March 2024 North Coast Navigator

MARCH 2024

A WORD FROM GUILD DIRECTOR

Father Gabriel B. O’Donnell, O.P.

Our mood during the first months of any new year often depends on reports of major news outlets and the commentary of TV analysts. For Christians, the worldly viewpoint of the entertainment and news industries must be measured against the message of the Gospel and the triumph of grace in Jesus Christ. “Let not your hearts be troubled” (Jn 14:1) is our Lord’s message in every day and age.

As we head into the holy season of Lent, with Ash Wednesday coming on Feb. 14, we see a need for an increase Christian hope and confidence in God’s providence. The peace and beauty of the world seem buried beneath the unfortunate conditions of wars, political divisions, and mass migration on many continents, with the attendant suffering, death, and separation of loved ones. Conflict and the disruption of peaceful daily life can seem like a contagion that invades our lives and homes through various

modes of media. Prophets of doom, who relish announcing bad news, are not in short supply. For the Christian, hope and confidence in God are the needed antidotes to fatalism and despondency. We know that Jesus has won the victory over the world, a triumph we celebrate each Sunday, the day of the Lord, and in a special way at Easter (March 31).

As we seek solutions in our lives and peace of mind amid a world in turmoil, we may look to our heavenly intercessor for prayer and intercession. Blessed Michael McGivney was by nature a quiet, reserved young man. He preferred a life of reflection and order. In his busy life as parish priest and pastor, he sometimes longed for the regimen of study and contemplation he knew in seminary. Yet his interior struggle to fulfill the duties of his state in life, even when he was inclined in the opposite direction, became part of his hard-won holiness, his heroic virtue. Holiness often requires that we sacrifice our desires and preferences to serve the needs of others.

Father McGivney could appreciate the

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church.

Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify Blessed Michael McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen

sufferings of his people for, in his own life, the struggle to do God’s will was so real and intense. He learned the way of sacrifice through the demands of his vocation. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has underlined this point when he says that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought. Using our freedom for the greater good, even if we suffer in doing so, is the royal road to true holiness.

We pray that he will soon be canonized, but for the moment we ask for the grace to imitate his example and remain faithful to our vocation. Blessed Michael McGivney, pray for us.

For more information, check out the Guild by visiting our website by clicking HERE

Reprinted from Father Michael J. McGivney Guild Newsletter from January-March 2024.

HIS VISION, YOUR MISSION

You can play a key role in advancing Father McGivney’s cause by joining the Guild for free and praying for his intercession and canonization. May Father McGivney intercede for you!

The Father Michael J. McGivney Guild serves as a source for information about the life, works and spirituality of Father McGivney. The Guild publishes a quarterly newsletter and offers a weekly Mass for the intentions of members.

Click HERE to Join!

MONTHLY REFLECTION

The entire month of March except the very last day falls during the liturgical season of Lent which is represented by the liturgical color violet or purple a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. All saint days that are usually Memorials are shifted to Optional Memorials during the season of Lent. The last day of the month is the beginning of the Easter season.

Highlights of the Month

As we continue our journey "up to Jerusalem" during the month of March, three prominent ideas are proposed for our contemplation by the liturgy of Lent: the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, baptism, and penance.

The Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19) is a special landmark this month in which we will celebrate the great honor bestowed upon the foster father of Jesus.

The feast of St. Patrick (March 17), is superseded by the Lenten Sunday liturgy. This year the feast of the Annunciation will be celebrated on April 8 since the 25th falls on Good Friday. The feast of is superseded by the Holy Week liturgy.

A Time for Penance and Promise

Here and there in the stark March landscape, a few plants and trees are beginning to give evidence of the new life that winter’s frost and chill had concealed from our eyes. The Church’s vibrant new life has been obscured, too, by the austerity of the penitential season of Lent. But that life is indisputable, and it will burgeon forth on Easter as Christ coming forth from his tomb!

We will continue our journey to the cross with our acts of penitence. We will reflect on our mortality (Remember man thou art dust) and the shortness of life (and to dust thou shall return). We will heed the call, Now is the acceptable time, now is “the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).” Just like Our Lord's earthly life every moment of our lives is leading up to the last moment when for eternity we will either go to God or suffer the fires of hell.

During this month we will go from the suffering of Good Friday to the joy of Easter Sunday. We will trade the purple of penance for the white of victory and resurrection. The feast of the Annunciation, normally celebrated on March 25, has been transferred to April 8 since it falls during Holy Week.

As the weeks of Lent progress let us not tire of doing our good works and penance, but continue with the enthusiasm of the catechumens on their way to Easter and Baptism. May our Lenten observance be a joyful journey and not a forced march.

The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph.

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of March 2024

For the new martyrs: We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.

This item 12540 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org

The Lord has put his faithful servant in charge of his household.

STATE OFFICER REPORT

The fraternal year is coming to a close soon. Do you know where your council stands in the Star Council? The Star Council Award recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and programming. In order to achieve the Star Council Award, a council must earn the Father McGivney, Founders’, and Columbian Awards. There are also some administrative items that are included.

Columbian Award

council quota can be found under the Membership tab in Officers Online. There is no application for the Father McGivney Award. Eligibility is automatically determined by the Supreme Council.

Growth in the diocese has been steady as we are at 67% with 16-new brothers in February (as of 2/24/2024). Slightly lower than the 20 per month we have been averaging. I know that there were a couple of Exemplifications with some large intake. Plus we continue to work with the students at the University of Akron for a new council.

Finally, to achieve Star Council, your council must be in good standing with Supreme, safe environment compliant, submitted the Form 365 (Service Program Personnel Report) and Form 1728 (Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity).

Your District Deputy and State Team are here to assist you with anything. Please do not hesitate to ask for help or guidance.

This award recognizes excellence in your council’s programming and charitable outreach. To earn this award your council must conduct and report programs in each of the four program categories (Faith, Family, Community, and Life) for a total of 16 program credits, with four in each category. A completed Columbian Award Application (#SP-7) must be received by the Supreme Council office by June 30 in order to earn this award.

Currently, none of the councils in the diocese have maxed the general program which will help with the Columbian Award. However, there are six (6) councils that are at 800 points or higher. Continue to submit programs through the state website. We are working on generating a your Columbian Award Application for you. Stay tuned.

Father McGivney Award

This award recognizes excellence in your council’s membership growth. To earn this award your council must meet or exceed its yearly membership quota. The quota is 6% increase in the council’s membership as of July 1 (intake only, minimum of five and maximum of fifteen). Your specific

Founders’ Award

The Founders’ Award recognizes excellence in the promotion of our insurance and fraternal benefits. All councils must host / promote at least two Fraternal Benefit Events during the fraternal year. The required sum total attendance of members, or member eligible men, at these events must equal or exceed:

• 10 for councils < 100 members

• 14 for councils >= 100 members

These events are coordinated in conjunction with your local field agent. In order for the council to receive credit, the grand knight must submit the new online form #11077 within seven days of the seminar.

I am waiting to update the Fraternal Benefit Event metric to see where we are actually. Hopefully, Supreme will be able to provide those numbers here early in March. Needless to say, there are a lot of councils that still need a FBE. There are a couple of opportunities in March and April both live and via web. Check them out on the Insurance page 7.

Administrative Requirements

There are a number of opportunities listed in this report for faith growing and formation. Please check them out or if you want, contact Ty Tyjewski, Cleveland COR Director and he will help you get started with COR.

Lastly, State Convention mailing will be going out early in March. March is the time to elect your delegates and alternates. This is the 125th Anniversary Year for Ohio and we are throwing a party to celebrate. We want you all to be there showing the Ohio that the Knights of Columbus, not only are a charitable organizations, but we stand together as one for our faith, and can come together in fraternity for special occasions. Please watch your emails and USPS for more information or visit the state website under ACTIVITIES > State Convention.

Brothers, during the remainder of this Lenten Season, let us prepare our hearts for Holy Week so that we can celebrate the joy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

Vivat Jesus,

Jim Maslach, State Treasurer

GROWTH REPORT

As we enter the third Sunday of Lent, let us hope more men pray the rosary and join the Order. March is the month we honor St. Joseph and all he did to protect the Holy Family. Take time to say a special prayer to St. Joseph for his help and intersession that the Knights can succeed. Let us dedicate this month to St. Joseph and work to protect the Knights of Columbus by asking more men to join. Lent is perfect time to recruit with fish fries, soup dinners, stations of the cross at our parishes. Now with Easter about four weeks away, all councils should check to see if their Parish has a RICA program and ask permission to talk to the men in the program and sponsors about the Knights of Columbus.

Recuriting on the personal level helps the potential member understand that you are not looking for numbers as much as you are looking for individuals like him. Let him know that he is not only wanted as a member, but that his membership can take all aspects of his life to a new level for him and his family.

Do not miss the next Fraternal Benefit Event “Retirement Savings and Distribution Planning” online seminar with Ed Slott on Tuesday April 2 at 8:00 pm. Use the following link to register at: https://bit.ly/49N1PHO

The fastest way to sign up a new member is using the E-Membership (www.kofcohio.org) website or scan the QR code, men can join any time and become a member instantly. Click blue “BLESSEDMCGIVNEY” promo code for free membership for an entire year.

Fraternally.

Andrew Nuckols

State Growth Director

ORDER GROWTH

As of February 24, 2024

Ohio July 1: 54,834

Ohio Growth: 1,083 (58.09%)

% Growth: 1.98%

Cleveland July 1: 8,162

Cleveland Growth: 185 (66.67%)

% Growth: 2.27%

% Growth is a measure of the YTD gain compared against the July 1st membership number.

TOP-5 % GROWTH

YTD Gain against the July 1 Membership

1. 8320 John Carroll (39.29%)

2. 15901 St. Adalbert (10.26%)

3. 13984 Brook Park (9.76%)

4. 3213 Father Carl Anthony (7.46%)

5. 10936 Father Maruskin (7.14%)

TOP-5 TOTAL NEW MEMBERS

1. 774 Elyria, 3410 South Akron (13)

2. 8320 John Carroll, 10936 Father Maruskin (11)

3. 4847 Brunswick, 3213 Fr. Carl Anthony (10)

TOP-5 DISTRICTS

1. DD #19 Tom Goodhart (31)

2. DD #24 Tom Donovan (24)

3. DD #21 Patrick Gale (21)

4. DD #25 Mike Rauh (20)

5. DD #20 DeWitt Gober (19)

GROWTH INCENTIVES

eMembership Incentive for You! - EXTENDED

A new incentive for our Parish Bulletin Initiative is going on now until Sunday April 7, 2024!

For all Councils that recruit new members via E-Membership using one of the Ohio State Council Parish Bulletin Blurbs will receive 1 of the following:

• All Councils that recruit 1 new E-Member gets a $25 Walmart Gift Card

Sprint to Founders Day Supreme Incentive

Every Council who grows by 6 or more new members from December 5, 2023 to March 29, 2024, will receive a KofC branded pop-up banner.

• All Councils that recruit 2 new E-Members gets $50 Walmart Gift Card

• All Councils that recruit 3 or more new E-Members gets a $100 Walmart Gift Card

For councils to qualify for the incentive, they must submit the names of the members recruited and a copy of their parish bulletin to State EMembership Coordinator Greg Singlar via email – gsing50@gmail.com. This can be a link to their parish bulletin or a PDF attachment of their bulletin. All recruited members must be on the council’s Prospect Tab or Council Roster by Sunday April 7, 2024.

Monthly Church Bulletin Blasts

One of our most underused resources is our own parish bulletin. It’s free advertising for the many things we do as councils. Parish bulletins are also a good way to recruit new members. Give Greg’s monthly bulletin announcement a try and see what may come of it.

March Church Blurb

Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus to protect the families of the Catholic Church. He had a vision to establish our organization of local councils whose members sought to strengthen their faith, to serve the needs of others, and to protect their families through our insurance program. Want to be a part of that and become an insurance member?

Go to kofcohio.org and click on Join Us. For more information contact Grand Knight (name, phone, email here).

Please check the Ohio State Council’s Monthly editions for the Beacon for Greg’s bulletin blurbs or go to kofcohio.org/membership for the bulletin blurbs. You can use any of them for any month!

Good luck brother knights and Vivat Jesus!

Fraternally, Greg Singlar State E-Membership Coordinator

Go For Star Council State Incentive

Any council that earns the Supreme “STAR COUNCIL” award will receive a $50 pizza shop gift card to host a pizza party in celebration of your council’s achievement.

INSURANCE

Councils striving for the Founders’ Award must host / promote at least two Fraternal Benefits Events during the fraternal year. The required sum total attendance of members, or member eligible men, at these events must equal or exceed:

• 10 for councils with 99 or fewer members on their July 1, 2023 roster

• 14 for councils with 100 or more members on their July 1, 2023 roster

Councils should submit this report form within seven (7) days of each Fraternal Benefits Event.

UPCOMING FRATERNAL BENEFIT EVENTS

All councils and members are welcome to attend any of the Fraternal Benefit Events in the Diocese.

• March 6, 2024 @ Mary Queen of the Apostles, Brook Park at 6455 Engle Rd. Hosted by Brookpark Council 13984. Starts at 7PM.

• April 2, 2024 via Supreme Online. See the ad on this page for more information and to register.

• April 15, 2024 @ St. Ambrose at 929 Pearl Rd, Brunswick. Hosted by Brunswick Council 4847. Starts at 7PM.

Please make sure you complete the Form 11077 and submit to Supreme to receive credit for attending any Fraternal Benefit Event.

STATE FUNDRAISING

The Plan is Set. Time for Action.

Super Cash Bonanza 2024

Jim Maslach, State Treasurer (aka Ca$hman)

The Accountant continues his efforts to spoil our efforts to raise $1 Million for Ohio charities. Ca$hman would like to thank the following councils for hosting our roadshow:

• Marietta #478

• Mingo Junction #4361

• St. Michael the Archangel #15458

• Marian #3813

• St. Mary of Chardon 15942

• Garfield 4130

• South Akron 3410

• St. Ladislas 16373

• Tiffin 608

• Msgr. Lang 1039

• St. Paul 13874

• St. Michael 3382

• Westerville 5776

Over 550 members and 285 councils came out to hear our plan to foil the Accountant. Special

thanks to PSDs

Larry Moegling and Gary Eckstein, as well as State Deputy Jeff Kiliany for joining Ca$hman on this adventure around Ohio. The plan is simple. First, get the tickets out to your members and partners. The tickets are worth nothing if they sit on your desk or in the trunk of the car. Second, offer your partners a fair deal for helping to sell tickets. A prorated scale works best based on the number that they sell. Third, please make sure that the tickets go back to the council PRIOR to sending to Ca$hman. The ticket states to send to me and members already are. However, some of them are coming with NO council number on them. If the council wants the immediate $2.40 per ticket rebate, the members’ tickets need to go back to the council first. Otherwise, the council will need to wait till the end of the campaign to receive the $2.40 per ticket rebate. Fourth, please submit one check, from the council, made out to the Ohio State Council Knights of Columbus. Fifth, send the ticket stubs, payment, and shipping form to the Ca$hman. The first turn-in is April 1st and the second is May10th. Ca$hman will send out reminders throughout the campaign to the Grand Knights,

Financial Secretaries, District Deputies, and State Team. Finally, attend the 125th Annual State Convention in May or watch us on our YouTube channel for the live drawing. More on that as we get closer to the convention.

The plan is set. The trap has been laid out and the Accountant is playing into the hands of Ca$hman. Remember to reach for the 10-4 Good Brother group by selling 4 tickets or 10 tickets per a member. You can “Pay It Forward” in effort to maximize the rebates on the first and second turn-in.

2% more is all that we need to foil the Accountant and raise $1 Million for Ohio Charities. Stay tuned for more exciting news from Ca$hman.

Same Ca$h Channel…Same Ca$h Time.

Vivat Jesus, Jim Maslach, State Treasurer

DIOCESAN FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2024 Cleveland Diocesan Free Throw Championship brought together participants from all corners of the diocese. Boys and girls ages 9 to 14 competed against the best in the diocese for the right to represent Cleveland at the State Free Throw Championship on March 16, 2024, at Bishop Reidy

High School in Columbus.

For the first time, the contest was held at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe at their Field House. District Deputy Coordinator, Teran Taggart, made the arrangements, setup with the CPL, and got all of the help

together for a great time. Congratulations to all the winners from the Cleveland Diocese. They are as follows below. Good luck at the State Compention

KNIGHTS IN ACTION

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Fraternal Trainers provide important support for Fraternal Leaders; training can be tailored to meet the needs of both new and seasoned officers, as well as any members who are interested in advancing to officer roles in the future. Fraternal Trainers provide officer training at both the district and council level, online and in-person. To sign up for training sessions from Supreme, visit the state website (www.kofcohio.org) under FOR MEMBERS and click on Training Opportunities or click the registration links below.

Transitioning From Online to Council Membership

March 4, 2024

8:00 PM

This training session will show you the procedures to use the Prospect Tab found in Officers Online. Proper use of this tool will allow your council to transfer online members into your council quickly and easily. Mastering this tool will allow you to accelerate achieving your membership quota, and earn the McGivney Award and Star Council.

Council Officer Basic Training

March 12, 2024

8:00 PM

March 14, 2024

10:00 PM

In this introductory session we unpack the basics of Council Officer Roles and Responsibilities. Every officer role from Grand Knight to Outside Guard will be discussed, while also touching on the roles of the Program and Membership Directors. In addition, we will review the main print and digital resources available to council officers.

Preparing For and Hosting Council Elections

The election of Officers is an important milestone in a council’s annual cycle. In this session we will look at procedures and best practices for planning, organizing, and conducting Council Elections. In addition, we will cover hosting elections during inperson and virtual/hybrid meetings.

Click HERE to Register.

Click HERE to Register.

Click HERE to Register.

The Knights of Columbus are being asked to help with the Adoration Chapel. If you are interested, please sign-up on line by clicking HERE.

DIOCESAN CALENDAR OF EVENTS

To have events added to the diocesan calendar, visit the state website at www.kofcohio.or g and scroll down till you see UPCOMING EVENTS. Click on the RED button to submit your event.

If your council would like to host an Exemplification of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity but does not have a team ready or available, contact Jim Maslach at 440785-9838. The Diocesan Exemp Team is ready and willing to come to you. We will need at least two weeks prior notice to make the appropriate plans.

STATE & DIOCESAN DIRECTORY

State Deputy

Immediate Past State Deputy Support Our Seminarians 2024

Jeff Kiliany 559 Walnut St Leetonia, OH 44431 jtktg@yahoo.com

Mark Siracusa 15398 Silver Pine Ct Perrysburg, OH 43551 cuzza52@gmail.com

State Secretary State Per Capita Mike Felerski 1580 Gelhot Dr. #234 Fairfield, OH 45014 mfelerski@icloud.com

State Treasurer Super Cash 2024

Jim Maslach 4927 Autumnwood Ln Brunswick, OH 44212 440-785-9838 kofcjkm@gmail.com

State Advocate Matching Funds 2024 Chris Sarka 7239 Winterbek Ave New Albany, OH 43054 c_sarka@hotmail.com

State Warden

Measure Up 2024 Tony Offenberger 15200 Muskingum River Rd Lowell OH 45744

tonyoffenberger@gmail.com

College Council Coordinator / DD #33 310, 2726, 8320, 15023, 15737 George Metz 440-449-0081 georgegmetz@aol.com

Growth Coordinator / DD #28 Inactive Councils Mike Incorvati 330-671-1490 mbaincorvati@hotmail.com

Diocesan DD Coordinator / DD #26 3970, 14406, 15056, 15614, 16137, 16279

Council

Teran Taggart 440-665-4078

ADM5893@YAHOO.COM

Past State Deputy Robert Collins, Jr 216-410-7174 rfcollinsjr@gmail.com

Past State Deputy Roland Bator 330-225-7354 rbator4591@msn.com

General Agent Jason Staas 800-484-0304 jason.staas@kofc.org

COR

District

District

District