Knights of Columbus Council 6793

Father Maher's Knightly News is
published monthly by:

Knights of Columbus
Fr. Peter Paul Maher Council 6793
P.O. Box 570
Olney, Maryland 20830

Please e-mail your articles in WORD
format by the 20th of each month to:
editor6793@yahoo.com

With 2006 behind us, we have had some time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to 2007. As I look back upon my last year and a half as Grand Knight, I am proud of what we have accomplished as a Council, and of the people who have helped us get there. We have always set an aggressive calendar to try to accommodate all of our goals and, thanks to our dedicated group of hard working Brother Knights, their wives, and families who constantly make us look good, we were able accomplish what we set out to do.

Two of my main objectives as Grand Knight have been to find a more permanent home for our Council meetings and to increase the number of Brother Knights attending those meetings while having them become more active in our Council. Well, the first objective has been met; please see the notice in this newsletter for the new meeting location and time. The second objective is a constant uphill battle.

The good news; we have 6 more months to go before the end of our fraternal year, and plenty of work to do. All we ask is that you volunteer for one activity a year, that's a couple of hours. That's it. What a great New Year's Resolution. Pick an event or activity from the calendar and give us a call to volunteer or come to a meeting in our new facility and find out what else is going on in the Council, you might be surprised. You have heard this from me before and I will continue to encourage our members to actively participate in our Council. I believe in what the Knights of Columbus are all about and what we can accomplish as an organization, but we cannot do it alone - we need your help. If we can get a few more to do just a little more we will be successful, continue to grow, become more visible in our community, and reaffirm what the Knights of Columbus can truly accomplish.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or want to volunteer, I can be reached at 301-774-6338 or jgiacal@verizon.net, thank you...Come Grow with us...

The Gospel recalls at once the infancy of Jesus and the inspiration left us by the Holy Family at Nazareth.

Example teaches best. This is the motto of the Christian home. Love, harmony and mutual respect have to be taught in action. The Spirit of Christ is present in the home because He dwells in the hearts of its members. But what of those without homes, who have not the means of leading a truly human family life, without food, clothing and shelter? This is an area of true Christian love and concern.

The heart of the Christian family is the love of God. The Christian family is the domestic church, and parents are the first teachers of the faith to their children. It is from family members that we begin to learn the meaning of love. This love should reflect the love of Jesus, full of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness for all people.

Half of the Fraternal Year has been completed, as we approach the winter season and the Midterm gathering of the State. Over the past several months, I have had the good fortune to visit all of the Councils of District #11, and I wish to commend you on your heartwarming hospitality, and to congratulate you on the programs of Church, Community, Council, Family, and Youth. You have been very busy indeed, and I implore you to continue the good works for the remainder of the Fraternal Year.

Membership creates the stability and the strength of the Knights of Columbus. Becoming a member of the Knights of Columbus allows you, in a general way, to practice the fundamental beliefs of Catholicism, volunteering in urgent tasks, such as those previously mentioned, reinforcing the teachings of the Church, learned at some earlier time. While it has been a busy time, there can be no let up in the recruitment of new Knights in our Order.

Start the new year in a positive manner, with each member of each Council of the Knights of Columbus, District #11 recruiting a new member. Let each Council, each Knight, dedicate himself this coming year to strengthening the Council, the District, and ultimately the Order, by giving all of his energy to the common goal of membership recruitment.

New members, with many new ideas, and works, make up the tradition of the Knights of Columbus, and our growth depends on this enthusiasm. Men deeply involved in the creation of programs, unique in approach, that will modify and improve our lives. To be sure, the Knights of Columbus represents a way for Catholic men, and their families to encounter God.

As of the end of 2006, we have 8 new members (counting toward our goal for Star Council Award) who joined our Council. Please welcome them. They are Douglas E. Berry, John D. Lieber and Mario A. Mastrojeni (through readmission), Franklin C. Ojukwu, Kirby J. Scott, Sam L. Underland, Joseph L. Silva and James M. Otto (through taking the FIRST Degree in October and November). We also want to welcome back Gabriel R. Francis (through reinstallation) and David W. Chang (through transfer).

Although the progress of the recruitment is good, we need to do better. The best way to recruit is one on one. Ask your family members, fellow parishioners, co-workers, relatives and friends to become a member.

For information, please call Jack Giacalone at 301-774-6338 or Homer Chen at 301-460-0580.

At the Council's February 28th Social, in the Olney Inn Room, at 7:30 PM, Dr. Donna Appel, from Holy Cross Hospital, will give a talk on Breast Cancer, Improved Detection and Clinical Trials. This is a must for all of our Brother Knights and their spouses to attend. This will be an informative and educational session for all of us. Please plan to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Trophies to winners in each age group...
Winners can compete in District and Statewide competition
If you have any questions please call Jim O'Brien 301-774-3694

Exemplification of the 4th degree will be held at the University of Maryland on Sunday, March 11, 2007. I would encourage all 3rd degree Knights to consider taking this Patriotic Degree. If you are interested please complete the form below and mail it with your check to SK James Parshall before February 18. If you have any questions please call SK Jack Giacalone at 301-774-6338.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Effective with the January 10, 2007 Business meeting the Council will move its meeting location for Business and Social meetings to the Olney Inn Room, located in the back of the Sandy Spring Bank Building, in Olney.

The Bank is located at 17801 Georgia Avenue. In addition, all Business and Social meetings will now begin at 7:30 PM. All Business meetings (2nd Wednesday of each month) and Social meetings (4th Wednesday of each month) will now be held at the new location for all of 2007.

Our web site calendar has been updated to reflect the new location. The Council's mailing address will not change. The Cottage will still be used for storage, Executive meetings, and Committee meetings.

The 2006 Council Christmas party was another great event. There was plenty of food, toys, and crafts for the kids and a visit from Santa. The Christmas 50/50 raffle was drawn and the winners were:

In addition, $500 Stipend checks were or will be presented to 6 seminarians this year. Brother James Boccabella, a Knight in our council, was among the recipients.

Keep Christ in Christmas Poster contest winners were presented with a $25 Check and a certificate of participation. The winners were:

Pictured below are the members of the Christmas Party team. Additional pictures of the Christmas party can be viewed at the web site, www.kofc6793.org.

Spaghetti, Sauce, Meatballs
Italian Bread, Mixed Salad, Dessert
Iced Tea, Orangeade

For more information or to volunteer to help with this event
please call Jack at 301-774-6338

It's not too early to MARK YOUR CALENDARS. On Saturday, February 24, 2007, Father Peter Paul Maher Council along with the LIONS CLUB of Olney, will again sponsor the 31st 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 Financial Secretary Don Hemke (301-774-7511) or email gumpermd@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
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.
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
Two complimentary tickets with each paid ad
Ad deadline: February 10, 2007.
For Ads or to volunteer to help, contact Don Hemke 301-774-7511.

January 1	Happy New Year!
January 3	Council Executive Meeting- Cottage 7:30 PM
January 10	*Council Business Meeting - 7:30 PM, Olney Inn Room
January 18	Sullivan Brothers Assembly - Renewal of Obligations -- Montgomery Council
January 22	Right to Life March, Washington DC - See January Newsletter
January 25	Council Social Meeting - 1st Degree, St Peters, Classroom P
January 28	*Basketball Free Throw at Longwood Rec. Center

February 7	Council Executive Meeting- Cottage 7:30 PM
February 15	Sullivan Brothers Assembly - Pot Luck - Families Invited -- Montgomery Council
February 21	Council Business Meeting - 7:30 PM, Olney Inn Room
February 24	*Sausage & Pancake Breakfast- St Johns Episcopal Church
February 28	*Council Social Meeting - 7:30 PM - Olney Inn Room

THE COUNCIL'S COMPLETE AND UPDATED ANNUAL CALENDAR CAN BE VIEWED ANYTIME AT www.kofc6793.org (Select the "Calendar" button on the left side of the web page.)

If you would like any information or would like to participate in any of the above activities please contact us at 301-774-6338.

We Knights should seek the intercession of the Queen of all America
to strengthen our fraternal brotherhood that transcends borders

Last month marked the 475th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, an event that was celebrated by millions throughout our hemisphere and by millions who traveled to her basilica in Mexico City on Dec. 12. Her feast day is always a concrete and moving witness that Our Lady of Guadalupe is not only a historical fact, but that she continues to be a living presence for millions of people today.

The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe was one of the great and decisive events in history. Through her intercession, millions of native Americans became believers in her Son and entered the Church. Historians tell us that during the time in which millions left the Catholic Church in Europe as a result of the Protestant "Reformation," millions more were being baptized into the faith in the New World.

An anniversary such as this is an ideal opportunity to reflect on just what is the meaning of the continuing "event" of the Virgin of Guadalupe's presence in the Western Hemisphere at this time.

Writing in 1999, Pope John Paul II observed: "The appearance of Mary to the native Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac in 1531 had a decisive effect on evangelization. Its influence greatly overflows the boundaries of Mexico, spreading to the whole continent. America, which historically has been, and still is, a melting-pot of peoples, has recognized in the mestiza face of the Virgin of Tepeyac, 'in Blessed Mary of Guadalupe, an impressive example of a perfectly inculturated evangelization.' Consequently, not only in Central and South America, but in North America as well, the Virgin of Guadalupe is venerated as Queen of all America" (Ecclesia in America, 11).

Scholars tell us that many of the symbols on the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe revealed to the native peoples of Mexico that she was pregnant. And so many people today appeal to Our Lady of Guadalupe for her intercession to build a culture of life. For many, she has become the patroness of the pro-life movement.

Yet we should also reflect on John Paul II's admonition that the Virgin of Guladaupe is also the "Queen of all America." I think it is clear that the pope saw her as a privileged way by which to bring forth a greater unity among the people of this continent and ultimately, among the entire hemisphere.

During the past several decades, we have witnessed a greater economic interdependence between Canada, the United States and Mexico. That increased interdependence has also brought great division and animosity. Governments and businesses have important roles in overcoming these challenges. But while necessary, their involvement alone is insufficient.

The Virgin of Tepeyac brought to the American continent an unprecedented unity of peoples based upon a unity of faith. That remains her continuing promise to us today.

May the Knights of Columbus celebrate this great anniversary year in her honor by witnessing to our own principle of unity, based upon a fraternal brotherhood of faith, and may we do so through a shared commitment to build a new culture of life that transcends every border.

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	Father Maher Council 6793

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