Category Archives: Knights of Columbus

STM Students Honor Veterans – Nov 12th

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Knights of Columbus, Patriotic Events, Veterans Day

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November 12th – St. Thomas More School.  St. Thomas More School has invited Armed Forces personnel and veterans to participate in and be honored at a ceremony at the school on Tuesday, November 12th (the day after Veterans’ Day).  This is a very big event and, as you can see from these photos from 2012, everyone participates.  It is a fun event that will create a few tears as the youngest students hoist Old Glory and salutes our flag.

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The students welcome veterans, servicemen, servicewomen, active duty personnel, current and former National Guard personnel, etc.  Those willing to participate would need to arrive at the school between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. on the 12th.  They plan a brief ceremony indoors followed by a flag raising ceremony outside (weather permitting), then coffee and light refreshments.  It should be over by 8:30 a.m., although a few teachers may be requesting some participants to visit their classrooms.

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As members of the Patriotic Degree, all Sir Knights are asked to participate and support this important school event.

The school would appreciate it if you would share this invitation with your friends and neighbors who are veterans and any one else that you think might be interested and willing to participate.  Those willing to participate should please email the program coordinator at  bedford2@mindspring.com.

Participants should please send  their name and a brief summary of their military service.  The coordinator needs that information by noon on Friday, November 8th, so that he can forward it to the school.  They need an accurate count to make proper arrangements for the morning activities.

 

Reverend Monsignor Tim O’Connor – A great loss

10 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by in Assembly News, Knights of Columbus

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ImageThe Reverend Monsignor John F. (Tim) O’Connor, Pastor of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish in Raleigh, died just before midnight last night at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC.  The funeral arrangements for Monsignor O’Connor will be conveyed to you upon completion.  Kindly include among your intentions today, prayers for the repose of the soul of Monsignor O’Connor, as well as a remembrance of his mother, Mrs. Jean O’Connor, his three brothers, family members and all those who mourn his death.

Monsignor O’Connor served as a pastor of St. Thomas More Chuirch for  several years.

District Master Reports

04 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Chapel Hill Knights of Columbus Assembly, Knights of Columbus

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Our District Master, David Onofrio, publishes a periodic newsletter on the Fourth Degree.  It is on line now and can be viewed at the state website.  Learn more

Take a look at the patriotic degree’s news.  You should also look around the state website.  Its address is simply www.kofcnc.org.

You will find information on a pilgrimage to Italy in October and how you can help your council leaders get the opportunity to go with their wives at no cost!

Learn about Operation LAMB and the many other programs of our state.  You can look up forms, rules, procedures, processes, activities, incentives and much more.  Most of all, you can strengthen your knowledge of our order.  Knowledge will help you add more to the council.  You will know about possible programs or projects that can assist our council and church.  Take a look.  Learn more

Sharing the Vision

04 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Caldwell NC July 4th Parade, Chapel Hill Knights of Columbus Assembly, Exemplification, Heroes Homecoming, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, Programs

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The Knights of the Fourth Degree are all members of a local council.  Their assembly is not senior to the council, but an adjunct to the council.  An assembly promotes all things patriotic in the council, church, and community.  We are the Patriotic Degree of our Order.  Learn more

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Knights at Holy Cross Church Mass

This is our mission and it has been our mission for over a hundred years.  We are “Religiously Devoted, Patriotically Proud.”

Our assemblies are in every state of the union and overseas in areas where our military serve or have served.

Assembly members are often also members of other patriotic and fraternal military service groups. Examples are: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled Veterans of America, American Legion, Fleet Reserve and others.  They know the importance of good citizenship, service to our country, and demonstration of our patriotism as Catholic Gentlemen.  

This past year has been a busy one for many of them.  Here are some of their accomplishments:

  • Raised well over $4,500 on Veterans Day 2012 for hospitalized amputees at Camp Lejeune and Ft. Bragg..
  • Visited and entertained hospitalized veterans in hospice and pallative care at the Durham VA Medical Center.
  • Worked with UNC Chapel Hill to collect food for homeless veterans.
  • Provided information to veterans and their families on VA medical care.
  • Provided assistance to veterans with VA disability claims.
  • Provided funeral honors for deceased knights and area priests.
  • Provide honor guards to St. Thomas More Church, as requested.
  • Serve as Honor Guard for Bishop Burbridge’s ceremonials
  • Raised thousands of dollars passing out VFW Buddy Poppies to assist hospitalized veterans and fund in-hospital social events; restore a Carrboro veteran’s home and replace his roof, and assisted returning veterans in need.
  • Assisted an injured and convalescing 92 year-old veteran with home repair needs and arranged for no-cost metal stairwell railings for his home exterior walkways.
  • Led community parades in Rougemont, Timberlake, and Providence, North Carolina.
  • Led the Caldwell, NC, July 4th Parade in full regalia for the last seven years.
  • Raised funds for and obtained the Baptist Health Ministry mobile health and dental care centers for our local Spanish-speaking families.
  • Personally funded programs, events, and services to ensure those in need were served.
  • Promoted Good Citizenship in our Catholic and community schools.
  • Provided household goods, food, services and transportation to brother knights and members of our church and community in need.
  • Provided pig picking equipment, service, and personal time for church events, picnics, and fundraising.
  • Served on church committees and led elements of our new church building campaigns, including design, construction and dedication.
  • Served as leaders in local civic, professional, and military service organizations.
  • Cleaned Highways in Orange County

This list goes on, and on, and on.  In fact, their humility is such that many of their deeds go unrecorded.  What they do is not about them.  It has to do with service to others.

Eighty plus men form our Divine Mercy Assembly.  They are the leaders in our church.  All will be life-long members of our Order.  They are the very heart of the Knights of Columbus.

There are 20 million new Catholics in America.  I would like to think that our Knights of the Fourth Degree motivated quite a few converts through their selfless acts of faith.

How about you?   Why not consider joining these men?  There is no better expression of service than to be a role model for your children and family.  We’ll give you the opportunity to do great things for others.

For information, contact Joe Acciarito our Faithful Navigator.  Email Joe

Holy Cross Celebrates African Culture and Heritage

03 Sunday Oct 2010

Posted by in Holy Cross Durham NC, Knights of Columbus

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Holy Cross was special today.  It was celebrating the “richness and diversity of our African culture and heritage.”    This is an annual event that the assembly strongly supports.  Eleven sir knights joined together to provide an honor guard for the parish priest, Reverend Raymond J. Donaldson, S.J., and celebrant, Reverend Joseph Orji.

The kids were wide-eyed and curious as they watched the “pirates” with caps and swords. Ah, the world through the eyes of a child.  The knights knights followed the church choir in the procession.  The pride reflected in the faces of the congregation made this writer stand a little straighter and taller.

At the end of the mass, a child stopped by the knights with this mother.  He had written a special thank you.  It read, “Dear Kights (sic), Thank you for helping this church be the best church of all time.  Love Steven Watts.”

Steven, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  It was our honor to serve you, your family, and your church.

This is an event that deserves our support.  Holy Cross church is always alive with color, music, wonderful people, and The Holy Spirit.  Today, many wore attire modeled after the dress of Africa.  Prayers were said in English, Yoruba and Igbo (Nigeria), Krio (Siera Leon), Ga and Ewe (Ghana), and French.  All reflected the roots of the Durham African-American community.

Mark your calendars for next year, as this is an annual event.

Recognizing Veterans

29 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Knights of Columbus, Veterans Day

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The Assembly is going to recognize the veterans of our respective churches this year for Veterans Day.  We will do something similar for deceased veterans on Memorial Day.

The project includes gathering pictures of our veterans in uniform, at work or at play.  Collected pictures will then been placed on one or more collages for display the week of Veterans Day.  A separate display will include our parish men and women who are serving now.

Here is how you can help.

  1. If you are a veteran, go through your yellowed photos and find one you would like to display.  Smaller 4×6 photos are better than large ones.  But, we can digitize larger shots and reduce them.
  2. Write your name, rank and service on the back.  Include the approximate date of the photo.  Include your dates of service.
  3. Give your photo to Joe Acciarito (10910), Jim Storey (3390), Don Williams (13812), or Ron Patterson (3390).

We will copy your photo and return it.

Our next step is to put announcements in our respective church bulletins.  We want to include all veterans in our parishes.  You can speed up the process by talking to your friends who are veterans.  Be sure to include the families of our service men and women overseas or on duty now in the states.


A special thanks to Don Williams who came up with this idea as one of many ways we can recognize those who have served and serve now on Veterans Day.  After all, we are the patriotic degree.  This is our mission.