Message from Church Director

Greetings Brothers,

I hope this message finds you content and at peace in the love of God.

A number of events are upcoming that I would like to remind everyone about. During the month of September, the Silver Rose will be making the rounds at a number of parishes in the state. This may be a wonderful spiritual event for your councils. If you attend as a council you can check off a Church Activity for Star Council.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is August 15th. Normally, this would be a holy day of obligation. Since the feast falls on Saturday, the obligation is abrogated. We are not required to attend Mass. It is a good thing to do but we are not obligated.

Don't forget Rosary Sunday coming up in October 24-25, 2015.

Exciting work is being done to defeat the forces of evil at work in our country. Please consider joining with other Knights and their families at the "Knight Shift" coming on October 16th. There is still room for you to join the prayer for ending abortion. There are shifts available from 7 p.m. on the 16th through 7 a.m. on the 17th. Our Worthy State Deputy and his wife will be there along with Bishop Olmsted. How about you, will you share your time to help this worthy cause? More information on the "Knight Shift - 40 Days for Life" see website www.AzKnightsOfColumbus.org or the direct link is http://www.azknightsofcolumbus.org/2015/07/kofc-arizona-state-council-and-40-days.html

May God bless each of you and those you love.

In His service,

Deacon Bruce Bennett, EdD 

AZ State Church Director

DD 8

bebennett2@cox.net

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May Message - Church Director

Brothers,

Our State Deputy has outlined a number of events that occur during the month of May. I suggest that each council focus on at least one rosary prayed at a Council meeting for the intercession of Mary on the hearts of those contemplating abortion. It might also be good to pray a rosary for the lives lost to abortion. We are the best warriors in the defense of life.

I would like to suggest that you pray for the Holy Father's intention of Mary's intercession to help Christians in secularized countries to be ready to proclaim the good news of Jesus. This intention includes those of us in the US. Let people know when they have misinformation about the Catholic faith. Offer explanations with a Christlike disposition. 

A topic that has been coming up lately is that of Catholics remarried or married outside the Church. If we marry or divorce and remarry civilly, we are prevented from sacramental communion. As members of the Knights of Columbus people watch us. If we receive communion at Mass but live in a sinful relationship, we give the wrong impression. Talk to a priest, deacon, or marriage minister at your parish to resolve this situation.

May God bless each of you and those you love.

Dcn. Bruce Bennett, EdD

State Church Directorbebennett2@cox.net

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January Message from Church Director

Dear brothers,

As a Deacon of the Church, I am present at births, marriages, and deaths. It is very humbling when all three occasions occur for the same person. We must all give thanks to our God for the gift of life and always be prepared for the inevitable death that we will all succumb to. Be prayerful. Pray the rosary as we promised in our first degree.

Lent is fast approaching. This is a wonderful time to consider the gifts we have and how we share our time, talent, and treasure with those less fortunate than ourselves. This lenten season, I encourage my brother knight's to attend the Stations of the Cross at your parish or one nearby. This is a wonderful way for us to meditate on the life of Jesus and the message of charity that he shared in both word and deed. Consider making this a council function and move one step closer to Star Council.

Do you have a Deacon in your council? Ask them to do a Lenten retreat for the council. 

Please know that you are in my prayers, especially as I serve at the altar.

God bless you and those you love.

Dcn. Bruce Bennett, EdD

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Message from our Church Director

Dear Brothers,

It has been 3-1/2 months since our State Deputy asked me to take on the

position of Church Director. Since then I have been remiss to send out any

communication of encouragement. This communication is hopefully encouraging

to my brother Grand Knights, Faithful Navigators, and all my brothers in the

Order.

I would like to encourage as many as possible to join the Rosary Sunday

celebrations in Tucson and Phoenix this coming weekend. It is a wonderful

time to show our love of Mary and to take a moment to be in the presence of

God, present to us in the image of Mary and her Son. It is a time to reflect

on our own spirituality and relationship with God. There is plenty of room

for you to join in the celebration of Mary this weekend. I hope to see you

there.

Another Marian event I would like to encourage participation in is the

viewing of the Marian image of Mary in her title of The Immaculate

Conception. The state of Arizona is blessed with two images, one in the

South and one in the North of the state, that have been given to the Knights

of Columbus by the Archbishop of Quebec, Canada. A Marian hour program has

been established to be held in any parish or council hall that would like to

participate. So far we have had four Marian hours. The hour is easy to

accomplish as there is a booklet that takes you through the rosary and other

prayers. The hour really is only an hour. Please consider reserving the

image for your holy hour. For those in the Northern part of the state,

Phoenix and the nearby communities, contact me at bbennett@koc3121.com   For

those of you in the Southern areas, contact PSD Bryant Sayers at

Bryant.sayers@gmail.com

We have a number of Holy days of obligation coming up that I would like to

remind you of. First, November 1st is the feast of All Saints. This is a

time for us to remember those that have been named by the church, as well as

the communion of saints that have gone on before us.

Another Holy day is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is held on

December 8th and is a great time to reflect on the role Mary played in

salvation history. The month of December would be a great time for your

council or assembly to have a Marian Hour with the image.

Of course, the last Holy day of the calendar year is Christmas. It is a time

where we remember the birth of our Lord and are encouraged that He came to

absolve us of our sins. Make a special effort to go to confession during the

month of December. Prepare yourself for the coming of our savior again.

The prayers of our Holy Father focus on peace. His universal prayer

intention is, “that the Lord may grant peace to those parts of the world

most battered by war and violence.” Let us pray with the Holy Father for

peace in the world. I close with his prayer: Lord God of peace, hear our

prayer. We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our

conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. But our efforts

have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid. Grant us peace, teach us

peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Instill in our hearts the

courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

May almighty God bless you all, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Deacon Bruce Bennett, EdD

AZ State Church Director

Grand Knight Council 3121

bbennett@koc3121.com

--

Deacon Bruce Bennett, EdD

AZ Church Director, Knights of Columbus

Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus Council 3121

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Keep Christ in Christmas

Worthy Grand Knights,

 I am sending out this reminder because the deadline is approaching on the special early bird price on the English and Spanish assorted card boxes. It is limited to one of each assorted case per council before September 25th which is the deadline. The price on the English speaking cards are $130 plus $20 shipping charge this includes 35 assorted boxes and 2 KCIC magnets.  After the 25th the regular price is $160 plus shipping. The price on the Spanish speaking cards are  $73 before the 25th plus $20 shipping.  After the 25th $84.75 plus $20 shipping. This includes 24 assorted boxes and 2 KCIC Spanish magnets .

Click here for the Order Form.

Vivat Jesus

SK Anthony Balestrieri PGK

KCIC Chairman 

aab1652@cox.net

C 623-221-6058

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Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Winners

The Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Winners

Zacharrie Balma 5-7 Council 10799

Fiona Cummings 5-7 Council 10799

Abraham Hernandez 8-10 Council 7904

Alexandre Balma 8-10 Council 10799

Chris Garcia 11-14 Council 1200

Sophia Gonzalez 11-14 7904

-Rudy Cavolina

Arizona State Program Director

District Deputy 22

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From the State Chaplain

Dear Brothers Knights;

It is a privilege for us Catholics to be part of this country where Religious Freedom is important, and should be defended.

Recently we received some attacks to our freedom and our Catholic believes. It is our rights to protect for our own good and the generations to come.

The Health and Human Services (HHS) is trying to impose on our Church to provide services that runs against our moral teachings of our faith.

In the mist of these difficult times we should stand together as ONE in our faith and together in our actions.

It will be important to follow what the Church is recommending to us:

 

• Notify political leaders State and Federal that we are not agree for this attack to our religious freedom. Do it with kindness, not with grudge.
• Continue supporting our local parishes, pastors, priests and Bishops…Pray for us!
• Pray for our government leaders.
• Defend Life at all times; respecting the rights of all peoples….. [Unborn, children, young teens, young adults, married couples, elderly, widows, orphans; that includes our immigrant brothers and sisters. We cannot fight against the reality of their presence; they have their right as well us. All of us have been created by God with the same dignity.
• Attend or promote an OVERNIGHT ADORATION TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT to stop this attack to our religious freedom. This is a great scarify in staying all night awake in prayer before HIM the ONE who will set us free.
• Attend regularly the Sacrament of Confession (that is at least monthly).
• Do not miss Sunday Eucharist.
• Pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet…[Divine Mercy Novena starts this Good Friday to finishing by Divine Mercy Sunday] Do it in groups or personally for the same cause and we will see God’s Mercy upon us and our Country.
• Continue supporting all Catholic Organizations, catholic Schools, Institutions, etc.

 

Brother Knights, we cannot lose focus on Jesus Christ, we cannot lose our Moral Values. Keep the peace that comes from Jesus…… these coming few days are the most SACRED OF ALL DAYS!!! Stay in tune with your local parishes, attend the Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil Celebrations…… your faith will be renew!

You are in my prayers and in my Masses!

Yours in Christ, 
Rev. Carlos A. Gomez-Rivera 
AZ State Chaplain 
St. Augustine Catholic Church Phoenix

 

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The Knights of Columbus Supports Vocations!

As State Deputy for the Knights of Columbus in the great state of Arizona, I am compelled to write this letter to expound on the Knights' great work in the area of vocations.

Our Most Reverend Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares charges us with the important task of expanding our efforts to find young men and women of the Diocese of Phoenix that feel the call to priestly and religious vocations. (CLICK HERE to read Bishop Nevares' Letter to the knights.)

We must nurture and mentor those who Christ is calling from our parishes. We do this by our moral or financial support through every stage of their formation to serve the Church.

As Knights we are in solidarity with our priests. This is the same for seminarians from their first day of college seminary until the day of their ordination. We must show our support to the public, by raising them up in prayer, and by helping others see how they are doing in the journey. They are called to be servants to the entire Catholic population, not just in our state, but the world. Our support for them can help shape their experience in many ways, further igniting their dedication to the Lord.

Please accept my request and those of our Auxiliary Bishop as a priority for your council’s activities for the coming fraternal year.

Vivat Jesus!
Patrick J. Schuller
State Deputy
Knights of Columbus
Arizona State Council

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