Gr
and Knight's Report
Brothers,
First, let me say what an honor and privilege it for me to serve as your next grand knight for the 2019-2020 Fraternal Year. As a charter member of our council I can fondly think back to our earliest days and marvel at all we have accomplished since our beginning in 1992. When one considers all the money raised for charity, all the many worthwhile programs developed, and the thousands of lives we, as a council, have touched it is clear that The Holy Spirit has guided and blessed our work.
It is with a smile that I recall our first council business meeting held in the parish family room. Our first grand knight, Jim Nass, about to open the meeting realized that he did not have a gavel. He sent me, his Chancellor, to find something that could be used for such a purpose. I raced through the building and ended up in the faith formation preschool classroom. There in a toy box I found a red and yellow, plastic, hammer from a child's Tinker Toy set. That was the gavel that opened our first meeting and started St. Matthew Council on its course to become one of the largest and most successful Knights of Columbus councils in the state. We can all be proud in how far Council 10852 has come and how much we have accomplished over the years.
As your newly elected grand knight I would be remiss in not thanking the out-going council officers and program directors for their leadership and hard work over the past fraternal year. Bob Desch and Richard White with Operation Lamb, Norm Gemignani with Pro-Life and the Baby Bottle
Campaign, Chuck Elgin with Operation Exodus and the Lenten Fish Dinners; Leo Tosto for his work with the Men's Shelter, Randy Mazur with Donated Goods; Ron Schumacher for the Council's Golf Tournament and his work in Lumberton, Chuck Curtis and Jack Hickey for their many hours overseeing the Parish Pancake Breakfast; Mike Hankins for his work as Warden, and John Schilling as Recorder; Steve Doscher for his help in publishing the monthly newsletter, Don Gacevich for his dedicated service as Advocate and leading the ceremonials and degree work of the council.
Most importantly, I wish to recognize and thank our Immediate Past Grand Knight, Tom Larkin, for his sense of humor and Irish wit, along with his dedication and perseverance while leading the council through some turbulent times over the past eighteen months. We all owe Tom a great deal of respect and gratitude for keeping the council together. I want to personally thank him for his help to me during this transition; I will continue to seek his help and guidance.
I take on the duties and responsibilities of Grand Knight willingly without any grand plan or hidden agendas. I do have some ideas that I hope to implement over the coming months, but my main purpose in accepting this challenging position is to keep the council going and to keep the council growing! I ask not only for your support and cooperation, but for your prayers as well. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and bless you and our council.
Virtus!
I once again ask
every Brother in Our Council, to take the Safe Environment Program training provided by Supreme. Below is the link and registration code
:
The Registration Code is:
kofcsafe
If you have any contact with minors in the Parish or Community, you should also take the Parish and Diocese
Protecting God's Children
workshop. This 2½ hour program is intended to educate volunteers to recognize and prevent sexual abuse. Preregistration is required. Sign up online at
www.virtus.org.
Please advise Bob Desch when you have completed either training. He is maintaining a database for the Council.
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LAMB
Perhaps you have noticed on various communications from PGK Tom Larkin his use of the acronym
SPIRIT. As a quick refresher, here are the details:
- SERVICE - to our parish and community
- PRIDE - in our Council
- INTEREST - in our Council's success
- RESPECT - for our Brother Knights
- INSPIRE - our new Brother Knights
- TRUST - in God
The question each of us needs to answer is: What am I doing to show my SPIRIT in our Council and its activities? One way is to support the fund raising activities of LAMB, the North Carolina Knights of Columbus charity that supports those with intellectual and development disabilities - those whom Jesus calls the Least Among My Brothers. The Knights of Columbus are, after all, a Catholic men's service organization - In Service to One In Service to All.
Are you showing your
SPIRIT in our Council's LAMB activities? Vivat Jesus.
May God Bless all Knights,
Bob Desch, PGK
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NC State LAMB Award!
Division IV Highest Average per Member
At the 2019 KofC NC Sate Convention held last weekend, I was honored to accept the LAMB award for Highest Average per Member in Division IV (Largest Councils).
This is the 15th year in a row we have collected more than $50,000 with a whopping $72,000 in 2018! Lifetime collections now surpass 1 million dollars! WOW!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Bob Desch and Richard White and all the Knights who helped make 2018 a banner year! And from what we've done so far this year, we're off to a great start in 2019! For those who haven't worked a LAMB shift, what are you waiting for? Get on the band wagon to help the Least Among My
Brethren!
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Culture of Life
Brothers, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY FOR LIFE!
Imagine what it will be like if abortion advocates actually win in 2020. Abortion advocates want every single state to allow the killing of innocent preborn children through all nine months of pregnancy, just like in New York and Illinois. They want every single restriction on abortion that currently exists to be repealed, such as parental notification laws, bans on inhuman and barbaric procedures, etc. And, they want YOU to fund this ongoing atrocity with YOUR tax dollars. EVERY Democratic candidate for president is already talking about repealing the ban on federal taxpayer dollars being used for abortion if they win the White House.
We already lose over 2,500 preborn children every day to abortion. Planned Parenthood already receives over $500 million a year in taxpayer funding from the federal government...
If abortion advocates succeed, thousands more preborn children will die horrific deaths at the hands of the abortion industry, while they reap the profits.
Thousands more young mothers will suffer the lifelong emotional, psychological, and physical trauma the violence of abortion causes, knowing they participated in the destruction of their children.
And, families will be shattered in the name of "women's rights" and "equality."
This is the future abortion advocates are fighting for, with more power, more money, and more dead children.(from an email from Lila Rose of Live Action)
In addition to PRAYING constantly, we must become involved in the fight to end abortion with the same passion and urgency as if we were fighting a genocide of any other people group.
Notes:
The Charlotte Noise Ordinance update to create buffer or bubble zones around clinics and abortion centers was passed by the City Council on June 24, 2019 with only Phipps, Driggs and Tariq voting against this restriction on free speech.
Planned Parenthood is likely to open their new and larger building at 700 S. Torrence St. near Kings Dr. in July.
CPLAN, Charlotte Pro-Life provides a video of Dr. Matt Harrison's presentation last month at St. Mark on the abortion pill reversal method. You can review the video here:
https://youtu.be/0_1xMeLLEc4
If you know of any doctors or health professionals, please share this with them. Also if you meet a woman who has just taken the abortion pill RU-486, please refer her to this website in case she changes her mind (less than 72 hours):
https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/
Norm Gemignani
Culture of Life Director
ngemignani@gmail.com
205-547-7919
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Donated Goods
A big thank you to all volunteers that help the St. Matthew Donated Goods Ministry!
Next monthly collection of donated goods is Saturday July 13th from 8am until noon.
Volunteers needed
for all activities including sorting and packing but especially those that can help load and unload furniture and those that have trucks that can pick up from households that are donating furniture.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers.
WELCOME to the new Leaders of the Donated Goods Ministry, who will start in May!
Catherine and Kevin Sforza
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Faith, Fraternity, and Service
CONGRATULATIONS to the newly elected Officer's for the 2019/2020 Fraternal Year!
Knights of Columbus
St. Matthew Council 10852
Officers for 2019/2020 Fraternal Year
- Grand Knight - Bill McKenna
- Deputy Grand Knight - Rory Wall
- Recorder - Norm Smith
- Treasurer - Earl Hartenstine
- Chancellor - Jack Hickey
- Advocate - Chuck Elgin
- Warden - Hank Kempton
- Inside Guard - Dave Donovan
- Outside Guard - Mike Hankins
- Trustee 3yr - Tom Larkin
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Operation Exodus
Operation Exodus: Work Day at Offsite Storage - June 13th, 2019
On Thursday, June 13th, Operation Exodus held a Work Day at our Offsite Storage Facility in Wesley Chapel. We accomplished what we set out to do which was to build the Handicap Access Ramp frames for the Paul Stewart ramp and the Frank Steele/Bob Beardsley Ramps that were to be installed on Friday, June 14th and Saturday, June 15th. We were also blessed to have Ron Schumacher's granddaughter Anna Egan join us. Anna helped grandpa organize our Wood Supply at offsite storage. Anna was a HARD Worker! Joining Anna and Past Grand Knight Ron Schumacher were Brother Knights: Past Grand Knight Chuck Elgin, Jim Gilsdorf, Ray Misiunas, John Feathers. John Trojan, a parishioner at St. Gabriel joined us as well.
Operation Exodus: Handicap Access Ramp for Brother Knight Paul Stewart - June 14th, 2019
On Friday, June 14th, Operation Exodus built a new ramp to Brother Knight Paul Stewarts Storage Shed in the back of Paul's Home. Paul cooked his Brother Knights a great lunch afterward. Brother Knight Paul also donated $500 to St. Matthew Council 10852 to be used to support Veterans. THANK YOU PAUL! Pictured at left is the new Ramp. Pictured at right is Paul Stewart with the Operation Exodus Team (left to right): Chuck Elgin, Fred Burton and Jim Gilsdorf. Brother Knight Paul Stewart is front and center. Not pictured is Brother Knight Ray Misiunas (who took the picture).
Operation Exodus: Handicap Access Ramp for Bob Beardsley & Frank Steele - June 15th, 2019
On Saturday, June 15th, Operation Exodus built a new Handicap Access Ramp for Bob Beardsley and Frank Steele. Bob and Frank are members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Bob is infirm and needs the Handicap Access Ramp to enter and exit their home. St. Peter's Episcopal Church paid for the ramp.
Pictured below are two shots of the Beardsley/Steele Handicap Access Ramp
The Operation Exodus team in the Right picture (left to rights) are: Alfonso Gonzaga, a friend of Past Grand Knight and Lecturer Chuck Elgin and a new member of the Operation Exodus Team; Brother Knight Bruce Congdon; Brother Knight Jim Gilsdorf; Frank Steele; Bob Beardsley; John Trojan - a St. Gabriel Parishioner; Not pictured is Brother Knight Joe Corso - President of the Columbus Club of South Charlotte and Brother Knight Ray Misiunas who is taking the picture
Operation Exodus is always looking for helpers. We could really use some younger Brother Knights and/or Father and Son teams to help out. You do not need construction experience, just a willingness to help. Operation Exodus provides all the tools and expertise needed to complete the Design and Construction of the Handicap Access ramps.
If interested in joining the Operation Exodus team, please contact Past Grand Knight Chuck Elgin at 704-614-0504 or celgin01@earthlink.net.
Operation Exodus is a 501©3 Charity and accepts Tax Deductible, Charitable Contributions.
Make Check can payable to "Operation Exodus" and mail to:
Charles Elgin, President, Operation Exodus, Inc., 1204 Churchill Downs Drive, Waxhaw. NC 28173. Your support would be greatly appreciated!
VIVAT JESUS!
Chuck Elgin, Past Grand Knight & President of Operation Exodus
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Field Agent Report
The Catholic Difference. What does that mean, "Discover the Catholic Difference?" Is it just a marketing slogan or is there real meaning behind it?
Let's look at that at several levels. Our Catholicity as an organization forms all that we do. Our Order was founded on the principles of Charity, Unity and Fraternity; as a Catholic business we also have core values of Integrity, Professionalism, Excellence and Respect. In all our dealings we try to embody those values in the field and at our Supreme Office.
Money from insurance premiums and annuity deposits is managed by our investment department colleagues, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors. They manage that money, now amounting to more than $24 billion, using sound investment strategies in full compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' socially responsible investment guidelines. We will not invest in companies that engage in abortions, producing abortifacient drugs, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning or pornography. Our Asset Advisors prove that a business can operate on these principles and still produce a healthy profit. That's a Catholic Difference!
Our charitable contributions of more than $185 million last year went to a wide variety of organizations. Many were Catholic, but some were not. We give money to support worthy causes and we do that, not because they are Catholic, but because we are Catholic. That's what our faith calls us to do; Sirach 40:17 tells us that acts of kindness and charity last for an eternity. We are supporting victims of genocide in Syria and other places in the Middle East. We have placed more than 1000 ultrasound machines in all 50 states and saved more the 1 million lives. We financially and spiritually support seminarians, disaster victims, Special Olympians and many others. All this from the profits of our insurance program and investments and the contributions of members. That's a Catholic Difference!
And speaking of the insurance program, let's talk about the "Discover the Catholic Difference" there. Here are a few examples: First, our products are designed with our members' needs in mind. For example, I'm not aware of any other company that offers a Spousal Waiver of Premium benefit...and there is no additional premium for that! Second, we have never raised our Long-Term Care Insurance premiums, something very few, if any, insurance companies can say. Third, we offer Disability Income Insurance to blue collar workers as well as white and grey collar workers. We recognize that it's not just the affluent that need that coverage. Fourth, we still meet with brother knights and their families in their homes if they prefer; it might be more convenient for them. Fifth, young children; we want to make sure a member has the opportunity to protect their insurability with life insurance that has a guaranteed purchase option. Sixth, our fixed-rate annuity has a minimum guarantee for life, meaning a member will always make money on his money. Seventh, our Supreme Office is currently developing new products to meet even more needs of our members...so stay tuned! Now that's the Catholic Difference!
If you'd like to find out about more Catholic differences that could make a difference in your life, let me know.
Vivat Jesus!
Larry Lantz
KC
Field Agent #18547
(704) 305-0699
larry.lantz@kofc.org
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American Flags for Sale
The George L. Gettier Assembly 780 is selling 3 ft x 5 ft. American Flags for $25. These flags are made in the good old United States of America.
When flags are purchased by a St. Matthew Knights of Columbus Council 10852 member, $5 of the proceeds is returned to Council 10852.
Sir Knight Chuck Elgin, Faithful Navigator of Assembly 780, will have the flags available for sale at Council 10852 and Assembly 780 Business Meetings. Cash, Checks and Credit Cards are accepted.
If you cannot attend an Assembly 780 or Council 10852 Business meeting but are interested in a flag, please contact Faithful Navigator Chuck Elgin at Email:
celgin01@earthlink.net; Call or Text: 704-614-0504.
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO
Where: South Charlotte Banquet Center
9009 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
When: Every Monday with doors opening at 5:30 pm.
Who: Open to the general public.
Games: We play a total of 17 games. The "Early Bird" game starts at 6:45 pm with 100% of the
money collected going to the winner(s). 16 more games follow starting at 7:00 pm.
Prizes: Prizes vary based on the number of people playing and the number of cards
purchased. The typical nightly game prizes have been around: Early Bird game - over $300 ... 8 Regular games - $75 per game ... 7 Special games - $130 per game ... Coverall game - $500.
Cost: The minimum cost is $10. That lets you play 9 of the 17 games. If a person wants to play
all 17 games the minimum is $18. The average player spends around $25. Young children can pay $2 to play the 9 games minimum or $10 to play all 17 games.
How Long: Bingo is normally done by 9:45 pm.
Supports The profits from Bingo goes to the Charities of the Knights of Columbus. We have donated primarily to St. Matthew Catholic Church in the past but have also made contributions to LAMB.
CALLING KNIGHTS TO HELP:
We group our volunteers into 5 teams. Each team is scheduled to work once every 5 weeks. Holidays
nights are covered by a volunteer team, so a team may work once every 6 weeks on occasion. We can use more callers (we can train). We record all items on a computer and if interested, we can train you for that process also.
There are a few husbands and wives working on a team. In addition, we have wives that play while their husband works on a team. If you have a high school or older child that would like to help, we can use them also.
If you work, all items from the Bingo kitchen are free.
This can be a great family team event.
If you have questions or want to help p
lease contact:
Ron Schumacher 704-618-2442 or reschu8@gmail.com
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Lumberton Needs YOU - Now More Than Ever after Florence & Michael!
The Lumberton ministry name is changing to "Christian Responders". While we are still doing work at the Lumberton, NC area, we are also gearing up to be able to respond to out disasters or needs.
We are a truly diversified group of people with several things in common:
* We enjoy helping people in need... in fact it nourishes our souls to get out and actually assist people in need.
* We like experiencing spiritual growth, attending church together, sharing our faith, learning from each other, learning from the people we serve, and being the hands and feet of Jesus.
* We enjoy socialization, making new relationships, and celebrating life together.Together we work, rest, pray, talk, laugh, eat meals, and help God's people who desperately need assistance.
* We enjoy having people of all ages and skills, especially families with teens, and we're committed to building a team of diversified people who enjoy traveling together for a weekend or other time frame to help disaster survivors in their time of need.
WE ARE NOW HELPING HURRICANE FLOOD VICTIMS in LUMBERTON, NC:
- Aug 9
- Sep 13
- Oct 11
- Nov 15
Activity: Helping restore houses so flood victims can return to their homes.
Lodging: We will be staying at the United Methodist Church in Lumberton.
Requirements: A desire to help God help those in need. No experience needed.
Please join "Christian Responders" in helping our neighbors by going to Lumberton, NC for a weekend and working with us and the United Methodist Church in restoring the homes of flood victims.
Contact: For information, please contact Joe George at
jmecgeorge@aol.com or 704-906-0784, Ron Schumacher at
reschu8@gmail.com or 704-618-2442, or Ray Misiunas at 980-226-4100/
Our team is busy recruiting volunteers for our upcoming weekends in March, April and May. We are also seeking trainers to assist with teaching our volunteers basic home repair skills.
Please forward this link to all those who may be interested!
In Gratitude,
Joe George
704-906-0784
Stephanie Chadwick
704-650-1016
Christian Responders Ministry
St. Matthew Catholic Church
Charlotte, NC
Email:
christianresponders@gmail.com
Web:
https://stmatthewcatholic.org/responders
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World Hunger Drive at St. Matthew Catholic Church. The pictures show Earl Hartenstine presenting a $3,000 check to Deacon Bitter in support of the St. Matthew WHD. Brother John Feathers also was involved with the check presentation from Council 10852.
 
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July 2019
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Mens Shelter Serving
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Knight's Business Meeting - Moved to July 10th!
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BINGO
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7 pm - Knight's
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BINGO
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Eucharistic
Adoration
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BINGO
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Assembly 780 Meeting
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Eucharistic
Adoration
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BINGO
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4th on the 5Th
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August 2019
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BINGO
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7 pm - Knight's Business Meeting
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Eucharistic
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Eucharistic
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BINGO
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Assembly 780 Meeting
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6:30 PM Officers Meeting
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2019/2020 Council Officers
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