Former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Calls for a New Catholic Political Movement

Special to the Catholic Business Journal
By Thomas Loarie
May 28, 2013, (Danville, CA)   Raymond Flynn, former Ambassador to the Vatican, three-time Mayor of Boston and popular author, called for a new Catholic political movement in the United States while speaking on a five-city swing through northern California. Flynn says that Catholics feel disrespected and believe powerful, secular special-interest groups and money have too much power and influence in American politics today.
Read the full story here.

Knights of Columbus Mobilize for
Oklahoma Tornado Relief Efforts

Following a devastating tornado in suburban Oklahoma City, Okla., the Knights of Columbus has initiated local disaster response efforts to help those affected.
The Knights of Columbus Oklahoma State Council has begun organizing relief efforts in and around Moore, Okla., to assist those displaced or otherwise negatively impacted by the storm. In addition, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council sent an initial donation of $10,000 in support of the Oklahoma Knights’ response.
Read the whole post here.

Two students award Notre Dame Scholarships from Council 6099

Knights of Columbus 6099 Holy Family council is proud to announce that two Notre Dame High School Scholarships were awarded this year, each to a student in the OLPH Eighth Grade Graduation Class. Congratulations to Margaret Coles, daughter of Brother Chris Coles, and James West, son of Brother Bill West were each awarded a scholarship in the amount of $4000.

The scholarships are merit-based, with factors relating to grades and involvement in church and community being considered. They are awarded to the children of Brother Knights who are members of Council 6099 in good standing. Thanks to all who contribute to the scholarship fund, so Council 6099 can continue to make Catholic education accessible to as many families as possible.

6099 takes 9 awards at 110th State Council Convention

If the awards are any indication, 6099 has had a great year of service in 2012-13.  The council won 9 individual awards at the 110th State Council Convention, held April 26-28 in Franklin, Tennessee.

These awards are a testament to the high level of work accomplished by our members.  The awards were:

• Membership Awards:  Most Knights recruited in the STATE this year! (21)/High score in the State Bowling for Members competition
• State Deputy's Award:  For complete Council administration (note only 33 of 95 councils received this award).
• Chaplain's Award:  For outstanding vocations and religious programming (2nd highest award given by the state. 15 of 95 councils received this award)
• Bishops' Award:  For overall outstanding council programming (the State Council's highest award. Only 8 of 95 councils received it).
• MR Foundation Awards:  Top $$ producer in the state ($22k+), 4th place, amount raised per member
• Charity Activity Award:  Awarded for the outstanding charity project in the state for Southern Brewers Festival event.

Click here to see pictures from the convention (and who's that with the tumblers on the page banner?)

Officer Nominees for 2013-14

It's that time.  New officers for the 2013-14 fraternal year will be elected at the June business meeting.  Please consider these names, then show up to cast your vote.

If you're interested in pursuing one of the elected offices, please contact a member of the nominating committee.  The committee members are Victor Williams, Clarence Bodnar, Ronnie Schleifer, Corky Evers and Wayne Collins.

The nominees are:

Chaplain: Fr. Bartholomew Okere
Grand Knight:  John Vannucci
Deputy Grand Knight:  Tom Smelas
Chaplain:  Rick Powell
Warden:  Craig Bodnar
Recorder:  Steve Horton
Financial Secretary:  Ron Schleifer
Treasurer:  Earl Reike
Advocate:  Ray Fox, Jr.
Lecturer:  Jim Costello
Guards:  Roland Lee, Mike Doyle, Jr., Chris Schleifer, Craig Romanauski
Trustees:  Wayne Collins (3yr), Corky Evers (2yr), Victor Williams 1(yr)

How Can You Help the Families and Community Involved in the Texas Fertilizer Explosion?

Following the terrible blast at a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, the Knights of Columbus is accepting donations to help those in need.
In addition, Knights of Columbus Council 2305 in West, Texas is working with local groups and the authorities to assist with disaster relief. The council is particularly well positioned to help since it counts more than 500 members in a town of fewer than 3,000 people.
Donations to assist in relief efforts can be made to Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc. online at www.kofc.org/texas
Read more here.

Cardinal Seán O'Malley's Response to the Boston Bombings

"We Must Build A Civilization of Love, Or There Will Be No Civilization At All"

Closing out a week that saw his appointment as the lone North American on Pope Francis' eight-member "governing council" suddenly eclipsed by the brutal horror of Monday's bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon and its aftermath, following is the homily given by Cardinal Seán O'Malley at a Mass for the victims – four dead, over 170 injured, and a still-reeling region beyond – this morning in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross....
Read the whole post here.

Be "unabashedly Catholic"

Sister Mary Anne Walsh of the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops gives us something to keep in mind as Ash Wednesday approaches:

"The sacramentals feed that emotional side. Ash Wednesday does so especially. We can feel a little funny with ashes on our foreheads, but for Catholics, that’s how we mark the start of Lent. Ashes don’t say we’re holy. They say we’re sinners. They don’t say we’re perfect, only that we’re willing to try. They don’t say we’re models of religiosity, but they do say we belong. In today’s world of loners and isolates, that says a lot."

Read the whole post here.

It's Fish Fry Time at OLPH!

Lent is here, and that means KofC Friday Fish Fry is in effect starting February 15 and every Friday through March 8.  Get Chef Steve's outstanding fried fish dinner and fixin's, plus other tasty entrees.  All you can eat is $6/person.  Buffet is open from 5:30-7pm. You can even go to Stations of the Cross at 5:30 and join us afterward!

All proceeds will benefit the OLPH Home and School Association and the council's SOS (Support Our Seminarians) Fund, which provides $3,600 funds each year to help defray living expenses for diocesan seminarians.

A post card from Seminarian Colin Blatchford over Christmas Holidays, who receives $100 in support monthly from our council:

"Thanks so much for the check this month.  I drove home on it"

Catholic education and vocations go hand-in-hand, so please support these worthy causes!

Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori...and Repent!

There is plenty of opportunity for penance in the upcoming Lenten Season.  The schedule for Deanery Penance services is as follows:

2/28 - OLPH, 7:00p

3/4 - Shepherd of the Valley, 6:30p (CT)

3/5 - St. Jude, 7:00p

3/6 - Holy Spirit, 7:00p

3/7 - St. Therese, 7:00p

3/12 - St. Stephens, 7:00p

3/12 - OL of Lourdes, 6:30p (CT)

3/14 - St. Peter & Paul , 5:30p

3/19 - St. Augustine, 7:00p

3/20 - St. Bridget, 6:30p

3/21 - St. Mary, 6:00p

Welcome New Brothers!

Congratulations to our newest Brother Knights who recently took their First Degree.  They are Roger Qualey, Bill Demers, Bill Bates, John Phillips and Terry West.  If you see them around church, the hall or any of our other council functions, please make it a point to welcome them to our ranks!

So far this year, Holy Family Council has added 12 new members, and we're still working toward our goal.  Membership happens because YOU take time to introduce someone you know to the benefits of becoming a Knight!  Help the men you know live their Catholic Faith more fully by asking them to join the Order!  Our next First Degree exemplification will be on St. Patrick's Day, March 17 at 2pm.  

RIP Don Kohl, PGK, Charter Member

Don Kohl, Center, with other charter members
Ray Fox Sr., (left) and Mel Downs (right)

Don Kohl, PGK, and charter member of Holy Family Council 6099, passed away last Friday at the age of 93.  Don helped found Council 6099 and served as Grand Knight during the 1972-73 fraternal year.  The council's golf tournament for Catholic education is name after him and PGK John Knight.  He was a graduate of Notre Dame High School class of 1937, and the University of Chattanooga.  He was a veteran of World War II, fighting in the European Theater.  He was a devout Catholic and Brother Knight who has lived the past quarter-century at Alexian Village on Signal Mountain.  Click here to read Don's obituary.  See pictures from our 2008 Founders' Banquet.

Tempus Fugit. Memento Mori.

New Officers for 2012-13

Congratulations to Holy Family Council's new officers, elected and installed in June for the 2012-2013 fraternal year. We help of all the brothers of the council, we will look forward to a productive year advancing family, Church, community and country.
The new officers are:

• Wayne Collins - Grand Knight
• John Vannucci - Deputy Grand Knight
• Tom Smelas - Chancellor
• Rick Powell - Warden
• Steve Horton - Recorder
• Earl Reike - Treasurer
• Advocate - Ray Fox, Jr.
• Inside Guard - Mike Doyle, Jr., Chris Schleifer
• Outside Guard - John Sopko, William Sundquist
• Trustee (3 year) - Corky Evers
• Trustee (2 year) - Victor Williams
• Trustee (1 year) - Clarence Bodnar

RIP, Brother Richard Buske

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brother Richard Buske, PGK, PFN, FDD, who passed away on Saturday Morning, June 9.  Visitation will be held Monday, June 11, at South Moore Road chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.  Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, June 12, at St. Stephen's Church, burial following at Chattanooga National Cemetery with full military honors.  Brother Richard was a proud and dedicated Knight who gave freely of his time and talents for the good of the Order and the good of the Church.  He will be missed by his Brother Knights and family.

Tempus Fugit. Memento Mori.

6099 Captures Five State Awards

GK Corky Evers presents council MR Director Kenn Stroop 
with the State MR Award

Holy Family Council represented well at the recent Tennessee State Convention, garnering five total awards and placing as finalist in four program categories.  These awards represent the extraordinary amount of work and dedication on the part of the entire council, and indicate 6099's annual programs continue to be top-notch. The awards were:

• Chaplain's Award for outstanding programming in vocations support
• MR Foundation Top Producer - First Place: $26,300
• MR Foundation Top Percentage Increase - Fifth Place: 2.3%
• District Deputy Award - Outstanding activity in District 15
• State Deputy's Award

Program finalists included the Super Bowl Pork Loin Sale in Pro Life Activity; The Mighty KCs Softball Team in Council Activity; Support Our Seminarians program in Vocations; Kids Christmas Party in Family Activity.

See other award pictures here.

Lessons from Mexico

With religious freedom and the Catholic Church once again under assault in this country, it's worth noting that the Knights already have a history of resistance to religious oppression, which created several saints --through martyrdom-- among priests and brothers of the Order.  Supreme Knight Carl Anderson draws compelling observations from the persecution of the Church in Mexico during the 1930s in this article.

For some historical context, check out this great article about the Feast of the Mexican Martyrs (May 21). Note, the article is down the page a couple of entries.

Recognize this guy?

Sure you do! It's brother Ray Powell, a member of 6099, brother of Rick, and pursuing his vocation to the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary in Wisconsin.  He is also one of the benefactors of the council's SOS (Support Our Seminarians) program, receiving a $100 stipend each month to help defray his living expenses.  He's one of the reasons we crunch aluminum cans!  Read a short bio piece on him in the East Tennessee Catholic.

Latest on HHS Mandate "Compromise"

The so-called compromise on the HHS mandate dictating violation of Catholic conscience does not end the argument, and, in fact, only heats it up.  You need to keep up so check out these articles: 

• Six more things you need to know about the updated mandate from the Catholic Bishops Conference
• Check out this opinion piece by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who postulates the mandate as one battle in a two front war
• George Weigal discusses the administrations attempt to dictate who speaks for Catholics in this country
• Conrad Black predicts that this mandate may actually spark a very deep and abiding culture war in this country

It's not over! Follow this link to the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference website to see updated information on the new HHS proposal. Send a letter against this unjust mandate to our local congressmen and state senators! If we don't fight for our own religious freedom, who will? Take responsibility! Take action!

Meet seminarian Adam Royal

There is a nice profile of Adam Royal, one of Holy Family Council's supported seminarians, in the latest edition of the East Tennessee Catholic.  Adam is one of three seminarians who receive spiritual and financial support from Council 6099 through the Knights of Columbus RSVP program.  Last year, the council donated $3,600 to our supported seminarians to help them cover cost-of-living expenses as they continue to follow God's call to service in the Church.  Click here to read the article online.

Bishop Stika responds to unjust HHS mandate, encourages action

Bishop Richard Stika issued a response to the recently enacted mandate by the Department for Health and Human Services that will require religious employers to fund and provide drugs and procedures that explicitly violate the teachings of the church.  The response, which was read in all parishes in the diocese on Sunday, February 5, follows

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you having just returned from my Ad Limina visit with Pope Benedict XVI who shares deeply the concerns that I and all the U.S. bishops have regarding a matter that calls for our steadfast prayer, solidarity and action. On January 20th, the federal government cast aside the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and essentially stripped Catholics and citizens of any faith of our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom—our religious liberty."

Click here to read more of the Bishop's letter.  Read the stance adopted by the Knights of Columbus here.

TAKE ACTION NOW!  Follow this link to the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference website to see a video by Archbishop Timothy Dolan and to send a letter against this unjust mandate to our local congressmen and state senators!  If we don't fight for our own religious freedom, who will?  Take responsibility!  Take action!