Author: Paul Spire - General Program Director
I hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas and has started the new year off on a positive note. NewYear’s resolutions are very often just wishes that we as humans feel that we need to incorporate into our daily lives. Almost all of the time, we know what they are all year long but fail to follow through on them. Many, if not most of them, fall under the category of “self-improvement.” And while these are important, we, as Knights of Columbus, must also look into a deeper relationship with our Creator. There is so much to be thankful for in these times of uncertainty. By spending some extra time in prayer this year, hopefully we can conclude that we all have a purpose in this life, if we will just be still, and listen to God. I personally know that is hard to do, but that is my resolution this year. Pray fervently and listen to where God is leading me. We have all been gifted with so much this Advent season. Some items are big and some small, but we have all been blessed and now we need to start this new year off with a resolution of spreading our wealth of gifts that God has provided to each of us. How? Programs!! Here are some of the programs that you should be completing, and then there are others that are in the planning stages.
Faith: The Pilgrim Icon program is ongoing and can help motivate and guide us on our spiritual journey. There are two Icons that are traveling through the State, one on the east side of the State and one on the west side of the State. Make sure that you contact your District Deputy and schedule your Council’s time if you have not already had the opportunity to host this event.
There were probably many new faces at church on Christmas day and Midnight Mass, ensure that you continue to stock the Domestic Church Kiosk. We must continue to plant the seed of our faith and pray for the return of all lost sheep to our community.
Continue to push for a permanent Rosary program within your community. And in your personal prayers and daily rosary, please take a few moments to remember all those who are affected by war and other types of oppression all throughout the world.
Family: Please submit your Keep Christ in Christmas posters to your District Deputy along with the accompanying paperwork by Jan 15th
Continue to consider submitting a Family of the Month each month. There were only 18 Councils that submitted a Family in November. Congratulations to the John Welsh family from Council 10495 for being selected as the Family of the Month by Supreme from North Carolina. The deadline for submitting the Family of the Year to the State is due to the State Secretary by February 1st. Please keep in mind that to submit a Family of the Year to the State, that family had to be submitted to Supreme (and accepted) this past year. Community: The Council should have already submitted your Essay Contest winner to your District Deputy by now. Your Council should have the Free Throw Contest for the community already scheduled and hopefully already completed by now. Please ensure that all winners have their score sheets sent to the District Deputy for the District contest. The State Free Throw is scheduled to be in Burlington at the Fairchild Center on March 16th. The build a Bed program is getting kicked off within the State. All District Deputies that attended the mid-year meeting were given the opportunity to participate in a Build-a-Bed event and has the information for your Council to host or participate in such an event. The Coats for Kids program was a great success this year. It is such a great pleasure seeing a deserving child receive a warm coat knowing that it is theirs to keep. Not only the child, but the parents also are so grateful for everyone that participated in this worthy program. Life: January is a time for your Council to participate in all the Right to Life marches throughout the nation. Please set up a local march or join others in your area to show our support for life from the moment of conception until natural death. We still have a lot of work to do in this area. Just an FYI, the North Carolina Right to Life March in Raleigh is likely to be in May, 2024.
The ASAP program is continually in need of support. Please consider doing a fund raiser for these centers during January to support these young families that need our love and care.
As always, continue to send your Form 10784’s on all events that your Council does. When filling these Forms out please provide as much information on the program submitted as possible. These forms are how we at the State level judge how we are doing bringing Jesus to those that need him the most.
I will leave you with this thought from Hasan Al Basri: “The best season to a believer is the winter,
Its nights are long for those who wish to pray, And its days are short for those who wish to fast.” Vivat Jesus
Paul Spire, General Program Director