We will need someone to pull our parade wagon and someone to pull the Santa Maria. Lots of individuals are need to walk with us in the parade and hand out tootsie rolls. Also it would be great to fill the parade wagon. Last but not least we need all the Honor Guard that can attend. This is a wonderful opportunity to display our Knights of Columbus to the public.

Dave Klein and stepped down from his responsibilities of outside facilities at our Hall, passing those big shoes on to Steve Wiederholt. Please thank Dave for all his service when you see him and welcome Steve.

Our facilities continue on with the installation or our security system. In the photo below of the entry of the Hall, you will see a security keypad, alarm horn and motion detector. The system isn't active yet and will take a few more days to complete. This will get us one step closer in providing improved security for our property. As you unlock and enter the outside doors, you will hear a couple of "beeps" from the keypad indicating the door sensor has been tripped. If the system was armed, you would need to get to the keypad to enter your security pin to disarm the system.

Membership dues for 2014 have been mailed. Please pay promptly to remain in good standing.

We are continuing to seek individuals to fill some open positions. Our Family Director position could use your talent. Also we are in need of someone to fill our Youth Director position. Our Friday night Bingo efforts can use your talent. If you can fill one of these rolls or need additional information, please contact any of the officers.

The Knights of Columbus will be coordinating and managing the lent fish fries at St. Charles this year. The first fish fry is 7th Mar. Our prep work will begin Thursday morning at 9:00 am in the church kitchen with the fish fry being served Friday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Please stop by and assist us if you can. Proceeds received by the Knights support the grounds management at St. Charles, grass cutting, weed control, trim work, equipment maintenance along with gas oan oil.

A few dates/events to remember:

* Pitch Game - Thursdays at 1:00 pm at the Hall

* Toy Makers - Tuesdays at 8:00 am at the Hall's Hobby Shop

* Bingo - Fridays

General Meeting of Council #3414 - Mar 4th (Tue) 7:00PM (at the Hall). The prayer of the rosary will begin at 6:45 pm.

If you have any questions at all or would like further information, please see me. I can also be reached via email at gusbannick@yahoo.com.

Thank you,

Gustave E. Bannick

Hard to believe but March is almost here and that means Snake Saturday Parade.  The parade is scheduled for Saturday March 15th in the morning.  We will need Honor Guard, walkers (tootsie Roll throwers), and most importantly veterans.  As with the past two parades, we will honor our veterans in the wagon.  Knights who can't walk that far are welcome to join us in the wagon as well.  Children and grandchildren are welcome to join us in the parade.  In recent years our best showing was about 25 Knights, we would really like to blow that number away.  Please plan on participating with us this year.  This year's theme is "Mile and Miles of Irish Smiles".  If you have any suggestions as to how to incorporate the theme into our display, please contact Fred O Halloran or our Grand Knight Gus Bannick. 

Here is the Life Runner's website : http://liferunners.org/

Here is the link to the Relay :  http://liferunners.org/across/

You can click on Register for legs , to view the map, by state.  Choose from the legs listed under Chris Talley (legs 412-416 are Friday, 421-430 are Sat, April 5th).  

You will need to register as a Life Runner-on the site, but please contact Chris (our Relay Captain) to let her know which leg(s) you would like to cover-to register for the Relay. 

Is the UN's Attack on the Catholic Church's Pro-Life Position a Prelude to Persecution?

by Fr. Shenan Boquet | LifeNews.com | 2/7/14 5:21 PM

On Wednesday morning the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child published its Concluding Observations concerning the Catholic Church's treatment of children. In this widely-denounced document (see HLI's statement here), the Committee chastises the Church for supposedly ignoring or refusing the rights of children. It called for the Church to amend Canon Law, to change her unchangeable teaching, and to embrace secular morality on matters ranging from homosexuality and contraception to abortion and gender ideology.

The UN Committee was quite explicit and exhaustive in its

expectations: the document is 16 pages long with 67 paragraphs. The Holy See, for its part, was not impressed:

The Holy See does, however, regret to see in some points of the Concluding Observations an attempt to interfere with Catholic Church teaching on the dignity of the human person and in the exercise of religious freedom. The Holy See reintegrates its commitment to defending and protecting the rights of the child, in line with the principles promoted by the Convention of the Rights of the Child and according to the moral and religious values offered by Catholic doctrine.

There has already been outcry about this unjust attack on the Holy See, and likely there will be a more detailed statement forthcoming.

In the meantime, however, I would like to consider two key themes of the Vatican's response that merit reflection: the dignity of the human person and religious freedom. What the UN Committee rejects and considers as unacceptable behavior, the Church sees as a moral obligation and duty to uphold because she cannot ignore her purpose and divine mandate. There really could not be a more stark opposition between the worldviews of this committee and the Vatican.

In the opening paragraph of the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae, the Church states her case about the dignity of the human person as it relates to personal and religious freedom:

A sense of the dignity of the human person has been impressing itself more and more deeply on the consciousness of contemporary man, and the demand is increasingly made that men should act on their own judgment, enjoying and making use of a responsible freedom, not driven by coercion but motivated by a sense of duty. The demand is likewise made that constitutional limits should be set to the powers of government, in order that there may be no encroachment on the rightful freedom of the person and of associations. (DH #1)

The Declaration states that the growing consciousness of people regarding their own dignity helps the Church in its mission, and leads to an increased emphasis on man's need to be free from coercion. It also affirms the Church's claim to the freedom to pursue its mission, which is not established by any human agreement. Blessed Pope John Paul II, champion of human dignity and religious freedom, affirmed these principles in his 1979 encyclical Redemptor Hominis: "I appeal in the name of all believers throughout the world to those on whom the organization of social and public life in some way depends, earnestly requesting them to respect the rights of religion and of the Church's activity."

The Church must be free to preach the Gospel, and the human person must be free to pursue the truth about himself as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Seeking the truth without compromise is the greatest affirmation of human dignity. Human dignity is defined in part by man's ability to transcend himself -- to love God with his whole being. "In all his activity a man is bound to follow his conscience, in order that he may come to know God, the end and purpose of life." (DH #3)

Religious freedom does not, however, mean that the laws of society can be ignored. When these are in harmony with God's law we have an obligation to obey that authority; otherwise we jeopardize the common good. In fact, those who seek religious truth make good citizens because they strive to live by God's plan.

The last century saw the unprecedented growth of governments and ideological systems that suppressed religious truth and human dignity.

Yet, in the midst of such turmoil there were some willing to witness for truth and freedom of conscience -- even at the cost of their lives.

Martyrs give the ultimate witness and force humanity in every age to consider the truth placed before them and the seriousness of the duty to seek the truth. When man's law is unjust, God's law still demands our assent. "It is necessary to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29) Sadly we are seeing a new era of martyrs in Africa and the Middle East, as Christians are targeted by Muslim mobs and forced to convert or be killed.

Although we are not yet facing martyrdom following the UN Committee's offensive and unjust demands, it is wise to remember history. We have ample reminders today and in recent history of what faith, hope, love and courage demand of Christians in times of persecution, much of which was preceded by blatant rhetorical attacks on the Church from political powers. The Church has seen many centuries and has weathered many storms. She will as she has always done speak and witness the truth no matter the cost.

We pray that the Committee's overreach may serve as a wake-up call to many inside and outside the Church about the radical direction being taken by some at the UN. But let's be aware of the moment we're in, and prepare accordingly.

LifeNews Note: Fr. Shenan Boquet is the president of Human Life International.

A Founding Notion: Protecting the Breadwinner's Income

While jobs may be safer in 2014, accidents, injuries, and illnesses that can impact your ability to work still happen. Most, in fact, do not happen on the jobsite or place of employment. Did you know that a 2011 study revealed that more than 95 percent of the long-term disability claims on file were not work related?

The Knights have always sought to protect members' families from the "loss" of a breadwinner. I'm sure you know all about Father McGivney's vision for our first, insurance program. But you may not know that Father McGivney also wanted to find a way to help members who couldn't work because of an illness. After all, the "loss" of the breadwinner does not have to mean that person's death; it can also mean the loss of the breadwinner's income.

Consider that loss for a moment. How would your family fare if a source of income suddenly stopped? Could a dual-income family manage on one income stream? What about young families with a working father and a mother who cares for the children? What if his income halted due to an accident or illness?

I've heard some people say they have coverage at work, but too many aren't sure what this coverage entails, how much income it would provide or for how long. Having this protection counts for something, certainly, but it isn't "yours"; it's provided by the company for which you work at their discretion. It could be eliminated tomorrow.

That's where a personally-owned disability income insurance product, like Income Armor, comes into play. It can offer valuable income replacement in the event of an injury or illness.. If you have a job, you must know about this coverage.

The ladies are busy getting ready for their Corned Beef and Cabbage/ Ruben Sandwich dinner, March 9th at the hall.  The price is $10.00 per person. Happy Hour starts at 5:00 p.m. with Dinner at 6:00 p.m.  We hope to see you all there.

Mark your calendars for April 13th and plan to attend our Knight's Children's Easter party.  The party is from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the hall. Children from infant to 12 years old are invited. Please call Sheila Van Keirsbilck at 734-2382 or send an email to sheila_vank@yahoo.com to RSVP with your name and the child's age and sex.  There will be crafts, games, and a visit from the Easter Bunny as he hops along with the children at the Easter Egg hunt.    We would like the RSVP's by April 10th, so we know how many eggs, goody bags and gifts we need to buy.   Come and enjoy a fun afternoon.

We still have a few cookbooks for sale.  The price is $15.00 each. They are very nice and have plenty of delicious recipes. Call Kathy Gaston if you would like one.

Sheila Van Keirsbilck

Ladies Aux. President