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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS | |
Knights of Columbus
Good Shepherd Council 11672
Volume 12, Issue 1
January 2008
| Grand Knight | John Bellono | 882-6767 | bellono@ppg.com |
| Deputy Grand Knight | Bob Spuhl | 426-0030 | robert-spuhl@us.army.mil |
| NEXT COUNCIL MEETING | January 7, 2008 | 7:30 PM |
| PARISH BREAKFAST | January 13, 2008 | 8:30 - 10:30 AM |
| OFFICERS MEETING | January 15, 2008 | 7:00 PM |
| FEBRUARY COUNCIL MEETING | February 4, 2008 | 7:30 PM |
| FEBRUARY PARISH BREAKFAST | February 10, 2008 | 8:30 - 10:30 AM |
| FEBRUARY OFFICERS MEETING | February 19, 2008 | 7:00 PM |
Happy New Year 2008
January's Attendance Award - $50.00
Each Month one council member is selected to receive an attendance award. The only requirement is to be present at the monthly meeting. The attendance award accumulates until a member wins. Come out to the monthly meeting for a chance to win. The pot is now up to $45.00 as last month we did not have a winner.
GRAND KNIGHT'S COMMENTS
It's early January and by now much of the "glitter" of the Christmas season has disappeared. The Christmas trees are down and the decorations are back in storage (or soon will be). Our challenge is to keep the true spirit of Christmas alive throughout the year and to continue to give of yourself to help someone in need.
It's early January and I have an opportunity to reflect on a very successful first half of our fraternal year. There were a few new initiatives and they were successful. We hope for a few new initiatives in the first half of 2008. Our council's success depends on the talents of our members and their unselfishness to give of themselves. We are blessed to have members that use their numerous talents to support the council.
It's early January and there's still time for a New Year's Resolution. The plant nurse where I work will retire in the next few days. I thought I would share with you some of the text from her farewell "Health Tip of the Week."
"Next week I will be retiring after 45 years in nursing. In looking back over those years, medical science has produced some amazing diagnostics and treatments for a number of diseases. The one thing that stands out in my mind is the concept that in many cases we can choose good health. At the beginning of my career it was thought that illness " just happens" but now we have found that diet, exercise, and stress have a profound impact on our health. With the beginning of a new year, now is a great time to make those wise choices that will determine your quality of life. Reduce your weight to a healthy level, stop smoking if you are a smoker and get into a regular exercise program. My wish for each of you is good luck and good health."
It's early January ... and my prayer for all of you is God's blessings and good health in 2008!
Vivat Jesus!
John Bellono
DEPUTY GRAND KNIGHT'S COMMENTS
Brother Knights, Catholic Gentlemen,
Look for the Deputy Grand Knights comments in the February 2008 edition of the Shepherd's Watch.
Vivat Jesus!
Bob Spuhl
NEWS OF INTEREST
Personal Information Update
Please check to ensure that your contact information is updated with the Financial Secretary. This includes an e-mail address (if you have one) for the sending the Monthly Newsletter. The Shepherd’s Watch is available through e-mail and it can be gotten off the Parish website.
Service Hours
It's that time of year. The council will prepare the annual service hours report in January. Please deliver all your service hour data to Bob Spuhl as soon as possible (email is fine). Remember to include your charity hours to organizations and efforts in the community not directly associated with the Knights or the Catholic Church.
"Keep Christ in Christmas" Magnet Sales Update
These magnets were advertised at the K of C State meeting this past summer. We decided to buy one box and give it a try. Then bought a second box. Initial sales were light but these magnets took off and created a life of their own. We've sold more than one box of magnets and there are numerous tales of strangers asking "where did you get that magnet?" We've sold many to our non-Catholic Christian brothers. And we've sold many purchased as gifts for others. Clearly it's been a successful campaign. My thanks to all who helped sell the magnets after the masses in early December.
Our Second Eagle Scout
Wesley Heck is the second Eagle Scout from our parish Boy Scout Troop 340. The ceremony took place on Saturday December 15. We are proud of Wesley for his accomplishment and grateful for the support of his parents and troop leaders. Congratulations Wesley! His Eagle Scout project was to refurbish and repaint all 140+ "Huntsville Beautification Award" signs throughout the city.
Kenneth Ellis was the first Eagle Scout from our parish Boy Scout Troop 340. His ceremony took place on November 9.
Monthly Breakfast Price Increase
Reminder - effective with the January 2008 breakfast the cost for adults is increased from $5 to $6 and the cost for children 3-12 remains at $2.
Parish Skating Party
We've had discussions for several months concerning a K of C sponsored skating party - tentatively Sunday January 27 at the Wilcoxin Ice Center on Leeman Ferry Road. For several reasons, we decided to forego the party this year but will consider it again next year.
K of C Free Throw Contest
The annual council Free Throw contest is tentatively scheduled for Saturday February 16 at Good Shepherd. Further details will be forthcoming.
Annual Dues
Please contact the Financial Secretary as soon as possible if you haven’t paid your annual dues. As our FS, Ben Cumbie has many things that he must do to keep the Council in running and needs your help in keeping your dues current.
Our Council Financial Secretary Ben Cumbie prepared and mailed statements to all members in December for remittance of annual dues for the 2008 calendar year. Annual dues are $36. Please be prompt in replying to Ben to help make this annual task as smooth as possible.
1st Degree Ceremony
There are no known ceremonies scheduled at this time.
2nd Degree Ceremony
There are no known ceremonies scheduled at this time.
3rd Degree Ceremony
There are no known ceremonies scheduled at this time.
4th Degree Ceremony
There are no known ceremonies scheduled at this time.
First Degree Exemplifications
No new 1st Degree Knight to announce.
Second Degree Exemplifications
No new 2nd Degree Knight to announce.
Third Degree Exemplifications
No new 3rd Degree Knight to announce.
Fourth Degree Exemplifications
A Fourth Degree is scheduled for Birmingham on Saturday February 23. If you are interested, please contact Bob Spuhl, Paul Lucas, or John Bellono as soon as you can. Although we don't have a deadline for reservations and completed forms and paid fees to date, we expect the deadline to be sometime this month.
Catholic High School Registration
For information, contact Brittany Martin at 256-430-1760, extension 102 or bmartin@chsfalcons.org.
Birthdays
Officers and members of Council 11672 want to extend a Happy Birthday to the following members whose birthday falls in January:
John P. Davis 1/2 Conrad Meyer 1/8 Steve Grasson 1/11 David Lawson 1/10 John A. Mulqueen 1/10 Ronald H. Puent 1/20 John D. Williams 1/29 Gary M. Smith 1/30 John D. Hickman 1/31
Knight and Family of the Month
The Council and members want to congratulate Jim Bell, our November the knight of the Month, and the November family of the Month is the Carter Robinson family.
Insurance News
Knights of Columbus insurance set three new records in 2007. Insurance in force tops $66 billion; monthly, yearly sales are best ever
New Haven, CT - January 2, 2008 - Knights of Columbus life insurance in force reached $66.1 billion at the end of 2007, setting a new all-time record, Supreme Knight and Chief Executive Officer Carl A. Anderson announced today. It was the seventh consecutive year of insurance sales growth for the Order.
"The year 2007 was a very strong year for us," Anderson said. "Not only did we set a new record for insurance in force, but it was a record year for life insurance sales, which totaled $6.564 billion. And December 2007 was our best month ever, adding $864.1 million of new life insurance coverage for our members and their families. Our insurance sales for December 2007 exceeded the amount sold during the entire year in 1978.
"I am very proud of our 1,300 field agents and 130 general agents, who worked so hard and so effectively to help Knights protect their families and build financial security," Anderson continued.
Our founder, Fr. Michael J. McGivney, believed strongly that we should provide every Catholic man with the means to protect his family from financial ruin by offering a sound, professionally-run life insurance program. The size and strength of our insurance program is a worthy testament to his far-sighted vision."
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest lay Catholic organization, with more than 1.7 million members around the world. Last year, Knights donated more than 68 million hours of volunteer time and $143 million to charity. It is currently celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding in 1882.
Call me your field agent.
Brother Mark P. Yosway, FIC
Field Agent
Tel/Fax: 256-772-7666 or 888-246-5632
Cell: 256-679-5632
Life, Long Term Care, & Annuities
Insurance for your whole life
Serving Families for Over 125 Years
Canned Goods Drive
Don't forget those canned goods. Each Knight is asked to bring just one canned good or money to the monthly Council meeting. The food or money goes to the Church pantry for support of the poor and hungry in our community. Remember charity is a Knight's duty, not a courtesy.
4080 Council Monthly Breakfast
If you are out and about on the third Sunday of the Month and want a great breakfast and help support the Knights go to the 4080 Council hall from 8 to 11 a.m.. Further details call Rob Robley at 256-882-6064.
Volunteer Hours
Remember if you do any type of volunteer work, please keep track of the hours and report it to the Council. This information is submitted to the State in periodic reports. This helps the Council, the Parish, the community, and the Knights of Columbus receive recognition for these efforts. Please inform the Deputy Grand Knight of your hours every month.
PRAYER LINE
Taking care of our Brother Knights in distress is one of basic principles
espoused by our founder, Father McGivney. Please remember our sick Brother
Knights and those deceased in your prayers. If anyone knows of a Brother Knight
in distress, contact Kirk Foeller (885-9788 or
email).
Remember the Prayer Line also includes family members and friends. Being Catholic
is not a requirement to have a person's name placed on the prayer Line.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary, Help Those in Need
Holy Mary,
Help those in need,
give strength to the weak,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for God’s people,
assist the clergy,
intercede for the religious.
May all who seek your help
Experience your unfailing protection.
Amen!
| Catholic Church | Masses | Reconciliation (Confession) | Saturday | Sunday | Week Day | Holy Day | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
882-1844 |
5:30 p.m. |
11:00 a.m. |
T 6:30 p.m. W 8:30 a.m. Th None F 8:00 a.m. |
7:00 p.m. |
881-4781 |
9:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. |
M, T, TH 12:00 p.m. W 7:00 p.m. |
9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. |
Redstone Arsenal, 842-2175 0r 842-2178 |
T-F 12:00 p.m. |
5:00 p.m. |
Queen of the Universe, 852-0788 |
11:30 a.m. |
W–F 12:00 p.m. T 6:30 p.m. |
7:00 p.m. |
the Baptist, 722-0130 |
8:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. |
T 6:15 a.m. W, Th 6:30 p.m. |
Vigil 8:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. |
S 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
||
534-8459 |
5:00 p.m. |
11:15 a.m. |
7:00 a.m. T 7:00 p.m. |
Vigil 7:00 a.m. 8:45 p.m. |
||
536-6349 |
11:00 a.m. |
|||||
Quotes, Sayings and Facts
Last 2 European countries to let women vote: Switzerland (1971) and Liechtenstein (1984).
The eggplant is not a vegetable, it is a fruit.
"If it weren't for electricity we'd all be watching television by candlelight." George Gobel
January 25, 1961 - 1st live nationally televised Presidential news conference (JFK).
A survey reported that 12% of Americans think that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.
Newsletter Submissions
This is your Newsletter and that anything you would like to let the Officers and Council members be aware of, please submit the information to the Newsletter Editor, . His telephone number is 213-2876 and his e-mail address is sfmedic1970@bellsouth.net.
The information submitted can be of a general interest to the Council members. It does not necessarily have to be directly connected to the Council, the Knights of Columbus, or the Church, e.g. a Boy Scout or Girl Scout event, or something the members might enjoy such as a play or art show. It can be of interest to the Huntsville community at large. Please submit text, photographs, etc. Anything submitted is subject to review and editing by the Editor.
The deadline to have information included in the next publication of the Shepard's Watch is the 20th day of the month preceding the next publication.
The Council is also always looking for material to submit to the One Voice and the Columbia.
We ask you also to keep you mailing address, telephone numbers, and e-mails current.
The Monthly Feature
Remembering A Life
By Nordette Adams
I remember him in the misted vision of toddler years and again in girlhood,
the booming voice on TV, someone grown-ups talked about, eyelids flapped wide.
Elders huddled 'round the screen enraptured, in fear for him, in awe.
I remember him. His words swept the land, singing our passion.
Dogs growled in streets.
Men in sheets. Police battering my people.
(Water, a weapon.) Yet my people would rejoice... And mourn. I remember him,
a fearsome warrior crying peace, a man--blemished by clay, the stain of sin as
any other, calling on the Rock-- Death's sickle on his coat tails, yet he spied glory.
Shall we walk again and remember him, not as the Madison Aveners do, but in
solitude and hope with acts of courage and compassion, with lives of greater v
scope carving fresh paths of righteousness
I remember.
© Copyright January 2004 Nordette Adams
Questions for the Mind
December’s Questions and Answers:
Why is Christmas on December 25th?
There is some interesting history to the birthday of Jesus. It's not a random date. The following is information paraphrased from Ryan Crosby in the "The Merry Syndicate."
There have been festivals of every sort around the winter solstice going back to the such cultures as the Babylonians, and Germans. But it was the Roman Emperor Aurelian (270-275 AD) who fixed the actual date. He called December 25th "The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun", and put it right in the middle of the feast of Saturnalia.
The feast of Saturnalia had always been a big Roman holiday. It was a time of music big dinners, decorations and green trees, lighted candles, and the giving of gifts.
The Christians, in the meantime, were having the "Mass of Christ" at various times and places. This wasn't a commemoration of the birth of Jesus so much as it was a time to reflect on His life and acts. So, when Constantine made Christianity the religion of Rome, the Christian Church needed a way to convert the pagans.
One imagines it went a little something like this: "You have an unconquered sun, we have an unconquered Son. You give gifts -- we have wise men bringing gifts. You have bonfires and lamps and candles -- we have a new star.
So the date of Christmas became the 25th of December, and pagans were converted to Christianity.
Do you remember all of the Sacraments? The Seven Sacraments are:
Baptism Reconciliation Eucharist Confirmation Marriage Anointing of the Sick Holy Orders
What is the Christmas Season?
The answer is provide by quoting Dennis Bratcher article on the "The Twelve Days of Christmas" article written for The Voice which is an online publication for the CRI/Voice Institute.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th with the following day considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th). In these traditions, the twelve days begin December 26 and include Epiphany on January 6."
"The origin and counting of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures (see Christmas). In the Western church, Epiphany is usually celebrated as the time the Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12). Traditionally there were three Magi, probably from the fact of three gifts, even though the biblical narrative never says how many Magi came. In some cultures, especially Hispanic and Latin American culture, January 6th is observed as Three Kings Day, or simply the Day of the Kings (Span: la Fiesta de Reyes, el Dia de los Tres Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos; Dutch: Driekoningendag). Even though December 25th is celebrated as Christmas in these cultures, January 6th is often the day for giving gifts. In some places it is traditional to give Christmas gifts for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Since Eastern Orthodox traditions use a different religious calendar, they celebrate Christmas on January 7th and observe Epiphany or Theophany on January 19th."
"By the 16th century, some European and Scandinavian cultures had combined the Twelve Days of Christmas with (sometimes pagan) festivals celebrating the changing of the year. These were usually associated with driving away evil spirits for the start of the new year.
"The Twelfth Night is January 5th, the last day of the Christmas Season before Epiphany (January 6th). In some church traditions, January 5th is considered the eleventh Day of Christmas, while the evening of January 5th is still counted as the Twelfth Night, the beginning of the Twelfth day of Christmas the following day. Twelfth Night often included feasting along with the removal of Christmas decorations. French and English celebrations of Twelfth Night included a King's Cake, remembering the visit of the Three Magi, and ale or wine (a King's Cake is part of the observance of Mardi Gras in French Catholic culture of the Southern USA). In some cultures, the King's Cake was part of the celebration of the day of Epiphany."
January’s Questions:
What is February 30th?
What is February 31st?
What is the earliest known celebration of Christmas?
