The Grand Knight’s March Newsletter

April 20, 2023

Council 14895 Newsletter for March 2023

Please mark your calendar with the activities below and Volunteer!

FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, let us all take the time to say a prayer for our fellow Knights and parishioners that are fighting illnesses and other medical challenges. Seek the intercession of Blessed Fr. Michael J. McGivney. We should also always remember to give Thanks for prayers that are answered! Among those in need of prayers are Karyn Jacox (wife of John), Nick Jose, Mike Hirsch, Msgr. Schaedel, Nancy Cummins (wife of Ed), Arnie Wagner, Jim Loughery, Tony Grego, Jack Fink, Dick and Eddie Ryan, Frank Loughery, Victor Melchiorre, and Richard Gzibovskis. Be sure to contact Bob Calliotte if you or someone you know needs to be added to the prayer list.
Upcoming Activities:

  • Holy Thursday Mass, April 6th at 7:00pm. Knights are being given the chance to have their feet washed during the service. If you are interested in this, contact John Koke at [email protected].
  • 40 Cans for Lent: Our annual activity, led by Russ Bryant, started on Ash Wednesday. Our goal is to raise 10,000 pounds of required food and other items for the SVDP Boulevard Place Food Pantry. At this time, we are behind the pace to meet the goal, so collections are being extended to Easter Sunday. Please donate if you can. See the bulletin for details.
  • 40 Days for Life: The 40-Days for Life Spring Campaign started Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22 and runs through Palm Sunday, April 2. As Knights, let us use our most powerful weapon, the rosary, to stand and pray for a return to the realization that life has never been a choice. Life is God’s gift to humanity, and it needs to be defended. Traditionally, our council has covered the 5 – 6 p.m. hour on Fridays outside the Planned Parenthood facility at 8590 Georgetown Rd (but you can sign up for any hour between 7am and 6pm). As you are aware, even though Indiana SB1 recently passed in the Statehouse and banned most all abortions in our State, the courts have temporarily blocked this ban and abortions continue in our state. Knights all over the country are joining in this national campaign. Let us volunteer in numbers to stand and pray for the protection of life.
  • DATE CHANGE for our monthly General Business Meeting. Due to the conflict with Holy Thursday, our meeting is moved from Thursday, April 6th to Thursday, April 13th.
  • Divine Mercy Sunday is April 16th at 3:00pm. Msgr. Schaedel is requesting four Knights to hold the canopy during the Eucharistic Procession. Contact Bob Calliotte if you are able to help with this.
  • Dedication of the Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney room is scheduled for Sunday, April 23rd following the 11:30am mass. I hope to see a big turnout for this historically important event.
  • St. Joseph MVP Dinner is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 4th. Look for more info on this event in the coming weeks. Our Council is a sponsor of this dinner.
  • Monthly General Business Meeting: Thursday, March 2nd. The meeting starts with fellowship at 6:30pm followed by the meeting promptly at 7:00pm in the Blessed Fr. Michael J. McGivney room.
  • Dedication of the Blessed Fr. Michael J. McGivney Room has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 23rd at the 11:30am mass. We will present a Check to Msgr. Schaedel, Fr. Jayaraju and key Parish Leaders as gratitude for this great gift of a “home” for our Council. Put it on your Calendar now!
  • The Baby Bottle Program will launch the weekend of April 29-30. This program is part of the ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) initiative promoted by Supreme and involves a grant of matching funds for monies collected for the Women’s Care Center. This program at St. Luke is a joint effort between St. Luke Right to Life and our Council. You will see more information on this in a few weeks.

Recent Activities:

  • Our 2023 Lenten Fish Fries are officially a success. Despite a shortage of fried fish one night and cold, wet weather the other night, we still had a strong turnout for food and fellowship enabling our Council to add to our coffers for charitable giving. Many thanks to the numerous Knights and their family members that gave of their time and talent to ensure the success. In particular, thanks go out to Nick Beckman and John Koke for coordinating it all. KNIGHTS IN ACTION!
  • Overnight Prayer Vigil: As part of the 40 Days for Life initiative, the central Indiana Knights of Columbus sponsored an overnight prayer vigil on Friday, March 24th in front of Planned Parenthood at 8590 North Georgetown. Our St. Luke Council 14895 provided four Knights that braved the cold and rain to pray for an end to abortion. Those Knights are Tom Feick, Bob Roberts, Nick Prather, and Bob Calliotte. KNIGHTS IN ACTION!
  • Recognition was given to Frank Loughery as the 2022 Knight of the Year. Well done Frank! Congratulations! KNIGHTS IN ACTION!
  • Recognition was given to the Andy and Kari Bauer family as the 2022 Knight’s Family of the Year. Well done Bauer Family! Thank you for all that you do for our Council and our Parish. KNIGHTS IN ACTION!
  • The March Knight of the Month was selected to be Nick Beckman for his tireless work on the Fish Fries. Thank you Nick for all the hard work you put into the Fish Fries this year! KNIGHTS IN ACTION!
  • The March Knight Family of the Month was selected to be Andy and Laura Gzibovskis Family. Thank you Andy, Laura, Olivia, and Luke for all that you do for our Council and our Parish! KNIGHTS IN ACTION!

Council Operations:  Your Council Officers have been busy making those important decisions that you entrusted us with. At the March Officers meeting, we acted on the following items:

  • Our beloved Worthy Chaplain, Fr. Jayaraju Bandari will leave on May 1st for a well-deserved vacation back home in India. As is customary, our Council has donated $200 to help offset his expenses of this trip.
  • The Blessed Fr. Michael J. McGivney Room Campaign to raise funds toward the new meeting space named after Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney has reached the final phase. We are tantalizingly close to meeting our goal of raising $20,000. If you haven’t already, please consider donating to this cause which will finally give a permanent home to our Council and raise awareness of Blessed Father McGivney and the works of our Knights of Columbus Council.
  • State Convention: The annual Indiana State Knights of Columbus will host the 2023 convention in downtown Indianapolis the weekend of May 5-7. More information will be sent out later, but if you are interested in attending and being a Council Delegate to the convention, please let me know as soon as possible.
  • The Slate of Officers for the 2023-2024 fraternal year is now open. At this time we have at least one candidate for all but two positions. We need candidates to step up and take on the role of either Chancellor or Recorder. Both are highly important positions, so please give it prayerful consideration. Contact Bob Calliotte or Frank Short if you have any questions. Please see the email recently sent out regarding the slate and the election schedule.

Vivat Jesus!
Respectfully Yours,
Bob Calliotte, Grand Knight