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Knight Times
From The Grand Knight
Knights of Columbus Fr. George Council #3758 of Wayzata
Plymouth, MN 55441 Volume 64, Issue 1
Brother Knights,
This question seems to be present most of the time – Who and What are the Knights of Columbus? This organization often thought of as a secret group is only that due to being one of the better kept secrets of the Catholic Church. We are known only occasionally by a pancake breakfast or the tootsie roll campaign held each spring. Most of the time we are an invisible part of the church. But now, a new initiative being implemented will hope-fully bring more visibility to the Knights.
This new initiative is called Faith in Action. There are four aspects to this new program. First is Faith. This part has members encourage and support each other in our spiritual growth and to be men of strong faith. Second is Family. The program here provides ways for members to again encourage and support each other to be good husbands, good fathers and to include the whole family in participating in each area. The community is built on the base of a strong and faithful family structure. The third part is Commu-nity. These programs provide ways for the Knights and their families to be involved in the needs of the community. These activities that include all in the community will bring about more visibility as to who and what the Knights of Columbus are about. The fourth part is Life. These programs are all about the areas that the Catholic Church regards as important from the teachings of Christ. They include programs for helping those in greatest need such as Special Olympics, Christian Relief and Pro-Life initiatives.
I encourage all Knights to embrace this new initiative and participate fully to build the Knights of Columbus in all of our churches and communities.
Continued on page 2.
Meeting Reminder: General meetings are normally held on the 2nd Monday of each month at our KOC Hall, 10906 So Shore Drive, Plymouth, MN 55441, at 7:30 pm.
2018/19 Executives Chaplain …………………………. Open
Grand Knight ……………….Ken Brcka
612-386-0159
Deputy Grand Knight……….Terry Mahr
763-486-2952
Financial-Secretary………..Chris Ritchie
763-475-3249
Chancellor. ……………….Roger Naples
763-208-4311
Advocate...……………......John O’Toole
763-545-6813
Recorder…...……...……...Ralph Ziesmer
612-581-5733
Treasurer..………...……...... Mark Frank
612-206-2670
Warden.……………….…..Joel Stepanek
.612-221-2503
Guard Inside…..……....…....Wally Leach
763-286-4788
Guard Outside…...…...David Lowenstein
612-597-5228
Trustee 3rd yr.……..............Gary Rieland
612-940-0427 Trustee 2nd yr...…...……....Frank Mignone
763-478-6850
Trustee 1st yr.……........................Jim Prom
763-509-0661
Lecturer ………………….......….....Vacant
St. Mary of the Lake
Plymouth
Awaiting Photo
St. Anne’s Catholic Church
Hamel
St. Bartholomew
Wayzata
St. Thomas
Corcoran
Continued from page 1
We are half way through our fiscal year and our council has been very active with much more coming up.
Recent happenings have been the Knights hosting coffee at St. Mary of the Lake, a very successful pancake breakfast at St. Anne’s with the proceeds going to Right for Life, a Major Degree Exemplification with one new candidate for our council and the Special Olympics Bowling weekend. Many different members partici-pated in these events. And many hands made for light work and an enjoyable experience.
After a short break now to take time to celebrate all of our blessings with family and friends, coming up is the basketball free throw contest and another pancake breakfast at St. Mary’s. All of these activities help keep us connected to our families, our church communities and to our local area. Isn’t this the reason we joined the Knights, to share the many blessings we have been given?
Two things; keep Christ in Christmas and remember those lacking in the basic necessities of food, clothing and housing. This is the mission of the Knights of Columbus to care for the marginalized around us.
Here’s wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Happy Prosperous New Year.
Vivat Jesus
Ken Brcka
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Men of the Cross
Men of the Cross Campaign update: The Men of the Cross campaign was started in the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota and has been spreading since rapidly all over the country. To become a member of Men of the Cross you simply have to agree to wear a beautiful Blessed St. Benedict cross and chain around your neck and when the Lord suggests it, wear it in public. These crosses and chain costs $5:00 (or more if so motivat-ed) and are a profound way of your not being afraid to advertise the fact that you are a Christian. This pro-gram is open to all denominations. For some reason, men seem reluctant to wear any Christian jewelry, un-like the ladies, and is an opportunity for men to step up to the plate and let others know you are not to afraid to wear your faith in public by displaying this beautiful symbol of Christ's love for you. Contact Tom McGuire @763-208-5520 or e-mail [email protected].
Fraternally yours,
SK Tom McGuire (OFS)
Our Sunshine Chairman SK Thomas McGuire OFS
Our council has a Sir Knight, as you will notice when you read this newsletter, who has been extremely in-volved and active in our council since he moved back from Florida. We are so fortunate to have men like him to do what should and need to be done. SK Thomas McGuire, in his one of many roles, sends out cards as needed to those in distress in any way. Please submit to the Chairman the name and address of where the cards should be sent and he will send out a card and add them to our prayer list. It is very important that you send this information in order for us to not only send out a card but to have all of us pray for the individual. We all pray diligently for each of these individuals and would like for you to let us know how they are doing because we keep track of the progress. Whatever the outcome is, we know that it is God’s will be done and not ours. Give our Sunshine Chairman your request to: SK Tom McGuire at 763-208-5520 or [email protected]
Men of the Cross
Men of the Cross Campaign update: The Men of the Cross campaign was started in the Diocese of Bis-marck, North Dakota and has been spreading since rapidly all over the country. To become a member of Men of the Cross you simply have to agree to wear a beautiful Blessed St. Benedict cross and chain around your neck and when the Lord suggests it, wear it in public. These crosses and chain costs $5:00 (or more if so motivated) and are a profound way of your not being afraid to advertise the fact that you are a Christian. This program is open to all denominations. For some reason, men seem reluctant to wear any Christian jew-elry, unlike the ladies, and is an opportunity for men to step up to the plate and let others know you are not to afraid to wear your faith in public by displaying this beautiful symbol of Christ's love for you. Contact Tom McGuire @763-208-5520 or e-mail [email protected].
Fraternally yours,
SK Thomas McGuire (OFS)
From the Desk of Father John Berger - St. Mary of the Lake
3rd Sunday of Advent…
Zephaniah proclaims a day of festival to celebrate God’s presence in the midst of his people. It is interesting to note that he portrays it from the perspective of God celebrating over his people. God exults, renews, danc-es, and shouts for joy. We are heirs of God’s promise, of God’s joy. In the second Reading today, Paul as-sures the community at Philippi that he desires their happiness, the gift of peace that accompanies the Lord’s presence. When anxiety seeks to rob us of God’s peace, Paul counsels prayer. We offer prayers of interces-sion, for God alone can give us his peace; and we pray in thanksgiving, for we trust that God will provide the gifts we need.
John’s ministry penetrates people’s hearts to the degree that they wonder about the ways their lives needed to change. As John concretely responds to tax collectors and soldiers, he announces the coming of the one who will baptize in the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s word challenges us to new patterns of justice and mercy, while God’s Spirit enables us to live this new way of being.
3rd Sunday of Advent…
John the Baptist continues his central role as the prophetic figure whose life and ministry points the way to Je-sus. The rose candle on the wreath announces that the season of waiting is nearing its end. This is one of the Sundays that used to be identified by the first Latin word of its entrance antiphon, and hence the first word of the day’s Mass. Some people still call it Gaudete.
What should we do? is the question that permeates today’s Gospel. The crowds, soldiers, and tax collectors all pepper John the Baptist with the same question. Advent is the season for preparing the food and fun of Christ-mas, but it is also the season of preparing the heart for Christ.
4th Sunday of Advent…
Micah prophesies the birth of the Savior from the least of the clan of Judah. God’s intervention in human his-tory often shatters our expectations. The Savior is born in lowliness and the extension of his reign is a work of peace and not control through power. The author of Hebrews portrays Jesus as God’s obedient servant who offered for all humankind the one perfect sacrifice. This sacrifice was the gift of perfect obedience to God, culminating in Jesus’ complete gift of himself on the cross. Like Jesus, we are called to proclaim in word and deed our obedient service to all that God asks of us. We can do so only if we unite ourselves to Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.
In today’s Gospel, Elizabeth acknowledges in Mary the dwelling place of God’s promise fulfilled. Mary, like her ancestors in faith, believed that God’s promise would be fulfilled, and by God’s graciousness, bore the Savior of the world.
4th Sunday of Advent…
Lighting the last candle on the wreath sets the full symbol ablaze with light, alerting us to the imminent cele-bration of Christ’s coming. For many weeks the secular culture has been celebrating the Christmas season while we have been celebrating Advent. We have heard the prophecies that proclaim the coming of Jesus not just at Bethlehem, but as judge at the end of time. Today for the first time our Advent scriptures tell of the events that led to the birth of Christ.
The visitation of Mary and Elizabeth is one of the warmest episodes of the pre-Christmas story. Two women, both impossible candidates for a pregnancy, one too old and the other a virgin, meet. Elizabeth feels her baby jump for joy. We do, too, as we sense the nearness of our salvation.
Everyone knows that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but when the gospels present the origins of the adult Jesus they most frequently say he is from Nazareth. One of the main reasons Luke insists that the birth took place in Bethlehem is today’s prophecy. Micah announces God’s promise that from Bethlehem shall come forth the ruler of Israel.
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Christmas Masses…
The solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord offers four sets of liturgical texts for the Christmas Masses, titled with the different times of day: Vigil Mass, Midnight Mass, Mass at Dawn, and Mass During the Day. At the Midnight Mass, Luke recounts Mary’s delivery of her child in poverty and its proclamation to poor shep-herds. During the Day, John’s prologue poetically portrays the mystery of the Eternal Word made flesh for the salvation of the world. The gift of light enables us to see our nature and the nature of our inheritance in Christ. In revealing to us the face of God, the Son reveals the fullness of salvation to those who walk in God’s light.
The Holy Family…
Luke portrays a very difficult conversation between Jesus and Mary. Jesus remains behind in the temple to be about his Father’s business while Mary was filled with anxious concern about her Son’s safety and well-being. Jesus and Mary were both seeking to be faithful to the call God entrusted to them. Their difficult con-versation centered on those fundamental calls and resolved itself in the harmony and peace of life in Naza-reth.
Various families…
While we celebrate the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as a model of holiness and family life, let us not overlook the various shapes of families among us: nuclear, single parent, adoptive, foster, blended, grand-parents, couples who cannot have children, etc. Family life is unique and precious in whatever form and shape it takes and today’s feast underscores the importance of family life and love.
The Holy Family…
This feast, with roots in the seventeenth century, was added to the universal calendar in 1921 to build up de-votion in family life. It upholds Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the ideal family. We now celebrate this feast on the Sunday within the octave of Christmas. It used to fall during Epiphany’s octave, but now it follows more faithfully the sequence of seasonal events. This feast comes at a time when our thoughts turn to the creation of the holy family at the birth of Jesus, as well as the gathering of our families and loved ones this season of the year.
The First Reading for Year C comes from 1 Samuel. It tells of the birth of Samuel, and how his mother Han-nah dedicated him to God. She was thought to be barren, yet conceived a son and presented him to God. Her family foreshadows the story of the holy family. In the latter case, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin, not barren, yet conceived a son by the miraculous intervention of God. Luke’s gospel returns frequently to the theme of Jerusalem, and today’s excerpt is a good example. The story of Jesus’ childhood ends with him at the temple in Jerusalem, astounding the teachers there. The story proclaims the wisdom of Christ even in his childhood, but it will resonate with many parents who struggle to fulfill their responsibilities as good guardians of their children.
Epiphany…
The tradition is that there were three major epiphanies of Christ: the visit of the Magi, the baptism in the Jor-don, and the miracle at Cana. In all three events, Jesus is made manifest as the Messiah. Prior to 1969 the connection was easy to make every year, because the gospel for the Sunday after the Baptism of the Lord was that of the wedding at Cana. In the revision of the calendar, this now happens only in Year C, so this is the only year when we hear all three gospels about the traditional manifestations of Jesus. We will be celebrating the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time when the full meaning of these epiphanies sinks in. Epiphany means “manifestation,” referring to the appearance of Jesus. The significance of this day is not just the arrival of the Magi, but the coming of Gentiles to adore the newborn King of the Jews. The event recognizes Jesus’ rule over the entire world. Today celebrates his epiphany, manifestation or revelation to the nations as Son of God.
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From the Desk of Father John Berger - St. Mary of the Lake (Cont’d)
KNI GHT T I M ES PAGE 5
One of the most memorable Christmas's that I still remember to this day was in 1943 while our country was still very much heavily involved in the Second World War. In my view this was the war of all wars and I was very much wrapped up in it at the time as a ten year old kid living in South Minneapolis. My parents gave me my greatest Christmas present that fit right in with the times. My birthday is always a week before Christmas so I always felt that I was simply given one of my Christmas presents in advance and somehow I was cheated out of one of my regular Christmas presents. "Bummer". I proceeded to unwrap this nicely wrapped box and inside was a set of about 12 stand up cardboard soldiers about 6" high along with a really neat wooden cannon that had a vertical magazine over it loaded with wooden bullets on it's own stand. For a war monger like me, at the time, I could not have asked for a better gift. The cannon had a crank handle that I simply turned and the wooden bullets would fly out of it knocking the enemy soldiers over and out of commission. I was in World War II heaven. What a great Christmas present. Forever to be remembered. I am sure many of you, if you really search your memory, may have had a similar memory of great Christmas presents of your past. Really memorable ones that turned out to be pretty cool for the times. Cherish those thoughts as they are forever yours. My Dad, shortly after, relocated our entire family out to Bremerton Washington where he worked in the ship yards there putting back together many of our beat up war ships as they came in to be rebuilt. My brother and I used to stand on the shore line of Puget Sound and watch these broken war ships come in for repair. It was an awesome sight at the time to see them damaged by Japanese suicide aircraft with decks ripped up and huge fire blackened holes as they silently creeped along being pushed by tugs. “Ghostly comes to mind”. We Americans have a lot to be thankful for because of the efforts of our greatest generation and the sacrifices they made for us. Have you ever wondered, like me, what it would have been like had we not won that war? We are a truly blessed nation and it is appropriate for us all to remember that this Christmas season. We are truly the land of the free. In a little small town named Bethlehem on a cold winter's night inside of a well worn stable along with the animals within, our Savior decided to make his presence known changing the world forever. We are who we are because of his coming. Merry Christmas to all my great Knights of Columbus friends who responded to the call to serve when asked. You guys and ladies are what makes this Christmas a truly wonderful event. What great Christian people all of you are. Let us be grateful for this wonderful present we have so much to be grate-ful for. Humbly, SK Thomas McGuire (OFS)
From - SK Thomas McGuire OFS, Our Roving Report-
KNI GHT T I M ES PAGE 6
Families of the Month 2018
The Peter Wolff Family
Families of the Month 2018
The David Lowenstein Family
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New Member - 3rd Degree Knight Denny Stoll
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A very successful St. Anne’s Pancake Breakfast brought in $1390. We are donating 1/3rd to each - St. Annes, Pro Life, and our Fr. George Council of Wayzata. Thanks to all who
contributed to the success of the breakfast!!
KNI GHT T I M ES PAGE 9
As we remember all of our Knights and their Families,
please especially pray for:
Pope Francis Our Priests
Council 3758 George Laurance
Whitney McGuire Tom McGuire
(Tom McGuire’s Grandchild) Gerald Mroz
Roger Naples Patti Naples
David Lowenstein Don and Kathy Atkinson
Martha O’Malley Mike Benusa
Barbara Brcka Joel Stepanick
(Ken Brcka’s Sister) All of our homeless
Let us continue to remember in prayer all of our
Knights and their Families
KNI GHT T I M ES PAGE 10
Each year the Fourth Degree Nicollet Assembly #526
collects white (crew length only - not tube) socks for both male and female Veterans and delivers them to the Veteran’s Hospital at Fort Snelling. Last year over 2000
pairs of socks were donated. A check will be accepted in lieu of purchasing the socks yourself. If interested, please contact SK LaVern Knobble at 763-441-1716 or
[email protected] or SK Gary Rieland at 612-940-0427 or
KNI GHT T I M ES PAGE 11
DECEMBER
12/01 Paul Merz
12/07 Robert Rivera
12/11 James Kroska Jr
12/13 Timothy Johnson
12/15 Thomas Mertens
12/15 Frank Mignone
12/16 Jay Goetz
12/17 Glen Esposito
12/18 Thomas McGuire
12/19 Kenneth Lanigan
12/19 John Strouth
12/20 Rev Curtis Lybarger
12/21 Steven Deering
12/21 Thomas Mechels
12/24 Alexander Gelardi
12/28 Patrick Bauer
JANUARY
01/01 Rev Patrick Hipwell
01/06 Robert Dorcy
01/07 James Boehm
01/08 Terrence Kopp
01/11 Brian Rehovsky
01/17 Donald Atkinson
01/17 Martin Jerome Trafas
01/19 Walter Leach
01/19 Jerald Lindner
01/22 Jeffery Johnson
01/22 John (Bill) Schindler
FEBRUARY
02/05 Kenneth Heyda
02/10 Sean Casey
02/12 Gerald Mroz
02/24 Joe Heiderscheidt
02/27 David Kramer
02/28 George Laurance
MARCH
03/02 Joel Stepanek
03/07 Matthew Kopp
03/08 Matthew Christoff
03/09 John Aeshliman
03/09 Blaine Bos
03/09 Thomas Kutz
03/25 Rod Dachel
03/26 Terrence Mahr
03/28 Peter Wolff
03/29 Jeffrey Athmann
03/31 Richard Hanley
APRIL
04/04 Robert Dykhoff
04/06 Jerry Hartl
04/07 James Hedtke
04/10 David Ferin
04/12 Salvatore Dli Leo
04/22 Francis Meister
04/30 Ralph Ziesmer
WISHING ALL OF YOU A VERY BLESSED AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ALL OF US!!!
January 20 Pancake and Sausage Breakfast - St. Mary of the Lake
Council #3758 Activities 2018-2019
January 14 KC Monthly Meeting - 7:30 KC Hall
Month 2018/19 Event
December 10 -20 Knights of Columbus Icon - Medina - Holy Name of Jesus
December 13 District 53 December Meeting
December 21 - 31 Knights of Columbus Icon - Golden Valley - Good Shepard
December 24 Monday - 4th Degree Honor Guard - 10:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass - St. Mary of the Lake
December 25 Christmas Day
January 1 New Years Day
January 5
KOC Free Throw Champion Contest - All boys and girls ages 9-14 (as of 1/1/19) are invited to participate in the Local/Council competition for the 2019 KOC Free Throw Championship on Saturday, January 5th at 5:30 pm at Ave Maria Academy Gym in Maple Grove off of Bass Lake Road @ 3 miles west of Interstate 494. For more infor-mation contact our Deputy Grand Knight Terry Mahr at 763-486-2952 or [email protected]
January 11, 12, 13 Men’s Retreat - Kings House - Buffalo - Call Delaney @ 612-834-3376 for details
January 26 Metro Area Major Degree - 1st, 2nd & 3rd at. St. Vincent de Paul, Maple Grove - Start 9:00 am Host District Deputy Patrick Farrelly 763-218-3816
March 15 St. Anne’s Fish Fry (more info to follow)
Our Council has received many compliments on the job that our insurance agent has been doing since he came into the position. He always goes above and beyond the call of his duties
by assisting in any way he can. If you have any questions at all, please contact him. OUR KNIGHT’S INSURANCE AGENT John Egan 8920 100th Ave N Maple Grove, MN 55311 Cell 763-234-1477 [email protected]
Knight Times is published by and for the Knights of Columbus Fr. Geo Council # 3758, of Wayzata, Plymouth, MN. The editor is SK Gary Rieland. Any questions or input, please contact Brother Gary at 612-940-0427 or [email protected]. Thank you.
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This is our final newsletter for the calendar year 2018. Katie and I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
SK Gary Rieland, Editor
