Beaming with pride and a little shock is Jim Ferris. Jim was selected as the February Assembly Knight of the Month. Congratulations, Jim!
Knight of the Month – Jim Ferris
02 Monday Mar 2020
Posted in Assembly News
Category Archives: Assembly News
The Golden Plume Newsletter
03 Monday Feb 2020
Posted in Assembly News
News of the Assembly and all North Carolina Assemblies are found on-line at the kofcnc.org website under the “4th Degree” link. We highly recommend you take a look at the January 2020 edition and archived editions. There are lots of informative stories there.
This month’s edition has information on honor guard attire. We get questions about use of the old regalia. Sorry, but it is no longer authorized. Read the story for details.
One brother knight sent a note to the our blogmaster about regalia for a funeral. He was concerned that some Sir Knights might not have the new regalia and would not be able to honor the deceased. The answer is also provided in the regalia article, but in summary, if you do not have the 4th Degree Regalia (there is only one now, the new uniform, no exceptions), a Sir Knight should wear a dark suit or blazer to the funeral. The important thing for us is to ensure that we recognize the family’s loss and participate in the wake or funeral. Learn more
Assembly Receives Civic Award
29 Wednesday Jan 2020
Posted in Assembly News
District Master Jack Murray visited our Assembly on January 22nd to present us with the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Civic Award. Bill Jackson received the award and beamed with pride as he accepted the award on behalf of all Sir Knights of the Assembly.
“The Civic Award is presented annually as a tribute to the spirit of patriotism and national pride exemplified in the patriotic activities conducted by Fourth Degree Assemblies. Assemblies conducting a minimum of four (4) different patriotic programs during the fraternal year are eligible for the Supreme council Civic Award.”
Jerry Pilarski Honored
29 Wednesday Jan 2020
Posted in Assembly News
Jerry Pilarski has been a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, a charter member of both Council 10910 and Divine Mercy Assembly, 3005.
This month he was honored by Faithful Navigator Bill Jackson, during District Master Jack Murray’s visit, with a Lifetime Membership with the Fourth Degree.
We salute Jerry. He has served our council and Assembly with tenacity, dedication, and drive. Never for self, but for our church community.
New Regalia Now Available
13 Friday Dec 2019
Posted in Assembly News
Looking to look sharp with the new uniform? Not able to wear the century-old old uniform? No problem.
We understand that the cost of this Italian-made suit is now $100 lower than the original shipments. We can’t guarantee the price, but you can learn more by visiting the uniform store.
Visit the Knights of Columbus Uniform store. Just click here
“… Now that’s a spicy mea’ta ball!”
13 Friday Dec 2019
Posted in Assembly News, Events
It’s time for our Second Annual Assembly Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. It’s just like grandma made in the old country (Jersey, New York, and Boston?) Maybe that is a little stretch, but is is a fine dinner and we are going to have a hundred or more happy mother’s taking a night off to dine with us.
This dinner will be held from 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm on January 24th in the Friends and Family Hall. You can also stop in and takeout dinner for your home or sports event tailgate.
The dinner is co-sponsored between Assembly 3005, Council 10910, and the St. Michael the Defender Ministry. Your attendance will benefit all.
Look for advance ticket sales. Don’t like to attend but want to support our programs…? We’ll even sell you some tickets and you can save them as a souvenir or let us put your ticket in the hands of someone who can’t afford a night out.
Fun time… The picture above is a screenshot from a very popular Alka-Seltzer commercial from about 50 years ago. Click on it for a “hoot” from our youth and early “in living color” television.
“Copy Boy!”
05 Thursday Dec 2019
Posted in Assembly News
Writers and reporters filled newsrooms in every major city. Some had two, three or more newspapers. Some had multiple editions to fill. This was before news became 10-second soundbites of “information.” I think of that type of reporting as delivering the bones and not the meat.
Lots of stories are all around us. This Royal is from Flat Rock, NC.
The news was run from department to department, floor to floor, and back again. Here is a good explanation from the Herald Sun (Australia). “Reporters typed their stories on slips of butcher’s paper…then a copy boy ran the story into the neighbouring subs’ [sub-editor‘s] room, hence the cry of ‘copy’. Each slip of the story had about six carbon copies…stapled together and it was the job of the copy boy – or girl – to separate the original and run it to the subs, and then separate the carbons for distribution.”
Writers are made, not born. They learn from watching others and listening a lot. They get exposed to news around them and their library of knowledge steadily grows. There is a little bit of a reporter in all of us. They call us “storytellers.”
Assembly news, Council news and more happens everyday. Someone is sick, someone succeeds, someone is recognized, or someone has a project and needs help. Your Divine Mercy Assembly News and Newsletter is our website.
You, too, can tell your stories to others and publish them on the Council or Assembly website. I know you have the skill, I’ve heard many of you share your stories. Did you know that I can even teach you how to tell your story to your computer? Not only that, you can watch it become a document on your screen. Then, just save the file and send it in to the Copy Desk. What do you think? You can do it.
Put yourself in this picture. Get in front of the story. Take a few pictures on your smart phone. There is a Clark Kent in all of us. You’ll be proud of your work and you will create excitement in the Knights of Columbus that will benefit the local Council and our Order.
Smith-Corona SCM Secretarial
“I’m Gonna Build Me a Chapel…”
05 Thursday Dec 2019
Posted in Assembly News, Our member's stories
For those who love classic movies with heart, a message, and a memorable story… Do you remember Lillies of the Field with Sidney Poitier and Homer Smith saying… “I’m gonna build me a chapel…?” Sidney Poitier won an Oscar for this 1963 performance.
Meanwhile, up in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Antonio Guerrieri and his crew had been working on the Eden Hill Chapel of the Marian Fathers since 1950. Antonio was a master carver and furniture builder who had recent experience in restoring area churches when the Marian Fathers asked him to build them a chapel. Antonio reminded himself that “he had been raised and trained in a culture which taught that before a man died, he had to do something great for God.” A gift of thanksgiving?
Stanley Socha
Antonio was joined by his apprentice, Stanley Olender. Later Stanley Socha, a wood carver, and masons joined the team. They were going to build a chapel, the Chapel at Eden Hill.
The chapel took many years to complete and was finally finished. Construction started in 1950 and finished in 1960. A modest chapel of stucco in design was destined to be The Divine Mercy Chapel and a beautiful stone chapel and a national shrine–The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. at Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Stanley Socha left New England around 1995 and worked with building homes for the Habitat for Humanity. He moved to Chapel Hill to be closer to his daughter, Susanne Socha Jackson. That’s where the story comes full circle where the Chapel at Eden Hill becomes the Chapel of Divine Mercy and shortly thereafter we charter Divine Mercy Assembly 3005.
When our new church was dedicated about ten years ago, Stanley Socha, was once again challenged with creating something for it. The altar candle stands were his work. Stanley was recognized in a St. Thomas More Church stewardship profile in April 2012.
Our Faithful Navigator, Bill Jackson, is very proud to have shared in the life of his father-in-law through Susanne. We are all honored to have Stanley with us, too. His Divine Mercy Legacy–his gift of greatness to God–lives on with us at St. Thomas More Church.
Learn more about the building of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Click here
“Hey Lover Boy…”
05 Thursday Dec 2019
Posted in Assembly News, Our member's stories
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Today Sir Knight Gene Drogos is awaiting the arrival of his lovely wife. He is in a rehabilitation center and is eager to return home, but can’t.
Every day he is joined by Louise Drogos and she spends the day with him. Their love is a true Carolina Story that continues to this day…Louise’s 98th Birthday.
Here’s a link to a story about “A first kiss remembered.”
“On a cold November night in 1943, Eugene “Gene” Drogos and Evelyn “Louise” Hux danced to big band music on a blind date. They had no idea it would be their first date of many. … ”
Gene Drogos is a Council 10910 and Assembly 3005 Charter Member.
It Takes a Knight….
05 Thursday Dec 2019
Posted in Assembly News, Our member's stories
Did you every wonder what happens in the background to makes things happen in the Council and Assembly? This writer has been working with lots and lots of knights since our Council was formed in the late 1990’s. I take pictures and keep an ear alert for a story to share. This is one of those stories–The Legacy of Jerry Pilarski.
Gene Keeling and Jerry Pilarski
We join the Fourth Degree to show our patriotism, but we gain camaraderie and fellowship. We bond together as brothers. How do we do that? We gather to have fun and help each other.
One example is Sir Knight Jerry Pilarski. There is no task that he would not take on. The word “can’t” does not seem to be in his vocabulary. This writer can remember many a meeting where Jerry would stand up and say, “…. then I’ll get it done.”
I think it has something to do with his airborne and army medic training. You can’t be a paratrooper with doubt on your mind. You are jumping out of planes that were made by the low bidder, as was your parachute. You are responding to a “Go!”-light and command that will take you into flight out of your control. You are in God’s hands as the wind carries you out and gently guides you to the ground. Where you land is often not as planned.
And, I can not think of any instance where a combat medic looked out and down and then toward the trusting face of a helpless warrior and said, “…. I can’t ….”
“Where there is life, there is hope.” Jerry is forever young at 92!
Jerry has been our council’s pig cooker, Lamb champion, parish greeter, friend, pancake cooker, fish monger, and so much more. He is helpful, caring, and consistent. Every year for over 50 years he has gathered with family and friends to celebrate the New Year with a family-style pig picking. Everyone brings a covered dish or a dessert. Jerry and his family does the rest. Yes, that’s right, Jerry has been welcoming brother knights, friends, and family to a New Year’s Day pig pickin’ for a long, long time.
I remember well more than 25 years ago. I was warming my favorite chair when the telephone rang. “Hey, Lee! It’s Jerry. Where in the …. are you? We are going to be eating soon and you ain’t here.” It was my first invitation and Jerry took invites real seriously. I gathered my family and we headed to the 4H Cattle Barn. The Barn was packed and the parking lot was full. We were treated as family at a family reunion. In fact, it may have been the day that Jerry asked me to say grace the first time. He introduced me as, “Preacher Lee.” He still does. We have not missed an event since–we are family.
Why not join Jerry this year? Turn off your television, put up your phone. There is more to do than drink beer, eat chips and watch a game. You can see the highlights later. Head to Orange Grove Church Road and Jerry’s New Year’s Day pig picking. All Knights have a standing invitation. Join other knights to share God’s blessings and a plate of your family favorite dish. Learn more and get directions.