December 2019

Greetings...The Advent season begins Sunday, December 1st, and it’s our time as a Church to be waiting in hope for the coming of the baby Jesus.  It’s also the time we “Keep Christ in Christmas”.  While the Christmas season doesn’t begin until December 25th in the Church calendar, many in our country/culture begin saying “Happy Holidays” just after Thanksgiving.  First, let us pray that our country keeps Christ in Christmas and that we as Knights of Columbus members, lead the way to keep Christ in Christmas in our communities and country.

December is also a Marian month as we honor Mary on the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, and also on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th.  As a council, consider praying a Rosary as a council and/or with your family, or offering a Holy hour in honor of Mary during the month.  

Indiana Knights of Columbus Members have many opportunities to grow in their faith so they can be the father, husband and man that God intends them to be.  And be that Catholic leader that many men in the local parish or community aspire to. With that calling, comes the responsibility of supporting the Church, especially during the current trials.  Supporting Vocations, during these times is critical and Indiana Knights can be counted on to be that strong right arm of the Church.  It begins with supporting your Parish Priests, and also the Seminarians – our future Priests.  Many councils have “adopted” a Seminarian and/or supported Seminarians through the Indiana Knights SOS fund and the Supreme RSVP program.  All blessed ways to support our Seminarians.  Now, the Indiana Knights of Columbus has initiated a new program to provide even more support for our Seminarians – SOS-RSVP Synergy.   The program details are available by clicking HERE, and those councils who support SOS by 150% will be assigned a Seminarian and have an opportunity to provide spiritual and financial support.   Check out the Vocations tab under the Faith category for complete details and suggested Holy Hours for Vocations.  Our goals should be to have every Seminarian be adopted by a council.

Also, one of our most important Indiana programs is Race for Vocations.  Many councils participated, but the opportunity to support all Vocations - Priesthood, Marriage Life, Single Consecrated Life, and Religious Life have never been more important.  Race for Vocations is a way your council can express their support.  Please consider promoting the event in your council and parish, volunteering to help with the many activities, attending the Race for Vocations Mass and providing financial support to help defray costs. Click for a FLYER and INFO how you and your council support all Vocations.

We continue to build on the success of the Faith Supreme programs introduced last year, by continuing to promote these programs and tell our story.  The programs are:

• RSVP (refund Support Vocations Program)
• Into the Breach
• Marian Icon
• Building the Domestic Church Kiosk
• Rosary Program
• Holy Hour
• Sacramental Gifts
• Spiritual Reflection

RSVP counts as two activities, while the Spiritual Reflection is a required program to qualify for the Columbian Award.  The following are some examples of programs that qualify for the Spiritual Reflection Program, that many councils participated in during the last year:

1. St. Mary of the Woods, Terre Haute, has an awesome customized program available to the Knights.  Click to see the FLYER or an AGENDA example. Contact Zach Pies (812-535-3131) if you are interested.
2. Ask your Chaplain, a Priest or Deacon, to lead a retreat for your council…a chance to take time with prayer and discernment to improve your council.  The program could include Mass and/or Reconciliation.
3. Attend one of the many Indiana Catholic Men’s Conferences. Click HERE for an Indiana Conference schedule and list of opportunities or check our CALENDAR. [registration is now open for the E6 conference on Feb 22nd - see the E6 Website]

One awesome Supreme program that your council and families should consider is the Totus Tuus Pilgrimage to the Saint John Paul II shrine in Washington D.C.  Click HERE for an agenda and details. 

Second, the programs originated in our councils are many some examples are:

1. 5th Sunday Rosary
2. Corporate Communion-The council membership along with their families worshiped together to present a unified presence to the community
3. Corporate Mass for Deceased Brother Knights.
4. Church fundraiser but be sure to always prayer.
5. Council Bible study
6. The council sponsored/purchased Advent Reflection booklets for the Church
7. Led Rosary Rally for 101st anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima
8. Provided and served meal for 500 parishioners after Mass in the Grass
9. Sponsored and participated in St. Augustine's Evangelical Committee series "Spirit on Tap" open to all parishioners
10. Annual clergy appreciation dinner
11. Patriotic Rosary prayed daily by brother Knights for Religious Freedom during Religious Freedom week.

As your Indiana Faith Director, please feel free to contact me if you need help or have any questions about the Knights, especially the Faith initiatives of the Knights of Columbus, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Also, there are a few brother Knights who I work closely with: State Vocations Chairman Ed Waldschmidt (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), State Sacristan Charlie Dispenzieri (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Marian Hour Chairman Jim Recasner (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).  The four of us are the Indiana Faith team.  

Vivat Jesus and God bless you!

Larry Kunkel, Faith Director