February 2018 Voice of the Spirit

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE OHIO STATE COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

FEBRUARY 2018

State Deputy News and Notes Kevin Miller

make sure your council plans fully are in sync with his!

Brother Knights: Last month, we talked about the items we should be focused on as we move into the second half of the fraternal year. This month, I’m going demonstrate how Supreme’s program, “Building the Domestic Church” can help us address all of these goals – and play an important role in both assisting our parishes and growing the Knights of Columbus.

“Building the Domestic Church” (BDC) is a sweeping initiative brought forward by our Supreme Council in 2016 – so sweeping in its scope, in fact, that many of our Knights still have issues understanding all of its facets and it

1. Reading and understanding the important principles that underscore this initiative – many resources and much information can be found implications for our Councils and how we www.kofc.org/un/en/domesticserve. In short, this initiative calls upon church/ every Council to engage in thoughtful self 2. Reviewing and implementing the -examination of its mission and activities many Supreme-supported activities, and ask how it is responding to the such as the “Family Fully Alive” challenges facing our families and our program, “Into the Breach” men’s parish communities. It is a process of study groups, the Holy Family prayer rededication and reevaluation: aligning program, the Family Rosary Program, (or re-aligning) all of our focus and and the many others that have been activities to build our Church and doing integrated as activity resources into whatever we can to encourage the New this initiative.

Evangelization, synchronize our goals with those of our pastors, and strengthen Also, keep in mind that to achieve the our role in parish life.

Columbian Award, and ultimately Supreme’s Star Council and many Ohio For Knights and our Council leadership State Council awards, a minimum of four this initiative takes on many forms: Meeting regularly with your pastor to (Continued on page 2)

CHARITY | UNITY | FRATERNITY | PATRIOTISM

(Continued from page 1) reported programs must be designated as Domestic Church activities. Also, Councils who also organize at least two activates in four key program areas – member, family, parish, and community activities – can receive a commemorative Holy Family icon from Supreme for their efforts.

liaison between your pastor(s) and your program chairs to ensure alignment of the directions and goals alluded to above. This couple should be true leaders in your parish -- not necessarily liturgical experts, but someone with good knowledge of the Knights; a good relationship with the pastor, Council Chaplain, and the Council in general; and a strong desire to serve and make the Knights integral in the life of the parish.

doing so, we can achieve all of our goals – attracting younger Knights, supporting Catholic families, creating Knights’ awareness, strengthening our clergy relationships, and advancing Catholic spirituality. If we all work diligently, we can achieve greatness! In his honor, Vivat Jesus!

Kevin Miller State Deputy

Lastly, all Grand Knights have recently been asked to provide names for a Council I sincerely hope that each of your Councils chair couple to assist with this initiative. take the opportunity to both research and The BDC Chair Couple will work as a fully embrace the BDC program – by

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hands, but remember sometimes you’ll be asked to speak in His place, no worries for Our mission, as I see it is to evangelize and “Wherever one or more is gathered in my Frank Iannaggi I know that we leaders in the Knights are name I am with you.” said Jesus Christ. called to do such in our church Herein lies the challenge, each Now if you feel that you can’t do it alone, The Lenten Season is upon community. council has at least ten elected positions, I reach out to one of the other officers and go us. ask each of you, elected to use your out two by two and you know the rest…. If position as a spring board to mentor a you still feel the need for help there are potential Knight to join your Council many resources available on the Supreme My dear brothers in the faith, the Lenten during the March Blitz. By doing so you web site: Season is upon us and as men of faith we must lead by example. Leading by example will bring a new brother closer in his walk with God. is often characterized in the simple MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES: Membership Recruitment and Retention statement “They will know we are As many of you already know, I believe in Manual (#10237)/10 Keys to Membership Christians by our love”. St. Francis is simple math… there are nearly 400 active Recruiting Success (#10233)/Why You attributed with the statement “preach the councils in the state and if five officers Should Become a Knight (#10100)/Twenty gospel every day and only if you have to mentored five new brothers to join during -Four Hours Can Change Your Life … use words.” The next five months are the March Blitz that would be a total of #10099)/A Charity that Evangelizes critical for success of this fraternal year.

2000 brothers helping with the harvest and (#4976)/College Council Promotional Flyer Are you ready to implement the plan for on a clear path to holiness in their walk (#4606)/These Men They Call Knights the March Blitz? Let me challenge each (#937)/Videos, such as The Power of One one of the officers and leaders in this great with God. Wow, now, think if all the elected positions invited a brother to join state of Ohio to forget about membership that would be nearly 4,000. Incredibly, I Also, it is important to especially reach out as you perceive. Let’s look upon it as an know that with God all things are possible. to the new converts to our faith. This is opportunity to share the love of our faith often a time difficult for them for they may and the word made flesh. Let each officer So, during this Season of Lent let us all pray, fast and abstain, cleanse ourselves be losing family and friends due to their and leader approach members of your and prepare for the graces that will be ours love for our faith. Let us welcome them church community and help them to with open arms and the love of Christ. prepare for the season of Lent by bringing in the kingdom of God, promised us by Jesus Christ. them closer to Christ our Savior and Below are the current Statewide statistics Master. Remember that it is the Spirit that How do we do this? It’s simple, schedule by diocese. We can, with your help achieve speaks through your actions, and it is the all the goals set for this fraternal year, Spirit that will eventually bring them into many activities that promote the family, simply because, all that we do, we do IN our ranks. Remember also that you become that promote the faith, that promote Christ’s vessel by inviting a future Knight community, that promote church etc. Then HIS HONOR! to all the many activities that prepare us for make sure that you are present wearing the emblem of the order, present yourself as the greatest event of all time, the Christ would and the rest will be in God’s Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of

State Membership

Jesus Christ who redeems us.

General Programs

Knights’ initiative, Building the Domestic Church is the family. And it is true that the wives have the most influence on Catholic men, and are often responsible for their husbands’ decision to become Knights. Are you including the wives in your recruiting efforts? They can become your best recruiters!

families in Council activities as quickly as possible. Reach out and make sure they are invited to participate in Council events.

Rod Anderson Get them involved. Offer them opportunities to serve and be involved.

Members need to personally extend March Is A Special Month invitations, offers and opportunities to each For Knights new member and family to attend activities.

Assigning individual mentors is a great And what is your Council doing to honor way to do this. But no matter HOW you do Do you know why Knights traditionally and remember the Founders of our Order in it, personal contacts are essential. That’s hold a Membership Blitz campaign in March? Can you try to duplicate their what a brotherhood is all about. We are March each year? Check your Fraternal enthusiasm and drive to promote and there to help each other.

Success Planner: the Orderwide Outreach expand our ranks? Are you truly Week In Honor Of Father McGivney this year is March 12 to 18 because March 29 is committed to the same ideals and purpose This March, make the commitment, individually and as a Council, to honor our Knights of Columbus Founders Day! And of our Founders? If your are, then your commitment, enthusiasm and drive will be Founders with your best efforts to extend this year, it is also Holy Thursday. infectious and impact your brother Knights. the benefits of this brotherhood of Knights This year, in March, commit to honoring to as many men as possible. Every Knight What a great time of year to reach out to offer all the spiritual and temporal benefits Father McGivney and Founders with your should just ASK one Catholic man to join of the Knights to our fellow Catholic men Council’s best Membership Church Drive our ranks. in our parishes and communities. A church and Blitz ever.

And always remember programs and drive and Membership Blitz is a great way Once you have successfully reached them, service are what attract new members and to let men know who we are and what the new members must not be ignored or families, so “If you build it, they will becoming a Knight can mean to them and forgotten. Try to include them and their come!” their families. The cornerstone of the

Council

nominated, your nominee is considered for possibly having a diocesan winner and maybe a state winner. So, it's important to fill out the nomination forms!

Tim Mangan Brother Knights, by now you should be working on your nominations of the year.

Both Knight of the Year and Lady of the Year are due to me by April 1st! Knight of the Year is a mandatory activity to max out your council program activities. When submitting Knight of the Year, be sure to go online and fill out the Knight of the Year online report form and also submit to me a Knight of the Year Nomination Form with supporting documents. Remember, the online report form will give you your points and help you max out the state program while the nomination form gets your nominee nominated. When

Community Robert Walsh How have you improved your Community? Have you assisted a needy person from the parish, or held a Blood Drive that is always needed this time of year. The Global Wheelchair Mission is a great way to help someone in need.

Columbian Award Application Form (SP7). A copy of this form must be submitted to me by April 15th! It must be filled out correctly and it must be a completed form!

If you do not include a copy of the Lady of the Year is a council choice completed SP-7 Form with your online activity. It counts as one of your 3 council report form, it will be Returned! Again, it's choice activities. Like Knight of the Year, a copy of the SP-7 Form that will help max you will want to fill out the online report out your council program activities, not the form for the points and also submit to me a online report form submitted to me telling nomination form with supporting me you sent it in to both Supreme and documents to nominate her. If your council State. has already submitted to me your 3 council choice activities, you may still submit a So, April 1st and April 15th are two Lady of the Year. You just need to submit important dates that you do not want to to me a nomination form with supporting seek up on you and pass you by! Any documents. questions about your mandatory activities or even a council choice activity please do Also, the second mandatory activity to max not hesitate to ask! You can reach me at out your council program activities is the tim@tdltool.com .

I’m looking forward to reading your . nominations for Blue Coat or Volunteer of the Year. This is a Mandatory Activity.

You can do both and report them with one being a Council Choice Activity. After reporting, send me a hard copy at 3668 W. 133rd St. Cleveland, Ohio 44111-3402. All honoree nominations are due to the appropriate Director by April 1st.

This is also a good time to review all your programs for State and Supreme Awards.

Pray Often.

Pray Hard!

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Family Tom Buehner As State Family Director, I need to take a moment and brag about my family. My wife, Amy, and I welcomed a beautiful daughter, Maria Grace, on January 4, 2018.

For those of you with kids, you know the commitment and exhaustion this brings – and it’s so worth it! Every time I look at this innocent, sweet, adorable, little girl, I wonder what she’s going to be like when she grows up.

Culture of Life Brett Gissel If you were to ask around what happens in the Catholic Church in February, one may get responses of Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday, and Fish Fry’s. For many people Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love with their spouse or other loved one if they are not married. There are various accounts of St. Valentine, but we do know that he was a martyr. He chose not to deny our faith and his love of Christ over death.

When we receive ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, one of the phrases that can be used are “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

This is a reminder of our mortality and that what remains when we pass away is our soul. Are we taking care of our souls?

What about the souls of others? Real love involves sacrifice for another. So I am

More importantly, though, I continually ask myself, “How am I going to get this little girl to heaven?”

That’s really our goal in life, right? To get to heaven and bring as many people with us as we can. And that’s my main goal as a husband and father – to get my family to heaven. Am I setting the right example for them? Am I encouraging them to live like Christ for others? Am I supporting their spiritual life through prayer?

members, and their families.

Family of the Year Nominations

The deadline for this will be here before you know it. Please start planning to submit formal nominations for Family of the Year to me by April 1, 2018. This is a mandatory activity for the State Program, and I want you to be able to max out the State Program!

Please remember to take the time to submit These are the same questions we can ask ourselves of our council members. Are we your activities on the State website and helping them get their families to heaven? reach out to me with any questions!

If not, what can we do to draw them in and . support the goal of getting them there?

Those are the kinds of Family activities that will pay dividends for your council, its asking you to consider to do something as Catholic men and as a council.

recruiting efforts. Consider holding a collection during at least one of your Fish Fries, having a membership display, and During Lent many Catholics participate in having someone at the table to answer giving up something. We can also give questions and recruit new members. more of ourselves to others. This is a good time to hold a collection for Whether your council has a Fish Fry or necessary baby items, money for a not, please consider doing something at pregnancy center, money for an ultrasound your parish during Lent to build up the machine, or any other thing that we can faith of our parishes and to continue to give from ourselves to help others. grow our Order. Keep up the good work In His Honor.

I know many councils in Ohio hold Fish Frys during Lent – some pretty good Fish Frys from what I have seen and heard.

Please consider putting some material (appropriate for people that are about to sit down and eat) out about the Culture Of Life and collecting baby items or money for a pregnancy center at your Fish Fry. I know from experience that we can recruit at Fish Frys and other dinners by having a table setup and someone there to talk to patrons. Doing a collection at a Fish Fry helps others see what else the Knights Of Columbus do and can help in your

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Youth Stewart Vetter Congratulations to the State winners of the Soccer Challenge. The list is to the right.

If you claimed the soccer challenge as youth activity 2, you can still claim the free throw championship as one of your elective activities.

Youth of the Year nominations are due soon. A good write up starts early and includes recommendation letters from all their activities. There’s still plenty of time to pull together a good write up to give your candidate the best opportunity to be selected diocesan and state youth of the year.

SQUIRES Just a reminder, please make sure your fraternal survey and audit are turned in to Supreme. They are already past due.

Thank You to Elizabeth Ann Seton circle for hosting the Squires State Dodgeball Tournament. The 8 teams played hard and showed some great sportsmanship. In the end, Seton (B) come out with the underdog win against Norwalk (A). We also welcomed 3 new Squires through

Support Our Seminarians

investiture by the State Officers.

On behalf of Logan, I’d like to invite everyone to Lenten Retreat March 3-4.

The theme this year is “At the Foot of the Cross”. We will put ourselves at the foot of Christ’s cross and see whom we are surrounded by. On Saturday evening, we will also hold a cornhole tournament.

Come on out and experience a prayerful weekend of fellowship. This is also a great opportunity to launch a state office run and see who’s planning to run for state offices in June.

April is Squires month. Encourage your Circle to begin planning now. How about getting a proclamation from the mayor officially declaring April as Squires month



Robert Collins, IPSD The support of our Seminarians as a Knight of Columbus is a great way to  promote religious vocations within you home diocese. Your donation along with many others will stay at home and be used in your own diocese. The sum total of all  these donations when presented will give your Diocesan Vocations Director the necessary funding to allow him to develop  programming that will attract young men to a religious life.

I’m not sure of how many dollars will be donated or collected for the program this fraternal year but here are a few ways that may have a significant effect on your donation totals. 

Explain the program and ask your pastor for a special collection one

weekend at all the weekend masses.

Ask your pastor to allow you to solicit donations in each entryway one weekend at all the weekend masses.

Have a fundraising event with the proceeds earmarked to S.O.S. Ask your members to make an annual or monthly pledge to the S.O.S. Program.

Allocate a portion of your Super Cash Bonanza Rebates to the S.O.S. Program.

in your home town. What about attending mass together with recognition by your Priest. All these things need to be planned ahead and coordinated.

SQUIRES CONVENTION HAS MOVED!!!!

We will be meeting at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio on June 8, 9, & 10. We will stay in real college dorms. We will eat in a real college dining hall. On Saturday night, we will be renting the pool for 1 hour. Please make plans now to attend.

More information will be coming out soon.

April 30, 2018, the end of the State Council Fiscal Year. All donations must be received by me so I may deposit them before the close of business on April 30, 2018 for consideration in programming awards.

A form with mailing details to accompany Please make note of the following as not to tour council’s donation may be found on have confusion in regards to annual totals the State Website. and awards presented at the State Convention.

God Bless and thank you for all you do in the support and the promotion of religious I will be making my final deposit for the vocations.

2017 – 2018 S.O.S. Program on Monday,

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You’re A Click Away Robert Gilliland Viewing the Awesome Resources on the State Website.

Supreme Council (Grand Knight, Financial Secretary, Officers, and Vocations).

These tools help inform, educate, and train Brother Knights about the Knights of Columbus and about the roles and responsibilities of the respective offices.

Once you have logged into the State website at http://www.kofcohio.org, you can view the awesome resources that are available to all members on the State website.

From the main page on the website, in the center column, you will see “Publications and Resources”, and “Guides”. This section of the website provides a wealth of information to Brother Knights with links to Supreme Councils “Fraternal Leader Training Webinars” , the State Council monthly Newsletters and Magazines, the recently created Council Form Submitting email addresses, and online versions of the various manuals (you must be a District Deputy to see the District Deputy resources). The Guides section provides access to the various publications from

Any active member of the Council can view this information on the State website.

All of these resources can be viewed online on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The download links give you access to the publications in PDF form that can easily be downloaded and viewed on any computing device.

Brother Knights in Ohio, sign up for the Ohio State Council website today and begin enjoying these wonderful resources!

Please let me know if you have any questions about the Ohio State Council website.

Thank you for all you In His Honor!

New Email Addresses Sending Forms to Supreme and Ohio State Council The State Council has several new “Hot” email addresses, one for each type of form submitted (Council and District Deputy). The State Deputy now has a special StateDeputy@kofcohio.org email address for you to send forms or Council communications to the State Deputy.

COUNCIL LEVEL

DISTRICT DEPUTY LEVEL

STATE LEVEL

form100@kofcohio.org form185@kofcohio.org form365@kofcohio.org form1295@kofcohio.org form1728@kofcohio.org formsp7@kofcohio.org form2629@kofcohio.org form2630@kofcohio.org

form133@kofcohio.org form136@kofcohio.org form450@kofcohio.org

statedeputy@kofcohio.org statemembership@kofcohio.org

It is preferred that everyone use these new email address to send the respective Council and District forms to both the State Council and Supreme Council. These new email address AUTOMATICALLY SEND TO SUPREME, and they are considered “Hot” emails.

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favorite soup or chili and bring a crock pot of soup to the Soup Night to share with other participants. Everyone donates a $5 Jeff Kiliany, State Warden contribution to sample as many types of soups that they wish to try. This is a great How do You Measure-Up? Measure-Up is a charity whereby Knights evening and council event for your are asked to put on those bright yellow and members. red vests and stand on street corners – or Forty years ago an Ohio Knight of wherever – holding special containers and Councils are asked to send one check with Columbus had the vision to help people seeking contributions from the general their total collections, making it payable to with developmental disabilities. He was public.

In turn, Knights give a special ruler Knights of Columbus Ohio State Council the late Brother Knight Bob Sears, who to those who contribute.

We also and mailing it to: Jeff Kiliany, 559 Walnut would go on to be elected State Deputy of encourage councils to conduct other St., Leetonia, OH 44431. Eighty per cent the Ohio State Council. His dream was the fundraisers and do such things as receive of the collected funds will be returned to Measure-Up Campaign, which has become permission, for instance, from pastors to the councils for their charitable Ohio’s “flagship” project. solicit collections after Masses. Each contributions to agencies of their choosing. council member can participate in the The other 20% is distributed by the This year’s goal is to raise more than Gimme 5 Campaign and send in an Knights’ Ohio Charity Foundation to $425,000 for distribution to agencies additional $5 with his dues payment.

One statewide agencies which assist those with which assist our special citizens with council holds a Measure Up Soup Night developmental disabilities, and for the developmental disabilities. How will we do this time of year to kick off their Measure purchase of those special rulers which are this? We’re looking for participation from Up campaign.

Members cook their given to the councils. at least 80% of Ohio’s councils. The 2018

Measure Up 2018

Super Cash Bonanza 2018

Measure-Up Campaign will officially be conducted on the weekends of April 26-29 and May 3-6, but can include other fundraising dates throughout the year.



Mark Siracusa, State Advocate Super Cash Bonanza Charity Raffle Tickets and posters will be distributed during the Ticket Distribution Meetings  throughout Ohio the weekends of February 2-3 or 9-11 (2018).

Please make sure that all who are in charge of the 2018 Super Cash Bonanza Charity Campaign have read the materials provided to the council, especially, the information booklet.

Significant income for charity can be earned by your council (far surpassing the basic rebate of $2.40 per ticket), but you must adhere to the “rules” as presented in the information booklet. Some rebates require meeting attendance, while others require meeting First Phase and Final Phase quotas. Here are some of the key points: 

A minimum of two members from your council must attend the Diocesan Ticket Distribution Meeting. The twomember requirement does not include the District Deputy, State Directors and Chairs, or a State Officer to qualify for these rebates.



The sold tickets and one check from your council must be sent to the State Treasurer by the published deadlines.

The two turn-in dates are Saturday, April 15 (2018) and Friday, May 10 (2018). Your council must meet these deadlines with the required number of sold tickets per member in order to qualify for the different rebates.

Most methods of shipping are acceptable. UPS, Fed Ex or the US Postal System all have a good record of timely delivery of small packages.

Please do not send your package by a method requiring my signature. These often go back to the delivery agent’s warehouse and await pickup. Please use durable-strength envelopes or cartons to avoid damage during shipment.

Please make every effort to have all of your council’s tickets submitted by the second turn-in deadline.

Tickets brought to and delivered at the convention might create a processing problem. With the drawing taking place that weekend, there is very little time for late arrivals. We cannot guarantee your rebates on tickets received more than a few days after the final turnin date of May 10, 2018.

Extra materials and tickets can be obtained from your District Deputy or Diocesan Officer. Any questions concerning the 2018 Super Cash Bonanza Campaign should be directed to me, Mark Siracusa; State Treasurer and Chair, by email at cuzza@roadrunner.com or by calling me at 419-553-9552 cell.

Plan early, promote, and partner! We are here to help you work toward the success of the 2018 Super Cash Bonanza charity campaign at your local council.

Thank you to all my brother knights for helping “Our Family” for raising money for Charity. Additional information is also available on the Ohio State Council state website at www.kofcohio.org.

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