Newsletter of The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Knights of Columbus – November 2020
Celina - Coldwater - St. Henry - Fort Recovery - Sidney - Versailles - Greenville - Russia Covington - Wapakoneta - St. Marys - Minster -Russells Point - McCartyville - Springfield Urbana - Bellefontaine Fairborn - Eaton - Huber Heights - Vandalia - Englewood - Piqua Troy - Tipp City - New Carlisle - Dayton - Xenia - Beavercreek -Centerville - Kettering Hamilton - Fairfield - Harrison - North Bend - Monroe - West Chester - Carthage - Sharonville New Burlington - Norwood - Shandon - Wilmington - Morrow - Mason- Lebanon - Milford - Loveland - Springfield Middletown - Miamisburg - Franklin - Trenton - Cincinnati - Ripley - Fayetteville - Hillsboro - Greenfield - West Union - Waynesville
FATHER MCGIVNEY HAS BEEN BEATIFIED! What an incredible weekend for the Knights of Columbus and for the world. I hope you had the opportunity to watch the broadcast or stream of Blessed Michael McGivney’s Beatification. With this, Blessed Michael McGivney (his new title) will be the first U.S.born priest to be beatified who spent his entire priestly ministry in a parish. The Knights of Columbus believe that this will be a great boost to the priesthood and to the Catholic Church in America. Now that our founder has been declared Blessed what can we do? PRAY, REPORT, and JOIN! PRAY the newly updated Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Michael McGivney. Ask Blessed Michael McGivney to intercede for us with help in matters of: • • • •
Employment and finances. Substance abuse and medical conditions. Family reconciliation. Returning to the faith.
In continuing Father McGivney’s vision for the Knights of Columbus you will find articles in this month’s issue from Membership Director Dan Warnock with answers for “Why Should I Join the Knights?”. Dan also announces this month’s statewide membership incentives. General Agent Jason Staas discusses importance of Father McGivney’s beatification with regard to our founder’s mission. New training opportunities are coming, and the Knights of the Archdiocese are putting forth multiple efforts in the support of life though the ultrasound initiative. I sincerely hope you and you family are able to safely celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Thank you for all that you do for your councils, your community, and our Order. Michael Felerski - State Advocate Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Michael McGivney Founder of the Knights of Columbus
REPORT a favor received through Blessed Michael McGivney's intercession. This can be done via the McGivney Guild website: http://fathermcgivney.org (Your post will be reviewed by the Father McGivney Guild staff before being made public). JOIN the Blessed Michael McGivney Guild. It is free to join and provides updates on the cause for the canonization of our founder through a quarterly mailed newsletter and on the website. As the chairman for the McGivney Guild in Ohio I encourage all members of the Knights here in the Buckeye State to become a member.
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.
By Dan Warnock
Growth
Why Should I Join the Knights
I
f you go on Supremes K of C website and click on membership the first thing you will see is this statement about being a knight: “ We are Catholic men who lead, serve, protect and defend. We share a desire to be better husbands, fathers, sons, neighbors and role models and to put charity and community first”. Well said would you not agree? I know this fits the mold for many of us after years of serving and living the knights creed. One evening several years ago I was helping to form a new council. While trying to recruit men in order to reach our quota we were holding an information session in the church undercroft. I was explaining to the best of my ability what it means to be a knight and telling the gentlemen and their wives about the different programs we perform for our community and parishes. That was when one of the candidates spoke up and said, “after reading the back of the form 100 that is when I knew I wanted to join the Knights of Columbus”. I never forgot that learning moment. Have you ever read the back of the form 100? In all honesty, I had not. In bold print it states: Reasons to Join the Knights of Columbus, followed with a bullet list of reasons. You may not have a form 100 with you right now….but I’m guessing you at least have one nearby. Regardless, I will list those 10 reasons for you.
• Join a band of brothers, a network of men in communities around the world dedicated to corporal works of mercy in the service of God and our neighbor. • Share in the sense of pride all knights feel in knowing that their Order is second to none in support to the Holy Father, our bishops and priest; in working for our fellow man, and especially those most in need. • Support your parish by putting your Catholic faith into action. • Be a part of the New Evangelization. • Reach out to meet community needs through programs of charity and service and deepen your faith through volunteerism. • Give back to your community by putting your principles and ideals into action. • Work with people who have similar beliefs, values, and interests. • Uphold Catholic teaching by defending marriage, families and building a culture of life. • Build and strengthen Catholic fellowship among families. • Provide for the financial security of our members and their families through our Fraternal Benefits Program.
The Arch - November 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 2 of 6
By Dan Warnock
Continued from Page 2
Growth
Make these part of your talking points when recruiting…
I
would have to say from my own personal experience as a Knight of Columbus that those bullet points make it crystal clear what we do as knights. All the above are great selling points to join the Knights of Columbus!. {I reference the gentleman in the undercroft.} We have all modeled our lives by following these righteous golden rules that Father McGivney and generations of knights before us have exemplified.
Through these unsettling and crazy times of late the glass is still half full for us knights. Father Michael J. McGivney has been Beatified! Alleluia!! We are still seeing more and more new members coming down the pike thanks to E-Members. With the new Exemplification of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity degrees we are seeing greater numbers of 3rd degree members.
I would say there is no reason for our brother knights and councils to be sitting on their hands during this pandemic. We still need to be visible, especially through our Faith in Action programs. That said, there is one suggestion that I would strongly recommend every council do and that is to put a blurb in your parish bulletin inviting Catholic men 18 yrs and older to join your council and include your contact person who is more than likely your Membership Director. Better yet, get permission from your pastor to put a 8x11 in the bulletin listing who the K of C is (see list above) and include all the activities your council is active in and has achieved over the years. That list alone should be as long as your arm.
Incentives for November • Supreme continues the Free first year dues when joining via E-Member on their website: Code for this is “McGivney2020”
• $150 to councils recruiting 3 members in November 2020.
So get it out there gents. Say it loud and proud! Let the world know who we knights are as we carry out Father McGivney’s fundamental guidelines of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. Invite other Catholic gentlemen to join you by simply just asking them!
With that I bid all my brothers a November of Memorial remembrance of our brothers past; remembering our Veterans and lastly may you have a gracious and blessed Thanksgiving. May you and your families be safe and well.
Vivat Jesus!
Dan Warnock, Archdiocesan Membership Director (South) The Arch - November 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 3 of 6
Training & Faith in Action Cultivating Parish Success: Investing in Key Relationships Brothers, be a leader in strengthening your parish! With Advent and the Christmas season approaching, now is the time to work with your pastor and plan for success. Cultivating Parish Success: Investing in Key Relationships is a free webinar being presented by Supreme on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 8:00 PM EST. In this webinar, you will learn how your council can lead in strengthening the Catholic community of your parish. In addition to touching on the beatification of our founder, Fr. Michael J. McGivney, it will: • Discuss best practices of working with your Pastor, especially as he balances existing and new challenges this Christmas season • Examine practical ways to run Faith in Action programs remotely • Review ways your council can continue to celebrate Fr. McGivney’s beatification throughout the year All council, district and state leaders are encouraged to register for this webinar at: https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1389319&tp_key=c8b3996098&sti=kline1102
District Deputy Check-Ins in January District Deputy Check-ins will be conducted between January 4 and January 14, 2021 in Ohio. This training is designed for all District Deputies in our jurisdiction. The one-hour session will begin with reviewing the essential duties of the District Deputy.
The second half of the session is devoted to Goal Setting and looking specifically at each District and each Council. The morning of the training, Regional Training Director Steve Cohen will review each district and look at each of the district’s councils as it pertains to Growth an offer tailored insight into how the District Deputy can assist each council in this area.
Look for more information from our District Deputy Coordinator, Andrew Nuckols in preparation for this.
Two New Ultrasound Machines Applied for in the Archdiocese There is no doubt that we, the Knights in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, truly put our Faith into Action. Just recently two Supreme Ultrasound Program Applications were sent to Supreme for the approval of supporting funds which pays for half of the cost:
Knights throughout Dayton and Cincinnati have also successfully raised funds to place an ultrasound machine at the new Elizabeth’s New Life Center in Mount Healthy which is expected to open after the first of the year.
Archbishop Elder Council #1195 has raised more than half the purchase price of a GE Ultrasound Machine which will be placed with the Life Forward Pregnancy Care center in Cincinnati.
In spite of the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, the Knights of the Archdiocese find ways to continue to put our Faith into Action! The Arch - November 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 4 of 6
Fraternal Benefits “We humbly ask that you glorify your venerable servant, Fr. Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will.”
H
ow many tens of millions, hundreds of millions of times has our loving God heard this sentence from the prayer for Fr. McGivney’s canonization? Asking only to fulfill God’s holy will; requested humbly. No doubt, you, like I, have been saying this prayer of supplication for years. Now those prayers have been answered as our Venerable Founder becomes our Blessed Founder. The journey began December 18, 1997 when the Cause for Sainthood was opened in Hartford, Connecticut by Archbishop Daniel Cronin. Nearly five years later the official document, the Positio, outlining the case for Fr. McGivney’s cause was sent to Rome. On March 15, 2008 Fr. McGivney was declared “Venerable” indicating he lived a life of heroic virtue. This year on May 27, nearly twenty-three years after his cause was opened, Pope Francis authorized a decree that a miracle attributed to Fr. McGivney’s intercession has been approved.
October 2020 will long be remembered as the month Fr. McGivney’s beatification Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. This is a time of great joy and happiness for all members of the Knights of Columbus.
Spotlighting our founder and his reasons for founding the Order; i.e., to strengthen men in their faith and to provide for the financial needs of families overwhelmed by illness or death of the breadwinner, this spotlight will draw more Catholic men to join with us. Our Order is an immense force for good in this world with the billions of dollars donated to worthy causes over the past decade, strengthening our fraternal bonds with acts of charity. The Knights of Columbus helps us husbands and fathers not only fortify our faith, but also provides an opportunity for us to protect our families. Is it significant that the approved miracle involved the son of one of our general agents from our insurance program?
I like to think so. When Patrick McGivney died unexpectedly, young Michael had to leave the seminary to help provide for his family. He and his family struggled through the loss of his father and then as the curate at St. Mary’s he saw parishioners facing similar situations. He saw a need and he took action. He organized; he led, he inspired. He was concerned with both the spiritual and the temporal well-being of those around him. Speaking of being a man of action, now is the time for you to take action: You will soon receive, if you have not yet already received it, the 2020 Fraternal Survey. It may be filled out in paper form or online. Whether on paper or online, please take a minute to complete it. It will be pre-filled with much of your information to make it a snap to complete. It will provide information that will help me serve you better. There is a very informative insert included in the survey packet. Please take a minute to review that, too.
We consider it a worthy calling to carry on the work of our soon to be Blessed Founder. It’s been our great pleasure to work with many of you to help you protect your family and I look forward to continuing to serve you. Please call us if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks to you for all the good works you carry out in the name of the Order. Your acts of charity are even more critical considering this current pandemic. Thank you for all you do!
Jason C. Staas, MS, FICF
General Agent
KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS
YOUR SHIELD FOR LIFE
LIFE DISABILITY INCOME LONG-TERM CARE RETIREMENT
The Arch - November 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 5 of 6
Cincinnati Archdiocese Quick Reference Guide 2020-2021 State Sites… State Council Website: Facebook Page:
www.kofcohio.org
www.facebook.com/OhioKnightsOfColumbus/
Arch Sites… Dayton Chapter: Cincinnati Chapter: Facebook Page:
www.daytonkofc.org
www.cincykofc.org
www.facebook.com/ArchCincykofc/
The Arch…
A newsletter featuring relevant news and information for Knights in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati published eleven times a year. It can be viewed and downloaded at:
http://www.daytonkofc.org/DayCh_Arch_Newsletter.html
Or at kofcohio.org > For Members > Diocesan Pages > Cincinnati
To subscribe for delivery directly to your email inbox, please contact Michael Thomas at:
michaeldthomas@aol.com
2020 Matching Funds
2020-21 Support Our Seminarians
State Advocate Michael Felerski
1580 Gelhot Drive, #234
Fairfield, OH 45014
Immediate Past State Deputy Kevin Miller
1101 Arbor Oaks Lane
Galloway OH 43119
mfelerski@icloud.com
km8007@att.net
2020-21 Measure Up
Archdiocese Membership Team
State Warden Jim Maslach
4927 Autumnwood Lane
Brunswick, OH 44212
kofcjkm@gmail.com
Tom Wuebker I-70 North wuebker@hometowncable.net
Michael Thomas Dayton [Chapter area] michaeldthomas@aol.com
Dan Warnock Cincinnati [Chapter area] danjowarnock@yahoo.com
2021 Super Cash Bonanza State Treasurer Jeffery Kiliany
559 Walnut Street
Leetonia, OH 44431 jtktg@yahoo.com
Retention
Michael Freil [Ohio West]
mcfreil2019@gmail.com
State Community Director
2020-21 State Per Capita Payments
Tim Mangan
tjmangan@icloud.com
State Secretary Mark Sirausa
15398 Silver Pine Court
Perrysburg OH 43551-1261
District Deputy Coordinator
cuzza52@gmail.com
Andrew Nuckols anuckols@cinci.rr.com
The Arch - November 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 6 of 6