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

We will hold our Council nominations at our Business Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, which will probably be our last Business Meeting at the Olney Sandy Spring Bank. We will then hold our Council elections at our Business meeting on Wednesday, June 11, which will probably be at St. Patrick’s Parish Center, where we will elect the new leadership of our Council for the new fraternal year 2008-2009. I encourage all Brother Knights to attend this meeting, to vote, to meet our newly elected officers, and to ask what you can do to support them as they assume their new positions in July.

Please check our web site www.kofc6793.org regularly for continuing updates on just where our future meetings will be held.

Thank you for your patience as we struggle to find our new home. I hope to see you on June 11 and that you will continue to Help Us Help Others! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please call me at (301) 929-1425 or e-mail me at harrybushar@verizon.net.

After the disciples had witnessed Jesus’ ascension into heaven, they immediately returned to the Upper Room in Jerusalem where they had celebrated the Last Supper. Notice the significance of this action: They return to the room where Jesus had given them the Eucharist. In the institution of the Eucharist Jesus had promised He would always be with them in this sacramental form of bread and wine. They wanted to recall this promise of Jesus.

Jesus had also promised that He would send them the Holy Spirit. They went to the Upper Room with Mary to pray in preparation for this great gift.

During this month of May we also pray, after having celebrated Jesus’ ascension, for the coming of the Holy Spirit. We pray in this season and throughout our lives for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into our lives because it is the Spirit who leads us into all truth and keeps us faithful to all that Jesus taught us. May we pray this season with renewed confidence that the Holy Spirit will continue to sanctify us and the Church as we continue our journey of faith.

I am still in awe of all the beautiful Holy Week liturgies and in my participation at this prayerful time that has brought me closer to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Perhaps, you are also caught up in the moment of this Holy Season.

For me, I am once again reminded of how much God loves me that He would give his only Son for my salvation. What an incredible gift of sacrifice that Our Lord has made for each of us.

Since "The Passion of the Christ" movie came out in DVD a few years back, our family has made it a practice to gather around the TV to watch this film during Lent. Each time I view the movie, I pick up something new that I missed in previous viewings.

This time, I was taken back by what seemed to be a contradiction when Christ met His mother along the way to Golgotha. The scene shows Jesus near exhaustion, His body bloody, bruised, lacerated, and beaten, His eyes bloodshot, and, for all practical purposes, He is almost dead, but He turns His gaze to His earthly mother, Mary, and looking intently at her, Jesus, Our Lord, forces a smile and says: "See I make all things new."

At first, it seems that Jesus is mocking His own situation, but for me, the inner message is that, through all the suffering that He endured for all of us, He will provide us with a new life founded with compassion, where His forgiveness is motivated in love. Christ paid the ultimate price when He took our sins to the cross.

The challenge for us is this: "What can we do to show forgiveness with love and compassion to those who have offended us, and how can we be an example for others to follow?"

The Fraternal Year is coming to a close. You have completed all of those projects that your Council has planned for and many others. The Columbian Award is an award that says thank you for your efforts. This award says that you have submitted all of the ‘Surge for Service’ Reports in all of the areas needed for the several quarter in the past Fraternal Year.

This award honors your Council’s efforts and hard work for the Fraternal Year.

Many years ago when interest rates were very high, projections of cash accumulations were quite aggressive. Rates of 10% - 12% or even 14% were common.

Have you reviewed your interest rates recently? With lower rates, what has happened to your Universal Life policy? Will it perform as projected? Will it terminate, unless more premium deposits are made?

Those lower interest rates may require more premium deposits. However, that may not be your only worry.

If you counted on those policy proceeds to be left on deposit for your loved ones, consider that a $100,000 death benefit will produce $10,000 a year at 10%. Unfortunately, at today’s lower interest rates, a $100,000 death benefit may not even produce $5,000 a year.

What about your retirement plan? How have these lower rates affected your projected income?

In keeping with changes at the MD State Council Level, our Council continues to evolve to electronic mail for the monthly newsletter. The newsletter is already available on the Council Website. Each member of the Council is asked to provide an email address to the Financial Secretary with the payment of 2008 dues and/or issuing 2008 membership cards. PLEASE DO IT NOW!

There will be some brothers who do not or cannot use electronic mail. These members will continue to receive the monthly newsletter by US Post Office Mail. The Council will keep everyone informed on email implementation plans. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Don Hemke (301-774-7511), the Council Financial Secretary.

Knights of Columbus, Fr. Peter Paul Maher Council # 6793 is pleased to announce that we will once again offer scholarships to deserving high school seniors who have been accepted as full time students to an accredited college or university following their senior year. Under the "Fr. Canice Treacy Memorial Scholarship Fund", any graduating high school senior (Catholic or non-Catholic) is eligible to apply for a grant.

The deadline for application submissions is Friday, May 9, 2008. Scholarships will be awarded on June 25, 2008. For more information, please contact Kevin Kennedy at (301) 774-5014, or go to www.kofc6793.org/scholarship.php.

May is the month to honor our Blessed Mother. Please join us at 4 PM on Sunday, May 4 at the Grotto of our Blessed Mother, next to our Cottage on the grounds of the Marian Assisted Living Center, where we will recite the rosary. We will meet at the Cottage and then walk over to the Grotto. Please remember to bring your rosary.

Our Council will hold the 3rd Annual Charity Golf Outing at Laytonsville Golf Course, on Friday June 13th at 9 AM. This event will help us support the Council’s Seminarian Support Fund, which offers $500 stipends to as many Seminarians as we can afford to help. The golf format will be a four-person scramble and the cost will be approximately $75 per man or woman of any skill level. The $75 cost includes continental breakfast, lunch, golf cart, beverages, prizes and a welcome bag. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams and individuals for longest drive and closest to the pin. Door prizes will also be given, which means we need help in obtaining donations from local businesses. Donations can be sponsoring a hole or providing advertising items, for example logo clothing, golf apparel, or golf balls. We would like to assist a record number of Seminarians this year; so come on out and enjoy a day of fun with friends & family for a great cause, remember: "Charity is our business."

Please contact Marc Long at (301) 208-7134, (301) 518-1040 or ramair320_129@msn.com for any questions, to reserve your tee time, to sponsor a hole, or to make a donation. Click here to view a flyer and signup sheet.

In order to meet our budget and to continue our community service and charitable programs, we need everyone's help to raise approximately $1,000. A raffle is one way for EVERY member to support the Council. The Spring Raffle will be held at our final Social Meeting of this fraternal year on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at St Patrick's Parish Center beginning at 7 PM, (See "Council Pot Luck Social - Scholarship Award Presentations & Spring Raffle Drawing" article in this newsletter.)

First Prize – 25%; Second Prize – 15%; Third Prize – 10%. The tickets are $5.00 each.

A letter with your raffle tickets was sent to all Council Members in late April. Included in the mailing is a return addressed envelope. The support of every member is needed to make our raffle a success.

Council Pot Luck Social - Scholarship Award Presentations & Spring Raffle Drawing

Our Annual Scholarship Awards & Spring Raffle will be held at our final Social Meeting of this fraternal year on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. The Pot Luck Dinner will be held at St Patrick's Parish Center at 7 PM.

Pot-Luck assignments are as follows: A-G: Entrée; H-R: Dessert; and S-Z: Salad. (Please bring sufficient food to feed 10 people.)

To facilitate planning, please confirm your participation with Harry Bushar at 301-929-1425 or by email at harrybushar@verizon.net by Sunday, June 22. THANK YOU

The Nominating Committee submits the nominations of new Council officers for the fraternal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009. The nominees are as follows:

Grand Knight	John E. Moore, Sr.
Chaplain	Appointed by Grand Knight
Deputy Grand Knight
Chancellor	Joseph F. Krempasky
Warden	Andrew P. Colliton
Financial Secretary	Appointed by Supreme
Treasurer	Joseph M. Feakes
Recorder	Charles W. Cozad
Advocate	Eugene I. Kane, Jr.
Lecturer	Appointed by Grand Knight
Inside Guard	Nick J. Padams
Inside Guard	Frederick E. Boland
Outside Guard	James N. Padams
Trustee (1 year)	Innocent P. d’Almeida
Trustee (2 year)	Jack Giacalone
Trustee (3 year)	Harry F. Bushar
Convention Delegate
First Alternate	Jack Giacalone
Second Alternate	Robert M. Mazonkey

The election is scheduled to be held during the June 11, 2008 meeting. The nomination will still be opened until the time before the election.

Council shirts are now available for $20. They are Maroon in color, Gildan Ultra Blend, 6.5 ounce, 50/50 cotton, poly pique knit sport shirts for men and women. The K of C insignia is just above the left pocket. We currently have all sizes available, medium, large, extra large and 2 extra large. To order your shirts please call Jack Giacalone at 301-774-6338. Thank you.

The Silver Knight Award is available to a
3rd Degree Knight who recruits 2 new members,
participates in 3 council programs, and
attends 3 Business Council meetings.

You have seen the revised 2008 Council budget in the January newsletter. Council trustees had to restructure the council budget for the remainder of the 2007-2008 Fraternal Year to offset a shortfall in our revenue producing events including the Spring raffle, State Car Raffle, Entertainment Books, Tootsie Roll Drive, Art Auction, and Spaghetti Dinners. As the Financial Secretary of the Council, I routinely am involved in the financial well-being of the Council. However, that is not my primary purpose here. Even more important than revenue $$ to the Council, is the lack of Council membership participation in our many Council events.

We aren’t asking for a major commitment like the Council Officers. Rather, we would like you to make an effort to support 2-3 Council activities during the entire Fraternal Year (1 July 07 – 30 June 08). Is this asking too much to help us keep our promised support of the Catholic Church and charities in the Community? How may of you have ever supported the Halloween Party at the Inwood House? I know many of the long-time Council members have supported the Tootsie Roll Drive in the past, but where have you been lately? Where has your family been lately? When is the last time you attended a "Communion Breakfast or Brunch"? The role of committed Catholics today is more important than ever before.

We need all of our Brother Knights to help us "Live the Faith" in our everyday lives. We could certainly use your help with our upcoming Memorial Day Mass at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. While we all feel better, personally, doing good works, we will also be helping the Council continue its vital support of Seminarians for the Church! The more funds available, the more support to the Seminarians is possible. Will we see your smiling faces again at our future Council events? You won’t be disappointed.

Our April 6 Spaghetti Dinner at St. Patrick’s Parish Center was a tasty success,

During his April 19 homily at a Mass for clergy and religious at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Pope Benedict XVI made special mention of "the remarkable accomplishment of that exemplary American priest, the Venerable Michael McGivney, whose vision and zeal led to the establishment of the Knights of Columbus."

Father McGivney’s cause for sainthood is being considered at the Vatican, and the Pope declared him a venerable servant of God in mid-March.

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson made the following statement regarding the Pope’s remarks:

"This morning, Pope Benedict reminded America’s clergy that the ‘secret of the impressive growth of the Church in the United States was a ‘unity of vision and purpose – rooted in faith and a spirit of constant conversion and self-sacrifice,’ and held up as a prime example our founder, Father McGivney.

"The Pope’s selection of Father McGivney as a role model for today’s priests and religious is enormously important for us.

"Thousands of priests are among the 1.7 million members of the Knights of Columbus, including Cardinal Egan and hundreds of others in the Archdiocese of New York.

"Each and every day, all of us in the Knights of Columbus look to Father McGivney’s vision and example as a guide to our work of charity and evangelization.

"At a time when our priests are in need of our support more than ever, the Pope’s promotion of Father McGivney as a role model for clergy everywhere is both timely and enormously appreciated.

We pledge our fervent support for his call to revitalize and renew the Catholic Church here and around the world."

May 4	*Rosary & Ice Cream Social - Cottage - 4 PM
May 7	Council Executive Meeting - Cottage - 7:30 PM
May 12	Sullivan Brothers Assembly - Regular Meeting - 8 PM
May 14	*Council Business Meeting - 7:30 PM - Olney Inn Room
May 16-18	110th Maryland State Convention - Ocean City - Princess Royale
May 26	*Memorial Day Mass - Gate of Heaven Cemetery - 10 AM
May 28	Council Social Meeting - 1st Degree - 7:30 PM - Olney Inn Room

June 4	Council Executive Meeting - Cottage - 7:30 PM
June 11	*Council Business Meeting - 7:30 PM - St. Patrick's Parish Center
June 13	*Council Golf Outing - Laytonsville Golf Club - 9 AM
June 19	Sullivan Brothers Assembly - Pot Luck - 7 PM
June 25	*Scholarship Awards & Spring Raffle - Pot Luck - 7 PM - St. Patrick's

* additional information in this newsletter

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