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LINKS
The
Harbinger (Downloadable Newsletter)
January 2005
Harbinger Archives
knights
Supreme Council
knights CT State Council
Calendar of Events
SHOPRITE GIFT CERTIFICATES
From our Field Agent
knights members
Vocations Prayer
:
Fr. McGivney Prayer
25th Anniversary Invitation
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MISSION:( As stated by the Supreme Council)
CHARITY, UNITY,
FRATERNITY, AND PATRIOTISM
Knights of Columbus are Catholic gentlemen committed to the exemplification
of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defense of the priesthood. The
Order is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Order is unequivocal in
its loyalty to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. It is firmly committed
to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the
preservation and defense of the family. It was on these bedrock principles
that the Order was founded over a century ago and remains true to them today.
If you want to join this great
organization of Catholic in the Gales Ferry/Groton/Ledyard area contact the
Grand Knight joemurphyjr@snet.net . He would be more than happy to help
you. There you will
find brother Knights working to fulfill the central mission of the Order:
striving in charitable works; serving the Church and unified in following its
teachings; supporting brother Knights in their temporal and spiritual needs;
acting for the good of their country; and giving aid to widows, orphans, the
sick and the poor. This is Father McGivney's dream, echoing across the
century, and living today in the hearts of his brothers and all of those they
touch.
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The Strong
Right Arm of the Church
The Knights of
Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old parish priest, Father
Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven,
Connecticut. Today, more than a century later, the Knights of Columbus
has become the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church.
The Order has been called
"the strong right arm of the Church," and has been praised by
popes, presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church,
programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and
aid to those in need. As recently as 1992, Mother Teresa of Calcutta
praised the Knights in a speech on the occasion of her reception of the
first Knights of Columbus Gaudium et Spes Award.
Thanks to the inspired
work of Father McGivney—as well as that of millions of other Knights over
the past century—the Knights of Columbus now stands at its pinnacle of
membership, benefits and service. Currently, there are over 1.6 million
Knights of Columbus—more than ever before in our Order's history.
Together with their families, the Knights are nearly 6 million strong. In
addition, from the first local council in New Haven, the Order has grown
to more than 12,000 councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the
Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the
Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. Each year, the Order
continues this strong growth.
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VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND
INSURANCE
As the Order has grown, its benevolence has multiplied. The Order continues
to break all previous records for charitable contributions and volunteer
service. In the past decade, the Knights donated nearly $1 billion to
numerous charitable causes and nearly 400 million hours of volunteer service.
In 1999 alone, the Knights donated nearly $109 million and 55 million
volunteer hours to charitable causes.
Father McGivney's founding vision for the Order
also included establishing a life insurance program to provide for the widows
and orphans of deceased members. The Order's insurance program has expanded
substantially to serve more effectively the Knights' growing membership. Year
after year, the Knights of Columbus has earned the highest possible quality
ratings for financial soundness from A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The
Order provides the highest quality insurance and annuity products to its
members, along with many other fraternal benefits
Officers
Grand Knight................Joe
Murphy
Deputy Grand Knight.........Dennis Buechel
Financial Secretary.........Joe Gush
Treasurer...................Tim Guilfoil
Recorder....................Tom Harvey
Advocate....................Leo
Barron
Warden......................Rich Baldus
Chancellor..................Harold Linder
Inside Guard................Dave Katusha
Outside Guard...............Jim Fleck
Chaplain....................Fr. Joseph De Costa
Trustee for One Year........Bill McGann
Trustee for Two Years.......Dave Katusha
Trustee for Three Years.....Dave Katusha
KNIGHTS
OF COLUMBUS OUR LADY’S SHRINE COUNCIL #7054 DECEASED
BROTHERS
Edward Farrell, Alfred G. Trudell, Harry
DeCantillon, Robert J. McGratten, Francis J. Pratt, Frank G.
Maruzo Johnny A. Agagon, Maurice A. Vessels, Walter W. Bannon, George E.
Beauliu, Wilber P. Emerich, Fernand J. Morrissette, Edward
Fahey, Gedminas Vildzius, Rev. William J. Schneider, Rev. Raymond
J. Jean, Rev. William Casey, Leo DeLisle
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