Professional Documents
Culture Documents
February is the time for Valentines, President's Week school vacations, Baseball
teams open Spring Training, we still have snow to dig out some days – and this
year on Feb 14th we celebrate Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. The purpose
of Lent is to prepare ourselves through prayer, doing penance, repentance of sins,
almsgiving, and self-denial. Lent will bring us through March, ending on Easter
Sunday April 1st.
We are back to work on one of our most important activities – Membership. On
January 9th St. Jude Council hosted both Initiation (1st) and Formation (2nd)
St. Jude, Pray for Us Degrees, bringing in new members. Also on January 26th three members received
their Knighthood (3rd) Degree at Mother Cabrini Council in Coram. Coming on
Feb 13th is another Initiation (1st) Degree in Patchogue. Thanks to our membership
In service Chairman SK John Nugent for leading the Membership efforts.
to one. An upcoming event you won't want to miss is the Fraternal Benefits Night on
In service Wed Feb 21. The evening will include videos and presenters on such topics as:
Your KofC membership benefits; the KofC Life Insurance program for members,
to all. spouses and their children; Planning for Retirement and Assets; Final expenses
and funeral plans; Protecting Real Estate interests; and much more. Refreshments,
coffee and cake available.
The Suffolk Chapter 2018 Charity Drive is on and once again we have chance
books available. You can get chance books at our business meeting February 7th,
at the Fraternal Benefits Night February 21st or at the Council Hall. It is the
responsibility of all members to participate in this effort by either buying books,
selling them or attending a chance book sales event. The St. Jude Ladies Auxiliary
will also participate in the Chapter Charity Drive which supports the Council and the
Chapter. In the first half of the year, our C&B chance book drive provided the
Council with most of its income and allowed us to donate so much to our parishes.
Vivat Jesus,
I often ask myself what draws so many people to this event. What makes them travel great distances, spend sleepless nights on
buses, and stand for hours on cold, soggy ground? Is it merely a political movement, or is it something more? The answer, I think,
is that the Lord is at work in the minds and hearts of these good people and many more like them. The word for it has to be
“conversion” — the Lord is converting minds and hearts to the Gospel of Life. And I would further offer that this process of
conversion takes place within us on three levels — intellectual, moral and religious.
SEEKING TRUTH We commonly think of conversion solely as a religious experience, such as coming to faith in Christ or
converting to Catholicism. Yet conversion has other meanings as well. In general, it is a change of direction in our lives that takes
us beyond ourselves, beyond our limited point of view, beyond our purely personal interests — or, as Pope Francis would say,
beyond our comfort zone. It is a shift that leads us to strive to be better, more authentic versions of ourselves.
Conversion is thus a common human experience. And as noted above, it often occurs on three levels in our lives. Let’s look at all
three to understand more deeply the ways in which people can be converted to the truth and beauty of the Gospel of Life. First,
intellectual conversion begins when we start asking questions and challenging assumptions. We begin to wonder whether what
we had assumed to be true is in fact true. We question the rhetoric and hype that we hear and see.
Many people who once considered themselves avidly “pro-choice” arrived at a point in their lives when they started asking
questions about arguments for abortion, leading them to ultimately change their minds. At a certain point, they took seriously
the philosophical arguments and scientific evidence advanced in favor of the humanity of the unborn child. For others, the
breakthrough experience came when they actually saw an unborn child via an ultrasound machine. Indeed, this is the case for
many as a result of the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative.
A Prayer for Love
MOVED TO GRATITUDE A change of mind often leads to a change in one’s actions, to moral conversion — to a different way of
Love is patient, love is kind and is understanding, judging and acting. As a rule, people see themselves as reasonable and conscientious. When individuals take that
view of themselves seriously, they may arrive at a point when they become uncomfortable making decisions and acting solely on
not jealous; love does not brag and the basis of what they think is in their best interest. They start thinking not only about their own problems, comfort or convenience.
is not arrogant, does not act They start asking about what really matters, what is really important in life. In other words, they become concerned about virtues
and values.
unbecomingly; it does not seek its
own, is not provoked, does not take When people become convinced of the value of human life, they may be led to make difficult choices. Their newfound support for
the cause of life may alienate friends and colleagues. Even as individuals undergo intellectual and moral conversion, something
into account a wrong suffered, does deeper may be going on in the depths of their being — namely, a genuine religious conversion. After all, once life is understood
not rejoice in unrighteousness, but as a precious gift, many are struck by the thought that God loves what he has made. From there, it is a short step to thank the
Creator for the gift of life and, in so doing, to fall in love with him. We are prompted to believe in, trust and worship the living God,
rejoices with the truth; bears all things, thanking him for creating each person in his image; thanking him for sending his Son to assume and redeem our humanity;
believes all things, hopes all things, thanking him for calling us to friendship with himself.
endures all things. Thus, intellectual convictions and moral choices in favor of life become surrounded by God’s grace and love. This experience
transforms us deeply and fills our pro-life advocacy with genuine love of God and neighbor. We then become not only advocates
From Book of Corinthians for life but also witnesses to the God of love who created and redeemed us.
From KofC.org 1/01/2018 Copyright Knights of Columbus KofC.org2018
Knights of Columbus, Council #5814, 683 Rt. 25A, Rocky Point, NY 631-744-7043 Visit Us At - www.STJudeKoC.com
Volume XVI, Number II St. Jude Beacon - February 2018 Page 3
I look forward to seeing you all in the weeks to come or at the next Degree.
Vivat Jesus-
Knights of Columbus, Council #5814, 683 Rt. 25A, Rocky Point, NY 631-744-7043 Visit Us At - www.STJudeKoC.com
Volume XVI, Number II St. Jude Beacon - February 2018 Page 4
Future Dates
3/16, 3/17, 3/18 Fraternal Weekend Villa Roma, Upstate NY
Lent is Coming
Feb 14th - April 1st
Upcoming events include hosting a Soup Supper one Friday Evening during Lent and a family Movie Night in the month of April.
If you would like to join the Ladies Auxiliary, please call one of the women listed above.
Knights of Columbus, Council #5814, 683 Rt. 25A, Rocky Point, NY 631-744-7043 Visit Us At - www.STJudeKoC.com
Volume XVI, Number II St. Jude Beacon - February 2018 Page 5
Fraternal
Benefits Night
Wednesday
February 21st at 7pm
Members & Spouses and Non-members welcome
~
Many members may believe that they know about all the benefits available,
but actually they change and you should keep up on what is available.
~
For more information please contact GK Gene Johann at 631 804-1886
** Wake Service **
The Council is updating its Wake Service notification record. If you would like to be informed of the passing of a brother
and the wake information please provide your phone number and/or email address to FS John Sommers. You can
either email the information to jsommers@optonline.net (put Wake Service in the subject line) or call 631-924-8708.
Knights of Columbus, Council #5814, 683 Rt. 25A, Rocky Point, NY 631-744-7043 Visit Us At - www.STJudeKoC.com
Volume XVI, Number II St. Jude Beacon - February 2018 Page 6
Suffolk Chapter
Charity Ball 2018
Sunday June 24th 2018
12:30PM - 5:30PM at The Watermill
Cocktail Hour
Sit-down Dinner (4 Choices)
Open Bar
Ice Cream Bar, Chocolate Fountain, Cake
Coffee
Live Band “Hart & Soul”
Knights of Columbus, Council #5814, 683 Rt. 25A, Rocky Point, NY 631-744-7043 Visit Us At - www.STJudeKoC.com
Volume XVI, Number II St. Jude Beacon - February 2018 Page 7
THANK YOU!
We very much appreciate
our supporters!
CATHOLIC MEN
Become a member of
the world’s Largest
Catholic Family
Fraternal Organization
The Knights
of Columbus!
Know the benefits that
1.9 million Catholic
families already share.
631-744-7043
Knights of Columbus, Council #5814, 683 Rt. 25A, Rocky Point, NY 631-744-7043 Visit Us At - www.STJudeKoC.com
Prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney
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