FOURTH DEGREE NEWS
| ONE NATION UNDER GOD | JANUARY 1999 |
The "Year of God the Father" is the last immediate step before the third millennium. An awesome thought for our reflection as we begin 1999. Our New Year resolutions should take this into account as never before.
Our founding father, Father McGivney, would be thrilled to see all that the Knights of Columbus are doing to turn the minds and hearts of our fellow citizens to God our Father and our Creator. This effort is always necessary, but most particularly at this crisis-time in our nation.
As faithful Catholics we know well that we must accept the Cross as the indispensable instrument for helping to effect this great, national good. Let us begin with ourselves, always, and then reach out to help others prepare for this solemn moment in human history. May the Eternal Father grant us all a Blessed New Year.
It's hard to believe another year has gone, and we are in the last year of this century. We're also half way through this Columbian Year. How TIME flies when you're busy and watching the children grow. There are only a few months left to get the applications in for the Exemphfication. I know you're all working on your friends and new members to the councils, just keep in mind the cut off date and we will be fine.
I want thank those of you who attended the Christmas Party. It was a very nice turn out and I hope you all had fun. Thanks again to our ladies for the wonderful food they prepared and the decorations they so tastefully set up. It was great and thank you all again. I wish I would have kept a list of all the winners of the raffles. I do know that Carl Srsic won the Keeling Santa. Congratulations Carl, and I hope that was the beginning a wonderful Christmas for you and your family.
Just a reminder. This months meeting will consist of the Renewal of Obligations and we need as many Sir Knights as possible. Please try to attend if at all possible. Your participation is what this meeting is all about.
Please mail by January 18 to the Comptroller, Guy V. Beilia, and make payable to Cardinal 0' Boyle Assembly.
Send to : Cardinal O'Boyle Assembly
PO BOX 4433
SILVER SPRING, MD 20914-4433
Merry Little Christmas! Many families keep the tree and Creche up and lighted till after the Wise Men Visit. This follows old traditions and maintains the Spirit of Christmas for a while longer. More and more, people try to make this a "Holiday Season" with a spirit of shopping and getting. My daughter Elizabeth suggested we call it the CHRIST-MASS Season to show the true reason for the season. This is a battle that we, the Knights of Columbus, must fight.
This is the month of January, and there is another battle we MUST FIGHT - The Battle of Life for all of the Unborn Babies. Elizabeth is fourteen and this will be her third March For Life. She goes to pray and to be seen and heard. She goes to be part of something very special. She would like to see all of you on the Mall. Share this special day with a teenager or young adult. Not only are they the future, they are the present. JANUARY 22 - The Mall - March For Life - Be There - Bring a Young Friend.
Our membership quota is 43. we have only 39 more to go, thanks to George Gartner and Pete Klapps. Talk to your brother knights at your council. One of the most common reasons for a brother knight not having taken the 4th degree is that he was never asked. Let us eliminate that as a reason. Every Past Grand Knight and chair officer at all nine of our councils should be a 4th Degree Sir Knight. The officers at the councils should be among our most successful recruiters. Now is the time to focus our energies.
Carry a Form 4 and a pen! If you need any applications or materials, please call 301-349-4312. A new information flyer is available. Thank you. See you January 21.
The Color Corps continued to be busy and additional information is in the Color Corps Commander's Report. The regular business meeting night on December 17. The meeting was short while the evening was long and very pleasant. The Annual Christmas Social was well attended with about 75 people who shared warm hospitality, good food, and good conversations. Since the evening included the raffle of Hams, Turkeys, Wine and Champaign, there were many winners. Faithful Navigator, George Whorral's mother was visiting from North Pittsburgh, and was present. It is clear where all of George's good qualities come from. Ed Srsic discovered that he and Mrs. Whorral had a number of people and places in common. George's Mom was also a winner in the raffle - a Bottle of Wine I believe. The free dues for 1999 was won by Pat Cribbin, PGK and Financial Secretary of Montgomery Council 2323. The Kneeling Santa, that was donated by Gallery's in Wheaton, was won by Carl Srsic.
The Candidate must fill out a Form 4 and have it signed by his Financial Secretary prior to being forwarded to the Assembly. Sponsors must verify that all information is completed. Incomplete forms will be returned and will cause a delay in processing. The membership number, First Degree Date, and FS signature are crucial. The Initiation Fee is S65 and additional Banquet tickets will be S30 up to 4/10/99. Packets are handed out to candidates at all Third Degree Exemplifications in the area. Packets of information are available From the Faithful Admiral. You can pick up forms at the meetings or call Joe Murtha, Guy Belia, or George Whorral. Banquet Reservation forms and other information will be available after the January 9 District Meeting.
On behalf of all the Color Corps members, we wish all members of the Cardinal
O'Boyle Assembly and their families a Blessed and Prosperous New Year.
We have finished one-half of our Fraternal year and again it was a very busy time for the Color Corps. I am proud to announce that the Color Corps was adequately represented at all local, District, State and Civic Events in which we were requested to participate.
Our next Color Corps meeting will be January 11, 1999, 8:00 PM at Montgomery Council 2323, Derwood, MD. All Color Corps members are urged to attend, as we will review some of the changes that the district has recommended for all Color Corps. Again, if anyone needs transportation give me a call.
December 6, 1998 -- Pound Party, Little Sisters of the Poor. One (1) Color Corps member represented our Assembly. This was a District Event
The following members of the Color Corps were present at one or more of the
above events: VC McNulty and SK's Whorral, Harley and Campfield.
Monday, January 11, 1999 -- 8:00 PM Color Corps Meeting/Drill
Montgomery Council 23423, Derwood, MD. All Color Corps
members are requested to attend as we will review recommended changes.
The McGivney window, also a gift of the Knights, is located in the National
Shrine's Crypt Church Sacristy. It depicts the cleric full-length in cassock and
was designed by Gino Zang and Grafted by Art DeCarlo, both of Virginia.
Copyright 1998, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception in apress release of 11/25/98 - www.nationalshrine.com
Stained Glass Window in Honor of Fr. Michael J. McGivney
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception conducted
a solemn blessing of a stained glass window in honor of Fr. Michael J.
McGivney, Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:00
PM. The Most Rev. Thomas V. Daily, Bishop of Brooklyn and Supreme
Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, was the celebrant of the blessing
liturgy. Mr. Virgil C. Dechant, the organization's Supreme Knight, also
participated, along with State Deputies from Maryland and Washington, The
Master of the Fourth Degree, and other K of C dignitaries. The Archdiocese
of Washington District Knights of Columbus Color Corps was on hand for
the blessing liturgy.