APRIL 2025

 

Basketball Free Throw   Bishop’s Burse   C&B Books   Calendar   Coats for Kids   Color Corps   Columbiettes   Day of Caring   Essay Contest   Fourth Degree   Keep Christ in Christmas   Lottery Calendar   Pro‑Life   RSVP   Scholarships   Soccer Challenge   Veterans   Vocations   Wheelchairs

 

 

ByLaws of the Western New York Chapter (revised 2025).pdf

 

Eternal Choice of Love

Benefit Banquet

May 8, 2025

 

St Mary’s Council #17530

4-Man Scramble Golf Tournament

May 19, 2025

(Early Bird Sign Up Until April 17)

Buy Tickets Here

WNY Council

Day of Caring Golf Outing

August 16, 2025

 

President’s Report.

The Spirit of Knighthood is shining bright amongst us. The volunteerism and willingness of so many Knights is the cheerfulness of so many hearts that it gives hope to the present and the days ahead that we may continue our good works for the Glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the next couple of months, we have elections of officers for the WNY Chapter, and I hope you will take the time to consider a position. With the new schedule you would only have seven days of the entire year to be at a meeting. There are seven meetings scheduled for the year. Each position has certain duties, but all are very manageable. For the brief time you will be holding the position you will gain the experience of working with Knights from many Councils.

July 12th, 2025, Saturday is the date set for the Former District Deputy [FDD] \WNY Chapter Family Picnic. Details are forth coming. Last year we had a good turnout.

The 4th Degree Exemplification Ceremony held at the Hamburg Council was a remarkable success. The new format was used and for the first time family members were allowed to attend and it went very well. It was a change that was long overdue. District Master Charles Esposito led the ceremony with the Degree team Father Mike Johnson Associate State Chaplain , WNY Chapter Chaplain ,  Brother John Sowinski , State Treasurer and former District Master , Brother Joseph Mead , FDD, PGK and PFN , and working the sound and visuals were Brothers Mike Hanninan and Mike Clunie .

-Paul Sawaya

 

Chaplain’s Report.  NYS Council has a Catholic School/Religious Education Program Support and Matching Funds Program. The form is available on the NYS Council website under Programs. NYS Council will match a Council donation supporting a Catholic High School or Elementary School or Religious Education Program in a Parish. All the details are on the attached form. If a Council has any questions, please have them contact me.  See RSVP below for information on the NYS RSVP Program.

 

Fourth Degree.  We had the new fourth degree exemplification on April 5, 2025. Seventeen new Sir Knights participated. Thank you, Joe Meade, John Sowinski, District Marshalls, and Color Corps members. This was the first time that family members witnessed the exemplification.

 

Color Corps.  Attend the Color Corps training sessions on the 2^nd Thursday of the month at Fr. Justin Council to get training for the new exemplification 2^nd Thursday of the month.  For information, please contact Paul Sawaya: text or call at 716-401-4334 or email at rnsawaya@yahoo.com . 

 

Pro-Life.  Each council should select a Brother Knight to lead their Pro Life program. Suggested Pro-Life activities at your council:

·      Schedule Rosary and Divine Chaplet readings weekly or monthly outside abortion clinic Coordinate with local parish if possible

·      Identify and implement fund raising efforts for

1)  ultrasound equipment or

2)  lodging expenses for pregnant mothers at Outreach Centers.

·      Support Outreach Centers

o  Mother Teresa Home, 208 Stanislaus St Buffalo 14212.  This program supports pregnancy, and parenting young people (housing and training).

o  St Gianna Pregnancy Outreach Center   780 Ridge Rd Lackawanna

 

ASAP. (Aid and Support After Pregnancy). ASAP is a featured program to support pregnant women, mothers, and their children, both born and unborn, by serving pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes. Through ASAP, for every $500 a council or assembly donates to a qualifying non-profit pregnancy resource center or maternity home (up to $2,000), the Supreme Council will issue a $100 grant to the same qualifying organization. What activities qualify for ASAP? There are a variety of activities you can organize to qualify for ASAP funds – most fall within the categories of financial support and material assistance:

•       Examples of financial support include direct donations, Baby Bottle Drives, proceeds from fundraisers, open houses, etc.

•       • Examples of material assistance include donations of baby items (equipment, food, formula, diapers, wipes), clothes (maternity, baby, infant, and toddler) and other items often listed on a center’s or maternity home’s website.

 

Ultrasound. The Knights of Columbus works together as an organization to purchase ultrasound machines for qualifying pregnancy centers Opportunity to view their unborn children on ultrasound machines at pro-life pregnancy centers. This initiative is funded by Knights of Columbus state and local councils with matching grants from the Supreme Council’s Culture of Life Fund. After the state and/or local council raises 50% of the cost, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council will provide the other 50% to complete funding for purchase.

 

Day of Caring.  The Special Olympics Golf Tournament will be held at Rizzo’s at Rothland Golf Course in Akron on Saturday, August 16, 2025. 

 

Veterans.  The Knights of Columbus proudly stand in support of our military veterans. 

 

Lottery Calendar.  Calendars sold in 2023- 566, in 2024-694, in 2025-838. Twenty councils participated this year. Fourteen sold twenty-five or more calendars. 5 sold 50+, 4 sold 75+ and 1 sold 100+ Chapter dues are paid for councils that sold at least 25 and both chapter and conference dues are paid for those that sold 50+.  Contact Lew Herman for more information.

 

Wheelchairs.  This initiative provides aid to those who lack the freedom of mobility in our communities and around the world. Whether councils are presenting wheelchairs to local veterans and neighbors in need or donating funds to benefit those abroad, mobility brings with it independence and dignity. Obtained at discounted prices, these wheelchairs change the lives of their recipients. We are always in need of wheelchairs at $150.00 each.

 

If your council or assembly wants to donate, please contact Larry Phalzer at Madonna Council 716-868-1218 or Lew Herman 716-984-1983

 

Vocations.  Click here for a list of current seminarians.

 

Fr. David Baker is the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Buffalo.

 

NYS Council has an RSVP Program (this is on top of the Supreme HQ RSVP Program). The info/form for the Councils can be found on the NYS Council website under Programs. The State will send $100 to the Seminarian/Religious Aspirant for every $500 given in RSVP funds by a Council.  There are criteria Councils must meet to be eligible to submit for this program which is listed on the attached paperwork. If a Council has a question about this, please have them contact me or State RSVP Chairman Rob Graziano.

 

Scholarships.  All applications for Scholarships and Grants are due April 1 at the New York State Council Offices. The applications are available by selecting SCHOLARSHIPS on the NYS website at www.newyorkknights.com. Eighth graders entering Parochial High Schools are eligible for consideration.

 

Basketball Free Throw Competition.  This year was successful. We had twenty-two kids that participated, two went to the state and one won the state level for 14-year-old girls.

 

Soccer Challenge Contest.  This is a fall event. Be sure and take the online Safe Environment Program now to be covered.

 

Take Note: Anyone running any youth competitions or events need certification by taking the online “Safe Environment Program”/Supreme website. It only takes 45 minutes to complete, and the certification is good for two years.  The training is available here.

 

Coats for Kids.  Please contact Joe Gnojek <st.vincentdepaulcouncil17883@gmail.com> for more information.

 

Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest.  Essay information is available at kofc.org > What We Do > Programs > Community > Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest

 

Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest.  Posters submitted to state for kindergarten, 5-6, and eighth grade came from council 338, 1-2, 3-4 and seventh came from St. Mary’s. Poster information is available at kofc.org > What We Do > Programs > Family > Keep Christ in Christmas.

 

Columbiettes.  Information on the Columbiettes can be obtained by contacting Steven Szumigala <steven.szumigala@gmail.com>.

 Columbiettes Auxiliary # 14687 St. Gregory’s:

  Calendar January-June 2025

  Officers 2024-2025

  Who We Are

 

Bishop’s Burse.  $40 per person- June 16^th. 6:30 pm cocktails at Ilio DiPaolo’s, open bar.  

 

C&B Books.  The Western councils sold 2,521 books in 2024 and 3,383 books in 2023. Our sales in 2022 were 4,829 books, and in 2021 we sold 4,154 books. Congratulations to the winners this year and thank you all for participating in this charitable event. If you have any questions or concerns or need assistance, please contact Gregory Traves <GregoryTKofC@gmail.com>.

 

 

 

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