Worthy Officers, Brothers, and Sir Knights,

The month of June is when we pivot from honoring our mothers to honoring our fathers. Primarily, we should take comfort in the knowledge that each of us has a heavenly Father. We know that Jesus gave us His Mother to be our mother from the cross, and God gave us St Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, to be an example for us of a loving human father.

God created us in His own image, male and female He created us. God then, in a mysterious way, is both the masculine and the feminine. God is spirit and has no physical body with a gender. Scripture, however, consistently applies masculine pronouns to the Trinity. The Son of Man, Jesus, has a human male body. This is not to suggest that God only embodies the attributes and characteristics of the masculine. One example is Jesus’ “desire to gather us together in His arms as a hen gathers her brood under her wings”. (from Matthew 23:37) Another example is Wisdom, a gift of the Holy Spirit, consistently described in scripture as feminine.

Everyone born has a father, but not all of us have a father-figure in our lives. Some fathers have passed on and we recall happy memories and keep them in our prayers. We can pray that young people who lack a father will find a man willing to serve them in that role. Fatherhood is a choice whether we are related to someone or not. You may be called to be a father to someone. Most earthly fathers are flawed; but St Joseph gives us an example of a man who choose to be all a father can and should be. To seek holiness includes perfecting ourselves in the roles that God has given us, neighbor, father or mother, son or daughter, brother, or sister.

The finest portrait of a loving father, and of God the Father, was “painted” in the story we recognize as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I recommend that you read and meditate on the profundity of meaning contained in that scripture. (Luke 15: 11-32).

One of the roles of a father, by example and action, is to guide, train, educate and prepare us to exercise our freedom in the service of God and neighbor. A father will incrementally grant us freedom and allow us to make our own decisions in accordance with the wisdom and maturity we have demonstrated. This often means a painful “letting go;” always with the hope, in prayer, that our children will choose a path to holiness.  

Celebrate your father this month and “grieve him not as long as he lives.” (from Sirach 3:12). “Kindness to a father serves as a sin offering” (from Sirach 3 13-14) Forgive his faults and thank him for all the sacrifices he has made for your benefit. Tell him you love him. While respecting your freedom, your father encouraged and supported your aspirations; guiding you to discern and embrace those aspirations that God the Father intended for you before you were born.

Vivat Jesus!

Our Chaplain has taped another video on the Eucharist. 

Reflections on the Eucharist #7: Let us go to the Upper Room can be found at this link.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP684lvcwzA

 The Bottle Drive is one way to support Aspire Now and help us qualify for additional funds through the ASAP Program. (Aid and Support After Pregnancy)

There is a Padre Pio Relic Devotion touring Vermont this summer. These authentic relics of the much venerated saint will be at Christ the King Parish, 136 Locust Street in Burlington, VT on Jul 15 from 10 AM to 6 PM. Other locations and dates can be found in the June State Newsletter. 

LAST MEETINGS

The last Council Business Meeting was held in person and remotely on ZOOM 11 May 2023 at 6:30 PM after Vespers and a delicious meal of lasagna was provided by Chad Chenette. Dave Martin and Pete Gadue provided desserts, and Cindy Rainville (Family of the Month) made a very tasty dessert for us in gratitude.  There were no warnings. We will vote on the minutes at the next meeting.   

Minutes were sent to all members for approval.  

The last Officer Meeting was held in person and on ZOOM on 1 June at 6:30 after pizza and salad. The officers discussed upcoming projects like the return of Bingo at St John Vianney, BBQs at St Catherine and ST Jude, Tootsie Roll Drive, etc. The Trustees reported that all of the council officers were running for office again. The Budget is being kicked down the road, and will be presented and voted on in July. 

                                     COUNCIL WEBSITE

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

NEXT BUSINESS MEETING

Our next business meeting is 8 June  at 6:30 PM in person at St. Mark's Church in Burlington, VT. and on Zoom. We will be having pizza and salad; but dessert will be provided by Tom Gravelin and Dick Labrecque. We are going to be family bowling, so the meeting will be very short. Opening prayer will be the Our Father.  

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

Meeting ID: 846 4758 2239, Passcode: 297697

INTO THE BREACH

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

Our twenty-third consecutive First-Friday Council Holy Hour will take place on 7 July at 1500. 

Please join us in worship of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the scripture Holy Rosary.

You can still play pickleball at Robinson Elementary School in Starksboro every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 PM. 

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

Charles Brown is working on the slate of officers for the assembly. Would you like to serve? Let him know ASAP. The Assembly will meet and vote on a slate of officers in July. Date, time and location to be determined. 

The Assembly is looking to grow the Color Corps. If you are interested in becoming a 4th Degree Knight, or if you are already a 4th Degree Knight and wish to join the Color Corp, please contact CCC Mike Bullock at (802) 598-8179 or mtn6@gmavt.net. The Assembly is willing to help defray the cost of the Regalia. 

Upcoming events for the Color Corp: None

The next Exemplification of the 4th Degree will take place on August 19 at Christ the King in Rutland. Stay tuned. 

There are many opportunities to serve!

Your council will son bring back monthly Bingo at St. John Vianney Parrish Hall. 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. Don Sutton is still at Villa Rehab on 7 Forest Hill Drive in ST. Albans, VT. He is in Room 9. You can call (802) 524-3498, hit 0 and they can ring his room. His direct number is (802) 527-2714. His former roommate, Bill Curtin, is now on the third floor. Don loves to play cribbage. George Stevens is still at the Burlington Health and Rehab, 300 Pearl St., now in Room 518. I'm told George is wide awake in the early morning. Bob Wilkens is at Elderwood Rehab in Burlington's North End, Room 71-A. At Harbor View on Allen Road you can visit Bev Newman, Ray's widow in Room 306.

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

Come out to St Catherine on 25 June at the 10:30 Mass to witness the presentation of Posthumous 4th Degree for the late Cullen Bullard. 

St Catherine needs help with set-up and clean up for their beach Rotisserie Chicken BBQ on 9 July.

St Jude wants us to run a parish BBQ on 29 July followed by wiffle ball? 

We will need help at the 19 August Special Needs Persons Summer Party-New this year!

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. 

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

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

08 1830 JUN 23, THU Council Business Meeting (Pizza at St Marks Bowling Alley) or on Zoom

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

 15 1700 JUN 23, THUR Check Presentation at Camp Ta Kum Ta 

25 1030 JUN 23, SUN Cullen Bullard posthumous 4^th Degree Presentation 

06 1830 JUL 23, THU 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)

 07 1500 JUL 23, THU Holy Hour with Scripture Rosary at SJV

 09 TBD JUL 23, SAT St Catherine of Siena BBQ We set-up and clean-up.

 13 1830 JUL 23, THU Council Business Meeting (after home-cooked meal) at SJV or on Zoom

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

 15 1000 – 1800 JUL 23, SAT Padre Pio Relic Devotion at Christ the King Parish

 29 1630 JUL 23, SAT St Jude Parish Round Table BBQ (We buy and cook)

 03 1830 AUG 23, THU 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)

04 1500 AUG 23, FRI Holy Hour with Silver Rose at SJV

 10 1830 AUG 23, THU Council Business Meeting (after home-cooked meal) at SJV or on Zoom

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

12-13 PM-AM AUG 23, SAT-SUN Collection at SJV for Special Needs (Tootsie Roll Drive)

 19 1300-1500 AUG 23, SAT Special Needs Beach Boys Summer Party

 19 AUG 23, SAT Exemplification of the 4^th Degree. Christ the King, Rutland, VT

 07 1830 SEP 23, THU 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)

08 1500 SEP 23, FRI Holy Hour with St Joseph Icon at SJV

Due to the abbreviated June Business Meeting, our Worthy Lecturer Bernie will be back with the lives of the saints and a song at the 13 July Business Meeting.

Please keep the following people and intentions in your prayers.

Zak Bigelow, PSD Mike Patnode, Pope Francis, Chris Barrett (recently lost wife), Mrs. Jackie Crosby, An Anonymous Member in distress, Niko Limnos and Family, Most Reverend Christopher Coyne, Mother-in-law of Ronnie Sweet, Bill Curtin, Rev. Msgr. Peter Routhier, William Cannon and Family, Michael Gravelin, Mark and Paulette Noyes and Family (esp. Levi age 5), John O’ Brien, Cheryl Allain, Andy Corologos, Claire Myers and Carol Alfred (cancer), Russell Waite, Kelly Jackson (daughter of late PGK Jeff Jackson), PFN Bill Ladd, PGK Bernie Hemond, Marilyn LeCount, Cher Racine, Dick and Sandy Stevens, Joe Donegan, Beth-Ann Prendergast, Mariette Nadeau, Jeff and Kay Jarvis, Tom Gravelin, Rick Gravelin, 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, Gene Tofferi, Mike and Pam Audette, Joe Myers and Family, Jeffrey Claude Danis and family,  PSD/PGK Don Sutton, PGK Ray Miller, Stuart Fath, Harold Ponto, Wally Rooney, Bob Wilkens, Ed and Theresa Curtiss, one anonymous brother knight, 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, victims and families of COVID-19, First Responders, peace in Eastern Europe, that pregnant women will choose life, and for new Members to join the Order.

Pray for all the victims who have died in the Ukraine War and for Michelle Paquette. May they rest in peace. May all the faithfully departed rest in peace and may their families be comforted by the promise of everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven.