APRIL 2026

 

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

 

 

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Clergy Appreciation Dinner

Hamburg Council

Hamburg, NY

 

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 are fast approaching April 18, 2026, the day of the 4th degree exemplification ceremony in Hamburg.  To help support the cost of presenting the ceremony, dinner and the supplies the candidates receive on that day, the district master will ask the assemblies and councils, if they would like to help out, to donate a basket that would go towards a basket raffle the day of the ceremony.   

     You can drop off the baskets at the Hamburg council in the lounge area on Monday and Tuesday 1PM - 6PM and Wednesday through Saturday from 1PM - 9PM.  The Hamburg council is located at 36 Pierce Avenue, Hamburg, NY. 

     The Degree will be held at SS. Peter and Paul in Hamburg at 1 p.m. on April 18. Mass will be held at 4 p.m. Dinner will follow at Hamburg.  Council. The cost for candidates will be $90. The dinner is $40.

 

Color Corps.  Color Corp should report at 10:30 am for the April 18 Exemplification.  Training sessions are held the 2^nd Thursday of each month at Father Justin Council. All assemblies are encouraged to attend.

 

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 was held at Rizzo’s at Rothland Golf Course in Akron on Saturday, August 16, 2025.  Joe Mead reported that there were 80 golfers in participation.

 

Veterans.  The Knights of Columbus proudly stand in support of our military veterans. Friday 3/20/2026 was Red Shirt Day. Vets Smiles Program offers free dental work for any Veteran. Gov. Hochul is currently trying

to pass a law to exclude veterans for paying property taxes.

 

Lottery Calendar.  Chairman John Sowinski is looking for more assistance.  Read about the Lottery calendars 2026 sales incentive here.  The incentive was put in place to reward those councils that have supported the program for many years.  We also hope the incentive will entice those councils that haven't participated to get involved. 

 

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.  Message from Rev. Michael Johnson (September 2025): The Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) through Knights of Columbus Supreme HQ is a program that all Councils and Assemblies should participate in.  I am very happy to report that 28 of our Councils or Assemblies have told me they want to support our Seminarians and Religious Aspirants with RSVP funds and prayer & support.  This year's support from our WNY Chapter Councils and Assemblies has been outstanding and broken the record of total amount contributed by our Councils and Assemblies through the RSVP Program and has allowed us to support our Seminarians and Religious Aspirants with more funds than ever before!  A special shout out to St Vincent de Paul Council #17883 who is the top donor to RSVP. 

 

 

The Vocations Director for the Diocese of Buffalo is Rev. David Baker.

 

RSVP Links:

 Read more about our seminarians

 Contact information

 RSVP refund application form

 

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.  There were 40 contestants in attendance at Our Lady of Hope Council in Kenmore.

 

Soccer Challenge Contest.  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.  Joe Knojek reported that $16,000 in coats were given away.  Went very well.  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.  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:

  Officers 2025-2026

  Who We Are

  

Bishop’s Burse.  June 22, 2026, at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant, 3785 South Park Ave, Blasdell, NY.  Make dinner

checks payable to the Diocese of Buffalo. Amount not known yet. Donation checks to the Bishop payable to the Rev. Michael Fisher.

 

C&B Books.  Please contact Tim Meyer at tmeyer4654@gmail.com or 585-689-1353.  Let him know how many books your council would like to sell. There is a change in the books this year: just two tickets per book, $5 per ticket; $6 is returned to the state while your council keeps $4. Bonus Program: Sell 1⁄2 book per member and your council will receive $1 back for each book sold back to book 1; sell 1 book per member and your council will receive an additional $1 on top of the first goal back to book 1. Check out the new forma, the bonus program description, the mailing address, and more by clicking here.

  

 

 

 

Webmaster: Rick Jachimiak <rjachimiak@gmail.com>