T. Graham Brown sang that we are “just trying to do the next right thing.” Why do we have to try? Why not always do the right thing in every circumstance? The reason is the great gift of freedom that God gave us. Humans have the power to choose to do good or to do evil. The tragedy is that what God has always asked us to do is in our very best interest. God wants us to be happy, fully alive and completely actualized. He created us to thrive in relationship with Him. We cannot be fully joyful without Him. But so often we think we know what’s best and we disobey; fail to follow His commands for our own well-being. God did not create us to be slaves; but we prefer to live in slavery to sin. God’s forbearance in creating us in freedom gives us the power to reject Him completely; or refuse to believe He exists, or most painful of all, to adopt an attitude of indifference to His existence. Sin separates us from God, but the history of fallen humanity is the story of a loving father working tirelessly to bring us home to Him. When all of God’s messengers were rejected or slain God sent His only beloved Son incarnate as Man that we might listen and follow one of our own-like us except in sin. We killed Him in the most gruesome and painful way imaginable. But God so loved us that He made the death and resurrection of His beloved Son essential for our redemption. Again, to avail ourselves of eternal joy, we need only accept His gift of reconciliation, repent, and seek to be a brother to Christ. To follow and imitate Him. Jesus will welcome the contrite of heart and demonstrate His love and trust in us by sending us on mission for His kingdom.

Vivat Jesus!

The last Business Meeting was held on Thursday, SEP 12 at 6:30 PM after Chicken Curry Dinner available at the SJV Hall. The dinner was prepared by Fr. Paul Sahaya as a fundraiser for St Paul’s Seminary in India. At the meeting we decided to use the Ladd Family donation to add additional space for Faithful Navigators and to remember our fallen brothers. Officer s passed. Installation will be on OCT 3 at 5:30 PM. PSG, PGK Steve Shover will officiate. We will have an Exemplification on OCT 10. We discussed in detail the staining of the Chapel at Camp Ta Kum Ta. The camp has the lift, Jay has the sprayer, and Worthy FN Mike Audette stated he could get stain and brushes. The weather dependent date was set as Oct 8 at 1100.

The last Officer Meeting was held on OCT 3 at 6:30 PM. Prior to the meeting, at 5:30 PM we conducted the Officer Installation. Worthy SD Chris Poirier was in attendance. There were 9 of 13 Officers in attendance. Following the Installation, we had pizza and salad. At the meeting a motion to Warn a donation of $400 to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal was passed. This money represents funds allocated for, but not spent for the Chittenden County Right to Life Dinner. Thirteen members attended the meeting, including three on Zoom. During his comments, the SD introduced us to the acronym “CARE”. This is an effective way to remember how to recruit and keep new members that will participate long after their Exemplification.  Care stands for Contact, Accompany, Recruit, and Engage.

The Next Business Meeting will be on OCT 10 at 6:30 PM in person and on Zoom. We will begin the meeting and then suspend it to conduct the Exemplification of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity. Pizza and salad will be at 5:30 PM. There will be one Warning-whether the council will donate allocated but unused Right-to-Life monies to respond to Bishop John McDermott’s Annual Appeal.

Council Bank Balance: $17,853.32 as of 08/31/2024

Cor (Heart) Formation for men is held every third SAT at Saint John Vianney Parish beginning at 10 AM. Our thirteenth gathering will take place on October 19, 2024. COR Formation is open to all men. I hope to see you there for prayer, formation, and fraternity. Vivat Jesus! For more information check out www.kofc.org/Cor

Our thirty-ninth consecutive First-Friday Council Holy Hour took place on October 4, at 3 PM at Saint John Vianney. 

We prayed the Glorious Scripture Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

The Next Holy Hour will be on November 1, 2024. 

Planned for every third Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 9 PM, unexpected events can dictate an alternate date. The next Bingo is October 17. The Bingo provides funds for the Council, Assembly and parish. The Bingo is paying off the council loan used to pay for the bingo equipment and start-up supplies. This can only succeed with a dedicated staff of volunteers. Your help is vital. Having a deep bench will ensure our success. We need help in sales, set-up, kitchen and clean-up. Doors open at 5:30 PM with first game at 6:30 PM. Volunteers should arrive by 4:30 PM. Bring can goods for free game sheets. Make it a family affair. Every worker bee bring along a player!

Pickleball is scheduled in Starksboro on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 PM and St Jude on Fridays from 1-3 PM. Contact Ted Barrett or Tammi Walker. You can email Ted at tedbarrett79@gmail.com or Tammi at tjwalker5@gmail.com. 

St John Vianney pickleball is also available by appointment by calling Ray Michaud at 233-0145.

There is no Assembly meeting on October 10 due to the Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. 

There is always a way to make a contribution. Last month three Knights, Joe Pranys, Fr. Naples and Jay Benson donated grills even though they could not make it to the St Jude Family BBQ on August 24th. They are our Knights of the Month!

Age Well is looking for volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels.  For information about volunteer opportunities, please contact the Age Well Volunteer Team. 802-662-5249, https://www.agewellvt.org/

AspireNow is also looking for help. Call them at(802) 658-8046 or visit their home page at https://aspire1.org.

Unbound is looking for sponsors for children in South America. For as little as $40/month you can make the life of a poor boy or girl and their families more prosperous. UNBOUND.org

Birthright is always looking for donations of money or items needed by parents. They have a brunch on 6 OCT where we will be cooking! Email: burlingtonvt@birthright.org

There are many other opportunities to serve!

Your council conducts monthly Bingo at St. John Vianney Parrish Hall on the third Thursdays. We are going to need you all to commit to supporting this every month. The more volunteers, the lighter the load.  

In addition to prayer we have Knights in need of visitation. Leonard Robear is now a widower living alone. His nephew told me at Mary's wake that a visiting nurse would be checking on him.

SK George Stevens is still at the Burlington Health and Rehab, 300 Pearl St., Room 511. Morning visits are best.

Note: if you would like a visitation, please call us!

Check the Save the Date section for other events. 

If none of these interest you, ask us how you can help-we have more ideas. We want to hear your ideas too on how to pay forward our many blessings. 

OCTOBER 

THU OCT 10 at 6 :30 PM Exemplification of Charity Unity and Fraternity at St John Vianney 

THU OCT 10 at 7 PM Council Business Meeting (after dinner and Exemplification) at SJV or on Zoom (GK will be excused)

(https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09) (Meeting ID: 846 4758 2239. Passcode: 297697) 

THU OCT 17 at 6:30 PM SJV Bingo! Doors open at 5:30 PM. Light snacks and beverages available. Chance to win $1,000. (Volunteers should arrive at 4:30 PM for set-up, food court, or pop-open ticket sales) 

SAT OCT 19 at 10-11:30 AM COR Formation for Men at St John Vianney Parish 

SAT OCT 26 from 6 to 9 PM Echoes of Grace Annual cemetery walk at Resurrection Park. Help needed. 

SUN OCT 27 from 4-8 PM Anchor Award Dinner for Fr. Yvon Royer at St Peter’s Parish Hall in Vergennes, VT 

NOVEMBER 

FRI NOV 01 at 3 PM Holy Hour at SJV. Come early and lead a decade of the scripture Holy Rosary. 

THU NOV 07 at 6:30 PM Council Officer Meeting (After pizza) at SJV or on Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84053360051?pwd=VUoveHR3WktLVGplbk1MRkU1QVJqQT09 (Meeting ID: 840 5336 0051. Passcode: 179347) 

SAT NOV 9 10-11 AM Annual Statewide Day of Prayer for Clergy and Vocations at SJV (Event runs from 8 AM to 8 PM) 

THU NOV 14 at 6 :30 PM Council Business Meeting (after dinner) at SJV or on Zoom (Exemplification of Chairty, Unity, and Fraternity)

(https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09) (Meeting ID: 846 4758 2239. Passcode: 297697)

SAT NOV 16 at 10-11:30 AM COR Formation for Men at St John Vianney Parish 

THU NOV 21 at 6:30 PM SJV Bingo! Doors open at 5:30 PM. Light snacks and beverages available. Chance to win $1,000. (Volunteers should arrive at 4:30 PM for set-up, food court, or pop-open ticket sales) 

DECEMBER

THU DEC 05 at 6:30 PM Council Officer Meeting (After pizza) at SJV or on Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84053360051?pwd=VUoveHR3WktLVGplbk1MRkU1QVJqQT09 (Meeting ID: 840 5336 0051. Passcode: 179347) 

FRI DEC 06 at 3 PM Holy Hour at SJV. Come early and lead a decade of the scripture Holy Rosary. 

THU DEC 12 at 6 :30 PM Council Business Meeting (after dinner) at SJV or on Zoom (Exemplification of Chairty, Unity, and Fraternity)

(https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09) (Meeting ID: 846 4758 2239. Passcode: 297697) 

SUN DEC 15 1 to 3 PM Annual Special People’s Party at SJV Hall. Help needed. 

SUN DEC 15 6 to 9 PM Annual Council 7525 Christmas Party and Gift Exchange at ST John Vianney parish Hall 

THU DEC 19 at 6:30 PM SJV Bingo! Doors open at 5:30 PM. Light snacks and beverages available. Chance to win $1,000. (Volunteers should arrive at 4:30 PM for set-up, food court, or pop-open ticket sales) 

SAT DEC 21 at 10-11:30 AM COR Formation for Men at St John Vianney Parish

Our Worthy Lecturer Bernie Prendergast will tell us about the faith and virtue of St Pope John 23^rd, (feast day OCT 11), and sing the song Our Lady of Knock

Some of you have been very busy recruiting new members. For that reason we will conduct an Exemplification of Charity, Fraternity, and Unity, during our OCT 10 Business Meeting. We conducted a recruiting drive in SEP and Ray Bouchard signed up Kyle Tetreault at ST Jude. Ray Michaud has two candidates as well; one may be able to attend. Going forward, let us be mindful of using CARE to recruit and retain new members. This can be done anytime you meet a Catholic Gentleman.

Jacobi Roulette, 6 Mo old Great-Grandson of Mike Audette, PGK Louis Lauzon of St Marks, Nathan Cookson, Kenneth Limoge, SK Joe Groleau (in hospital), a friend of Fr. Naples' whose daughter was recently diagnosed with leukemia, Mike and Pam Audette, Bishop John McDermott, Timothy O'Neill, Fr. Jeremias Tigga, Ben Fine (son-in-law of Ray Michaud), PGK Ray Miller,  General success of Catholic Radio, Mason and Elizabeth Bullock, Richard Labrecque, Leonard Robear, Chris Johnson, Arlene Michaud (Ray's sister), Gail Couillard, Marilyn LaCount, Friend of David Gravelin, Anthony Naples, Andre Ricard (Assembly 1157 Newport), Zak Bigelow and family, Pope Francis, Mrs. Jackie Crosby, An anonymous member in distress, Niko Limnos and Family, Mother-in-law of Ronnie Sweet, William Cannon and Family, Michael Gravelin, Mark and Paulette Noyes and Family (esp. Levi age 7), John O' Brien, Cheryl Allain, Claire Myers, Kelly Jackson (daughter of late PGK Jeff Jackson), PGK Bernie Hemond, Dick and Sandy Stevens, Beth-Ann Prendergast, Mariette Nadeau, Jeff and Kay Jarvis, Tom Gravelin, Chuck Schifilliti, Gerry Seney, Robert Gravelin, Keith Marston, Sue Cottrell, (23 year old woman fighting cancer), Kevin and Chad Limoge, Vickie Linton, George Stevens (Assembly 2106), James Read, Gene Tofferi,  Jeffrey Claude Danis and family, Stuart Fath, Wally Rooney, Ed and Theresa Curtiss, one anonymous brother knight, the people of Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and an end to the wars. All clergy and religious. All victims and families of Hurricane Helene, COVID-19 and flooding. First Responders, police, and firefighters. For a just solution in the Middle East, that pregnant women will choose life and for new members to join the Order.

For all the faithfully departed and their grieving families, especially Kaylea Allenbaugh, 33, granddaughter of Worthy PSD and SK Maurice Noel and his wife Sharon. May she rest in peace and may all the families of the deceased be comforted by the promise of everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Saint John Vianney Council 7525

160A Hinesburg Road, South Burlington, VT 05403

www.kofcvt.org

Copyright 2024