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THE BEACON The official newsletter of Lumen Christi Council 13520, Knights of Columbus
Illuminating the faith community of All Saints Church, Dallas, Texas
Volume 13, Number 4 October-December 2016
Festive Light Up for Christ Event
From the All Saints String
Ensemble serenading the
excitable Christmas-season-
loving crowd to the delectable
treats provided by the Ladies
Auxiliary, Light Up for Christ
2016 was a big hit. The All Saints
String Ensemble, led by Shana
Druffner, is made up mostly of
musicians from the All Saints
Catholic School and the church.
Jeanie Adamson leads the All
Saints Youth Choir. The youth
choir is younger in age, but
equally entertaining and is made
up of church and school children
as well. The classic Christmas
carols performed by both
groups helped kick off the
season right as it brought the
church and school families
together for a festive event.
The Knights of Columbus men ensured the hot chocolate, coffee,
spiced wine and cider continued to flow and helped the All Saints
Youth Choir with their entertaining singing and dancing. Towards
the end of the brisk-weathered evening, around 8:00 pm central
time, the attendees were escorted outside where Deacon Michael
gave the blessing and they all watched the annual lighting of the
Christmas Star. All in all, a great time was had by all at Light Up for
Christ 2016. -article by Jason Wagner; pictures taken by Chris Diaz
WHAT’S INSIDE
Light Up For Christ 1
Grand Knight’s Message 2
Reminders-Upcoming Events 2
Monthly Recognitions 3
Membership Corner 3
Member Birthdays 4
Officers and Directors 4
Tamale Sales 5
Free Throw Contest 5
Essay Contest Results 5
Pro-Life Prayer Vigil 5
ACE Wing Presentation 5
Golden Saints Luncheon 6
Called to Write a Book 6
Obituaries 6
Seminary/Seminarian Profile 7
- Benjamin Vina
- St. Joseph Seminary
BBQ at Redemptoris Mater 8
Christmas Concerts 8
Seminarian Caring Tree 8
Seminarians of Dallas 8
Field Agent Newsletter 9
Two Month Calendar 10
Lumen Christi Council #13520
All Saints Catholic Church
5231 Meadowcreek Drive
Dallas, TX 75248-4046
Council Website
http://kofcknights.org/Coun
cilSite/?CNO=13520
Top picture: The All Saints Youth Choir, Middle picture: The choir sits so The All Saints String Ensemble can perform; Bottom picture: from left to right behind the table: Jeff Stuart, Craig Introligator, Mike Greene, Al Schneider and Randy King keep the warm beverages flowing for the large crowd.
Top picture: Deacon Michael Bolesta blesses the Star and crowd; Bottom picture: Henry Dominguez, who created the iron work for the star, and his family pose for their traditional picture with the lit Christmas Star.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2 THE BEACON – The Official Newsletter of Lumen Christi Council 13520 October-December 2016
GRAND KNIGHT’S MESSAGE
Brother Knights,
November and December are busy months. Andy Tate has completed 2 poster contests
at the All Saints Catholic School and started our first essay contest as well. Winners and
their families will be invited to be our guests at the December community meal.
Light Up for Christ is another major function sponsored by our Council in December.
Jason Wagner has taken the lead this year and worked hard to pull it off.
It was raining and cold for the first weekend of December which coincided with our
Tamale sale. Despite the weather, we sold approximately $2,900 worth of tamales. That
is the good news. The bad news is we need much better participation from our membership to support our fund-raising
efforts. The tamale sales are our primary source of funds.
We are at our best when we work together to support the activities of the council, our parish and our families. And we
have a dedicated group of knights who lead our council and make things work. Tamale Sales, Light Up for Christ, Poster
Contests, Seminarian Support, scholarships, disaster relief, Pro-Life, Pancake Breakfasts, Sunday Morning Fellowship
(Coffee and Donuts), Corporate Communion, and our annual Memorial Rosary for deceased members and their families
are just some of the activities where we can come together. Charity, Unity, and Fraternity are not just words; they are the
principals of our Order. They are a call to action.
I am pleased to announce that Doyle Kitchen has agreed to become the interim Church Director for the remainder of this
fraternal year. Bob Wise is our new chairman for the Fisher House project. Please give these knights your support as we
move into 2017.
I challenge all my brother Knights, both new and old, to renew your commitment to our Order.
As 2016 comes to a close, I want to thank you all for your support and for the work you do to support our council, our
parish and our families. Rosemary and I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New
Year.
Michael Greene, GK, PFN
TAKE NOTE: Upcoming events and Reminders…
Admissions Committee meets the Wednesday before our
monthly Business Meeting. They meet in room 21 in the Kamel
Life Center at 7:00pm. Contact Norman Stauffer if you plan to
propose someone to become a member of our council.
The next Blood Drive is on January 8, 2017. It was originally
posted on our council calendar as January 15.
Our January Business Meeting is moved to Thursday. January 19
because the Church offices are closed for the Federal Holiday on
Monday, January 16.
Mid–Year Budget review and Audit Moved: Because of a
scheduling conflict the Mid-Year Budget Review has been moved
from January 14 to Saturday January 21. The Mid-Year review
will begin immediately following the 9:00am Mass. The Audit will
be completed following the Mid-Year Budget meeting.
Our next tamale sales will be the weekend of January 28-29 and
the next weekend February 4-5 just prior to the Super
Bowl. Mark your calendar now and make plans to be part of the
team selling tamales.
Clergy Appreciation Dinner – coming in February. The dinner
will promote vocations and a special effort will be made to invite
families to attend.
Check the Lumen Christi website for an updated calendar of
events.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Volume 13, Number 4 Illuminating the Faith Community of All Saints Catholic Church, Dallas, Texas
Monthly Recognitions KNIGHT OF THE MONTH (October) – Andy Tait
Andy (pictured at right) is our Youth Director and has had a
busy time managing two poster contests and an essay
contest for our council. This is the first year of the Essay
Contest which started with the 8th grade students at All
Saints Catholic School.
KNIGHT OF THE MONTH (September) – Fred Kellner
Fred (pictured top left) was in charge of selling our tamales at the Fall Festival. He was
responsible for scheduling members to sell the tamales and spent both days setting
up, cooking the tamales, and at the end of the day, overseeing the cleanup. Fred was
the first to arrive and the last to leave.
FAMILY OF THE MONTH – (October) Bernie and Shirley Crotty
Bernie and Shirley (pictured middle left) were among the founding members of our
parish and as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary as a parish, they are a great example
of the families who came together to build the All Saints Catholic Community.
FAMILY OF THE MONTH – (September) Bob and Kathy McDermott
As part of our 40th Anniversary as a parish, a number of different activities have been planned. The pictures along the hall
from the sanctuary to the Kamel Life Center have been printed by Bob and Kathy (pictured left bottom). They coordinated
the 40 acts of kindness that resulted in delivering 24 boxes of books (over 1200 books), 60 Walmart Gift Cards, 600+ pairs
of children’s underwear and socks, 50 pairs of tennis shoes, 400+ composition books, and 25 classrooms worth of pencils.
Over 400 students at Prestonwood Elementary School will benefit from the generosity of the All Saints Community! -articles submitted by Mike Greene; pictures submitted by Jerry Cayce and Chris Diaz
Membership Corner
- pictures and captions submitted by Chris Diaz and Mike Greene
At a First Degree ceremony held on October 26, at Prince of Peace in Plano, five members of our council were exemplified in the First Degree of our Order. Pictured above, from the left are Kurt Crenwelge, Heston D’Souza, Philbert Anthony, Jesse House and Kelechukwu (KC) Onwuneme. In another First Degree ceremony held on November 3, Felix Sanny was exemplified into the Order. Unfortunately, we do not have a picture from the event.
At exemplification ceremonies held October30, nine new Fourth Degree members of the Christopher Columbus Assembly are flanked by current and past leadership. Pictured above, from left to right are. Ron Schoof, PGK,PFN, Faithful Navigator Jack Ayers, PGK, Paul Orazulike, Jim Fogg, David Smith, Philip Muscat, Jerry Welch, Gerald Matulka, Craig Introligator, Chris Curto, Patrick Quinn and Kevin Quinn, PFN. Of the new Sir Knights, only Gerald Matulka, Chris Curto and Patrick Quinn are NOT from Lumen Christi Council.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4 THE BEACON – The Official Newsletter of Lumen Christi Council 13520 October-December 2016
Date First Name Last Name
1-Dec Rodolfo Zevallos
5-Dec Michael Riley
6-Dec Jacob Abernathy
7-Dec Dennis Alvarez
8-Dec Christopher Fleming
8-Dec Jeremiah O Keeffe
9-Dec William Bulmer
9-Dec Alex Davis
10-Dec Paul Orazulike
12-Dec James Pappas
14-Dec Lee Ringham
15-Dec Raymond Martini
16-Dec Paul Ajobo
17-Dec Jack Ayers
20-Dec Ozoemenam Ohagwu
20-Dec Robert Weaver
23-Dec Robert Mc Dermott
24-Dec Al Llop
24-Dec Robert Mokry
25-Dec Cesar Peralta
27-Dec Joseph Booth
28-Dec John (Jack) Mc Cadden
28-Dec Wilfred Waigwa
29-Dec Gregory Huffman
29-Dec David Sinagub
31-Dec Michael Gibbons
5-Jan Lee Halencak
8-Jan Austin Kososki
10-Jan David Mentesana
10-Jan Dcn Denis Simon
10-Jan Peter Wolf
11-Jan Casey Fuld
12-Jan Michal Markiewicz
14-Jan Phillip Phan
14-Jan Felix Sanny
14-Jan Jeffrey Snuggs
15-Jan Michael Ciszewski
15-Jan Thomas Kocian
16-Jan Joseph Defina
18-Jan Henry Christy
22-Jan Jesse House
23-Jan Curtis James
23-Jan Chris Parsons
23-Jan Bob Wise
26-Jan Greg Campbell
26-Jan Chip Entringer
26-Jan Alan Steindorf
28-Jan Ed Munno
28-Jan Jason Rasins
30-Jan Donald Bussman
30-Jan Cipriano Munoz
Our Council Leadership Team for 2016-17 Position Name Phone Email Address
OFFICERS
Chaplain Fr. Tony Lackland 972-661-9282 [email protected]
Grand Knight Mike Greene, PFN 214-507-5876 [email protected]
Deputy Grand Knight Stan Tax 214-354-8722 [email protected]
Chancellor Norman Stauffer 469-323-1688 [email protected]
Financial Secretary John Roberts 972-375-7575 [email protected]
Treasurer Jeff Stuart 972-699-1317 [email protected]
Recorder Bob Pitts 214-537-5582 [email protected]
Advocate Roger Klotz 214-282-3534 [email protected]
Warden Erves Cortez 972-907-9242 [email protected]
Warden's Aide Curtis James 972-381-1681 [email protected]
Warden's Aide Patrick Mathuku 214-415-9373 [email protected]
Inside Guard Warren Balden 972-960-8367 [email protected]
Inside Guard Bernie Crotty 972-661-1105 [email protected]
Outside Guard James Fogg 469-767-4006 [email protected]
Outside Guard Pius Okoth 214-600-4124 [email protected]
1 Year Trustee Gerry Rice, PGK 214-725-2946 [email protected]
2 Year Trustee Vic Owen 972-235-2771 [email protected]
3 Year Trustee Harry Storey, PGK 214-557-2923 [email protected]
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Church Director Doyle Kitchen 214-923-9244 [email protected]
Community Director Greg Taylor 214-289-0987 [email protected]
Council Director Ray Mendez 817-240-5704 [email protected]
Family Director Jason Wagner 214-310-3972 [email protected]
Pro-Life Director Jack Falloure 214-674-1309 [email protected]
Youth Director Andy Tait 972-740-4971 [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP TEAM
Membership Director Peter Ohagwu 972-222-2550 [email protected]
Recruitment Chairman Peter Ohagwu 972-222-2550 [email protected]
Admissions Chairman Norman Stauffer 469-323-1688 [email protected]
Retention Chairman Open
First Degree Team Tony Leto, PGK 972-516-4941 [email protected]
STANDING COMMITTEES
Charity Bob Weaver 972-306-8893 [email protected]
Communications Chris Diaz, PGK 972-742-7282 [email protected]
Safe Environment Dcn Michael Bolesta 214-280-4394 [email protected]
LIAISONS
Assembly Jack Ayers, FN, PGK 972-733-0360 [email protected]
Columbian Squires Stan Schwieterman 972-239-5830 [email protected]
Ladies Auxiliary Michael Horsley 512-410-0014 [email protected]
All Saints Men’s Club Philip Muscat 214-551-4058 [email protected]
Seminarians Chris Diaz, PGK 972-742-7282 [email protected]
St. Vincent DePaul Bernie Erhler 972-960-2448 [email protected]
UTD Roundtable Student Rep Rodolfo Zevallos 972-370-2741 [email protected]
UTD Roundtable Council Rep Brent Forsythe 409-549-0687 [email protected]
SUPREME REPS
Field Agent Raffaele Gerace 214-924-2220 [email protected]
District Deputy Tom Fuller 469-767-2211 [email protected]
Diocesan Deputy Roy Rabenaldt 972-484-7767 [email protected]
DECEMBER-JANUARY
MEMBER BIRTHDAYS
COUNCIL WEBSITE – If you are having issues getting to our website please use this
alternate.URL: http://kofcknights.org/CouncilSite/?CNO=13520 or link to it from the
Knights of Columbus section of the parish website.
Mark your calendars and reserve a spot…
DINNER WITH THE SEMINARIANS – Friday, December 30
More information on page 8.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ 5 Volume 13, Number 4 Illuminating the Faith Community of All Saints Catholic Church, Dallas, Texas
Tamales Sales Down as Weather Keeps Crowds Away
The weather was frightful the first weekend of December for our Christmas tamale
sales. As a result, our sales of 257 dozen were off by approximately 40% from last
year. The weather was better for the December 10 - 11 weekend and we sold 292
dozen tamales. However, this was also down from last year for the same weekend.
We still have 4 more weekends to sell tamales before our fraternal year is over.
Plan to join the team to keep our council financially strong.
Thanks to Fred Kellner, Robert Mokry, Roger Klotz, Jesse House, Harry Storey, Stan
Tax, Stan Schwieterman, Al Schneider, Jack Falloure, Bernie Crotty, Jim Fogg, Rex
Phillips, Ramus Parcon, Larry Brennan and Jeff Stuart who worked in less than ideal
conditions to keep our council financially strong. -article and picture submitted by Mike Greene
Youth Activities
Council Free Throw Competition Scheduled for January 8 The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Basketball Free-Throw Competition for all boys and girls between the ages of 9 and
14. Lumen Christi Council will host a local competition on January 8th from 2:00 - 5:00 pm in the All Saints Kamel Center basketball
gym (Meadowcreek Campus). Each contestant will receive a chance to shoot 15 free throws and receive a free hot dog! Mark your
calendars! Contact Andy Tait at 972-740-4971 for any questions about participation and/or assisting in staging the event. -article submitted by Andy Tait
Religious Freedom Essay Contest Results Announced Lumen Christi Council 13520 sponsored an Essay contest for eight grade students. This was a first ever undertaking by the council.
There were 35 students who entered the contest. Each contestant wrote their essay on the theme of "The Importance of Religious
Freedom". The goal of the contest was to give students and opportunity to define the importance of religious freedom and to
strengthen the bond between the Knights of Columbus and the local students. There were several great essays submitted, making
judging very difficult. After review, our judges awarded a first, second, and third place winner as follows:
First Place: Nathan Reis
Second Place: Claire J. Druffner
Third Place: Georgia Bryant
We appreciate all the entries and the effort each student put into their essay. Special thanks to fellow Knights Vic Owen, Stan
Schwieterman, Chris Diaz and Kelly and Sarah Halaszyn for spending significant time reading each essay. -article submitted by Andy Tait
Pro-Life Activities
National Night of Prayer For Life Prayer Vigil Held The Lumen Christi Pro-Life and the All Saints Respect for Life committees organized a prayer vigil celebrating the National Night of
Prayer for Life in conjunction with the Priests For Life beginning after the 7:00 pm mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception on
December 8. The vigil began with the Glorious mystery of the most holy rosary followed by the Chaplet to St. Michael the Archangel.
A handout was prepared for participants to assist them with the ceremony. The Morning Rosary of Divine Mercy group of the parish,
along with the Adoration and RCIA groups and All Saints parishioners took part in this event. -article submitted by Jack Falloure
A.C.E. Wings Presented At our last meeting, Mike Greene presented A.C.E. Wings Award to Craig Introligator (pictured at
left). A.C.E. stands for Pro-Life without Apology, without Compromise and without Exception. The
Knights of Columbus Pro-Life ACE Wings Award is earned by participating in five or more Public
Pro-Life activities in any 12-month period. The ACE Wings are two inches wide and five-eighths of
an inch high and are metallic. The "Precious Feet" are the exact size and shape of an unborn baby's feet at 10 weeks after conception. -article submitted by Chris Diaz
Hearty souls... (from left to right): Jeff Stuart, Fred Kellner (seated), Rex Phillips, Bernie Crotty (partially obscured) and Larry Brennan.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 THE BEACON – The Official Newsletter of Lumen Christi Council 13520 October-December 2016
Community Activities
Golden Saints Luncheon Support Every third Wednesday from September through June, a luncheon and business meeting are held by the Golden Saints… parish seniors at least 50
years old. After the quick business meeting and before the entertainment lined up for the event, Lumen Christi Council members assist with the
lunch prep and presentation.
Chef Gregorio cooks all the food, the brother Knights under Bob Wise put together the salads and plate the entrées. An ASWO Ladies Circle then
serves a healthy meal to this group of seniors. It is modeled like the Knights conduct their monthly community meal/business meeting in the
Fellowship Hall. This community event helps to connect parish seniors with one another thru a shared meal and business/program meeting that
emphasizes the stewardship mission of the All Saints Catholic Community. This is a great event for all Brother Knights to volunteer to help with.
-article submitted by Greg Taylor
Knight Called to Write and Publish Book John Michael Chomistek is the cousin of our own Greg Neywick and a fellow Knight from Our Lady of the Angels
parish. He has written and self-published a book that might be of interest to anyone of Faith.. It is titled "I Have
Come To Set The Earth On Fire: Tragic Events Can Actually Be Blessings" and details his walk of faith before,
during, and after he and his family lost everything in a devastating house fire. It can be found on Amazon and
Barnes & Nobles (link). He was interviewed by Dave Palmer of KATH 910 radio. The interview will air Saturday,
December 17 at approximately 3:30pm.
Greg was involved with editing and formatting the book. His cousin is a second-generation Knight. His father was
in the Color Guard in the Midland, MI area. He is a packaging engineer who has been looking for work since
March 2015. While out of work he was felt very strongly called to write about his experience of 20 years ago.
-article submitted by Greg Neywick
In Memoriam
Felipe (Phil) Mendoza Phil Mendoza, born October 29, 1939 in Laredo,
Texas, passed away on December 3, 2016 in Plano,
Texas. He is survived by his wife of 49 years,
Marjorie, sons Felipe and Patrick and daughter
Melindas, his sister Elvira, brothers Fernando,
Oscar and Juan. He is preceded in death by his
parents Evelia and Felipe Mendoza, as well as his brother Fidel.
Mendoza graduated from Texas A&I University in 1964 and was a
member of the ROTC. Upon graduation, he received a commission as a
2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army and completed Airborne
Jump School at Fort Benning, GA in 1964. He was stationed overseas in
Orleans, France and Frankfurt, Germany, before being promoted to
Captain. Mendoza served in Vietnam from 1967 – 1968 with the 173rd
Airborne and was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. After leaving the
service in 1971, he once again served his country from 2002 – 2009 as
a White House appointee in the administration of President George W.
Bush as the Associate Administrator, Office of Small Business Utilization
at the General Services Administration.
Phil became a member of our Council on October 28, 2009. He made
his major degrees on February 27, 2010. He was helpful in the planning
of the council’s Patriotic Event tribute to those who served in the
Vietnam Era.
Deacon Frank Milliken Frank Martin Milliken died peacefully at home
surrounded by family on October 8, 2016 at the
age of 87. He lived his life in service to others.
Frank attended college at the Southwestern
Louisiana Institute, graduating in 1949 at the age
of 19.
After graduation, he was commissioned in the US Air Force and
subsequently, attended the University of Colorado, graduating in 1959
with a Master in Electrical Engineering. He rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel
and served in both Korea and Vietnam before retiring in 1972. After
retiring from the Air Force, Frank began a second career in sales. He was
a parishioner of All Saints in Dallas for over 30 years and was ordained
a Deacon in 1978 and assigned to his home parish of All Saints.
Frank joined the Knights of Columbus on October 1, 1954 and became
a 4th Degree Knight on April 1, 1971.
Frank is survived by a large and loving family, his wife of 59 years, Faye;
his seven children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren, 2 great
grandchildren and his sister Anna Elizabeth Davis. Frank was preceded
in death by his parents Frank Marion and Anna Louise Milliken, his
brother Donald Milliken and his granddaughter Melissa Fallin.
-obituaries submitted by Mike Greene
Editor’s Note: Dick Bove, who passed away this past weekend will be
remembered in the next edition of THE BEACON…after his Memorial
Mass on December 30. Please check emails for information concerning
services for Dick and pray for the repose of his soul and for his family.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 Volume 13, Number 4 Illuminating the Faith Community of All Saints Catholic Church, Dallas, Texas
Seminary / Seminarian Profile In the last edition of THE BEACON we profiled a new seminarian who we are supporting from our own
parish community. We will now focus on a seminarian we are supporting who is actually “part of the
family”… one of 28 grandchildren of the “blended family” of Jim and Sharon DeSmet and the oldest
grandson of Jim DeSmet. Benjamin James Vina chose to discern a
vocation to the priesthood. He is 19 and from Boyd, Texas which
is part of the Ft. Worth Diocese and is currently in his second year
at St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College in St. Benedict,
Louisiana, which is the seminary for his Diocese (and the seminary
that was ravaged with flooding last spring – see inset below right).
Ben was asked to put together a few thoughts on the
Seminary and Seminary life…
"My experience of seminary formation the last two years
has been one of constant joy. Although the demands of the
schedule and academic load have certainly been
challenging at times, the joy that springs from the
conviction that I am pursuing the will of God, desiring and
coming to know Him better as I grow into a man of Christ,
far surpasses any frustration of the moment.
Daily life at the seminary begins with lauds (morning prayer) as a community at 7:30am in the
chapel. Personally, I’ve already been up for two hours—showered, eaten breakfast, and enjoyed
an hour of quiet, personal prayer—before the day
begins. From 8:00 to 11:15am seminarians are
normally either studying, taking classes, or serving
on their pastoral assignment, depending on their
individual schedules. On Tuesday mornings, for example, two close friends and I travel to
the nearby nursing home to spend a few hours with the residents living there. Our pastoral
assignment is a wonderful opportunity to take a break from the routine of study and
experience different ministries that we might be involved in as priests someday. At 11:15,
all the seminarians gather in the magnificent Benedictine Abbey Church on campus for
daily mass, followed by lunch. An afternoon of classes concludes with vespers at 6:00pm
followed by dinner as a community. The day ends with the chanting of the Salve Regina
after compline at 7:00pm.
Throughout the week,
seminarians enjoy spending their
free time playing sports such as
basketball or ultimate Frisbee,
conversing and sharing jokes
with fellow seminarians, or even
taking a hike through the woods
to go fishing in one of ponds at
the back of the 1200 acres of land
that surrounds the seminary
college. Each seminarian also
makes time throughout the week
to meet with his spiritual director
and formation adviser."
Saint Joseph Seminary College, welcomed a record 150 seminarians this year for the Fall 2016 semester, double the enrollment from just six years ago, when 75 seminarians enrolled. With such a large class, it is hard to point out Ben in this picture… but his grandfather assured me he was there “in front of the darker center door, behind a seminarian with a beard”. For more info visit… http://www.sjasc.edu/
St. Joseph Seminarian Benjamin Vina with Jim and Sharon DeSmet when the proud grandparents visited Ben this past summer when he was singing in a Schola Chior at St Elizabeth Ann Seton in Keller.
Please convey my overwhelming
gratitude to the council for your
prayers and generosity! It is very
reassuring to know I have the
support and prayers of such a
dedicated, selfless group of men.
Also, you may be interested to
know that the flood recovery is
going very well—the seminary has
just finished restoring the gym,
and will begin work on the library
over Christmas break.
Ben Vina, Gratitude and Seminary Update
- article by Chris Diaz with major contributions from Jim DeSmet;
pictures submitted by Jim DeSmet or are taken from the St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary Website
On Friday, March 11, 2016, floodwaters from the
Bogue Falaya River inundated Saint Joseph
Abbey and Seminary College with nearly two feet
of water. The impact of the flood far surpasses
campus damages suffered in Hurricane Katrina
— especially considering record enrollment in the
seminary. Lumen Christi Council contributed
$500 in relief efforts and continues to monitor the
recovery progress. If you would like to assist,
please visit their relief effort webpage…
http://www.saintjosephabbey.com/helptheabbey.
Benjamin James Vina, from the Diocese of Ft. Worth and grandson of Jim DeSmet.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 THE BEACON – The Official Newsletter of Lumen Christi Council 13520 October-December 2016
Dinner with RMS Seminarians and Staff Join us on Friday, December 30, at 6:30 PM, as we re-introduce the tradition of a meal with the Seminarians at Redemptoris Mater Seminary. We will break bread and sit alongside over 30 seminarians and members of the seminary staff. The seating arrangement offers a great opportunity for us to mingle with the seminarians and find out how they are coping with the day to day situations God has laid before them. Seminary Rector, Fr. Fernando, appreciates our council
members for their continued support of the group – financially, spiritually, and through their interaction with the seminarians during these Council sponsored dinners. Come, be a part of this very special experience. The Seminarians requested Woody B’s BBQ again! Dinner will include Smoked Chicken Mac and Cheese as well as Brisket,
Pulled Pork, Smoked Chicken off the bone and the usual accompaniments and beverages. This event is open to all (including wives and children), but space is limited, so please reserve a spot early. The cost is $10 per person (unless you are discerning at the Seminary). Contact Chris Diaz / 972-742-7282 / [email protected] for more information and to reserve a spot.
Christmas Concerts Join the Redemptoris Mater Seminarians in song and praise at their Fifth Annual Christmas Carol Concerts. The group will perform six evenings at 7:00 PM at the following churches and dates:
12/21 – Good Shepherd, Garland
12/22 – St. Augustine, Mesquite
12/23 – Cathedral Shrine of Guadalupe, Dallas
12/27 – Nuestra Senora del Pilar, Dallas
12/28 – St. Patrick, Dallas
12/29 – St. Michael the Archangel, Garland
Seminarian Caring Tree Thank you to all members of Lumen Christi Council (and some close friends) for your generous of support for our seminarians via our Seminarian Caring Tree program. This is the fifth year of the program and are proud of our accomplishments… Thirty-five items made the wish list and twenty-seven “secret Santas” fulfilled all those requests.
-all articles on this page submitted by
Chris Diaz, Seminarian Liaison Please continue to pray for all Seminarians of the Diocese of Dallas and all those discerning God’s will for them in the church universal.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ 9 Volume 13, Number 4 Illuminating the Faith Community of All Saints Catholic Church, Dallas, Texas
Field Agent Newsletter
Raffaele Gerace, FIC
KofC Field Agent
P.O. Box 6174
McKinney, TX 75071
Phone: (214)924-8426
FAX: 1(866) 242-2220
Or e-mail me at
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We Stand Strong On Ethical Ground
Some people believe that
ethics in business is a
contradiction of terms.
They think that in order
to be profitable, a
company and its leaders
must abandon morality
and embrace the dark,
greedy side that they see
so often in the news and
in movies.
At the Knights of
Columbus, we know this
isn’t true. A business can
be both ethical and
successful. We are.
As a Catholic
organization, we
understand the value and
importance of our core
beliefs and the original
mission of Venerable
Father Michael J.
McGivney. In fact, much
of the strength and
financial security we
provide to members and
their families can be
attributed to our ethical,
moral standards.
More than 96 percent of
Knights who buy our life
insurance keep it, year in
and year out. The Order
takes this commitment to
our members very
seriously. This means
carefully planning when
it comes time to invest.
Our professional staff
researches all transactions
to insure that they fall in
line with Catholic values.
If a transaction makes
them uncomfortable, they
don’t make it.
“We exclude any
company engaged in
activity that conflicts with
Catholic moral teaching:
companies directly
involved in abortion,
contraception, human
cloning, embryonic stem
cell research, for-profit
health care that pays for
any of these, or
pornography,” said
Supreme Knight Carl
Anderson. “There are
many companies in the
pharmaceutical and
communications
industries that would
undoubtedly provide
excellent returns for us,
but which are not in our
portfolio because they
engage in research and
development or
programming in ways
that violate the sanctity or
dignity of human life.”
In the end, the Knights of
Columbus investment
strategy is motivated by
morality, not money. Yet,
each year we remain
profitable, increase our
assets and stay dedicated
to this vision that will keep
the Order financially
sound for generations to
come.
From The Supreme Knight Carl Anderson
“Faithful Catholics have
choices when buying life
insurance,” said the
Supreme Knight. “But they
know that at the Knights of
Columbus their policy is
supplied by an insurer that
shares their moral and
ethical values and is guided
in all of its investment and
sales practices by those
values.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 THE BEACON – The Official Newsletter of Lumen Christi Council 13520 October-December 2016
* Meet 9:30 at Church or 9:45 at Center - ** Contact information for each Officer and Director is on page 4.
UPCOMING LUMEN CHRISTI CALENDAR OF EVENTS visit www.lumenchristikc.org and click EVENT CALENDAR to sign up for any of these events
DECEMBER EVENT LOCATION TIME CONTACT** 17 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parenthood - Plano 600 North Central meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
18 Sun Pancake Breakfast Fellowship Hall Morning Masses Jack Falloure
18 Sun Sunday Morning Fellowship Fellowship Hall Morning Masses Mike Riley
19 Mon Community Meal with Ladies Auxiliary Fellowship Hall 6:30 PM Ervies Cortez
19 Mon Monthly Business Meeting Fellowship Hall 7:30 PM Mike Greene
21 Wed Golden Saints Luncheon Service Fellowship Hall 11:30 AM Bob Wise
24 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parenthood - Plano 600 North Central meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
25 Sun Sunday Morning Fellowship CANCELLED CHRISTMAS FH CLOSED
29 Thr Dallas Chapter Meeting Council Hall 799 6:00 PM Mike Greene
30 Fri Dinner at Redemptoris Mater Seminary Cockrell Hill 6:30 PM Chris Diaz
31 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parenthood - Plano 600 North Central meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
JANUARY EVENT LOCATION TIME CONTACT** 1 Sun Sunday Morning Fellowship CANCELLED NEW YEARS FH CLOSED
4 Wed Council Officer/Director Meeting KLC Room 20 7:00 PM Mike Greene
6-7 Fri-Sat Overnight Eucharistic Adoration Chapel 9:00 PM–9:00 AM Casey Fuld
7 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parenthood - Plano 600 North Central meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
8 Sun Blood Drive Meadowcreek Gym 8 AM – 1 PM Rob Hewitt
8 Sun Sunday Morning Fellowship Fellowship Hall Morning Masses Mel Almagro
8 Sun Basketball Free Throw Competition Meadowcreek Gym 2 PM – 5 PM Any Tait
14 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parent- SW Center 8616 Greenville Ave meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
14 Sat Procession of Roses & Pro-Life Rally City Hall 12:30 & 1 PM Jack Falloure
15 Sun Sunday Morning Fellowship Fellowship Hall Morning Masses Pat Heaney
15 Sun Pancake Breakfast Fellowship Hall Morning Masses Jack Falloure
16 Mon Federal Holiday – Meadowcreek Campus Closed – Knights Meetings Moved To Thursday
18 Wed Golden Saints Luncheon Service Fellowship Hall 11:30 AM Bob Wise
18 Wed Council Admissions Committee (if needed) KLC Room #21 7:00 PM Norm Stauffer
19 Thr Community Meal with Ladies Auxiliary Fellowship Hall 6:30 PM Ervies Cortez
19 Thr Monthly Business Meeting Fellowship Hall 7:30 PM Mike Greene
21 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parenthood - Plano 600 North Central meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
21 Sat Mid–Year Budget Review Meeting and Audit St. Theresa Room After 9 AM Mass Mike Greene
22 Sun Sunday Morning Fellowship Fellowship Hall Morning Masses Mike Riley
28 Sat Tamale Sales Bank Parking Lot 7 AM - 4 PM Fred Kellner
28 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parent - So Plano 1710 W Camp Wisdom meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
28 Sat Tamale Sales Meadowcreek Campus 4 PM – 7 PM Fred Kellner
28 Sun Tamale Sales Meadowcreek Campus 7 AM - 2 PM Fred Kellner
29 Sun Sunday Morning Fellowship Fellowship Hall Morning Masses Don Shaver
FEBRUARY EVENT LOCATION TIME CONTACT** 1 Wed Council Officer/Director Meeting KLC Room 20 7:00 PM Mike Greene
3-4 Fri-Sat Overnight Eucharistic Adoration Chapel 9:00 PM–9:00 AM Casey Fuld
4 Sat Tamale Sales Bank Parking Lot 7 AM - 4 PM Fred Kellner
4 Sat Rosary for Life@Planned Parenthood - Plano 600 North Central meet 9:30 AM* Jack Falloure
4 Sat Tamale Sales Meadowcreek Campus 4 PM – 7 PM Fred Kellner
4 Sat Clergy Appreciation Dinner Fellowship Hall 6:30 PM Doyle Kitchen
The Beacon is published monthly and is edited by Past Grand Knight Chris Diaz. Article submissions are denoted by tag lines and/or contact information. Proofreading is performed by Rudy Arciniega, Jack Ayers, Mike Greene, Kelly Halaszyn, Jim Sammons and Norman Stauffer. Council photographers include Jerry Cayce, Chris Diaz, Pat Heaney and Maureen Keating. Photo by-lines are used whenever possible. If you would like to submit articles, take photographs or help with this vital communication tool, please contact Chris Diaz at [email protected] or 972-742-7282.