News

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Event Reservations
Reservations for Council events this year are being handled by Charles Hollis. To make reservations for any event, email kofc1345reservations@gmail.com or call 201-387-9750 and Press #3. Please include your full name and phone number, the number of people you are reserving for, and any table preferences when reserving by email or telephone.

Rosary for Peace
At the Council, we have a Rosary for Peace service every second Wednesday of the month at 8PM. Refreshments follow.
George Corbo
Church Activities Chairman

Hungry & Homeless
The long awaited opening of the new Health & Human Services Center in Hackensack has finally come. There are a few changes to note. We are allowed to come in to set up at about 4:30PM and start serving at 5PM. Dinners will be served from 5PM to 6:30PM, in two shifts. All other rules apply. Help is always needed on the two days prior to the feeding date. On Mondays, we clean the turkeys, and on Tuesdays we cook them and prepare the other food. On the day we travel to Hackensack, we cut up the turkeys, yams, veggies, package everything up and bring all the usual stuff needed to serve. Servers are needed as well. Please save some time to help us.

Anyone who would care to donate a turkey, please contact Bob Dondero or Bill Horn.
Bill Horn
Chairman

Recruitment
We will have more Recruitment Drives in the spring, but we don’t have to have a drive to get new members. Ask your friends and neighbors. If they are practicing Catholic gentlemen, tell them about our council and bring them to a Friday night social. There is always an officer or PGK attending and we will be glad to answer any questions that they might have about becoming a Knight. If you have a prospective member, contact Lou Pidi, Chancellor and Membership Chairman

Religious and Civil Rights
There are times when it can seem that every view not in absolute line with the Church is an attack on our Catholic faith. There are also times when our reaction to an issue is based more on our political affiliations than on our attempt to live a life aligned to the teachings of our Lord.  I catch myself doing this often and sincerely try (most times unsuccessfully) to keep my feet closely following in the footprints of Jesus.  When an issue comes up that requires a response I do a great deal of praying before providing my opinion.  I also like to check the Catechism of  the Catholic Church to get the clearest picture possible as to what our Faith say’s about the issues we are confronted with on a daily basis.  If you don’t own a copy you can go to one of the free ones posted on the internet.  The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has one that is very easy to use:

On the topic of actual attacks on our Church, the entertainers(?) Penn & Teller produced a show that was so blatant in it’s intent to harm the Church that they didn’t even try to infuse their lame brand of humor into the piece.  It was hateful, base Catholic bashing....and that is not a accusation I throw lightly. A friend mentioned that it’s just their brand of satire but I replied that satire is very often a tool used for political ends.  If you have the stomach for it you can find a link to it on the Catholic League’s website.

While we, as a Catholic community, cannot get outraged at every barb thrown our way there are times when we must stand up and defend our Church....without hatred or fear of our enemies. We are a billion strong worldwide. It’s time we let our voice be heard. Thank you,
Tom Ciotti
Grand Knight

Friday Night Socials
Friday evenings at the Council are great already. There's an active card game in one room, some of our sister Columbiettes play a dice game in another, there's always some kind of game on at the bar. Bestof all, the Friday Night snack is high quality food for free. It really is a terrific way to spend tan evening but we want to try to make it even better.

We have added activities to our Friday nights at the Knights. The first Friday of the month, already famously known as Pizza night, will be an open house for perspective members followed by a movie. The third Friday of the month will be Karaoke night hosted by our worthy Outside Guard Carmine Grillo. We're still working on the themes for the 2nd and 4th Fridays and are wide open to suggestions.

In addition to these new activities we are also going to start selling cappuccino and espresso at the bar. If you can come down and spend the entire evening with us that's wonderful but the Council is also a perfect spot to start or end a night out. Stop in for a cappuccino, catch up with friends and then hit the town

Come on down and join in the fun

Veteran’s Mass at NJ Veteran’s Home
If anyone can spare less than two hours on a Saturday morning, volunteers are urgently needed at the Veteran’s Home in Paramus to assist Catholic Veteran’s to attend the Mass. Please come out at 10AM on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month to help us transport veteran’s from their room to the common room for Mass. If you have any questions or need to know more, please feel free to contact me.
John McGill
Inside Guard

Insurance Agent Report
Brother Knights, did you know that the primary goal of the Knights of Columbus is to render financial aid to its members and the beneficiaries of members? Are you doing all you can to aid your beneficiaries in the event something happens to you?

Do you want them to remain in the home they are in now and have that priceless education? We can help to continue your dreams with Knights of Columbus Insurance. We have many plans for different income levels. Please call me for a no obligation consultation 551-265-3489. Fraternally,
Don Stappenbeck
Fraternal Insurance Agent

Library
We have installed a bookcase in the lounge. If you have reading material that reflects our Catholic Faith that you think would be of interest to our membership please consider donating it. Our hope is that this small library will generate discussion and personal reflection

Respect Life
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has launched an email campaign urging Congress to maintain widely-supported pro-life policies and to oppose the federal funding and promotion of abortion. The email campaign augments the massive national post-card campaign launched in churches throughout the country in January.

Recent polls show that Americans strongly support laws limiting or regulating abortion. In a Gallup poll taken after Pres. Obama’s talk at Notre Dame, 51% of Americans say they are Pro-Life, while 42% say Pro-Choice. This represents a shift of about 10% to Pro-Life. The Bishops urge Catholics to go to www.usccb.org/postcard and click on “Email Congress Now” and let your voice be heard.

Driver’s Needed
I would ask any brother who wishes to attend our meetings but cannot because of this fact to contact me directly and I will ensure that you get a ride to and from the meetings.
Tom Ciotti,
Grand Knight

Do You Have What it Takes . . .
To become an Honorary Member you must have 25 consecutive years of service in our Order and be at least 65 years of age. The benefit of Honorary Membership is a reduction in dues from $25 to $10 per year.

To become an Honorary Life member is similar; 25 years of consecutive service and at least 70 years of age. Any member with 50 years of consecutive service, regardless of age, also qualifies for Honorary Life membership. With the attainment of Honorary Life membership yearly dues are no longer required. For both Honorary and Honorary Life members, you receive a plastic membership card that identifies you as a truly special Knight.

To get the ball rolling, just complete section #1 and #2 of Form 100. Mail it to me at: Financial Secretary, P. O. Box 211, Dumont, NJ 07628, and I will take it from there. If you don’t have a Form 100, e-mail me to get one, or stop by the Council and pick one up.
Robert L. DeWald
Financial Secretary

Boy Scouts of America Troop 1345
Thank you for your continued support of BSA Troop 1345. Anyone interested in information about Troop 1345, please contact me at Scoutmaster1345@aol.com or stop in at a Troop meeting on Tuesdays between 7-8:30PM at the Council.
Keith G. Hilcken
Scoutmaster Troop 1345

Other News

Employment Referral Service
Brother Knights helping Brother Knights - The NJ State Council K of C provides an employment referral service for its members. The contact is John F. O’Brien PGK, PFN, PO Box 295, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922. Phone is 908-647-6484, and email is: KofCSummit783@aol.com

Brother Knights seeking employees must submit a Help Wanted listing, including a brief description (2 lines) of qualifications and experience, plus name, address, telephone and Council number. Call John for the latest listing of Positions Wanted and Positions Available

Email Notifications
This is an easy and efficient method of notifying members of important events in a timely manner. Such events as Wake Service Calls, reminders of upcoming events. To get on the list, send an email message to papagdc@aol.com.

Thank the Troops
www.letssaythanks.com is a website that gives you the opportunity to send a FREE postcard to U.S. military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Show your support and appreciation for their service and sacrifice for our country. Your postcard will lift their spirits According to Xerox, the sponsors of this program, they have received millions of greeting cards for the troops, far exceeding their expectations.

It’s 3 simple steps. Pick a card design (drawn by children), pick a greeting, print your name and town, and send. That’s it. When you’re in the website, check the links for Photos, and Messages from the Troops. You will see and read what effect these cards have on the troops. Don’t miss the opportunity.
George DiCostanzo
PFN, PGK

If you have questions, changes or additions to the Knight News or this website in general, please contact Tom Ciotti.