Knights of Columbus
Orange County Chapter Happenings
November, 2014
My Brothers,
I’m excited for our Church, our Country, and our Order. In Unity we are charging forward in our support of the Intellectually Disabled through our annual drive and participation in Special Olympics. We are showing our support for our Veterans. In support of our Youth we have completed our Soccer Challenge as we gear up for the Annual Basketball Free Throw Championships. We will profess our belief that all life is sacred as we march in the One Life LA event and we are making preparations for one of Orange County’s most important Chapter events of the year, Clergy Night.
Many Councils held their initial annual ID drive fund raiser in October. In addition to collecting donations in front of stores, new and innovative methods, including Church Drives, letter writing to corporate sponsors, and special events, are being conducted as updated ways to support our Intellectually Disabled of the local community. Money has begun to flow into the Columbian Foundation and we are off to a good start to meet our goals, supporting Camp Recreation and Special Olympics.
Knights from nine Orange County Councils served 1700 lunches to Special Olympics athletes at the Orange County Regional Games on October 25th and at their Bowling Tournament on November 1. Our next and even bigger effort will be during the Southern California Fall games that will be held at Fountain Valley Sports Park on December 13 and 14. PCP and State Chairman Steve Bolton has been our coordinator and Master Chef for these events. Councils that are interested in serving at this incredible event should take a look at the attached flyer and contact Brother Steve to volunteer.
Hats off to District Deputies Abraham James and Jim Brucken and our State Soccer Challenge Chairman Don (call me Santa) Ehrman. Ten competitors from Orange County Chapter went on to the Southern Regional games. Nicholas Hinkee, age 10 from Our Lady Queen of Angels Council 15719 and 14 year old Mirian Lopez from Fr. J.J. Juba Council 4922 brought home 1st Place Trophies. Congratulations to all who participated and we hope to grow this competition next year. Brother Don will get a few weeks off to catch his breath and then gear up for the Basketball Freethrow Championship. Council Chairmen should be preparing now by ordering the Free Throw Championship Kit. Council competitions should be scheduled for January. The State Championship will be held on March 21st in Fresno. See the State Program Book on page 66 for details.
Wheelchair Sundays have taken place in several Parishes in Orange County over the past month, each achieving outstanding results thanks to the generosity of our Catholic Community. A sea container of 110 wheelchairs has arrived at San Pedro and will be unloaded this week. Thanks to VP Jack Cleary for spearheading this effort and to all of the Councils and Parishes who have made this possible. Jack spent Veteran’s Day at the Orange County Fairgrounds explaining who we are and how we are supporting Disabled Veterans through our Wheelchair Program. Special Thanks to FDD Chris Perry who wore his dress AF uniform at our booth and attracted a great crowd that otherwise may not have noticed that the Knights of Columbus are here for our Veterans.
Supreme Membership Consultant Patrick Maloney will be presenting training for all Council Officers on Friday, December 19th. The San Gabriel Valley Chapter is hosting this training at the Fr. McGuire Hall and Chapter President Mark Padilla has graciously invited our Chapter to join them. Available topics have been sent to all Grand Knights and they have been asked to provide feedback on those subjects that interest their Councils. More information will be presented at the December 4th Chapter meeting.
“One Life LA” is a Los Angeles Archdiocesan event that will take place in downtown LA on January 17th. Orange Diocese will participate in this inaugural annual event and as a ministry of our Diocese, the OC Knights of Columbus will be there showing our support of Life in all its stages. We are now working to determine our role and more will be announced at our last Chapter meeting of this year on December 4th. For more information on the March itself, go to http://onelifela.org.
Clergy Night preparations are underway. The celebration will take place on Friday, January 23. Jubilee Council 4938 will again host this event at St. Joachim’s Parish in Costa Mesa. All of our Bishops and Abbot Eugene of St. Michael’s Abbey have been invited. We hope that Councils will invite their clergy as soon as possible so they can reserve a place on their busy calendars. Information on reservations is on the attached flyer. Please let us know how many from your Council/Parish will attend as soon as possible. Clergy Night has often been a sell out in past years.
My Brothers, I ask each of you to remember William Vann, a Knight of Columbus and the father of our Bishop, Kevin Vann, in your personal and family prayers. Brother William joined our Lord on November 13th in Springfield, Illinois.
Finally, as a reminder, we combine the November and December Chapter meeting. This year it will be held on Thursday, December 4th, at St. Joachim’s. Jubilee Council will serve their light dinner beginning around 6:30 and the meeting will begin at 7:30.
On behalf of the Officers of Orange County Chapter and myself, I wish each of you a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. May you enjoy the comfort and love of your families and may we all give thanks to our Creator for the magnificent life that He gives each of us. May God Bless each of you and your families.
Yours in service,
Jack Haney
President, Orange County Chapter
Fr. McGivney, Pray for Us!