FATHER EDWARD FOX COUNCIL 6747 &

FATHER JAMES BURGE ASSEMBLY 2707 NEWS

"The fast of Lent has no advantage to us unless it brings about our spiritual renewal. It is necessary

while fasting to change our whole life and practice

virtue. Turning away from

all wickedness means

keeping our tongue in

check, restraining our

anger, avoiding all

gossip, lying and

swearing. To abstain

from these things—

herein lies the true value

of the fast."

— St. John Chrysostom

In This Issue

• Faithful Navigators

Message

• On-line Membership Info

• Fourth Degree

Exemplification

• Save the Date

• Prayer for our Nation

• Tonsure Drive

• Photos

• Father McGivney Guild

• Prayer Intention

• State March Meeting

• C C Essay Contest

• Month of St. Joseph

.

2017-2018 Fraternal Year, Issue 9 March 2018

Faithful Navigators Message My Brother Sir Knights,

A Blessed Lent to each of you! This month I would like to share a meditation

with you from “7 Secrets of the Eucharist” by Vinny Flynn.

"The Eucharist is alive. If a stranger who knew nothing about the Eucharist

were to watch the way we receive, would he know this? When you and I

approach the Eucharist, does it look like we believe we are about to take into

our bodies the living person, Jesus Christ, true God, and true man? How

many times, Lord, have I forgotten that the Eucharist is alive! As I wait in line

to receive you each day, am I thinking about how much you want to unite

yourself with me? Am I seeing your hands filled with the graces you want to

give me? Am I filled with awe and gratitude that you love me so much as to

want to come to me in this incredibly intimate way? Or am I distracted, busy

with other thoughts, preoccupied with myself and my agendas for the day?

How many times, Jesus, have I made you sad, mindlessly receiving you into

my body, into my heart, with no love and no recognition of your love? How

many times have I treated you as a dead object? The Host that we receive is

not a thing! It’s not a wafer! It’s not bread! It’s a person – He’s alive!"

- Vinny Flynn, p. 8

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be

shaken. Psalms 16:8

Claude Steele, Ed. S

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. William Shakespeare Patriotism!

Lent 2018: Raise Up. Sacrifice. Offer.

Father James Burge

Assembly Officers 2017 – 2018

Navigator SK Claude Steele

Friar SK Rev. Fr. Charles

Ssebalamu

Comptroller SK Adam Cassol

Captain SK Nelson Carey

Admiral SK Clarence Rose

Purser SK Donald Melia

Pilot SK Humberto

Rodriguez

Scribe SK Arnold Bohanan

Inner Sentinel SK Frank

Gwazdauskas

Outer Sentinel SK Mark Hawley

1 Year Trustee SK Arnold

Bohannan

2 Year Trustee SK Frank

Gwazdauskas

3 Year Trustee SK Nelson Carey

Commander SK Donald Melia

On-Line Membership Update Gentlemen, We're seeing some great results from Online Membership this month. More than 200 men have joined the Order online in February alone. Great work to all! Now that Lent is upon us, many of you are probably training your councils to use Lenten fish fries as a great recruitment opportunity for membership, and Online Membership should be a part of that equation too. We definitely saw a lot of activity this past Friday night! If you haven't yet, I would strongly encourage that you reach out to your councils and encourage them to talk about online membership at their fish fries. They can of course get the promotional material from the Supply Department. They can use the 90 second commercial that's on KofC.org/joinus. But whether they have the material or not, they should be challenging men to join. Remember -- online membership and councils are not in competition. A man can sign up online today and join a council next week, next month, or next year. Your councils will find that they'll be able to capture more interest and more prospects by inviting someone to sign up and explore online first. What's easier? Asking a man to check something out on his phone or submit his email address for more information, or trying to coordinate with a degree schedule while he's having dinner with his family? We've seen this work successfully in our early jurisdictions. Capturing members or prospects online is effective and efficient. Once they're in, and they're dues paying members, their commitment and their engagement are much higher, and it becomes much easier for councils to get them to take the next step, and to schedule them for degrees. Just a thought for this Wednesday morning. Thank you, as always, for your leadership. Best, Matt P.S. I checked the numbers again this week. Still 60% of all online members express interest in joining a council right away. That's a great sign! Matthew A. St. John Director of Online Membership Knights of Columbus Supreme Council Office 1 Columbus Plaza | New Haven, CT 06510-3326 Phone: 203-752-4633 Email: matthew.stjohn@kofc.org

Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Exemplification

The next Fourth Degree Exemplification will be on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 4309 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Palmyra, Virginia. The Honoree for this Exemplification is SK William Meznarich, PGK, PFN, FDD, from Chesapeake. Bill has been responsible for the administrative control of candidates, banquet tickets, certificates, and other functions of the Exemplification for more than 10 years. A Fourth-Degree application will need to be completed then approved by the Father James Burge Assembly 2707. You must be a Third-Degree Knight in good standing. The application and all applicable payments will need to be received no later than March 25, 2018. For general candidate information with details and an application, please contact Sir Knight Claude Steele, Faithful Navigator Father James Burge Assembly 2707 at kofc6747@gmail.org or 540.505.9662.

Father Fox Council Officers

2017—2018

Chaplain:

Fr. Anthony Senyah

Grand Knight:

SK William Murray

Deputy Grand Knight:

John Mukuni

Chancellor:

Joseph Mukuni

Recorder:

Samuel Swindell

Treasurer:

SK Claude Steele

Financial Secretary:

SK Nelson Carey

Advocate:

Clay Woody

Warden:

Emigdio Penaloza

Inside Guard:

SK Peter Gwazdauskas

Outside Guard:

SK Humberto Rodriguez

Trustee 3rd Year:

SK Frank Gwazdauskas

Trustee 2nd Year:

Timothy Leake

Trustee 1st Year:

SK Tommy Susano

Save the Date

March 3, 2018 March State Quarterly Meeting (Richmond)

March 10, 2018 Fourth Degree Biennial Meeting (Woodbridge)

SNJA Casino Knight (VT German Club)

March 14, 2018 Rosary and Council Business Meeting 7:00 pm

Appointment of Nominating Committee

March 17, 2018 Feast Day of St. Patrick

March 18, 2018 40 cans or $40 for Lent ends

St. Patrick’s Day/Priest Appreciation Day Dinner

March 19, 2018 Feast Day of St. Joseph

March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

March 28, 2018 Assembly Business Meeting 6:30 pm

Appointment of Nominating Committee

March 29, 2018 Founders Day

Holy Thursday

March 30, 2018 Good Friday

Knights of Columbus 2018 Virginia Annual Meeting

May 4-May 6

Sheraton Roanoke Hotel & Conference Center

2801 Hershberger Road, N.W. Roanoke, Virginia

Prayer For Our Nation (U.S.A.)

God our Father, Giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care.

You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among Your people. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation´s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind Your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing Your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the "culture of death." Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen

College Knights Raising Money for KOVAR

Brothers of Father Fox Council, the John Cardinal Newman (VT) Council 11323 is having a tonsure drive to raise money for KOVAR. Supporting them would be a great opportunity for Charity, Unity, and Fraternity. The more money raised, the more knights will be tonsured on Palm Sunday and will be walking around Virginia Tech's campus during Holy Week with their tonsures. The Council Chaplain, Sir Knight Rev. Father David Sharland, YA will be the last Knight to receive a tonsure. Help our Brother reach their goal. A tonsure is the haircut of a medieval monk. Everything except a ring of hair around the head is shaved. If you wish to donate, please: Venmo @VT_KofC or use your credit card and donate at https://squareup.com/store/vt-knights/item/tonsure-drive Checks can be made out to the Newman Council Knights of Columbus, #11323 at 203 Otey St, Blacksburg, VA 24060 Any amount is very appreciated! Thank you and God Bless!

Pictured: Father David Sharland, YA and Financial Secretary Nelson Carey at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Sunday, February 18, 2018

Pictured: Youth Director, Claude Steele speaking to Neumann Knights at Catholic Schools Week Assembly St. John Neumann Academy— January 30, 2018

Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, along with saints Brigit of Kildare and Columba. He is also venerated in the Anglican Communion, the Old Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Church as equal-to-the-apostles and Enlightener of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day—March 17, 2018

Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney: The Father McGivney Guild promotes the cause for canonization of our founder: Father Michael J. McGivney. The goal of the Guild is to spread the good word about his holiness of life, to encourage devotion to his memory, and to seek his intercession before the throne of God. The Guild serves as a clearinghouse for information about Father McGivney, his life and works, and any favors attributed to his intercession. Father McGivney is a unique model for today’s Catholic and today’s Catholic priest because of his attention to the social ills and injustices of his day and his collaboration with the laity. He was zealous for the life of union with God through prayer and the sacraments, and he would have been right at home in today’s world. He was then and would be today an eager apostle for the Gospel of life, and a determined foe of the culture of death. There is no cost to join the Guild, but donations are welcome. For more information about the Guild or to donate go to: www.fathermcgivney.org

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney: God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your venerable servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen

PRAYER INTENTIONS

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP Oh, Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your powerful name, the protection of the living and the salvation of the dying. Purest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, Blessed Lady, to rescue me whenever I call on you. In my temptations, in my needs, I will never

cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary. What a consolation, what sweetness, what confidence fills my soul when I utter your sacred name or even only think of you! I thank the Lord for having given you so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name.

But I will not be content with merely uttering your name. Let my love for you, prompt me ever to hail you Mother of Perpetual Help.

Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for me and grant me the favor I confidently ask of you. (Then say three Hail Mary’s).

When we pray for others, we lift them up to God, seeking God’s grace and blessing in their individual situations. When we ask others to pray for us, we honor them with our trust. Please keep the following in Prayer: Holy Father Pope Francis, Bishop Barry C. Knestout, Syria, Rohingya Refugees, Grand Knight Bill Murray, Ryan (AKA Little Man) Linkous, Father Charles Breindel, Sir Knight Claude Steele, Sir Knight Dennis Jones, Sir Knight Pete Gwazdauskas, Sir Knight Ray & Martha Hoyt, Evelyn Melia, Cheryl Knost, Judith Araman, Sir Knight Jim & Marie Armstrong, Brother Frank Baker, Seminarian David Arellano, Veterans, Brother Carl Howell, Sir Knight PSD William DeBerry, Refugees, Provencher Family, Bob Gribben Sr., Sir Knight Joe Nieves, Carl and Cecile Dietrich, Jose Ortiz, Wilma Cassol, Brother Jim Gaines, District Master Thomas Trudeau, Jean Rose, Joey Ernst, and Sir Knight Arnie Bohanan.

In case of illness, need, or death please notify one of the following:

Grand Knight Financial Secretary

SK William Murray 540.357.5080 SK Nelson Carey 540.382.2071

Fraternal Benefits

Clyde Moak 540.797.7594

Faithful Navigator Faithful Comptroller

SK Claude Steele 540.315.9362 SK Adam Cassol 540.998.9095

Virginia State Council March Meeting The Virginia State Council Quarterly Meeting will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at St. Mary’s

Parish School, 9505, Gayton Road, Richmond, VA 23229. The State Council Quarterly Meeting, the

KOVAR Annual Meeting, and the Nominating Committee Meeting will be held. There will be a

Training Seminar for Deputy Grand Knights and other future Council Leadership positions.

By popular demand, there will also be Financial Secretary/Comptroller Training.

Recommended attire for District Deputies and Dais speakers is jacket and tie. Recommended attire

for all others is casual/Knights shirts, no jeans. For more information, contact Grand Knight Bill

Murray or District Deputy Claude Steele.

Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest 1st

Place Essay

Going to the Peripheries

By: Christopher Kaatz

The church along with people try to go to the peripheries daily. There are many problems in our society: hate, violence, poverty, stereotypes, and natural disasters. These all in one way or another are an attack on use. Through the out-reach of the Catholic Church, we can reach out to the victims of these problems. To go to the peripheries, you have to: Think outside the box.” You must help where no one else would think to help. There are also many people who are in-strumental in the Church’s outreach, we must try to be like these people. They have paved the way for us to follow on.

One major way the church goes to the peripheries is to help the needy. Jesus said in Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of other.” In Matthew 25:35-38 Jesus said, I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home.” Many Catholic organizations such as Catholic Charities, and Catholic Release Services are major contributors to helping the poor, but none of these would be around if the church had not influenced the founders.

A blessed Priest who went to the peripheries was Fr. Flanagan. Fr. Flanagan went to the peripheries by starting an orphanage for boys. He made this orphanage because he was worried that the boys were not taught what is right and wrong and were live a life if crime. At first, he took in just a couple of boys, but boys just kept coming, so with some help bought 500 acres and started Boy’s Town. It was an actual town governed by boys and worked by boys to. Boy’s Town is an organization still running today. Later some other people used this idea and started a Girl’s Town.

Fr. Flanagan helped many boys escape poverty and even jail. He thought creatively and opened a new frontier. He was rebuilding our society by making the lenders of tomorrow. He was broke when he started and all he had was a dream. We need to be more like Fr. Flanagan and answer Jesus’s callings.

As you can see, the church has gone to the peripheries in many ways. And will never stop breaking new ground. The Church has helped the needy. And has made many organizations dedicated to this field of work. Fr. Flanagan helped by takin in orphaned boys and started Boy’s Town. I know I can go to the Peripheries, by following in the footsteps of the many people before me.

Pictured: Palm Sunday is celebrated on March 25, 2018

MONTH OF ST. JOSEPH

The Church traditionally dedicates the month of March to the special veneration of St. Joseph,

whose feast day is March 19th. "He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest

treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with

complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying ‘Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord." - St. Bernardine of Siena. Due to St. Joseph's leadership of the Holy Family, he has been declared the protector and patron of

the universal Catholic Church.

Contact Us

Would You Like More Information? If you have any questions, please contact: Grand Knight SK William Murray 540.357.5080 W.murray11@gmail.com

Financial Secretary SK Nelson Carey: ngnpccarey@aol.com Faithful Navigator SK Claude Steele 540.505.9662 csteele149@comcast.net

Faithful Comptroller SK Adam Cassol ajcassol@hotmail.com Www.Kofc6747.org Like us on Facebook: VAKofC6747

Founder’s Day—March 29