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Volume 39 Issue 4 May 2021

Council Officers Chaplain Fr. Anh Tran 817-284-4811 Grand Knight Robert Sands 817-988-3376 Deputy Grand Knight Chancellor John Giglio 817-281-4617 Recorder Allan Fitzwater 817-528-8142 Treasurer Gary Yanowski 817-656-1142 Financial Secretary Mark Krueger 817-939-1192 Inside This Issue Lecturer Juan Valdez 817-966-8925 Advocate Terry Barnhard 817-707-6135 Warden Gary Obudzinski 817-656-3274 GK Message 2 Guard Paul Cuttica 518-774-4019 Guard Calendar 3 Trustee (3-Year) Ken Kenvin, PGK 817-271-9970 Trustee (2-Year) Jerry Dews, PGK 817-932-0551 Birthdays 4 Trustee (1-Year) Bobby Donahoo, PGK 817-498-9628 Our Purpose 5 Insurance Field Agent Tim Bradford 817-789-0456 Loretto Chapel 6 Fourth Degree Help 8 District 3 Master Pat Conway San Assembly 2857 Entertainment 9 Faithful Navigator SK Dick Norgaard 817-656-2529 Comptroller SK Ejikeme “EJ” Alozie-Nwagboso Action Alerts 10 Diocese Tidbits 12 Diocesan Rep Bruce Mallory 817-807-2982 District Deputy Obie Obregon 817-528-2393 Father McGivney 15 The Spirit Page 2

Grand Knight’s Message

Brother Knights, The Lord always seems to provide gentle guidance in times of need. It may not always be immediate or on our personal timelines, but it seems if we wait patiently, listen carefully, and prayerfully consider His response, the problems get resolved. Today started as a day set aside for my first meeting with Father Jack to discuss his expectations for our Council in the months and years to come, to get my second Covid vaccine, and to hopefully figure out how to not just fill 10-20 pages of this newsletter, but to make it meaningful. The day ended with no shortage of material as it seemed like every email and conversation I had was worth sharing. If you ever need interesting topics for conversation, just talk with and listen to informed and interesting people. Father Jack is one such person. Our one hour meeting gave me not only a wealth of topics to cover in the newsletter, it provided the direction needed and the hope that we can start putting back together the pieces of a puzzle that fell apart in 2020. That very difficult task falls on each of our shoulders; to regain what we had before the pandemic and if at all possible, make it even better. My first question was straightforward: “What are your priorities for our Council and what do you need most from us as .” To summarize Fr. Jack’s answer, it was to be sure we never lose sight of what our mission is. Every function we organize or participate in is to serve the greater glory of His name. It is to serve His people, not ourselves. Fish frys, pancake breakfasts, and garage sales may be some of the things we do, but it is important to distinguish that from our true mission. So what is the Knights’ mission? A quick internet search results in a number of answers sourced from Supreme’s website and various Council postings. The longest version can be found on page 5 but the following are also two good examples: Together, we’re empowering Catholic men to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work and in their community. The mission of the Knights of Columbus is to provide members and their families with volunteer opportunities in ser- vice to the , their communities, families and young people. To me, the two key words that leap off the page are FAITH, and SERVICE. This is what we do. We live our lives guided by FAITH in Christ, the teachings of our Catholic Church, and leadership of our Pope, Bishops, and Priests. Our SERVICE is where that FAITH comes alive. Every time we meet to decorate the church, change light bulbs in the sanctuary, shovel the rare snow from the parking lot, help move the food pantry, or any one of a hundred other tasks the Knights perform, we volunteer our time to be the arms and hands of Christ. When we help out a fellow Knight or his family we are serving His needs. We become the living and breathing body of Christ.

In this month’s letter we focus on our four core principles, our mission statement, and how they relate to FAITH and SERVICE. To honor St. Joseph the Worker’s feast day on May 1 you will read about the faith of Loretto Chapel’s Sisters who prayed a novena to St. Joseph and received a miraculous staircase in Santa Fe, NM. Links are given to action alerts to help defend our FAITH, information on SERVICE opportu- nities, and a few humorous chuckles imbedded. Have a safe and uplifting May as we enjoy the Spring sea- son and celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Christ! GK Robert Sands

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May 2021

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Feast: St Joseph The Worker

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

The Ascencion 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

Memorial Day This Month’s Events Upcoming Events 1st First Saturday Mass 6th Business Meeting Jun 2021 Jul 2021 9th Mother’s Day 3rd Business Meeting 1st Business Meeting 16th The Ascension of The Lord 5th First Saturday Mass 3rd First Saturday Mass 20th Officer’s Meeting 17th Officer’s Meeting 4th Independence Day 29th 5K/15K 20th Father’s Day 15th Officer’s Meeting 31st Memorial Day

On May 6 we will hold an in person Business Meeting in the Resource Room of the Parish Office Bldg. The meeting will also be live streamed via Zoom . We look forward to seeing everyone! You can also join us by following the ZOOM meeting links below.

Business Mtg:https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71655708336?pwd=QVBQbVhRRmxmN0VVMXQ4aFRmdFdjUT09

Officer Mtg: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81819129193?pwd=bElkUS9SenNZbEY3Qnd3YUZGOHBNdz09 The Spirit Page 4

Christopher Gonzalez 05-02 Rudolph Herrera 05-02 Edgar S Jimenez 05-03 Thomas W Kelley 05-04 Cesar G Aguilar 05-07 Ramon G Jimenez 05-10 George E McGinley 05-10 Earl H Peters Sr 05-10 Raymond F Parr 05-11 William S Schille 05-11 Prayer List Christopher T Green 05-12 Gary E Yanowski 05-12 Pope Francis I Matthew J Costello 05-13 Pope Benedict XVI Charles Halfmann 05-13 Bishop Michael Olsen John D Schwinger 05-13 Fr. Jack McKone Miguel A Romero 05-14 Fr. Anh Tran Andrew P Nichols Jr 05-15 Seminarians Unborn Children Kyle B Hammes 05-16 Middle Eastern Christians Jim G O Connor 05-17 Cesar G Aguilar Jr 05-23 Victims of Domestic Violence Edward Daley 05-27 Active Military / Veterans Rob J Sandmann 05-29 First Responders Terence P Cassidy 05-30 COVID-19 Victims/Families Michael A Jackowski 05-30 † Oliver Pettit Mark L Smith 05-30 † Ray Schueler † Mike Dellies John and Mary Mokry Jerry Dews The Spirit Page 5

Knights of Columbus Mission Statement

To know, love, and serve God is the mission of the Catholic faithful. That mission is reflected in Section 2 of the Charter of the Knights of Columbus:

The purposes for which said corporation is formed, always consistent with Catholic values and doctrine, are the following: (a) through a system of subordinate councils, along with regional, national, and interna- tional convocations, to raise up, support and encourage a fraternity whose members are practical Catho- lics united by their faith and by the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism; (b) through com- mon worship, charitable works, meetings, and rites of initiation, to form its members in Catholic faith and virtue; (c) to render pecuniary aid to its members, their families, and beneficiaries of members and their families; (d) to render mutual aid and assistance to its sick, disabled, and needy members and their fami- lies; (e) to promote social and intellectual interaction among its members and their families; (f) to promote and conduct educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief, public relief, and other activities; and (g) to unite members in their Catholic identity and the practice of their Catholic faith.

Charity – Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, by volunteering at Special Olympics, and by supporting, both spiri- tually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies. Knights recognize that our mission, and our faith in God, compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compas- sion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day. Unity – None of us is as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that – to- gether – we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. So we stick together…we support one another. That doesn’t mean that we always agree or that there is never a difference of opinion. It does mean that – as a Knight of Columbus – you can count on the support and encour- agement of your brother Knights as you work to make life better in your parish and community. Fraternity – Venerable Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to pro- vide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely. The Order’s top-rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do the good works of individual Knights, who gave more than 75.6 million service hours in 2017, illustrating how Catholics serve each other in fraternity and mercy. Patriotism – Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, , Cu- bans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights re- mind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens. The Spirit Page 6

25 years ago when my parents were living in Los Alamos, NM, I was fortunate to spend a beautiful day in Santa Fe. Those who have been there will know just how peaceful a town it is. The story of the stairway in the Loretto Chapel is mysterious and inspiring. If you get a chance to travel there, don't miss it. The Spirit Page 7

Our Story begins in 1850 when the Vicariate of New was established under the first Bishop of the Territory, Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy. Seeing a need to educate the girls of the Territory, Bishop Lamy sent a plea to Catholic teaching orders to open a school for girls. The Sisters of Loretto responded and sent six sisters to open the Loretto Academy. Having been recently under Mexican rule, the Territory of was full of Spanish-speaking citizens, so the six had to learn the and, after an arduous trip during which the Mother Superior died, finally arrived in Santa Fe and opened their school in 1853. By 1873, the Sisters were able to start the construction of a Chapel. Using the same French architect and builders as Saint Francis Cathedral Basilica, the Chapel of Our Lady of Light (as it was then known) was patterned after Archbishop Lamy’s favorite Sainte Chapelle in Paris. With its gothic-style architecture, the Chapel certainly would have stood out among the small adobe homes surrounding it at the time. Unfortunately, the architect died before access to the choir loft was built. Given the height of the loft and the small size of the Chapel, a staircase would have taken up too much floor space, thereby reducing the seating capacity to an unacceptably small level. Legend states that seeking guidance and help, the Sisters of Loretto prayed a nine day novena to St. Joseph, Patron Saint of Carpenters. A novena is a special prayer said for nine consecutive days. On the final day of the novena, a carpenter appeared with only a hammer and carpenter’s square. He built what is now known as the Miraculous Staircase with simple tools and wooden pegs. The rare wood is not native to the American Southwest. When the Staircase was complete, it is said that the carpenter disappeared without receiving thanks or payment. The Sisters tried all local lumber stores but could not find accounts open for supplies for their stairs. Some believe the carpenter was St. Joseph himself while others believe that is was someone sent by St. Joseph. What is known is that the Sisters of Loretto prayed, and their prayers were answered.

The Staircase has two complete 360 degree turns with no center pole for structural support. The entire weight of the staircase rests on the bottom stair. The banisters were added approximately ten years later due to the difficulty of climbing the tall, tapered stairs with no railing. The two small brackets that can be seen on the outside connecting the stairs to the wall and pillar were added in the mid 20th century in order to provide more support and protect the staircase from negative effects due to vibrations from passing cars and trucks. Unfortunately, rather than helping the structural integrity of the Staircase, the modern brackets damaged the sides of it by preventing the natural spring-like movement of the Staircase while in use. The underside of the stairs were originally open, but was filled in with a horse hair and lime mixture painted to look like wood. The Spirit Page 8

Council Activities YOUR Help is Needed!

Ushers Father Jack has made it clear with the lifting of COVID restrictions we are now desperate for ushers at all Masses, especially Sunday 5PM. Please be aware, Brother Knight Ed McGinley selflessly already ushers at three Masses each Sunday and the 5PM Sunday Mass is manned by volunteers from the Spanish Mass who return to help. Were it not for their dedication the parish would need to consider eliminating the Sunday 5PM. If you are looking for meaningful ways to serve our Church please consider ushering. Your Safe Environment training must be up to date and you will be required to pass a financial background check, but these are small hurdles compared to the difference you will make. Please contact the parish office to find out more. Recruitment I am seeking some volunteers to increase our presence after Mass to interest male parishioners in joining the Knights. It will take a few minutes once or twice a month to stand outside after whatever service you already attend and get some names and phone numbers. Please contact the GK if you want to help. Burrito Breakfast Father Jack has approved after church sales of breakfast burritos or other items as we see fit, as long as we stick to required protocols. We can plan to serve them to go outside the kitchen after Mass, or alternatively (and more visibly) load up some igloo coolers and sell them outside the church doors. Expect to hear more details as we move forward but for now, we will be looking for anyone who misses being part of a breakfast crew to come forward. Garage Sale This may actually happen in the next couple of months. Please identify some items around your house you think would make good valued donations. We need to make this one financially worth our while. Keep an eye on your email for details. The Spirit Page 9

Movie and Book Corner

For Greater Glory-The True Story of Cristiada Many of us, (me included) are not aware of the 1920s Cristero War in Mexico that erupted after government persecution of the Catholic Church. The movie follows the at first reluctant retired General Gorostieta played by Andy Garcia, as he becomes the most inspiring and self sacrificing leader of the resistance, The Cristeros. If you have two and a half hours to watch an historic and epic struggle, you will not be disappointed. It is about war so while violent at times, is emotionally compelling and left me with an appreciation for in the cause for religious freedom. It also happens to be part of our Knights of Columbus proud heritage as we stood firm against the persecution by meeting with and raising $1 million to fund an education campaign influencing American opinion to remain opposed to the government tyranny. Watch the trailer on the IMDB link below the graphic. I have a DVD copy on loan from the parish if you are interested.

For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012) - IMDb

If you have a relevant or uplifting movie/book you think we should all see/read, please email GK Rob Sands at [email protected] and I will include it in next month ’ s newsletter. The Spirit Page 10

Action Alerts

Equality Act Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The Equality Act, which has now passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is being actively considered in the Senate, in many ways does the opposite and needs to be opposed. Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith. The Equality Act would: punish faith-based organizations, such as charities and schools who serve everyone in their communities, simply because of their be- liefs; force girls and women to compete against boys and men for limited opportunities in sports, and to share locker rooms and shower spaces with biological males who identify as women; risk mandating taxpayers to fund abortions; force people in everyday life, and especially health care workers, to support gender transition; and expand what the government considers a “public” place, forcing even some parish halls to host functions that conflict with Catholic beliefs.

If you agree with the above statement, please click on the red link below to the USCCB website and message to your Senators.

Action Center (votervoice.net) The Spirit Page 11

Call to Prayer

As we begin another week in the Easter season, I have a special intention for you all to add to your Marian Blue Wave intentions this week. If you haven’t heard yet, Ireland just made all in-person Mass and Church gatherings ille- gal. But guess what is still permissible? Abortion. In the Republic of Ireland, a young girl cannot legally go to Mass, but she can have her preborn child murdered under the guise of abortion. This is an absolute abomination. This week, please offer up your Rosary also for Ireland and its faithful Catholics. A few weeks ago, I told you all how much I was personally relieved that in America we can at- tend weekly, even daily, Mass. Now we realize how much of a luxury this is for us in America. Let us pray for strength for our Irish brothers and sisters and that this attack on the Catholic faith will be resolved swiftly and justly. I want to also remind you to offer up one Rosary for the Marian Blue Wave intentions this week. I appreciate each of you and your prayers so much! Thank you for all you are doing to help end abortion and abortion facilities like Planned Parenthood. We truly cannot do this without you. Yours in the Lord Who IS Life, Katie Brown Director, Marian Blue Wave

Join Us – Marian Blue Wave The Spirit Page 12

Tidbits

Be sure to drink lots of water as the weather starts to warm. Recently a Brother Knight from our council ended up in the hospital overnight dealing with side effects from sudden and insidious dehydration. It can happen to any of us.

Please take the time to update the following items:

 Your phone number on the UKnight website and if applicable, verify your number on the page 1 and 14 of this newsletter. If wrong, please email or text GK.

 Your Safe Environment training. As volunteer opportunites are beginning to return, we all need to be current. There are even relatively painless 1.5 hour Zoom meetings available on Virtus.org if you ’ ve had the 3 hour version since July 31, 2018

 Volunteer hours The Spirit Page 13

Dad Jokes

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton wool, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.'

(I want this line used at my funeral!)

1. "Dad, are we pyromaniacs?” " Yes, we arson." 2. What do you call a pig with laryngitis? Disgruntled. 3. Writing my name in cursive is my signature move. 4. Why do bees stay in their hives during winter? Swarm. 5. If you’re bad at haggling, you’ll end up paying the price. 6. Just so everyone’s clear, I’m going to put my glasses on. 7. A commander walks into a bar and orders everyone around. 8. I lost my job as a stage designer. I left without making a scene. 9. Never buy flowers from a monk. Only you can prevent florist friars. 10. How much did the pirate pay to get his ears pierced? A buccaneer.

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(817) 988-3376

(817) 988-3376 The Spirit Page 15

Please prayerfully consider organizing a monthly or quarterly prayer hour dedicated to our blessed Founder. If you are so inspired, please contact GK Sands with ideas as to when and how best we begin such an hour of prayer, but at least be inspired to say a Rosary on Father McGivney’s behalf.