Knights of Columbus, Racine Wisconsin

KNIGHTS DISTRIBUTE NEW WINTER COATS AT RACINE’S HALO HOMELESS SHELTER

2010-02-25T02:23:00.001-06:00

Youngsters living at the HALO homeless shelter in Racine were treated to new winter coats Feb. 24 courtesy of the Wisconsin Knights of Columbus. Children kindergarten through teenage lined up to receive the new jackets from Ultimate Apparel and London Fog.

It was the second winter coat distribution in 10 months conducted by Msgr. Stanley B. Witkowiak Council 697 of the Knights of Columbus. Those handing out the coats included Roland Ransom II, Wisconsin State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus, and Bill Frayer and Bryan Langfeldt of Council 697 in Racine.

“Do I get to pick out my own coat?” one excited boy asked before the event began. “I’m getting a new coat!” another exclaimed as Knights stacked up a supply of new jackets.

The Coats for Kids initiative is part of the Knights of Columbus Help a Child in Need campaign. The K of C has stepped up efforts to help individuals and families hit hard by the declining economy. Since April 2009, nearly 250 Racine-area children have received new winter coats from the Knights of Columbus.

The Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO) shelter serves 1,000 individuals each year, including nearly 200 children. For more information on the shelter or to learn ways to help, visit www.haloinc.org.

4TH DEGREE HONOR GUARD WELCOMES ARCHBISHOP LISTECKI TO ST. PAUL PARISH

2010-02-02T12:29:00.001-06:00

A Fourth Degree Honor Guard made up of Sir Knights from Racine and Kenosha welcomed Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki at a special Mass held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant.

The Feb. 1 Mass was the official Racine and Kenosha welcome for the new archbishop, who was installed on Jan. 4. Nearly 1,000 people attended the Mass and reception afterward. More than a dozen area priests concelebrated the Mass.

The Honor Guard included 14 Sir Knights from Msgr. Anthony G. Weiler Assembly 1207 in Racine and Archbishop Messmer Assembly 1201 in Kenosha. Commanded by Sir Knights William Pinnow of Racine and Jason Rusnak of Kenosha, the Honor Guard led the processional and recessional.

Archbishop Listecki, a longtime Fourth Degree Sir Knight, thanked the Honor Guard for participating in the Mass. Speaking at the end of Mass, Listecki joked that in all the Honor Guard processions he has seen, no Sir Knights have been lost to the sword.

The Mass at St. Paul the Apostle was the last of six regional celebrations to welcome Archbishop Listecki to the 10-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

TEN RACINE-AREA WINNERS NAMED IN 2010 K OF C FREE THROW COMPETITION

2010-01-30T00:27:00.002-06:00

Ten boys and girls from eight Racine-area schools took first-place honors in the 2010 Knights of Columbus Council 697 free-throw contest held Jan. 23 at St. Catherine’s High School. The winners advance to district competition scheduled for Feb. 7 at St. Catherine’s. See the photo gallery below.

Boys winners
Age 10, Quaid Destiche, Prairie School
Age 11, Jacob Sowalski, St. Rita School
Age 12, T.J. Brehm, John Paul II Academy
Age 13, Nicholas Jaworski, St. Lucy School
Age 14, Bryan Thomas, St. Rita School

Boys runners up
Age 10, Luke Delsman, St. Lucy School
Age 11, Matthew Lory, St. Edward School
Age 12, Ryan Busey, 21st Century Prep
Age 13, Luke Olley, St. Edward School
Age 14, Brendon McGuire, St. Edward School

Girls winners
Age 10, Rachel Gentile, Prairie School
Age 11, Danielle Palmen, Prairie School
Age 12, Kayla Clement, St. Edward School
Age 13, Taraya Moralez, Walden III
Age 14, Lauren Misurlian, St. Edward School

Girls runners up
Age 11, Alyssa Leffler, St. Edward School
Age 12, Eleanor Ecsobar, St. Lucy School
Age 14, Monicqua Chantel Kidd, Starbuck Middle School

MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SAY ABORTION IS MORALLY WRONG, NEW SURVEY FINDS

2010-01-23T17:17:00.000-06:00

A strong majority of Americans believe abortion is morally wrong, a position that younger Americans hold by a wider margin that those in the Baby Boom generation, a new Knights of Columbus survey found.

The survey of 2,243 Americans conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion found overall 56 percent of Americans believe abortion is morally wrong.

Fifty-eight percent of those age 18-29 believe abortion to be morally wrong, compared with 51 percent of Baby Boomers. Most of the “Millennials” (age 18-29) were born after the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Sixty percent of members of “Generation X” (those 30-44) believe abortion is morally wrong, the survey found. Those in the “Greatest Generation” (age 65 and older) had the strongest feelings against abortion, with 62 percent saying it is morally wrong.

“Americans of all ages – and younger people in even greater numbers than their parents – see abortion as something morally wrong,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “America has turned a corner and is embracing life – and in doing so is embracing a future they, and all of us, can be proud of.”

Anderson continued: “The majority of Americans now understand that abortion has consequences, and that those consequences are not good.”

KNIGHTS RUSH FUNDS FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, URGE MEMBERS TO DONATE MORE

2010-01-15T02:35:00.001-06:00

The more than 1.7 million members of the Knights of Columbus are being urged to donate to a special relief fund to help victims in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Knights of Columbus Supreme Council has already donated $50,000 to get the effort underway.

The Knights of Columbus will earmark all donations made to its United in Charity Fund through the end of January 2010 for earthquake relief in Haiti. The Supreme Council has already donated $50,000 to Catholic Charities, which has a large presence in Haiti. Click here to donate now.

The magnitude 7 earthquake devastated Haiti, killing thousands and laying waste to the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Catholic Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot of Port-au-Prince was killed in the quake. His body was found in the ruins of his office. There was massive damage to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.

KNIGHTS TO HOLD ANNUAL KNOWLEDGE & FREE THROW COMPETITION JAN. 23

2010-01-14T20:24:00.006-06:00

Knights of Columbus Council 697 in Racine will hold its annual Knowledge & Free-Throw Contests for area youth on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at St. Catherine’s High School in Racine.

The free-throw competition will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the small gym on the third floor of St. Catherine’s High School, 1200 Park Ave., Racine. Boys and girls age 10-14 are eligible for competition, except for members of high school basketball teams. Youth can participate at any point during the four-hour contest, and can register at the door.

Spelling and math testing for the knowledge contest will begin at 1 p.m., with registration starting at 12:30 p.m. The contest is run in the first and second floor classrooms at St. Catherine’s. Students in grades 5 through 8 can participate in the knowledge contest. They should register through their school. Homeschoolers can register by contacting Bill Frayer.

First-place winners in the math and spelling contests will receive a savings bond and the right to move on to Diocesan competition in Milwaukee. Second-place finishers will receive a Certificate of Merit and become alternates for further competition.

First-place finishers in the Free Throw competition will receive a plaque and the right to move on to District competition in Kenosha. Second-place finishers will receive a Certificate of Merit and become alternates for advancement to further levels of competition.

For more information, contact Steve Jansta (free throw) 262-554-6376; Paul Noelke (Spelling) 262-886-6408; Jim Hamilton (Math) 262-884-0951, or Bill Frayer (General Coordinator) 262-633-7887.

ARCHBISHOP JEROME LISTECKI INSTALLED; KNIGHTS PROVIDE HONOR GUARD AT MASS

2010-01-05T03:04:00.000-06:00

A Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree honor guard escorted Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki to and from his Mass of installation at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee.

Twenty-six Sir Knights from the 11 Fourth Degree assemblies in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee made up the honor guard for Listecki, installed Monday as the 11th archbishop of Milwaukee.

More than 1,200 people attended the Mass. Clergy at the installation liturgy included Most Rev. Pietro Sambi, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the United States; Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York; Francis Cardinal George of Chicago; Edward Cardinal Egan of New York; Adam Cardinal Maida of Detroit and Edmund Cardinal Szoka of Detroit.

The K of C honor guard was led by Wisconsin Eastern District Master Carl Duch, former Eastern District Master Erwin Jankowiak and District Marshall Michael G. Jordan. Guard members from Assembly 1207 were Gary Brown and Joe Hanneman.

KNIGHTS GIVE VETERANS A MERRY CHRISTMAS

2009-12-23T21:32:00.001-06:00

Knights from Msgr. Anthony G. Weiler Assembly 1207 helped bring Christmas cheer to veterans and spouses by co-sponsoring a Christmas party for residents of the veterans home at Union Grove, Wis.

Residents of Boland Hall were treated to a Christmas party Dec. 5, including culinary treats, root beer floats, live music and a visit from Santa Claus. Seven Knights from Assembly 1207 and Council 697 wheeled residents around the facility so they could enjoy the holiday activities and treats.

In addition, Assembly 1207 donated toward the cost of the party, and provided restaurant gift certificates to 40 residents of the third floor of Boland Hall. Veterans groups and area businesses also supported the Christmas party. Sir Knight Tom Goetz organized the K of C involvement.

Lending a hand with the party were Sir Knights Bill Pinnow, Tom Goetz, Cal Converse, Jim Sisak, John Shelby and John Clark; and Brother Knight Mike Benner from Council 697.

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SUPREME KNIGHT URGES ALL KNIGHTS TO REGISTER OPPOSITION TO H. CARE BILL

2009-12-18T22:12:00.001-06:00

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson is urging all Knights of Columbus across America to contact their U.S. Senators immediately to register opposition to the health care reform bill. In its current form, it would mandate abortion coverage in private insurance and allow use of federal funds for elective abortions. A vote could take place before Christmas.

“The U.S. Bishops are asking all Catholics to contact their Senators to urge them to not support the bill in its current form and amend the bill so it upholds longstanding policies against the federal funding of abortion,” Anderson wrote in a letter to state deputies.

Anderson invoked the writings of Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, stating that Christians and all people of good will are “not to cooperate formally in practices which, even if permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to God's law.”

Contact U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl: (202) 224-5653; Fax (202) 224-9787

Contact U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold: (202) 224-5323; Fax (202) 224-2725

KNIGHTS HELP SERVE UP CHRISTMAS CONCERT ON RACINE MONUMENT SQUARE

2009-12-12T22:22:00.001-06:00

Knights from Msgr. Stanley B. Witkowiak Council 697 handed out free Christmas cookies, kringle and hot chocolate on Racine’s Monument Square in the glow of the Nativity creche.

About 40 people came out on a windy, cold evening to pray, sing Christmas carols and celebrate the public display recalling Christ’s birth in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.

Members of the St. Rita Catholic Church sang while Pastor Glenn Lawson of Plymouth Congregational Church played keyboard during the singalong portion of the event. Members of the Horlick High School Band played Christmas carols later in the program.

The event was notable because Catholics and other Christians came together to celebrate the birth of Christ on common ground. The Christmas Coalition of Churches, which co-sponsors the concert and the creche, is made up of more than 20 area Christian churches, the K of C and the Dominican nuns at Siena Center. Leaders at 105 area churches have expressed support for the public display of the creche.

It was the fourth year the Knights of Columbus has co-sponsored the event with the Christmas Coalition of Churches, comprised of more than 20 Christian churches in the Racine area. Knights installed the newly expanded creche display on Dec. 7.

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KNIGHTS LAUNCH MAJOR NEW EFFORT TO PROMOTE ‘KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS’

2009-12-11T22:45:00.002-06:00

Knights of Columbus councils from throughout southeastern Wisconsin are joining forces in a new effort to promote the “Keep Christ in Christmas” message through television, signage and public displays.

A growing list of K of C councils and assemblies have banded together under the name Knights for Christmas.org to purchase television commercials for broadcast to nearly 100,000 homes on Time Warner Cable in Racine, Kenosha and parts of Walworth counties.

The 30-second commercials feature a mosaic of the Nativity of Jesus from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Images of the Nativity story are shown while a child’s voice is heard reading St. Luke’s Gospel narrative on the birth of Christ.

The commercials will air on a wide range of cable networks during December, including ABC Family, History Channel, Fox News, TBS, the Weather Channel and others. The spots will be tagged with the Web site address knightsforchristmas.org.

The Web site includes suggestions for the general public to Keep Christ in Christmas by resisting the politically correct movement that seeks to censor the Christian nature of Christmas. It also includes a summary of the latest attempts nationwide to remove Christmas from the public square.

The Web site will also allow people to request Keep Christ in Christmas yard signs, vehicle magnets and static cling decals from their local Knights of Columbus council. Yard signs sell for a suggested $5 each. Magnets sell for $3 each.

Principal sponsors of the project include:
• Msgr. Stanley B. Witkowiak Council 697, Racine
• Msgr. Anthony G. Weiler Assembly 1207, Racine
• Msgr. Dreis Council 4831, Caledonia
• St. John Neumann Council 973, Kenosha
• St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe Council 8108, Wilmot

KNIGHTS BUILD AND INSTALL EXPANDED NATIVITY CRECHE ON MONUMENT SQUARE

2009-12-07T19:29:00.005-06:00

A group of Knights from Msgr. Stanley B. Witkowiak Council 697 erected an expanded Nativity creche on Racine’s Monument Square for the 2009 Christmas season. This year, Knights built a series of framed panels with painted depictions of the time of Christ’s birth.

Installation of the Nativity scene along Racine’s Main Street took about three hours, done with labor from 13 Knights and another eight men from the Christmas Coalition of Churches. It is the fourth consecutive year the Coalition and the Knights have sponsored the Nativity.

Grand Knight Don Veselik led a crew of Knights and ladies that built the new scenic panels, which extend from the manger like wings. Weatherproof frames and stands were made for the color posters, which show scenes ranging from “no room at the inn” to the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. The panels were built within the past week at Veselik’s workshop.

The Christmas Coalition of Churches includes nearly two dozen area Catholic and other Christian churches. More than 100 area churches have expressed support for the project in 2009. The annual effort is organized by Bob Wortock of Wind Point.

After the creche was finished, the men gathered in a circle and offered prayers of thanksgiving for the Christian unity that sustains the Nativity project. Just moments later the sun broke through the heavy clouds and bathed the scene in sunlight.

Knights and others who assisted with the project included Veselik, Bill Frayer, Chet and Helen Leskowicz, Warner Williams, Victor Kendall, John Murphy, Doc Strandell, John Shelby, Jim Marks, Cal Converse, Herb Spalla, Jim Corona and Joe Hanneman.

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