Brother Knights,

We are now in the last two months of our Columbian year. We still have a number of projects and special events taking place so I look forward to full participation from you, my Brothers.

On Saturday, May 12th Calgary Chapter is hosting a Major Degree in our church. Bro. Dan has asked for help that day for the duties of setting up and arranging the various rooms. Please offer your assistance.

Next month, yes June is election month. Bro. Leo Bunz has stepped forward to chair the nomination slate of officers. This is the time to give consideration to the meaning of Knights of Columbus and how you can put your gifts and talents to work for your church, family and community. We work together as a team, enjoy the fraternalism of our Organization and feel gratification for the charity we extend to others.

At the last Chapter meeting on April 23rd we were informed that the Handi Boat committee is asking for financial help as they have purchased a new boat to the tune of $85,000.00. The old one was no longer in working condition. Camp Cadicasu is also asking for money. Every child that goes to camp pays $480.00 but the cost of a week to the camp is $600.00. Every child deserves a chance so we should offer some funds for this request.

Our parish garage sale date has been set for June 22nd, 23rd and 24th. WE NEED HELP FROM YOU TO SET UP, PRICE AND ORGANIZE THE ITEMS ON FRIDAY THAT ARE BROUGHT IN AND THEN BE AVAILABLE ON THE SALE DAY FOR THE ACTUAL SALE. Bro. Kevin and I are chairing the sale but we need many volunteers to assist. Please bring your sale items and your hands to help.

Our Grand Knight’s Ball date has been set for SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH (yes, Saturday). It will be held at St. Cecilia’s church hall with a banquet and dance. This year we will have a live “Old Time Band” under the direction of Bro. Roland Gelinas, to set our feet dancing. If you like to dance to ‘hard rock music’ this is likely not for you since we will have polkas, waltzes fox trots, etc. The dance portion will be open to our parishioners so let them know to join us for a minimal charge of $10.00 per person. Mark your calendar and plan to join us for great time.

With spring and warm weather here, we will have a wiener roast and games afternoon at Fish Creek Park on Sunday, May 20th. This will be our Lecturer’s program for the third Monday. See Bro. Dan’s Lecturer’s note elsewhere in the newsletter. We look forward to an afternoon of fraternalism.

Fraternally,
Henry Feddema, G.K

Brother Knights,

We are now into spring, the snow is gone and our minds turn to activities out doors.

With this thought in mind, a Sunday afternoon of playing bocci (outdoor lawn bowling) sounds like a fun way to enjoy the warmer weather and sunshine. Many of our members have played it and know how much fun it can be. For those who have not – well, let’s learn. Give this some thought for discussion at our council meeting on Monday night and Bro. James O’Dell, Council Activities Director can get the “ball rolling” and organize the event for a time when the grass greens up and it is warmer.

Another idea from a member was that we have an afternoon of games and a wiener roast at Fish Creek Park. This would be another opportunity to gather for fraternalism within our council family.

Barbara Smith, Diocesan Volunteer Screening Co-ordinator was our guest speaker at the Chapter meeting on Monday night. She gave us an update on Calgary’s Safe Environment Program called “Strengthening our Parish Communities.” The result of this is that all members of our council will have to be police checked. I’m sure there will be more information coming to us.

I have on hand registration forms for the Annual Pro-Life Hike for Life taking place on Saturday, May 12th. This would be a wonderful outdoor activity for us along with the possibility of raising funds for Pro-Life, one of our very important programs.

Via the email message sent to all and the large poster hanging on the church bulletin board, we are asked by Jana Drapal, Social Justice Chair for the Diocese to volunteer for crowd control at the Annual Way of the Cross held on Good Friday, April 6th starting at St. Mary’s Cathedral. If you are planning to attend, please contact Jana for details and please wear your blue jacket.

We are still being asked by Fr. Leo to organize a garage sale. We have run out of time to have one for April but please be prepared to take part in it in the fall.

At the Chapter meeting we were reminded that Camp Cadicasu is asking for financial help. We may have to consider this at our meeting.

Our General meeting is on Monday, April 2nd and I look forward to seeing you all there. Fraternalism is a big part of our meetings so come out and socialize and be a part of our council.

On behalf of my wife Donna, my children Katherine, James and Jacqueline I wish my Brother Knights and families a very blessed Easter. May the Risen Christ bless us.

Fraternally,
Henry Feddema, G.K.

Dear Brother Knights:

Thank you to all Brother Knights and ladies who came out and helped with the World Day of the Sick breakfast. Without you we could not have done it. This was again an opportunity for us to be visible to our parishioners and to bring the people together. It was a delicious breakfast and everyone enjoyed it.

Sometime in the next two months I would like us to challenge Holy Spirit Council to an event to win back the challenge trophy that we lost to them a few years back. We were considering a bowling challenge so we need to make plans and find a date. It might be a good idea to practice and refine our skills. Please give this some serious thought.

Thank you to Brother Mike Driscoll for his time in organizing the Basketball Free Throw, which was held on Saturday, February 25th at St. Matthew’s School. All who came out to help had a good time and it was great to see the smiles on all the kid’s faces. We will be hosting the Regionals this Saturday, March 3rd again at St Matthew’s. The time is 6.00 PM so again all your help will be appreciated. Keep up the good work, my Brother Knights.

We are now fully into the holy season of Lent. Please read Fr. Leo’s message for spiritual inspiration and food for thought.

Fraternally,
Henry Feddema, G.K.

We have a few events coming up. First is Padre Night on Friday, February 3rd at the Canadian Polish Club. We will have eleven Brother Knights in attendance with our three priests Fr. Henry, Fr. Alphonse and Fr. Francis.

Sunday, February 12th is the parish breakfast in conjunction with World Day of the Sick. Please volunteer to come out and help Bro. Dan Barth with the breakfast and make it a special day for all.

At Chapter on January 23rd, State Deputy Gary Johnson was here to give Bishop Henry a cheque of $6,510.75 for the Vocation Program. Bishop Henry accepted it with delight.

We have Basketball Free Throw coming up soon but at this time we are still working out the dates with the schools. We will need a few Bro. Knights to help out with this very fun and entertaining event so please volunteer your help.

Plans are being made through Calgary Chapter to take a trip to Edmonton in the spring and tour St Joseph’s Seminary, the Fr. McGivney bell tower, the two chapels and perhaps Neuman College. They hope to fill a bus from Calgary so keep this in mind if any one of you would be interested and we will pass on more information as it becomes available.

The Calgary Knights, through Chapter have been asked to work at St. Mary’s Hall on Sunday, July 29th for Feed the Hungry. We need one hundred Knights, family members can help also, to carry out the duties of the event, which includes setting up, serving and cleaning up. Bodies and donations are needed so please mark your calendar and let me know if you can take part.

Lastly, I wish to offer my sincere congratulations on behalf of my Council Brothers to Bro. Greg Miskiman, our Fraternal Benefits Advisor, on achieving Membership in Million Dollar Round Table for the seventh year. His article is contained elsewhere in the bulletin.

I wish all Brother Knights a special Valentine’s Day with their sweetheart.

Fraternally,
Henry Fedema, G.K.

I would like to thank all the ladies and Brother Knights who helped make our Christmas dinner and social evening so enjoyable. As in years past, it was a great evening of fraternity and fun spirit.

Thank you also to all the Brother Knights and ladies who helped decorate our church so beautifully for Christmas. It’s a big job and all help was appreciated.

I hope you all had a great New Years and may we all enjoy good health and happiness in the coming year. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions and I am hoping that each one of us will make one concerning our council. We need you to step forward and help, even if it is only to help with one activity. If you weren’t able to help last year, please make a resolution to get involved this year. Each chairperson would appreciate your assistance.

Please note that our January general meeting is moved to Wednesday, January 4th and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Again, from Donna and my family, I wish you all the very best in 2012.

Fraternally,
Henry Feddema, Grand Knight.

Brother Knights:

Having reached the half way point in our Columbian year I wish to thank all the members who have so actively worked to keep our council vibrant. A special thank you to Bro. Tomasz (Tom) Czarnomski for letting his name stand to fill the vacant chair of Secretary – a very vital position. Election will be this Monday, December 5th.

We also welcome our newest member, Bro. Joaquim Cardoza and his wife Fanny. Eleven members of our council attended the banquet on November 19th at which time Bro. Joaquim had received his Second and Third degrees. Congratulations and we look forward to your involvement in our council Bro. Joaquim.

Bro. Ray Khuller is chairing the Wheelchair Program for our council and with his help , I wish to see this program go on as it is a very worthwhile cause. Thank you Bro. Ray.  Along with this program we might consider getting involved in Habitat for humanity, Special Olympics, Food for Families as well as Coats for Kids. See another page for more information on Coats for Kids. Our Stampeder Project is now over and has done well with a good number of dedicated Knights and wives volunteering their time. Thank you very much.

Under the capable direction of Bro. John Wojtowicz, we had another successful fundraiser with the Grey Cup Pool. Thank you Bro. John.

Brother Knights, the choice of program involvement is ours. Let’s work together for our council and our community.

On behalf of my wife Donna, my children Katherine, James and Jacqueline, I wish all my Brother Knights and their families a Holy and Joyous Christmas.

Fraternally yours,
Henry Feddema, Grand Knight

Brother Knights:

We are now well into our new Columbian Year, which means that we must be thinking of how our council can grow. Please come out to the monthly General and Lecturers meetings and get involved. Become a building block and make your council a strong and important part of our parish and Calgary Chapter.

Bro. Kevin and I are still looking for ideas from you for activities for the Year of the Family projects. If there is anything you would like the Council to do in this regard, please let either one of us know.

It was indeed an honour to have our State Deputy, Gary Johnson attend the 9 AM mass at St. Cecilia’s a few weeks ago. He brought with him the Icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe and explained that it will be presented in various parishes throughout Alberta. He reminded us that Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego in Tepeyac, Mexico in 1531. After mass the Icon was placed in the vestibule and many parishioners stopped by to admire and ask questions of the painting. Through this, twelve men showed interest in joining our Order.

For more about Lady of Guadalupe, please read the report for the October Lecturers program and plan to attend the Marian Hour of Prayer in our church. Lastly, I am looking for your help and participation in some of our Columbian Service Programs. Please volunteer your time and talent.

Fraternally,

Henry Feddema, Grand Knight

Brother Knights:

I hope all of you have had a nice, relaxing and enjoyable summer with your families. As we are now into the month of September we need to think of our new Columbian Year and what is up and coming for your council. I look forward to working with Deputy Grand Knight Kevin Lopresti. We have had some discussions and would like to make our theme this year “The Year of the Family”. I would like your feed back as to what you would like to do as a family, including the extended family with grandchildren. Some ideas would be to go bowling, play softball, have a picnic, go swimming. I look forward to your ideas.

Donna remembers, way back, going to Edworthy Park on a Sunday when games were played and a big picnic took place. Those were the days when our council was thriving with young families but are now enjoying their grandchildren.

Thank you to the volunteers who come out so willingly to work the booths at the football games and special thanks to Bro. Randy Lopez and is wife Carolyn for taking on the chairmanship of this Stampeder Project. They are doing a great job and I ask that when Carolyn sends out a call for help that we step forward.

Thank you also to the Brother Knights who replied “YES” when I called and asked them to take on a position in the Service Programs. We want our council to be vibrant and  that can only happen by being involved and carrying out the various programs. These chairmen will require assistance throughout the year so again, please give a helping hand wherever needed.

This coming Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 we will have our first general meeting at the Council Chambers. I look forward to seeing you all there at 7:30
PM. Why not remind a Brother Knight to come who has not attended in a while and maybe even offer him a ride.

Fraternally,
Henry Feddema, Grand Knight

Dear Brother Knights

As we move into December and the Advent/Christmas season, we are all expecting to be busy. Like many of you, I will be attending a number of dinners and events. I will be looking forward to our Christmas party pot-luck on December 20th . It is also important that we join together in decorating the church as we must assist our fellow parishioners in this task that they have generously taken on. It is however, critical that we remember that it is all about Gods love. Make sure you are not over tasked and getting caught up in the wishes of others. To be with family and be there for them is most important as we reflect on Jesus and the Christmas season.

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