Knightly News & Views December 2015
Knights of Columbus Father Henry Kemper Council 6409, Kerrville, Texas
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My Brother Knights,
As I considered my blessings last week, I realized, as I'm sure you also did, that my biggest blessing is my wife. Father McGivney founded our order to strengthen our families and the bond with our spouse is what holds our families together and provides the example of Christian family life for our children. I'm also thankful for my brother Knights who take the lead in our various activities, giving strength to our council. I'm thankful too for those brother Knights who, although they like to stay in the background, step forward to assist in our activities, often without being asked. And I'm very thankful for an active chaplain and I encourage you to read his words in this newsletter. Our second principle, unity, applies to both our domestic families and our council family. Keep it up guys.
I'm nearing the halfway mark of my first year as Grand Knight and have had both high points and low points. I'm serious about doing everything I can to make this a better council and if you have any ideas or see anything I'm not doing or doing wrong, I want to hear from you. My feelings aren't easily hurt because I had plenty of years in the military so step up. Let's make this second half memorable.
Vivat Jesus,
GK Roger Holt
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With the holiday season there are organizations renting Monsignor Walsh (KofC) hall. If you have holiday party plans, call early. Contact Juan Roman at 830-370-1747 for more information, prices and reservations.
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The Chaplain's Corral
Happy New Year!!! Starting the weekend after Thanksgiving, we may notice that something is different in our church. The green has been replaced by purple and a definite feeling of “something is coming” has settled in. The new liturgical year begins every year on the first week of Advent, therefore, Happy New Year!!! In all seriousness though, this time of Advent could often be referred to as the “forgotten” season. Maybe this is because we are exhausted from Halloween, Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales when it arrives, or maybe it is because since the door shut and Trick-or-Treaters hung up their costumes, Christmas music has been playing and the decking of the halls has begun. For us as Catholics though, this season of Advent falls at a time when we truly need to slow down, to catch our breath and realize just what is going on in our relationship with God. We are called to join the Holy Family in their prayerful anticipation of the birth of the Christ. Think back to the time of your first child’s birth. What kinds of feelings were you having? Joy? Excitement? Wonder? Awe? Fear? What kinds of feelings do we have at the coming of the Lord? Do we still have the wonder and excitement that a young child has or have we become so business oriented that we actually miss all the prep and Christmas itself because we allow ourselves to become too busy? Let us call to mind what other season we use the color purple. It makes its appearance in Lent, which actually comes early this year. It too, is a time to prepare and anticipate. Usually during Lent, we are called to fast and to pray to prepare for Holy Week. But there is not any such suggestion for Advent. Maybe, if you are planning on giving up something for Lent to prepare yourself, you can take up something for Advent to prepare for the birth of Christ. We have many possibilities in our church, from simply arriving to Mass early enough to pray the rosary, to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Fridays and Perpetual Adoration. In fact, there will be a special insert into our bulletins at the beginning of Advent that will list many if not all of the opportunities that we have available. Maybe for the upcoming season of Christmas, we should put together a “spiritual” gift to offer our Lord, using the time of Advent to put it together and arrange it just right. Let us begin to reclaim this “lost” season. Maybe through our reclaiming of Advent, we can come to truly understand the season of Christmas. Father Scott
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Calendar:
Dec. 2: Light Up for Christ for Advent and Covered Dish Social. 7pm
Dec. 6: 4th Degree Christmas Party. 1pm social hour, 2pm Dinner
Dec. 9: Knights sponsor Bingo at VA center at 2pm. Please arrive early. Information? Call Frank Bertagnolli (896-6976).
Dec. 16: Gun and Jewelry Raffle Drawing at Officer Meeting 7:00 pm. Open to all members.
Dec. 25: A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL
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Keep Christ in Christmas magnets in English or Spanish are available at council meetings and select businesses. Call John Vece at 896-0752 for more information.
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Good of the Order
Please continue to pray for the healing power and comfort of the Holy Spirit
for our loved ones: Ed Nemec, Don Kelly, Roger Holt, Karen Klein, Butch Connally, Tom Miller, Maria Galvan, Lula Santa Maria, Bea Hardey, Morgan Kelly, Joe Marino, Sr., Joe Penaloza, Bill Coplen, Carl Stakes, Rudy Garcia, Mel & Joanne Heck, Tom Fowler, Bill Treybig, Frank Moniz, Dan Montes, Stephanie Popeck, and Elaine Jackson.
Be sure to let us know of any brothers or members of their families to be remembered in our prayers.
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Council 6409 website
http://kofcknights.org/CouncilSite/index.asp?CNO=6409
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VA Hospital Bingo
Brother Knights,
K of C bingo on November 11 was sponsored by the Fourth Degree Knights from Assembly #2465 made up of Knights from Kerrville, Bandera and Fredericksburg. A SPECIAL thanks to the Brothers that showed up to help: Steve Erickson, Saul Cantu, Melvin Jones, Karl Thomas Miller, and his Lovely Wife Delores and Sir Knight Donnie Reed. Brother Steve Erickson led us in Prayer and did an outstanding job. It was good to have Brother Saul back with us. Brother Reed is a Fourth Degree Knight from Bandera that came down to help. He had been a resident at the Hospital for two years. Thanks for your special effort Donnie.
That evening when I got back home I got a call from Brother Steve, He told me " THAT WAS THE BEST VETERANS DAY I HAVE SPENT IN A LONG TIME". That speaks well for this Ministry. Brother Steve you MADE my day with the call and along with the other Brothers that helped
you all made Veterans Day very special for the 24 residents that showed up for the event, making their day a bit brighter. I'm grateful to all of you!!!!!!!
And thanks to the Brothers that called ahead of time saying they could not make it. We also had help from the Greystone students from Schreiner University. They are always a joy to work with and the patients love them.
Our next K of C sponsored bingo is on December 9th. I hope all of you and your Families had a Blessed , Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for your consideration for our vets and God Bless,
Brother Frank Bertagnolli (896-6796)
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Council Directory
Chaplain Fr. Scott Janysek 257-5961
Grand Knight Roger Holt 634-7074
Deputy G.K. Fernando Gutierrez 238-3712
Chancellor Jeff Sirianni 367-3508
Recorder Gino Delgadillo 377-2172
Advocate Ray Ochs 257-0652
Treasurer Mike Douville 370-2441
Financial Secretary Juan Limon 257-0374
Warden Juan Roman 370-1747
Outside Guard Miguel Limon 896-3841
Inside Guard Rolando Maldonado 210-643-8165
Trustee Don Kelly 257-9293
Trustee Steve Erickson 792-3270
Trustee Scott Chapman 739-8568
Lecturer Scott Chapman 739-8568
Editor John Vece 896-0752
District Deputy Joseph Arrieta 210-347-8432
Insurance Agent Roger Pedroza 210-215-7955
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December Birthdays
Robert Sarna #80 (3d), David Wahrmund (8th), Edward Parma (9th),
Donald Johnson (10th), Eloy Garza (12th), Dr. Michael Rensch (13th), John Aceti #85 (15th), Anthony Straube (15th), John Aleman (17th), Salbador Rangel (17th), Jose Ayala (24th), Jimmy Gonzales (26th), Walter Wahrmund #90 (26th), Juan Limon (27th), George House (30th),
Shane Jones (31st)