The council will be holding a First Degree Exemplification on Monday, June 20. All members are invited to attend to both observe the ceremony and welcome our new Brother Knights. The doors to the council hall will be open at 6:00 pm, and we are requesting that all candidates arrive no later than 6:30. The exemplification shall begin promptly at 7:00. Refreshments will be served following the exemplification. For additional information, please contact Membership Director John Watling at 388-1233.
Knights of Columbus Sets Record in Charity for 17th Straight Year
The Knights of Columbus set a new all-time record last year for charitable donations and service hours with $175,079,192 in donations and more than 73.5 million hours of service. The numbers were announced at the closing session of the annual Organizational Meeting of State Deputies in New Haven.
“We are very proud of these Fraternal Survey numbers,” Supreme Knight Anderson said. “These are a clear indication that we are keeping faith with Father McGivney’s principle of charity and also of unity, not only among ourselves, but with those in need. This is what we call a charity that evangelizes. This is what makes Knights of Columbus different.”
Supreme Knight Anderson went on to say that these records of giving perfectly illustrate the point made by Father Tomasz Kraj, Poland Associate State Chaplain and Theologian in Residence at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, in his homily during the Mass that preceded the closing session. Father Kraj said that the world needs more men who pay witness through their actions to what it means to be a Catholic.
“We are answering Pope Francis’ call to go to the peripheries,” the supreme knight said. “We can reach half way around the globe to help those in need and we can reach to our neighbor next door. And we do that every day. That makes us witnesses to the faith.”
The number of service hours rose by more than a million over the previous year’s total, according to the Knights of Columbus Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending Dec. 31, 2015. Donations grew by more than $1.5 million since 2014, achieving an increase in giving for the 17th consecutive year.
The top ten jurisdiction in charitable giving (from highest) were: Texas, California, Florida, Quebec, Illinois, Michigan, Ontario, New York, Missouri and New Jersey. For volunteer hours, the top ten were: Luzon North, Texas, Illinois, Florida, California, Luzon South, Ontario, Michigan, Visayas and Pennsylvania.
Supreme Knight Anderson pointed out that while these numbers are impressive, jurisdiction leaders need to focus now on ensuring that the Order grows in charitable giving and volunteer service during the coming 2016- 17 fraternal year. The Knights continued to support their local communities in 2015 through such programs as aid to Christians at Risk, Coats for Kids, the Food for Families initiative and blood drives. Knights also gave assistance to Habitat for Humanity, the Global Wheelchair Mission and other large-scale charitable organizations.
The Value of Life Insurance for Children
As a father, you worry about your children and do many things to protect them. We try to raise them right and make sure they are prepared to become adults. But have you ever thought about buying life insurance on your child?
When you insure a child, you are protecting his or her future. Did you know that one out of every six adults get rated, postponed, or denied for insurance coverage? If you purchase a policy for your child from the Knights of Columbus, it guarantees that more insurance can be purchased for that child without proving insurability.
Unfortunately, as fathers we don’t have a crystal ball to tell us the future of our children. Your child could eventually have a rare disease, cancer, or be overweight. Did you know you can purchase a child’s policy, in many cases, for less than $10 a month?
I’ve heard it said that people don’t want to “profit” from the death of a child, so they won’t purchase coverage on their children. God forbid something tragic happens, those funds can come in handy at a time when finances will be the last thing on a parent’s mind. I have never heard a story about someone who regretted buying coverage on a child.
Contact me today to discuss the many policy options for child plans, including 10- and 20-Pay life insurance, as well as your other insurance needs.
Fraternally,
Philip De Leon
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com
Grand Knight’s Message, May 2016
Brother Knights and Knight Families:
There are approximately 2 months left in this Columbian year. Much has occurred in our Diocese this year in the area of vocations, which I wish to report to you. First, this report would not be possible without the great research performed by our Worthy Chancellor, Brother Adam Struck, who has been keeping us apprised of the status of vocations in our Diocese and facilitated payment of scholarship to 4 seminarians we are currently sponsoring this year.
As you know, many Councils, such as ours, support vocations through scholarships paid to seminarians, and our Supreme Council will match our scholarship monies. I am pleased to report that we have we have been consistent with providing approximately $2,000 in annual scholarship monies for seminarians. However, as report by our Worthy Chancellor, vocations have been on the decline for the Catholic Church in the U.S. and continues to be a challenge.
In 1975, there were 58,909 priests in the United States. According to a Georgetown University study, as of 2014 that number was 39,600 – a 33% drop. Meanwhile, America’s Catholic population rose from 54.5 million to 78.2 million during that same period – a 43% increase. Nationally, 1 in 5 parishes have no resident priest (20% of U.S. parishes), yet America’s Catholic population rises annually at a 1% rate, while seminary enrollment remains flat.
Elsewhere in the world vocations to the priesthood and religious life have dramatically increased in the last 30 years. In Africa, they increased by 394%; in Southeast Asia by 152%; in Central America by 253%. It is only in the U.S. and Western Europe that there has been a decline.
Locally, we are experiencing this decline in vocations in our parishes. Geographically, the Sacramento Diocese covers 20 counties or 42,597 square miles (all the way to the Oregon Border). Out of a population of 3,574,415 within the Diocese there are 994,767 Catholics. As of 2014, we have 102 parishes with approximately 81 Resident Diocesan Priests and 16 Resident Religious Priests. The population in the Diocese continues to grow and compounding this problem is recently the Franciscans (2 Franciscan priests) can no longer staff St. Francis of Assisi Parish after having built the church and staffing it for over 120 years. Two of its parish priests are being called back to its Provincial in Santa Barbara as that religious order is experiencing a decline in religious members. The Diocese is in the process of staffing it in the midst of this priest shortage. Another example of this vocational decline is the Bishop having to balance resources, leading to his decision to close the Sacramento Newman Center to the permanent non-student community after being active for over 40 years. It should be noted that the Newman Center closure to non-student members is part of a broader strategic plan the Bishop has to increase student membership in these Newman Campus Clubs. Thus, with the Franciscans leaving and the recent death of Fr. Patrick Lee of Presentation Parish in Carmichael, the availability of priests in the Diocese is much lower.
Nevertheless, do not despair. There are currently 27 men studying in the seminary, including 4 men who were recently accepted and will begin their studies this summer or fall. There are 5 or 6 additional men in the process of serious discernment, and the Diocese Office of Religious Vocations has experienced more inquires about vocations than in years past. According to Deacon Luigi Del Gaudio (a Diocesan Vocations Coordinator), “things are on an upswing.” Meanwhile, the average age of a Diocesan priest is 63 years old. On an odd note, we understand that the Dominican Seminary in Berkeley, California, is full.
Brothers, let’s keep vocations in our prayers and financial support. Many thanks again to Brother Adam, our Chancellor, for the great research on this report.
Vivat Jesus!
Lewis Muñoz
Grand Knight, Council 953
First Degree Exemplification
The council will be holding a First Degree Exemplification on Monday, June 16. All members are invited to attend to both observe the ceremony and welcome our new Brother Knights. The doors to the council hall will be open at 6:15 pm, and we are requesting that all candidates arrive no later than 7:00. The exemplification shall begin at 7:30 (or shortly thereafter). Refreshments will be served following the exemplification.
For additional information, please contact Membership Director John Watling or Financial Secretary John Sheldon.
Final Newman Mass and Luncheon
The final public mass at the Newman Catholic Community at Sacramento State will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, May 22. We would like to encourage all members of Council 953 to attend this final mass as a showing of support for our Brothers at Newman as they search for new parishes to call home. The mass will be followed by a luncheon. Tickets for the luncheon are currently sold out, but those who wish to attend may place their names on a waiting list for tickets at http://www.sacnewman.org/last-mass.
For additional information, please contact John Watling.