2015 Charity Raffle

The Charity Raffle material was given to all District Deputies for distribution to their councils at the Mid-Winter meeting.  Charity raffle tickets posters and envelopes with a letter and manual was included for the Grand Knight, Chaplain, Raffle Chairman, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer of each council that sold tickets last year.  Councils that did not sell tickets last year were included if the Grand Knights replied to an e-mail that they want to participate this year.

Raffle Manual
Raffle Poster

The letter and manual for the chaplains is new this year. This is an option for Grand Knights that meet with their Chaplains or Parish Priest to give them their envelope as a door opener to discuss the Charity Raffle. There was a typo in the Chaplains letter.  Attached is the corrected copy.  Please fill in the name, print, and exchange with the letter that is in his envelope.  If your information did not contain the Chaplain letter it was because we did not have his name.  Send me e-mail with his name and address for our records.  I will mail you a manual and a letter for him.

If you do not have the raffle material, contact your District Deputy. 

Chaplains Letter

Vita

Richard Armanini

State Charity Raffle Director

3315 E Dry Creek Road

Phoenix AZ  85044-7022

Read More

Mass and Lunch Catholic Professional Athletes for Christ

Attached are pictures from the Professional Athletes for Christ mass and lunch.
Photo's courtesy of Nancy Weichec.

Read More

Orange Harvest at the Monastery

Despite the rain there were about 25 people from several of the councils on hand to pick oranges today. 

Work halted around 10:30 AM and we were called to lunch with the Sisters at 11 AM. 

Since we did not finish, the work will continue next weekend at 8 AM on Saturday, Feb 7 for those that can help.  They juiced about 32 gallons of great tasting orange juice today.  Thanks for everyone’s help!

Here are a few pics from this morning.

Bob Messenger

Knights of Columbus Council 10762

Read More

State Deputy Message - February 2015

February 1, 2015

Brothers,

Now, we are in the thick of things! We have five more months to this fraternal year. Now is the time to focus our energies on strengthening our force to support our Bishops and Priests, our Parishes, our communities, and our council. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson says, “Together we could be an enormous force for good in a world that so obviously needs the love of God and love of neighbor, which are reflected in our work.” In Arizona, we have several opportunities in February to help you and your council to meet this expectation.

Knights of Columbus stand in solidarity with our Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. At his ordination, a Deacon receives the power of worthily assisting the Priest and the Bishop and of preaching the Gospel. A Priest, like the apostles, gives up the things of the world and dedicates his life entirely to God and His service, wishing only the Lord for his portion. At his ordination, a Priest receives the power of forgiving sin and of offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He is made another Christ; a living representative of the Redeemer, Whose work he continues. Bishops are ordained to receive the power of confirming and ordaining. He is given the plentitude of the Priesthood and is made a Successor of the Apostles. Our great Order was founded by a Priest, Father Michael McGivney. In February, we have several opportunities to show our appreciation to our Clergy. On February 6, the Knights of Columbus are hosting the Diocese of Phoenix Priest Appreciation Dinner, at Ss. Simon & Jude Cathedral, in the Our Lady of Loreto Center. On February 17, the Knights of Columbus are hosting the Diocese of Tucson Priest Appreciation Dinner, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church. And, on February 23, the Knights of Columbus are hosting the Yuma La Paz Vicariate Religious Appreciation Dinner, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, in the Fr. John Friel Centre. I invite all Knights in Arizona to attend one of these dinners and bring your Parish Deacons and Priests with you.

A goal for every council should include being a fully active council by earning the Star Council Award in the 2014-2015 fraternal year. The Star Council Award is the pinnacle achievement which shows that your council is working to support its members’ families, and bring relevant programs to its membership, parish, and community. The Star Council Award recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and service program activities. Councils must conduct and report at least four major programs in each of the Service Program categories: Church, community, council, family, culture of life, and youth. From February 9 to 12, the Arizona State Council will be hosting “Reach for the Stars” Workshops, with three in the Phoenix metro area, and one in the Tucson metro area. Please plan to attend one of these workshops to help you achieve Star Council, Star District, and Circle of Honor.

Remember that by living our State theme, “I will choose Christ, I will choose love, I choose to serve”, you and your council will exemplify our four principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. With this, your current members and your new members can be an enormous force for good in your council, Church, family, and community.

Vivat Jesus!

Larry Becker

Read More

KofC and Special Olympics Arizona Successful Football Clinic

Brothers, 

Last night, the Knights of Columbus Arizona State Council and Supreme Council, in conjunction with the Special Olympics Arizona and Catholic Athletes for Christ, had a wonderful experience conducting a football clinic and two flag football games in Chandler Arizona. The Special Olympic athletes had a great time with several professional athletes in their clinic and game. 

Thank you State Youth Director Skip Hopler for doing such a fine job with this event! And thank you to the approximately 30 Arizona Brother Knights that came out and helped with the evening. Without you, we could not have pulled this off.

Please look at the front page of the Supreme website for an article and photos of the evening. www.kofc.org or https://www.kofc.org/un/en/news/releases/detail/knights-sponsor-football-clinic-special-olympics.html

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Vivat Jesus!

Larry Becker

Read More

Building the 4th Degree, Through the First Degree

Brothers and Sir Knights,

I am proud to introduce a new program for ALL 4^th Degree Sir Knights in Arizona called, “Building the 4^th Degree, Through the 1^st Degree.” Starting today, January 24, 2015, until June 30, 2015, all Sir Knights can qualify to participate in this new program if they truly believe in strengthening their assembly and the 4^th Degree in Arizona. Please read the attached document on the details. Please share this with your assembly as soon as possible. District Master SK Bob Holsinger and I hope to present you with your special 4th Degree recognition at the 2015 State Convention!

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Recruiter Flyer

Vivat Jesus!

SK Larry Becker

 January 24, 2015 

Sir Knights, 

To be called a “Sir Knight” is an honor and a privilege! It is perhaps the title I am most proud of in our great Order. I am very proud to be part of the visible arm of the Order. 

Are you aware that less than 1.5% of all 4th Degree Knights leave the Order on their own? Are you also aware that the average age of all Sir Knights in the Order is 64 years old? I truly value my interactions with our elder Sir Knights. They have a wealth of wisdom and knowledge available for us to learn. All we need to do is ask. However, today, there are more Sir Knights dying than are being brought into the 4th Degree. If we continue at this rate, in a matter of a few short years, the 4th Degree will be only a fraction of the size that it is today. 

We are in desperate times. We need to recruit more 4th Degree members to survive! We need to continue to ask current 3rd Degree members to join the 4th Degree. Perhaps the easiest way to get a new 4th Degree member, is to recruit new 1st Degree members into our councils. As an active proposer, we will be able to guide them quickly through the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degree, and then into the 4th Degree. We need to invite more Catholic men into our Order so we continue to grow in strength to support our Bishops and Priests, our Church, and our community. 

As an added incentive to the current Arizona Star Recruiter program, and to help grow the 4th Degree in Arizona, we are introducing a new program, “Building the 4th Degree, Through the 1st Degree”, especially for 4th Degree members who recruit new members into their councils. Starting today, January 24, 2015 until June 30, 2015, any 4th Degree Knight who recruits a new member through their 1st Degree, will receive the 2014-2015 Arizona Star Recruiter pin plus an additional special 4th Degree commemorative gift. All you need to do is recruit a new member through his 1st Degree and complete the 2014-2015 Arizona Star Recruiter application form found under the Membership tab on the Arizona State website www.azknightsofcolumbus.org/p/membership.html , write the words “4th Degree” boldly written on the top of the form. Then, mail the form to Arizona State Council Knights of Columbus, 14175 West Indian School Rd Suite B4-626, Goodyear, Arizona 85395. This added 4th Degree award will be presented to those who earn it, at either the State Convention on Friday May 15, 2015 and at the State Organizational Meeting in July 2015. 

Please remember that your responsibility as a proposer is to stay with the new member through their Knights of Columbus career. Please continue to invite him to take his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degrees. You should be at the exemplifications with him, to support and celebrate his growth in the Order. You are helping him become a future leader in your council and assembly. 

By living our state theme “I will choose Christ, I will choose love, I choose to serve”, you will exemplify our four principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. With this, our current members and our new members can be a strong force in your council, assembly, Catholic Church, family and community. 

Vivat Jesus! 

Larry Becker State Deputy Arizona State Council Knights of Columbus 

Read More

Please support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Brothers,

Supreme published the memorandum below.  I recommend you read it carefully and act on it accordingly.

H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This important measure will ban abortions on unborn children aged 20 weeks post-fertilization or older, based upon substantial medical evidence finding that these unborn children can experience pain. With H.R. 36, Congress will exercise its authority to protect these unborn children from abortion, and the horrible pain that it causes.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Vivat Jesus!

Larry Becker

Dear Brother Knight,

The U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This important measure will ban abortions on unborn children aged 20 weeks post-fertilization or older, based upon substantial medical evidence finding that these unborn children can experience pain. With H.R. 36, Congress will exercise its authority to protect these unborn children from abortion, and the horrible pain that it causes.

However, while a vote has been scheduled, successful passage of H.R. 36 is not assured. H.R. 36 needs your personal support. Please click here to contact your elected congressional representatives today. Ask them to support H.R. 36 with their vote. Be sure to also contact your Senators and ask them to introduce and cosponsor the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the U.S. Senate. If you will be in Washington for the upcoming March for Life, be sure to also personally visit your representatives in Congress and urge them to support this bill. Encourage your family and friends to do the same.

At the 131st Supreme Convention in San Antonio, we resolved to "speak out to our elected representatives about the need to enact legislation…to protect human life." With the upcoming vote on H.R. 36, it is more important than ever that Congress hears your voice.

Thank you for all you do to promote a Culture of Life.

Knights of Columbus

Read More

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

Read More

Three Top Reasons to March

Please watch this video on the Three Reasons to March for the March for Life
http://40daysforlife.com/2015/01/09/see-january-events

Read More

KofC "Reach for the Stars" Workshop in Arizona During February 2015

Brothers,

 

In an effort to help every Knight of Columbus council in the Arizona jurisdiction earn the coveted Star Council Award in the 2014-2015 fraternal year, we will be hosting a special workshop in February called “Reach for the Stars”, at four locations in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. (See the dates, time, and addresses below.)

 

Earning the Star Council Award is the very best way for a council to have a well-rounded, healthy, and productive environment for their membership. By having relevant programs, a council can attract new members and retain current members.  

 

You may already heard of our state’s focus on councils earning the Star Council Award. We have been encouraging every District Deputy in Arizona to have at least one council in their district earn this award this year. Some District Deputies have several councils working to reach this goal. We have challenged every District Deputy to earn the coveted Star District Award this year, as well. There is also a state level award similar to the Star Council and Star District, called ”Circle of Honor”. Arizona last earned this coveted award 5 years ago. It is time for Arizona to show the rest of the Order just how great this jurisdiction really is! You all deserve to earn this prestigious award. It is our state’s goal to earn this award through our continued stellar performance in the 2014-2015 fraternal year. You all deserve it!

 

All Brother Knights are invited to attend a workshop. They are designed to help you to earn the Star Council Award, plus answer your questions on the requirements to earn the award. The same agenda and material will be discussed at each of the workshops. You only need to attend one workshop. We look forward to seeing many Brother Knights at these important workshops.

 

“Reach for the Stars” Workshops

 

East Valley

Monday, February 9, 2015 7:00 to 9:00PM

Patterson Council #3121 Hall

644 E. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ

 

West Valley

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 7:00 to 9:00PM

Frey Francisco Garces Council #3855 Hall

8066 N. 49th Ave., Glendale, AZ

 

Tucson

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 7:00 to 9:00PM

Tucson Council #1200 Hall

601 S Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ

 

North Valley

Thursday, February 12, 2015 7:00to 9:00PM

St. Patrick’s Council #12449

St. Patrick Catholic Community, Fenlon Hospitality Center

10815 N. 84th St., Scottsdale, AZ (1Ž4 mi. north of Shea Blvd.)

 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Vivat Jesus!

 

Larry Becker

 

 

Read More