KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Father Father Flanagan of Boys Town Council #652
September 2001
Grand Knights's Message
As many of you may know, our fellow Knight Nick Vasquez, recently passed away. Although Nick was associated with our Council for only a brief time, he will be remembered by many for a long time. On VA Disability because he had injured his back as a paratrooper while in the Army, he was quick to volunteer for any project we were engaged in. Although he volunteered for many activities, two stand out. In the bone chilling March wind, he stood for over four hours at the Civic Auditorium for our Tootsie Roll Campaign. He worked another two hour shift the next day and came to work Downtown at 6AM on a Friday. The second time was for the Sisters' Appreciation Brunch in April. As was his habit, he came early, ready to help set up. He then assisted and served the Sisters at the brunch and then stayed until the cafeteria was cleaned up. That was the last time I and many of us saw him. His untimely death reminds us all that there are no guarantees and we should all be prepared for our death. Pray for Nick and
especially for his family who reside in Kearney.
Julie and I were impressed with the Supreme Convention. At the opening mass, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic from Toronto commented that only the Pope could attract more members of the Hierarchy than the Knights of Columbus. Over 100 Bishops, Archbishops, and Cardinals including Archbishop Curtiss were present at all or most of the functions. Others in attendance were Bernard Cardinal Law of Boston and Most Rev. Joseph A. Florenza, President of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. William Cardinal Keeler, Adam Cardinal Maida, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Edmund Cardinal Szoka, President of Pontifical Commission for State of Vatican City. Of course Supreme Chaplain Most Reverend Thomas Daily was also present, as well as Bishop Blaise Cupich for some of the functions. Over 100 priests, including Fr. Dan Soltys were also present. Over 2400 people, including dignitaries, were at the State Dinner Tuesday night.
The Columbia Magazine will do a better job of covering the convention, so I won't bore you with my commentary. My respect for the Knights of Columbus as an organization increased as well as for Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Past Supreme Knight Virgil Dechant. What an International
Organization! My understanding is that the 1.6 million members make it the largest fraternal organization in the world. Archbishop Curtiss, in his address to the convention, emphasized there is no shortage of vocations. Individuals need to be asked and vocations supported and nurtured. He was warm in his praise for what the Knights have done and continue to do to support vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Also, I feel after listening to several members of the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church, that they are relying more and more on the Knights to assist them in their message of respect for the life in all its' stages. Also, the Church depends on the Knights to combat the secularism that seems to be growing throughout the world and the many threats against the family today. The Knights' moral and financial support for vocations is becoming more important. Membership was emphasized, and the Supreme Knight is stressing a Council or round table in every parish possible. This year, as you can see already, we are working on membership.
I hope many of you are able to attend the Corporate Communion at Holy Name and that some of you will stay and assist me after their 11 a.m. Mass in serving coffee and donuts. We will need help after all the Sunday Masses the next weekend at Cathedral. Please contact me at 734-6365 if you can help. Don't forget the Mount Michael festival coming up. We need help at our booth--families welcome. Children are a big help in picking up those rings that land on the ground.
Finally, pray for the safety of all administrators, teachers, CCD teachers and students as they begin another school year. Hope to see many of you at the September meeting. Try to come early and recite the rosary. God bless you and your families.
Fraternally yours,
Tom Schmitz
It's Festival Season
Fall is here, and the Mt. Michael Festival happens later this month. As in years past the Knights of Columbus Council 652 has been asked to help by operating the ring toss booth. The festival begins at 11:00 a.m. on the morning of September 16th, and we will need workers for four different shifts, ending at 7:00 pm. Chairman Bob Wachter is organizing the volunteers, and he will have a sign up sheet at the next meeting.
St. Cecilia's is having their festival on the first weekend in October. Even though it happens next month, we want to have our volunteers recruited before the next Clarion. We will be operating the ring toss booth again at Cathedral and will again be looking for shift workers. The St. Cecilia's chairman, Pete Larsen, will have a sign up sheet for this worthy cause at the next meeting.
If you don't feel you will be able to make the next meeting, call Bob Wachter at 556-7368 or Pete Larsen at 551-1324 to lend a hand. Speaking from past experience, this is the perfect type of activity in which to involve your children and grandchildren. They seem to have a lot of fun and are also a lot closer to the ground for picking up any errant rings tossed by booth patrons.
If any members have not yet been to the Mt. Michael Festival, this is an opportunity to see, as Bother Knight Arkfeld puts it, "a little bit of heaven." The monastery is a gem of the Omaha area and is a great place to spend a fall afternoon. I know my daughters have been looking forward to the horseback rides since we were there last year. St. Cecilia's also puts on a wonderful day with activities and refreshments enjoyed by everyone in the family. I encourage all to take time to enjoy themselves while contributing to the success of both St. Cecilia's and Mt. Michael's educational programs.
Seminarian Fund Grows
Thanks to the continued support of our membership, the seminarians of the Archdiocese receive a
little spending money to help them during their studies. In addition to the donations made and the split of the pot-o-gold drawing at our monthly meetings, seminarians are supported by our can recycling effort. It is encouraging to see the increase in the number of members supporting this program as well as the total amount of aluminum taken in. If you haven't been participating, you can start by either bringing your aluminum cans to the meeting or dropping them off yourself at Can-Pac located at 708 S Saddle Creek. Our account number is 652, and we get an additional nickel per pound since the proceeds go to charity.
I might also suggest recruiting friends or relatives who would be willing to contribute to the cause. It seems a shame to throw it all in the big green box for the city when our seminarians could benefit just as well. Thanks again to all who support this program.
Centennial Mugs
Coffee mugs commemorating the 100 years of our Council and the Order in Nebraska are available through Steve LaGreca. There are two styles to choose from priced from $5. Discounts are available for multiple purchases.
Chaplain's Column
Dear Brother Knights:
Peace be with you and I pray you had a restful Labor Day weekend. Close to the heart of our Holy Father has been the plight of the worker. Witness firsthand to the socialism of communist Poland, the Holy Father learned the evils of socio-economic systems that deprive workers of the fruits of their labor. Never entirely advocating the free market system because of its tendency toward gross materialism, John Paul II believes that work has an essential dignity because through labor, man imitates God the creator and God the savior who saved us through none other than the "work" of the cross. Through work, man not only improves his surroundings and provides sustenance for families, but he makes something, he makes himself something. He takes part in the greater plan of God.
Benedictine monks have long seen the value of work in the scope of salvation, making their motto: ora et labora (prayer and work). Therein lies a secret. Prayer must always balance work, by quietude and contemplation. This is the whole reason for the Sabbath day of rest. When we forget the dignity of the person and simultaneously the value of work, when we forget the need for rest through genuine prayer and leisure, work becomes a drudgery from which we often feel we must "escape."
Everyone wishes they were fortunate to have a job they loved. The truth is that work, especially modern work, can be rather stale, bureaucratic and monotonous at times, but it need not be so if it is embraced both as a sacrifice and as a chance to create and interact with others. Christ so often uses the examples of laborers when describing the kingdom of God and its consequent rewards.
Knights of Columbus tend to be men who take pride in their work and are accomplished in their endeavors. I invite you to share your faith in the workplace through joy and patience, to utilize your positions to find employment for those brother Knights and others who have none and to pray for those who cannot support their families.
Labor Day affords us the opportunity to take a reprieve from the busyness of work so that we might go back to work and make it holy.
Your Servant in Christ, Father Cook.
P.S. I ask you to please pray for our president and congress. The president's so-called compromise is "unacceptable" as the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated. We must pray, fast and give witness that the slippery slope may not continue.
Corporate Communion Sept 9th at Holy Name
Council 652 is sponsoring a Corporate Communion at Holy Name Parish on October 9th at the 9:00 Sunday Mass. Refreshments will be served afterwards during a social gathering. All are invited and encouraged to attend. A couple of the members will be staying on to serve doughnuts to prospective members after the 11:00 Mass later that morning, and we will have some informational flyers to hand out. If you can't attend the 9:00 service but would still like to come after the 11:00 mass, your help welcome in answering questions.
St Cecilia's Open House September 16th
Organizations belonging to or affiliated with the Cathedral parish are planning an informational display in the gymnasium after all morning Masses on September 16th. Parishioners will be encouraged to stop by and learn about all the activities and organizations available. Council 652 is planning to have a table with information about our activities along with members who can answer any questions for prospective members. Don't worry, there is no grading on answers, so if you will be attending Mass there on that Sunday please take time to stop by our table to help with the duty. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes after Mass for people to pass through and see what is available.
Baseball Outing Canceled
Unfortunately there were just too many conflicts in the busy lives of our members to be able to justify another game night at Rosenblatt. After the success of our July outing it is a disappointment that we could not get together; however, the final home game of the season also happened to be on the Labor Day holiday weekend. With any luck next summer will not have the same conflict.
Keep watching in the Clarion for other family events. Plans are being made for a family sports night similar to those held in the fall for the last couple of years with area coaches giving a clinic for the kids. The theme will probably focus on soccer. Details should be available in the next issue. If you have any input please come to the next meeting or contact one of the officers.
Clarion Flashback
Jan 20, 1950
K of C to Honor
Past Grand Knights
Fifteen past Grand Knights of Father Flanagan of Boystown Council 652 will be honored Sunday.
They and other members of the council founded in 1902 will attend mass and receive communion at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene's Church.
This will be followed by a breakfast at the Fontenelle Hotel. Daniel J. Gross, attorney, will be principal speaker, Thomas J. Riley, present grand knight will preside.
Of the 40 men who have served as Grand Knight since the council was estabiished, 21 survive. Six will be unable to attend.
An initiation for 34 new members will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. A buffet luncheon will conclude the ceremony.
Calendar Club Wrap-up
Sales of chances in this year's calendar club to benefit Holy Name School exceeded last year's total. Council 652 turned in a total of 124 sales this year and received a bonus commission from the organizers. We were able to make a donation to their educational fund in the a mount of $500 and have added an additional $700 to our general fund for charitable activities. Thanks to all who sold or bought tickets and good luck on winning this year.
Centennial News
The schedule of events to mark the date of Council 652's foundation is taking shape. We have been informed that Archbishop Eldon Curtiss is to celebrate Mass in honor of the occasion on Saturday night, March 16, 2002, which is the actual 100th anniversary of our charter. We are fortunate to have the date fall on a weekend. The members of 100 years ago should be commended for their foresight.
As has been noted on other occasions, seating for the banquet will be limited. We estimate that fewer than one third of our members will be able to get tickets if everyone chooses to attend. If your calendar is already marked and you want to be sure to get in, now is the time to speak up. Steve LaGreca is the chairman of our Centennial Committee and he or another officer can reserve your place. Tickets have not yet been printed but we can make sure one is saved for you and a guest. Call Steve or myself, Kevin O'Connell (344-4846) if you would like reservations.
Congratulations !!!
Two member families of our council are celebrating new arrivals in the past month. Brother Knight Jeremy Casey and his wife Jeanna announce the birth of their daughter Katherine Rose born July 28th, weighing 5 lbs. 9 oz. Brother Knight Frank Johansen and his wife, Akemi, have a new son, Joseph weighing in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. born August 26th. I'm sure both will be winners in the free throw contest sometime around 2010.
