Knights of Columbus Council 10354
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· · Council 10354 Knights Derrin Gaudet, Tommy Townes, and Alvaro Ezquerra were among more than 60 Second Degree candidates who made their Third Degree at Our Lady of the Valley on January 22, 2012. Knight Eric Townsend had to cancel at the last minute due to a family emergency. Also attending the Degree were Knights Ken Friedrich, Jose, Sosa, Tom Townes, Doug Homman, and Knight of Columbus Insurance Field Agent John Imhof.
For some of the witnessing Knights, today’s “performance” was their first experience with the new changes that have been made in the Third Degree Exemplification.
· Knights and seminarians Jim Handerhan and Grant Mealer were two among an estimated 100, 000 who demonstrated against Roe v. Wade in Washington D.C. on January 23, 2012. The men also attended the pro-life Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on January 22, 2012. The event was extremely well-attended by priests, seminarians, and lay alike to the point that it took 45 minutes for just the seminarians to process into the church. TV coverage was skillfully conducted by EWTN and even Fox News Channel gave it a headline spot. Numerous Knights of Columbus “Defend Life” posters dotted the crowd and made it perfectly clear what stance the Order takes concerning life in all its stages and conditions.
· A big job turned out to be bigger yet. The repairs to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church’s air handler carried over from 2011 to 2012. On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Knights Paul Boike and Ken Friedrich replaced a reversing valve in the system. They then gassed up the unit and everything was then up and running: Another job well done and a job finally completed!
· The huge smoker was built and functional in 2011. However, there is no better way to identify potential improvements and enhancements than through use. Such alterations were built and installed on the “yellow submarine” by Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Boike on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. The men fashioned baffles and baffle stands in the bottom of the cooker to protect the meat from direct flames and direct heat. The meat trays were then fitted with retractable handles that run the greater part of the length of the trays. Construction on the smoker was thus timed to coincide with the upcoming Super Bowl Weekend butt fundraiser.
· Knight Tim Vaughn and his wife, Penny, are passionate about the education and spiritual growth of themselves and their fellow parishioners and friends. They have been actively involved in no-charge study groups as well as in adult retreat weekends. Therefore, one project that they have taken upon themselves is the raising of money to offset the cost of the adult retreat, scheduled for the weekend of February 10-12, 2012. Their goal is that everyone who wants to attend can afford to attend. Two recent fundraisers have been successful include a “free” soup and sandwich luncheon that they hosted at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall on January, 15, 2012. The food was prepared by the ladies of the Parish, then donated and offered free-of-charge. Donations amounted to almost $500!
The Vaughns also solicited donations in the form of a 50:50 Super Bowl football pool for weeks preceding the big game. They made multiple trips to St. Henry and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Churches following the Masses. Squares on the football board “sold” for $10 and offered participants a chance to win $100/quarter. St. Elizabeth benefited with half of the total proceeds and any blank squares winners. The project thus netted $600 for their efforts. The ultimate goal is to reduce the cost of the weekend retreat at St. Bernard Abbey to merely $50/person.
· One hundred and twenty Boston butts are a record number of butts smoked in the history of Council 10354. The event was the Super Bowl and the cause was the support of our own three seminarians and the Priesthood Scholarship Fund. On Saturday morning, February, 4, 2012, Knight Paul Boike arrived at the “smokehouse” at 7:00 a.m. with over 900 pounds of pork. The weather was threatening rain and Grand Knight Ken Friedrich had devised a huge tarp over the infamous “Yellow Submarine” smoker the day before. The smoker was carefully loaded in thirty minutes on four separate smoking trays and the “patented” process was begun. Additional cookers included Knights Doug Homman, Larry Keeney, and Bryant Collins and Ladies of the Knights, Joyce Friedrich, Debbie Lambert, and Sissy Hampton. The fires were stoked, the thermometers closely monitored, and the finished products wrapped and packaged. The group weathered one large thunderstorm, but fortunately it was delayed until late afternoon.
Deliveries of the hot butts were made after all the Masses at St. Henry and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes. Making the deliveries and collecting the monies were Knights Allen Belrose, Bill Lievens, Paul Townes III, and Paul Townes IV.
Preliminary reviews agreed that the butts, surprisingly, were again the best yet! More than one patron stated that the fragrant aroma of smoking butts was obvious miles from the site!
· Knight Tim Vaughn and his wife, Penny, coordinated the adult retreat at St. Bernard Abbey held the weekend of February 10-12, 2012. When they asked for volunteers to help setup the meeting room in Boniface Hall, Knights Doug Homman and Frank Rohling quickly responded. They helped arrange the tables and chairs in the conference room and unloaded the snacks and supplies from the car on Friday afternoon.
· Sixty seven members and/or future members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Henry Parishes were enlightened, informed, and sanctified at the adult retreat at St. Bernard Abbey on the weekend of February 10-12, 2012. Council 10354 Knights numbered 21: Tim Vaughn, Eddie Jones, Paul Foti, Ken Friedrich, Dominick Viruleg, Jerry Ingram, Roy Brewer, Dennis Dearing, Joel Busby, Jim Jernigan, Harold Gray (Council 9862), Roger Ford, Allen Belrose, Father Michael Deering, Jared Clark, Bill Ellis, Shawn Holly, Ken Levesque, Corey McCray, and Frank Rohling. Tim and Penny Vaughn organized the entire event, including books and supplies.
Retreat Master Bishop David E. Foley, Bishop Emeritus, presented four talks concerning “Growing in Holiness.” These topics included the seven Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Penance; prayer; spirituality; and journaling of one’s spiritual dimensions. Bishop kept the talks informative, interesting, and humorous at times. He also entertained questions, both spoken and written, with the greatest of knowledge and insight.
Retreaters were offered the Sacrament of Penance on Friday night and Mass in the Abbey Church on Saturday and in the conference room on Sunday. Ken Friedrich was more than pleased to be an altar server during the Saturday Mass with Bishop Foley as preside and Father Deering as Master of Ceremonies.
· February 18, 2012 was a LONG anticipated date for Knight Derrin Gaudet of Cullman. Having purchased his tuxedo before he made his Second Degree, he can never be accused of procrastination! Joining Derrin at the Fourth Degree at Our Lady of the Valley were Faithful Navigator Ken Friedrich and Insurance Field Agent John Imhof. Several Council 10354 and Assembly 2849 members participated in the Degree Team, including Tim Vaughn, Mike Wallace, Dr. Jim Fox, Shawn Holly, and Doug Homman. Sir Knights Allen Belrose and Ken Friedrich were in the Honor Guard during the ceremony and during the Mass that followed. The Mass was concelebrated by Father Alex Steinmiller of Holy Family Cristo Rey High School, Father Anthony Weiss, and Father Mitch Pacwa of EWTN.
Forty nine men, including Father Tim Pfander, were exemplified into the Fourth Degree and were uniquely dubbed as Sir Knights by Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard. The vigil Mass was followed by a prime rib banquet and was attended, among others, by Father Mitch Pacwa, Doug Homman, State Deputy Ray Carney, Vice Supreme Master Skip Gentle, Program Director Steve Griffin, District Master Eddie Lipscomb, Ricky and Andrea Payne (Derrin’s parents), and four of Derrin’s friends.
February 18, 2012 was certainly a day to remember!
· The date for the Knights of Columbus Run has been on the first Saturday in March for the past 23 years. However, when it was discovered that two other races in the Birmingham area had been scheduled for that same date, the KC Run was moved up to February 18, 2012. Only 125 runners finished the 5 K event. Many factors were at play: changing the race date may lose some participants, as in the case for Grand Knight Ken Friedrich, who had a conflict on that date; the weather forecast predicted at least 90 % chance of precipitation; gas prices and the economy; Knight Paul Townes, who has only missed one race in its history, had an injury; and finally a decline in the racing in the last several years.
However, Ken has continued his sponsorship of the race and Knight Danny Johnson can always be depended upon to man the Pepsi wagon before, during, and after the event. Proceeds from the run benefit area citizens with mental disabilities.
· The annual Confirmation Retreat for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Henry students took place on the weekend of February 17-19, 2012 at Camp WorldSong. Knights were intimately involved in the tried and true process of catechizing our youth away from the distractions from the world, media, and technology. Father Deering, Joel Busby, Jeremy Adams, Paul Foti, and John Rogers transported individuals, luggage, and/or food and supplies to and from the retreat center. Knight Shawn Holly was responsible for gassing up the vans. Fifty two boys and girls participated in the informative and spiritual encounter that was described as a “fantastic retreat.” The Knights, including Mike Jolly and Tom Townes, setup the kitchen and chapel; cooked and served the meals; and cleaned up afterwards. Joel Busby served as the head chaperone and oversaw the skits and crafts. Father Deering obviously administered the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. Music was provided by Dan Foster and Nick Busby (future Knight).
· The 2011 Strong Men Strong Faith Conference was so well-received (upwards at 1000 men) that individuals had to be turned away. Therefore, for 2012 the venue for the "Strong Men Strong Faith Conference" was moved to John Carroll Catholic High School on February 20. Attending from Council 10354 were Allen Belrose, Jerry Ingram, Ken Friedrich, Roy Brewer, Jaimie Hand, Dominick Viruleg, Bill Ellis, David Shaner, Tim Vaughn, Father Michael Deering, Mike Wallace, Mike Jolly, Mike Brasher, Anthony Bishop, Jeremiah Bishop (future Knight), Rod Cameron, Paul Foti, and Joel Busby.
Catholic NFL quarterback Philip Rivers and former Pentecostal minister Alex Jones were the guest speakers. As promised, the presentations turned out to be “exciting and spiritual.” The men came away with nothing but good things to say about the informative and inspiring evening.
· The St. Elizabeth Ladies Altar Sodality can always depend on Knight Danny Johnson and his wife Norma to participate in the transforming of the Parish Hall to downtown New Orleans for the annual Mardi Gras Party and Dance. The event typically is scheduled for the Friday before Ash Wednesday and fell on February 17 in 2012. Danny began the extensive decorating on the Saturday before and finished the job on the day before the big event.
· For some years now, the members of Council 10354 have participated in the praying of the Stations of the Cross on the Fridays during Lent. Not only do many Knights attend the prayer service in the congregation of about 100, but others act as altar servers and Knight Father Michael Deering leads the devotion. On February 24, 2012…the first week at St. Elizabeth…Knights Mike Wallace, Ken Friedrich, Dominick Viruleg, Corey McCray, and Allen Belrose carried the crucifix, two candles, incensor, and boat. Of the six Lenten Fridays, one service is always scheduled for St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Warrior.
Knight Tony DeCicco also leads the Stations at St. Henry on Wednesday evenings during Lent to give both congregations an additional opportunity to participate in the devotion.
· Council 10354 treats the parishioners of St. Henry and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Churches with a free pancake supper following the Stations of the Cross on the first Friday of Lent. They look on the supper as a small thank you to both Parishes for their relentless support throughout the year. In 2012, the date fell on February 24 and about 100 individuals took them up on the invitation to a gratis, meatless meal. Knights Ken Friedrich and Shawn Holly had purchased most of the makings and trimmings the day before. These ingredients included pancake mix, syrup, strawberry and blueberry toppings, butter, and Cool Whip. The pancake varieties were plain, pecan, chocolate chip, and Butterfinger. Coffee and milk were served, as well.
Duties for the other Knights were performed by Danny Johnson, Mike O’Laire, Doug Homman, Jeremy Adams, Mike Wallace, Eric Townsend, Paul Townes III, Allen Belrose, and Paul Boike. They cooked and served the pancakes and toppings, bused the tables, washed the dishes, took out the trash, wiped the tables, and mopped the floors. Leftover pancakes were distributed to the attending families to take home and enjoy later. Those flap jacks that still remained were frozen and saved for the Friedrich goats at the farm. All “kids” love pancakes!
· Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Townes III attended the Regional Meeting at St. Paul’s Family Life Center on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Topics of discussion included the upcoming convention in April, individual Council activities since the last meeting, and anticipated and planned activities. These oral reports were given by the attending Grand Knights. Allan Cannon conducted a training class for the Financial Secretaries as a separate session of the meeting. Paul Townes participated as the newly nominated Financial Secretary for Council 10354.
· Trees on power lines cannot be taken lightly. Alabama Power had been contacted and Knight Tom Townes had Grand Knight Ken Friedrich on alert. On February 29, 2012, the power company dropped the power line and fell the offending trees on the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton property. Ken, with trusty Husqvarna chain saw in hand, then made quick work of the five trees. He skillfully cut them into disposable lengths for later removal.
· Jokingly, Knight Doug Homman made the comment that his name only appeared twice in the latest Council 10354 newsletter and that he meant to do something about that “inactivity.” He wasted no time! On March 1, 2012, he travelled to Homewood to give Teresa Petruzella a hand in readying an office space for occupation by Catholic Social Services. The office will be the distribution center for Catholic disaster relief.
Doug wiped down the walls of the approximately 12’ x 15’ room and taped it for later painting. Knights are talented in many ways and generously donate their time and efforts wherever and whenever needed.
· Knight Danny Johnson had to have some relief. Following his recent car accident, his back has given him tremendous pain. Since his wife doesn’t drive, he desperately needed transportation to and from St. Vincent’s Hospital where he was scheduled for an early morning epidural on March 2, 2012.
Knight Doug Homman graciously agreed to drive from Hayden to the Johnson house in Tarrant and escort Danny and Norma to and from the appointment. Danny was still a little groggy after he recovered from the sedation, but made it home safely without incident. As yet, it was too early to know if the shot succeeded in calming the pain.
Knights are all about charity and helping others in need, especially if they are Brother Knights. Doug answered the call in a “knightly” fashion.
· Grand Knight Ken Friedrich is on the stand-by list as substitute school van driver for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. When one of the regular Knights can’t make a trip, Ken is called on to carry the students to and from St. Rose Academy or Our Lady of Sorrows School. One Monday morning, Knight Allen Belrose had an early appointment and Ken was asked to substitute drive. He had ridden along on the previous Friday to learn the route.
The next Monday Ken chauffeured the children to and from school amid squeals, giggles, and shrieks!
· Smoking is too often a difficult habit to break, particularly if the smoker has a long history. Grand Knight Ken Friedrich has “nagged” Brother Knight Jim Handerhan about quitting smoking for many years, to the point that Jim finally proposed that he would stop smoking if Ken ran and completed a marathon with him. Jim must have been thinking that that formidable task would get Ken off his back. He also made the same offer to Knight Paul Townes III…perhaps indicating that he really wanted to quit, at least subconsciously, but needed a helpful nudge. Three years ago, Ken had to abort the marathon at 19 miles and was bound and determined to finish the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in New Orleans on March 4, 2012.
Both men stepped up their training during the month of February. However, Paul tore a hamstring and had to discontinue. Paul traveled with the Friedrichs and supplied Ken with fruit, pickle juice, Gatorade, and energy gels along the course. Due to sheer determination and the prayerful support of St. Elizabeth, Sacred Heart, and St. Henry parishioners and others, Ken was successful in finishing the marathon with a time of 6 hours and 20 minutes. True to his word, Jim agreed to quit smoking but said he knew he couldn’t do it “cold turkey.” Now prayers are to be directed towards Jim as he struggles to fulfill his promise.
· It is a big job changing the bulbs in the light fixtures at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church due to the height and the presence of the pews in the nave of the church. However, the Knights of Council 10354 have perfected the technique. Assembling scaffolding allows them to work around the pews and also gain the required height. On Saturday, March 10, 2012, the crew, including Ken Friedrich, Father Michael Deering, Paul Townes III, Paul Townes IV, Tim Friedrich, Tom Townes, Tommy Townes, Allen Belrose, and Shawn Holly, tackled the project. Danny Johnson was also present but, due to his recent accident and subsequent injuries, was unable to do any work. Needless to say, the project took all day to complete. Father Deering was gracious, as usual, and bought the men’s lunch.
· Some days nothing goes as planned. The usual routine for transporting lights and props for the Last Supper Reenactment is to borrow Knight Myron Hancock’s enclosed trailer and one of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church vans. Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Townes III attached the trailer to the van and discovered that the lights on the trailer were not all functional. After much troubleshooting, they finally located a swollen wire nut where water had entered and shorted out the wiring. With that problem solved; another cropped up. The van refused to crank because the battery was totally dead and out-dated. The men purchased a new replacement battery and all problems were finally solved.
· The All Knights Mass took place on March 11, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church in Warrior. The idea is that Knights serve in all the ministerial positions during the Mass. Father Michael Deering prayed the Mass and Ken Friedrich and Mike Wallace were the altar servers. David Shaner was the Lector and sang the Responsorial Song. Also, in the choir were Andy Rizzo, Rob Stump, and Dan Foster. Tim Friedrich and Tom Townes brought up the gifts at the Offertory. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion were Dominick Viruleg, Josh Stump, Allen Belrose, and Paul Townes III. Paul Homman, Tony Smith, and Myron Hancock were the Ushers. Knights had been asked to wear their red Council 10354 shirts and were easily spotted in the congregation. Danny Johnson, Tony DeCicco, Doug Homman, Bob McLeod, Cliff Papineau, Cliff Papineau III, Bill Ellis, Mike Clark, Todd Keeney, Eddie Jones, Mike O’Laire, Malcolm Fifer, Arnold McKerley, Corey McCray, Kurt Keeney, Jeremy Adams, Don Rydberg, and Mason Baldwin were in the congregation. The All Knights Mass is popular among the Council and among the parishioners.
· Recycling is always a good practice, especially when it benefits disaster victims. Knights Doug Homman, Paul Homman, and Rob Stump loaded and hauled a truck load of recyclables to the newly opened Catholic Disaster Preparedness Warehouse on March 15, 2012. The items ranged from VCR tapes and TV to dishes and baseball caps and hats. The relief personnel indicated that there is still a great need for unused clothing.
· Lenten fish fries put on by Knights of Columbus Councils is almost as common as barbecue on the Fourth of July. Sacred Heart Council 1484 has used this fund raiser for several years and it is particularly popular and well-attended. However, the fish fry on March 16, 2012 was slightly different. Council 10354 Knight Derrin Gaudet cheerfully volunteered to give his home-town Knights a hand with the operation. He primarily served as a “go-between” from the cook site and the kitchen and dining area. He repeatedly carried the fish and French fries from the deep fat fryers to the waiting 50-60 diners. Proceeds from the supper are generally given to Father Patrick Egan, the Pastor, to be used at his discretion.
Rumor has it that Derrin proudly wore his red Council 10354 shirt so that there would be no doubt that he was a Knight of Columbus…doing what Knights do….helping out where they are needed.
· It takes special, caring individuals to even consider reaching out to minister to prisoners….and go to prison to do it. Knights Doug Homman and Shawn Holly are two such giving, compassionate people. On morning of Saturday, March 17, 2012, they travelled to Donaldson Prison to attend the Kairos Ultreya. During their stay, they broke up into small groups and discussed topics of faith. They also sang songs and they and seven other “free world Kairos members” ministered to 18 inmates.
In the afternoon, along with four other Kairos volunteers, they visited Death Row. There they related to inmates and were involved in some one-on-one counseling sessions. Doug indicated that the experience was very gratifying. He recommends the ministry to anyone who might be interested, stating that it is a “fulfilling way to spread the love of Christ.” He went on to say that there are also positions available in the ministry that do not require actually setting foot in a prison.
· Several years have passed since St. Elizabeth and St. Henry Parishes have conducted a St. Joseph’s Altar. Sunday, March 18th, one day prior to the feast day, was a perfect time to reestablish the tradition at both churches.
A procession with the St. Joseph statue was conducted between the sanctuary and the parish hall area at St. Henry. Knight Jeremy Adams carried the statue and situated it in the place of honor surrounded by flowers and baked goods. Parishioners were free to take whichever items they chose for a voluntary donation.
A similar procession took place from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church to the Parish Hall. Four men transported the statue on a custom-made, wooden carrier constructed by Knight Paul Foti to the Hall where it was placed on a three-tier altar. The altar was decorated with flowers and fruit and heaped with donated baked goods. Donations were similarly solicited. Knight Rod Cameron and his family, Melissa and Connor, beautifully portrayed the Holy Family in costume. The attendees were treated to a free meal of barbecue and sides. The bake “sale” netted approximately $1,100 to be used to provide XYZ meals for seniors at St. Elizabeth.
Grand Knight Ken Friedrich had been asked to make a short “plug” for the Knights of Columbus at the preceding 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth and set up a booth of pictures, brochures, and forms at the Parish Hall. Since one title for the saint is “St. Joseph, the Worker,” parishioners were asked to consider and sign up for working positions in the Parish, such as Lectors, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Choir, Knights, Ladies Altar Sodality, etc. The theme was especially appropriate for the Knights since “St. Joseph, the Worker’ is the name of Council 10354. Two potential Knights were recruited during the lunch.
Ken Friedrich assisted the ladies in cleanup after the lunch that was attended by a full house.
· Since joining the Knights of Columbus one year ago, Council 10354 Knight Derrin Gaudet has increased his volunteerism at his home Parish, Sacred Heart Church in Cullman. On Sunday morning, March 18, 2012, he arrived early (7:00 a.m.) at the Church to assist in putting on a gratis parish breakfast to be served after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. The breakfast was hosted by the Parish and the Altar Society and featured eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, and grits. It was estimated that 600 people enjoyed the meal and one of the duties that Derrin accepted was to keep the steam table replenished. What a challenge under the circumstances!
· Knights are known for earth moving activities! Usually, this expression is not meant in the literal sense…until March 15, 2012. Knight Thom Duran had purchased a carport building that he wanted to assemble on his property, where a small storage building had once stood. However, the configuration of the yard is such that a dirt bank butts up to the construction site where the garage should be.
This situation is not a problem if you know a Brother Knight who happens to own a 20,000-pound wheel loader, “Katie,” equipped with a front-end loader or bucket. Knight Ken Friedrich drove
Katie the two miles to Thom’s house and began excavating the garage site. Not only did dirt need to be removed from the wall itself, but the level had to be lowered by 8 inches to accommodate
the concrete slab on which the building would be located. The job…as they always do….turned out to be more involved and more time-consuming than at first anticipated. After the first 5 hours, Ken returned to the Duran house and completed the job on March 20. He had also negotiated with fellow Knight Mike Jolly to dispose of the displaced dirt from the premises. Several loads in
Mike’s dump truck were required.
Deep cleaning continued on Saturday, March 31, 2012.
· Thursday, March 29, 2012 marked the 130th anniversary of “Founders Day,” the day that Blessed Father Michael McGivney started the Knights of Columbus. Therefore, this date was chosen for a First Degree Exemplification at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall and was dedicated to Council 10354 chaplain, Father Michael Deering. Attending the ceremonies were Roger Harbison and Frank Fendley. Team members included Doug Homman, Dan Gardner, Ken Friedrich, Paul Townes III, and Mike Wallace. District Deputy David Hester witnessed and sanctioned the event. Refreshments and lively discussions followed the Exemplification.
· By now the situation was getting desperate! The kitty had been up the 40-foot tree for more than 5 days. The fire department refused to come even after several phone calls and the local tree surgeons insisted on charging at least $100 to rescue the cat. It is not common knowledge that cats can easily climb up a tree but must come down the tree backwards. Apparently, the kitty didn’t know this bit of information either!
Knight Jared Clark called the Friedrich residence on behalf of his friend Megan Barnett as a last resort. The obvious answer was Knight Paul Townes III. He has the capability of climbing the pine tree since he is an avid hunter and a tree cutter in his own rite. Also, Paul is notorious for generously reaching out to help someone in need.
Paul was able to climb the tree with his hunting tree climber and cleared the way to the stranded feline with a small chain saw. Although she had only been in the cat carrier one time before, the kitty eagerly climbed into the carrier and was lowered to safety by the attached rope. Paul had been ready with gloves and long sleeves but these measures were not necessary. The kitty was very cooperative and too happy to be rescued! Her owners were also more than happy to pay Paul for his gas for the trip between Gardendale and Hayden on April 1, 2012. No April Fools here!
· The Last Supper Reenactment had its beginnings in the year 2000 for the Jubilee Year. Twelve years later it is still going strong. The cast and crew of Knights began their rehearsals on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Two new members and one “revert” joined the troupe: Evan Kreider took on the role of Jesus, Dan S. Gardner that of James the Lesser. Dennis Dearing (Peter before 2006) returned as the “Voice from Above” and stand-in narrator. Other members of the cast and crew are: Roy Brewer (narrator), Mike Wallace (Nathaniel), Allen Belrose (Andrew), Jack Boggan (Peter, Council 9862), Malcolm Fifer (Judas), Jared Clark (John), Paul Townes III (Jude), Tim Vaughn (Philip), Rod Cameron (James the Greater), Ken Carpenter (Thomas), Ken Friedrich (Simon), Shawn Holly (Matthew), Earl Kreider (flood lights), and Brandon Vinning (spot light).
Four performances were scheduled during Lent and the beginning of Holy Week:
1. St. Thomas in Montevallo on March 11, 2012 to a crowd of about 75. Scaffolding and platforms were necessary to elevate the spot light and to give some extra walking space around the Last Supper table.
2. St. Paul’s Family Life Center on March 18, 2012, following the Council 9862 dinner party fund raiser. Special arrangements had to be made to get a functional and adequate sound system for the upper room. About 100 people witnessed the performance.
3. Sacred Heart Church in Cullman on March 30, 2012 following their Lenten fish fry and Stations of the Cross. A traffic jam ALMOST prevented Rod Cameron from portraying James the Greater. He arrived with only 10 minutes to spare. Also, Dennis Dearing misplaced his narrator and Voice from Above scripts. A copy of the narrator’s part was found in the spare parts box and the Voice from Above script was dictated and transposed by cell phone. An estimated 300-400 adults and children enjoyed the performance in spite of the inclement weather during the early evening.
4. Sacred Heart Church in Anniston, as a first time appearance, on Palm Sunday, April 1, 2012. The spotlight bulb shot just as Brandon Vinning turned on the instrument. However, he wasn’t rattled and efficiently changed the bulb during the recitation of the Voice from Above narration. The potential “disaster” was not even noticed by the audience of 150-200.
Knights are not by nature superstitious. However, it is interesting to note that the greatest number of snafu’s occurred during the THIRTEENTH year of the Last Supper’s history!
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_ Sir Knight Derrin Gaudet’s debut as a Fourth Degree Honor Guard has come with much anticipation. On Monday, April 2, 2012, Derrin served with six other men at the wake and rosary of former Grand Knight of Cullman’s Council 1484, Dean Misegades. The services took place at Moss Funeral Home one day after his death. During the services, Sir Knights, in full regalia, stand in turn at the coffin and salute the deceased member.
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Sometimes epidurals do the job and sometimes not. The latter was the case for Council 10354 Knight Danny Johnson. The damage in his back caused him unbearable leg pain and back surgery became necessary.
On Holy Thursday morning, April 5, 212, Grand Knight Ken Friedrich transported the Johnson couple from their home in Tarrant to St. Vincent’s Hospital in downtown Birmingham. The surgery was performed that afternoon and Danny was able to go home the next day. Knight Corey McCray accompanied his mother, Barbara, to the hospital to return Danny to his home. In the meantime, Knight Father Michael Deering provided the Johnsons with some food supplies to get them “over the hump” as Danny
recuperated.
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On Good Friday, April 6, 2012, Knights Father Michael Deering, Ken Friedrich, Allen Belrose, and prospective Knight Nathan Munson carefully disassembled and carried the life-size crucifix from the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall to the Church in anticipation of the Veneration of the Cross.
On the morning of Easter Vigil, Father Deering, Paul Townes III, and Ken Friedrich returned the large crucifix to the Parish Hall and hung the “Risen Christ” mural over the similar crucifix in the sanctuary of the Church. Knight Larry and Linda Keeney finished off the decorations in the Church at their usual level of excellence. They strategically placed Easter lilies, gold and white banners, and green plants in the sanctuary. Lilies were utilized to a lesser degree in other areas of the church.
· · Traditionally, Council 10354 has hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for the children of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes on Holy Saturday. Such was the case for April 7, 2012. Age groups were: 3 and under, 4 to 5, 6 to 7, and 8 and over. Prizes were then awarded to the hunter who found the gold or silver egg in each age group, as well as the person who found the greatest number of eggs in each group. Twenty six boys and girls participated in the fun. Knights who hid the eggs, awarded the prizes, served the refreshments, and cleaned up afterwards included Dan S. Gardner, Roger Harbison, Shawn Holly, Allen Belrose, Paul Townes III, and Doug Homman. Rumor has it that even the adults had a fun time.
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Sir Knight Derrin Gaudet of Cullman made excellent choices for a Confirmation sponsor and for a patron saint: Grand Knight
Ken Friedrich and St. Jude, the Apostle. The Confirmation took place at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 7, 2012 at Sacred Heart Church and was performed by the Pastor Father Patrick Egan.
The ceremonies were preceded by a supper of barbecue and sides in the Sacred Heart Family Life Center. The meal and the Mass were attended by the various candidates and their sponsors and families. Derrin was accompanied by his Mother, brothers and sisters, grandmother, sponsor and his wife, and Knights of Columbus Field Agent John Imhof.
It was difficult to determine which man, Ken or Derrin, was “flying higher” after the Sacrament was conferred on the young Sir Knight! It was a glorious and gratifying experience to witness the reception of the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit on such a holy night and onto an exceptionally holy man.
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Everyone loved Knight James Gay and for good reason. During the eulogy on April 9, 2012, Knight and Pastor Father Michael Deering summed up the man as having the “divine spark” and a “twinkle in his eye.” One would never know from his sweet personality that James had retired as a homicide detective for the Birmingham Police Department. He had a smile for everyone and was a proud and faithful convert to the Catholic Faith. He was on the
R.C.I.A. team at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton so that he could share that Faith with
others. He will be greatly missed.
Approximately 150 mourners participated in the Funeral Mass and as many Brother Knights attended as could. Altar servers included Knights Beau McMinn and Frank Rohling and Beau’s brother, Brett. Choir members included Knights David Shaner and Andy Rizzo.
· The parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Cullman were busy on Sunday, April, 15, 2012. However, they were no busier than our Sir Knight Derrin Gaudet. He participated in a five-man Fourth Degree Honor Guard at the 8:30 a.m. Mass where 70 children and young adults received their First Holy Communion. One of the First Communicants was Derrin younger brother, Noah Payne, and another was Knights Charlie Friedrich and Paul Townes III’s grandson, Jarrett Friedrich. It was standing room only for the congregation.
Derrin then served during the Divine Mercy Sunday prayer service at 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Two men in the Honor Guard carried the picture of the Divine Mercy image and other two escorted the photo with swords drawn in salute. Fifty or sixty parishioners attended the annual service.
· Sickness rarely comes at convenient times. Knight Myron Hancock found himself with a serious case of shingles, when his wife Nancy fell at their home on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. Nancy has also been under the weather for the last few months and has experienced some episodes of vertigo that make her unstable on her feet. When Myron was not well enough to take her to the doctor to have her injuries evaluated, Brother Knight Dan S. Gardner volunteered. The bruises that she received were diagnosed as the result of a mini-stroke. Generously, knights are always available to help out when needed and they are especially ready to say a quick prayer for the full recovery of their own and their families.
· Knight Doug Homman stated that the Kairos Weekend, held at Donaldson Prison on April 19-22, 2012, was the best ever. He should know, since he has been working prison ministries for years. On this particular weekend, 48 inmates entered the program and 48 “graduated” on Sunday. Three Council 10354 Knights participated: Dan Foster was one of five guitarists, Doug was a state observer and “cookie monster” (cookie control officer), and Shawn Holly was a table servant. Furthermore, ten new team members were “broken in.”
During the open mike session, one inmate, who had been reared in a violent household by an abusive step-dad, admitted that he had never before experienced love from anybody… until Kairos. Another confessed that after 20 years of hatred, he could now forgive his father, who had murdered his mother when he was four years old. Doug suggested to him to phone his dad and verbally express his forgiveness. One of the “tough guys” appeared to be asleep during the sessions but later owned up the fact that he was actually hiding his tears. Yet another inmate summed up the entire weekend by claiming that “the Holy Spirit got ahold of him and turned him upside down.”
One of the team members gave four ten-minute “forgiveness” talks and had the entire group’s undivided attention. It certainly looks like the talks had their intended results!
· Students at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Henry Churches are required to attend weekend retreats in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The first is designed for 5th, 6th, and 7th Graders and took place on April 20-22, 2012. Seventeen students and their luggage and belongings were transported to Camp WorldSong, where they participated in instructional skits and other informative activities, including Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Preparation for the retreat began weeks before the weekend and involved the writing and rehearsal of skits and other activities. Adults and high school and college students worked diligently to create and develop a program that would flawlessly and smoothly instruct as well as entertain the children, while they are in an environment totally away from all electronics and other “distractions.” Knight Joel Busby was responsible for creating the skits. Other Knights included Jeremy Adams, Father Michael Deering, and Jaimie Hand. Father obviously administered the Sacraments and the other men concentrated on cooking and cleaning.
· James L. Yonker missed his wife of 74 years and went to join her and the Lord on April 19, 2012. He was 95 years old and a WWII veteran and long-time Fourth Degree Knight. The Funeral Mass on Friday, April 27, 2012, was prayed by Brother Knight Father Michael Deering and served by Grand Knight Ken Friedrich.
Prior to the start of Mass, Allen Belrose and Danny Johnson saluted the cremains of the deceased in full regalia and with raised swords. Fourth Degree Knights Doug Homman and Corey McCray in suit or tuxedo also processed in with the Honor Guard.
Choir members included Knights Andy Rizzo, Rob Stump, David Shaner, and Harold Gray (Council 9862). Corey McCray and his mother, Barbara, brought up the Gifts at the Offertory. Joining the congregation were Knights Bill Ellis, Tony DeCicco, Paul Homman, Arnold McKerley (WWII veteran), Cliff Papineau, Jr., Cliff Papineau III, and Bob McLeod.
The Mass was followed by burial in the St. Henry Cemetery where 5 members of the local VFW Chapter played “Taps” and performed a “21-gun salute.” The ceremonies were all very moving and comforting, especially since it was obvious that “Mr. James” experienced a “happy death.”
Food and refreshments were available to the family and friends of James Yonker in the Parish Hall, following the interment.
· The Knights of Columbus Alabama State Convention was held on the weekend of April 27 to 29, 2012 and was attended by Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Boike and their wives.
At the conclusion of the business meetings awards were made at three levels in 6 activity categories. Activities were Church, Council, Community, Family, Pro-Life (or Culture of Life), and Youth. Supreme Awards were voted for the best single activity in each category and State Deputy Awards and State Deputy Runner-up Awards were presented for the best “body of work” for the entire year in each category and for the second place body of work in the six categories. Council 10354 won two Supreme Awards: Council (for the building of the smoker as a fund raiser for our own seminarians) and Church (for the adult retreat presented by Father Mitch Pacwa). State Deputy Awards (first place) went to Council, Pro-Life, and Youth. The remaining awards were presented at the banquet on Saturday night. Council 10354 claimed three State Deputy Runner-up Awards (second place) for Knight of the Year (Paul Boike), Family of the Year (Tim, Scott, and Penny Vaughn), and Youth of the Year (Nicholas Hand).
Eight awards for the year is a tie for the record for Council 10354 and reflects the hard work that the members perform throughout the year. Grand Knight Ken Friedrich said that he couldn’t be prouder of his fellow Knights and anticipates the awarding of Star Council and Priesthood Scholarship Award before the year’s end (June 30, 2012).
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Special Red Knights shirts (approximately $24) may be ordered by request...631-8768.
Link to Knight Derrin Gaudet's custom hand-made rosaries: http://customrosary.weebly.com
· · Council 10354 Knights Derrin Gaudet, Tommy Townes, and Alvaro Ezquerra were among more than 60 Second Degree candidates who made their Third Degree at Our Lady of the Valley on January 22, 2012. Knight Eric Townsend had to cancel at the last minute due to a family emergency. Also attending the Degree were Knights Ken Friedrich, Jose, Sosa, Tom Townes, Doug Homman, and Knight of Columbus Insurance Field Agent John Imhof.
For some of the witnessing Knights, today’s “performance” was their first experience with the new changes that have been made in the Third Degree Exemplification.
· Knights and seminarians Jim Handerhan and Grant Mealer were two among an estimated 100, 000 who demonstrated against Roe v. Wade in Washington D.C. on January 23, 2012. The men also attended the pro-life Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on January 22, 2012. The event was extremely well-attended by priests, seminarians, and lay alike to the point that it took 45 minutes for just the seminarians to process into the church. TV coverage was skillfully conducted by EWTN and even Fox News Channel gave it a headline spot. Numerous Knights of Columbus “Defend Life” posters dotted the crowd and made it perfectly clear what stance the Order takes concerning life in all its stages and conditions.
· A big job turned out to be bigger yet. The repairs to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church’s air handler carried over from 2011 to 2012. On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Knights Paul Boike and Ken Friedrich replaced a reversing valve in the system. They then gassed up the unit and everything was then up and running: Another job well done and a job finally completed!
· The huge smoker was built and functional in 2011. However, there is no better way to identify potential improvements and enhancements than through use. Such alterations were built and installed on the “yellow submarine” by Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Boike on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. The men fashioned baffles and baffle stands in the bottom of the cooker to protect the meat from direct flames and direct heat. The meat trays were then fitted with retractable handles that run the greater part of the length of the trays. Construction on the smoker was thus timed to coincide with the upcoming Super Bowl Weekend butt fundraiser.
· Knight Tim Vaughn and his wife, Penny, are passionate about the education and spiritual growth of themselves and their fellow parishioners and friends. They have been actively involved in no-charge study groups as well as in adult retreat weekends. Therefore, one project that they have taken upon themselves is the raising of money to offset the cost of the adult retreat, scheduled for the weekend of February 10-12, 2012. Their goal is that everyone who wants to attend can afford to attend. Two recent fundraisers have been successful include a “free” soup and sandwich luncheon that they hosted at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall on January, 15, 2012. The food was prepared by the ladies of the Parish, then donated and offered free-of-charge. Donations amounted to almost $500!
The Vaughns also solicited donations in the form of a 50:50 Super Bowl football pool for weeks preceding the big game. They made multiple trips to St. Henry and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Churches following the Masses. Squares on the football board “sold” for $10 and offered participants a chance to win $100/quarter. St. Elizabeth benefited with half of the total proceeds and any blank squares winners. The project thus netted $600 for their efforts. The ultimate goal is to reduce the cost of the weekend retreat at St. Bernard Abbey to merely $50/person.
· One hundred and twenty Boston butts are a record number of butts smoked in the history of Council 10354. The event was the Super Bowl and the cause was the support of our own three seminarians and the Priesthood Scholarship Fund. On Saturday morning, February, 4, 2012, Knight Paul Boike arrived at the “smokehouse” at 7:00 a.m. with over 900 pounds of pork. The weather was threatening rain and Grand Knight Ken Friedrich had devised a huge tarp over the infamous “Yellow Submarine” smoker the day before. The smoker was carefully loaded in thirty minutes on four separate smoking trays and the “patented” process was begun. Additional cookers included Knights Doug Homman, Larry Keeney, and Bryant Collins and Ladies of the Knights, Joyce Friedrich, Debbie Lambert, and Sissy Hampton. The fires were stoked, the thermometers closely monitored, and the finished products wrapped and packaged. The group weathered one large thunderstorm, but fortunately it was delayed until late afternoon.
Deliveries of the hot butts were made after all the Masses at St. Henry and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes. Making the deliveries and collecting the monies were Knights Allen Belrose, Bill Lievens, Paul Townes III, and Paul Townes IV.
Preliminary reviews agreed that the butts, surprisingly, were again the best yet! More than one patron stated that the fragrant aroma of smoking butts was obvious miles from the site!
· Knight Tim Vaughn and his wife, Penny, coordinated the adult retreat at St. Bernard Abbey held the weekend of February 10-12, 2012. When they asked for volunteers to help setup the meeting room in Boniface Hall, Knights Doug Homman and Frank Rohling quickly responded. They helped arrange the tables and chairs in the conference room and unloaded the snacks and supplies from the car on Friday afternoon.
· Sixty seven members and/or future members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Henry Parishes were enlightened, informed, and sanctified at the adult retreat at St. Bernard Abbey on the weekend of February 10-12, 2012. Council 10354 Knights numbered 21: Tim Vaughn, Eddie Jones, Paul Foti, Ken Friedrich, Dominick Viruleg, Jerry Ingram, Roy Brewer, Dennis Dearing, Joel Busby, Jim Jernigan, Harold Gray (Council 9862), Roger Ford, Allen Belrose, Father Michael Deering, Jared Clark, Bill Ellis, Shawn Holly, Ken Levesque, Corey McCray, and Frank Rohling. Tim and Penny Vaughn organized the entire event, including books and supplies.
Retreat Master Bishop David E. Foley, Bishop Emeritus, presented four talks concerning “Growing in Holiness.” These topics included the seven Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Penance; prayer; spirituality; and journaling of one’s spiritual dimensions. Bishop kept the talks informative, interesting, and humorous at times. He also entertained questions, both spoken and written, with the greatest of knowledge and insight.
Retreaters were offered the Sacrament of Penance on Friday night and Mass in the Abbey Church on Saturday and in the conference room on Sunday. Ken Friedrich was more than pleased to be an altar server during the Saturday Mass with Bishop Foley as preside and Father Deering as Master of Ceremonies.
· February 18, 2012 was a LONG anticipated date for Knight Derrin Gaudet of Cullman. Having purchased his tuxedo before he made his Second Degree, he can never be accused of procrastination! Joining Derrin at the Fourth Degree at Our Lady of the Valley were Faithful Navigator Ken Friedrich and Insurance Field Agent John Imhof. Several Council 10354 and Assembly 2849 members participated in the Degree Team, including Tim Vaughn, Mike Wallace, Dr. Jim Fox, Shawn Holly, and Doug Homman. Sir Knights Allen Belrose and Ken Friedrich were in the Honor Guard during the ceremony and during the Mass that followed. The Mass was concelebrated by Father Alex Steinmiller of Holy Family Cristo Rey High School, Father Anthony Weiss, and Father Mitch Pacwa of EWTN.
Forty nine men, including Father Tim Pfander, were exemplified into the Fourth Degree and were uniquely dubbed as Sir Knights by Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard. The vigil Mass was followed by a prime rib banquet and was attended, among others, by Father Mitch Pacwa, Doug Homman, State Deputy Ray Carney, Vice Supreme Master Skip Gentle, Program Director Steve Griffin, District Master Eddie Lipscomb, Ricky and Andrea Payne (Derrin’s parents), and four of Derrin’s friends.
February 18, 2012 was certainly a day to remember!
· The date for the Knights of Columbus Run has been on the first Saturday in March for the past 23 years. However, when it was discovered that two other races in the Birmingham area had been scheduled for that same date, the KC Run was moved up to February 18, 2012. Only 125 runners finished the 5 K event. Many factors were at play: changing the race date may lose some participants, as in the case for Grand Knight Ken Friedrich, who had a conflict on that date; the weather forecast predicted at least 90 % chance of precipitation; gas prices and the economy; Knight Paul Townes, who has only missed one race in its history, had an injury; and finally a decline in the racing in the last several years.
However, Ken has continued his sponsorship of the race and Knight Danny Johnson can always be depended upon to man the Pepsi wagon before, during, and after the event. Proceeds from the run benefit area citizens with mental disabilities.
· The annual Confirmation Retreat for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Henry students took place on the weekend of February 17-19, 2012 at Camp WorldSong. Knights were intimately involved in the tried and true process of catechizing our youth away from the distractions from the world, media, and technology. Father Deering, Joel Busby, Jeremy Adams, Paul Foti, and John Rogers transported individuals, luggage, and/or food and supplies to and from the retreat center. Knight Shawn Holly was responsible for gassing up the vans. Fifty two boys and girls participated in the informative and spiritual encounter that was described as a “fantastic retreat.” The Knights, including Mike Jolly and Tom Townes, setup the kitchen and chapel; cooked and served the meals; and cleaned up afterwards. Joel Busby served as the head chaperone and oversaw the skits and crafts. Father Deering obviously administered the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. Music was provided by Dan Foster and Nick Busby (future Knight).
· The 2011 Strong Men Strong Faith Conference was so well-received (upwards at 1000 men) that individuals had to be turned away. Therefore, for 2012 the venue for the "Strong Men Strong Faith Conference" was moved to John Carroll Catholic High School on February 20. Attending from Council 10354 were Allen Belrose, Jerry Ingram, Ken Friedrich, Roy Brewer, Jaimie Hand, Dominick Viruleg, Bill Ellis, David Shaner, Tim Vaughn, Father Michael Deering, Mike Wallace, Mike Jolly, Mike Brasher, Anthony Bishop, Jeremiah Bishop (future Knight), Rod Cameron, Paul Foti, and Joel Busby.
Catholic NFL quarterback Philip Rivers and former Pentecostal minister Alex Jones were the guest speakers. As promised, the presentations turned out to be “exciting and spiritual.” The men came away with nothing but good things to say about the informative and inspiring evening.
· The St. Elizabeth Ladies Altar Sodality can always depend on Knight Danny Johnson and his wife Norma to participate in the transforming of the Parish Hall to downtown New Orleans for the annual Mardi Gras Party and Dance. The event typically is scheduled for the Friday before Ash Wednesday and fell on February 17 in 2012. Danny began the extensive decorating on the Saturday before and finished the job on the day before the big event.
· For some years now, the members of Council 10354 have participated in the praying of the Stations of the Cross on the Fridays during Lent. Not only do many Knights attend the prayer service in the congregation of about 100, but others act as altar servers and Knight Father Michael Deering leads the devotion. On February 24, 2012…the first week at St. Elizabeth…Knights Mike Wallace, Ken Friedrich, Dominick Viruleg, Corey McCray, and Allen Belrose carried the crucifix, two candles, incensor, and boat. Of the six Lenten Fridays, one service is always scheduled for St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Warrior.
Knight Tony DeCicco also leads the Stations at St. Henry on Wednesday evenings during Lent to give both congregations an additional opportunity to participate in the devotion.
· Council 10354 treats the parishioners of St. Henry and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Churches with a free pancake supper following the Stations of the Cross on the first Friday of Lent. They look on the supper as a small thank you to both Parishes for their relentless support throughout the year. In 2012, the date fell on February 24 and about 100 individuals took them up on the invitation to a gratis, meatless meal. Knights Ken Friedrich and Shawn Holly had purchased most of the makings and trimmings the day before. These ingredients included pancake mix, syrup, strawberry and blueberry toppings, butter, and Cool Whip. The pancake varieties were plain, pecan, chocolate chip, and Butterfinger. Coffee and milk were served, as well.
Duties for the other Knights were performed by Danny Johnson, Mike O’Laire, Doug Homman, Jeremy Adams, Mike Wallace, Eric Townsend, Paul Townes III, Allen Belrose, and Paul Boike. They cooked and served the pancakes and toppings, bused the tables, washed the dishes, took out the trash, wiped the tables, and mopped the floors. Leftover pancakes were distributed to the attending families to take home and enjoy later. Those flap jacks that still remained were frozen and saved for the Friedrich goats at the farm. All “kids” love pancakes!
· Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Townes III attended the Regional Meeting at St. Paul’s Family Life Center on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Topics of discussion included the upcoming convention in April, individual Council activities since the last meeting, and anticipated and planned activities. These oral reports were given by the attending Grand Knights. Allan Cannon conducted a training class for the Financial Secretaries as a separate session of the meeting. Paul Townes participated as the newly nominated Financial Secretary for Council 10354.
· Trees on power lines cannot be taken lightly. Alabama Power had been contacted and Knight Tom Townes had Grand Knight Ken Friedrich on alert. On February 29, 2012, the power company dropped the power line and fell the offending trees on the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton property. Ken, with trusty Husqvarna chain saw in hand, then made quick work of the five trees. He skillfully cut them into disposable lengths for later removal.
· Jokingly, Knight Doug Homman made the comment that his name only appeared twice in the latest Council 10354 newsletter and that he meant to do something about that “inactivity.” He wasted no time! On March 1, 2012, he travelled to Homewood to give Teresa Petruzella a hand in readying an office space for occupation by Catholic Social Services. The office will be the distribution center for Catholic disaster relief.
Doug wiped down the walls of the approximately 12’ x 15’ room and taped it for later painting. Knights are talented in many ways and generously donate their time and efforts wherever and whenever needed.
· Knight Danny Johnson had to have some relief. Following his recent car accident, his back has given him tremendous pain. Since his wife doesn’t drive, he desperately needed transportation to and from St. Vincent’s Hospital where he was scheduled for an early morning epidural on March 2, 2012.
Knight Doug Homman graciously agreed to drive from Hayden to the Johnson house in Tarrant and escort Danny and Norma to and from the appointment. Danny was still a little groggy after he recovered from the sedation, but made it home safely without incident. As yet, it was too early to know if the shot succeeded in calming the pain.
Knights are all about charity and helping others in need, especially if they are Brother Knights. Doug answered the call in a “knightly” fashion.
· Grand Knight Ken Friedrich is on the stand-by list as substitute school van driver for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. When one of the regular Knights can’t make a trip, Ken is called on to carry the students to and from St. Rose Academy or Our Lady of Sorrows School. One Monday morning, Knight Allen Belrose had an early appointment and Ken was asked to substitute drive. He had ridden along on the previous Friday to learn the route.
The next Monday Ken chauffeured the children to and from school amid squeals, giggles, and shrieks!
· Smoking is too often a difficult habit to break, particularly if the smoker has a long history. Grand Knight Ken Friedrich has “nagged” Brother Knight Jim Handerhan about quitting smoking for many years, to the point that Jim finally proposed that he would stop smoking if Ken ran and completed a marathon with him. Jim must have been thinking that that formidable task would get Ken off his back. He also made the same offer to Knight Paul Townes III…perhaps indicating that he really wanted to quit, at least subconsciously, but needed a helpful nudge. Three years ago, Ken had to abort the marathon at 19 miles and was bound and determined to finish the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in New Orleans on March 4, 2012.
Both men stepped up their training during the month of February. However, Paul tore a hamstring and had to discontinue. Paul traveled with the Friedrichs and supplied Ken with fruit, pickle juice, Gatorade, and energy gels along the course. Due to sheer determination and the prayerful support of St. Elizabeth, Sacred Heart, and St. Henry parishioners and others, Ken was successful in finishing the marathon with a time of 6 hours and 20 minutes. True to his word, Jim agreed to quit smoking but said he knew he couldn’t do it “cold turkey.” Now prayers are to be directed towards Jim as he struggles to fulfill his promise.
· It is a big job changing the bulbs in the light fixtures at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church due to the height and the presence of the pews in the nave of the church. However, the Knights of Council 10354 have perfected the technique. Assembling scaffolding allows them to work around the pews and also gain the required height. On Saturday, March 10, 2012, the crew, including Ken Friedrich, Father Michael Deering, Paul Townes III, Paul Townes IV, Tim Friedrich, Tom Townes, Tommy Townes, Allen Belrose, and Shawn Holly, tackled the project. Danny Johnson was also present but, due to his recent accident and subsequent injuries, was unable to do any work. Needless to say, the project took all day to complete. Father Deering was gracious, as usual, and bought the men’s lunch.
· Some days nothing goes as planned. The usual routine for transporting lights and props for the Last Supper Reenactment is to borrow Knight Myron Hancock’s enclosed trailer and one of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church vans. Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Townes III attached the trailer to the van and discovered that the lights on the trailer were not all functional. After much troubleshooting, they finally located a swollen wire nut where water had entered and shorted out the wiring. With that problem solved; another cropped up. The van refused to crank because the battery was totally dead and out-dated. The men purchased a new replacement battery and all problems were finally solved.
· The All Knights Mass took place on March 11, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church in Warrior. The idea is that Knights serve in all the ministerial positions during the Mass. Father Michael Deering prayed the Mass and Ken Friedrich and Mike Wallace were the altar servers. David Shaner was the Lector and sang the Responsorial Song. Also, in the choir were Andy Rizzo, Rob Stump, and Dan Foster. Tim Friedrich and Tom Townes brought up the gifts at the Offertory. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion were Dominick Viruleg, Josh Stump, Allen Belrose, and Paul Townes III. Paul Homman, Tony Smith, and Myron Hancock were the Ushers. Knights had been asked to wear their red Council 10354 shirts and were easily spotted in the congregation. Danny Johnson, Tony DeCicco, Doug Homman, Bob McLeod, Cliff Papineau, Cliff Papineau III, Bill Ellis, Mike Clark, Todd Keeney, Eddie Jones, Mike O’Laire, Malcolm Fifer, Arnold McKerley, Corey McCray, Kurt Keeney, Jeremy Adams, Don Rydberg, and Mason Baldwin were in the congregation. The All Knights Mass is popular among the Council and among the parishioners.
- Knight Dan Foster was unable to set up his sound system for the Last Supper Reenactment at St. Paul's Family Life Center because he was at Cursillo in Cullman serving as a Table Leader for the men's weekend.
· Recycling is always a good practice, especially when it benefits disaster victims. Knights Doug Homman, Paul Homman, and Rob Stump loaded and hauled a truck load of recyclables to the newly opened Catholic Disaster Preparedness Warehouse on March 15, 2012. The items ranged from VCR tapes and TV to dishes and baseball caps and hats. The relief personnel indicated that there is still a great need for unused clothing.
· Lenten fish fries put on by Knights of Columbus Councils is almost as common as barbecue on the Fourth of July. Sacred Heart Council 1484 has used this fund raiser for several years and it is particularly popular and well-attended. However, the fish fry on March 16, 2012 was slightly different. Council 10354 Knight Derrin Gaudet cheerfully volunteered to give his home-town Knights a hand with the operation. He primarily served as a “go-between” from the cook site and the kitchen and dining area. He repeatedly carried the fish and French fries from the deep fat fryers to the waiting 50-60 diners. Proceeds from the supper are generally given to Father Patrick Egan, the Pastor, to be used at his discretion.
Rumor has it that Derrin proudly wore his red Council 10354 shirt so that there would be no doubt that he was a Knight of Columbus…doing what Knights do….helping out where they are needed.
· It takes special, caring individuals to even consider reaching out to minister to prisoners….and go to prison to do it. Knights Doug Homman and Shawn Holly are two such giving, compassionate people. On morning of Saturday, March 17, 2012, they travelled to Donaldson Prison to attend the Kairos Ultreya. During their stay, they broke up into small groups and discussed topics of faith. They also sang songs and they and seven other “free world Kairos members” ministered to 18 inmates.
In the afternoon, along with four other Kairos volunteers, they visited Death Row. There they related to inmates and were involved in some one-on-one counseling sessions. Doug indicated that the experience was very gratifying. He recommends the ministry to anyone who might be interested, stating that it is a “fulfilling way to spread the love of Christ.” He went on to say that there are also positions available in the ministry that do not require actually setting foot in a prison.
· Several years have passed since St. Elizabeth and St. Henry Parishes have conducted a St. Joseph’s Altar. Sunday, March 18th, one day prior to the feast day, was a perfect time to reestablish the tradition at both churches.
A procession with the St. Joseph statue was conducted between the sanctuary and the parish hall area at St. Henry. Knight Jeremy Adams carried the statue and situated it in the place of honor surrounded by flowers and baked goods. Parishioners were free to take whichever items they chose for a voluntary donation.
A similar procession took place from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church to the Parish Hall. Four men transported the statue on a custom-made, wooden carrier constructed by Knight Paul Foti to the Hall where it was placed on a three-tier altar. The altar was decorated with flowers and fruit and heaped with donated baked goods. Donations were similarly solicited. Knight Rod Cameron and his family, Melissa and Connor, beautifully portrayed the Holy Family in costume. The attendees were treated to a free meal of barbecue and sides. The bake “sale” netted approximately $1,100 to be used to provide XYZ meals for seniors at St. Elizabeth.
Grand Knight Ken Friedrich had been asked to make a short “plug” for the Knights of Columbus at the preceding 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth and set up a booth of pictures, brochures, and forms at the Parish Hall. Since one title for the saint is “St. Joseph, the Worker,” parishioners were asked to consider and sign up for working positions in the Parish, such as Lectors, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Choir, Knights, Ladies Altar Sodality, etc. The theme was especially appropriate for the Knights since “St. Joseph, the Worker’ is the name of Council 10354. Two potential Knights were recruited during the lunch.
Ken Friedrich assisted the ladies in cleanup after the lunch that was attended by a full house.
· Since joining the Knights of Columbus one year ago, Council 10354 Knight Derrin Gaudet has increased his volunteerism at his home Parish, Sacred Heart Church in Cullman. On Sunday morning, March 18, 2012, he arrived early (7:00 a.m.) at the Church to assist in putting on a gratis parish breakfast to be served after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. The breakfast was hosted by the Parish and the Altar Society and featured eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, and grits. It was estimated that 600 people enjoyed the meal and one of the duties that Derrin accepted was to keep the steam table replenished. What a challenge under the circumstances!
· Knights are known for earth moving activities! Usually, this expression is not meant in the literal sense…until March 15, 2012. Knight Thom Duran had purchased a carport building that he wanted to assemble on his property, where a small storage building had once stood. However, the configuration of the yard is such that a dirt bank butts up to the construction site where the garage should be.
This situation is not a problem if you know a Brother Knight who happens to own a 20,000-pound wheel loader, “Katie,” equipped with a front-end loader or bucket. Knight Ken Friedrich drove
Katie the two miles to Thom’s house and began excavating the garage site. Not only did dirt need to be removed from the wall itself, but the level had to be lowered by 8 inches to accommodate
the concrete slab on which the building would be located. The job…as they always do….turned out to be more involved and more time-consuming than at first anticipated. After the first 5 hours, Ken returned to the Duran house and completed the job on March 20. He had also negotiated with fellow Knight Mike Jolly to dispose of the displaced dirt from the premises. Several loads in
Mike’s dump truck were required.
- · Knight Paul Boike, the Council 10354 “appliance guy,” came to the rescue again! It was learned through the grape vine, that the A/C system at the residence of Knight Jay Handerhan had quit working two weeks ago. Someone that they had consulted claimed that the compressor was shot and the repair would cost $2,500. When Paul got word of the problem, he thought they needed a second opinion…at worst, that a new system could be purchased for less than the repair quote.
On March 21, 2012, Paul and Grand Knight Ken Friedrich travelled to the Handerhan home in Fultondale to diagnose the situation. As is typical, the compressor was still functional! The men found a gas leak around a screw that had not been properly tightened or had loosened with time. They fastened the offending screw and replenished the system with Freon and it was again up and running. The cost of the Freon was only about $40 vs. $2,500!
· On March 22, 2012, Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Townes III were commissioned to cover all the statues in the sanctuary area and in the vestibule of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in anticipation of Holy Week. Purple covers customarily veil the statues before the vigil Mass of the Fifth Sunday of Lent and remain until Easter Vigil. The veiling helps us to concentrate more fully on the redemptive work of Christ during His passion and death.
Oops! Somehow it didn’t occur to anyone, until the next day, that a wedding was scheduled for March 24th at St. Elizabeth. It would never do to have the statues covered in the wedding photos! The purple veils were removed and then replaced on Sunday, March 25, just before the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Lent is a perfect time for personal sacrifices and “penances!”
· Catholics and other conservative Christians see the ObamaCare HHS Mandate…which will require all institutions and organizations to furnish insurance coverage for contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs…as an assault on their religious freedom. Birmingham joined some 140 cities throughout the nation in publically demonstrating their disapproval of the mandate on March 23, 2012. A group estimated at 200 met in front of the Hugo L. Black Federal Courthouse on the corner of 5th Avenue North and 18 St. North to voice their demands to stop the mandate. Short speeches were delivered by Bishop Robert Baker, Father Kevin Bazzel, Jim and Joy Pinto, and others. Members of the crowd carried signs and sang songs, such as “Amazing Grace,” and “God Bless America.”
Among those in attendance were Knights Father Michael Deering, Ken Friedrich, and Dan Gardner. Alabama State Knights of Columbus Culture of Life Director Jim Kaelin was present as were several members and former members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
St. Henry Knights put on their annual fish fry following the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 23, 2012. Everyone had a great time and had PLENTY to eat of fish, hush puppies, fries, and poppers.
- Knight Doug Homman spent his Saturday on March 24, 2012 in prison....Draper Prison, to be exact, while attending the "Instructional Kairos Reunion." Twenty seven of the original 42 inmates returned (after 6 months) and participated in 6 talks and discussions emphasizing the importance of prayer sharing in small groups. After serving his day's "sentence," Doug was released at 2:15 p.m. on his own reconnaissance! It takes a special person to give of himself to the imprisoned and condemned, but Doug is such a man, a knightly man.
- Council 1484 found a virtual gold mine when they discovered Council 10354 Knight Derrin Gaudet. Derrin is dependable, on time, and not afraid of work. On March 24, 2012, he participated in a church grounds cleanup project sponsored by the Cullman Knights. The idea was to get the landscaping in good shape for Holy Week. Most of the morning and early afternoon were spent in pulling weeds, adding fertilizer and weed killer, and mulching the flowerbeds surrounding the church building. The hard work paid off the grounds at Sacred Heart Church, never looked better!
Deep cleaning continued on Saturday, March 31, 2012.
· Thursday, March 29, 2012 marked the 130th anniversary of “Founders Day,” the day that Blessed Father Michael McGivney started the Knights of Columbus. Therefore, this date was chosen for a First Degree Exemplification at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall and was dedicated to Council 10354 chaplain, Father Michael Deering. Attending the ceremonies were Roger Harbison and Frank Fendley. Team members included Doug Homman, Dan Gardner, Ken Friedrich, Paul Townes III, and Mike Wallace. District Deputy David Hester witnessed and sanctioned the event. Refreshments and lively discussions followed the Exemplification.
· By now the situation was getting desperate! The kitty had been up the 40-foot tree for more than 5 days. The fire department refused to come even after several phone calls and the local tree surgeons insisted on charging at least $100 to rescue the cat. It is not common knowledge that cats can easily climb up a tree but must come down the tree backwards. Apparently, the kitty didn’t know this bit of information either!
Knight Jared Clark called the Friedrich residence on behalf of his friend Megan Barnett as a last resort. The obvious answer was Knight Paul Townes III. He has the capability of climbing the pine tree since he is an avid hunter and a tree cutter in his own rite. Also, Paul is notorious for generously reaching out to help someone in need.
Paul was able to climb the tree with his hunting tree climber and cleared the way to the stranded feline with a small chain saw. Although she had only been in the cat carrier one time before, the kitty eagerly climbed into the carrier and was lowered to safety by the attached rope. Paul had been ready with gloves and long sleeves but these measures were not necessary. The kitty was very cooperative and too happy to be rescued! Her owners were also more than happy to pay Paul for his gas for the trip between Gardendale and Hayden on April 1, 2012. No April Fools here!
· The Last Supper Reenactment had its beginnings in the year 2000 for the Jubilee Year. Twelve years later it is still going strong. The cast and crew of Knights began their rehearsals on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Two new members and one “revert” joined the troupe: Evan Kreider took on the role of Jesus, Dan S. Gardner that of James the Lesser. Dennis Dearing (Peter before 2006) returned as the “Voice from Above” and stand-in narrator. Other members of the cast and crew are: Roy Brewer (narrator), Mike Wallace (Nathaniel), Allen Belrose (Andrew), Jack Boggan (Peter, Council 9862), Malcolm Fifer (Judas), Jared Clark (John), Paul Townes III (Jude), Tim Vaughn (Philip), Rod Cameron (James the Greater), Ken Carpenter (Thomas), Ken Friedrich (Simon), Shawn Holly (Matthew), Earl Kreider (flood lights), and Brandon Vinning (spot light).
Four performances were scheduled during Lent and the beginning of Holy Week:
1. St. Thomas in Montevallo on March 11, 2012 to a crowd of about 75. Scaffolding and platforms were necessary to elevate the spot light and to give some extra walking space around the Last Supper table.
2. St. Paul’s Family Life Center on March 18, 2012, following the Council 9862 dinner party fund raiser. Special arrangements had to be made to get a functional and adequate sound system for the upper room. About 100 people witnessed the performance.
3. Sacred Heart Church in Cullman on March 30, 2012 following their Lenten fish fry and Stations of the Cross. A traffic jam ALMOST prevented Rod Cameron from portraying James the Greater. He arrived with only 10 minutes to spare. Also, Dennis Dearing misplaced his narrator and Voice from Above scripts. A copy of the narrator’s part was found in the spare parts box and the Voice from Above script was dictated and transposed by cell phone. An estimated 300-400 adults and children enjoyed the performance in spite of the inclement weather during the early evening.
4. Sacred Heart Church in Anniston, as a first time appearance, on Palm Sunday, April 1, 2012. The spotlight bulb shot just as Brandon Vinning turned on the instrument. However, he wasn’t rattled and efficiently changed the bulb during the recitation of the Voice from Above narration. The potential “disaster” was not even noticed by the audience of 150-200.
Knights are not by nature superstitious. However, it is interesting to note that the greatest number of snafu’s occurred during the THIRTEENTH year of the Last Supper’s history!
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_ Sir Knight Derrin Gaudet’s debut as a Fourth Degree Honor Guard has come with much anticipation. On Monday, April 2, 2012, Derrin served with six other men at the wake and rosary of former Grand Knight of Cullman’s Council 1484, Dean Misegades. The services took place at Moss Funeral Home one day after his death. During the services, Sir Knights, in full regalia, stand in turn at the coffin and salute the deceased member.
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Sometimes epidurals do the job and sometimes not. The latter was the case for Council 10354 Knight Danny Johnson. The damage in his back caused him unbearable leg pain and back surgery became necessary.
On Holy Thursday morning, April 5, 212, Grand Knight Ken Friedrich transported the Johnson couple from their home in Tarrant to St. Vincent’s Hospital in downtown Birmingham. The surgery was performed that afternoon and Danny was able to go home the next day. Knight Corey McCray accompanied his mother, Barbara, to the hospital to return Danny to his home. In the meantime, Knight Father Michael Deering provided the Johnsons with some food supplies to get them “over the hump” as Danny
recuperated.
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On Good Friday, April 6, 2012, Knights Father Michael Deering, Ken Friedrich, Allen Belrose, and prospective Knight Nathan Munson carefully disassembled and carried the life-size crucifix from the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall to the Church in anticipation of the Veneration of the Cross.
On the morning of Easter Vigil, Father Deering, Paul Townes III, and Ken Friedrich returned the large crucifix to the Parish Hall and hung the “Risen Christ” mural over the similar crucifix in the sanctuary of the Church. Knight Larry and Linda Keeney finished off the decorations in the Church at their usual level of excellence. They strategically placed Easter lilies, gold and white banners, and green plants in the sanctuary. Lilies were utilized to a lesser degree in other areas of the church.
· · Traditionally, Council 10354 has hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for the children of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes on Holy Saturday. Such was the case for April 7, 2012. Age groups were: 3 and under, 4 to 5, 6 to 7, and 8 and over. Prizes were then awarded to the hunter who found the gold or silver egg in each age group, as well as the person who found the greatest number of eggs in each group. Twenty six boys and girls participated in the fun. Knights who hid the eggs, awarded the prizes, served the refreshments, and cleaned up afterwards included Dan S. Gardner, Roger Harbison, Shawn Holly, Allen Belrose, Paul Townes III, and Doug Homman. Rumor has it that even the adults had a fun time.
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Sir Knight Derrin Gaudet of Cullman made excellent choices for a Confirmation sponsor and for a patron saint: Grand Knight
Ken Friedrich and St. Jude, the Apostle. The Confirmation took place at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 7, 2012 at Sacred Heart Church and was performed by the Pastor Father Patrick Egan.
The ceremonies were preceded by a supper of barbecue and sides in the Sacred Heart Family Life Center. The meal and the Mass were attended by the various candidates and their sponsors and families. Derrin was accompanied by his Mother, brothers and sisters, grandmother, sponsor and his wife, and Knights of Columbus Field Agent John Imhof.
It was difficult to determine which man, Ken or Derrin, was “flying higher” after the Sacrament was conferred on the young Sir Knight! It was a glorious and gratifying experience to witness the reception of the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit on such a holy night and onto an exceptionally holy man.
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Everyone loved Knight James Gay and for good reason. During the eulogy on April 9, 2012, Knight and Pastor Father Michael Deering summed up the man as having the “divine spark” and a “twinkle in his eye.” One would never know from his sweet personality that James had retired as a homicide detective for the Birmingham Police Department. He had a smile for everyone and was a proud and faithful convert to the Catholic Faith. He was on the
R.C.I.A. team at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton so that he could share that Faith with
others. He will be greatly missed.
Approximately 150 mourners participated in the Funeral Mass and as many Brother Knights attended as could. Altar servers included Knights Beau McMinn and Frank Rohling and Beau’s brother, Brett. Choir members included Knights David Shaner and Andy Rizzo.
· The parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Cullman were busy on Sunday, April, 15, 2012. However, they were no busier than our Sir Knight Derrin Gaudet. He participated in a five-man Fourth Degree Honor Guard at the 8:30 a.m. Mass where 70 children and young adults received their First Holy Communion. One of the First Communicants was Derrin younger brother, Noah Payne, and another was Knights Charlie Friedrich and Paul Townes III’s grandson, Jarrett Friedrich. It was standing room only for the congregation.
Derrin then served during the Divine Mercy Sunday prayer service at 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Two men in the Honor Guard carried the picture of the Divine Mercy image and other two escorted the photo with swords drawn in salute. Fifty or sixty parishioners attended the annual service.
· Sickness rarely comes at convenient times. Knight Myron Hancock found himself with a serious case of shingles, when his wife Nancy fell at their home on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. Nancy has also been under the weather for the last few months and has experienced some episodes of vertigo that make her unstable on her feet. When Myron was not well enough to take her to the doctor to have her injuries evaluated, Brother Knight Dan S. Gardner volunteered. The bruises that she received were diagnosed as the result of a mini-stroke. Generously, knights are always available to help out when needed and they are especially ready to say a quick prayer for the full recovery of their own and their families.
· Knight Doug Homman stated that the Kairos Weekend, held at Donaldson Prison on April 19-22, 2012, was the best ever. He should know, since he has been working prison ministries for years. On this particular weekend, 48 inmates entered the program and 48 “graduated” on Sunday. Three Council 10354 Knights participated: Dan Foster was one of five guitarists, Doug was a state observer and “cookie monster” (cookie control officer), and Shawn Holly was a table servant. Furthermore, ten new team members were “broken in.”
During the open mike session, one inmate, who had been reared in a violent household by an abusive step-dad, admitted that he had never before experienced love from anybody… until Kairos. Another confessed that after 20 years of hatred, he could now forgive his father, who had murdered his mother when he was four years old. Doug suggested to him to phone his dad and verbally express his forgiveness. One of the “tough guys” appeared to be asleep during the sessions but later owned up the fact that he was actually hiding his tears. Yet another inmate summed up the entire weekend by claiming that “the Holy Spirit got ahold of him and turned him upside down.”
One of the team members gave four ten-minute “forgiveness” talks and had the entire group’s undivided attention. It certainly looks like the talks had their intended results!
· Students at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Henry Churches are required to attend weekend retreats in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The first is designed for 5th, 6th, and 7th Graders and took place on April 20-22, 2012. Seventeen students and their luggage and belongings were transported to Camp WorldSong, where they participated in instructional skits and other informative activities, including Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Preparation for the retreat began weeks before the weekend and involved the writing and rehearsal of skits and other activities. Adults and high school and college students worked diligently to create and develop a program that would flawlessly and smoothly instruct as well as entertain the children, while they are in an environment totally away from all electronics and other “distractions.” Knight Joel Busby was responsible for creating the skits. Other Knights included Jeremy Adams, Father Michael Deering, and Jaimie Hand. Father obviously administered the Sacraments and the other men concentrated on cooking and cleaning.
· James L. Yonker missed his wife of 74 years and went to join her and the Lord on April 19, 2012. He was 95 years old and a WWII veteran and long-time Fourth Degree Knight. The Funeral Mass on Friday, April 27, 2012, was prayed by Brother Knight Father Michael Deering and served by Grand Knight Ken Friedrich.
Prior to the start of Mass, Allen Belrose and Danny Johnson saluted the cremains of the deceased in full regalia and with raised swords. Fourth Degree Knights Doug Homman and Corey McCray in suit or tuxedo also processed in with the Honor Guard.
Choir members included Knights Andy Rizzo, Rob Stump, David Shaner, and Harold Gray (Council 9862). Corey McCray and his mother, Barbara, brought up the Gifts at the Offertory. Joining the congregation were Knights Bill Ellis, Tony DeCicco, Paul Homman, Arnold McKerley (WWII veteran), Cliff Papineau, Jr., Cliff Papineau III, and Bob McLeod.
The Mass was followed by burial in the St. Henry Cemetery where 5 members of the local VFW Chapter played “Taps” and performed a “21-gun salute.” The ceremonies were all very moving and comforting, especially since it was obvious that “Mr. James” experienced a “happy death.”
Food and refreshments were available to the family and friends of James Yonker in the Parish Hall, following the interment.
· The Knights of Columbus Alabama State Convention was held on the weekend of April 27 to 29, 2012 and was attended by Knights Ken Friedrich and Paul Boike and their wives.
At the conclusion of the business meetings awards were made at three levels in 6 activity categories. Activities were Church, Council, Community, Family, Pro-Life (or Culture of Life), and Youth. Supreme Awards were voted for the best single activity in each category and State Deputy Awards and State Deputy Runner-up Awards were presented for the best “body of work” for the entire year in each category and for the second place body of work in the six categories. Council 10354 won two Supreme Awards: Council (for the building of the smoker as a fund raiser for our own seminarians) and Church (for the adult retreat presented by Father Mitch Pacwa). State Deputy Awards (first place) went to Council, Pro-Life, and Youth. The remaining awards were presented at the banquet on Saturday night. Council 10354 claimed three State Deputy Runner-up Awards (second place) for Knight of the Year (Paul Boike), Family of the Year (Tim, Scott, and Penny Vaughn), and Youth of the Year (Nicholas Hand).
Eight awards for the year is a tie for the record for Council 10354 and reflects the hard work that the members perform throughout the year. Grand Knight Ken Friedrich said that he couldn’t be prouder of his fellow Knights and anticipates the awarding of Star Council and Priesthood Scholarship Award before the year’s end (June 30, 2012).
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