Join our council in conjuction with the Knights of Columbus and their families around the world as we pray the rosary for Our Lady’s intercession for unity and peace on Sept 8th; we will be celebrating at Annunciation BVM parish located at 401 Gray Street, Green Bay, WI beginning at 7:30pm.
For more information about this celebration visit http://kofc.org
I orignally wrote this for our newsletter but thought it worthwill to share it here also.
I was privileged this summer to be selected as one of eleven Wisconsin State Delegates to the Supreme Convention. This year’s 128th Annual meeting was held August 3rd through the 5thh in Washington D.C. The opening mass was at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, I’m not sure of the numbers, but there were more Priests, Bishops and Cardinal’s there then I have ever seen, the procession with the Fourth Degree Honor Guard leading the way must have lasted a good 15-20 minutes. In his homily Archbishop Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington D.C. said “The theme for this Supreme Convention of the Knights, “I Am My Brother’s Keeper,” highlights the commitment of service and the works of charity that have been intrinsic to our order since its beginning. Father Michael J. McGivney, Servant of God, understood with a piercing insight guided by the Holy Spirit that God’s love made manifest in Christ is supposed to be reflected and shared in our care for one another. We are our brother’s keeper. The very origins of our order are rooted in the recognition that we are called to exercise a ministry of service and charity.” The very essence of being a member of the Knights of Columbus is that we may serve not just each other, but those less fortunate in our society.
I came away from the convention with a better sense of what we as an organization are capable of doing and a better sense that belonging to the Knights can be a real vocation. It is my hope that in the coming months we can translate the theme of “I am My Brother’s Keeper” into action throughout our church and community.
Visit the Supreme website for more information on this years convention
http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/conv/2010/index.html
Jack
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A few months ago Brother Knight John Steinhauer made a proposal to our council to organize a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe located near La Crosse, Wisconsin. Traditionally, May is marked by special devotions to the Ever-Virgin Mary; we chose our one-day pilgrimage for May 11, 2010. We also opened up the invitation to several councils and parishes throughout Green Bay. We originally thought we could fill a 50 passenger bus, but had to settle on a 36 passenger instead.
The day started out cold and rainy as thirty-five of us headed west to La Crosse, about a three and half hour trip. Along the way we took time to pray the Rosary, sing a few Marion hymns, and watch a moving movie and video of the Shrine. Arriving at the Pilgrim Center just in time for a quick lunch before heading up to the Shrine, a good ¼ mile or so located on a bluff over looking a small valley. After a short tour we celebrated Mass with Father Pete at the Shrine. Afterwards we had limited time to walk the grounds, before heading down the bluff to the gift shop and our awaiting ride back to Green Bay.
Everyone was pleased with the staff and volunteers services. The Shrine and grounds are magnificent, all were impressed and appreciated.
Check out our picture gallery of our trip
Received this email today; some interesting observations from a non-Catholic:
Didn’t “Snopes” this, so not sure if numbers are accurate…numbers not withstanding, a lot of good points about the Catholic institution.)
The mainstream media does not get it.
I am not happy that the Catholic Clergy is at 1.7% but this does place an interesting slant on the age old problem.
I received this …it was written by a Jewish business man…us Catholics could take some PR lessons from him….Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman – NOT Catholic.
Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely the Catholic Church?
Do you know – the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million elementary and high school students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to university studies at the rate of 92%.
The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.
The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people – not just Catholics – in the United States today.
But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.
Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.
Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. (please see Rev. Rob Pollock post) This is not just a Catholic problem.
A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been weeded out by now.
Walk with your shoulders high and your head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental entity in the United States today. Then remember what Jeremiah said: ‘Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls’. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.
Be proud that you’re a Catholic.
— and it’s just 1 minute 41 seconds!
View it .. and pass it on !!
Following email was passed along by our Worthy State Program Coordinator:
Love One Another
April 27, 2010
Year for the PriestDear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I have always enjoyed being with the Knights of Columbus. I was challenged by a sergeant in my United States Army unit to join. At that time, I thought to myself that’s all that I need to be a member of one more organization. But I found the Knights to be different. They were serious about their faith and they wanted to make a difference.
As I learned more about the history of the organization, I discovered that their founder Father Michael J. McGivney (whose cause for sanctity is being promoted) banded Catholics together for fraternal support. He experienced the prejudice leveled against the immigrant Catholics who professed their faith and so he designed the Knights to defend their faith and offer support to families who might experience the loss of a husband or father. During the years of my priesthood my esteem for the Knights of Columbus continued to grow. They always seemed ready to help.
Last Saturday I attended the Wisconsin State Convention of the Knights of Columbus where I was principal celebrant at the Mass and an invited guest at their banquet. Most Catholics recognize the Knights as those men dressed in capes, plumed hats, carrying swords, who act as the honor guard for the bishop in a liturgical procession. But they are so much more in terms of the good works that they perform, in raising money for the education of those who are mentally challenged, in lending their support to pro-life causes and promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In our society, where religion is greeted with skepticism, the Knights of Columbus and their wives wear their faith on their sleeves. During the convention, awards were given to outstanding Knights who were members of each of the five dioceses in Wisconsin and five families were recognized for their Christian charity and practice of the faith.
The Knights support the Pope and the teachings of the Church. They love their priests and they readily offer their assistance to the local bishop. Bishop Molino and Bishop Ricken were both present as a testimony to the wonderful works of the Knights in Wisconsin. They spoke to the Knights and their wives reminding them all of the necessity to be faithful to the Church, especially at this time in our Church’s history. They all shared their personal gratitude for the charitable works the Knights are known for.
Organizations and associations like the Knights of Columbus remind us of our responsibility to live our faith. They assist us in identifying ourselves as Catholics. It was good being with my brothers and sisters of the Knights of Columbus. I am proud of the Knights of Columbus and their wives and I am proud to be a fourth degree knight myself. Their friendship reminded me of the scriptural passage, “This is how all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
See you at Mass!Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Passing the word along from our State Program Directory:
Worthy State Officers, Chaplains, Coordinators, District Deputies, Grand Knights, Communicators and Brothers,
In the highly charged political world that we live in no one or no institution is above attack. The Catholic Church has been taking an increasingly more vocal approach to condemning the “culture of death” and the attacks upon the innocent from terrorists and drug lords. It follows therefore that it too will be attacked, in turn, as it continues to defend the vulnerable. Today, we are witnessing the most insidious of attacks against the Holy Father himself.
As faithful Catholics and brothers of reason and logic we must recognize the responsibility that we have to understand this issue so that we can best defend our Holy Catholic Church. The Holy Father has dealt with the issue of pedophilia in a manner that he felt was the best at the time. None of us can undo the past and so we pray that our actions are always the right ones. The judgment process of these grievous sins will take their course but the defense of the Church will always be ours. Brothers I pray that each of you will pray for the Holy Father as requested and not fear defense of our religion.
Vivat Jesus, Robert Halaska, State Program Director, Wisconsin Knights of Columbus
Links
Prayer Card – English Printable PDF version (6 per page) – English
Prayer Card – Spanish Printable PDF version (6 per page) – Spanish
Click the link below and will direct you to the latest addition of the newsletter
Now as we have all witnessed the signing into law of the Health Care Reform and Education Act there is a need, more than ever, to stay vigilant to this law’s provisions and not allow rumor, bad interpretations, and misrepresentations to creep into discussions of the application of this law. Therefore it is the intention of the Wisconsin Knights of Columbus to continue to supply official interpretations from our Brothers at Supreme and the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.
With that purpose in mind the following information about the Health Care Reform Law is being copied from the Supreme web site (www.kofc.org) for immediate distribution among the brothers of Wisconsin.
Learn more about the exhibit using these links:
