Knights of Columbus – Council 3205

Brothers,

We had a wonderful time at this year’s family Hamburger & Corn Cook. If you were not able to make it we missed you and your family joining us for som good food, fun and fellowship.

We installed our new officers for the 2012-2013 fraternal year. In addition we handed out our Council’s annual awards.

Family of the Year – Michael W. Hlavinka Family

Knight of the Year – Bob Albanese

Bob Boller Award – Gary Richardson

Squire of the Year – Jonathan Kocmoud

I have also attached to this e-mail message a novena and prayer card for the “Fortnight For Freedom” campaign sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. There is a prayer and reflection for each of the next nine days until July 4th. Please pray very hard for the restoration of our religious liberties.

Ron Gay, FSD
Grand Knight

By GK Ron Gay

Members of Council 3199 in Ridgecrest, CA

Members of Council 3199 in Ridgecrest,
Calif. spread new sand at the playground at St. Ann School to ensure it meets
local and state safety standards. Credit: KofC.org

New Haven, Conn., Jun 13, 2012 / 12:55 pm (CNA).- The
Knights of Columbus Catholic fraternal organization broke records in 2011 with
over $158 million in donations to charity and over 70 million volunteer hours
worked, the organization’s worldwide annual survey says.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson praised the achievement.

“At a time when many in our communities continue to experience economic
hardship, the increasing charitable work of the Knights of Columbus is a
testament to the power of love of neighbor and to the great things that can be
done by those committed to the common good,” he said June 11.

Anderson presented the results to the Knights of Columbus board of directors
and state leaders in their June 6-10 meeting at the organization’s international
headquarters.

Charitable contributions in 2011 exceeded 2010 figures by over $3.4 million,
while knights worked 3,716 more volunteer hours in 2011 than the previous
year.

State and local affiliates of the organization donated $128.9 million, while
the organization’s Supreme Council donated almost $29.2 million.

Large donations in 2011 included $7.5 million in support of priestly and
religious vocations, $3.6 million for the Special Olympics, and $515,000 for the
Knights of Columbus program Coats for Kids. The donations included continued
support for a program with Project Medishare that provides prosthetic limbs to
Haitian children who were injured during the January 2010 earthquake.

Knights of Columbus members also donated blood more than 418,000 times.

Over the past decade, the organization has donated $1.4 billion to charity
and worked over 653 million volunteer hours in support of charitable
initiatives.

Since parish priest Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus
in New Haven, Conn. in 1882, the organization has grown into the world’s largest
lay Catholic organization. It has over 1.8 million members in North and Central
America, the Philippines, the Caribbean and Poland.

By GK Ron Gay

Brothers,

We held our June Council meeting on Wednesday, June 6 with 37 brother knights in attendance.  If you were not able to be there I want you to know that you were missed.  Dinner was provided by Tony Roma’s and Brother Rob Everett.

Randy Hermes with The Bridge Orphan Alliance gave a thought provoking program on the current conditions of orphaned children in the Ukraine and what he and his organization are doing to help the situation.

We have a First Degre scheduled for Wednesday, June 13 beginning with the new member orientation at 6:30 pm.

In his report, the Grand Knight encouraged everyone to see the new movie, “For Greater Glory”.  The film follows the Christero War in Mexico in the late 1920’s.  The religious liberty parallels are remarkable.  The Grand Knight also lifted up Ray Thomas for his run for District Attorney.  Ray didn’t win but he courageously offered himself as a candidate for consideration by the electorate.  The Grand Knight thanked Fr. Uche for his service to our parish and wished him well with his next assignment.  Fr. Uche will be transferring to Austin’s Sacred Heart Parish in July.

In his Chaplain’s Report Fr. Edwin explained about the Corpus Christi procession that would be taking place on June 7.  The Council paid for the canopy that will be used in the procession.  Many thanks to Don Parsons and Matt Tennis for constructing the frame and the poles for the canopy.

The Treasurer reported that we have $13,663.84 in our operating account, and we have $5,096 in our charity account.

The Financial Secretary reported that our membership currently stands at 291 members.  We have recruited 17 new members this fraternal year, with two member losses for a net gain of 15 members.  We have added 5 new insurance members, but dropped three insurance members for a net gain of 2 insurance members.  To reach Star Council status we need 2 more recruits and 4 more insurance members.

The Chancellor reported that we are having a chalice engraved for Brian Reedy, SJ, a seminarian from our parish who will be ordained on June 9.  He also reported on the RSVP program which is the seminarian support program of the Supreme Council.  RSVP has generated over $50 million to more than 80,000 seminarians during the programs 30 years.  In 2010-11, Texas led the Order with 182 Councils and Assemblies donating $284,628 to 386 seminarians.

Deputy Grand Knight Darrell Lovelette had the Program Directors make their reports.

Council Director Bob McKee will be organizing the Council’s annual Hamburger and Corn Cook on June 20th in the PAC.  Members and their families can come to the PAC for hamburgers and corn on the cob at 6 pm.  The Council will hold its annual awards ceremony also.

Church Director Tom Zike reported that there will be a farewell dinner for Fr. Uche on Saturday, June 23 in the PAC after the 5:30 pm mass.  Matt Tennis also asked for volunteers to say the Rosary before the 5:30 pm mass on Saturday evening.

Memberhship Director Richard Darnell reminded everyone of the First Degree on June 13.  He also recognized the 6 new 3rd Degree members for our Council.

Our parish Youth Director and Brother Knight James Longoria asked for assistance with cooking lunch and dinner at the youth retreat on June 9 at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Under new business, the Council voted to donate $250 toward Fr. Uche’s going away dinner.

Assembly 2041 will have their monthly meeting Tuesday, June 12 at St. Mary’s in Hearne.  Its the annual hamburger cook.

Ron Gay, FSD
Grand Knight

By GK Ron Gay

Brothers,
We had a great meeting on Wednesday, May 2 with 25 Brother Knights in attendance.  We welcomed two new Brother Knights to our Council, Rodrigo Denolan and James Longoria.  We now have 15 new members for the fraternal year, and we need at least 2 more to meet our Star Council goal.
 
Our program was Karen Hall with the Central Texas Orphan Ministry Alliance (CTOMA).  Their building on East 29th Street is where we have placed our ultrasound.  Karen told our Council that the ultrasound has already saved several babies from abortion at the hands of Planned Parenthood.  Our Council gave Karen a check for $500 to help defray the costs of operating the ultrasound machine.       
 
The Grand Knight reported on the State Convention held recently in Houston.  The state meeting passed the State Council budgets, and several resolutions.  We also elected new state officers.  The Grand Knight and the Deputy Grand Knight represented our Council at the convention.
 
The Grand Knight also reported that there will be a 2nd and 3rd Degree on Saturday, May 12, in Zurek Hall at St. Thomas Aquinas.  Candidates should report by 9:30 am to the 10:30 am exemplification.
 
The Treasurer reported that we have $14,527.53 in our operating account, and $8,015.14 in our charity account.  The May 2012 Budget summary is attached to this note.
 
Our Council Chaplain, Fr. Edwin, asked the Council to support the parish Corpus Christi celebration on June 7 at St. Thomas Aquinas.  Our Council voted to supply the canopy for the Corpus Christi celebration.
 
Friday, May 4, is Family Movie Night in Zurek Hall at St. Thomas Aquinas.  We will be showing the moving “Courageous” starting at 7 pm.  The Council will provide free popcorn and soft drinks.  Council Director Kevin Biasiolli has done a great job of pulling this project together.    
 
We sponsored another blood Drive, and Community Director Larry Hubbell reports that we collected 13 units of blood.  Thanks to Brother Larry for organizing another successful blood drive.
 
Our Council will help cook the meal for the Special Olympics Equestrian Competition on Saturday, May 19 at the Brazos Expo Center.  We need more volunteers for this project.  Please meet us at the Brazos Expo Center at 4 pm on Saturday, May 19 and give us a hand.
 
Matt Whiteacre reported that the Squire’s have 5 new members this year.
 
Our Council’s annual Hamburger Cook and Corn Cook will be Wednesday, June 20 in the PAC at St. Thomas Aquinas.
 
Our first order of new business was the election of Council Officers.  The list of new officers is attached.
 
In addition to our budgeted contribution to CTOMA our Council voted to make the following contributions. 
 
$250 to St. Thomas Aquinas to replenish paper supplies.
 
$250 to the Military Chaplainn’s Scholarship fund promoted by the Supreme Council. 
 
$50 to the American Legion
 
$500 to the Guatemalan Medical Mission at St. Thomas Aquinas
 
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, June 6 in Zurek Hall.
 
Ron Gay, FSD
Grand Knight