December is now fast approaching and along with that are the many activities that go along with the council and the Christmas Season.  Our first fund raising dinner held in November was a resounding success.  Brother Muir promised that this would be the big one, well guess what -- IT WAS.  People that I have talked to stated that meal was delicious and most of all it was served hot.  You know that things are going good when there is nothing left over to put in the refrigerator after all have been served.   Our DJ, Charles Swanick jr. did his usual of keeping the music light and lively.   He had people dancing the polka!!   Thanks to all who made this one of our best dinners.  Special thanks to Brother Mike Miller for his donation to this fund raising event.

The Memorial Mass was November 11^th.  I was away on vacation and was not able to attend but I understand that Brothers Bob Powers and Steve Italiano worked very hard to have a good program and see to it that there was a hot breakfast for all after Mass.  The attendance was adequate, but should have been better, much better.  This is the time that we remember our Brother Knights who have left us and have gone home to their final reward.  One day we to shall have gone to our final reward and will want our Brothers to, hopefully, remember us with a prayer or two.  Next year let us all attend this Mass and do honor to our past Brothers.

By the time you receive this newsletter we will have picked the winners for this years Keep Christ in Christmas Poster contest.   The judging will be held after the November Executive Meeting.  We have students here at St. John’s that are very artistic.  You all remember that last year we had a student win third place in the K. of C. Maryland State Poster Contest. 

Let us move on.  Coming up this December 8^th we will be having our next Italian dinner.  Price of the tickets is the same as our November dinner.  See our announcement in this newsletter.   Come and join the group and get the holiday spirit started!

December 14^th we are to go caroling at Bradford Oaks and with latter stops at a few of our Brothers whom are a bit under the weather.   I know that Brother Powers will have a tape recorder playing all the carols so that we can lip synch the entire program and sound like Washington Cathedral men and boys choir.  This is not cheating – You have never heard Brother Powers sing!  Afterwards we will all meet in the Church hall for our Christmas Party.  All that can make it, come, join and make merry!

Don’t forget January is chili cook-off (PGK Perez has stated that the trophy is his, no if, ands, or buts. – Hang in there Sarge). The right to Life March. We must begin thinking about candidates for council officers.  Audit council finances. And finally, since New Years fall on the first Tuesday we will have our business meeting on Jan. 8^th.

 ALL COUNCIL CHAIRS ARE TO HAVE THEIR QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE DEPUTY GRAND KNIGHT BY MID DECEMBER.  I NEED TO HAVE THEM TO THE DD BY JANUARY 1^ST.

 Now we come to one of the most important Liturgical days of the Christian year – Christmas. This is the day that we all are given a chance to join with the church and witness through the Christmas Mass the birth of the Christ Child.

The liturgical year for the Catholic Church ends with the last Sunday of November and begins with the first Sunday of December, which is also the beginning of Advent.  This is the time that each of us is given the chance to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child.  This ending and beginning of the liturgical calendar is where we get our word Pontiff – bridge maker. We cross over from one to the other.  The Pontiff is the bridge maker between Christ and us.  The Cross is symbolic in crossing over.  In all our prayers and services what is the first thing we do, make the sign of the cross, when we receive a blessing at the end of Mass, when end or leave we make the sign of the cross.  This is a very powerful symbol of the church.  Before I get carried away let me say what I started out to say.

 To all my Brother Knights:  I wish each and every one of you, your wives and families A VERY BLESSED AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS; A MERRY AND BEST OF HEALTH FOR THE COMING NEW YEAR.

 One final thought:

The best portion of a good man’s life, His little nameless unremembered acts, Of kindness and of love.

          W. Wordsworth

  Not a sermon, just a thought.

 

District Deputy’s Message                                                                 Pat Cantwell, PGK, PCP

 Congratulations go to the councils in our district that participated in the Fall Blitz. Each brought in at least one new member. There are degrees coming up for these and other new members. St. Columcille will host a First Degree on Monday, December 3. In November there are several Second Degrees fairly close to our district: in LaPlata (14th), North Beach (27th), and Greenbelt (29th). For more information, see the State website, http://www.kofc-md.org, under Degree Dates. Finally, Prince George’s Council, No. 2809 in College Park, will host a Third Degree on Saturday (note the unusual day), December 1. If you have new members to get through the degrees--or other Knights who have never gotten around to it--now is the time to do it. For those of you who have brought in two new members, please see me for an application for the Silver Knight Award. The award is an elegant lapel pin, a little different from last year’s pin. I hope to see many members of the district receive the award this year.

St. Mary of the Assumption Council, No. 9302, in Upper Marlboro, will host the Chapter Christmas Party on Sunday, December 2, from 2 to 6 p.m. All family members are invited. Last year more than 80 people came out to enjoy the season. Speak to your GK or me for more information.

The "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest is under way. Please note that the deadline has been moved up to December 10, a little earlier than in recent years. Also, applications for Knights of Columbus scholarships are now being accepted. There are scholarships for high school as well as college students. For some, eligibility is limited to families of Knights; for others, one need only be a Catholic. The deadline, March 1, is still several months away, but it’s good to start on the application early. Your Grand Knight has all the details on these activities. In addition, all the information is on the State website under "Committees". Finally, time is winding down for the Tootsie Roll Program. I encourage each council to continue the great job they're doing for this most worthy cause. Remember that the State procedures for distributing Tootsie Roll money changed last year. Regardless of when you plan to award the money, all donations collected should be forwarded by check to the State Council no later than December 15. After State has received your check, you can make arrangements for an award ceremony or occasion. The State will then cut and send a check to the recipient organization(s). Check with your Grand Knight or me to follow the proper procedures. Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas to all!

Vivat Jesus.

 

TOOTSIE ROLL CAMPAIGN                                                                                      Steve Jacob, Chairman

 ADVANCE \d4This year's Tootsie Roll campaign raised $4,325.31!  Thank you to the following brother Knights whose hard work made this campaign a tremendous success: Jim Dobson, Bob Powers, Ken Muir, Ed Mudd, Roy Jewell, Paul Bauer, George Malone, Joe Short & his sons, Javier Perez, Larry Perkins, Del Ennis, Steve Italiano, Don Faust, Lewis Oakcrum, Scott Moody & sons, Earl Muse, Darrin Keller, Gene Rashlich, Fred Werner, Cyril McCaffrey, Gunny Best, Charles Swanick Jr., and John Bilsky.

 

LOYOLA  RETREAT                                                                                                      Bob Powers

 Please place on your calendar the weekend of January 28, 29 & 30, 2008 for our annual men’s retreat.  Those who have attended this wonderful experience, concentrating on your relationship with God, have remembered who they are and how simple life really is when you place yourself in God’s hands.

 The weekend starts with arrival on Friday afternoon (should be 3pm but later arrivals are allowed) with time for personal reflection, Mass and dinner.  Evening services and personal reflection complete the evening.  Saturday consists of Mass, breakfast, personal reflection, conducted session reaffirming our Faith, lunch, personal reflection, conducted session, confessions, dinner, personal reflection then retirement for the evening.  Sunday consists of Mass, conducted session and time for personal reflection.  Cost of the weekend is $208, however, if there is a need for assistance with this contact me at 301-782-2939.  We want all who wish to take advantage of this spiritual renewal weekend to be able to do so.  Do not let the devil stop you from taking advantage of this opportunity.

  

Merry Christmas to all                                                                         SK James Dobson, PGK

 Yes, another year has passed and we are entering the Christmas season and I would like to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 Our council has 3 events coming up:

 The Council Family Christmas Party which will be a Pot Luck dinner on Tuesday, December 18^th.  That means instead of a meeting we will have our families attend a dinner in the lower hall of the Church.  I would like this to start at 6:30 pm and need everyone to call me at 301.868.5479 or Steve Italiano at 301.336.6113 and make arrangements to bring their favorite dish.  The council will provide the drinks. The food categories are Vegetables, Main Dish, Starch/Side, and Dessert.  This has always been a great event.  Please call and make the arrangements for your family.

 The next activity will be our Annual Big Chili Cook off in January. If you have an inclination of being a gourmet chef, this competition is not for you.  HOWEVER, bring in your best effort to be judged by an impartial panel of judges (if we can find any) and even if you don’t come in first you have the satisfaction of presenting your culinary expertise.  Provide an amount that will serve four or more.  Recognition will be given to those who brave the criticism of your peers.  We are opening the Annual Big Chili Cook Off to the other Councils in our district to enlarge the competition.  A trophy will be awarded to the winner of the best chili.

 Finally the third event (in February) is the Shrove Tuesday observance. Possibly a big change this year for this event, but more to come in the next newsletter.

 

Christmas Spirit                                                                                                                         Bob Powers

 Please join several Knights and their families bringing the Christmas Spirit to those residing at Bradford Oaks.  We will meet at the main entrance to the facility at 6pm on Friday December 14^th.  No choir voices required only the willingness to bring some Christmas Spirit to those residing at the home.

 After the “performance” at Bradford Oaks, the world renown singers will venture to the home of two Brother Knights, that are homebound, to bring them the Christmas Spirit.

 Contact me at 301-782-2939 for further information and directions.  If you can provide your voice to the effort, you can simply arrive at the facility at 6pm.  REMEMBER —   it’s volume not necessarily quality.

He is the Reason for the Season

 Calendar of Events

 

  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 Sen. Mike Miller (3), PGK Ken Muir (4), PGK Javier Perez (13), Roy Jewell (17), John Greene (23) and Ken Campana (29).

  

Please pray for:

 Maria Ennis, Frances and Joe Cusato,  Barbara Wrenn and all our families who need our thoughts and prayers.  Also remember the members of our Armed Services and their families.

  

Membership Dues:

 Notices will be mailed on December 15, 2007 for the calendar year 2008 dues.  The dues are immediately payable and the amount for all members, except those with tenure, will be $30.00.

 

 

Editor’s Note:                      ( I paraphrased the answers )

 I recently met a gentleman who mentioned that he is a Knight of Columbus.  After discussing the Order and where he joined, I asked him what he has received as a Catholic man from his membership.

 After a moment of reflection, he said other than the degrees that he has attained, not much.  That prompted me to ask a further question.  Are you active in your Council?  His answer surprised me ...  I haven’t been to a meeting in several years, I haven’t helped at any function the group has had, I’ve been to a couple of dinners they put on, but I really don’t know what they do.

 That feeling of frustration on my part must have shown on my face.  He said “I haven’t had the time”.

Asking him why he joined the Knights, his answer further confused me.  “To foster the ideals of our Faith, to strengthen my family, to serve the parish and community.”  I could see that his words were making him think.

 “Could you be more informed about the activities of your Council and could you assist at least at one activity during the year”, I asked him.  Again his answer surprised me.  “You know” he said, “you have pointed out to me that I can make the time for at least one activity and I’ll inquire into what the Council does”.

 Be honest to yourself ... DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?

By popular request

a fund raising spaghetti dinner

   [a portion of the ticket sale supports our Charities]

will be held on

Saturday December 8^th

dinner starts at 6pm

 Spaghetti dinner with meatballs

Salad, bread, dessert, coffee and tea.

 Cost per person $8 for advanced tickets

 Tickets at door $10

Children age 6 thru 12 $5

Children under the age of 6 admitted at no charge

Maximum charge $25 for a family with children

Carry out dinners available at $5

 Contact PGK Ken Muir (301-952-0665)

PGK Frank Italiano (301-336-6113)

PGK Jim Dobson (301-868-5479)

for advanced tickets or to volunteer your assistance

 Come to enjoy the company, the dinner, and the music.

 O P E N   T O   T H E   P U B L I C

tell your friends and neighbors they can come

 Contributions, gifts, etc. to St. John the Evangelist Council #11171 are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.