Seton noteS Official Publication of Mother Seton Council #5381, Knights of Columbus May 2019

Volume 56, Number 11

Chaplain’s Corner

Reverend Jack Kennealy

May is the month we honor our Mothers

And we remember our parish Patron : Matthias Feast Day ( modern day) : May 14

INSIDE THIS EDITION Program Reports ………………………..3,4 Sick & Distressed……………....…………5 Nominations………………………………..6 Supreme Council News………………….7 Facts about …………….9 Papal Prayer Intention……….…………10 State Council News……………………….11 Calendar……………………………………..14 1

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Grand Knight Report

Ferdinand A. Ibebuchi 301-802-3075 [email protected]

District Deputy Report Mike Akpan, PGK [email protected]

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Message from the Financial Secretary

Nomination of Elections is scheduled for May. Only members in good standing will be eligible to participate in the process and allowed admittance to meetings.

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2018-2019 Officers Chaplain Family Activities Reverend Jack Kennealy Sylvester Ikpi, PGK, PFN [email protected] 301-613-8762 or [email protected] Associate Chaplain Reverend Milton E. Jordan Family of the Month [email protected] Our family of the month for March 2019 is the family of Jean-Marie and

Caroline Tcheffo. Jean-Marie is a fourth degree member of Assistant to the Chaplain James E Walsh Assembly #1548. He is a member of Mother Seton Deacon Al Davis Council #5381 and an active member of the church. He is currently our 240-691-9462 council’s Deputy Grand Knight and Program Director. He is an usher at Saint Matthias and the Basilica in Washington DC. Thank for all you do Grand Knight and your ongoing commitment to serve God and community. Ferdinand Ibebuchi [email protected] Faith Director 301-802-3075 Deputy Grand Knight Charles Briscoe Jean-Marie Tcheffo 240-701-8093,[email protected] [email protected] 240-423-9273 Chancellor Crepin M. Mahop 240-413-1575 [email protected] Warden Ephraim Eke [email protected] We commemorate the following feasts and this month: 240-770-7349 the Worker (1), Athanasius (2), Philip & James (3), Our Recorder Emmanuel Thad Ereme Lady of Fatima (13), Matthias (14), Augustine (27), Ascension of [email protected] the Lord (30), Visitation of the BVM (31) 301-549-8452 Treasurer Joseph Corson, FDD, PGK Fraternal Benefits Corner [email protected] Stephen Clites 301-262-3002 Advocate [email protected] Robert Worthington, FDD, PFN, PGK 240-375-1372 [email protected] 301-908-9972 Guard Inside Henry Mbah Guard Outside Joseph Ngu Ernest Nkiangu

Trustees Emmanuel Ajayi, PGK (1Yr) [email protected] 202-413-1066 Please contact the benefits agent to discuss your needs. The consultation Dominic Forka, PGK (2Yr) is free. [email protected] 240-595-9479 Aneurin M’Carthy, PGK (3 Yr) [email protected] 240-602-5573 Financial Secretary Donahue Aitcheson, PGK 3 240-481 -0622 [email protected]

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Community Director Life Director Emmanuel Sony Ajayi, PGK Joseph Ngu 202-413-1066 301-412-1491 [email protected] [email protected] Defend Life - Support the Ultrasound Program We held our first orientation meeting with school parents looking to volunteer at FedEx. The football season starts in August with preseason games. Concert and soccer schedules will be announced as the dates are secured. Please stay tuned for updates.

Prayer to Mother Seton Lord God, You blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace

As wife and mother, educator and foundress, Membership Corner So that she might spend her life in service Director to your people. Emmanuel Sony Ajayi, PGK Through her example and prayers 202-413-1066 May we learn to express our love for you [email protected] In love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord , The fraternal year is almost over; we are still your Son, far away from our membership goal. It is everyone’s responsibility to make membership Who lives and reigns with you and the growth one of their priorities. Follow the motto: Holy Spirit, “Make It Personal and Ask” One God, for ever and ever.

Amen. Membership Checker :

GOAL : 16 NEW : 2 LOSS: 5 NET : 19

Congratulations to our new 4th degree Sir Knights: Go to SK Francisco King http://stewardsofhopefoundation.org SK Martin Kwapinski to find out more about the launch of this global mission spearheaded by Fr. SK Festus Sowho SK Charles Johnson Canice Enyiaka 4

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Sick and Recovering

Brothers Relatives/Friends

Christopher Agboli, PGK Rose Chisefaky Kevin Butler, PGK Ann Degraff Nicholas Kniska, HLM Helen Dziduch Pablo Rocha John Matais

Lord, look upon me with eyes of mercy, may your healing hand rest upon me, may your life-giving powers flow into every cell of my body and into the depths of my soul, cleansing, purifying, restoring me to wholeness and strength for service in your Kingdom. Amen

If you know a Brother Knight or a family member who is sick, recovering or recently deceased, please contact us so that we may pray for them. Your help is needed to manage this list (Editor: [email protected].)

Father of goodness and love; hear our prayers for the sick members of our community and for all who are in need. Amid mental and physical suffering, may they find consolation in your healing presence. Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits. May these special people find lasting health and deliverance, and so join us in thanking you for all your gifts. We ask this through the Lord Jesus who healed those who believed. Amen.

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Nomination of Officers Nominations Committe Chairman :Robert Worthington PGK,PFN, FDD

Nominations: Slate of nominees for the election of 2019 - 2020 officers (as of meeting of April 16, 2019)

Grand Knight: Charles Briscoe, Jean-Marie Tcheffo Deputy Grand Knight: Thad Ereme Chancellor: Ephraim Eke Warden: Joseph Ngu Recorder: Henry Mbah Treasurer: Joseph Corson Advocate: Robert Worthington Trustee (1yr): Emmanuel Ajayi Trustee (3yr): Ferdinand Ibebuchi

Inside Guards: Martin Knapinski , Festus Sowho Outside Guards: Joe Obiwuru Representative to the 2019 State Convention: Convention Delegate (PGK): Ferdinand Ibebuchi 1st Alternate: Robert Worthington PGK,PFN,FDD

nd 2 Alternate: Don Aitcheson PGK

Council By-Law requires that all elected officers must be at least Third Degree members.

The third and final call for nominations will be done at the Meeting on May 21, 2019.

Election of Officers for the 2019-20 Fraternal Year will be held at the Council meeting on May 21, 2019.

Questions should be directed to the Nominations Chairman.

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Supreme Council News

MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, OUR MOTHER AND MODEL, INTERCEDES FOR AND CONSOLES THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST

Invaluable to the Christian life is a warm and loving devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. I was blessed to grow up in a home where the rosary was prayed daily, even on the busiest and most difficult days. There was always a statue of the Blessed Mother in our home and other reminders of Mary’s love for us, her children. At school, May processions culminated in the crowning of a statue as we all sang to Our Lady. In time, I got into the habit of praying a daily rosary, and as I meditated on the life of Jesus through the eyes of Mary, my vocation came into sharper focus. In my final years at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., I often went to the beautiful grotto up the mountain, a national shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. In the quiet of that grotto, my love for Mary deepened as I prepared to serve the Church as a priest. But it was not until I visited Lourdes, France, for the first time in the 1980s, that I was overwhelmed with the healing power of the Blessed Mother’s intercession. In that holy place, where Mary revealed herself to St. Bernadette as the Immaculate Conception, I experienced a wonderful healing, cleansing and renewal of body, mind and spirit. Over the years, I have returned to Lourdes many times, often with pilgrims, many of whom suffer from serious illnesses. I visit with them before they go into the baths and, when feasible, pray with them after they emerge. The purifying love and powerful intercession of Mary is palpable in those encounters. My love for the Blessed Mother likewise intensified when I visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City for the first time in 1990 and looked upon her miraculous image. The experience filled me with joy and opened my eyes to Mary’s role in the evangelization of the world. Inspired by these experiences, Marian devotion has become an essential part of my life. Like every good Knight of Columbus, I carry a rosary in my pocket. My father’s own K of C rosary also remains in the little chapel in my residence. When the house is quiet at night, I often slip into the chapel and pray with my dad’s rosary. As I do so, I think about all the people I met during the day and the many people who asked me to pray for them. As the day comes to a close, nothing is more consoling than to spend a little time in conversation with Mary. I also look upon a beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother that I received from Cardinal James Hickey, my mentor and friend, when I became a bishop many years ago. When I look upon that image, I never fail to pray for the cardinal, whose example and memory continue to influence my life so deeply. During the month of May, we honor Mary in a special way, and on June 10, the Monday after , we will celebrate her as the Mother of the Church. Her virginity symbolizes the truth and purity of the Church’s teaching and the sacrifice that the Church daily offers. Her motherhood symbolizes the maternal care that the Church gives to us, her children, reborn by water and the Holy Spirit. This love reaches us through many channels, not the least of which are the Church’s ministries of healing and charity. And when members of the Knights of Columbus live the principle of charity, we help extend the loving care of the Church to the poor and the vulnerable. These days, though, it is the Church — sinful in her members — that needs healing. Sins against young people and the failure of Church leaders to respond continue to haunt and hobble the Body of Christ. Many practical steps still need to be taken to ensure that and other leaders are held accountable for their actions. But those steps alone, important as they are, won’t fully heal the Church’s wounds. For that, we must turn our gaze toward Mary, asking her prayers that the Church might be purified, cleansed, healed and renewed. Reprinted from www.kofc.org 5/1/2019

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Catholic Corner

Faith Based Report by SK Charles Briscoe

May, the Month of Our Lady

May is the month of Mary and one of the most popular activities to venerate the Mother of God during this month is to participate in a May crowning ceremony. Why is Mary known as Queen of Heaven – doesn’t that put her on a par with God? The title of Mary as Queen has been a tradition of the Church since at least the fourth century. (Note that Mary is referred to as queen not just of heaven, but also of peace, of the , of all Christians, among many other things.) It’s important to understand that the title of Queen is not meant to indicate power over others, but rather to underscore Mary’s relationship to Christ. In other words, because Mary is the mother of Christ the King, it’s logical that she would be called Queen. (A modern example would be the mother of Queen Elizabeth II of England, who was known as the Queen Mother.) Pope Pius XII affirmed this in his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam when he wrote, “according to ancient tradition and the sacred liturgy the main principle on which the royal dignity of Mary rests is without doubt her Divine Motherhood.” He also quotes St. Alphonsus Ligouri, who wrote, “Because the virgin Mary was raised to such a lofty dignity as to be the mother of the King of kings, it is deservedly and by every right that the Church has honored her with the title of ‘Queen.’” Pope Pius explains that Mary also merits the honor of the title because she played such an important role in bringing Christ the Redeemer into the world. “Certainly, in the full and strict meaning of the term, only Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is King; but Mary, too, as Mother of the divine Christ, as His associate in the redemption, in his struggle with His enemies and His final victory over them, has a share, though in a limited and analogous way, in His royal dignity.” Mary’s title of Queen thus doesn’t mean she is on equal footing with God; instead, it reflects how intimately connected she was, and is, to her son and to his mission.

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Facts on Saint Matthias, Apostle

Born: 1st century AD Judaea, Roman Empire Died: c. 80 AD Jerusalem, Judaea or in Colchis (modern-day Georgia)

They nominated two men: Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias. They prayed and drew lots. The choice fell upon Matthias who was added to the Eleven. Matthias is not mentioned by name anywhere else in the .

History The Greek Matthias (or, in some manuscripts, Maththias), is a name derived from Mattathias, Hebrew Mattithiah, signifying "gift of Yahweh." Matthias was one of the of Jesus, and had been with Him from His baptism by John to the Ascension (:21-22). It is related (Acts 1:15-26) that in the days following the Ascension, Peter proposed to the assembled brethren, who numbered one hundred and twenty, that they choose one to fill the place of the traitor Judas in the Apostolate. Two disciples, Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias were selected, and lots were drawn, with the result in favour of Matthias, who thus became associated with the eleven Apostles. Zeller has declared this narrative unhistoric, on the plea that the Apostles were in Galilee after the death of Jesus. As a matter of fact they did return to Galilee, but the clearly state that about the feast of Pentecost they went back to Jerusalem.

All further information concerning the life and death of Matthias is vague and contradictory. The Latin Church originally celebrated the feast of St. Matthias on 24 February, (this was later moved to 14 May) and the Greek Church on 9 August.

Reprinted/Edited from http://www.newadvent.org

Facts about Saint Matthias, Apostle Parish in Lanham Canonically established on June 18, 1960, Reverend E. Albert Hughes assumed his duties as the first Pastor. While the fund raising and construction were underway the parishioners celebrated Masses at the Chapel of the Divine Savior Seminary on Princess Garden Parkway in Lanham. The statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from that seminary currently stands in a place of honor between the rectory and school entrances (recently replaced and move to the Hughes Center patio garden area). Reverend Jack Kennealy was installed as the current & 8th pastor by Cardinal Wuerl on Sunday, September 17, 2017. On Sunday, February 25, 1962, over seven hundred parishioners gathered to watch and pray as The Most Reverend Patrick A. O’Boyle, Archbishop of Washington solemnly blessed and dedicated the new church . The new four classroom school was also blessed that day.

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Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for May 2019

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network invites all to join in the Holy Father’s May 2019 prayer intention:

The Church in Africa, a Seed of Unity

That the Church in Africa, through the commitment of its members, may be the seed of unity among her peoples and a sign of hope for this continent.

Daily Offering Prayer God, our Father, I offer You my day. I offer You my prayers, thoughts, words, actions, joys, and sufferings in union with the Heart of Jesus, who continues to offer Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit, Who guided Jesus, be my guide and my strength today so that I may witness to your love. With Mary, the mother of our Lord and the Church, I pray for all Apostles of Prayer and for the prayer intentions proposed by the Holy Father this month. Amen.

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Maryland State Council News

State Deputy Dale W. Trott

Maryland State Council 121st Annual Convention May 3, 4, 5 2019 Ocean City, Maryland

Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort 91st Street, Ocean City, Maryland The 121st Annual Convention of the Maryland State Council, Knights of Columbus, will be held at the Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort, Ocean City, Maryland, May 3,4, & 5, 2019. Registration for both the convention and the hotel are simplified through the online process described below. The online registration is now available.

Registration is now open. Register online at: https://www.mdkocconvention.org/Convention_Regservation.aspx.

Shrine Usher Ministry The Shrine Usher Ministry is in need of good men to serve the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to serve as ushers at weekend Masses, as well as Holy Days and special events. If you have an interest and wish to learn more about this wonderful Ministry and Supreme Council Program, contact PGK Patrick McAleer, Shrine Usher Chairman at (301) 253- 3856 / (301) 802-5850 or email at [email protected] or [email protected].

For more details, go to www.kofc-md.org

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Fourth Degree Report

Bishop James E. Walsh Assembly No. 1548 Meets on the 2nd Monday, 7:00 pm at Saint Pius X Council, Sarto Hall, 3611 Stewart Road; Forestville, MD 20747-1747 (301) 735-8855. Next scheduled meeting is May 13th @ 7PM

ADW Website (www.awddistrict.org)

Official Flag Days in the USA

May 1 – Loyalty/Law Day (Army only) 12 – Mother’s Day 14 - Peace Officer’s Memorial Day 19 – Armed Forces Day 22- National Maritime Day 27 – Memorial Day

Bishop McNamara Chapter of Grand Knights Maryland State Council Celebrating its 56th Year Upcoming Chapter Meetings

May 15, 2019 Saint Elizabeth Council #12796 917 Election Meeting Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852

Come hear about all the exciting events and activities that are planned for the year. The Chapter encourages not only Grand Knights to attend, but also Deputy Grand Knights and Council Program Directors. The Chapter meets the third Wednesday of each month except for December. The location varies. http://www.kofc-md.org/state1820/mcnamara.asp

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B Birthdays for May i

r Council Ladies Auxiliary t 1 Sidney Billups 2 Derekh Barton No May Birthdays Jude Nwoko 5 James Agboli, PGK Christopherd Nwachukwu 7 Neal Sheehan HAPPY 9 Victora Njowusi 10 Ernest Nkiangu 11 Josephy Oratokhai III 12 Fr. Canice Enyiaka Hectors Perez 13 Anthony Okolo 14 Sinju 15 Charles Briscoe 19 Nereusf Forcha Rodney Oak, PGK 20 Alfredo Atanga BIRTHDAY!!! 23 John Matais 27 Stephenr Clites

M . a

r Editor’s Pen If therec is a special request for a copy of the Seton noteS by mail, let us know. Please send all newsletter related issues to Don Aitcheson at [email protected] (240-481-0622). The deadline for article submission is the 20th of each month. The email edition will be sent on or about the 1st of each month. Please feel free to give us feedback. Copies are available in the pamphlet rack at St. Matthias. back of Saint Matthias Church and on the website at www.stmatthias.org. \ 13

Seton noteS Knights of Columbus Mother Seton Council #5381 Seton noteS 9475 Annapolis Road Lanham, MD 20706-3020

Upcoming Council Events Calendar

st May 3-5 121 Annual State Convention – Ocean City, MD May 7 Council Meeting - Business – 8PM/Nominations May 12 Happy Mother ’ s Day !!!!

May 21 Council Meeting – Council Elections for 2019-20 June 4 Council Meeting – Business – 8PM June 18 Council Meeting – Social / Exchanging of the Gavel July 2 Council Meeting – Business – 8PM

Council meetings are held 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month unless otherwise posted.

Council meetings are currently held in the Father Hughes Center. Note: Formal dress code for meetings in effective. (Jacket and tie requested)

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