Volume 23 Issue 8 - February 2020

THE CROSS and COMPASS

"Faith in Action!!!"


 Grand Knight's Report

Brothers,

With Super Bowl VII behind us and the spring-like weather we have been having it’s easy to think that winter is behind us, but those of us who have lived in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina for a while know how quickly things can change. 
Remember, we had a trace of snow in April of last year and measurable amounts of snow in 1981. So, don’t be in a hurry to put those hats and gloves away just yet.

The month of February brings some important programs and activities: Operation Exodus on the 7th and 8th, our council’s Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance on Friday, the 14th; the Parish Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, February 16, and the first of our Lenten Fish Dinners begins on Friday, the 28th.

Most importantly don’t forget to support the upcoming Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance at our very own South Charlotte Banquet Center. I can promise you that the meal and entertainment, not to mention the fellowship of your brother knights, and their ladies, will be well worth the price. 

This is not a fund-raising event for the council; we will most likely spend a little more money than we will bring in. This social event is being held for you and your wives, etc., as a “Thank You” for all your hard work and time spent throughout the fraternal year participating in and supporting our many worthwhile charitable programs. 

This event, just like the upcoming Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration and Dinner is a wonderful way to demonstrate one of the many benefits, to our ladies, of being part of this fraternal order known as the Knights of Columbus. I hope to see many of you there.

Vivat Jesus!
Bill McKenna

Council 10852 has been tasked to sell 400 raffle tickets in support of the upcoming NC State Convention. Tickets cost only $5.00 each (half of which remains with the council = $2.50 for each ticket sold).  If you would like to purchase or help sell a couple of tickets please contact GK Bill McKenna at: billmaurmck@gmail.com or (704)560-6997. Thank you!


Great Wolf Lodge – Concord, NC
Rates starting @ $140/night
(Includes waterpark passes for up to 6 people)
Must use Group Code: 2004NORT
Book by Monday, March 30th
GREATWOLF.COM/CONCORD/PLAN
Or call: 866-751-9653




Brothers All:
 
Operation Exodus will be building a Handicap Access Ramp in the Garage (YEA! No holes to dig!) for Nancy Sinclair end of next week. See attached for the ramp design.
 
Plans are to build the four Ramp Frames on Friday, Feb 7 th at offsite storage. We will then install the ramp in the Sinclair garage on Saturday, Feb 8th.
 
Plans are to start work both days at 9:00 AM. If car pooling to the Sinclair home on Saturday, Fen 8 th , please plan to be at the Offsite Storage location (5804 Wil Plyler Road, Wesley Chapel, NC - corner of Wil Plyler and Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road) no later than 8:00 AM on Saturday, Feb 8 th .
 
The address of the Saturday Build is:
Nancy Sinclair
10406 Sardis Oaks Lane
Charlotte, NC 28104
 
Drinks and Lunch will be provided both days. Please let me know if you can help on one or both days.
 
God Bless!
 
Chuck Elgin, President
Operation Exodus, Inc.
1204 Churchill Downs Drive
Waxhaw, NC 28173
Cell: 704-614-0504
February Parish Pancake Breakfast
The January Parish Pancake Breakfast was once again a success thanks to the many Brother Knights who volunteered to help in the kitchen or the banquet room ensuring that the day ran smooth. These pancake breakfasts are a true service to the parish that encourage Catholic fellowship and good food at a great price. Please look for the SignUp Genius concerning our next Parish Pancake Breakfast which will be on February 16th!,. If your schedule does not allow you to work it, please join us after Mass. Remember to show your membership card and receive a Two Dollar Knight’s Discount!

KofC Parish Pancake Breakfast looking for new leadership!

Brothers Chuck Curtis and Jack Hickey have run our Sunday Pancake Breakfast Program for a number of years and need help from younger Knights – one Sunday per month! They especially would like to train and turnover the program to 2 or 4 Knights who would be willing to learn the process. Both Jack and Chuck will stay on to advise and assist as needed.

Please Step-up and Help!
Least Among My Brethren
 
In 2019 our Council raised a total $54,700 for LAMB, the sixteenth consecutive year that your Council has raised more than $50,000. Thank you for what you do to support those who Jesus calls the Least Among My Brothers.
 
The recipients of our Councils LAMB 2019 funds are :
  • Holy Angels
  •      St. Matthew’s SPRED Program
  •      UMAR
  •      Gigi’s Playhouse
  • Special Olympics Mecklenburg County
  • Mephibosoheth Angelic Riders
 
Our LAMB fund raising events for the first quarter of 2020 are:
  • March 14 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade
  • April 4 & 5 – LAMB after all the Masses at both campuses of St. Matthew
  • April 25 & 26 – LAMB at 7 Harris Teeter stores
 
Please mark your calendars to help. May God bless all Knights and their families.

Columbus Club of South Charlotte, Inc.
Notice of Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Columbus Club of South Charlotte, Inc. will be:
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Time:6:30 PM - Preceding the March business meeting of 
Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council 10852
Place: South Charlotte Banquet Center
9009 Bryant Farms Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Brother Knights,
The Columbus Club of South Charlotte (CCSC) will hold its Annual Membership Meeting at  6:30 PM  on  the 4 th  of March 2020  at the South Charlotte Banquet Center.  This will occur before the regular monthly Knights of Columbus Council 10852 Business Meeting.

The meeting will review 2019 major events and present the annual financial report for the CCSC and the South Charlotte Banquet Center.

In addition, there will be three board of director positions open for election.  Any Brother Knight interested in running should contact Joe Corso at (703) 340-4099 for more information.  Nominations will also be taken at the Annual Meeting.

Please join us and see what your Club has been doing for the membership, engage in discussion on the future, and help elect its leadership team.

Joe Corso
President, 
Columbus Club of South Charlotte
Golf Outing
Save the date for the next Knights of Columbus Golf Outing on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. It will be a Raintree Country Club with a noon Shotgun start.

If anyone wants to join the Golf Committee, please contact Ron Schumacher at reschu8@gmail.com or 704-618-2442.
Asking all Knights to donate a prize for the outing. Thanks in advance .
2020 Dues Due!

It's that time of year again, when the weather turns colder, there's excitement in the air and Financial Secretary John Coudriet is looking for YOUR Dues! To avoid the expense of mailing a reminder to you, why don't you pay ahead? Cash, Check or Charge!

To make it easy, below is a link to our PayPal site where you can pay withr a Credit Card or PayPal. So Do it NOW - so John can sleep at night...
DONATED GOODS:

St. Matthew Donated Goods Ministry -
Saturday February 8,2020

Mission : To help others that are in need through monthly collections of gently used clothing and household items which are distributed to parishioners and agencies in Charlotte, Union County and western NC.

Description of agencies served:  Your donations are distributed to a number of agencies that serve the homeless, the working poor, and families affected by violence and abuse. Through the parish we support parishioners, and local ministries including Catholic Charities, Crisis Assistance and Refugee Ministries.  Click here  for more information on the Western North Carolina agencies we serve.
KofC St. Matthew Council 10852 Culture of Life Corner


Sidewalk Advocates for Life Sidewalk Counseling Training

The new “sidewalk counseling” program uses a very compassionate woman-oriented method to save lives and help women in unplanned pregnancies by offering them life affirming options. The January 18 Training Session and February 1st follow-up training was very well attended. Prayer partners are needed to team with sidewalk counselors whenever a sidewalk counselor is present at the Hebron abortion facility. The objective is to have at least two teams cover the hours from 9 AM to 12 PM on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the days the Hebron abortion facility is performing abortions. Go to: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2694495/false#/invitation to sign up as a prayer partner at Hebron. The defenseless unborn babies need us there every week. Email me at ngemignani@gmail.com if you need directions or have questions. We are praying for an abundance of saves this new year at the four abortion centers in Charlotte

Pro-Life Fundraiser
Because we no longer have a Baby Bottle Campaign at St. Matthew Church, our Council is looking for suggestions for a Pro-Life Fundraiser and someone to lead it.

Pro Life Calendar:
February 26th, Ash Wednesday and the start of 40 Days for Life.
April 5th, Palm Sunday and the end date of 40 Days for Life.
Help Pregnancy Center Golf Tournament, May 4 at the Firethorne Country Club.
Help Pregnancy Center Banquet for Life, October 1 at the Agricultural Center in Monroe.
Mira Via Golf Tournament for Life, May 13 at Old Sycamore Golf Plantation.
Mira Via Annual Banquet, October 22 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Miscellaneous:
Avoid buying Girl Scout Cookies because of their ties to Planned Parenthood.

What if the Government funded Adoptions instead of Abortions?

Choice is not merely a word. Choice is a person. Because God chooses to love us, we choose to love other; we choose to be a voice for the “voiceless”. (Josiah Presley, abortion survivor)

Human rights start in the womb.

Celebrities call for a ban on boiling Lobsters because they feel pain, but aborting babies is fine?

Americans are born to be free. If only they were free to be born.

Human from Conception, No Exceptions.

No person should be killed because they are an inconvenience.

“When we put away selfishness we start to see what makes life worth living” John Leonetti.
Stand for Life, the preeminent issue for the 2020 elections. Nothing takes more Lives. No victim is more defenseless. No right is more fundamental.
FIELD AGENT

Please direct questions to General Agent Chris Mahoney at (919) 719-2715 or Christopher.Mahoney@kofc.org .
Peace and continued blessings to you and your family in 2020.

Vivat Jesus!
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.

Past Faithful Navigator Chuck Elgin, 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 Chuck at Email:  celgin01@earthlink.net ; Call or Text: 704-614-0504.
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 to 9:45 pm
Who:    Open to the general public

Supports: The profits from Bingo go 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, UMAR and others.

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 please contact:
Ron Schumacher 704-618-2442 or reschu8@gmail.com
Mark your calendars! 

KofC Council 10852 - Faith in Action!

February Calendar Events:

February 4 – Men’s Shelter Serving at 4 pm
February 5 – Council Business Meeting at 7 pm
February 7 – Eucharistic Adoration (every Friday) at 11 pm
February 7&8 – Operation Exodus
February 8 – Donated Goods
February 10 – BINGO (every Monday) at 6:30 pm
February 12 – SCBC Director’s Meeting at 7 pm
February 14 – Valentine’s Day Dinner/Dance at 6:30 pm
February 16 – Parish Pancake Breakfast
February 19 – Council Officer’s Meeting at 6:30 pm
February 19 – Knight’s Mass at 7:30 pm
February 26 – Ash Wednesday
February 28 – Lenten Fish Dinner at 5 pm

March Calendar Events :

March 3 – Men’s Shelter Serving at 4 pm
March 4 – Council Business Meeting at 7 pm
March 6 – Eucharistic Adoration (every Friday) at 11 pm
March 7 – Men’s Conference at St. Matthew Church
March 9 – BINGO (every Monday) at 6:30 pm 
March 11 – SCBC Director’s Meeting at 7 pm
March 13 – Lenten Fish Dinner (every Friday) at 5 pm
March 14 – Donated Goods
March 14 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Uptown
March 15 – Parish Pancake Breakfast
March 15 – St. Patrick’s Day Celebration & Dinner at 6:30 pm
March 18 – Knight’s Mass at 7:30 pm
March 25– Council Officer’s Meeting at 6:30 pm
March 27– Lenten Fish Dinner (every Friday) at 5 pm




Happy Birthday!  

The Grand Knight and Council Officers wish all Brother Knights with February birthdays a Very Happy Birthday!  May God bless you with good health and much happiness for many more years. 
We especially want to recognize a few of our Senior Knights:
 
Brother Clarence Krull (1935)
Brother Charles Muller (1935)
Brother Paul Sepsey (1939)
Brother William Bauer (1942)
Brother Stephen Rusinko (1943)
and the baby of the group…
Brother James Weiland (1944)
 
Council Awards and Recognition:

The Grand Knight and Council Officers are pleased to announce that Brother Joseph Corso was selected as January’s Knight of the Month . Joe serves as the President of both the Columbus Club and the South Charlotte Banquet Center and is a major reason for their success. He is also active in many other programs such as BINGO, Operation Exodus, and Build-a-Crèche. Joe is a great example of a dedicated and active Knight. Congratulations Brother Joe!

Our Family of the Month for January was Bob and Philomena Mrkus . They are a great example of a strong, faith-filled, Catholic family. The Mrkus family has actively supported many KofC programs such as weekly BINGO, the Parish Pancake Breakfast, and Operation LAMB. We greatly appreciate their time and dedication to Council 10852. Congratulations to Bob and Philomena
Officers Contact List
For The Good of the Order: 

Please pray for your Brother Knights, their families, and friends, those who have died, are sick, or in distress. Especially remember: Brother Jack Hickey, Brother Bill LoPresti, Brother Joe Beato and Carol; Marina Rief, Tom Gove, Pat Briney, Wanda Damanski, Brother Bob Geyer+, Fernando Carlos Avendano+, and David Efird+. We ask that in His mercy God may bless them, watch over them, and guide them now and forever. Amen!


  • Mary, Queen of Knights Pray for us