Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Sign Up Now for the KC Tootsie Roll Fundraiser, April 26-27
Each year Council 4174 participates in the annual KC Tootsie Roll fundraiser weekend to raise money for people with developmental disabilities in our local communities. This year's fundraiser will be Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27. We are looking for Knights (and their children) to give out Tootsie Rolls and collect free-will donations after masses that weekend at both Albertville and St. Michael parishes. We will also have donation sites at Coborns in Albertville and Marketplace in St. Michael. We are looking for two Knights to collect donations for each two-hour shift at the grocery stores. This is a good time wear that blue council shirt and enjoy fellowship with a fellow Knight! Please sign up online today!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
April 2014 Bulletin: Our Faith
Lead article from the April 2014 bulletin, online now.
Do you have friends or family who aren’t Catholic and challenge what you believe? I sure do and some of them can recite scriptures left and right. I don’t always have the right words to say or I’m just not up for the argument. I always seem to search for what to say or I avoid the topic altogether. But I just learned something this past month from my soon to be 10 year old son. Who said you can’t teach an old dog a new trick!
Here is the story of what I learned from him: It was Ash Wednesday and we were in a rush but I made sure that we went. As we went through Mass my son was fidgeting and asking, "How many more songs? Can we go yet?" I was getting pretty upset with him. After we had the ashes put on and got back to the pew, he was saying they itch and, again, "How many more songs?" Now I was getting really frustrated with him and told him, "Sit still; it’s almost done."
We left Mass in a rush because we had to get changed for cub scouts and our den meeting. We quickly ate and headed off. After we arrived a few boys started to pick on my son saying he had dirt on his forehead and things like that. You got it. He still had the ashes on! Then something changed. I notice my son reacting not in anger, but he just talked about the meaning of the ashes in his terms. He told the boys that it was the least he could do for Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. I was shocked to hear him say that to the other boys, none of whom are Catholic or very religious. They sat down and later Jake was talking to them about Duluth and the big ships being towed by much smaller tug boats. He explained that the tugboats are us and the bigger ship is Jesus as he follows us on our journey.
So if you were at Mass, that was a lot like the Homily that night. He was paying attention! My son told them about getting the ashes on his head and about returning to ashes someday. Later he went on to tell the boys that he receives Jesus every weekend from the Bread he gets at Mass. The boys didn’t pick on him anymore. They thought it was cool that he had ashes, for he made it sound like they were hot out of a fire and they then wanted some too.
So it occurred to me that when people want to challenge my faith I don’t need to hide, I can easily defend it by how I feel. I don’t need to recite the correct scripture or search for the perfect words, though that would help. I can just stick to what I know and try to lead by example and that should be good.
Do you have friends or family who aren’t Catholic and challenge what you believe? I sure do and some of them can recite scriptures left and right. I don’t always have the right words to say or I’m just not up for the argument. I always seem to search for what to say or I avoid the topic altogether. But I just learned something this past month from my soon to be 10 year old son. Who said you can’t teach an old dog a new trick!
Here is the story of what I learned from him: It was Ash Wednesday and we were in a rush but I made sure that we went. As we went through Mass my son was fidgeting and asking, "How many more songs? Can we go yet?" I was getting pretty upset with him. After we had the ashes put on and got back to the pew, he was saying they itch and, again, "How many more songs?" Now I was getting really frustrated with him and told him, "Sit still; it’s almost done."
We left Mass in a rush because we had to get changed for cub scouts and our den meeting. We quickly ate and headed off. After we arrived a few boys started to pick on my son saying he had dirt on his forehead and things like that. You got it. He still had the ashes on! Then something changed. I notice my son reacting not in anger, but he just talked about the meaning of the ashes in his terms. He told the boys that it was the least he could do for Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. I was shocked to hear him say that to the other boys, none of whom are Catholic or very religious. They sat down and later Jake was talking to them about Duluth and the big ships being towed by much smaller tug boats. He explained that the tugboats are us and the bigger ship is Jesus as he follows us on our journey.
So if you were at Mass, that was a lot like the Homily that night. He was paying attention! My son told them about getting the ashes on his head and about returning to ashes someday. Later he went on to tell the boys that he receives Jesus every weekend from the Bread he gets at Mass. The boys didn’t pick on him anymore. They thought it was cool that he had ashes, for he made it sound like they were hot out of a fire and they then wanted some too.
So it occurred to me that when people want to challenge my faith I don’t need to hide, I can easily defend it by how I feel. I don’t need to recite the correct scripture or search for the perfect words, though that would help. I can just stick to what I know and try to lead by example and that should be good.
God Bless,
Jim
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
-- Proverbs 16:9
-- Proverbs 16:9
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
March 2014 Bulletin:
Support Our Priests
Lead article from the March 2014 bulletin, online now.
At our last council meeting it was brought up that with all that is going on in our diocese, it is important for our priests to know that we have their back. Let me tell you a little story of how our priests have affected my life—then I want you to reflect on what ways they have affected your life.
For those of you who know the story please bear with me: My wife and I have always wanted many children, and we were blessed with one right after we were married. I thought we would have a whole baseball team, but we struggled to have any more. We were able to conceive but had multiple miscarriages (some of those late term). We were ready to give up. Then one day my wife decided to stay after mass and have a blessing done for those who want to have children. A few months go by, and you guessed it, she was pregnant. Again it was a tough pregnancy, and we were worried: here we go again. We spoke to our priests many times, and they assured us they were praying for us.
Then one day my wife’s water broke, and we were off to the hospital. She was only at 30 weeks at the time. We got settled at the hospital, and we would be there for a while…next thing I know, our priest was there, and we had mass in her hospital room.
We were at the hospital for a few weeks until we couldn’t wait anymore, and my baby girl was born. It sounds like no big deal, but who called or visited almost every day to see how my wife was doing? Our priest! What a wonderful feeling to know that they care and take time out of there busy schedule to seek out others. This is only one way that they have touched my life, and I know more than ever they need our support.
We wrote the letter below from our council to the priests of both of our wonderful parishes to let them know that we stand behind them and pray for them daily.
At our last council meeting it was brought up that with all that is going on in our diocese, it is important for our priests to know that we have their back. Let me tell you a little story of how our priests have affected my life—then I want you to reflect on what ways they have affected your life.
For those of you who know the story please bear with me: My wife and I have always wanted many children, and we were blessed with one right after we were married. I thought we would have a whole baseball team, but we struggled to have any more. We were able to conceive but had multiple miscarriages (some of those late term). We were ready to give up. Then one day my wife decided to stay after mass and have a blessing done for those who want to have children. A few months go by, and you guessed it, she was pregnant. Again it was a tough pregnancy, and we were worried: here we go again. We spoke to our priests many times, and they assured us they were praying for us.
Then one day my wife’s water broke, and we were off to the hospital. She was only at 30 weeks at the time. We got settled at the hospital, and we would be there for a while…next thing I know, our priest was there, and we had mass in her hospital room.
We were at the hospital for a few weeks until we couldn’t wait anymore, and my baby girl was born. It sounds like no big deal, but who called or visited almost every day to see how my wife was doing? Our priest! What a wonderful feeling to know that they care and take time out of there busy schedule to seek out others. This is only one way that they have touched my life, and I know more than ever they need our support.
We wrote the letter below from our council to the priests of both of our wonderful parishes to let them know that we stand behind them and pray for them daily.
Dear Father,
It’s been a difficult fall and winter for Archbishop Nienstedt, the archdiocese, and all of our priests. The Knights of Columbus from Council 4174—your Knights—want you to know that you have our prayers and support. Blessed John Paul II once called the Knights the strong right arm of the Church, and we are committed to defending our priests against unjust accusations and attacks.
We are with you, Father. If there is anything you need from our council, do not hesitate to ask. God bless you.They were so thankful to know that we are standing firmly behind them and ready to serve the needs of our wonderful parishes. Please continue to pray for and stand up for our priests!
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
– Deuteronomy 31:6
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