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FR. MAHER'S KNIGHTLY NEWS
'Come Grow With Us!'
December 2005
VOLUME XXX ISSUE 6
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Father Maher's Knightly News is published monthly by Fr. Peter Paul Maher Council 6793 of the Knights of Columbus, P.O. Box 570, Olney, MD 20830. Please e-mail your articles in WORD format by the 20th of each month to: editor6793@yahoo.com |
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Contents . . .
GRAND KNIGHT'S MESSAGE
Holiday Best Wishes
As we enter into this Holy Holiday season I would like to wish all my Brother Knights and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year. We hope that 2006 will bring a renewed sense of enthusiasm and fraternity encouraging new and continued support for our Council and its activities for the New Year.
We still have a lot of work to do.... "COME GROW WITH US"
DISTRICT DEPUTY'S MESSAGE
by Kevin Jeffords, DD
Christmas is always a special feast. All by itself it represents our five focus areas all at the same time. Church - it gives us a special reason to focus on Advent with its wreath and the wonderful vigil services; Community - it gives us a special reason to be more attentive to those having difficult times where we make a special effort to help our neighbors in trouble with food baskets and toy donations. Family - families will take time from their busy schedules to get together for a special time of sharing their love, OH how I remember the trips to grandmother's house. Youth - there is always the council children's Christmas party and the preparation of the home with a tree, lights and OH the cookies mom used to make. Council - what a better time for our extended family (our Council) to reflect on how we care about each other and our successes as well as making a special effort to see everyone at the annual Christmas party.
The information on the Maryland State Scholarships is now available. It is published in this newsletter.
Grand Knights and Deputy Grand Knights - mark your calendar for January 7, 2006. This is the date of the Mid-Term meeting to be held at Cardinal Gibbons' Council. More importantly, make sure your wives know that they are also invited and the ladies will go on a trip while we meet. There will be a special program for the Deputy Grand Knights, which is why you need to make a special effort to attend.
With it being the Christmas season, what better gift to give than a membership into the Knights of Columbus or pay the dues of someone that can't afford one? See your Membership Director or Financial Secretary for those in need.
Finally, my wife Shirley, our District Warden Ernest Harley, his wife Marye and I would like to wish all of you and your families the special blessings that this holy season represents and we pray that the new year of 2006 will bring you much prosperity and joy.
Please remember to pray your Rosary and may God Bless you.
FRATERNAL BENEFITS
SCROOGE DIDN'T BELIEVE
We can all remember the story of Scrooge and his failure to believe in the spirit of Christmas. To all but the Scrooges of the world, the celebration of the birth of Christ brings with it a warm feeling of family ties, a joy and pleasure that out faith brings to others.
That same warm feeling comes from owning life insurance. Just knowing that, because of what you have planned, your loved ones will have joys and comforts for years to come if something should happen to you.
I don't think Scrooge would have believed in life insurance either, but men of good will do. And the world is a better place because of them. Through life insurance, they know that comfort and security will not be only for one day, but instead, a gift that will provide for their loved ones for years to come.
This Christmas, give the gift of security and protection.
From my family to your family, a Blessed and Holy Christmas!
Fraternally, Rick Morin 301.384.7627
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
At the beginning of December each member received a letter and a raffle ticket for our annual Christmas raffle. A fund raising opportunity in which one half of the ticket sale of $10 supports our Seminarian program and the other half is raffled off to three lucky ticket buyers at our annual Christmas party on December 18th. Once again this year, an anonymous donor has come forward and has offered to match contributions to the Seminarian fund up to $1000. This is a great incentive for all of us to be as generous as we can to help support our seminarians.
If you have any questions please let me know. Thank you for your support.
Jack Giacalone
PANCAKE & SAUSAGE DAY 2006
MARK YOUR CALENDARS. On Saturday, February 18th, 2006, Father Peter Paul Maher Council along with the LIONS CLUB of Olney, will again sponsor the 30th Annual Pancake and Sausage Day. The usual "ALL YOU CAN EAT" breakfast at St. John's Episcopal Church Hall in Olney will provide the Council with the major source of funding for our annual College Scholarship Program.
Two important reminders. FIRST: Council Members will be needed to work the dining room from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. This will be done in the usual two shifts of 7:00 am to 11:00 am, which includes set up, and the 11:00 am to 3:00 pm shift which includes take down and clean up. Many hands will make for light work. Contact GK Jack Giacalone (301-774-6338) or email jgiacal@verizon.net to volunteer. SECOND: A very important source of revenue for the Pancake & Sausage Day is the program booklet. We need as many council members as possible to take out an ad.
PROGRAM BOOKLET ADS FOR 'PANCAKE AND SAUSAGE DAY' EVENT
If you own a business, please consider this opportunity to support the Council. Individual members are encouraged to take out business card size ads to support the Scholarship Program. Remember, two complimentary tickets are provided with each ad.
1/8 PAGE (BUSINESS CARD SIZE)...$ 25.00 1/4 PAGE........................$ 50.00 1/2 PAGE........................$ 85.00 Full page (8.5 by 7 in.)........$160.00
Receive two complimentary tickets with each paid ad!
For ads contact: Jack Giacalon 301-774-6338 or Don Hemke 301-774-7511.
Ad deadline: 3 February 2006.
CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT MONTGOMERY GENERAL HOSPITAL
Please come and join us in our traditional hour of caroling at Montgomery General Hospital at 6:45 pm on Wednesday, December 21st. Our group will sing carols on various floors until 8 pm. Park in the garage and meet us in the lobby at 6:45 pm.
This is a small way for us to brighten the season for those confined to the hospital during the holiday season. Bring your family and friends for an hour of sharing the joy of the holiday season with others.
If you have any questions, please call Steve Goldhammer at 301-570-9613.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
by Homer Chen
Our recruitment of new members has been great since July 1st of this fraternal year. As of November 1, 2005, we have ten new members who joined our Council during the last five months.
Let's welcome the following new brother knights: Charles Swanke, Thomas Cardamone, Stephen Hull, William Gaurini, Stephen Rinaldi, Catalino Ylaya, Paul Lockwood, Andrew Colliton, Michael Messuri, and Timothy Harrell. By the end of year, we expect to recruit three more new members. To meet our net goal of 22, we need to try harder.
Let's all talk to our friends, co-workers, family members and fellow parishioners, and invite them to join us. For membership information, please call Robert Mendoza at (301) 570-2860 or Homer Chen at (301) 460-0580.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, January 15 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm -- Longwood Recreation Center
There are three levels of competition:
The following Link contains details:
http://www.kofc.org/un/news/events/detail.cfm?id=20500
Let your friends & family with children in these age groups know about this. We will be advertising in the Gazette, Church Bulletins, and distributing flyers in early January.
NEWS FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The dues statements for 2006 will be mailed this month. Members are requested to pay their dues as soon as possible to save the Council the expense of a second mailing. New Membership Cards will be mailed as soon as payment is received. Any member experiencing financial difficulties should contact the Financial Secretary or the Grand Knight. The Council will make every effort to accommodate special circumstances. We will not suspend a member who has difficulty paying his dues because of financial hardship, but we must be made aware of the circumstances before we can help.
Any member having questions on his bill status or status of his current membership card should contact the Financial Secretary. Bob can be reached at: 17601 Country View Way, Ashton, MD 20861, at Tel 301-774-6951 or email at rrcaron61@comcast.net.
AMERICAN CELL PHONE DRIVE
Brother Bill Homick has begun a project to collect inactive, unwanted cell phones as a fund raiser for the Council. Cell phones collected will be turned over to the American Cell Phone drive and they will pay cash for them. All moneys collected will be donated to the Gabriel project (www.gpscl.org). A collection box is located on the covered deck at the Cottage. Please help support this project and the Gabriel project.
BUY YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS AND SUPPORT OUR COUNCIL
The "Keep Christ in Christmas" Christmas cards are again available for your purchase from Brother Marc Long, 301-208-7134. These beautiful religious cards will help you share the message of the Christ Child - Love and Hope.
Please contact Marc and place an order today. The price range is $6-$10 per box.
ANNUAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2005, 3-6 PM
St. Patrick's Parish Center
Norbeck Road and Muncaster Mill Road in Rockville
| Music | Gifts for the Kids | Good Eats |
A visit from SANTA and much more
Have your Picture taken with Santa
Christmas Raffle Drawing
Doll House Raffle Drawing
Introduction of Seminarians
Each Family - Please bring ONE MAIN DISH large enough to feed 10 people
The Council will provide
Salad, Dessert, Snacks, Sodas
Please call to let us know if you will be attending, the number of people in your group, and the gender and ages of the children.
Please call Harry Bushar at 301-929-1425 no later than December 15th.
Please Volunteer to help with the preparation and setup for this event, WE NEED HELP
Call Jack Giacalone at 301-774-6338
TOOTSIE ROLL CAMPAIGN RESULTS
Fr Peter Paul Maher Council once again participated in the annual Tootsie Roll campaign supporting some 20 organizations helping the mentally challenged in Montgomery County. During October, brother knights, their spouses and children collected donations at the Giant, Safeway and County liquor store in Olney and the Giant and County liquor store in Leisure World. They collected $6,200, and we are expecting additional donations from both St. Peter's and St. Patrick's which we hope will put us over $7,000 and beat last year's contribution.
Out of the 132 hours available, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6 pm, for each of the 5 weekends in October, we only had enough volunteers to man 81 of those available hours, or 61.3%.
I would like to thank Bill Thewes for his leadership and commitment to this campaign. I would also like to thank all the coordinators, callers and volunteers who gave a little time for a big cause. Jack Giacalone
PANCAKE & SAUSAGE DAY 2006