Grand Knight’s Blog February, 2024
Grand Knight’s Blog
February, 2024
Next Meeting
Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Snow Day! Meeting by Zoom
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8564882108?pwd=QXhLQ0RhK3Npd0psVDJMUjZNRnNFUT09&omn=88519784279
If asked for a passcode, it is NCC1707.
There will be a prize for anyone who knows the relevance of that passcode.
Activities and News Since Last Meeting
· March for Life
Fr. Steven lead students from I.C. and another parish on the South Shore to Washington D.C. for the March for Life on January 19, 2024. Along the way, they stopped at religious sites and had a Mass. Council #81 contributed over $2,000 to defray costs of transportation, lodging, and meals, directly reducing the cost per student. Over $1,000 was raised on our webpage and $1,000 came from the Council treasury. We received a very gracious thank you from Fr. Steven. Special thanks to Mike Wells who also helped Fr. Steven negotiate reduced rates for the busses, hotels and restaurants.
· State Council Meeting in Marlboro!
Over 50 members attended the regional State Council meeting at St. Matthias on June 29th. Much business was discussed, and local DD’s and Grand Knights were brought up to speed on membership, insurance, programming, etc. 14 members of Council #81 attended, and thanks go out to Dale Dolesh and Mike Tremblay for setting up coffee, etc. Thank also to St. Matthias for the use of the hall.
State Warden Mike Gibson calls the State Council to order while State Deputy Tom Buler looks on
Keeping Christ in Christmas Poster Contest
Last month we showed you the participants at St. Michael’s, and this month here are the winners at I.C.:
Thanks to Mike Wells for spearheading this event, and brother knight Steve Hanley and Celia Melo the religious ed directors at I.C.
· Super Bowl Pool
Never mind Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce, Council #81 raised $1,400 from our Super Bowl Square pool. Congratulations to April Drummey, Neil Cronin, Mike Bleecker (second year in a row), Cheryl Bowman, Kathleen Phillips and Tom McInerny who won. Thanks to all who participated. This year the $10 pool sold out on Thursday, and the $25 pool lagged, as usual, until Sunday but was sold out 3 hours before game time, a new record for us.
Programs and Upcoming Events
· Rides at St. Mike’s
St. Michael’s is hosting some speaker events in February and has asked for some help form Council #81 to drive folks who are unable to and from. Watch for a notice and a sign up sheet on the website if you can help out. Email the Grand Knight if you can help.
· Raffle
The Archdiocese of Boston Chapter is hosting a $5,000 50-50 raffle, if you are interested here’s the QR code to participate.
· Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference
This event is on March 16th. This even grows every year, and this year it’s in the DCU Center and likely to be a huge event. You can see more details and register and buy tickets online here: https://catholicmenworc.com/ Tickets are $50 (includes lunch) if you register by March 4th, $60 thereafter. Our good friend S.K. Herman Millett from Westborough is on the organizing committee each year, and this event has a strong KofC presence. If you’ve never been, it is an extraordinary experience. Click here for a preview of the speakers and program: https://www.catholicmenworc.com/speakers The event wraps up with a Mass with Bishop McManus. Rich Kearns is likely attending and looking for some buddies to carpool with.
· Blue Mass
We are on for Sunday, May 5th at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. More news to come.
Email the Grand Knight if you want to help out.
Other News and Meeting Agenda Items
· Chaplain
Sadly, we learned Fr. John Carmichael was suddenly hijacked and reassigned to a parish with an urgent need. So we are still soliciting an official Chaplain, who must be a priest according to Supreme Bylaws. It’s not a big responsibility, especially since we usually have Deacon Chuck and perhaps S.T.B.D. (Soon to be Deacon) Rich on hand for most meetings.
· 12 months of free membership
Tell any of your friends or neighbors interested in joining, use the QR code below to join online and use the promo code “BlessedMcGivney” for 12 months of free membership.
· Prayers / Intentions:
Please keep the Fallon family in your prayers, Claire us undergoing serious cancer treatment and Craig is not out of the woods yet.
· Other business?
If you have an item to add to the next meeting agenda, please let me know.
News?
If you have any news to report, email GrandKnight@kofcmarlboro.org.
If you have news that should go in the monthly Grand Knight’s Blog, just email GrandKnight@kofcmarlboro.org or Webmaster@ofcmarlboro.org and put “BLOG” in the subject line.
See you all tonight.
Vivat Jesus.
Brendan Butler
Grand Knight