Author: Paul Spire
Greetings Brothers All,
I wish to say congratulations to all the new Council Leaders. North Carolina has already had a great kick off for the fraternal year, both in membership and programs. It was great to see so many of you at our Council Leadership training. I hope that it was informative to you as go forward with putting your Council to work taking Jesus to the people and places that needs him. Remember that there is a large amount of training material online to assist you in all of your Council’s endeavors. Here are just a few program highlights that you can share with your members and community.
Community:
The Coats for Kids program is now posted online under the Community part of the State Web page. Please make sure that after you fill in your order form, print it out. CIRCLE the place where you wish to pick up your coats. Supreme will notify us when the shipments are expected to be delivered to the drop point. At that time, it is our hope that each council can be there to accept their individual shipment so that we do not have to store them for very long. There will be more information available as we get closer to the delivery time. Please send your order form and check made out to the State Council before the end of August to qualify for the Buy One Get One free deal.
School is starting and along with that comes several activities. Soccer is one that you should plan on doing. We are finalizing the date for the State Play Off Event. Our Worthy Community Director will be providing you with that information as soon as possible.
Faith:
One new program that we are starting is Prison Ministry. The taking of Jesus to those who need Him in many ways is something that we all need to do. In Matthew 25:36 it says, “I was naked, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me.” As we develop this program, we will be providing you with the necessary information on training so that each council can begin this very worthwhile and fulfilling program. We have some very good leadership in this area, and these individuals are willing to provide us with the help necessary to start this much needed program.
As you start your Fraternal Year and discuss the need to support our Seminarians, please send me your candidates. We need to make sure that they are all supported equally. I have started a list of those who your councils are adopting and would like to have all 130 councils support a much-needed future religious member.
Family:
There continue to be Families that are recommended to Supreme for the Family of the Month. For the month of June, we all need to congratulate the Robert Gibbons family from Council 11817 Castle Hayne, NC, for being selected as The Family of the month. The Family Director will be selecting another winner, different from the one who Supreme picks. Why not submit a Family of the Month to Supreme on form 10784 from your parish before the 15th of the month? Each of the families will receive a plaque. It is highly important that you recognize the family at Mass.
The order forms for the Keep Christ in Christmas card program is now on the State’s web page. Please follow the instructions to ensure that you receive your order in a timely manner. The Checks this year will be mailed directly to the vendor. The English card order will be automatically sent to the chairman and the vendor. You will need to print out the Spanish and other ethnic card order, complete the order with the necessary information and then scan the order and send to, KCIC@kofcnc.org. Or you can mail your order to the chairman’s address, and he will process it from there. (The check is to be mailed to the vendor, not the KCIC Chairman or the State Secretary.)
Life:
I was talking to a young mother of three boys ages 5, 7, and 9 the other day. I commented about how great it was to see a young, and energetic family, and how well behaved they were. As we continued to talk, I casually mentioned that she had three young men and that her life was going to be full in several years. She had a sort of sad look and then told me that between the second and third child she had a miscarriage of a little girl. As with many women, this event had a profound effect on her. One night she had a dream where she saw a lady holding a little baby girl and she understood that even though she had lost her little daughter, she was safe and not gone at all. Do I believe that she saw her little girl in heaven? Yes, I do. God loves all little children and while He may take some before what we believe is their time, we do not live in His time. Life is precious from the moment of conception until natural death. And while God blessed her with another son soon after, she is forever grateful knowing that her daughter is safe in heaven. She is a living testament to someone who knows the value of life. Please remember that when you have the opportunity to discuss this issue with anyone, please vote your Catholic conscience.
I will leave you with this thought:
Dear Lord, help me - every single morning - to find faith in the midst of the chaos. Give me the desire and ability to see You, hear You, talk to You, and give thanks to You. And as I do, I pray that I will draw nearer and nearer to You, and that my faith will multiply exponentially as I understand in new, deeper ways that You are everything I ever hoped You would be. And so much more. Amen. ~ Kelly O’Dell Stanley
Vivat Jesus
Paul Spire
General Program Director