This month I would like to suggest that frequent prayer can help overcome concupiscence, or that tendency to sin.

 “ They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3: 8

Folks, it is easy to conclude that after Adam and Eve disobeyed God they stopped praying out of shame and guilt. They hid themselves. That may be why God went looking for them. Isn’t it true that when we are engaged in serious sin, we seek to hide ourselves from God; for He will shed a light onto our naked disobedience. By separating ourselves from the Devine Light we sink every more deeply into habits of sin done in darkness (secret). We may distance ourselves from the Sacraments or hide in plain sight by participating in the Sacraments sinfully to maintain an appearance of piety. We will surely not receive a reward.  A man who sins is like a married man who takes a lover-he wants to spend all his time with her, but he must do so in secret lest his wife and family discover his betrayal. This leads to more sins of deceit, broken vows and neglect of his family. That is why sin pulls us away from God and prayer-we have chosen another in God’s place. Sin is idolatry. How do we combat this downward spiral? Prayer is the answer.

The Scriptures are filled with prayers and the stories about the power of prayer; prayers answered. Jesus gave us direct guidance about how to pray. Our Holy Mother Mary admonished us to pray the Holy Rosary daily. The Saints through the centuries have shared with us how they pray. Prayer is a conversation with God. It is what God seeks: time spent with Him.

 “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”   - John Bunyan

 “Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer.  – J.C. Ryle

 “A sinning man will stop praying, and a praying man will stop sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill

When we sin, we must nevertheless have the courage to seek God’s Face and ask Him, through prayer, for forgiveness and the power (Spirit) to resist temptation. Personally, I have found that prayer during temptation can quickly cool the passion for sin. We can imagine that God is with us and watching-shining a light on our selfish plan-discovering our desire to betray.

There are many ways that God answers prayer; the most effective way to hear His voice is time spent reading and contemplating scripture. Since God is the Word, time spent with scripture is time spent with God. Our Lord seeks to spend time with us. As you mature in your spiritual life of prayer, the goals of your prayer will also mature.

 “The person who thinks only of himself says only prayers of petition; the one who thinks of his neighbor says prayers of intercession; whoever thinks only of loving and serving God says prayers of abandonment to God’s will, and this is the prayer of the saints.” – Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Remember, the tempter never sleeps. Our best defense against him is constant prayer.

Vivat Jesus!

The Last Business Meeting took place on June 12 in person and on Zoom.  At 5 PM we grilled hamburgers and hotdogs on Fr. Tim's’ grill and Steve Shover provided potato salad. Charles brought a delicious dessert cooked by his wife Karen. There were three Warnings: Officer elections, budget and scholarship money. All three Warning motions passed. We have a new budget and only one officer opening for the Advocate. We planned our first Tootsie Roll drive, too. Sixteen members attended the business meeting, including two participants via Zoom.  

The Last Officer Meeting was cancelled due to the July 4 Independence Day Holiday.

The Next Business Meeting will be in-person and on Zoom Thursday, July 10 at 6:30 PM. AT 5:30 PM we will enjoy dinner provided by FN and DD3 Mike Audette with dessert by Ray Michoud. We have two speakers scheduled: Julie Sulva and Steve Gentile. Julie is a local young lady with the FOCUS campus evangelization Ministry. She is looking for financial support from each of us. Steve Gentile manages our Morgan Stanley investment account and will be speaking to us about whether we should adopt a more conservative investment strategy. There will be two Warnings: a vote for the office of Advocate. We have one nominee, Ray Miller. A vote to support a trip to Italy by Dcn phil Lawson.

Cor (Heart) Formation for men is now being held every fourth Monday at Saint John Vianney Parish beginning at 6:30 PM. Our twenty-first gathering will take place on July 28, 2025. 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 forty-eighth consecutive "First-Friday" Council Holy Hour will take place on July 11, 2025 at 3 PM at Saint John Vianney due to Independence Day. 

We will pray the Scripture Holy Rosary.

We are expecting to venerate the Silver Rose in August 1st.

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.

On June 14 our Assembly hosted an Exemplification of the Patriotic Degree at St John Vianney Church. We had 9 candidates who have joined the Order of Sir Knights! Thanks to all who helped us in this effort. 2025 marked the 125th Year of this exemplification.

Upcoming Color Corps events include the following:

SUN JUL 20 12:15 PM Family Day Mass at Isle La Motte

SUN AUG 24 10:30 AM State Officer Installation and picnic at Isle La Motte

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 pray and serve!

In addition to monthly Bingo on third Thursdays, we have monthly Holy Hour on First Fridays, and Cor Formation on fourth Mondays at 6:30 PM.

In addition to prayer we have Knights in need of visitation. Richard Labrecque is beginning to spend some time at McClure-Miller Respite House in Colchester, VT. You may find him there or at his home 10 Eagle Crest, Unit 102 Williston, VT 05495 (Located North of Blair Park). Leonard Robear is now a widower living at Burlington Health and Rehab room 408.

Robert Brunette and Dave Bean live at Thayer House 1197 North Avenue in Burlington rooms 206 and 302.  

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. 

July 2025

THU JUL 10 at 6:30 PM Council Business Meeting (after dinner) at SJV or on Zoom  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09 (Meeting ID: 846 4758 2239. Passcode: 297697)

FRI JUL 11 at 3 PM Holy Hour at SJV. Come early and lead a decade of the scripture Holy Rosary.

SAT JUL 12 0800-1200 Noon Cemetery Restoration at Eldredge Cemetery in South Burlington, VT

SUN July 13, 1200, St Catherine of Siena Chicken BBQ at Shelburne Town Beach (Need help with set-up and tear down)

MON JUL 28^th at 6:30 PM COR Formation for Men at St John Vianney Parish

Thursday JUL 31 6:30 PM Council Bingo at SJV Parish Hall

August 2025

FRI AUG 1, Holy Hour at SJV. Come early and lead a decade of the Holy Rosary.

SAT-SUN AUG 2-3, Collection for People with Intellectual Disabilities at St Jude and OLMC Masses

SUN AUG 03, 12:30 PM, Annual St John Vianney Parish Picnic Oakledge Park in South Burlington, VT

THU AUG 7 at 6:30 PM Council Officer Meeting Zoom only

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

THU AUG 14 at 6:30 PM Council Business Meeting (after Mass and dinner) at SJV or on Zoom  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09 (Meeting ID: 846 4758 2239. Passcode: 297697)

THU AUG 21 (3^rd Thursday) 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 AUG 23, 5:30 PM St Jude Parish BBQ (Need help with set-up, cooking, and clean-up)

SUN AUG 24, 10:30 AM State Council Annual Retreat and Picnic at Isle La Motte

MON AUG 25th at 6:30 PM COR Formation for Men at St John Vianney Parish

September 2025

WED SEP 24 7-9 PM Chris Stefanick REBOOT at St Francis Xavier Church in Winooski (Find out how to live life to the full as God intended) Real Life Catholic

December 2025

SAT 13 DEC 1 to 3 PM Special People Christmas Party at St John Vianney Parish Hall

SUN 14 DEC TBD Council 7525 Christmas Party and Gift Exchange at St John Vianney Church Basement

Brothers, please continue to recruit new members using CORE. We should, at a minimum, seek to replace ourselves in order to continue the good works of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism as envisioned by our Founder, Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney. This can be done anytime you meet a Catholic Gentleman.

Our Worthy Lecturer Bernie Prendergast will speak about St Thomas, the Apostle (JUL 3) and sing the song Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.

Sue Victory (leg injury), Joe Donegan and Family (New member), Patti Hallam (Parkinson’s), Gail Ponto (broken ankle), newest Vermont Priest Rev Father Joseph Luan Van Tran, William (Bill) Bessette and Family, Terri Lavalee and Family, Pope Leo XIV, Amy Rushford, Kay and Ken Jarvis, David Bean, Sandy Michaud, Richard Labrecque, WSD Chris Poirier, Patrick Anderson, Bruce O’Neill, John (Jack) Romanoski, Lois Fontaine, Barbara Chenette (mother of Brad Chenette), Fr. Naples, Tom F., Jacobi Roulette, 1 year old Great-Grandson of Mike Audette, PGK Louis Lauzon, of St Marks, Nathan Cookson, Kenneth Limoge, SK Joe Groleau (in hospital), Abigail Jackson (leukemia), Mike and Pam Audette, Bishop John McDermott, Timothy O'Neill, Ben Fine (son-in-law of Ray Michaud), PGK Ray Miller, General success of Catholic Radio, Mason and Elizabeth Bullock, 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, Mrs. Jackie Crosby, 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 8), John O' Brien, Cheryl Allain, Claire Myers, Kelly Jackson (daughter of late PGK Jeff Jackson), Dick and Sandy Stevens, Beth-Ann Prendergast, Mariette Nadeau, Chuck Schifilliti, Gerry Seney, Robert Gravelin, Keith Marston, Sue Cottrell, (23 year old woman fighting cancer), Chad Limoge, Vickie Linton, James Read, Gene Tofferi, Jeffrey Claude Danis and family, Stuart Fath, Wally Rooney, two anonymous brother knights, the people of Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and an end to the wars. All clergy and religious. All victims and families of COVID-19, hurricanes, and flooding. First Responders, police, and firefighters. For a just solution in the Middle East. That pregnant women will choose life. For new members to join the Order.

For the repose of the souls of Chris Barrett (Ted’s brother), Carl Burnett (Jim and Sue Burnett’s brother), and Lucille Barrett (Mike Audette’s neighbor) and all the faithfully departed and their grieving families. May they 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 2025