Category Archives: Council

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Get on the Bus

Get On The Bus (GOTB) is a program of The Center for Restorative Justice Works, a non-profit organization that unites children and parents separated by the criminal justice system. The program provides meals and transportation to make it possible for children to visit their parents in prison for Father’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Brother knight Greg Wolfe will be the Bus #2 Coordinator from Sacramento going to Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) on June 20, 2015. We need your help to make the trip a success for these children and families. Council 953 is collecting donations to help us qualify as a Bus Benefactor. That means Council 953’s name will be listed on the event day t-shirts. More importantly it will help families and children.

Christ says to each of us, ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ (Mathew 25: 35-36). We do not all have the opportunity to visit those in prison. But we can act in solidarity with children visiting their incarcerated parents by donating to support the costs of sending Bus #2 to Salinas.

Donations can be made payable to Knights of Columbus Council 953. Write Bus #2 SVSP in the memo line of your check. Your money will go straight to work to charter the bus to transport the children and provide them with lunch and dinner. Donations of any size are appreciated!

UPDATE: A collection at the February business meeting raised $165 for Get on the Bus! Additional donations can be made prior to the March business meeting. The council will make up the difference between what is collected and the $550 required to enable Council 953’s name to be listed on the event day t-shirts. Thank you for your generosity!

Founder’s Day – March 29

On Founder’s Day, this March 29th, we celebrate the anniversary of the Knights of Columbus. As we celebrate the legacy of Venerable Michael McGivney and the contributions of our brother Knights since 1882, we also prepare for an even greater future as we live out the vision of our founder. The anniversary of the realization of Father McGivney’s dream is a cause for celebration.

Councils throughout the Order are urged to observe this day – among their own members and with the community at large – as a reminder of what the Knights of Columbus has accomplished in the past years, the ideals of the Order, and their own local achievements.

From Supreme Council

Grand Knight’s Message, February 2015

Brother Knights,

Charity is our principal virtue as Knights. Charity describes our assisting the intellectually disabled, seminarians, under privileged graduates of Cristo Rey, the unborn and their mothers, and a host others. It describes the actions of members who pitch in with council activities; be it fundraiser dinners, hosting parish socials, serving beer, or wearing yellow aprons while passing out Tootsie Rolls. Charity also describes those individuals who donate prizes, place bills in our donation cans, or attend our dinners. I am grateful for all those people who make this collective Charity possible.

Go! Make a difference…
John Sheldon
Grand Knight, Council 953

Memory Eternal: Brother Frank Philipps

The council is saddened to report that our Brother Frank Philipps fell asleep in the Lord on January 12. Brother Frank was an active member of Council 953 for many years. In addition to his service to his church and council, Frank was very active in other aspects of the community, including the California State Railroad Museum, Carmichael Elks Club, Italian Club, Model A Club of Sacramento, and Sierra Adoption Services. He truly lived out the principle of charity that is the cornerstone of the Knights of Columbus. May God grant eternal rest to Brother Frank and comfort his family.

Grand Knight’s Message, January 2015

Brother Knights,

We reach the turning point in our councils Columbian Year, accomplishing much over the past six months. Yet three significant events remains, the Crab Dinner, Pasta for Life, and our beloved Irish Knight. We have an immediate need of Knights who can cook our corned beef and cabbage, plus other Irish victuals. The remaining Leprechaun duties will be easily assigned. As they say, “many hands makes for light work.” Yet we need able Knights to make the work light.

This brings me to membership. If there is someone in your parish or circle of catholic friends that would be a good addition to our council, invite them to our Thursday dinner. If they ask what we do, tell them we serve God by helping his church, our fellow man, and our brothers knights. To help process new applicants in a speedy fashion, we will be having 1st degrees in January, March, and April.

Go! Make a difference…
John Sheldon
Grand Knight, Council 953

2014 Donors to 365 Club

Every year, the council asks its members and widows of deceased members to contribute at least $3.65 to the Columbian Charities. The Columbian Charities provides emergency financial assistance to Knights and widows of Knights who are in immediate need of funds for basic needs. This past year, the council donated a total of $1,177.80. Thanks to all, who are listed below, for contributing to this important cause.

Andy Abraham
George Haag
Vito Parisi
Gustavo Aguirre
Betty Heaton
Gerald Pauley
Oscar Alarcon
Matthew Hermann
Robert Perez
Miguel Alvarez
Ronald Hermann
Frank Philipps
Thomas Andrade
Daniel Horton
Alan Piccardo
Anthony Arieas
Stephen Huhn
Jeanne Pires
Gary Beck
Dominic Ielati
Scott Raab
James Bellotti
Dorothy Ielati
Ryan Remis
Robert Benton
Antonia Jaime
William Renard
Robert Bergman
James Johnson
Willliam Riehl
Kermit Blades
Alex Kachmar
Zac Rivera
Peter Brothers
Lynne Klein
Enrique Ruiz
David Carboni
George Kriske
Ricardo Saldana
Barbara Carvalho-Lehman
Eugene Kunz
Heladio Saldivar
Manuel Cazares
Manuel Leon
Eddilio Santarosa
Richard Claflin
Lawrence Lindelhof
Keith Schiele
Thomas Coe
Michael Litwin
Bill Sheean
Frank Consulo
Michael Lopez-Garcia
John Sheldon
Terry Corcoran
Pauline Lower
William Silva
Violet Corr
Ottavio Luchini
Andy Smith
Harriet Coster
Matthew Lucien
Robert Stahley
Daniel Curren
Joseph Masse
Dale Sterken
Richard Cutting
Thomas Matista
William Sweigard
Gladys Darling
Bryan McKrell
Garrett Thomas
Eugene Downs
Mary Mejia
Josh Tindel
Dale Edwards
Joseph Miceli
Kathryn Traversi
Ray Eneim
Raymond Middleton
Albert Wetklow
Anthony Epolite
George Mills
Alfred White
Robert Forster
Steven Mills
Jesse Williams
Gloria Gabrielli
Michael Mooney
Gregory Wolfe
Richard Gann
Frank Mugartegui
Charles Zanetti
Hector Garcia
Charles Nulk
Eric Geibel
Thomas Nulk
George Gianechini
Robert Ocenosak
Orly Greco
Robert O’Connor
Bernard Gruneisen
Carl Pagluica
Fred Struck
Floyd Wells