The fall season is off to a very busy, very good start! Last month we had our annual Soccer Challenge during the parish picnic. We had a better turn out this year, probably due to DGK Vern Miller’s efforts to get a goal set up by the pavilion, increasing our visibility to the kids. Thanks to Vern and the other knights that helped out with the challenge, as well as all the knights that helped out with the picnic itself!
His excellency, Bishop Boyea formerly appointed Fr. Gary as our new chaplain this month. Welcome aboard Father! Many thanks to Fr. Jonathan for his service to our council these past years. We have been and continue to be blessed with great priests here in our council.
Other activities from September included our Adopt-a-highway cleanup. I would like to thank Mike McLeod and everyone who came out to make this a success. It was a lot of work!
Thanks to all the knights who came out to help with Pancakes and Spaghetti. I want to encourage more knights to help out with these events. We will be serving at the Father-Son breakfast October 5, as well as welcoming the women’s CRHP retreat at our pancake breakfast on October 12. Spaghetti dinner is October 15. We need all the help we can get, so come out, eat with your family and stay to help!
October is a big month for pro-life activities. In September, the 40 Days for Life campaign kicked off, as well as we began our baby bottle drive. I encourage everyone to participate in these campaigns. Every child is precious in the eyes of the Lord, and just one child saved makes it worth all the effort. In our efforts to save the unborn, we cannot neglect to help the mothers, fathers and families of these children. They need to know that as a community we are there to support them in making the right decision, and in their need afterward. We must also remember to pray for those who did not make this choice, for they need healing and love. The Lord is waiting to offer them mercy; let us not be an obstacle to them finding Him, but rather a guide.
The weekend of October 10-12 is our annual Tootsie Roll Drive. Please see the next page of the newsletter for contact information, and come help out!
The Knights of Columbus has a program “Building the Domestic Church” which runs for the next year. Watch for events as we implement this program over the next months. Anything we can to strengthen the family helps make our country and the world a better place.
Finally, October is another time of great devotion to our Lady. October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. October 13th is the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. Let us go to our Mother this month in thanks, and seek her intercession for our works this month, especially on behalf of the unborn and mentally impaired.
Vivat Jesus!
Ken Mraz
Grand Knight