april 2016 voice of the spirit

24
1 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS APRIL 2016 www.kofcohio.org Monthly Publication of the Ohio State Council Brother Knights, A little about membership… We are back! We are off and running again in new members. We finished March with an intake of 282 members for a 12.53% intake. We ended up in second place for the month in Division 1. To date we stand at 74.00% of our Supreme Council membership requirements. We rank 22nd of the 74 K of C Jurisdictions worldwide and we rank 3rd among the Division 1 State Councils still slightly behind Florida and Texas. The best news is that we are continuing to grow. I don’t like to get too far ahead of myself but we are at +261 Net/Net (intake less suspensions, withdraws, deaths, and out of state transfers) and we are beginning to show new growth in Ohio. This places us 2nd in the Order slightly behind Louisiana. With another couple of good recruiting months Ohio could be over the 58,000 member mark. Today we stand at 57,999 members strong. Thank you to everyone who is working to make this happen. We would like to welcome Brothers Michael Felerski and Michael Freil to the membership team. Brother Felerski will assume the role of Diocesan Membership Chairman for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Brother Freil will take on a newly created position as an Assistant State Membership Director. Brother Freil will comb through the vast number knights living in Ohio and holding membership in another state. It will be his job to convince that Knight to transfer membership to a local council near his home. Grand Knights and Membership Directors please keep membership the foremost priority in every one of your councils throughout this great state of Ohio. We have begun to show an increase in the number of councils recruiting and bringing in new members. To date about 85% of the Council's around the state have recruited a new membership and are working to place Ohio in the Circle of Honor. If the State of Ohio is to improve our membership status and grow as a jurisdiction we need the other 15% or roughly 70 councils to step up and begin recruiting. A new member from each of those councils would make a significant impact on our bottom line today. We are all on the same team and all in the game together. I need a firm commitment from all involved to make this happen. We are again looking for some opportunities again in April. There are still a lot of prospective members just waiting to be asked or need to be contacted. Inspector Membership has some incentives in April for Councils that bring back into the Order three reactivated members. There is no rumor anymore. The State Deputy and Inspector Membership have issued an additional three month Membership Program Contest for March, April, and May. Many of you have seen it on the Super Cash Bonanza Road Show Meetings. It’s called “The Land of 1,000 Members”. Watch us on Facebook or get signed up for our social media blitz for this new membership incentive. Supreme Council has announced the requirements for earning VIP Bonus Points for the second half of the Fraternal Year. See your Grand Knight, District Deputy, or State Membership Director Nick Gresko for details. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson by a unanimous vote of approval from the State Deputies gathered in San Antonio approved the Supreme Per Capita Star Council (Continued on page 2) CHARITY - UNITY - FRATERNITY - PATRIOTISM

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Monthly Publication for the Ohio State Council of the Knights of Columbus

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Page 1: April 2016 Voice of the Spirit

1

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS APRIL 2016

www.kofcohio.org Monthly Publication of the Ohio State Council

Brother Knights,

A little about membership…

We are back! We are off and running again in

new members. We finished March with an

intake of 282 members for a 12.53% intake.

We ended up in second place for the month in

Division 1. To date we stand at 74.00% of our

Supreme Council membership requirements.

We rank 22nd of the 74 K of C Jurisdictions

worldwide and we rank 3rd among the

Division 1 State Councils still slightly behind

Florida and Texas.

The best news is that we are continuing to

grow. I don’t like to get too far ahead of

myself but we are at +261 Net/Net (intake

less suspensions, withdraws, deaths, and out

of state transfers) and we are beginning to

show new growth in Ohio. This places us 2nd

in the Order slightly behind Louisiana. With

another couple of good recruiting months

Ohio could be over the 58,000 member mark.

Today we stand at 57,999 members strong.

Thank you to everyone who is working to

make this happen.

We would like to welcome Brothers Michael

Felerski and Michael Freil to the membership

team. Brother Felerski will assume the role of

Diocesan Membership Chairman for the

Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Brother Freil will

take on a newly created position as an

Assistant State Membership Director. Brother

Freil will comb through the vast number

knights living in Ohio and holding

membership in another state. It will be his job

to convince that Knight to transfer

membership to a local council near his home.

Grand Knights and Membership Directors

please keep membership the foremost priority

in every one of your councils throughout this

great state of Ohio. We have begun to show

an increase in the number of councils

recruiting and bringing in new members. To

date about 85% of the Council's around the

state have recruited a new membership and

are working to place Ohio in the Circle of

Honor. If the State of Ohio is to improve our

membership status and grow as a jurisdiction

we need the other 15% or roughly 70 councils

to step up and begin recruiting. A new

member from each of those councils would

make a significant impact on our bottom line

today. We are all on the same team and all in

the game together. I need a firm commitment

from all involved to make this happen.

We are again looking for some opportunities

again in April. There are still a lot of

prospective members just waiting to be asked

or need to be contacted. Inspector

Membership has some incentives in April for

Councils that bring back into the Order three

reactivated members.

There is no rumor anymore. The State Deputy

and Inspector Membership have issued an

additional three month Membership Program

Contest for March, April, and May. Many of

you have seen it on the Super Cash Bonanza

Road Show Meetings. It’s called “The Land

of 1,000 Members”. Watch us on Facebook

or get signed up for our social media blitz for

this new membership incentive.

Supreme Council has announced the

requirements for earning VIP Bonus Points

for the second half of the Fraternal Year. See

your Grand Knight, District Deputy, or State

Membership Director Nick Gresko for details.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson by a

unanimous vote of approval from the State

Deputies gathered in San Antonio approved

the Supreme Per Capita Star Council

(Continued on page 2)

CHARITY - UNITY - FRATERNITY - PATRIOTISM

Page 2: April 2016 Voice of the Spirit

2

Incentive Plan for another year. Achieve Star

Council status at your council and be exempt

from Supreme Per Capita payments for one

year.

Growth in new membership brings new

Brother Knights, new ideas, and new energy

into your councils. Please get on track with

your councils membership program and sign

up a new member today. If you haven’t

brought in a new member this year please

take a moment and ask yourself why.

Congratulations to the February Membership

Contest winners and all who brought in a new

member that month. Contest winners should

be listed in State Membership Director Nick

Gresko’s column.

New Council Development…

Brother Knights please welcome Wright State

University Council #16425. We cannot thank

District Deputy #4 Brother Frank Carchedi

enough for the work on instituting this new

council. With the addition of Wright State we

now have satisfied the number of new

councils required by the Supreme Council.

Just in case you’re wondering…we’re not

done yet.

Some thoughts on degree work…and its

working!

Please continue to schedule frequent degrees.

Our requirement is one Admission (1st)

Degree per District per month, statewide. I

see the results of these frequent degrees

already paying off in our membership

numbers. Every District Deputy is required to

schedule and conduct an Admissions (1st)

Degree in his district every month. Today

Ohio scheduled for April. I don’t believe

there are enough posted to handle the

expected new membership load across the

state. Plan out your degree schedule, the

candidates will come.

Please post all (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) degrees on the

State Website. The degree posting page

should be overflowing with scheduled

degrees. There should be a minimum of 80 1st

Degrees per month posted on the State

Website. District Deputies you need to post

degree work in your district. If you schedule

them they will come. If you post them others

can see them and they will come too.

District Deputies and Grand Knights please

continue to file the Degree Exemplification

Report Form 450 and Form 450C. This form

enables the State Council to track a new

members progress throughout Ohio and

insure that new member has been recorded

and credited for your council at Supreme

Council.

Please continue to remind your candidates

about the proper attire when they come to

take any of the degrees. A candidate in t-

shirts and shorts is just not an acceptable

dress for a candidate making a degree. They

should be dressed at the very minimum some

type of Dockers or dress pants and a polo

shirt or dress shirt.

Again more Squires Congratulations...

Congratulations to our State Squire Circle.

We would like to welcome Circle #5823 in

Canton under the sponsorship of Council

#4733 and Grand Knight Donald J. Boron.

The Squires continue to gain in membership

throughout Ohio and are ranked second in the

Order. They are 3rd stateside with a 72

member intake and a net intake of 62 new

members.

Circle of Mary…

Marysville Council #5534 will invest a

“Circle of Mary” for young women at their

council this coming May 15th.

Congratulations to those Brother Knights and

District Deputy #49 Duane Lord in making

this possible for the young women of Our

Lady of Lourdes Parish.

Supreme Council Icon Program…

The Holy Family Icons are now circulating

and we have begun the Icon Tour through

Ohio. Hopefully the four icons will circulate

through the State of Ohio as planned.

Look further to the State Website for the

schedule and when the icon will come to your

district. Please take full advantage of this

prayerful opportunity within your council and

parishes.

Euclid – Immaculata Council Merger…

Congratulations to the Brother Knights of

Euclid Council #3164 and Immaculata

Council #3767 upon the approval of a merged

council by the Supreme Council Board of

Directors. Immaculata council was a spinoff

of the Euclid Council in the early ‘50s.

Economic times and the closure of parishes in

the city of Euclid have made it difficult to

stay solvent. The new merged council will be

known as Euclid Council #3164.

Congratulations and best wishes for the future

of the Knights of Columbus in the city of

Euclid.

State Council Financials…

State Secretary Brother Kevin Miller, State

Treasurer Robert Byers, and myself are

working on preparing the State Council

Financials for audit by Blue & Company,

LLC to be ready for the State Convention.

The State Council fiscal year ends April 30,

2016 and will have limited time for auditing

due to the date of the convention.

Paperwork and more paperwork…

We are just a little behind in filing some of

the Supreme Council paperwork. To date 39

Councils have yet to file Report of Officers

Form 185. This was due last summer right

after your council elections. The Report of

Service Personnel Form 365 was also due at

this time. To date there are 53 Council who

have yet to file that report. The Fraternal

Survey Form 1728 was due the end of

January and 45 Councils are now late in filing

this report. The Council Audit Form 1295 for

the 2nd half of the Fraternal Year is now

overdue to Supreme Council.

The six Diocesan Coordinators along with the

District Deputies have been instructed to

clean up this backlog of paperwork by months

end. Please make every effort to work with

these Brother Knights and assist them in

completing this task.

“Town Hall” Meetings…

The State Deputy “Town Hall” meetings are

over for this fraternal year. These meeting

have proven to be a great place to learn about

the working of our Order, Church Drives,

(Continued from page 1)

(Continued on page 3)

Page 3: April 2016 Voice of the Spirit

3

programming and membership

recruiting. Look for another round of

“Town Hall” meetings statewide to

begin this August sometime after we

return from the Supreme Convention.

Special Lapel Pin…

I have been working with Vice Supreme

Master Donald Hall to produce a special

lapel pin for any 4th Degree member who

brings in a new member and get him

through his first 3 degrees. Our 4th

Degree Sir Knights are always looking

for ways to increase not only their

membership but the State Councils as

well. The final details of the pin have

been finalized and are in production. It is

an attractive pin that I believe any

Brother Knight would be proud to wear.

Look for a form here in the “Voice of

the Spirit” that will enable to you obtain

this pin provided the requirements have

been met.

WWW.KOFCOHIO.ORG

The State Website is up and running for

the first four General Program grading

periods. Yes we have had some web

issues but to my knowledge they are

minimal. All problems to my knowledge

have been worked out with Webmaster

Brother Gilliland on a person to person

basis. Remember our website is still a bit

new and not everything it is capable of

doing is in place.

With this said and confident in the

working of the Website thus far Brother

Gilliland has given District Deputies the

ability to view all of their respective

councils programming. Brother Gilliland

is also working on the State Chaplain’s

Page, the State Deputy’s Page, links to

video productions on the Supreme

Website, State Council Website tutorials,

and better information to our

Membership Inquiry Page.

We have added the ability of the District

Deputies and Grand Knights to use a

fillable 450 and 450C Degree Report

Form on the Website. Filing of this form

on the State Website will generate a

copy to the Supreme Council, State

Membership Director Nick Gresko, and

to me. Look for this form under the

“Forms Tab” at the top of the Website

page. If this proves successful and

reliable it is just a precursor to a fillable

From 185 and Form 365 this June.

Please be patient. Look for a more

complete and informed website this

month. I will be personally meeting with

Webmaster Gilliland to go over every

aspect of the site to see where we can

make an improvement. If you have any

issues please address them to me and I'll

get with you and Brother Bob to get

them resolved.

Super Cash Bonanza…

The 2016 Super Cash Bonanza

Campaign is underway. State Treasurer

“Farmer Bob” Bob Byers and his “Road

Show” Team did a great job of

presenting the campaign to the

membership. Nearly 600,000 tickets

were distributed at nine “Road Show”

stops in Ohio. Look for more in the State

Treasurer’s article.

State Convention 2016…

Grand Knights and State personnel

please be on the lookout for the 2nd call

to convention. It will be taken to the post

office for delivery on Thursday, April

7th. The 117th State Convention will take

place the weekend of May 20, 21 and 22

a week prior to Memorial Day weekend

at the Kalahari Resort and Convention

Center in Sandusky, Ohio. Please take

the time to read and look through the

information provided. Many of the

enclosures are date sensitive.

There is an invitation and some

instruction from the State Secretary. The

Cleveland Convention Committee has

some instructions regarding the

convention weekend. Look for

information on Registration, In

Memoriam, Program Book Ads,

Babysitting, Msgr. Krispinski Golf

Outing, Lake Erie Fishing Charter, and

the Friday Night Party and Night at the

Races.

We are fortunate and pleased to learn the

Brother Lou Barbour, Supreme Council

Vice President of Membership Growth

has been assigned to attend our state

convention. We look forward to meeting

with Brother Lou and wife Celia next

month.

In closing…

May God continue to Bless you as you

continue to the work you do in Jesus

name. Dedicate everything you do for

Him to the honor and glory of God and

see what changes it will make in your

life.

Bob Collins

State Deputy

(Continued from page 2)

April DD

Requirements George Metz, State District Deputy

Director

Worthy District

Deputies,

The requirements

for April are

summarized below

and listed in the

District Deputy

Manual.

Remember the

monthly reports are

due by 11:59PM on

the 5th of every

month. We need a

100% on-time turn

in. These reports

are to be done on

line using the link to the monthly report form. If

you are having trouble contact your diocesan

coordinator for assistance. The numbers for this

report should be for March ONLY.

April Requirements

Pennies for Heaven is due by April 15.

Register for State Convention.

Follow up with Councils on

membership. April 15 is the last day to

qualify for awards at the State Convention.

Submit the Supreme Form 450 for all

Degrees in your district to Supreme and the

State Membership Director .

Urge all you councils to continue to work towards

Star Council

Thank you for all the great work you do.

George Metz

District Deputy Director

Page 4: April 2016 Voice of the Spirit

4

Reflections from State Chaplain Father Edward Janoch, State Chaplain

One thousand nine hundred eighty-three years ago, the God-Man, Jesus the Christ, rose from the dead.

From that moment on, the world has never been the same. Throughout the centuries the Saints of God have

tried to express this wonderful mystery in words to help us to share in this mystery. I have found that one of

the most descriptive expressions to express the joy of God’s marvelous love and mercy for the human race,

especially of the Resurrection of Christ, is in the Easter Proclamation: The Exsultet. Instead of me trying to

express this joy in my own feeble words, I have chosen to print The Exsultet for our own personal

reflection, meditation, and prayer. A Blessed Easter to All!

Vivat Jesus!

Fr. Edward J. Janoch, Worthy State Chaplain

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven,

exult, let Angel ministers of God exult,

let the trumpet of salvation

sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph!

Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her,

ablaze with light from her eternal King,

let all corners of the earth be glad,

knowing an end to gloom and darkness.

Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice,

arrayed with the lightning of his glory,

let this holy building shake with joy,

filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.

(Therefore, dearest friends,

standing in the awesome glory of this holy

light,

invoke with me, I ask you,

the mercy of God almighty,

that he, who has been pleased to number me,

though unworthy, among the Levites,

may pour into me his light unshadowed,

that I may sing this candle’s perfect praises).

(V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit.)

V. Lift up your hearts.

R. We lift them up to the Lord.

V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

R. It is right and just.

It is truly right and just,

with ardent love of mind and heart

and with devoted service of our voice,

to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty

Father,

and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only

Begotten.

Who for our sake paid Adam’s debt to the

eternal

Father,

and, pouring out his own dear Blood,

wiped clean the record of our ancient

sinfulness.

These, then, are the feasts of Passover,

in which is slain the Lamb, the one true

Lamb,

whose Blood anoints the doorposts of

believers.

This is the night,

when once you led our forebears, Israel’s

children,

from slavery in Egypt

and made them pass dry-shod through the

Red Sea.

This is the night

that with a pillar of fire

banished the darkness of sin.

This is the night

that even now, throughout the world,

sets Christian believers apart from worldly

vices

and from the gloom of sin,

leading them to grace

and joining them to his holy ones.

This is the night,

when Christ broke the prison-bars of death

and rose victorious from the underworld.

Our birth would have been no gain,

had we not been redeemed.

O wonder of your humble care for us!

O love, O charity beyond all telling,

to ransom a slave you gave away your Son!

O truly necessary sin of Adam,

destroyed completely by the Death of Christ!

O happy fault

that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!

O truly blessed night,

worthy alone to know the time and hour

when Christ rose from the underworld!

This is the night

of which it is written:

The night shall be as bright as day,

dazzling is the night for me,

and full of gladness.

The sanctifying power of this night

dispels wickedness, washes faults away,

restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to

mourners,

drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings

down

the mighty.

On this, your night of grace, O holy Father,

accept this candle, a solemn offering,

the work of bees and of your servants’ hands,

an evening sacrifice of praise,

this gift from your most holy Church.

But now we know the praises of this pillar,

which glowing fire ignites for God’s honor,

a fire into many flames divided,

yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,

for it is fed by melting wax,

drawn out by mother bees

to build a torch so precious.

O truly blessed night,

when things of heaven are wed to those of

earth,

and divine to the human.

Therefore, O Lord,

we pray you that this candle,

hallowed to the honor of your name,

may persevere undimmed,

to overcome the darkness of this night.

Receive it as a pleasing fragrance,

and let it mingle with the lights of heaven.

May this flame be found still burning

by the Morning Star:

the one Morning Star who never sets,

Christ your Son,

who, coming back from death’s domain,

has shed his peaceful light on humanity,

and lives and reigns for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

Page 5: April 2016 Voice of the Spirit

5

The Saint of the Month St. Bernadette Soubirous April 16th

St. Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France

on January 7, 1844. Her parents were very

poor and she was the first of nine children.

She was baptized at St. Pierre's, the local

parish church, on January 9. As a toddler,

Bernadette contracted cholera and suffered

extreme asthma. Unfortunately, she lived the

rest of her life in poor health.

On Thursday, February 11,

1858, fourteen-year-old

Bernadette was sent with her

younger sister and a friend to

gather firewood, when a very

beautiful lady appeared to her

above a rose bush in a grotto

called Massabielle.

The woman wore blue and white

and smiled at Bernadette before

making the sign of the cross

with a rosary of ivory and gold.

Bernadette fell to her knees,

took out her own rosary and

began to pray. Bernadette later

described the woman as "uo

petito damizelo," meaning "a

small young lady. Though her

sister and friend claimed they

were unable to see her,

Bernadette knew what she saw

was real.

Three days later, Bernadette, her

sister Marie, and other girls

returned to the grotto, where

Bernadette immediately knelt,

saying she could see "aquero"

again. She fell into a trance and

one girl threw holy water at the

niche and another threw a rock

that shattered on the ground. It

was then that the apparition

disappeared.

On February 18, Bernadette said "the vision"

asked her to return to the grotto each day for a

fortnight. With each visit, Bernadette saw the

Virgin Mary and the period of daily visions

became known as "la Quinzaine sacrée,"

meaning "holy fortnight."

When Bernadette began to visit the grotto, her

parents were embarrassed and attempted to

stop her, but were unable to do so. On

February 25, Bernadette claimed to have had

a life-changing vision.

The vision had told her "to drink of the water

of the spring, to wash in it and to eat the herb

that grew there" as an act of penance. The

next day, the grotto's muddy waters had been

cleared and fresh clear water flowed.

On March 2, at the thirteenth of the

apparitions, Bernadette told her family the

lady said "a chapel should be built and a

procession formed."

During her sixteenth vision, which Bernadette

claims to have experienced for over an hour,

was on March 25. Bernadette claimed she had

asked the woman her name, but her question

was only met with a smile. Bernadette asked

again, three more times, and finally the

woman said, "I am the Immaculate

Conception."

Though many townspeople believed she had

indeed been seeing the Holy Virgin,

Bernadette's story created a division in her

town. Many believed she was telling the

truth, while others believed she had a mental

illness and demanded she be put in a mental

asylum. Some believed Bernadette's visions

meant she needed to pray for penance.

Church authorities and the French

government rigorously interviewed the girl,

and by 1862 they confirmed she spoke truth.

Since Bernadette first caused the spring to

produce clean water, 69 cures have been

verified by the Lourdes Medical Bureau, and

after what the Church claimed were

"extremely rigorous scientific and medical

examinations," no one was able to explain

what caused the cures.

The Lourdes Commission that

initially examined Bernadette, ran

an analysis on the water but were

only able to determine it contained

a high mineral content. Bernadette

believed it was faith and prayer that

was responsible for curing the sick.

Bernadette asked the local priest to

build a chapel at the site of her

visions and the Sanctuary of Our

Lady of Lourdes is now one of the

major Catholic pilgrimage sites in

the world. Many other chapels and

churches has been built around it,

including the Basilica of St. Pius X,

which can accommodate 25,000

people and was dedicated by the

future Pope St. John XXIII when he

was the Papal Nuncio to France.

Following the miracles and

constructions, Bernadette decided

she did not like the attention she

was getting and went to the hospice

school run by the Sisters of Charity

of Nevers, where she was taught to

read and write. Though she

considered joining the Carmelites,

her health was too fragile.

On July 29, 1866, Bernadette took

the religious habit of a postulant

and joined the Sisters of Charity at

their motherhouse at Nevers. Her

Mistress of Novices was Sister

Marie Therese Vauzou and the Mother

Superior at the time named her Marie-

Bernarde, in honor of her grandmother.

Bernadette spent the rest of her life there

working as an infirmary assistant, and later a

sacristan. People admired her humility and

spirit of sacrifice. Once a nun asked her if she

had temptations of pride because she was

favored by the Blessed Mother. "How can I?"

she answered quickly. "The Blessed Virgin

(Continued on page 6)

Page 6: April 2016 Voice of the Spirit

6

chose me only because I was the most

ignorant."

Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with

tuberculosis of the bone in her right knee and

was unable to take part in convent life. She

died in the Sainte Croix (Holy Cross)

Infirmary of the Convent of Saint-Gildard at

the age of 35 on April 16, 1879, while praying

the holy rosary.

Even on her deathbed Bernadette suffered

severe pain and, keeping with the Virgin

Mary's admonition of "Penance, Penance,

Penance," she proclaimed "all this is good for

Heaven!" Bernadette's last words were,

"Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.

A poor sinner, a poor sinner."

The nuns of Saint-Gildard, with the support of

the bishop of Nevers, applied to the civil

authorities for permission to bury Bernadette's

body in a small chapel dedicated to Saint

Joseph, which was within the confines of the

convent. Permission was granted on April 25,

1879, and on April 30, the local Prefect

pronounced his approval of the choice of the

site for burial. On May 30, 1879, Bernadette's

coffin was transferred to the crypt of the

chapel of Saint Joseph, where a very simple

ceremony was held to commemorate the

event.

Thirty years later, on September 22, two

doctors and a sister of the community

exhumed her body. They claimed the crucifix

and rosary she carried had been oxidized but

her body remained incorrupt. The incorruption

was cited as one of the miracles supporting her

canonization.

In 1925, Bernadette's body was exhumed yet

again. This time relics were sent to Rome and

an imprint of her face was molded, which was

used to create a wax mask to be placed on her

body. There were also imprints of her hands to

be used for the presentation of her body,

which was placed in a gold and crystal

reliquary in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at

the mother house in Nevers.

Saint Bernadette is often depicted in prayer

with a rosary or appealing to the Holy Virgin.

She was beatified in 1925 and canonized by

Pope Pius XI in December 1933. Saint

Bernadette is the patroness of illness, people

ridiculed for their piety, poverty, shepherds,

shepherdesses, and Lourdes, France.

catholic.org

(Continued from page 5) St. John’s Villa and Local Knights Kick-off Charity Campaign Our Lady of Carroll County Council #15401

Carrollton, Ohio – Apr. 4, 2016 – St. John’s

Villa and Our Lady of Carroll County

Knights of Columbus Council 15401 are

joining hands in 2016 Super Cash Bonanza

Charity Campaign, which they kicked off

with the mailing of 15,940 $5.00 Charity

Tickets. With the purchase of each ticket,

the donor is entered into the drawing for a

piece of the $108,000 in cash prizes, but

most importantly, the Villa gets at least

$2.00 from each ticket to use to further their mission helping the developmentally disa-

bled in Carroll County.

The bible Study group from Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church provided the manpower.

They worked for 3 days to collate the material and stuff the envelopes for the mailing. In

addition to those pictured, the team included, Chris and Rose Rombough, Debbie Lum-

ley, Cynthia Bailey, Linda DeSimone and Cliff Calvert. If you would like to purchase any

tickets to help the St. John’s Villa family, please call Susan DeChiara at 330-627-9789.

The annual drawing, sponsored by the Ohio State Council of the Knights of Columbus

will be held on May 21 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. All proceeds go to

charity. It features 25 pr izes ranging from $500 up to a grand pr ize of $49,680, pay-

able at $414 per month for 10 years. Last year’s winner was, Isaac Valle of Defiance,

Ohio.

There is still time for your charitable organization to participate and reap the benefits.

For more information, call Fred Kungl at 330-495-3863 or Dan Hitchcock at 330-324-

7635.

St. John's Villa is committed to living out the healing ministry of Jesus by providing ex-

ceptional and compassionate service that promotes dignity and well-being for the people

they serve, particularly those who are developmentally disabled.

With more than 1.8 million members, the Knights of Columbus is the world's largest

Catholic lay organization. It provides members and families with volunteer opportunities

in service to the Catholic Church, the community, families and young people. Last year,

the knights of Columbus at all levels of the organization raised and distributed $174 mil-

lion to charitable and benevolent causes and rendered 71.5 million hours of volunteer

service. At the local level, Council 15401, currently with 45 members, raised and distrib-

uted $3758 to charitable causes and rendered 2,687 hours of volunteer service.

FIRST CROP OF SUPER CASH BONANZA

RAFFLE TICKETS HARVESTING ON

APRIL 15,

2016!!!

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7

Membership Nick Gresko, State Membership Director

Can You Smell Circle of Honor

We are at the home stretch of this fraternal year. Once this article

comes out we will have a little under 3 months left in this fraternal

year ending June 30, 2016 to achieve Circle of Honor as a State with

the 10% bonus, the highest honor a State Council can get from

Supreme Council. We need to bring in 810 members before June 30th

to accomplish this. We are right where we need to be and it has been

7 years since we have achieved this award under past State Deputy

Larry Moegling in the 2008-2009 Fraternal Year. Let’s break this 7

year drought and make this happen this year!!! Below I’m going to

focus on non-recruiting councils, Land of 100 Members, Star Council

requirements, where each council is at and the Form 450C, Form 450

and Form 100’s

I need HELP From Non-Recruiting Councils

Each month I put into my monthly update with all the winners, top

diocese and top councils the following statement, “Remember the

goal is +359 for the month. Inspector Membership knows we can do

it! What are you going to do for April - keep the same from last or go

out pound the pavement helping Team Ohio be #1 again? Will your

diocese make a leap towards being #1? That is all up to you! Well

there is still 76 councils that have done the same thing month after

month since July 1st. Do you know what the same thing they have

done? If you said they have not recruited a new member yet you

would be 100% correct. Our Worthy State Deputy and I need these

councils to jump on board and bring in a new member. If they did

just think what our numbers as a state would look like. A lot of times

getting that first member in is all you need to get a few more

especially if you promote the Shining Armor Award. This

encourages the new members to bring in a new member and if you

make a big deal at your council about it trust me the new members

will come!!! March, April and May with the land of 1000 members

incentive there is not a better time than to bring in a new members

because recruiters and councils all can bring in some serious cash.

The state could give out $10,000 + in these 3 months. This could be

some great extra cash to spend on vacation or make a home

improvement that you have been putting off. I’m hoping that we can

have this list down to less than 35 by June 1st. Below you will find all

of the Councils that have not recruited a new member as of 4/1/2016

(Continued on page 8)

Cincinnati (8 of 82)- 9.76%

Mike Felerski - DMRD

Larry Droesch – State Warden

Mother Seton 3376

Fr. Wm. P. O'Connor 3730

Archbishop Moeller 3861

Msgr. Kuenle 5239

Lasalle 5621

A.J. Schulte 6144

St. Lawrence - Price Hill 14545

Msgr. Robert J. Von Kaenel 15424

Columbus (9 of 71)- 12.68%

George Jones- DMRD

Kevin Miller- State Secretary

Columbus 400

Discovery 1341

Santa Maria 2898

Ascension 4324

Fr Holtzapfel 10284

Saint Elizabeth 11193

Saint Leonard 12641

Holy Trinity 13081

Our Lady of Peace 14282

Cleveland (14 of 72)- 19.44%

Jerry Nowesnick- DMRD

Bob Collins- State Deputy

Painesville 947

Lakewood 2643

Newburgh 2816

Heights 3087

Bishop Hagan 3126

Southeast 3222

Fr. Mahon 3541

Saint Pius X 3822

Medina 4168

Magnificat 4498

John F Kennedy 5506

Fr. Mitchell Cieslik 8369

Fr. Maruskin 10936

St. Cyprian 14714

Steubenville (10 of 26)- 38.46%

Tomm Offenberger- DMRD

Bob Byers- State Treasurer

Bellaire 1246

Mother of God 1421

Fr. Frank Patala 1716

Toronto 2187

Saint. Anthony 2262

Saint Catherine 4590

Saint Mary's 5174

Pieta 5583

Saint Gabriel 11380

Our Lady of Carroll County 15401

Toledo (21 of 69)- 30.43%

Jim Collins-DMRD

Mark Siracusa- State Advocate

Fremont 591

Msgr. Lang 1039

Saint John Neuman 1117

Fostoria 1197

Edgerton 1494

New Washington 1718

Port Clinton 1750

Bryan 1915

Ottoville 2238

Msgr. Leo W Frye 2642

Sacred Heart 2850

Our Lady of Fatima 3564

Blakeslee Fr. Deveaux 3883

Holgate 4790

Montpelier Sacred Heart 5226

Saint Anthony 10299

Saints Francis/Gasper 10749

Saint Aloysius 11287

Saint Jerome’s 11450

Saint Clement 13636

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cathedral 16264

Youngstown (16 of 58)- 27.59%

Mike Jordan- DMRD

Ken Girt-State Deputy

Canton 341

Wellsville 507

Carroll 509

Warren 620

Conneaut 627

Louisville 2530

Newton Falls 3350

Mantua 3766

Fr. Lambert J Andrews 4433

Msgr. Lavelle 4571

Fr. Coan 4658

Saint Peter's 5173

Saint Mary's 5589

Saint Dominic Fenwick 13586

OLPH Aurora 14186

St. James 14491

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4 MORES: MORE Knights bring MORE hands & hearts, to raise MORE

funds and to evangelize, doing GOD’S good works helping MORE

people in need!

Form 450 and Form 450C is like

GOLD!!!

District Deputies please make sure within

3-7 days of holding a degree in your

District the Form 450 is turned in. Grand

Knights and Financial Secretaries the

Form 450C should be sent in within 3-7

days of doing a degree. This is extremely

important because this allows us to track

if Supreme actually processed your Form

100’s! If you took the time to bring in a

new member the State Membership Team

wants to make sure you get credit for

your hard work and effort.

These can be filled on line now at the

State Website and then it

automatically sends it to who it needs

to go to.

Take advantage of this!!!

Form 100’s

Within 3-7 days of a degree any Form 100’s should be emailed to the Supreme Council at

[email protected] or to [email protected] Supreme is able to process

the Form 100 much quicker this way and you have a receipt that they were sent in your

sent mail. Plus this saves your council the cost of a stamp every time new members are

brought in.

and how your diocese and Council are doing

with one month down in the Land of 1000

Members contest.

Star Council Requirements and How is

Your Council Doing

The Star Council Award is Comprised of the

following 6 items:

Father McGivney Award for membership

growth by June 30th

Founders’ Award for insurance growth by

June 30th

Columbian Award Report Form #SP7 for

well-rounded council service programs and

activities by June 30th

Your council must submit the Annual Survey

of Fraternal Activity (#1728) by January 31st

If not done still turn in and it will count.

The Service Program Personnel Report

(#365) by August 1st If not done still turn in

and it will count.

Remain in good standing with Supreme

Council assessments paid by June 30th

Only requirements numbers 4 and 5 can

be turned in late to Achieve Star Council.

The other ones must be done on the date

given or earlier. How is Your Council

Doing?:

(Continued from page 7)

STATEWIDE TOTALS

78 OF 378 COUNCILS NOT RECRUITING

20.63%

COUNCILS NOT SUBMITTING ANNUAL SURVEY

OF FRATERNAL ACTIVITY

Form 1728:

00360 00400 00554 00620

00627 01272 01411 01716

01747 02661 03126 03350

03891 04498 04533 04590

04658 04790 05621 05834

07491 09804 10765 11354

11828 12756 13081 13379

13586 13636 14342 14491

14545 15036

COUNCILS NOT SUBMITTING SERVICE

PROGRAM PERSONNEL REPORT

Form 365:

00360 00400 00620 00627

01716 02050

02072 02935 03350 03564

03737 03891 04049 04169

04180 04224 04433 04437

04558 04590 04658 04790

05371 05483 05621 05674

05764 05834 06426 08064

09804 10149 10299 11150

11369 11551 11626 11649

11650 12310 12539

13081 13289 13614 14342

14545 14603 15573

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Mission #10: Calling the IRS!

TO: Great State of Ohio

FROM: Inspector Membership

Worthy Brothers Across the State of Ohio:

Do you have members that are inactive?

Can these members be reactivated, reinstated or

reapply?

Who Are You Going to Call?

THE INTERNAL RETENTION

SERVICE !!!

This is a special division of Inspector

Membership's department that handle the tough

cases. They are out there looking for those

members that want to come back and add to the

service and fellowship that our Order has to

offer.

And...Inspector Membership is making it worth

your wild to help the IRS out. Checkout the

flyer and linked video below for your Mission

with the IRS and continue to help to grow our

Order. To claim to your share of the mission

rewards, the three Form 100s that complete the

mission MUST be, either, emailed or US mail to

the Inspector by April 30, 2016.

New Council ALERT!

Congratulations to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for the latest new council. The latest

council in Ohio is the Wright State University Knights of Columbus. Thank you to

Brothers Frank Carchedi, Mike Felerski and State Warden Larry Droesch for their

hard work and a job well done!

This has been a productive fraternal year thus far. This brings us to six new councils

for the year. We have achieved the Supreme goal, but we’re only half way to our state

goal. Let’s end this fraternal year on an upswing. A new council begins in much the

same way a new Brother Knight does. Someone asks.

If you’re a member of a parish without a council, take a few minutes to ask your pas-

tor if he is aware of the good that Knights are doing in other parishes. Take a few

minutes to tell him what your council is doing in other parishes. Don’t chew his ear

too long – he’s a busy man. Just ask. Not every pastor is interested. Some have men’s

groups that are very involved. Just ask if that group is doing everything he wants and

needs done. If the answer is yes, thank him for his time and move on. If he doesn’t

answer yes, there’s an opportunity there. Contact either your diocesan membership

director or me.

We have done great things thus far this year – don’t stop now.

Ceremonials Ray Darr, State Ceremonial Director

Ceremonials are a very important part of our traditions as Knights of Columbus. They

are the core of our Order. Father McGivney established the first three degrees as a

way of instructing our members in the lessons of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity.

McGivney’s goal was to help members live by the rules of the Catholic Faith. Sched-

uling and Publicizing upcoming degrees is important particularly the Knighthood (1st)

Degree. Use of the State website is one of the best ways to do this. Any member can

access information on degrees as well as other state programs on the state website

(kofcohio.org) with a simple registration process. The tools are there for your bene-

fit. Take advantage of this information for you and your council!

Retention Now, Retention for Life Mike Jordon and Bill Wirtz, Retention Directors

Life of the individual council, as well as the much wider Order, is dependent on

retention of our members; therefore, it is never too late to start those Retention

Program activities. Start with one and ease into the rest. Three of six is all that is

required, but please try them all…it will change life.

All our retention related activities involve personal contact and the impact of that

contact will be felt for years to come. Retention is Fraternity and Fraternity is one of

our four basic principles. Subsequently, retention will certainly extend the life of the

council and may even extend the active “membership” life of the individuals within

the council.

As always we recommend the councils get way out in front of retention by contacting

every member of your council on a regular basis. Retention is separate from the

billing process, so if we wait too long our members may become hard to reach and

even harder to recover. Call them several times a year and let them know they are

needed and important to the mission of the Knights of Columbus. They joined the

Knights to make a difference, so let them.

For questions and assistance contact your Ohio State Council Retention Directors.

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General Programs Bob Walsh, Director

Worthy Brother Knights from Ohio the 2015/2016 State program is almost over, your Council has until April 15 th to turn in your program

for this reporting period and for the program year. If your Council has not reported any programs this year please consider doing so. Alt-

hough the program year is almost over please continue on with doing programs to benefit your council, church and community.

Just a reminder of what you need to max out the State program. The eleven (11) Administration requirements found on page 20 of the

program book. 100 points in the six program areas, 200 points in Membership, and 120 points in retention. Please review your program-

ing, membership, and retention programs. If you have any questions I can be reached at [email protected].

Your Council has worked hard on its programing during the year, why not let Supreme see the results. All that is needed is the SP7 form

filled out and sent to Supreme by June 30th, and you will receive the Columbian Award. You will need to have four (4) programs in each

of six reporting areas. If you did a Supreme featured program to their requirements that would fulfil that requirement.

Check on page 25 of the program book to see the requirement for the “Through Him, With Him, In Him” programing awards. I would

like to see as many of these awards given out as possible.

There are some dates to remember. All programing report due April 20th. Measure Up Checks due June 1st. Due at Supreme by June 30th

Form SP7, RSVP Refund and Plaque Application Form #2683, and Form #2630 Annual Round Table report.

Culture of Life Gary Anderson

It has been most gratifying to see how many councils held World

Marriage Day events in February (Culture of Life Activity #51).

With the ongoing assault on the true essence of marriage as the union

of a man and a woman, the need to stand up in defense of marriage

increases evermore. Thanks to all who held council/parish events

centering around the World Marriage Day celebration on February

14.

As we draw closer to the end of the program year, keep in mind that

the reporting deadline is April 15, not April 30. Many councils are

now in the process of "maxing" the state Culture of Life program,

along with the other programs, and are well on their way to attaining

the Columbian Award (Form SP7 due to Supreme by June 30) and

the prized Star Council Award. Congratulations to those councils for

their hard work and dedication.

One way to "max" a program is to complete a Supreme Council

Featured Program. By completing them exactly as specified by

Supreme, a council can "max" the respective program area for the

Columbian Award. In other words, councils that complete either the

March for Life or Ultrasound Initiative activities exactly as outlined

by Supreme, will thereby "max" the Culture of Life component of

the Columbian Award. Not only that, but they will also "max" the

state Culture of Life program. It is extremely important that the

activities adhere to Supreme's requirements exactly as specified in

order to qualify for the Featured Program status.

We have recently learned that the form Supreme has required to be

completed for the Featured Programs-the Featured Program

Worksheet-is no longer being used. In order to submit for a Featured

Program, that particular activity should be noted on the Columbian

Award application, specifying that the council has met the criteria

for Featured Program status and that it requests that Supreme

consider the council having fulfilled all four of the required activities

for that particular program area (Church, Community, Council,

Culture of Life, Family, Youth).

Church Jeff Kiliany

From the recent reports that I have been seeing, I am sure that

everyone had a very meaningful Lenten experience and a most

Blessed Easter. I really appreciate all of the reporting from

councils across the State of Ohio. Lately I have been seeing a

lot of reports on Religious Devotions during Lent, especially

Rosaries, Corporate Communions, and Stations of the Cross

services.

As men of Faith and part of a CATHOLIC men’s organization,

we should plan activities that stress and nurture our Faith as

Catholic gentlemen. I would like to remind members in the

Cleveland and Youngstown areas that Catholic Man night will

be held in the Youngstown Diocese at Little Flower Parish in

North Canton on April 29th. Dr. Ray Guarendi, who always has

an enjoyable lecture, is the featured speaker. The Catholic

Men’s Fellowship of North East Ohio will hold their conference

April 9th at the Rockside Holiday Inn in Independence. Father

Larry Richards, another interesting and well know speaker is

featured. You can still register at www.cmfneo.com or call 877-

208-5585

The deadline for submitting Chaplain and Religious of the year

nominations has passed. I am still taking In Memoriam submis-

sions from councils who had deceased members in the period

from April 1, 2015 to April 1, 2016. I must receive your form

by May 6th In order to list your members in the Convention list-

ing.

If you have any concerns about receiving credit for all of your

Church Activity reports, please call or email me ASAP. We

want to be sure that all councils who have done the required 5

activities and maxed the Church Program receive the proper

credit. More importantly, we want to be sure that your council

has 4 qualifying Church activities to list on your Supreme Co-

lumbian Award Form #SP7 which will go towards achieving

Star Council.

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Community Tom Forsthoefel As we head into the month of April spring

has finally come and is all around us. The

time has come for us to clean up what the

winter months have left behind after a long

grueling 3 months. There is the checking on

our spring flowers, putting away our winter

tools of snow shovels and snow blowers.

We will need to check out our deck furniture

and our spring and summer tools as well. It

is a time to assess what our yard and garden

will need for the coming seasons.

Likewise it is a time to assess what our coun-

cil has done for the past 9 months. Has your

council met all of its goals for the fraternal

year? Has your council completed all the

projects you set out to do at your planning

meeting in early to mid-July of 2015? Some

of the councils have had a bang-up year of

helping the less fortunate within the commu-

nity, helping our veterans both near and far,

helping to support the local food pantries

whether with financial help or manpower to

feed those in need. Have you completed all

the projects totally by reporting them to the

state web site as well? It is not too late to

report all the good works and hard work in-

dividuals and groups of council members

have completed. If your council has projects

that will be completed after the final report-

ing period of April 15th, but prior to the close

of the fraternal year of June 30, 2016 you

can still report them. Case in point is your

annual Measure Up Program to help those

that are developmentally handicapped. Even

though your council will not complete the

project until the 1st weekend in May 2016

you can report them now. This as well as any

other council activity can be reported prior to

the actual activity. Go through a final check

list to see if your council is ready to com-

plete the fraternal year. Your council needs

to spring into action to complete their final

push as we enter into the month of April.

Family Stewart Vetter

Last month I asked you guys

to recognize those outstanding

Catholic families by nominat-

ing them for Family of the

Year and WOW did you guys

deliver. I have been inundated

with amazing families. Thank

you brothers for recognizing

all these fantastic Catholic

families and acknowledging

their hard work and commit-

ment to our Holy Church, our

brotherhood, and all the great

communities around the state.

We are closing in on the end of

the program year but there is

still time to finish strong.

So...report early and report

often!! All reports for the state

program MUST be in by 11:59

pm April 15. So what I'm say-

ing is, it's not too late to max.

If you forgot to report your

summer family picnic, report

it. Nobody reported the Christ-

mas party, report it. You are

planning an annual Father's

day breakfast, report it. Just

make sure you get all those

incredible family activities

reported by April 15.

Just a reminder, your council

needs 4 activities in the family

program to qualify for the Co-

lumbian Award and Star

Council. Every council should

be striving for Star Council not

because it makes the state look

good but because it is an indi-

cator of the health of your

council. Everybody wants to

be associated with a winner

and by reaching Star Council

your council joins the ranks of

exceptional councils who are

winning in every way.

Finally, have you made your

reservations for conventions

yet? I'm looking forward to it

and I'm pretty sure my kids

have had their swimsuits

packed for a couple weeks

now. Convention is always a

great time for families espe-

cially at Kalahari. Help out the

Cleveland convention commit-

tee and got those registrations

in early. We always need vol-

unteers to service the vital role

of committee members for the

convention too. It doesn't take

much time and you meet other

great Brother Knights from

around the state. In short, con-

vention is an experience that is

well worth the expense and it's

our only opportunity to com-

plete some of the vital work of

the State Council. Why not

reward an outstanding brother

Knight by sending him as a

delegate to this year's state

convention?

From the Ohio Former Masters Association Ray Darr

Have you submitted a Council Level Patriotic Activity under the State

Community Program Activity #16? We live in the greatest Country

in the World. Patriotism is not just something for the Fourth Degree,

the Patriotic Degree. As Knights of Columbus we all need to show

our community what the Order is about. For many years the Ohio

Former Masters Association has presented an award to the best

Council Level Patriotic Activity in each Diocese with an overall top

winner in the State. Submit your detailed report to the State

Community Director prior to April 15 for consideration. The entries

will be submitted to the Ohio Former Masters for judging.

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Fishy, Fishy In The Lake Do We Fry or Do We Bake? Ah, spring, when a young man’s fancy turns to WALLEYE – or something like

that. This will be your last notice about the upcoming Ohio State Walleye Ex-

travaganza. If you’re coming to the State Convention any way, why not go home

with a cooler of fish? Pass this message to your friends and family, to your fish-

ing buddies, to your kids, to prospective Knights and their families.

May 20 is the day. Sandusky, Ohio is the target. Walleye is the goal. We’ll be fishing aboard the Cleveland II, captained by one of the most

experienced captains on Lake Erie. The day promises to be a great opportunity to share some fraternal good times while pursuing the wily

and elusive Walleye in its native habitat. We will leave the dock at 9:00 sharp and return by 3:00. That gives you plenty of time to get

checked in and registered for the convention and even time for a short nap before Friday night’s festivities.

The cost is $45 per angler. Here is what that gets you:

A day aboard the Cleveland II Rod and reel (if necessary)

Bait Box lunch

Soft drinks Fish cleaning

Fish storage (‘til Sunday)

Here’s what to bring with you

Valid 2016 Ohio Fishing License Sun screen

Hat Boat shoes (tennis shoes)

Cooler to take your fish home Weather appropriate clothing

So, don’t delay. April 15 is coming quickly and this is too good of an opportunity to miss.

Send your registration form along with a check made payable to Cleveland Convention Committee to:

John Brown

212 Boston Lake Drive

Valley City, OH 44280

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call or email me at: 330-610-0308 or [email protected].

Good fishin’!

You’re Only A Click Away Robert Gilliland

WWW.KOFCOHIO.ORG Is Going Mobile!!!

This month, users with mobile devices will see a mobile friendly version of

the State website.

I will need your help and feedback to make sure

that everyone’s mobile device is able to display the website properly.

Please click on this link to provide feedback on your mobile device.

Please feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any ques-

tions or trouble with the feedback form.

Thank you.

Robert Gilliland

State Webmaster

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