Worthy Officers, Brothers, and Sir Knights,

Why I plan to vote “no” on Prop 5/Article 22. 

I plan to vote “no” to Article 22 in November because it will permanently make abortion of late-term or third trimester babies legal in Vermont. “Location, location, location” are said to be the three most important considerations when determining the value of real estate. But do we want to apply that same criteria when we determine the value of human life? I don’t. But we are already there. The Vermont Legislature passed the broadest abortion legislation in the nation back in 2019. Vermont law currently allows abortion through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason. (See Vermont Statutes Title 18, Chapter 223, sub-section 9493 (b)) The repeal of Roe v Wade has not changed Vermont law.

The newest legislation is a proposed amendment to our state constitution known as Prop 5/ Article 22. Personal reproductive liberty. I do not know what that means. The folks who wrote it don’t seem to know either. They say the Vermont Supreme Court will decide what it means. The Supremes will base their interpretation on legislative intent. Clearly, the intent of the legislature is legal abortion available all 9 months of pregnancy. Unlike a statute, an amendment is very difficult to repeal or modify.    

I have visited both Special Care and Neonatal Intensive Care Nurseries (NICU) in Vermont and elsewhere. At these facilities I saw dedicated staff working to keep babies born at 23-40 weeks gestation alive outside the womb. Sure, some of them are struggling to survive, but many just need more time for their young lungs to mature. They all looked like babies. The effect of these laws is that in the NICU there are babies, but in the womb, (same age and level of growth) there are no babies. Therefore, under current law, and reinforced by this proposed amendment, the value of human life in Vermont depends on the location of the human life. That makes no sense to me. I think it completely ignores the biology of how life develops.    

Which of those NICU babies would you consider expendable?

Again, I am planning to vote “no” on Prop 5/Article 22 in November. I truly hope that the majority of Vermonter’s believe that human life has value regardless of location. Let us begin by dropping the catchy labels we apply to each other (pro-life or pro-choice) since they are intended to divide us and over-simplify deeply held and complex ideas about freedom, life, and responsibility. Maybe next time the legislature will craft a clearly written and transparently reasonable amendment that respects all of us.

Blessings,

Mike 

Dear brothers in Christ,

I would like to propose a simplified theme for the Mass. The point of the whole Mass is both the encounter with Jesus and also the affirmation – in the Mass itself – saying that Jesus is Lord, Messiah, and the Savior. Jesus is Lord; he's Messiah; he’s Savior! What does this mean?

If we don't believe that Jesus is Lord and Messiah and Savior then the Mass is not going to be that important to us. But if we do believe that Jesus is Lord, Messiah, and Savior then we need some way, a grand way and a ceremonial way, to express this faith. We cannot model our lives on this faith, deeply present in the Mass, without a prayerful and powerful way of expressing that faith. Let us express it with power. 

This brings me to the Gospel of last weekend where Jesus was saying “you cannot have anything - anything at all in this life! - higher than me!” He's the savior of all therefore he must be above all, to save all. We can't put father or mother ahead of Jesus; if it comes to an insurmountable choice between the two, then we have to reject father and mother for the sake of Jesus. You see, there's no way to save our father and mother unless Jesus is Lord. We would have to reject all of our possessions if they were to come between us and Jesus. For there's no way to save our possessions if Jesus is not Lord. 

But if Jesus is Lord over the possessions, we receive them back with salvation. If Jesus is Lord over father and mother, then we receive them back with salvation. We receive all these things back because he's not just "Lord" in the sense of leader, but he's Messiah and Savior, in the sense that he saves all that is worth loving. 

In Christ,

Father

Saint John Vianney Parish will be host for a multi-parish Eucharistic Adoration September 15th to 17th, for Respect For All Human Life in Vermont and the Defeat of the Proposal 5 Abortion Referendum. Sign-up at https://signup.com/mobileweb/2.0/vspot.html?activitykey=814700121055992086

For more information about the appropriate Catholic response to Article 22, the so-called Personal Reproductive Liberty Amendment to the Vermont Constitution, please follow this link to Fr. Naples article published at the Other Paper recently.   

https://www.vtcng.com/otherpapersbvt/opinion/opinion_columns/proponents-of-prop-5-embrace-extreme-position-on-abortion/article_286a32b8-13ad-11ed-9261-7f402690acf3.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

LAST MEETING

The last Council Business Meeting was held in person and remotely on ZOOM 11 August at 7 PM. Meeting was called to order by Grand Knight Mike Bullock. The Council voted to move the business meeting start time from 7 to 6:30 PM going forward. Minutes were sent to all members for approval. The last Officer Meeting was held in person and on ZOOM on 1 September at 6:30 PM. Voluntary donations reduced the cost of pizza prior to both Meetings. 

  COUNCIL WEBSITE

The Website Development Team continues to work to make our website more user friendly. kofcvt.org.  

NEXT BUSINESS MEETING

Our next business meeting is 8 September at 6:30 PM in person and on ZOOM.  Our pizza and salad will be at 5:30 PM.    

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09

INTO THE BREACH

This wonderful series can be found at this link: https://www.kofc.org/en/campaigns/into-the-breach.html

Thank-you to David Bean who volunteered to be nominated for the position of Advocate. If elected, that will leave an opening for Outside Guard. Here are the job descriptions. 

Advocate - The advocate acts as council parliamentarian. He should be knowledgeable in Robert's Rules of Order and Methods of Conducting a Council Meeting (#1937). He may seek legal assistance from the state advocate, should issues arise. The advocate should be able to take on additional responsibilities as the council deems necessary. Traditionally the Advocate in Council 7525 solicited and processed scholarship applications.

Inside/Outside Guards - The inside and outside guards carry out tasks given to them by the grand knight and follow the warden's orders. They are responsible for checking membership cards and allowing entrance to meetings. Councils should consider appointing additional inside and outside guards, especially among promising freshmen, as this provides early leadership opportunities.

HOLY HOUR

Our thirteenth consecutive First-Friday Council Holy Hour took place on 2 September 2022 from 3 - 4 PM. There were two Brothers and two parishioners present. Next Holy Hour will be 7 OCT  at 3 PM at SJV.  Please join us in worship of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the scripture Holy Rosary.

The Council has two Pickleball Sets; one at St John Vianney and one at St Jude. Ted recently played Pickle Ball at ST Jude and discovered that the ceiling chandelier is a very big obstruction. The Pastor and Parish Council at St Jude would like to see a "demo" of Pickle Ball at St Jude to evaluate any accommodations that can be made to make the space work. If you want to play at St. John Vianney, call Ray Michaud (233-0145).

Here is the schedule of events that require a Color Guard. Let us know if you can make any of these opportunities.  

1. 19 SEP 22 @ 1100 Dedication and blessing of Ultrasound Van by Bishop Coyne at St. John Vianney Church.

2. 08 OCT 22 @ 1000 Deaconate Ordination at St Joseph Cathedral. Seven men to be Ordained Permanent Deacons by Bishop Coyne. Three candidates are Knights, and two are from our council.  

We are looking for Sir Knights to join the Color Corps. We are down to 6 with the departure of Sir Knights Dinh Dang and Doan Vu. They served us very well. We may be able to help out with the cost of the regalia. Contact WFN Dave Martin if you are interested at (802) 881-8646. 

Age Well is looking for volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels.  For information about volunteer opportunities, please contact the Age Well Volunteer Team by calling 802-662-5249 or via  email: volunteer@agewellvt.org

17 AUG through 28 SEP 7 PM The Search Video Series. Wednesdays at St John Vianney. Film, discussion, and refreshments.

08 SEP THU 1830 Council Business Meeting (after pizza) at SJV or on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09)

14 SEP WED 1800 (after 5 PM Mass) District 3 Officer Installation, light refreshments (no BBQ) to follow in the Parish Center Gym next door to ST John Vianney Parish. Dress is business casual.

15-17 SEP THU-SAT 40 Hours of Eucharistic Devotion for Life at St John Vianney Parish (https://signup.com/mobileweb/2.0/vspot.html?activitykey=814700121055992086)

25 SEP SUN 1130 (After Mass) “Our Adoption Journey” a presentation by a fellow Knight (St Thomas/Underhill Council) at St Catherine of Siena in Shelburne, VT See this link to a Vermont Catholic article about this adoptive journey. (https://www.vermontcatholic.org/vermont/adoptive-father-encourages-those-considering-adoption-to-pray-to-st-joseph/)

04 OCT TUE 1900 Mother Teresa No Greater Gift Movie at Essex Cinemas, Essex Junction, VT

05 OCT WED 1900-2100 ZOOM Officer Training hosted by RGD Brandon Brown. Link TBA

06 OCT THU 1830 Council Officer Meeting (after Pizza) at SJV and on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84053360051?pwd=VUoveHR3WktLVGplbk1MRkU1QVJqQT09)

08 OCT SAT 1000 Ordination of 7 new Deacons (of the 3 who are Knights, 2 are from our Council (Patrick and Josh)), at St Joseph’s Cathedral.

08-09 OCT SAT-SUN Collection for People with Intellectual Disabilities at St Jude and OLMC Parishes. Please volunteer to cover a Mass.

13 OCT THU 1830 Council Business Meeting (after pizza) at SJV or on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647582239?pwd=bHF1Y3lsM0I5eFVIbHhONmR4eTMzUT09)

15-16 OCT SAT-SUN Collection for People with Intellectual Disabilities at St John Vianney Parish. Please volunteer to cover a Mass. 

12 NOV SAT 0800-2000. Statewide Day of Prayer for Clergy. Our Council time is 1400-1500 SAT at SJV.

We received a thank you from the Diocese of Burlington Vermont Catholic Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund for our recent payment of $10,000. We have now paid $90,000 of our $100,000 pledge to this great cause. Our final payment of $10k will be sent on 1 November. 

Our Worthy Lecturer, Bernie will enlighten us about the life and virtue of St. Robert Bellarmine (Feast Day SEP 17) and sing the song, Let There Be Peace On Earth. 

05 Bernie Prendergast, 12 Robert Mount and Gerry Seney, Jr., 17 James Stevens, 20 Dinh Dang and Edward Schirmer, 21 Patrick Mahoney, 22 David Lavallee, 24 Rev. Timothy Naples

Please pray for the following people who are ill or in distress and their families;

PGK Bernie Hemond, Marilyn LeCount, Cher Racine, Steve Shover, Dick and Sandy Stevens, Joe Donegan, Beth-Ann Prendergast, Dick Labrecque, Mariette Nadeau, Jeff and Kay Jarvis, Tom Gravelin, Rick Gravelin, Joan Foley, Chuck Schifilliti, Gerry Seney, Robert Gravelin, Keith Marston, Sue Cottrell, Gary Howe and Family, Parker Yvonne Lyon (Granddaughter of Tom Gravelin) and mom and dad Ellen and Garrett, sister Clara Lynn, Amy and her mother, (22 year old woman fighting cancer at Dana-Farber), Kevin and Chad Limoge, Vickie Linton, George Stevens, James Read, Richard Waite, Robert Morris, Gene Tofferi, Mike and Pam Audette, Joe Myers and Family, Jeffrey Claude Danis and family, Tom Westropp, Andrew Bolognani, PSD/PGK Don Sutton, Ray Miller, Stuart Fath, David Bullock (chemo), Harold Ponto, Wally Rooney, Bob Wilkens, Ed and Theresa Curtiss, the people of Ukraine and an end to the war, the Families of all of our faithfully departed brothers, friends and relatives, all clergy and religious, all those indifferent to the Gospel, victims and families of COVID-19, First Responders, peace in Eastern Europe, the defeat of the "Personal Reproductive Liberty Amendment" in Vermont, and for new Members to join the Order.

Please pray for all the victims who have died in the Ukraine War and for our dear departed as follows:

Karen Ann (Halpin) Wolbach died on 27 August 2022. 

https://helphopelive.org/campaign/13970

May she rest in peace. May all the faithfully departed rest in peace, Amen. And may her family be comforted by the promised resurrection.