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 Christmas and the New Year behind us it is time to look ahead and set some goals and objectives for the coming year. We should make them challenging but attainable so that when we look back on this year we know that we have made a difference, we are proud of what we have accomplished, and we look forward to doing it again.

I can think of no better way to do that than to offer a few hours to help benefit our Council's Community Support and Charitable programs. I know that we are all busy with the kids, work, and chores around the house, but we are only asking that you help us out with one project this year. Whether it be a committee member, spend an hour or so at a couple of meetings, or as a chairman, to coordinate the project, I know that whatever project you choose it will be a fun and rewarding experience for you and your family. Please remember that spouses are welcome to be part of most of our project meetings and children can participate in many of the activities themselves.

So take a look at our calendar for the next six months at www.kofc6793.org. Choose a project and give me a call.

With the Baptism of Our Lord, the Christmas Season is concluded according to the liturgical calendar. In a few weeks, it starts again with Ash Wednesday; and we will enter the most meditative and spiritual journey with our Lord, Jesus Christ, toward His Passion,
Crucifixion, and glorious Resurrection. That is the reason why He asks us to REPENT!

"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week," Jesus showed himself to his apostles. "He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'" (Jn. 20:19, 22-23). There is the institution of the Sacrament of Confession. During this annual Lenten Season, Archbishop Donald Wuerl asks all the parish priests to be available to the Catholic faithful for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The words are "The Light is on for you." (Archbishop's letter to his priests, Jan.8, 2007)

When January chills the air, and it is the time to think deeply of winter, we retreat to the comfort of house and home, and the special comforts of family. Streets are quiet, and the atmosphere neighborly. Perhaps no better time, the winter, represents what this time and place is all about. We decide to make improvements in our lives, and try to refocus our thoughts and our goals.

The Councils of District Eleven are entering into the final half of the Fraternal Year. Now is the time to reaffirm and to rededicate ourselves as Knights of Columbus to those ideals set forth in the challenges in becoming a Knight. The strength of the Knights of Columbus is its ability to adjust to the challenges of change, focusing on the problems of immediate concerns, and developing appropriate solutions. The end of the calendar year should be a time to reflect on the progress made in the preceding months.

It is the final half of the Fraternal Year. Start the remaining portion in a positive manner, with the thought of obtaining the prestigious award, The Star Council. With the emphasis being placed on the acquisition of new members to each Council within the District, recruitment efforts should be redoubled with Star Council as the goal.

Let each Council of the District give all of its energy to the common goal of membership recruitment. To achieve this goal, every District Eleven Council should establish a recruitment plan. Each member within each Council should take the responsibility to bring in a new member, and stay with the new recruit until he reaches full Knighthood, contact suspended members offering them ways to return to the Knights of Columbus, and establish 100 percent of quota as a goal to be obtained, no later than the end of the third month of the new year.

Do you know that the Knights of Columbus can offer you IRA's and Keogh Plans (U.S.), as well as RRSPs (Canada)? Do you know enough about them to decide whether or not they fit into your financial picture?

If your answers bother you, I would like the chance to sit and talk with you (and your wife, of course) about our alternatives - annuities and tax-sheltered savings at highly competitive interest rates. You need not look anywhere else but your own Order for your financial needs. Other institutions bombard you with ads for business this time of year. We just keep doing what we have been doing since Father McGivney founded the Order - taking care of our members and their families.

Start your New Year off today, by allowing the Knights of Columbus to help you secure your family's tomorrows. I look forward to being of service. Just give me a call.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS. On Saturday, February 24, 2006, Father Peter Paul Maher Council along with the LIONS CLUB of Olney, will 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.

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: (Lions Club) Vince Pistolessi 301-871-3334, or (Knights of Columbus) Don Hemke 301-774-7511.

Once again, Fr. Maher Council is sponsoring a Caribbean cruise. The September/October cruise raised nearly $2,500 for our Council's Charitable Corporation. We hope to raise more from this next fun filled event. The next cruise is for Feb. 3 to Feb. 15, 2008 on the largest cruise ship afloat and directed to seven of the best islands in the Caribbean. For details, see the attached flyer.

Since this cruise encompasses Valentine's Day, what better gift could you give your spouse. But you must hurry since availability of staterooms at this group price is limited. A deposit of $900 to hold a stateroom is due not later than March 12, 2007. Final payment is due November 25, 2007. If you have any questions please call Dick Sherbert at 301-774-0998.

This month's social meeting brings an outstanding speaker from Holy Cross Hospital who will talk about the nation's second highest health problem-breast cancer. Donna Appel, RN, will present and discuss improved detection techniques and clinical trials, and a new approach to fighting breast cancer. Please invite a friend and learn some facts about breast cancer presented by an experienced member of the oncology staff who works with patients to navigate the complexities of cancer care. This is a must for all of our Brother Knights and their spouses to attend.

The date is Wednesday, February 28, at the Sandy Spring Bank conference room rear of the building, at 7:30 pm. Refreshments will be served. For further information contact Bill Gulban at (301) 774-0424.

This article is a prelude of further information which will be presented at our social meeting evening, February 28, 2007, at the Sandy Spring (Olney) Bank (rear room of building), at 7:30 pm. See details and schedule elsewhere in this newsletter.

Foods to help prevent breast cancer. One of the best defenses against breast cancer may well be diet. A growing and impressive body of research reveals that what you eat and drink can protect you from the disease. Below is a list of foods that every woman should include in her regular diet-the sooner, the better. All of them are part of the anti-inflammatory diet recommended for optimum health.

Soy. Breast cancer is estrogen driven and eating soy appears to ward off breast cancer by blocking receptors. Whole soy foods, like edamame, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk, contain weak plant estrogens that displace estradiol, you body's more potent form of the hormone. Soy may be more protective when consumed before puberty, while breast tissue is forming.

Fruit & Vegetables. Overwhelming evidence shows that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps prevent most types of cancer. Scientists suggest the protection may come from plant chemicals called polyphenols and carotenoids found in many fruits and vegetables. These compounds act as antioxidants and prevent damage to DNA that can trigger cancer growth. Recommended intake for women is eating at least nine daily servings of a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Also advised is making one of those servings a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, or cabbage; these not only provide antioxidant protection, but also help your body metabolize estrogen into a form associated with lowest breast cancer risk, called 2-hydroxyestrone.

Green Tea. It's difficult to beat the antioxidant power of green tea. Although it comes from the same plant as black tea, the process of making green tea retains far more of the polyphenols that give the beverage its antioxidant potency. It is recommended that everyone drink at least one cup a day.

Fish. Eating oily fish helps protect against breast cancer in two specific ways. First, it supplies plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to metabolize the hormone into the safer 2-hydroxyestrone form. Second, oily fish contains vitamin D, which has been linked to a lower risk of breast cancer and many other malignancies (other vitamin D sources include fortified milk and soy milk, vitamin supplements, egg yolks, and liver). Aim for two to three servings of oily fish a week, and choose Alaskan sockeye salmon, sardines, tuna, whitefish, anchovies, and black cod to avoid the mercury and PCBs found in other species.

Flaxseed. Flax also contains omega-3s that aid in blocking estrogen from binding to receptors and break down estradiol into a safer form. Plant chemicals in flaxseed called lignans also seem to play a role in thwarting cancer. Suggested intake is adding fresh ground flax seeds to your diet rather than supplementing with flax oil; the oil typically lacks the beneficial lignans and fiber. Sprinkle two tablespoons of ground seeds a day in breakfast shakes or on cereals, salads, or cooked vegetables. The above article is supported by the noted Dr. Andrew Weil's Health Newsletter, and Bottom Line Health Secrets.

On Saturday, March 31, beginning at 12 noon, the Council will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt for children 10 and under. The event will take place on the grounds of the Marian Assisted Living Facility, off of Georgia Avenue in Brookville. Just follow the signs once you turn onto the grounds. Prizes will be awarded to children for finding the specially marked eggs. All children will receive an Easter candy bag and there will be Cookies and punch for everyone. So come join the fun. I know the kids will love it.

So we can better estimate the number of participants, please contacts Jack Giacalone at 301-774-6338 or jgiacal@verizon.net to let me know how many children you will be bringing. In the event of inclement weather please go to our web site, www.kofc6793.org, for updated information. Thank You.

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.

Effective with the January Business meeting, the Council has moved its meeting location for Business and Social meetings to the Olney Inn Room, located in the back of the Sandy Spring Bank building 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 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.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous, or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that .... every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is "We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

Our Jan. 8 issue of Knightline includes a look back at the year just completed and highlights some of the ways we Knights lived out our principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.

We can all take justifiable pride in these accomplishments. In fact, this practice of a year-end review is something I would recommend your council leadership team do, especially as you prepare to file your Survey of Fraternal Activity this month.

What we accomplished this past year, however, is best understood as the springboard for this year's programs and potential successes. That is especially worth keeping in mind as our Order prepares our programs to commemorate the 125th anniversary of our founding. March 29, Founder's Day, is rapidly approaching. I trust your council has begun its planning for this important event and for other anniversary programs during the rest of the year.

This year we are emphasizing the theme, "In Solidarity with Our Priests." It is hoped that your council will hold some type of clergy recognition event on or near Founder's Day. This program will highlight the fact that we were founded by a parish priest and that, as we go forward, we will strengthen our support of priests and seminarians.

The past year was an exciting, event-filled one for our Order. Our more than 1.7 million members in 14,000-plus councils in 71 jurisdictions did great things for the Church and their communities. Our 1,500 agents also helped bring the Order to new heights in insurance sales, professionalism and service.

But, as Shakespeare said, "What is past is prologue." When the "2007 in review" issue is prepared a year from now, let us be sure its highlights surpass these.

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

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, Guest Speaker

March 4	* Spaghetti Dinner - St Pat's 5-7:30 PM
March 7	Council Executive Meeting - Cottage 7:30 PM
March 11	* Exemplification of the 4th Degree
March 14	Council DINNER Business Meeting - 7:30 PM, Olney Inn Room
March 15	Sullivan Brothers Assembly - Pot Luck - Families Invited
March 22	Lenten Living Rosary and Soup Kitchen - Cottage 7:30 PM
March 28	Council Social Meeting 1st Degree, 7:30 PM - Olney Inn Room
March 31	* Easter Egg Hunt

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.

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