchy from Latin America, the United States and Canada led working groups throughout the event that discussed various aspects of the Church in America, including such topics as: the New Evangelization, the Church’s role in education, the Church’s role in charity and its preferential option for the poor, and the role of the Virgin Mary in leading Christians in America to Christ. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson addressed the conference on Monday. He spoke about the importance of the laity's role in the New Evangelization and spoke of Our Lady of Guadalupe's example and Juan Diego's cooperation with her and his bishop as excellent models of evangelization today. Also addressing the conference was Cardinal Marc Ouellet, president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, who introduced the conference and celebrated the opening Mass. Msgr. Eduardo Chávez spoke on Our Lady of Guadalupe. Professor Guzman Carriquiry discussed the needs of Catholics facing the continent in terms of the New
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Knights of Columbus Supreme Council “Family of the Month” Awardees The following are the winners for the April 2012 “Family of the Month” contest, obtained through a random drawing held at the Supreme Council Office from among many nominees submitted by council throughout the Order. August Family of Charles & Mary Miller Council 600– Keego Harbor Family of Joseph & Charlene Fronczak Council 2781 - Gaylord Family of Robert & Mary Mezzadri Council 5492– Livonia Family of Dale & Carol Morin Council 7413 - Eri September Family of Bill & Shirley Jackson Council 521 - Port Huron Family of Matthew & Mary Baranick Council 2943 - Chesaning Family of Robert & Josephine Adams Council 3830 - Berkley Family of Joseph & Michelle Pomante Council 11658 - Harrison Twp. October Family of Joseph & Dorothy Drzewiecki Council 2724 - Standish Family of Larry & Kim Larsh Council 4141 - Three Rivers Family of Clifford & Susan Wasmund Council 11772 - Shelby Township Family of Charles & Judy Pearce Council 13939 - White Cloud
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Knights Co-sponsor Conference at the Vatican Evangelization and focused on the need for authentic Catholic education and cooperation among the countries of the hemisphere. According to Professor Guzman Carriquiry, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, “We must remember that more than 50 percent of the world's Catholics live in the Americas – a percentage that will grow in the coming decades. The fact that this conference is taking place at the center of Catholicism, with all our American churches present in communion with the Holy Father, is especially significant for us.” Supreme Knight Anderson noted: “It is a tremendous blessing for the Church in America that the Vatican and the pope have taken such a strong interest in the faith in our hemisphere. America is truly the Christian continent. Each country in our hemisphere has a shared history of having had the good news of Jesus Christ take root there. In America, especially compared to many other parts of the world, the
faith is vibrant – the legacy of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe and of the hard work of many missionaries, including St. Juan Diego.” He added, “This conference will explore particularly how Our Lady of Guadalupe's example, and that of St. Juan Diego, can be guides for us in engaging in a new evangelization of our continent, and in bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to those who may have forgotten or lost interest in it." Other highlights of the conference included reports from several members of the commission, presentations by Cardinal Sean O’Malley from Boston and Monsignor Eduardo Chavez, Postulator for the Cause for Canonization of St. Juan Diego, and a recitation of the rosary at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Vatican gardens. The conference concluded on the 12th with a closing Mass and a general audience with Pope Benedict XVI, during which he sent his first-ever “tweet”.
Once He’s Joined Keep Him Involved Tips for Better Photos ALWAYS HAVE YOUR CAMERA HANDY — you never know when a good photo will present itself at a Knights of Columbus event. COMPOSITION: When composing your photo make sure that there are no distracting items in the background (i.e. a flag appearing to come out of the top of someone’s head), that the central figures are not in shadows or oddly lit (use your flash, even outside, if necessary and keep in mind the limited range of a flash). SUBMITTING PHOTOS: Generally, newspapers and other media (including the Knights of Columbus publications) will accept photos via e-mail. They should be sent as separate attached jpeg files and not embedded as part of a Word document. Photos that are sent embedded in other files or through a third-party online photo service often cannot be downloaded at a high enough resolution. Images should be at least 5.5 inches wide with a resolution of 300 dpi or greater. The greater the resolution, the better the image will reproduce in print. Be sure to include caption information in the e-mail. Also, Do Not Send Photos From Phone Cameras or Polaroids. Both of these produce photos that are too poor a quality to print well. Here are some other Do’s and Don’ts: DO...
Take a photograph of the program or item that the funds your council raised helped to purchase: children with coats, students using new computers, Knights dishing out food, etc. AND,DO... Get close to the action. When you think you’re too close, move a bit closer. People’s faces are perhaps the most interesting part of a photo; they should be prominent. DO... Wear your Knights of Columbus gear! If your members have T-shirts, aprons or other items printed with the emblem of the Order, encourage them to wear these items at your events. But don’t send photos with embedded information such as smaller photos or wording on them (including date and time-stamps), or collages of photos. OTHERTIPS... Action photos illustrate the activity. Photos of people lined up in rows staring back at the camera are not action photos and do not depict all of the ways the Knights are active in the parish and community. Similarly, photos of check presentations, “grip-and-grins,” or the “line up” may be easy to arrange, but are not very imaginative. Show readers how your council is helping people through the funds you’ve worked so hard to raise; don’t show them a signed check. Limit the number of people in each shot and, as we’ve said before, avoid the grip-and-grins. But if you absolutely must, at
least make sure the K of C branding is prominent! Turn off the date and time menu on your camera, never print a photo with the date and time on it in the paper
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FLORIDA TO HOST MICHIGAN KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND V E N E R A B L E F R E D E R I C B A R A G A D AY 1ST BISHOP OF MARQUETTE The annual Michigan Knights of Columbus and Bishop Baraga Day has taken on a new name and a new significance. After 40 years of dedicated research on the life of Bishop Baraga and with the backing of the Diocese of Marquette, on May 10, 2012 the Vatican confirmed that Bishop Baraga exhibited a life of heroic virtue and could thus be called “Venerable.” "I am thrilled beyond words at this recognition of Bishop Baraga's heroic virtue by the universal Church,” Bishop Alexander K. Sample said. “I cannot overstate what a significant step this is towards the anticipated beatification and canonization of Bishop Baraga. This is a day for which we have been waiting nearly 40 years. I am so pleased to be able to call my saintly predecessor ‘Venerable’ Frederic Baraga!”
With this great news this year’s celebration will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 in Holiday, Florida. Join your brother Michigan Knights and their wives in sunny Florida for an afternoon of information regarding the exciting news on Venerable Frederic Baraga and the progress on the cause for sainthood of the 1st Bishop of Marquette and share Knights of Columbus fraternity with your brother Knights and their ladies. The day will start with Mass at 11:00 A.M. at St. Vincent De Paul Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Dr., Holiday, FL 34690, followed by a luncheon and program. The following may be called to make reservation for the luncheon. Map and directions are available upon request.
Please RSVP by February 18, 2013 to: Mr. Herbert Wegener
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Barry
4046 Passport Lane, Apt. 102 New Port Richey, FL, 34653 727-376-2743
2951 Westmoreland Ct. New Port Richey, FL, 34655 727-375-5342
hgwegener@gmail.com
g.s.barry@comcast.net
Sending warm wishes to you and your family during this Christmas Season. May your home be blessed with love and happiness. Gary & Marie Kolbicz Editor Michigan Columbian
Special Olympics Report
The Knights of Columbus has always had a close relationship with Special Olympics. To further track local councils’ involvement, make sure that your council completes the Partnership Profile Report with Special Olympics (#4584) and submits it to the Supreme Council Office by Jan. 31, 2013, with copies to the state deputy, district deputy and the council’s files. This form is available at www.kofc.org/forms.
Fr. Michael J. McGivney – Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Intercede for us.
A loving heart is the truest wisdom. Charles Dickens
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MICHIGAN COLUMBIAN SUPPLEMENT
Public Relations There are many rewards and benefits to a well-planned public relations program. For the Knights of Columbus, an effective program can: 1. Create awareness in the community for your council and its contributions. 2. Build a positive image for the Knights of Columbus as a whole, and your council in particular. 3. Create valuable exposure for the council and its activities. 4. Communicate key messages to target audiences. 5. Clear away misconceptions. 6. Strengthen community support for the Knights of Columbus and its mission. 7. Assist in recruiting new members.
PROSPECTS TO MEMBERS Holy Cross Children’s Service’s Your Help Is Their Hope! Mission • Provide Loving Service to the poor. • Recruit disciples willing to serve others. Work for justice, for youth rejected by families and society. How You Can Help Memorial Gifts Council Quota Council over quota MI Fund to HCCS Volunteer at facilities
Sweatshirts for kids at Christmas Council Calendar sales Buy a room for a child ($1,000.00) Adopt a child for a year($2,000.00) Insurance policy HCCS as Beneficiary
For more information visit WWW.hccsnet.org
The Father Michael J. McGivney Guild The Father Michael J. McGivney Guild serves as a source for information about the life, works and spirituality of Father McGivney. The Guild distributes informational materials about him, receives reports of favors granted through his intercession and oversees the distribution of relics. Guild members receive regular updates on the progress of Father McGivney's cause for canonization and are invited to participate in promoting devotion to this Venerable Servant of God. Members of the Knights of Columbus are not automatically Guild members and must elect to join the Guild. To become an organ donor: Go to www.giftoflifemichigan.org
Please consider giving blood. Go to www.redcrossmichigan.org Click “Local Chapters” to find American Red Cross Nearest You. Blood is in short supply!
IN SERVICE TO ONE. IN SERVICE TO ALL
New Ecopy Starting with the April edition, you will have a choice. You can either receive the black and white printed copy of the paper, or you can receive a full-color online copy of the paper that you can view or print out as you wish. If you wish to receive the Michigan Columbian by e-mail go to www.mikofc.org. On the homepage, click on the yellow box titled “Newsletter Sign Up.” Fill out your information, and get ready to enjoy the new, full-color edition of the Michigan Columbian .
THE 24-HOUR MEMBER Tell Us About Your Programs Help us improve the Service Program activities offered by the Supreme Council office by sending reports on your council’s successful activities and/or any suggestions you may have on improving our programs. Send this information to Fraternal Services, Service Program Suggestions, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 or e-mail fraternalservices@kofc.org. Please include “Service Program Suggestions” in the e-mail’s subject line. CELL PHONE—NATIONAL DO NOT CALL LIST Are you bothered by sales calls on your cell phone? All cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. You will be charged for these calls. To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 1-888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked.
Family of Year Form Please send all Family of the Year forms to: Michael Metiva State Family Life Director 860 N. Gleaner Rd, Saginaw, Michigan 48609 Email - m.metiva@mikofc.org Due By April 15, 2012
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St. Virgilius Council 185 Newtown CT Three Hail Mary's Prayer Drive Our parish and community were deeply affected by the events at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Many, many people have asked how they can help. One way is with your prayers. Therefore the Newtown Knights of Columbus are asking religious organizations, fellow Knights of Columbus councils, and individuals to say three Hail Mary's (at least) for us: one for the victims and their families, one for the first responders and teachers, and one for our town to give us strength to support the afflicted. Then email the name of your organization, the location, the number of people present, and the number of Hail Mary's that were said to HailMary@kofc185.org. We will keep track of the total and who said them. At an appropriate time, we will present this list to the people who so badly need our prayers. We are doing this simply to console the brokenhearted among us. We want to let them know in a concrete way that we are thinking about them, care about them and are praying for them. Unfortunately in this situation, there is not much we can offer except our thoughts and prayers. Hopefully this gesture and our prayers will provide some comfort to those who have faced unimaginable sorrow. Start the Year Right, Recruit a New Knight Start the new year off right by recruiting at least one new Knight into your council. Council officers are especially encouraged to lead this recruiting push during January and to set the example for the rest of your members. Consider forming your officers into teams to help meet your goal. Using the two-on-one recruiting method brings twice the energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and persistence to your effort and doubles the chance of success. Begin by setting a goal, such as having the best recruitment month ever for your council or achieving your membership quota by month’s end. Once the goal is set, organize two-man recruitment teams from the council officers as well as additional recruiters. Train your recruiters. Ask your council’s field agent to offer advice on salesmanship. Once your recruiters are ready to go, divide your council’s prospect list among the two-man teams and let them get to work. Call prospects to schedule a visit with them and their wives and your two-man teams. During these personal visits to the prospect’s home, team members should talk
about local council activities and the benefits that Knights of Columbus membership brings not only to a member but to his entire family. Have the team review promotional materials with the prospect and his wife, and the various videos available at kofc.org/films. Also, give them the address for the “Join” feature on the Order’s website (www.kofc.org/join) so they can check out information for themselves. Call prospects to schedule a visit with them and their wives and your two-man teams. During these personal visits to the prospect’s home, team members should talk about local council activities and the benefits that Knights of Columbus membership brings not only to a member but to his entire family. Have the team review promotional materials with the prospect and his wife, and the various videos available at kofc.org/films. Also, give them the address for the “Join” feature on the Order’s website (www.kofc.org/join) so they can check out information for themselves.
Fraternal Survey: Tells Our Story of Service Best
2013 Dates To Remember
Councils, assemblies and circles must complete the 2012 Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728) and submit it to the Supreme Council office by Jan. 31, 2013. This form can be filed electronically by going to kofc.org/forms or by mailing in the form from the Council Reports Forms Booklet (#1436).
February 14 - Valentine’s Day February 20 - Ash Wednesday March 10 - Daylight Savings Time Begins March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day March 20 - First Day of Spring March 24 - Palm Sunday March 29 - Good Friday March 31 - Easter Sunday