Grand Knight: Bob Kucharek

The Blue & The Gray Mason-Dixon Council #10100 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Vol. 27 No. 5 St. Mary’s Church March/April 2016 1021 St. Mary’s Road, Pylesville, MD 21132

Grand Knight: Walt Novicki Editor: Joe Healy Phone: 410-692-6363 Phone: 410-692-5359

Fin. Sec.: Bob Hoopert Meetings: 7:30 PM Phone: 410-692-4157 2nd & 4th Mondays

STATE DEPUTY Stephen Cohen State Chaplain’s Message - Reverend Milton E. Jordan DISTRICT DEPUTY Lee Eder DISTRICT WARDEN Mike Georgulas Brother Knights, During the next few weeks most of us will be more active with more than a few COUNCIL OFFICERS religion functions. It’s that time of the year! As faithful followers of the Venerable Michael J. McGivney, each of us is called along with our baptismal and confirmation Chaplain Fr. Henry Kunkel experiences to be models of a strong spirituality to our families, our parishes and our Assoc. Chaplain Fr. Paul Henry Councils. I guess that question that I have been asking myself each morning and Assist. Chaplain Deacon Phil Sensechal evening for the last two weeks is simple but like a hairshirt: what is it that the season Dep. Grand Knight Scott Friedman of Lent is speaking to me this particular year? As we grow older, it seems, making a Chancellor Neil Bittner sacrifice during Lent is not necessarily difficult because my heart and mind tell me Warden Joe Kreutzer that I have been there before. Perhaps I also hear it saying to me that I should ease up Recorder Chris Raab because I really did not put too much into Lent last year. Maybe I tried too hard and Treasurer John Puskar thereby lost interest and determination. Lecturer Eric Rhodes In the weeks ahead we have so many opportunities to take time to deepen our Advocate Norm Yost, PGK relationship with Jesus Christ. Especially during the Holy Year of Mercy, we have Trustees Tom Ryan, PGK been offered so many practices and insights as to our relationships with Jesus as well Jack Smith, PGK as our sisters and brothers we encounter each day. John Panzer, PGK As we have noted in Council meetings, I hope, our Church is challenging us because Guards Larry Dietrich we need to be challenged. Look at our American culture and its impact upon each one Darrell Trujello of us as well as all those we work with, live with and share time with. Godofredo Goicochea One of the Lenten activities we might direct our attention to is this: have I been living Joe Cavallio the life of a Knight of Columbus? Am I faithful to my Council and my brother Knights of the Council? Have I made any efforts to assist the Pastor of the parish DIRECTORS & CHAIRMEN where I attend Mass and, hopefully, support the financial needs of that parish? Am I helping my Council in accepting the change of direction suggested to us by the Program Director Scott Friedman Supreme Knight in his recent presentation to us about a definite change in direction? Membership Director PGK Norm Yost Have I encouraged others to discuss this new perspective with the local pastor? Have I Council Activities Dir. Scott Friedman volunteered some of my time or am I leaving all that “stuff” up to other brother Family Activities Dir. Howard Eakes Knights and other people in the parish? Church Activities Dir. John McCarty I suspect that offering up an hour of time to the parish activities each week during the Community Activities PGK Jack Smith remainder of Lent is more testing of my life than giving up a “daily drink”, a pack of Youth Activities Dir. Neil Bittner cigarettes, etc.? You know what I mean: the usual things that really don’t make an impact upon my, your life. BELLES OF ST. MARY’S OFFICERS Now is the time to examine especially how you and your Council can help the parish Youth Ministry program. Often President Lou Hall times I hear adults with critical observations about how our teens, especially, are Vice-President Joyce Gosnell acting. Our teens are so much in need of fraternity from men like the Knights of Treasurer Lois Fritz Columbus. Secretary Sue Pardo Examine honestly where God is calling you during this Lent. Grand Knight’s Report

March / April 2016

My Brother Knights,

I would like to congratulate our 4 new members who just took their 1st degree, Chris Sealy, Joe Paul, Goeffrey Graff, and Mike Schmidt.

We are having our annual St. Patrick`s Day Dinner on March 17, at 6:00 PM All our brother Knights and their family, and the Belles and their family are invited.

I hope everyone has their dues paid up by now, if not give me a call. May peace be with you all.

Happy Easter to everyone!

Walt Novicki GK

PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

District Deputy’s Report Brothers,

As we start this Lenten season , when for the next 6 weeks , we give up some of our pleasures, candy, alcohol ,watching t v , let’s make this a very special year .Set aside time to reflect on what Jesus Christ has giving us. Try to vision the pain and suffering Jesus endure on that cross. Pick up that Bible and spent time reading with the family. Take part in the stations of the cross. Being more positive , make a bigger effort to be kinder to everyone, be more generous to the poor and homeless. Try to put a smile on the face of everyone you come in contact with.

Lent can also be a season of Love

God Bless and Happy Easter

Lee Eder, PGK, PFN District Deputy # 27 [email protected] 410-591-1948 Don’t Be Afraid Our Courage is Our Faith COUNCIL ACTIVITIES CHURCH ACTIVITIES

COUNCIL CALENDAR MEDJUGORJE MESSAGE February 25, 2016

March "Dear children! 14 Council Meeting – 7:30 PM 17 St. Pat. Day – Corned Beef dinner 6 PM In this time of grace, I am calling all of 19 Feast of St. Joseph you to conversion. Little children, you love little and pray even less. You are lost and 24 Holy Thursday do not know what your goal is. Take the 25 Good Friday cross, look at Jesus and follow Him. He gives 26 Easter Vigil Himself to you to the death on the cross, because He loves you. Little children, I am 27 Easter Sunday calling you: return to prayer with the heart 28 Council Meeting – 7:30 PM (May be cancelled) so as to find hope and the meaning of your existence, in prayer. I am with you and am praying for you. Thank you for having April responded to my call." 02/25/2016 11 Council Meeting 7:30 PM 19 Belles' Luncheon Bingo – 10 AM FIFTH SUNDAY ROSARY – John McCarty 25 Council Meeting – 7:30 PM 30 Spring Chicken Dinner ? The Rosary scheduled for Feb\ 29th was cancelled due to parish scheduling conflicts. The next 5th Sunday will be in May. Birthdays & Anniversaries

Happy Birthday to: YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Jack Smith FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP Mar. 8 Andy Hevesy III Mar. 11 Joan Coffman Mar. 16 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship a Joe Weiss Mar. 17 Success John McCarty Mar. 19 Norman Yost Mar. 31 Thirty-five shooters turned out for the annual K of C Free Sue Oursler Apr. 4 Throw Championship held at the Rec. Center in Delta Nora Farrell Apr. 14 Friday, January 29. This event was sponsored by the Fr. Paul Henry Apr. 17 Mason-Dixon Council of the Knights of Columbus from Scott Kidd Apr. 19 St. Mary Church in Pylesville, Maryland. There were Rachel Bittner Apr. 23 eleven champions at this council competition. They will Lee Surkin Apr. 30 advance to the Maryland State competition in Gambrills, MD on March 19.

Happy Anniversary to: Council Champions are pictured from left to right: Standing in Back Lyla Ambrose (age 11), Caroline Fred & Cecilia Kief Apr. 15, 1964 Henning (age 12), Haley Polk (age 13), Evan Allred (age 13), Spencer Harrington (age 14) Standing in Front Lauren Polk (age 9), Julia Eakes (age 10), Noah Sutton KNIGHTS OUT – Joe Healy (age 9), Philip Bittner (age 10), Connor Ballard (age 11), Donavin Davis (age 12). The Knights Out is strictly a social activity and not a council fund-raiser. Anyone who would like to join their brother Mason-Dixon Council Volunteers from l to r. Knights and families at a local restaurant for dinner together Norman Yost, Scott Friedman, Tim Mackey, Neil Bittner, are invited. Each family pays their own check, so there is no Howard Eakes, Tom Ryan, Walter Novicki, John McCarty, problem with math afterwards. I have heard from only 1 GG, and Bob Hoopert member who is interested. If anyone else would like to join us after Easter, let me know. 410-692-5359 / [email protected]

business. It’s part of what makes us so unique. We call it our Catholic difference. Asked recently about the Knights of Columbus and its Catholicism, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson replied: “It means that we are different. We talk a lot about the “Catholic difference” of doing business with the Knights of Columbus. We present our members with a clear choice between doing business with us and doing business with a secular insurer. We are proud of our identity as a Catholic company. Our ethical practices, in fact, received international recognition in 2014 and 2015, when the Ethisphere Institute designated the Knights of Columbus as a World’s Most Ethical Company®. We stayed true to our principles and knew that if we did the right thing for the right reasons, we would get the results that we wanted — and we have. Last year marked our 15th consecutive year of insurance sales growth.” The signature way in which our Catholic identity impacts our business is in our investment strategy. We put our money where our faith is. We have established a strict screening process that prevents us from investing in companies that participate in any of the following lines of business:  abortions and abortifacients; contraception  human cloning; embryonic stem cell research; for-profit health care that pays for any of the aforementioned  pornography We also do not invest in junk bonds or in risky investment instruments. We do not believe that the MEMBERSHIP potential for profit is worth jeopardizing our Catholic faith or our solemn promise to our members and their On February 29th, the Mason-Dixon Council was proud to families. welcome four new members. Please congratulate Geoffrey “It is a principled approach to investing,” the supreme Graff, Joe Paul, Mike Schmidt, and Chris Sealy. knight said, “that highlights the depth of our commitment to our faith. And while following these principles, our investment team has consistently achieved positive and competitive financial returns.” FRATERNAL INSURANCE That’s integrity. Not all insurance companies are fraternal benefit societies. Not all fraternal benefit societies are Catholic. Not all Catholic insurers are like The Catholic Difference the Knights of Columbus —we are different. We are different because of who we are. We are different because Many companies claim that their founder was a saint. of what we believe. And we are different because of the As brother Knights, our claim is not simply hyperbole: way we act on those beliefs. It’s a difference that traces We know that our beloved founder lived a virtuous and its way back to Father McGivney, and that ought to be a holy life. We hope and pray that he will be raised to the point of pride for all brother Knights and their families. dignity of the altar. In fact, by proclaiming Father Contact me today to find out more about how you and McGivney “venerable” in 2008, the Catholic Church has your family can benefit from our Catholic difference. declared that Father McGivney exercised Christian virtue above and beyond the call of duty. Edward A. O’Keefe, CLU, ChFC, CASL As members of his brotherhood, it is incumbent upon all 410-569-6141 [email protected] brother Knights to act in a way that pays homage to Father McGivney, carries on his mission and works with the same virtuous spirit that animated his life. That duty applies to all aspects of “Columbianism”, whether it be GOOD OF THE ORDER our charitable work, our fraternal work or our business endeavors. Brother Knights, Those two concepts — Catholic virtue and profitable Please keep in your prayers: business —may seem incompatible, but the Knights of Michael Allen, Barbara Rudell, Jennifer Rudell Shape, Columbus has long been a shining example of how Dane & Sarah Friedman, Bernadette Trujillo, John businesses can succeed by placing faith and values before Puskar, Scott Friedman, Fr. Henry Kunkel, Fr. Paul financial gain. Our Catholic heritage permeates our Henry, Venis Knight's wife, and Jeremy Hellman. THE BELLES OF ST. MARY'S

The Belles will be holding a Luncheon Bingo on April 19 at St Mary's the doors will open at 10 am bingo starts at 11 am and will be run the same as the church's monthly bingo.

Pro-Life Report From: Deborah Brocato Respect Life Ministry

THE GOOD NEWS IS. . . The euthanasia legislation in the Maryland General Assembly was withdrawn from the Senate by its main sponsor, Senator Ron Young from Frederick. Realizing the bill would be defeated, he withdrew it. While it is unlikely a vote will occur by the end of the legislative session on April 11, a euthanasia bill remains in the House. Prayers and action succeeded this year; however, the legislature will reintroduce the bill in 2017. Continue to pray for our representatives and for a culture of life, and, when called, take action. Please visit www.nlrc.org/medethics/ to increase your knowledge on this topic. Visit the archdiocesan website www.injoyfulhope.org for a healthy conversation about life and death.

The Center for Disease Control reports show that the number of abortions is declining. Their studies indicate the rate of abortion has decreased from its high in the 1980’s of about 33% to a new low of about 20% of all babies being aborted in the United States. This, as well as legislation requiring better standards at facilities, has led to a decline in the number of abortion clinics. According to LifeNews.com, abortion clinics closed at a rate of about 1 per week in 2015, with 53 closing in total. Pro-life efforts are working and will continue to work. Perseverance is key.

The bad news is President Obama vetoed the bill passed by Congress to defund Planned Parenthood, and there are many elected officials who support policies that show little regard for human life. In case you didn’t hear, this is an election year. Once again, we have the opportunity to select people who best represent pro-life values. Often, it seems there are no good choices but do not let this keep you from your duty to vote. Not participating is not an option. Remember that all candidates come from the flawed human population so the perfect candidate does not exist.

The primary elections for Maryland and Pennsylvania are April 26 and the general election is Tuesday, November 8. Please consider this when contemplating your vote. First, is there a clear pro-life candidate? If the answer is yes and other positions also support, as Pope John Paul II said, “the improvement of the living conditions of all,” then the lever pull is easy. If the answer is no, look at the policy positions of the candidate and his/her past record if available. Do the positions or past actions have an affect that decreases the number of abortions? Do the positions of the candidate help to create an economic and social environment that would encourage a culture of life? Compare the candidates, PRAY for wisdom and choose.

Reflections Lawrence P. Grayson To Be or Not To Be a Person

“The Doctor Will Kill You Now.” This chapter heading in Ramesh Ponnuru’s book, The Party of Death, reflects the chilling view of a detached, business-like, dystopian society. It also is a prescient and ominous description of an expanding culture of death. Procured human extermination, whether at the beginning of life or at its end, is becoming socially acceptable and more commonplace. A clinic in Maryland is attempting to make abortion chic. Its facility resembles a high-end salon with wood floors, plush upholstery and attractive pictures on the walls; its clients are offered hot tea and soft robes as they wait to have their children killed. The now- defunct Dalton Books chain once categorized a book on how to commit suicide under the heading: “Self-Improvement.” In the Netherlands, there now are traveling teams of euthanizers to dispatch the elderly, the feeble, the lonely and the terminally ill. Proponents of a culture of death try to blur the knowledge of when life begins and when it ends so that they can more readily justify abortion and euthanasia. Through philosophic arguments and euphemistic terms, they salve their consciences as they legally rid themselves of the disruption of an unwanted pregnancy or the hardship of caring for the terminally ill, the severely disabled, the permanently comatose, and those with extreme cognitive impairment. A convenient approach to confound the issue is to separate the notion of person from that of human life by conferring personhood only if an individual possesses certain functional capabilities. If those capabilities are missing or do not meet a given norm, the individual is considered a non-person and not entitled to rights granted to others. Specifically, the right to life, guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, does not apply to them. This attempt to depersonalize classes of individuals runs counter to the religious beliefs that humans have spiritual souls, as well as physical bodies, and that their souls are created in the image and likeness of God. All human life, from conception until natural death, has a worth and dignity simply by being human. As God-given, the right to life is intrinsic and inalienable, and does not depend on the quality of that life being up to a certain functional norm. No one has the authority to take the life of another or to discard his own. When life begins is a biological fact. It is indisputably at conception, when the male and female components unite to create a new living organism with a complete genetic identity of a human being that is distinct from either parent. The point at which that life is considered to be a person, in contrast, is a social and philosophical construct. The separation of the two is nothing more than a sophistic attempt to justify the taking of innocent life. If the organism in the womb is not a person, then abortion -- even to the point of partial birth -- is not recognized as the killing of a child, but only as the medical excision of a growth, tissues or cells within a woman. In the United States, this jesuitic distinction has allowed over 58 million children never-to-be-born since Roe v. Wade was decreed in 1973. The separation of personhood from life is fraught with danger for everyone at every stage of life. The point of partition becomes a decision of those in power, whether a dictator, autocrat or a democratic majority. When a human is declared a non-person because of his or her inability to sustain life independently of others or is not able to perform at a certain level of mental, physical or social ability, the individual is considered to be a thing without the dignity, worth or rights of a person. This can lead, and has led, to great atrocities. At various times, in many countries, in differing circumstances, slaves, Blacks, gypsies, Jews, non-believers, and other “inconvenient” groups have been declared non-persons – or at least treated as such -- thus justifying lynching, slavery, ethnic cleansing, genocide, gulags, jihad, and the Holocaust. The issue of personhood was central to the decision to withhold nutrition and hydration from Terri Schiavo and starve her to death. Since she was in a prolonged vegetative state and could not perform as a human being, she was considered “dead” as a person and her life functions ended. Would American society allow a mass-killer on death row to be starved to death? Do we as a nation truly believe that a life is not valuable nor worth living if the individual is in a persistent vegetative state? If so, do we hold the same for a person who is in a long-term coma, is severely handicapped, has advanced dementia, is extremely autistic, cannot live without constant pain, or has a genetic defect? The life of a human being follows a continuous evolution: from a fertilized egg or zygote to blastocyst to embryo to fetus to newborn, and then through childhood, young adulthood, middle age, and finally elderliness. Similarly, at each of those stages, the physical and mental capacities of an individual can vary along a continuum. Where along these unbroken chains are the lines to be drawn separating persons from non-persons, segregating lives worth living from those that are not? Who is to draw them? And once drawn, can they not be moved in the future to define new groups of non-people? If we accept a functional view of a person, what will be the next steps – partial-birth abortion, infanticide, mercy killing, genetic cleansing? What will be the future of this nation, as it moves farther away from an absolute morality with regard to life to one that is relative? This nation would do well to remember the words of Pope John Paul II as he concluded his visit to the United States in 1987: “Every human person - no matter how vulnerable or helpless, no matter how young or how old, no matter how healthy, handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or productive for society -- is a being of inestimable worth created in the image and likeness of God. This is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition for her survival -- yes, the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person, especially the weakest and most defenseless ones, those as yet unborn.” Let us strive to create a public consciousness that every life has value and worth. Let us demonstrate to our political leaders and the nation-at-large that abortion and euthanasia are heinous acts and that human life at all stages, from conception to natural death, must be respected. Let us develop a societal acknowledgement that ours is a nation under God.

* * * * * March 2016 Mason-Dixon Council #10100 Knights of Columbus 1021 St. Mary’s Rd. Pylesville, MD 21132

ONE NATION UNDER GOD GOD BLESS AMERICA!