Knights of Columbus Council 6793

"As Knights we are constantly observed, our faith judged, and our order appreciated."

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

Good Brothers and Gentle Ladies: It's December! That means we are halfway through this fraternal year. Where did the time go? Well, to name a few things... in July we held our Council Picnic and the Silver Rose Program, in August we held our Council Installation and Olney Night Out, in September we held the World Day of Prayer for Peace and began a 40 Hours Devotion at St. Patrick's, in October we attended the Columbus Day Ball and held the Inwood House Halloween Festival, in November we held the St. Peter's Silent Auction and... Let's face it, Tempus Fugit and December is no less busy! Will you create a list of New Year's resolutions? Will one of them be to make 2010 your year, a year to make amends for transgressions, a year to do a few of the things you've put off for way too long? God has us in His sights. He has our best interests at heart. Pray, listen, heed His guidance, and the year ahead will be just as it should be – a year full of clear, vibrant, realized expectations. A year dedicated to His will!

Brothers and Sisters All: As I write this, we are halfway through the month of November. There are many activities remaining for the second half of this month that will lead us into Advent. Thanksgiving will be here next week and with it comes the season we all look forward to with open hearts, a time for family, a time for being grateful for our many blessings and most of us sharing our abundance with those in need. We are rooted in our faith. No matter how hard the world around us tries to eliminate God the Father from our pledges, money and public places, we as Knights of Columbus families hold fast to our belief, our religion and our complete faith in the blessed Trinity. I know that I am preaching to the choir but sometimes we feel compelled to say something out loud or in this case write down. Jesus Christ is the reason for the season, not the retail stores or the economy or the DOW or any of those things that are reported on by the news media.

Advent begins on November 29th and the Christmas Season starts with the Advent Wreath, the giving trees and sending Christmas cards to friends and loved ones. This Christmas as we light the candles on the wreath, take requests from the giving trees and address our Christmas cards why don't we all say a simple, powerful prayer, JESUS I TRUST IN YOU. District Warden Jack Giacalone and Phyllis join Nancy, Jill and I in wishing all of our Knights of Columbus families a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for the coming New Year. - Vivat Jesus, John

Our Council hosted the Silent Auction at the St. Peter's Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 7, 2009 and it was fun! The event ran from 9 AM to 3 PM, with two separate auction periods. Auction bidders perused 16 items per auction and the bidding was intense on several items! All the items were donated to the event so we Knights just had to find the most pleasing presentation of each and let the bidders do the rest. There were many happy winners and all auction proceeds went to St. Peter's Church.

A hearty and special thanks to Don Hemke for his expert handling of a majority of the auction details and running of this event and thanks to Fred Whitman, Warden for his help with staffing. Also, thanks to Brothers John E. Moore, Sr., Marc Long, and Doug Ketter for selling Holy Family magnets, Keep Christ in Christmas Cards, and 2010 Entertainment Books, respectively. Once again, an example of exceptional work by some of our finest Knights!

This Christmas, give your family a gift that they will cherish. It is a gift that shows that you truly love your family. Life Insurance. When you purchase life insurance it is not just for yourself. It is for your entire family. Life insurance does two things. Firstly, it can provide for you and your wife with an income during your retirement years. It enables you to live and not worry about money. You may go and do what you want. Secondly, it does protect your loved ones if you were to die prematurely. It gives your family financial protection, so that they may live with dignity, in your absence. It can be nearly impossible for a family to live without life insurance, when the breadwinner dies.

Be a real Saint Nick and get the life insurance you and your loved ones need.... today!

All Knights and their families are invited to join in singing Christmas carols for the patients at Montgomery General Hospital on Monday, December 21st.

Due to new hospital guidelines and flu concerns, no one under age 18 is permitted to walk the halls with us.

We will meet in the lobby of the hospital at 6:45 PM and then sing carols on the floors from 7:00 until 8:00 PM. The patients really enjoy this and it's a very rewarding experience for all participants! A good singing voice is NOT necessary. Please come and join the fun!

This is a FINAL REMINDER that a generous and anonymous Brother Knight has issued a challenge that between October 1st and December 31, 2009, he will match, dollar for dollar (up to $1,000) contributions made to our Seminarian Fund! This is your chance to effectively double your monetary gift! Make your check payable to Fr. Maher Council #6793 Seminarian Fund and mail it to Paul McFarlane c/o K of C Council 6793, P.O. Box 570 Olney, MD 20830. Please call Paul on 301-570-5508 with any questions. This is not the first time that this generous Brother has done this and we certainly want to make this worth his while as well as the ultimate beneficiaries, our Seminarians!

We are once again offering these great jackets for council members and their spouses. These are excellent quality mid weight jackets. They are Maroon in color with black fleece lining. The K of C 3rd degree emblem is embroidered on the left side with Knights of Columbus Fr. Peter Paul Maher Council, Olney MD, circling the emblem. Your name will also be embroidered on the right side if you like. We have already delivered over 40 jackets from our previous orders. Sizes are as follows:

Jackets will be approximately $55 each and the more we order the less they will cost. This is not a fundraiser, so our cost is your cost. We want to let everyone know that the Knights of Columbus are active and well in Olney.

Please call me to see, try on, and order these great jackets! I would like to place the order no later than Friday, December 18th. Thank You! Thank You, Jack Giacalone . 301-774-6338.

Caribbean Cruise – Tour duration is January 11 to 23, 2010, cabin prices range from $1,082.55 (inside) to $1,272.55 (outside). Book early as these discount priced cabins are limited.

Northern Ireland and Scotland – Tour duration is April 14 to 26, 2010. Visit Donegal, Derry, Belfast, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh! Hotel accommodations are twin bedded rooms with private bath. Price per person is $3,152; single supplement is $595.

Information: Contact Ron B. White, Supreme Director (410-795-0862) or Mary Caguin, World Travel Service (Toll Free: 800- 668-9077 Ext. 120 or Direct: 410-527-9700 Ext. 120) or Paul McFarlane (301-570-5508); he has a tour brochure and added details.

For those interested in being kept informed of local pro-life activities, send your e-mail address to Marco Colombini at colombini@umd.edu. You'll be provided brief notifications (not more than once a week). If you change your mind, just send me an e-mail and I will remove your name from the mailing list. Thank you on behalf of the 1 million babies killed each year in US abortuaries.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., observed the 50th anniversary of its dedication (November 20, 1959) recently. Named in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, the National Shrine is the patronal church of U.S Catholics and the country's preeminent Marian pilgrimage site.

At more than 77,000 square feet, the Shrine is the largest Catholic Church in the United States, and ranks among the largest in the world. Its founder, Bishop Thomas Shahan, was a contemporary of Knights of Columbus founder, Father Michael McGivney -- and both were priests of the (then) Diocese of Hartford. Knights have been actively involved and supportive of the Shrine's ministry since its beginnings. In 1959, the K of C provided $1 million for the erection of the campanile, known as the "Knights Tower." Five years later, the Order donated a carillon of 56 bells. The Knights also established a $1 million endowment in honor of Past Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart to promote Marian devotion at the National Shrine and to preserve and maintain the Shrine. For 27 years the Knights of Columbus has funded, coordinated and staffed an usher ministry at the National Shrine. Since 1989, the K of C has periodically funded internationally televised liturgies and other spiritual broadcasts from the National Shrine. In 2007 the Knights provided $1 million to the National Shrine for the installation of a mosaic depicting the Incarnation of Christ. The Order has conducted several events at the National Shrine, and will return there in 2010 during its Supreme Convention in Washington, DC. Blessed (mother) Teresa of Calcutta visited the Shrine on multiple occasions. Pope John Paul II visited the Shrine in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI addressed U.S. bishops there in 2008. The photo above was taken on 11/20/1959, after the dedication Mass and shows Fourth Degree Knights forming a 2-rank honor guard along the Shrine's eastern exterior. [See www.nationalshrine.com for details and photos about this historic event.]

On October 24, 2009 ghosts and witches came and left our Council's 10th annual Halloween Festival! All that was left was one bowl of bat bones, toenails, flies and ants, earthworms, snake eyes, cobwebs, butterfly wings, and blood drops of "Witches Brew" and another bowl of "Bats' Blood." Most importantly, some 90 masquerading residents of the Inwood House and guests happily left the party carrying their awards, prizes, and taking goody bags on their way out toward home. A repeat success for our Council, as some 25 volunteers consisting of Brother Knights and their family members donated hours of time, talent, and funds toward this enjoyable community event.

Included in the event was a complete buffet dinner of pasta and meatballs, salad, beverages, and dessert followed by entertainment starring "Don Juan" the magician and Ed Hoffman the singing guitarist. In addition to thanking the Committee of planning, dinner serving, decorating, cooking, and table ushering helpers, special thanks go to John and Patricia Moore who purchased dinner items, stored them, and transported them to Inwood house. Thanks too to Barbara Roark who purchased and made 80 goody bags, to her husband Jim for transporting these, to Joe Krempasky and Andy Colliton for preparing and cooking food, to GK Paul McFarlane for preparing award certificates, his wife Karen and their son Kyle for purchasing and decorating fresh pumpkins, to Russell Acosta for taking many pictures, to the Colliton daughters and their friend, to Elena Chung, and all students helping for charity credits, and finally donations of cash, and prize items. Many thanks go to all committee members including Chuck Cozad, Steve and Marilyn Goldhammer, Mike and Pam Degnan, Tim Boland, Kathy Krempasky, Fred Taylor, and Joe Caron. If I left anyone out of the list it is not intentional. I truly enjoyed chairing this community activity for our Council. Check out our website [www.kofc6793.org] for photos of the event.

A visit from SANTA and much more!
Have your Picture taken with Santa
Christmas Raffle Drawing
Introduction of Seminarians

The Council will provide plates, utensils, napkins, salad, dessert, and beverages.

Please call Innocent d’Almeida (301-871-6156) or Joe Krempasky (301-570-4891) no later
than December 5th, to volunteer to help, and to let us know the number of people in your
group and the gender and ages of any children who will be attending.

December 2 (WED)	Council Executive Meeting, Cottage on Marians Grounds, 7:30 PM
December 6 (SUN)	Council Memorial Mass and Luncheon (Postponed to early 2010)
December 8 (TUE)	Immaculate Conception of Mary – Holy Day of Obligation
December 9 (WED)	Council Business Meeting, OLGC* 7:30 PM, Room #120
December 13 (SUN)	Council Christmas Party (St. Peter’s Church Hall, 2-5 PM
December 17 (THU)	Sullivan Bros. Assembly Mtg. at Montgomery Council #2323, 8:00 PM
December 19 (SAT)	Christmas Party for Marians Assisted Living Residents, 2-5 PM
December 21 (MON)	Caroling at Montgomery General Hospital 6:45 to 8 p.m. (no one under 18 this year)
December 23 (WED)	Council Social Meeting (CANCELED)
December 25 (FRI)	Nativity of our Savior – Pray that His will be done!

January 1 (FRI)	Solemnity of Mary – Holy Day of Obligation
January 3 (SUN)	Feast of the Epiphany
January 6 (WED)	Council Executive Meeting, Cottage on Marians Grounds, 7:30 PM
January 13 (WED)	Council Business Meeting, OLGC* 7:30 PM, Room #120
January 21 (THU)	Sullivan Bros. Assembly Mtg. at Montgomery Council #2323, 8:00 PM
January 22 (FRI)	March for Life, Washington, DC
January 27 (WED)	Council Social Meeting - Possible First Degree, OLGC*

*Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (See Council website for directions.)

For additional information or to participate in any of the above events please call Paul McFarlane, GK on 301-570-5508

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