1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree Exemplifications THIS SATURDAY at St. Pius X Parish in Southgate!

My Brother Knights,

We have a VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY in that we are HOSTING a District 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree ceremony (one of the last in the State of Michigan) AT OUR PARISH of St. Pius X in Southgate THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 24th, which doesn’t happen often. THIS IS A ALL-HANDS ON DECK event for our Council!

Here are the details:
There will be exemplifications of Admission Degree (1st Degree), Formation Degree (2nd Degree) and Knighthood Degree (3rd Degree) on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at St Pius X Parish, 14101 Superior St, Southgate, MI.

Schedule of events:
* Mass celebrated by our Council Chaplain Fr. Bob McCabe at 8AM
* 1st Degree Registration at 9:30AM – Degree begins at 10AM
* 2nd & 3rd Degree Registration at 11:15AM – Degree begins at 11:30AM
* Light Luncheon follows immediately afterwards (around 1:45PM)

Dress code is coat and tie to match the dignity of this event.

Since we are hosting this, I want to make a good showing from our Council. If you can attend this event, please contact me IMMEDIATELY by email at raybilyk@kofc3956.org or by calling 313-247-2110. We need this so that we can reserve a spot (and food) for you.

Officers and Chairmen/Directors are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend this in order to make this event a success!

3rd Degree Brother Knights who sponsored someone should attend with their candidates or 1st Degree Brothers.

3rd Degree members are also encouraged to attend these exemplifications not only to welcome our new Brother Knights, but to see the updates that have been made over the past year or two to the degree work. It really hits at the strengths of who we are as Knights of Columbus!

Our Supreme Council Field Agent, Tom Jackson, will also be on hand if you have any annuity or insurance questions or needs.

Again, I need to know IMMEDIATELY if you can attend!!!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I really hope to see you this Saturday to help me welcome our Brothers as FULL Knights of Columbus!

Fraternally,
Ray Bilyk, Grand Knight
Bernard P. O’Brien Council 3956 – Southgate, MI

MEETING NOTICE – Council 3956 Business Meeting on Wednesday, June 7th at 7PM, plus LOTS of other events this month

My Brother Knights,

VIVAT JESUS! Most council end their fraternal year (June 30th) like a lamb. We prefer to end it like a LION!

There is a regular business meeting this Wednesday, June 7th at 7PM in the St. Pius Social Hall. Please try to attend… we have a lot to discuss!

For example, we are going to be preparing and serving Graduation Mass ‘brunch’ following the 11:30AM Mass this Sunday, June 11th. We only have one service, instead of the normal 3, but would love to have you all come and help with this. This is a great way to congratulate those young men and women for their hard work and maybe we can find a young 18 year old man who would be interested in joining our ranks.

Another reason we need you is that THIS WEEKEND (June 10th and 11th) we are hosting a Church membership drive after all of the Masses. We need help passing out interest cards before Mass, answering any questions and collecting filled out cards after Mass. We are only 3 people short of our membership quota of 7 (and one short of our insurance quota of 3), so this drive is extremely important.

What should help with our membership drive is that WE are hosting 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree Initiation Ceremonies at St. Pius on Saturday, June 24th. It all starts with a Mass at 8AM celebrated by our Council Chaplain, Fr. Bob McCabe. Following that, we will have registration, with coffee and donuts. Following that, we will begin the degree work. Following the degree work, we will end the day with a light lunch. We need all of your help on this day to assist with registration, hospitality, and with guarding the doors for this event. The degree work has changed a lot since you probably joined. They are beautiful ceremonies. Please come and join us on June 24th starting with 8AM Mass.

The next day, Sunday, June 25th,St Pius is hosting their Potluck Picnic in the Activity Center and soccer field (weather permitting). Our council has been asked to set up (and take down) the tables and chairs for this. Since many of us will be attending, this should be no problem.

Finally, tickets are now available for the ‘Knights on the River’ Downriver Diamond Jack’s Boat Cruise fundraiser, which will be held on Wednesday, July 19th starting at 7PM from the Wyandotte dock. Tickets are only $25 each or $45 for 2. Pizza and snacks are provided, and there is a cash bar. This event is OPEN TO EVERYONE, members and non-members. We have a limited supply of tickets, they went fast last year. Don’t wait to purchase yours! I will have them at Wednesday’s meeting, and arrangements can be made for pickup and delivery.

As I said, we’re finishing strong! With your help, we can finish BIG as well! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at raybilyk@kofc3956.org . Hope to see you this Wednesday… God Bless You and God Bless the Knights of Columbus!

Fraternally,

Ray Bilyk, Grand Knight
raybilyk@kofc3956.org

The passing of Robert Crandall Sr., father of Brother Knight Steven Crandall

I regret to inform you that Robert Crandall Sr., father of Brother Knight Steven Crandall passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2017. He was 88 years old. Beloved husband of Sharon Crandall. Loving father of Cheryl (Terry) Edwards, Steve (Jackie) Crandall, Lisa (Chris) Grasso and Robert Crandall Jr. Dearest brother of James (Jean) Crandall, the late Doris Swan and the late Ann Marie LeBlanc. Also survived by 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

There will be a Parish rosary for him on Tuesday, June 6th at 6:30PM at the Thon Center (Thon Funeral Home), 2760 Biddle Ave in Wyandotte. This is NOT a Council rosary, but many of you know Robert and Brother Knight Steven, so I wanted to pass this along.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and may the perpetual light shine upon him!
May he rest in peace. Amen.

6th Annual St. Pius X Motorcycle Blessing ~ Saturday, May 20th at 8:30AM

The Bernard P. O’Brien Knights of Columbus Council #3956 will be hosting the 6th Annual Motorcycle Blessing on Saturday, May 20th at 8:30 AM in the St. Pius parking lot next to the church. Father Bob will individually bless each motorcycle and driver to keep them safe during the upcoming season. Free coffee and donuts will be served. The first 100 people will receive a commemorative reflective decal for their motorcycle or helmet and T-Shirts will be available for purchase for $10 (call ahead if you want a shirt for sure as they will be limited).

All are welcome, parish and non-parish members.

For more information you may contact Brian Batko at bbatko@gmail.com or the Parish Office at 734-285-1100. Hope to see you there!!

The Passing of Brother Knight Ray Torres

I regret to inform you that Brother Knight Ray Torres passed away early this morning. He was 91 years old. He was a very active member of the Southgate community, holding many positions and being a catalyst of change. He was also a very active member of our Council. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and his family.

Along with the Rosary Altar Confraternity, we will be saying a Rosary for him at 7PM on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. It will be held at Molnar Funeral Home, 14032 Northline Rd, Southgate, MI. We ask that all members please try to attend to support Betty and Brother Ray’s family and to pray for the repose of the soul of Brother Ray.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and may the perpetual light shine upon him!
May he rest in peace. Amen.

Charity Family Breakfast and Tootsie Roll Drive THIS WEEKEND to Assist Michigan Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities

This weekend after all of our Masses, we will solicit donations as part of the Michigan Knights of Columbus ‘MI Drive’ (more commonly known as the Tootsie Roll Drive). We need the help of every member to make this a success!

Along those lines, we are holding our last Charity Family Breakfast of the season this Sunday, April 23rd with the proceeds also going toward this drive! We hope that all of our friends and supporters will come and enjoy a delicious breakfast, all for just a small free-will offering. (We need the help of every member to make this a success as well.)

The charities we will support this year include:

  • St. Louis Center
  • Special Olympics Michigan – Area 23 (Wayne)
  • The Arc Downriver
  • Angel’s Place
  • St. Francis on the Lake
  • Archdiocese of Detroit (for Intellectually/Developmentally Impaired)

With your help, we can help others! Hope to see you all this weekend! God bless!

MEETING NOTICE & COUNCIL TRAINING NOTICE- Rescheduled business meeting set for Wednesday, March 22nd at 7PM

We have finally rescheduled the business meeting we cancelled earlier this month due to the power outage to THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22nd at 7PM in the St. Pius X Social Hall. We hope that you can make it.

For all officers and Brother Knights interested in running for an office for the 2017-18 fraternal year, there is Officers Training being held on Thursday, March 23rd starting at 6PM at Wyandotte Council 1802, 3530 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte, MI. It is scheduled to last 2 hours or less.

CLICK HERE to view a flyer for this event. ALL CURRENT OFFICERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. Even if you aren’t running, but want to know what it takes to be a Council officer, this is a great opportunity!!!

Hope to see you at both events!

Ray Bilyk, Grand Knight
raybilyk@kofc3956.org