I am sure many of you have seen videos of “Creationists” on social media refuting scientific findings as to the age of the earth and the universe. Rather than accept the estimates of the earth’s age as over 4 billion years old, and the universe as more than 13 billion years old, they try to convince you that the biblical account of creation in Genesis correctly estimates that the universe is only 6-10 thousand years old. They begin with a literal interpretation of scripture that God took only 6 days to get the job done. (My observation is that many creationists are somewhat selective when it comes to literal interpretation, i.e. believing that Jesus cannot be literal when it comes to the Eucharist-more on that in a moment). The Church believes the interpretation of Holy Scripture is guided by the Holy Spirit through the Magisterium of the Church.  

“The Catholic Church considers science and faith as complimentary, not competing. Science seeks to understand the ‘how’ of the universe while faith explores the ‘why’-the ultimate meaning and purpose of existence. The Catholic Church does not endorse a purely literalist interpretation, but looks at theological, allegorical, moral and anagogical, figurative and symbolic meaning. The Church recognizes that the author of Genesis uses figurative language and symbolism to convey deeper truths about God, creation, and humanity. In this Genesis is not intended to be a scientific account of the universe’s origins or a literal historical record.” Internet AI response. 

When considering the age of the earth and the universe, I have always been fascinated by the account of Jesus’ first miracle-changing water into wine and believe it to be instructive in this regard. Let’s begin with a review of the scripture.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 (And) Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. 9 And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” John 2: 1-10

This passage made me think about the age of good wine. How long does it take to pick and process the grapes and ferment the wine to perfection. Well, I found out the answer is quite varied, from weeks to decades. God creates everything out of nothing and exclusively gives life to his creatures. My conclusion therefore is that in addition to the appearance, color, texture, smell, taste, etc. God imbues His creation with whatever age he wishes. I believe the age of a person or thing is just one of the “accidents” of existence determined by our Creator.

God decides the age and characteristics of everything He makes. Whether He takes six days, six thousand years or some other timeframe. God can make the earth first, but make the universe seem much older-even by billions of years. God can place an uncountable number of stars and galaxies anywhere at incredible distances and place them in motion. God is outside of space and time. God does not fatigue. The day of rest is for us.

There are many other examples of people or things having unexpected ages. In Genesis 18: 1-15 Abraham is visited by the Lord as three men whom he addresses in the singular. Speculation is that they could represent the Trinity, -the point is they appear in an instant as full-grown men on a journey. (Abraham brings them water to wash their feet). Look at the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. (Matt 14: 15-21) No one present would presume that mature fish and baked bread were only moments old-their age was consistent with the reality God established. The fish being older than the bread. In my own life I have had an encounter with an angel-he came out of nowhere to help me but had the appearance of a mature man of about 50 years old. He disappeared immediately after giving saving advice. How old was he?

There are many other examples too numerous to cover in our monthly newsletter, but I wish now to suggest something truly amazing regarding the Eucharist. We believe as a matter of Faith that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. To reinforce the faith of us doubting Thomas's, there have been many “Eucharistic Miracles.” We will look at one contemporary incident.

“On August 26, 1996, in the Church of Santa Maria in Buenos Aires, Argentina a desecrated host that had been placed in water was found in the tabernacle to have transformed into a piece of bloody tissue. Three years later the tissue had not decomposed. The future Pope Francis asked that the tissue be scientifically examined. The analyzed material was found to be heart muscle found in the wall of the left ventricle close to the valves. It was AB type blood consistent with the blood on the Shroud of Turin. What is so remarkable about this testimony, … the tissue was removed when the heart was alive and still pumping, having been subject to severe stress as if the owner had been severely beaten about the chest.” - Contemporary Eucharistic Miracles, Robert J Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D SEP 2020

At our Lord’s Last Supper, in anticipation of His Passion, He took bread and wine and told His disciples they were His body and blood that would be sacrificed. Based on our Lord’s testimony and on the scientific evidence provided by an examination of a Eucharistic Miracle, is it reasonable, and not contrary to the teachings of the Church, to conclude that at the moment of transubstantiation, the bread and wine retain the accidents or appearance of bread and wine of a certain vintage, but are in fact, the living body and blood of our Lord just prior to His death on the cross at the age of 33 years? The Eucharist is alive! The Eucharist is the Sacred Heart of Jesus! The Eucharist is also the burning bush, being itself. The Eucharist is Sacramentally God and man; Jesus fully present and adored at the moment of sacrifice. Awesome and humbling.  

Vivat Jesus!

The Last Business Meeting took place on July 10, 2025, in person and on Zoom.  At 5:30 PM we enjoyed pasta and garlic bread provided by FN Mike Audette. Dessert was provided by FS Ray Michaud. We had two guest speakers. Julie Sulva told us what she does on a college campus for FOCUS. She has asked us to contribute individually and as a council. We presented her with a council check for $250. Steve Gentile talked about risk, our investment success and described a plan to “balance” our portfolio by divesting from an underperforming Fund. The Council voted to approve the plan. We had two Warnings. Both Motions passed unanimously: we elected Ray Miller to the Advocate position and agreed to donate $100 to Dcn Phil Lawson’s October trip to Italy. (The Assembly also kicked in $100) The next Tootsie Roll drive will be at St Jude and OLMC AUG 2-3. Brothers have been assigned to collect. Seventeen members attended the business meeting, including one participant via Zoom.  

The Last Officer Meeting was on August 7 on Zoom only. The Worthy Trustees met ahead of time to examine the Council Financial records to complete the semi-annual audit. The meeting had a total of 11 in attendance. We discussed upcoming events, especially the 24 August State Officer Installation and the AUG 23 St Jude parish BBQ. Volunteers are needed for both. As Grand Knight I urged members who can only attend one gathering per month to opt for the monthly Cor Formation or Holy Hour. We also discussed at length whether or not to incentivize new membership growth. Our Worthy Treasurer and PSD Steve Shover was initially against the idea having experienced “been there and done that without success”. We will Warn the idea of increasing our charitable donations to worthy causes that have helped us recruit new, active members.

The Next Business Meeting will be in-person and on Zoom Thursday, AUG 14 at 6:30 PM. At 5:30 PM there is the vigil Mass for the Assumption of our Lady (Holy Day of Obligation) at St John Vianney. Members may attend this vigil Mass or opt to attend Mass on AUG 15. At 6 PM we will have pizza, salad and dessert available. There will be an Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity after the Pledge of Allegiance. There will be one Warning as described at the Officer Meeting.  

Morgan Stanley Value: $475,428.87 as of AUG 7, 2025

Council Bank Balance: $21,254.08 as of July 30, 2025

Cor (Heart) Formation for men is now being held every fourth Monday at Saint John Vianney Parish beginning at 6:30 PM. Our twenty-second gathering will take place on August 25, 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-ninth consecutive First-Friday Council Holy Hour took place on August 1st. The Silver Rose was present and we said the Holy Rosary for Life as part of the Silver Rose Program.

Our fiftieth consecutive First Friday Holy Hour will be on September 5, 2025 at 3 PM at Saint John Vianney Church.

We will pray the Scripture Holy Rosary.

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.

I encourage all of you to speak to your Third Degree brothers about joining the 4th Patriotic Degree. There will be an Exemplification of the Fourth Degree on October 25 at St Anthony's Church in White River Junction, VT. 

Upcoming Color Corps events include the following:

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 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. 

August 2025

THU AUG 14 at 6:30 PM Council Business Meeting (after Mass and dinner) at SJV or on Zoom  (Exemplification following Pledge)

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 at 3 PM, cooking, and clean-up)

SUN AUG 24, 10:30 AM State Council Officer Installation and BBQ at Isle La Motte (All are welcome, and they are in need of BBQ help and donations)

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

September 2025

THU SEP 4 at 6:30 PM Council Officer Meeting Zoom only

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

FRI SEP 5, Holy Hour at SJV. Come early and lead a decade of the Holy Rosary.

THU SEP 11 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)

THU SEP 18 (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 SEP 20 Annual Right to Life Dinner and Fundraiser at St John Vianney

MON SEP 22^nd (Fourth Monday) at 6:30 PM COR Formation for Men at St John Vianney Parish

WED SEP 24^th 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 ST John Vianney (AUG 4) and sing the song When You Come to the End of the Day.

David Mangan (friend of GK), George Krol (Father of Alice Benson), Diane Mitchell, Doug Taff, Sue Victory (broken leg), 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 Darla Rooney and Gilberte Myers, wives of our brothers Wally Rooney and the late Archie Myers. I mention Rene Kirby as well, a local Icon and inspirational member of the disabled in our community. As far as I know he never felt sorry for himself, making the best use of his abilities and gifts. He was an actor, appearing in the movie “Shallow Hal”. It was my pleasure to meet him in person on a business matter several years ago. For 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