November 2017 Voice of the Spirit

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE OHIO STATE COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

NOVEMBER 2017

State Deputy News and Notes Kevin Miller

T

his month, I would first like to offer my thanks to the hospitality extended to me and members of my staff as I begin to travel around Ohio for our diocesan Round Table meetings. From those who attend, we deeply appreciate your concern and input! I hope many of you in the areas we have yet to visit take the opportunity to join us to learn more about the Knights, the workings and initiatives of the Ohio State Council, and ask your questions of us to deepen your understanding and knowledge.

One of the questions that is often asked of me wherever I go about the Knights of Columbus is, “Why are we always talking about membership?” Or more directly, “All you care about is membership!”

I’ve always found the question interesting whenever it’s brought up, because I am unquestionably and unapologetically guilty – I am, and will always, talk about membership, think about membership – and I think that every one of you should too.

Often times, you hear your state offices, district deputies or diocesan staff talk about membership quotas -- and how they can assist in achieving recognition within our community, awards such as Star Council, Star District, Circle of Honor, etc. Of course, these are

many years, we think in terms of an ultimate

membership goal, something that every Knight should aspire to. It’s quite simple -- every Catholic man that we serve and worship beside within our parishes, every new Catholic man who joins our faith through RCIA, every Catholic man who joins our parishes from another community, should join and become an active part of the Knights of Columbus. That’s right – our real goal is everyone. designed to provide motivation and incentive to our membership efforts, as do the various membership campaigns and promotions the State Council runs on a regular basis.

But when many of us talk and think about membership, especially those that have served in the Knights for

Each of us needs to embrace the true spirit of evangelization – not just as Knights, for the sake of our Order and its directives, but as Catholic men who seek to help other Catholic men find Christ through the principles of the Knights of Columbus. If you truly believe, as I

CHARITY | UNITY | FRATERNITY | PATRIOTISM

(Continued on page 2)

(Continued from page 1) do, that there is no better way for a man to serve their parish and faith than as a member of the Knights of Columbus, then we should not just choose to find men to join us, we should be driven to find those men.

As you read this, think ahead to attending Mass this Sunday; who should you be reaching out to? Who should you

reach out to again? Tell those men more than a “laundry list” of your council activities, tell them what your membership in the Knights has meant to you – not only how is serves the church, but how it has made you a better Catholic man. Have other members of your council try it as well; let others feel your passion for the Knights and they may become passionate as well!

This is why we as Knights concentrate so much on membership – to accomplish our true mission as Knights, to serve our Church and parishes at true Catholics, we can do nothing else. Allow men to enjoy the benefits of faith and service!

Become, as Christ asks us, “fishers of men!” Actively and always seek good Catholic men to join our Order! As always, I thank you for your work and service – Vivat Jesus!

Measure Up 2018 Jeff Kiliany, State Warden It's time to start thinking about this year's measure up campaign. An e-mail will be sent out shortly with all of the pertinent information for this year's measure up campaign.

Instead of sending the “Gimme 5” flyers out for this year’s “Measure UP” A very important part of the measure up solicitation, we are sending out the program is the Gimme Five Campaign. template that can be downloaded to your This activity solicits a $5.00 (or more) computer. You can then print them contribution from our members in your yourself as needed, instead of waiting for annual dues collection. Financial them to be mailed out. You will receive Secretaries send the “Gimme Five” flyers this template as a PDF attachment to with the 2018 council membership dues print your own Gimme Five flyers with notices.

Those who contribute will the informational email. receive a special “Gimme-Five Club” sticker affixed to their 2018 membership Rulers and stickers will be given to each card. (District Deputies will receive District Deputy at the January District council stickers at the January Mid- Deputy meeting. Each District Deputy Year District Deputy meeting) will deliver them to their respective

councils afterwards. District Deputies will be receiving a form for ordering rulers and stickers for each council.

Please let your District Deputy know how many rulers (500 per pack) and stickers (28 per sheet) that your council needs this year.

If a council needs stickers before the January District Deputy meeting, the Financial Secretary can send a request for the quantity needed by their Council to Jeff Kiliany, State Warden along with a self addressed stamped envelope. The request should include the council number, sheets of stickers needed, and FS contact info.

Alzheimer's Awareness Month James Valent, General Agent There are many financial consultants and retirement authorities who emphasize the need for a long-term care (LTC) product for estate preservation and family protection. While many commercial life insurance companies have gotten out of the long-term care business, the Knights of Columbus considers LTC a very important piece of the family protection puzzle. The Order has been actively offering our members this product for nearly 15 years without a premium increase on current policyholders. Members who wisely purchased an LTC plan from the Knights in 2000 are still paying the same premiums today. Even better, our LTC coverage is backed by the full strength of the Order, which remains rooted in our strong Catholic values. Talk about stability when it counts.

Remember, long-term care policies are underwritten based on your health, and you most likely will never be any healthier than you are today.

Also, remember that having an LTC policy with the KofC may allow you to provide a discount for the care of parents and parents in-laws.

State Membership Frank Iannaggi The Advent season is upon us and we now begin to think of the coming of our savior Jesus Christ. We also use this time of waiting to reflect on our efforts to touch others with the beauty and comfort we find in following and sharing the Faith of our Fathers. We as Knights do this through the process of asking members of our congregations to join the one organization the blends our faith with good works. We have done this, in this fraternal year by summer programs and fall church drives. Many of your councils showed significant increase in your membership growth during the month of October. Admissions degrees had a substantial increase during the October

blitz and now we must take that momentum and expand it to the winter months of December, January and, February. We thank you, well done.

We need you to continue your efforts to share membership in the Knights of Columbus with our brothers in the Faith.

If you did not have an October church drive during the October blitz, have one in November, have one in December, etc.

Take what was learned in October and put to work in our next mandatory membership requirement the March Blitz. Plan it around March 29th Founders day, Make it big, bold and exciting.

Contact your insurance agents, District Deputies, and State Officers and solicit their assistance. Remember the incentives are doubled for March. Use the many reference materials provided by Supreme,

Pocket Flip Chart (#2041), and Membership Documents form #100, Recruitment Flip Chart or use Flip Chart/ Binder (#889, #889A) ,“Our Future Knights...” flyer (#9116), “The Potential of a Man...”Flyer (4496), “What this organization stands for...” booklet (#4495), Member/Spouse Fraternal Benefit flyer (#2773), Columbia magazine, council newsletters, etc.

ASK PROSPECT TO JOIN and ensure prompt initiation Continue to grow the Order one member at a time, one council at time, every member active every council active. Use the joy of the Advent season as the driver to share membership in the knights every day In His Honor.

General Programs Rod Anderson HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

year? So I want to emphasize the importance of getting plans in place now for the first couple of months of the New Year, especially for the State Program mandatory activities for your Council to max the State Program.

Okay, okay….I know it’s November.

And I hope your Councils’ Memorial remembrances of our deceased Brother Knights are well underway. And your plans are already in the works to give thanks for your many blessings, including one of our greatest blessings, the Knights of Columbus.

Program. Since some Councils have a nomination and selection process that can take several weeks, or even a couple of months, it is important that you get this started as soon as possible after the first of the year in order to meet that April 1 submission deadline. This is especially true for the gathering of supporting letters, pictures, testimonials and recommendations from various clergy, teachers, Knights, community leaders, and anyone else for inclusion with the nomination forms.

So if your Council did NOT participate in the Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge for the Youth Program, you should be planning to have a Council Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest in January so your winners can move on to your District’s Free Throw Championship in February. One or the So again, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Plan other of these is required to max the these Activities now for your Council to And it is a given that December with Youth Program. complete in the first few months of the Advent, Christmas and all the hustle and New Year what you need to max the bustle of the holiday preparations make The next mandatory State Program time a premium. Therefore, I am sure Activities you should be actively State General Program! And always your Councils already have the planning for now is your Council’s remember “If you build it, they will come!”

December schedule full of Christmas nomination process for Chaplin/ gatherings, parties, and other family Religious, Knight, Volunteer, Blue Coat, oriented events.

Family, and Youth of the Year awards.

These nominations are due to the So that is why the focus of this month’s respective State Program Directors not State General Program article is the later than April 1. As further described January/February bimonthly reporting in the State Program Manual, these period. Do you realize that beginning nominations for State honors are January 1, there are only 3 and a half mandatory for Councils to max the State months to the end of the State Program

Support Our Seminarians

Community

Ed Olenhouse

Robert Walsh

I hope everyone has started the switch to ‘SOS’ from the now outdated Pennies for Heaven. Getting your parishioners involved will certainly make the contributions grow very fast. If possible, collect after every mass on a few weekends.

As I write this article, I am in the middle of reading the reports submitted for September and October reporting period. I’m still amazed at the different activities that are being done. One Council started at the beginning of planting season with the idea of planting corn. Through donations, hard work, good weather, and with the right timing of rain, they had a great harvest. With the sale of the ears, and some donated to the local food bank, four other organizations received donations. This was definitely thinking outside the box.

‘Pennies Four Heaven’ was a great program but only the members attending your meetings were involved usually by passing the jug.

The concept of ‘SOS’ is to expand our reach to get the entire church involved. Most of your parishioners will help if asked and given the opportunity. They know the critical need for more priests, and they want to help, if even in just a small way. The Knights of Columbus can give them this ability to meet this need.

Get with your priest. Allow him to get your entire parish involved in this critical effort to get and keep seminarians, our future priests!

If you have any questions, or other suggestions to make this effort successful, please call me at: 614-312-6263 or send an email: eehouse@yahoo.com.

GOD BLESS OUR SEMINARIANS.

Please remember that you only need three elective activities, and the two mandatory ones. The two mandatory are the State Super Cash Bonanza Charity Tickets, and Volunteer of the Year or Bluecoat of the Year. These are due by April 1st. Even if you have completed the above requirements please continue to report your activities as these can still be considered for best activity.

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Council Tim Mangan Brother Knights, as we are now in the final 2 months of 2017, now is the time to start thinking about your January and February activities. Why? First, we all know how fast November and December fly by. I swear, they are the fastest 2 months of the year. Second, once January starts, that is time of year to start working on your nominations of the year which are mandatory to max out the state program! Knight of the Year (mandatory) and Lady of the Year (optional) both get submitted to me. You can find copies of the nomination forms for both Knight and Lady of the Year on pages 36 and 37 of

the General Program Manual. Once January comes, you only have 3 months to put together your write ups!

Remember, April 1st is the deadline for your nominations of the year.

for a list of qualifying programs.

Now, since January and February are cold months, that is a great time of year to hold some social indoor events. A few examples would be a card night, a bowling night, a Ladies Appreciation Night, an Honorary and Honorary Life Ceremony, or a Super Bowl Party! These are some great social events that are great and fun to hold during winter. So, whichever activity your council decides to hold in the winter season, be sure to include your fellow parishioners and your potential new members to them!

Also, in January, start working on your Columbian Award Applications.

Remember, the second mandatory activity for council activities, is turning in your Columbian Award Application to me by April 15th! Start filling out your activities that way you know what activities you have completed and what activities need to be done. Also, 4 of your activities must be Domestic Church Activities! Don’t forget to check off these Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving activities in the check off box next to the everybody! section that you entered your program activity. Visit kofc.org/domesticchurch

money is good as well as the visible sign of the baby bottles.

4.

Hold a diaper drive. Perhaps too Brett Gissel many groups in your parishes ask for cash donations too often. Consider One of the reasons I hear from councils asking people to donate the specific as to why they don’t have many Culture item that is needed instead of just Of Life activities is that members are not cash. convinced that we should be pro life. I With this in mind, here are some 5. Supreme Council’s Ultrasound offer what I heard at a recent fundraiser activities to consider holding through the Initiative. Support putting ultrasound for a pregnancy center. The pregnancy remainder of the fraternal year: machines in pregnancy centers to center was not specifically Catholic, so help women see the human life they they invited people of different faiths for 1. The March for Life is Friday, January are carrying so they will choose life. the opening and closing prayers. A 19, 2018. Consider attending this The program matches your council’s Catholic priest was asked to give the march or a local march. You may contributions in purchasing an opening prayer and he started off by even want to sponsor someone’s trip ultrasound machine. The machines talking about an encounter he had with to the March for Life and having are not inexpensive and many someone wanting to know when the them give a talk afterward about councils have worked with others to Catholic Church became Pro Life. We what they experienced and how it raise the funds. should all know that we celebrate moved them.

Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ.

2. Hold a prayer service for life. If you need more information, please He went on to talk about the Immaculate Whether you have already held a contact me at BrettGissel@gmail.com.

Conception of Mary (December 8) and service or not, bringing together the Annunciation of our Lord (9 months people to pray is powerful. Many Keep up the good work! before Christmas; March 25, but often abortion clinics are closing and one transferred due to Holy Week and the cannot doubt that prayer is having an Octave of Easter), which are both effect. Pick a date (perhaps the solemnities or major celebrations of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Church. In both of these, we celebrate Lord, which will be transferred from the conception. Although the feast days March 25 to April 9 in 2018), plan have not always been on the Church the event, publicize it with your calendar, we do have biblical evidence of parishes, show up, and pray for life.

Mary being full of grace as a permanent 3. Do a Baby Bottle collection. This is state (from conception until her a great way to raise money for a pro assumption) of hers (Luke 1:29) and life cause. Both the collection of throughout Luke 1 we see the celebration

Culture of Life

of the conceptions of John the Baptist and Jesus. The Church celebrated conception from the very beginning, we still celebrate conceptions with these two major feasts, and we should support life from the moment of conception.

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Family Tom Buehner

will sneak up on us too! Start thinking about your Family of the Year nominations. This is a mandatory activity for the State Program, and I want you to be able to max out the State Program!

Please get the nominations in to me by April 1, 2018 (that’s Easter, by the way – no joke!).

Reminder: The mandatory F amily Activity State Matching Funds participation with on-time turn-in report is due November 15! The Matching Funds need to be submitted ASAP to our State Advocate, Larry Droesch. Don’t Please remember to take the time to forget to also submit your activity report submit your activities on the State website and reach out to me with any to me on the State Website! questions!

Time tends to move quickly this time of the year. Before you know it, it will be Vivat Jesus!

2018! Then, the end of the fraternal year

Youth Stewart Vetter What could a K of C council in Ohio do for a youth activity in January? Hmmm.

Wracking my brain here. What could we possibly do? K OF C FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP, of course!!!! If you

changing how you promote to increase participation. Don’t forget the special population too. You can utilize the same materials to conduct a local special population Free Throw Competition.

Though there isn’t any advanced competition, our special population will brighten your day with their enthusiasm, competition, and support for each other.

It seems weird to say no since we’ve barely gotten into the commercialization of our Savior’s birth but February begins Lent. There is an internal beauty in Lent that opposes the bright, flashy outward beauty of the Christmas season. Work with your local school, PSR, CCD, SOR, and/or priest to develop or participate in a program to promote the true meaning, reflection, penitence, and joy of Lent.

IT’s a great way to teach the kids and remind our brother Knights that Lent is for more than fish fries.

haven’t ordered your kit, get on it! Most of us have enough material laying around from previous years to build a kit. That’s fine. DIY a free throw kit. You can’t DIY a gym in time though so; set a date and get a location scheduled. December is a great time to start getting the word out via poster, social media, flyer, bill board, tattoo, sign spinner, whatever. Get the word out to the membership too. Many members, who don’t show up for much else, like to participate in the free throw championship. They can’t participate if they don’t get invited. Has participation been dropping? You might also want to consider “freshening up” your local competition by changing locations or

Squires The Football Hall of Fame hosted the Ohio Squires Flag Football Tournament on October 7. This was a great day of football and fellowship in the bright, warm October weather. The boys played hard but the biggest thing that stood out to me was the smiles and laughter and sportsmanship. They would congratulate the other team on a good play and laugh

together at a bad pass or a dropped ball.

They smiled through their heavy breathing win or lose. That evening, we welcomed 4 new Squires into the brotherhood through investiture. It was a great day.

As I write this, I’m thinking about the Airsoft Tournament I’ll be attending later today in Massillon. I’ve heard this is amazingly fun and can’t wait to watch it.

As I told a brother Knight who needed help moving today, “I have to go watch teenagers shoot each other with plastic bb’s”. He wanted to come along.

December and January are quiet months as far as State Squires’ activities go. It’s a great time to be active at home though.

Encourage the boys to recruit and expand the Circle. They could also participate in activities at home like Christmas carol to the shut ins and nursing homes (a great joint Knights – Squires activity), staff a living nativity, host a Christmas rosary, host a Christmas party or shut-in, help clean up after the Christmas season, assist with or participate in the Knight’s Free Throw Championship, or some other local activity.

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State Website: You’re Only A Click Away

When you use the State Program Website to enter your programs, sometimes a mistake is made when selecting the program group or program activity or sometimes a program is returned as a duplicate program by the Director.

Instead of leaving these “Pending” or “Returned” programs in the system, and to make this easier for the Council’s to Resubmitting Returned Programs and manage their program information, there is now a “Closed” status that is available closing Incorrect or Duplicate (see images below).

Programs.

Robert Gilliland

If you get a “Returned” program, simply “Edit” the program and make the corrections that the Program Director is asking for and click “Update Program Listing”.

Work As A Team Tom Mathes, State District Deputy Director Brother Knights, We are now in our second quarter and as District Deputy Director I think we as Brother Knights have to communicate a little better and work a little better as a team.

Your Diocese Officer, District Deputy, and Diocese Membership Director work as a team and are here to help your Councils.

The key is Communication, Communication, Communication. If the Diocese team does not know what you need, how they can be of help to you. Do not be afraid to ask or tell them you have new ideas that may help membership. I know sometimes things can get overwhelming, but we are a big Family and Team here to help one another. Your Diocese Team will help with Membership, Degrees, Star Council, Retention , New Council Development and whatever else you need. If you want help with forms your District Deputy will assist you. If you need my help let me know.

I will close and thank everyone for their work in our, In His Honor program.

This is available ONLY if the program is in the “Pending” or “Returned” status.

Once the program is set to “Closed”, it will no longer be counted towards your Council points and is in effect will be “archived”.

Later this month, the “View Programs” page will have separate tabs for the various statuses (“Pending”, “Returned”, “Graded”, and “Closed”) so that they will be easier to manage.

If you have any problems, or need any help, please feel free to email me at bobgkofc@gmail.com

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 Servant of God. Members of the Knights of Columbus are not automatically Guild members and must elect to join the Guild. The Father Michael J. McGivney Guild Newsletter is published bimonthly except July- August, and is sent free to Guild members.

To join the Guild, click HERE.

A Prayer for Vocations Heavenly Father, bless Your Church with an abundance of holy and zealous priests, deacons, brothers and sisters.

Give those You have called to the married state and those You have chosen to live as single persons in the world the special graces that their lives require.

Form us all in the likeness of Your Son so that in Him, with Him and through Him we may love You more deeply and serve You more faithfully, always and everywhere. With Mary we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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2017 Football Sweepstakes Week #1 Winners HIGH SCORES Rank

Name

Location

Council

Ticket #

Points

1

Jon Shoberg

Aurora, CO. - Columbus

15824

61270

153

2

Robert McDowell

Dayton - Cincinnati

14093

60622

152

2

Al Davis

Cincinnati - Cincinnati

14882

38223

152

2

Adam Bangert

Westerville - Columbus

11550

54753

152

5

Tim Sant

West Chester - Cincinnati

14563

36123

148

6

Joel Koch

Rockford, MI - Toledo

546

24230

147

7

Linda Bayes

Carey - Toledo

4603

3158

146

7

Frank Jacquez

Bethel - Cincinnati

3123

17051

146

9

Austin M. Schafer

Columbus - Columbus

11208

6370

145

9

Gary Kaup

Middletown - Cincinnati

1610

37279

145

9

Raymond Decanio

Lima - Toledo

2661

57644

145

9

Jane Laughbaum

Willard - Toledo

1718

69771

145

13

John Breitenbach

Powell - Columbus

10765

913

144

13

Kevin Weller

Marysville - Columbus

5534

63836

144

13

Mark Finklestew

Westerville - Columbus

5776

65967

144

16

Ronald Langmeyer

Lima - Toledo

2661

57702

143

16

Lois Ray

Toledo - Toledo

13636

69305

143

18

Anthony Caticchio

Mayfield Hts - Cleveland

310

48805

141

18

Susan Nowicki

Marysville - Columbus

5534

60804

141

18

Fr Gerard Gonda

Cleveland - Cleveland

3269

67006

141

18

Augie Lohmeyer

Oregon - Toledo

11450

67748

141

LOW SCORES 1

Larry Lehman, Jr.

San Clemente, CA - Cincinnati

500

5127

10

1

Mike Burkhart

Zanesville - Columbus

505

41086

10

3

Joseph Conidi

Dover - Columbus

1973

4588

13

4

Paulette Wilson

Royerford, PA - Cincinnati

8115

40258

15

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2017 Football Sweepstakes Week #2 Winners HIGH SCORES Rank 1 1 3

Name Katrina Denman Ron Crauthamel Jennie LaFollette

Location Lebannon - Cincinnati Brook Park - Cleveland Woodsfield - Steubenville

Council 10272 13984 5009

Ticket # 16005 51964 44415

Points 169 169 165

4 5 6 7 7 7 10 10 12 12

Kevin Hiniker Terry Kipling Jeff Allen Richard Alge David Seelye Chris Kaiser Mike Feldtz Sandy Eckstein Mark Weber John Burich

Southington - Cleveland Clayton - Cincinnati Broadview Hts - Cleveland Norwalk Toledo Galesburg, MI - Cleveland Rossford - Toledo Broadview Hts - Cleveland Grove City - Columbus Perrysburg - Toledo Vermilion - Toledo

310 13874 3269 626 3213 7978 733 2898 14502 4539

35778 17738 51664 26353 49984 55089 50006 63349 67329 8843

164 162 160 159 159 159 158 158 157 157

14 14 14 17 17 17 17 17 17

Nancy Huber Cletus Schindler Joseph Weber Kenneth Haller Thomas Hoyng Chris Hoff Julie Szendrey Anthony Fortunato Francis Block

Cincinnati - Cincinnati Liberty Center - Toledo Canton - Youngstown Xenia - Cincinnati Coldwater - Cincinnati Woodsfield - Steubenville North Canton - Youngstown Willoughby - Cleveland Woodsfield - Steubenville

3861 1344 15458 1801 1991 5009 3777 4801 5009

29882 70360 34401 12516 10825 44418 35537 46784 45416

156 156 156 155 155 155 155 155 155

7970 6373 16561 10792

70109 71283 62392 69176

39 40 41 42

LOW SCORES 1 2 3 4

Amy Cullen Bert Fintel Frank Kammerer Ken Loebs

North Ridgeville - Cleveland Bowling Green - Toledo Canal Winchester - Columbus Parma - Cleveland

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OHIO KNIGHTS IN ACTION

REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES, AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES FROM ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF OHIO

COUNCIL 7978: IDEA GROWS INTO MAJOR VOCATIONS FUNDRAISER FOR TOLEDO DIOCESE COUNCIL In 2012, a visionary Grand Knight at Perrysburg Council 7978 came up with an idea to support Toledo Diocese seminarians. Today the idea has generated $6,000 to directly assist seminarians during the upcoming holiday season.

The council created a raffle based on the daily evening drawing of the Ohio Pick 3 Lottery. From the first year of 398 tickets sold, the effort has grown to selling the full amount of 1,000 tickets. Council organizers say the response from the parish and community has been “heartwarming.” One parishioner even matches the council’s earnings, allowing the council to distribute the $6,000 to diocese seminarians during the first week of December.

Council 7978 Grand Knight Bob Bidwell and Previous Vocations Director Monsignor Charles Singler and current director Father Phil State Deputy Kevin Miller Smith both expressed appreciation for the council’s efforts. Council leadership estimates when looking at its vocations’ donations for this effort as well as the Support Our Seminarians program they provide a third of all funding from the Ohio Knights of Columbus to the Diocese of Toledo’s vocations office.

COUNCIL 16571: TRIPLE STAR AWARD WINNER On Wednesday October 25, 2017 at the Town Hall meeting for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. in Centerville, Ohio, Ohio State Council State Deputy Kevin Miller, and State Council Advocate Larry Droesch presented Council 16571 with their Triple Estrela(Star) Award from Supreme Council. Also Present was MPC Joe Rameriz, Council 16571 Chaplin Father Ariel Pico, Deputy Grand Knight Carolos Soto, Trustee Antonio Crespova, & New Council Hispanic DevelopmentRetention Coordinator Michael Freil. The Council was given this award for achieving 350% of their membership and insurance quotas.

Bravo to La Morenita Council # 16571

COUNCIL 11150: COUNCILS JOINED TOGETHER TO ASSIST NEEDY FAMILIES Cincinnati Children's Hospital is one of the largest and most successful Children's hospital in the country providing for thousands of severely sick children every year. Across the street from the hospital is a Ronald McDonald House (RMH) a haven for the families of sick children. Many of these families are from other states far and wide. Quite a few of the families staying at Ronald McDonald House are from countries outside the USA.

for the families at RMH when he was called to service by FEMA to render aid to the flood victims along the Gulf Coast of Texas.

Mark put out the word to the men at St. Joseph of the Three Rivers Council as he was just entered Texas that he was scheduled to prepare and serve dinner at RMH in late August and only days before the event.

Mark arranged for his son David, a college student and brother knight at St. Joe's to take charge.

The council put out an email alert to all members that on short notice that help was needed to serve the families at The RMH is set up to provide a RMH. New council St. John living quarters, a home away the Baptist Dry Ridge 16706 from home if you will for up to Grand Knight Mike Pfaffinger 78 families allowing them to be got word of the alert and sent close to their children while out an email to his brother convalescing at the hospital.

Knights in hopes to have more They also have a large kitchen guys help. and dinning room. That's where the Knights of Columbus come There ended up being 11 in. knights and 2 wives who showed up to cooked burgers, Mark Hoffman, a brother brats, mets, corn on the cob, Knight from St. Joseph of the Saratoga Chips and more. They Three Rivers 11550 in the also served the food and Archdiocese of cleaned up afterward.

Cincinnati, prepares and serves dinners at RMH several One brother Knight had this to times every year on a strictly say about the effort: “Working volunteer basis. Mark was once this venue leaves you with again planning to make a meal

many emotions as you get to see many of the sick youth with their parents and siblings, mostly cancer patients, and to see the smiles on their faces.

The greatest gift to us is their gratitude. I've never heard so many "Thank you's" as we heard that evening. “ He added, ”This spontaneous fraternal effort, was pulled together by a father and a son, along with two Knights of Columbus councils, all working together as a team to serve sick children and their families. We all walked away feeling proud that we were able to serve these deserving yet somewhat grief stricken folks.

May God bless them all. “

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