The Tar Heel Knight

Forms, Deadlines, and the Path to State Convention
Brother Knights, as we continue our pilgrimage through the fraternal year, December stands as an important milestone on our road toward the State Convention. Now is the ideal time for Councils to ensure all required forms are current—especially those tied to Special Olympics, LAMB activities, and other charitable programs.
State Convention Forms
By December, Councils should be actively preparing the documentation needed for delegate certification, program submissions, and awards packets. Avoid the springtime rush—start now so that your Council is fully prepared.
Special Olympics Reporting — Why It Matters More Than Ever
The Knights of Columbus are deeply committed to supporting Special Olympics, and your reporting has a direct impact on how much assistance North Carolina receives.
Every time a Council submits a Form 10784 – Fraternal Programs Report Form for Special Olympics support—including LAMB fundraising events, donations, volunteer activities, or athlete support—that activity is counted toward the state’s overall participation.
Supreme allocates financial support to each State Council based on documented participation.
This means:

• More submitted 10784s → Higher reported state participation
• Higher participation → Larger support checks from Supreme
• Larger checks → More funds available for Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC)

Simply put: your paperwork increases our charitable impact. Each properly submitted 10784 helps ensure that SONC receives the maximum possible support.
Please remember to:

• Submit a 10784 for every Special Olympics or LAMB-related activity
• Include photos of your Council in action so we can highlight your work on the State Council Facebook page
• Review the fall to ensure no charitable activity reports remain outstanding

Thank you for helping us strengthen our statewide witness through accurate and timely reporting.
Fraternity: A Pilgrim’s Companion on the Way to Heaven
Our theme this month is Fraternity, a virtue especially fitting for Advent—a season of journeying with hope toward Christ’s coming.
Life is a pilgrimage. Scripture is full of holy travelers: Abraham leaving Ur, the Israelites walking toward the Promised Land, Mary visiting Elizabeth, the Holy Family journeying to Bethlehem. Even Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee with His disciples.
Pilgrimages remind us that:

• The road to heaven is long and winding
• We are not meant to walk it alone
• We need brothers to strengthen us, challenge us, and encourage us
• We sometimes must carry others who have stumbled or lost their way

Fraternity is not optional—it is essential. To be “Transformed by Christ” means embracing the responsibility of walking with our brothers, lifting each other up, and intentionally inviting others to join us on the path toward Christ.
In your Council’s December events—Christmas parties, parish outreach, Advent prayer services—seek out the man who needs an invitation, the brother who has drifted, or the newcomer who longs for belonging. Bring them on pilgrimage with you.
Saints of the Month: Saint Bartholomew & Saint Matthew
Continuing the Apostles of Eucharistic Prayer I
Saint Bartholomew

• Order in Eucharistic Prayer I: Appears after Philip and before Matthew
• Feast Day: August 24
• Patron Saint of: Plasterers, tanners, leatherworkers, and those with nervous or neurological disorders
• Brief Description: One of the Twelve Apostles, traditionally identified with Nathanael in John’s Gospel—the man whom Jesus praised as “without guile.” Bartholomew carried the Gospel to distant lands, including India and Armenia, and gave his life as a martyr.
• Quote: “Before Philip called you, I saw you.” — Jesus to Bartholomew (Nathanael), John 1:48

Bartholomew teaches us that honesty and humility before God are the first steps of every pilgrimage.
Saint Matthew

• Order in Eucharistic Prayer I: Listed immediately after Bartholomew
• Feast Day: September 21
• Patron Saint of: Accountants, bankers, tax collectors, financial workers, and civil servants
• Brief Description: Once a tax collector, Matthew answered Christ’s call without hesitation. His Gospel emphasizes Christ as the fulfillment of all prophecy and invites us to radical trust and conversion.
• Quote: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” — Matthew 9:12

Matthew reminds us that conversion is a lifelong journey—a pilgrimage from who we were to who Christ calls us to become.
A Pilgrimage Prayer for Advent
Prayer of the Pilgrim Heart
Recommended for December Council meetings, Advent events, or personal prayer.
**Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Way that leads us to the Father.
As we journey through this life,
shape our hearts to walk in humility,
strengthen our steps with perseverance,
and surround us with brothers who lift us when we fall.
Make our Council a company of pilgrims—
united in charity, steadfast in fraternity,
and transformed by Your grace.
Guide us together to the heavenly Jerusalem,
where You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.**
Brother Knights, thank you for your dedication, generosity, and service. December brings the grace-filled season of Advent, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and the great feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. May these days renew your spirit, strengthen your brotherhood, and deepen your pilgrimage toward Christ.
Let us continue to walk together—encouraging, supporting, and lifting one another—as we strive to be truly Transformed by Christ.
Vivat Jesus!