Recent Council News is found below.
Council news:
In Memoriam
Brother Ben Brewers passed away this past Saturday (5/2/09). Please keep Laura, Randy, Mike, Sherri and Amy and the rest of the family in your prayers. You may read his obituary here: http://www.etruth.com/Know/Obits/story.aspx?opage=true&ID=482176
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (5/5) at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Highway, Osceola. A vigil service will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the funeral home with a rosary recited at 7:45 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday (5/6), at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1405 N. Main St., Elkhart, with visitation one hour prior to the mass.
Photos from the 4th degree exemplification in Ft. Wayne in Feb. 2009
Phil Stackowicz is now our Council's insurance agent and newest transfer member into our Council. Please take time to welcome Phil and visit his page here on the website. Do not hesitate to call with with any insurance questions.
District Deputy Dave Kozolowski presented our council with Indiana's Santa Maria Award again this year - where three other councils in Indiana received such distinction!
Photos from the Family New Year's Eve Party at our Council. Thank you to the Malendas for organizing the event this year.
Thank you to the volunteers who manned the doors at Walmart on CR6 this past July 12th! Your dedication to collect money outside in the morning rain was truly appreciated!
Thank you!
Thank you to the Knights who took time on June 14th and the 28th to help paint at St/ Vincent's pre-school.
The photo to the left show Matt and Rick Frye painting on June 28.
Others who volunteered their time include:
TJ Repaich, Matt Frye, Rick Frye, Arturo Herrera, Jim Gallagher, Matt Snyder and his wife, Joseph Peterka, Joe Stevens, Joe Tinervia and his wife, Rob and his daughter, Kathy and Jim Shetterly.
Catholic Charity Spotlight
Cross International Catholic Outreach is part of the Cross International Alliance – an ecumenical Christian effort founded to help the poor worldwide. Cross International Catholic Outreach is also home to our special Preachers Program and our direct efforts to help Catholic priests and nuns with social ministries overseas.
Please take the time to visit Cross International's Project List to see how far a donation goes towards bettering the life of another in need.
The Cubs game trip organized for Tuesday, August 5 versus Houston Astros is currently SOLD OUT. Cost is $60/person which includes breakfast at 8:30AM, bus ride to and from the game as well as beverages on the bus ride. Adults only please. Sign up at the club for the waiting list as space becomes available.
300th Consecutive First Friday Rosary in the News!
Read the article in the Elkhart Truth by clicking the link to it below:
http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=444810
We're on the front page of Today's Catholic's website. Link is here: http://www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY/
Dyngus Day at Koc Council 1043 in the News!
Read the article in the Elkhart Truth by clicking the link to it below:
http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=444457
There are a few Family oriented events being organized by the Council. The Council has purchased tickets for interested families (limit 4 per Knight) to attend a South Bend Silver Hawks baseball game on June 9th at 7pm. Tickets are free but available through TJ Repaich on a first come basis. Secondly, there is a picnic being organized for sometime this summer. More details will follow!
A Cubs game trip is organized for Tuesday, August 5 versus Houston Astros. Cost will be $60/person which includes breakfast at 8:30AM, bus ride to and from the game as well as beverages on the bus ride. Adults only please. Sign up at the club.
April Meeting News Highlights
On April 20th at 6pm, there will be a meeting for boys interested in becoming Squires in conjunction with the Squires meeting.
Dyngus Day was again successful this year. In case you missed the article in the Elkhart Truth, you can read it online at: http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=444457
There are a few Family oriented events being organized by the Council. The Council has purchased tickets for interested families (limit 4 per Knight) to attend a South Bend Silver Hawks baseball game on June 9th at 7pm. Tickets are free but available through TJ Repaich on a first come basis. Secondly, there is a picnic being organized for sometime this summer. More details will follow!
The 300th consecutive first Friday Rosary drew a large attendance estimated between 150 people to 200 people. Sir Knight Benny Wierchioch was given a plaque in recognition for his 25 years in leading this time of prayer. The article published in the Elkhart Truth can be found here: http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=444810
The slate of officers up for election was read for the first time during the meeting. Elections will be held in June.
A Cub game trip is organized for Tuesday, August 5 versus Houston Astros. Cost will be $60/person which includes breakfast at 8:30AM, bus ride to and from the game as well as beverages on the bus ride. Adults only please.
A Cinco de Mayo dinner is set for Friday May 2nd; $10 per adult ticket/ $5 for children. Profits from the money collected will be donated toward St Vincent's Hispanic ministries.
The club will be open on May17th for NASCAR All Star Race at 7pm.
The officers voted to purchase Supreme Knight Carl Anderson's new book titled: A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic can do to Transform the World for each of the parish priests.
We need volunteers to replace the roof at the shed at St. Vincent's cemetery on 2nd weekend of May. A $400 allowance for shingles was approved by the Council. Any monetary donations will be accepted to go towards the new roof will be accepted. Please make checks payable to the Knights of Columbus and write St. Vincent's Cemetery Roofing in the subject.
We received our shipment of Tootsie Rolls and this means that our Council's Tootsie Roll Drive will be in full swing in a few weeks
Signup for Palmers May 10th 8-4 PM
Stoplight at May 17th – 9-4 PM
Churches May 17-18th after masses
There will be a Rosary for unborn children at our council on May 3rd at 9AM as part of a national effort to get one million people to pray the Rosary for this cause.
Please visit the website at koc1043.org and go to the "Register Email" button on left side to register your email address on our database. We currently have only 130 email addresses of the nearly 370 total members of our Council. We would like to eliminate sending the paper newsletter to those that have email addresses as a means of cutting down printing and mailing expense. Please take a moment to register your email address via the link on the website. Thank you.
Please pray for the family of Bob Ferroli who passed away on Monday April 7th. Also pray for Fr. Wilson and his family.
We collected $128 at the meeting for the Seminarian fund.
We are getting closer to our goal of 400 members by June 30th. There will be a first degree on 21st of April.
Craig Lochmandy's name was drawn for this month's attendance jackpot of $145. However, he was not present and therefore the jackpot next month will be $155.
Discounts at St Vincent’s Catholic cemetery until June 30th. Include pre-pays for openings and closings.
SPAGHETTI DINNER - April 2nd!
5pm - 7pm at the Council
Proceeds to benefit Bashor Children's Home!
February Meeting News Highlights
Our council was approved to sponsor seminarian Jacob Meyers. Some of you may recall that he took his first degree at our council. The officers will be sending Jacob $250 in support of seminarians.
You will be contacted soon if you are a brother Knight that has not yet paid their 2008 dues. If you know you have not paid your dues yet, please contact Scott Chris to make arrangements.
Thank you correspondence was read from RETA and The Crossing for having spaghetti dinner fundraisers for them. Thank you correspondence from Katie Ditman was also received for the council's contribution for her trip.
There will be a course the is put on by the Red Cross teaching CPR and AED. The date is still to be determined. The cost for the five hour course will be $40 per person and limited to the first 30 people that register. The certification that you will receive will be good for two years.
The Daughters of Isabella will have a rummage sale April 19th at our Council.
Corn hole tournament had 10 teams compete and $100 was raised for Gibault. A good time was had by all!
We are looking for Dyngus Day volunteers. Please signup at bulletin board in the lounge.
Reminder that the council has Fish Fries during every Friday during Lent from 5PM - 7PM. Take Out is available!
The council is making plans in preparation for this year's tootsie roll drive to raise money for ADEC. Our goal is to surpass last's year's funds raised.
Shamrocks will be sold to raise money for MDA. The shamrocks will be hung at our council leading up to St. Patrick's Day.
Nine kids competed in our Council's free throw competition. DeShone - a winner from our council's competition, partook in the district level and advanced to the regional competition in Ft. Wayne!
There is a Red Cross Blood Drive scheduled for Thursday 21st from 1-6PM at our council. Donors as well as volunteers are needed!
Right to Life Billboard in Elkhart County – to be sponsored for 1 month by our Council
Council T-shirts will be made and available for $10 each. Please contact TJ for more information.
Teen dance – youth group from St Vincents hosting a dance at our Council. KoC providing hall and chaperones
Mitch Wert, Zach Jellison and Shane Blotkamp are organizing Squires. Look for information to come about this program.
Last but certainly not least, it is with sad news to report that Brother Knight John Massa passed away February 9th. Our sincere condolences goes out to the Massa family.
Christmas party photos were posted in the following page:
http://koc1043.org/christmas_party.aspx
Photo from 2007 Christmas Food Basket Program
Information on the Christmas Food Basket Program along with updated photos can be found on this page:
http://koc1043.org/food_basket.aspx
January Meeting News Highlights
There is a deadline approaching for scholarships from Supreme in February for those considering or have children considering attending a Catholic College or University next year. Scholarships range from $500 to $2000. Please contact your insurance agent for an application.
January's spaghetti dinner raised over $300 towards Crossroads.
Upcoming events - Also see the Calendar page
First degrees at our council are scheduled for the following dates: First degree February 18th at 7PM; April 21st at 7PM; June 23rd at 7PM
Next Blood Drive: Thursday the February 21st from 12pm – 6pm. Need volunteers helping unload, sign in and pack up.
First Fish Fry of the year is scheduled for Friday January 18th from 5PM - 7PM.
Spaghetti dinner next month will be held on Wednesday February 6th.
January 19th – Corn Hole Tournament – 48 two man teams for $40/team with payout with top three places. Proceeds will go directly to Gibault! Registration at 3pm. Start at 4PM.
Super Bowl party – bring a dish to pass. Opens 4:00 PM
February 9th - District Free Throw Competition at Queen of Peace 6:30PM.
February 16th – Dinner dance is postponed.
April 25th-27th KoC State Convention
The Keep Christ in Christmas magnet sale raised $235. Proceeds will go towards Indiana Right to Life and to R.E.T.A.
The thirty eight Knights in attendance at the meeting were treated to delicious rib tips from Dakota Restaurant after the meeting! Wow - this makes four meetings in a row where members in attendance were fed afterwards. Will February bring a fifth? We collected $107 for seminarians from Knights attending the council meeting this month! The name drawn for the $115 attendance jackpot was Joseph Caterino. Joe was not present, so the jackpot for next's month's random name drawing will be $125.
Upcoming degrees exemplifications:
Second and third degree exemplifications:
-February 3rd at Notre Dame (space is limited)
-March 2nd at Mishawaka Council
Fourth Degree exemplifications:
-April 12th and 13 in Merrillville, IN
-Fall 2008 - in Batesville, IN
Please contact Scott Chris for applications for the fourth degree or if interested in taking your 2nd and 3rd degree.
The knights will be coordinating with St. Vincents' and St Thomas' youth directors for hosting a teen dance at our council. More details will follow as they develop.
Congratulations to everyone in our Council who helped contribute over $35,000 to go towards many charitable causes throughout 2007!
December Meeting News Highlights
TJ Repaich reported that all first degree inductees taking place over the next year will be in Honor of Pope Benedict. Supreme gave Pope Benedict 1.6 million dollar contribution. TJ also indicated that there is a deadline approaching for scholarships from Supreme in February for those considering or have children considering attending a Catholic College or University next year. Scholarships range from $500 to $2000. Please contact your insurance agent for an application.
A letter from ADEC was read thanking us for continued support.
Jim Galagher reported about the food basket program for Christmas. The sorting of food starts at 6:30PM Friday December 14th. Saturday morning at 7AM – start delivering baskets to 500 families!
There were 72 children here for the Children's Christmas party this year! A Merry good time was had by all.
The thirty one Knights in attendance at the meeting were treated to delicious bratwursts after the meeting! Wow - three meetings in a row where members in attendance were fed afterwards. Will January bring a fourth? We collected $93 for seminarians from Knights attending the council meeting this month! The name drawn for the $105 attendance jackpot was Randall Hayes. Randall was not present, so the jackpot for next's month's random name drawing will be $115.
Fourth Degree Knights are invited to get dressed up for the Midnight Christmas mass at St. Vincent’s.
Upcoming degrees exemplifications:
Second and third degree exemplifications:
Fourth Degree exemplifications:
April 12th and 13 in Merrillville, IN
Fall 2008 - in Batesville, IN
Please contact Scott Chris for applications for the fourth degree.
November Meeting News Highlights
We had thirty-eight members in attendance at our meeting! Everyone in attendance was in for a special treat - fried chicken and Mojos! A basket was passed around at the meeting and collected $82.35 for seminarian fund. The name drawn for the $95 attendance jackpot was James Knopick. James was not present, so the jackpot for next's month's random name drawing will be $105. Remember, you must be in attendance at the meeting where your name is drawn in order to collect!
Our District Deputy presented our Council with the Santa Maria award during the meeting. We are only one of six councils in the state to receive such honors! Receipt of this award reflects highly of the time and dedication put forward by our Brother Knights within the Council. But we need your help in continuing all the activities that has earned our council the recognition of the Santa Maria award and the Two Star Council award. Contact me if you are interested in finding out ways you can be more involved.
"Keep Christ in Christmas" magnets are still available. Please contact TJ Repaich if interested in one (or more) - they make a great gift. Next month, there will be Council 1043 t-shirts for sale $10.
Fourth degree members are honoring deceased members at a special mass at St. Marys Thursday Nov 15th.
If you have not been in the club lounge lately, then you have not yet seen the new pool table. A possible KoC pool league will be formed - again more details to follow.
Tom Wiley and Jim DuBois volunteered to be Family of the Month (FOTM) chairpersons for St. Vincent and St. Thomas respectively. If you wish to nominate a Family in your parish for FOTM honors, please contact either Tom or Jim. You may have noticed that there has not been a Knight of the Month in a while. Our Grand Knight will begin awarding the honor of Knight of the Month again beginning next month.
The St Thomas youth group will receive a donation for $200 ‘From the Bounty’ Bingo Night. The movie 'Bella' is out in select movie theaters. It can been seen locally at Cinema 16 in South Bend.
The free throw competition sponsored by our council will be at St Thomas this year. Matt Casey and Shane Blotkamp are coordinating the details, but it will be during a weekend in January.
A "Corn Hole" tournament is to be scheduled in January. It will be a double elimination tournament with the proceeds to going to Gibault. More details on date and time will follow.
A Super Bowl Party is being planned at the council - February 3rd. More details to follow.
There will be a Valentines Dinner for couples on the weekend of the 16th of February. More details to follow.
I wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to bring canned and other non-perishable food in to the council for the food basket program.
September Meeting News Highlights
The September 5th spaghetti dinner had about 95 people with lots of kids in attendance. The dinner raised $521 for St. Vincent de Paul Society. The proceed for next month's spaghetti dinner will be the Squires.
Jackpot name drawn for $75 was Tony Szucs. A $10,000 Life Insurance Policy will be purchase by the Council on a younger member - pending their consent. The beneficiary will be Gibault. It is a way for our monetary contributions to Gibault get stretched further for the longevity of Gibault.
TJ Repaich has created council brochures that will be available at each parish. Consider using them as a way to recruit a parishioner.
St. Vincent’s Parish Festival will be September 29th followed by a breakfast on September 30th staffed by the Council's members. But we need volunteers! Please contact Jim Gallagher at 264-2555.
KoC Daily prayer books called “Knights in Christ” will be ordered and available for $10 purchase. Contact TJ Repaich at 320-7394 if you are interested in purchasing them. Order form from Indiana KoC website
The Squires will be utilizing the basement space underneath the hall for their meetings.
October is time for a membership blitz! Every member should make an effort at recruiting a new member. Contact Zach Jellison or TJ Repaich to find out ways on how you can help!
The next first degree at our Council is slated for Monday October 22nd . Granger council will be hosting a first degree September 25th. Thank you to Jeff Schuhl, Mike Froelich, TomPawlak, Sherman Poole and Brent Kulp for volunteering to be on the membership drive committee.
Steve Spretnjak designated that from the $554.89 profit from the golf outing, $50 is to go to special Olympics, $250 to Children’s Christmas party, balance to general fund.
Mike Foelich asked for volunteers on behalf of St. Vincent to help patrol the St. Vincent parking lot during masses to curb the recent upward trend in theft and vandalism.
A blood Drive is being planned. Are you ready to donate again?
Matt Casey asked for help on behalf of the children of St. Vincent's School who participate in flag football. The cost to replace flags for flag football team will be generously paid for by Brother Knight Brent Kulp. Thank you Brent!
The council collected $75 for seminarian fund during the meeting.
An electronic keypad will be used beginning the first of the year to gain entry into the Council. Members will be given an access code along with their new 2008 membership card after paying their dues.
Upcoming 2nd and 3rd degree dates are October 14th at the Huntington Council #1014, and November 18th at the Ft Wayne Council #451.
District Deputy Dave Kozlowski presented the Council with a Two-Star Council award! Only 479 other councils in the world received such distinction. You should be proud and maybe think about how you can play a more active role. Dave also reported on the possibility that a Pure Fashion Show can take place in Elkhart. Please visit the website www.purefashion.com for more information. Cindy Casper (574)892-5074 needs young ladies to help her put on a show. Finally, Dave reported that on Sept 24, 7:30PM , there will be a mass at Notre Dame celebrating the 475th anniversary of the Appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The spaghetti dinner held Wednesday September 5th, 2007 to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry was successful. The council grossed $521 in dinner with aproximately $100 expenses. Catholic Heart Work Camp made $+/-35 on deserts. There was over $450 raised for charity from this one event alone! The event was advertised in the newspaper and bulletins. Over 85 guests were in attendance with lots more kids! Were you?
Special thanks to Shane Blotkamp, Matt Casey, Zach Jellison, Jeff Schmul, Harry Palmer, Aaron Schade, Brent Kulp, Scott Franco, Scott Chris, Rob Hoffer, Dave Towner and Joe Tinervia for volunteering their time in making the dinner successful. Shane continues to need help with future spaghetti dinners.
The spaghetti dinner held Wednesday August 1st, 2007 was successful. The council grossed $522 in dinner with aproxamatly $100 expenses. Special Olimpics sold $62 in raffel tickets and Catholic Heart Work Camp made $45 on deserts. There was over $500 raised for charity from this one event! The event was advertised in the newspaper and radio. Over 90 guests were in attendance. Were you? Special thanks to Shane Blotkamp, TJ Repaich, Matt Casey, Sean Asoern, Zach Jellison, Jeff Schmul, and Joe Tinervia for volunteering their time in making the dinner successful. Shane needs more help with future spaghetti dinners as the volunteers that were there were busy the entire time.
Please welcome the newest members of our council. Pictured below (left to right) Sean Asoern, Travis Chris, Ryan Chris and Zach DuBois. They had their first degree at our Council on Monday July 23rd. Please say hello and welcome to the council if you see them around.
Council 1043 Golf Outing July 15 was a success. Thirty six golfers participated and had a delicious steak dinner back at the Council afterwards. Thank you to Steve Spretnjak for organizing the event. Thank you also to the Spretnjak family for helping out with as well. Finally, thank you goes to Shane, Chris, Rich and Tony for your help with the dinner and bartending. Winners were Matt Eppeers and Matt Casey - both ending with a ascore of 89.
The council hosted a youth group of about 40 from Saskatchewan, Canada July 13th. Brother Knights cooked them up breakfast at the club.
This page was last modified on Tuesday, August 17, 2010