August 2014 Bulletin: Summer Reflections

Lead article from the August 2104 bulletin, online now.

Welcome back.  I hope you enjoyed your summer!  I get to fumble along with articles again this year, lucky you!!

I want to start this new year by reflecting on a recent experience I had back in June. Along with many of you, I was fortunate enough to walk with our Lord on Corpus Christi Sunday after the 10:30 a.m. Mass.

Sitting in church I noticed the church was pretty full for a summer Mass. I thought to myself, "This is great all these people here to walk with our Lord." Then as Father ended Mass and before the procession started, I couldn't believe how many people were leaving. They all had their reasons: kids are tired, have to be somewhere, weather could turn bad.  Believe me, I know; I was in the same place a few years ago. I didn’t have the time for a procession; there were more important places to go, and people waiting for me. Why would I want to walk around behind the Blessed Eucharist?  Someone I know may see me.  I was lukewarm in my faith, and this just didn’t seem very important at the time.  The discerning part was a comment like, “We shouldn’t do this because this is not a Catholic community anymore.  Why should we walk out in public with the Holy Eucharist?”

The Church staff did an amazing job of changing the route on the fly due to the weather. The procession was shortened to just around the church parking lot instead of to the Catholic school and back.  For those who stayed, and it was a good number of parishioners, we went to the four altars that were set up and heard beautiful gospels.

As Knights, we are called to be evangelists of our faith and to protect what we believe in.  We should not be afraid to step out of our comfort zone and show the world our faith.  What better way to do that than to participate in the procession and walk with the Lord through the streets?

My challenge to you this year is to invite others to share in our glorious faith and take our Lord to others who may not know him.

God Bless,

Grand Knight  Jim Wiegers

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. -- 1 Corinthians 16:13

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser: Eat Well for a Good Cause!

Council 4174 youth director Ivan Weber (far left) and
brother Knight Dan Dupay collect money at the
annual St. Michael Fall Festival German Dinner.

The Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a spaghetti dinner at the St. Albert's Parish Center on Sunday, July 27, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to help Brother Knight and council youth director Ivan Weber address his need for a new van that will enable him to enter the vehicle and drive it from his motorized chair. Please join us if you can and make a donation. Those not able to attend fundraiser but who wish to donate can send a check made out to the Knights of Columbus to 10461 Karston Circle, Albertville MN 55301. Thank you and God bless.

June 2014 Bulletin: Year In Review

Lead article from the June 2014 bulletin, online now.

I can hardly believe it has been a year already! This has been a very rewarding year for me, and thank you all for the support and encouragement you have shown me throughout the year. I truly appreciate all the feedback and corrections when I screw up in a business meeting (laughing with me, not at me), and for the feedback on the articles that I have written.

I just got back from the State Knights Convention and it was a neat experience, even though we did not receive any awards. I would like to apologize to each of you, for either I didn’t get the forms in on time or I didn’t do a good enough job of reporting about our council’s exceptional accomplishments over the past year. I promise to do a better job next year to get you guys recognized for all your efforts and involvements in the wonderful programs that we have and for your continued dedication to our community. We have an amazing and active council, which is evident by the influx of 24 new members to date this year! The new members that I have spoken with were attracted to the Knights through our works and seeing what we do for our parishes and our local community. Let us continue to let our actions speak loudly and be welcoming and inviting to men of our parishes.

With that said, we have our Awards Banquet and Social coming up on Wednesday, June 25th, 6:30 p.m., at the St. Albert Parish Center. We will have a catered dinner, some awards and recognition, and of course socializing. We have had a great year and it is about time we celebrate! If you know some of the new members or you proposed them make sure you invite them personally to get involved and to this social where they can meet other members. Also, remember that this is open to the wives for without them and their support we wouldn’t be able to do all the events that we do. Our wives are truly remarkable for the sacrifices that they make so we can be out doing the council’s good work. Whether it be meetings or events, they are always supporting us. Let us remember what it says in Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her."

Please RSVP for the social to me at jimwiegers@gmail.com or by calling 763-486-7032 no later than June 23 so we can get an accurate head count.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. 

-- Proverbs 18:22