Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
Randy BarrettAll the hype! The end of the century. The beginning of the new millennium. New Years parties to outdo any before them. It all sounds so impressive, but in reality (other than the need for a few computer upgrades) most of our lives and routines will be no different now that the calendar says 2000.
If the new millennium isn't cause for grand celebration, then what is? I think that we can look a lot closer to home and find plenty of reason for celebration in our own Council's Tenth Anniversary. We have reason for celebration because we have made a difference. In addition to the obvious, ten's of thousands of dollars that we have raised and distributed in response to our calling to charity, this Council has provided a wonderful environment for Catholic gentlemen and their families to grow in and live their faith. Each member of this Council, past and present, has had some type of impact. Some are very obvious, some are more discrete, some offer only financial support through their dues, and some help us more by prayer than will ever be known. Together, as an organization, we have and will continue to make a difference. That, my friends, is very special.
Ten years ago a group of men became the charter members of our Council and put into motion an opportunity for themselves and others to make a difference. On behalf of our membership and the community I would like to thank our charter members and those who took the leadership roles to begin and sustain the Council. I sincerely hope and pray that this Council will make you proud by making an even bigger difference in our second decade. God Bless!
Happy New Year!
Next Meeting: January 17
The next meeting of Council 10243 is our usual Third Monday of the Month, January 17. The meeting will be preceded by the exemplification of the First Degree at 7:00 PM with the meeting to follow at around 7:40 PM. Take advantage of the opportunity to re-commit yourself to the Council by taking an active part in our gathering.
Special Days
January
15 B Edith (Weldon) Kiernan
16 A Tom & Mary Marquardt
17 B Mike Barry
18 B Rick Tlachac
21 B John Schmitz
24 B Bill Griesbach
28 B Sandra (Roger) Heesacker
29 + Dan McLaughlin
30 B James Odau
30 + Arnold Chaloupka (1996)
31 B John Laurant
February
02 B Carrie (Ken) Greetan
02 B Paul Tilot
03 B Mary (Rick) Noe
05 B Mary (Terry) Fameree
06 B Colleen (Donald) Hoff
08 B Ray Demerath
12 B Ken Delcore
12 + Al Cisler (1996)
15 A Wayne & Alice Wassenberg
Chaplain's Column
It sure had a lot of 'hype,' didn't it? For a couple of years, and especially in the last couple of months there has been an almost unceasing tribute paid to "Y2K." It was rightly touted as something none of us will ever experience again. There were also fears that anything might happen--from missiles launching accidentally to planes falling right out of the sky. For the most part, it seemed as if people were not in a panic. The few days before the turn of the century, even as heightened fears of terrorist activity circulated, people did not seem to be hoarding supplies in fear of what was to come. It came, it passed. Following the celebrations through television coverage was really something, and I confess to being glued to the set for a better part of the day. I was especially concerned to see what would happen early in the day when it became the new year in developed places such as New Zealand and Australia. I also wondered about what might happen an hour later when it became the year 2000 in the first part of the United States--Guam. Nothing seemed to happen, except that people were having a great celebration. Perhaps there was certain disappointment on the part of those who would have preferred seeing all sorts of 'glitches' appearing; they did not get any satisfaction. The whole day of celebration, as the new year sped across the meridians, was really something to watch, and I could not help thinking that essentially what we were celebrating is a Christian concept. After all, we count our time in terms of the birth of Christ. The whole world--millions of 'unbelievers' --was celebrating the birth of our Savior. Perhaps it is wishful thinking to believe that more than a small fraction of the revelers had made any connection, but it is my hope that at least brother Knights and their families did. More than a celebration of the past is at issue here, however. There is also a commitment to the future. As we have celebrated the dawn of a new millennium of Christianity, we must also commit ourselves to being a part of the further development of our faith. We might want to ask ourselves: What sort of faith will they be celebrating when another millennium is passed? More importantly: Will I have made some contribution to the faith, to make the Church stronger and more enduring? Interesting questions with which to wrestle as we get accustomed to writing '2000' instead of '1999' on all our checks and correspondence.
Fr. Al Lis, O.F.M.
Chaplain
Charter Members
Of the thirty brothers named on the Council's Charter, nineteen brothers are still a part of the Council. Take the time to congratulate them for their efforts and learn from them the living history of our contribution to the Church and the community:
James Barnett
Harris Charles
Stephen Froelich
Wencil Froelich
Robert Jacqmin
Leon Janowski
Thomas Janowski
Weldon Kiernan
Clayton Langenberg
Daniel Maine
Thomas Marquardt
Robert Massart
Aaron Naze
Dennis Neiss
Richard Noe
Richard Rebman
Terrence Timmerman
Tom Van Allen
Robert Warpinski
Remember also the Charter Members of the Council who have been summoned to the Communion of Saints in heaven:
Al Cisler (+12 February 1996)
Stan Johnson (+22 September 1994)
Dan McLaughlin (+29 January 1999)
History Supplement
Plans are beginning to fall in place for the development of the ten-year supplement of the History of the Knights of Columbus in Wisconsin. Chairing the committee, which will work on this project, is Past State Deputy Erv Jankowiak. Representing the five dioceses in the State are Council 10243 Brother Jason Vandermause (Green Bay), Leonard Huschka (LaCrosse), Bill Cross (Madison), Jim Hopp (Milwaukee) and Morris Marsolek (Superior). Council 10243 members Father Al Lis and Randy Barrett have also been appointed for their 'literary skills.' Rounding out the committee is State Respect for Life Chairman Ken Hoffman.
Bell Ringing
The last bell ringing opportunity of the century involved members of Council 10243 on Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11. Council members and their families rang the bells for the annual Salvation Army appeal at Wal-Mart East. Coordinator Ian Forbes reports that there was great participation in the project. While the weather was clear, it was necessary to stand outside at Wal-Mart and the cold certainly was something of a factor. A nice problem to have was the fact that the full kettles needed frequent emptying. Thanks to the following brother Knights who took part, and to any of their family members who joined in:
Jim Barnett
Pete Birdsall
Harry Christensen
Dennis Duckett
Ian Forbes
Roger Heesacker
James Janssen
Bob Ledvina
John Laurant
Father Al Lis
Gary Nimmer
Gerry Piontek
Richard Rebman
Richard Rosin
Grant Turner
Stan Waslowski
Harry Watermolen
Dave Whitton
Mike Worzala
Thanks, also to Tom Gauthier, who was 'on-call' for the weekend. In addition to the contribution of personnel for the bell ringing, the Council at its December meeting approved a contribution of $500 to the Salvation Army in memory of Dan McLaughlin who coordinated our Council's participation in this project for several years. Sincerest thanks to Ian for all his efforts in pulling things together this year.
Pancake Porkie: February 13
In conjunction with the Holy Name Society, our Council is sponsoring a pancake/porkie breakfast on the morning of Sunday, February 13. A lot of help is needed for this special event. More information will be available at the January Council meeting or from Randy Barrett (465-9717).
Convention Update
Richard & Janet Rebman and Father Al Lis recently attended a second meeting of the 2000 State Convention planning meeting in Oshkosh. Plans are coming along well for the Convention which will be held April 28-29. Since it is pretty local, we should try for good representation, especially since our own Council Brother Richard will be running for the Office of State Secretary. The Planning Committee meets again in January.
Fourth Degree: April 8
Letter from Wisconsin's Fourth Degree Masters:
John W. Hanlon, MasterDear Brother Knights:
A cordial invitation is extended to each and every Third Degree Member to advance to the Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus.
As originally founded, the Order has three degrees representing Charity, Unity and Fraternity. A Fourth Degree, or Patriotic Degree, was added around 1900 and is the highest degree of our Order. Each year at least one opportunity is provided to all Third Degree members to join this Fourth.
This year the date set for exemplification of the Fourth Degree is: SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000, at the Olympia Resort & Spa, 1350 Royale Mile Road, Oconomowoc…
We extend to you and to our brother Knights in your Council our best wishes.
Further information will be included in the February NEWSLETTER. Any Third degree men who might be considering advancement to the Fourth Degree in this, the centennial year of the Patriotic Degree, should speak to any Fourth Degree man of the Council or contact Marquette Assembly Officers: Faithful Admiral Roger Shaha (469-1608), Faithful Captain Larry Ziarnik (468-1979) or Faithful Friar Fr. Al Lis (437-1979).
Richard Rebman for State Secretary
Our Council brother Richard Rebman will be running for the Office of State Secretary at the Convention in Oshkosh. We are not certain about any opponents for that Office at the present time, but it is important to have a show of support from his local Council. A resolution in support of his candidacy will be presented at the January meeting, which calls for 'unanimous and enthusiastic' support. Since being elected to State Office in 1994, Richard and Janet have served as State Warden (1994-96), State Advocate (1996-98) and State Treasurer (1998-2000).
Prayer
Blessed are you, all holy God of the universe;
by the gift of the Spirit
you made visible our redemption
in the mystery of the incarnation
of Christ your Son,
and you have given us a share in his mission
as prophet, priest and king.
Charity Raffle
Green is the color of the day: Council brothers should have received raffle tickets in a separate mailing. We did quite well in sales last year, and contributed greatly to the overall charitable outreach of the State Council. Leon Janowski is serving once again as Raffle Chairman. Please note the insert regarding the raffle in this NEWSLETTER and contact Leon (468-7544) for information or more tickets.
Jubilee Year Pilgrimage
The Holy Father has said that making a pilgrimage can enrich the experience of this Jubilee Year. In this spirit, Knights and families are invited to join others from around North America in a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Together Knights and families will be able to celebrate the Jubilee and gain a special Jubilee Indulgence.
A motorcoach trip from Wisconsin is planned. Participants will leave Green Bay & Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 28 and return on Sunday, April 2. The projected cost is $857.00 per person. In addition to the Pilgrimage visit to the Shrine, stops include Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Institute and a tour of Washington. Book early! For information contact Richard Rebman (468-8472).
Millennium Angel Sales
Sales of the Millennium Guardian Angels have generated, to this point, a profit of $2512.25 for the Council's Charity Fund with at least another $50.00 coming. Thanks primarily to Richard Rebman's efforts, sales took place at St. Bernard and St. Mary of the Angels Parishes and at meetings of Council 10243, Council 11834 and Fourth Degree Marquette Assembly 1197. Hats off to Richard for his huge contribution to the Council. A few angels are still available; more can be ordered if warranted.
First Degree at Lombardi Council
The First Degree team has been asked to present an exemplification of the First Degree at the monthly meeting of Vincent T. Lombardi Council 11834 on Thursday, January 13. The Council meets at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish at 7:00 PM. A number of candidates from Council 11834 await the exemplification. The team was invited by Grand Knight Mike Witte, who also indicated that observers are most welcome to join in the evening. Contact Father Al Lis (437-1979) for further information.
Appreciation Dinner
Our annual Appreciation Dinner, usually held around Valentine's Day, will be re-scheduled due to other demands on the Council's time in mid-February. Watch the NEWSLETTER for further information. Rick Noe will keep us up to date.
Spotlight On Bill Griesbach
When some men are invited to become a part of the Knights of Columbus, they are approached out of the blue. It was not quite so with Bill. While it was Roger Shaha that finally got him to fill out a Form 100, Bill has also heard a lot about the Knights from Dan McLaughlin over the years. He also knew the lives of service that Mike Paoletti and Dave Whitton and others were living. He observed friendliness and the effects of their service to the community and he knew that the Knights had something to do with that.
Bill comes from a family of twelve, and lived in Cedarburg until he was twelve when the family moved to Brookfield. As his father taught Philosophy at Marquette University, Bill did his undergraduate work and attended Law School there as well. After graduation he clerked for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Madison and also worked in Chicago at the Court of Appeals. Having had enough of Chicago, he came to Green Bay on a job-related move in 1982. After some time at a local firm he took a job in the Brown County District Attorney's Office and in November of 1995 he was appointed Judge.
While he appreciates the fact that he can usually manage to work an eight hour day and spend appropriate time with his family, some weeks may bring as many as sixty or seventy cases, many involving traffic or misdemeanors, and he needs to deal with a lot of people in a short time. Wednesdays and Thursdays are usually trial days. A temptation for many in the legal profession is to look only at the bad side of humanity, and Bill believes he has seen people at their lowest but also at their heights. He tells stories of Police, Social Workers and Foster Parents who have gone to great lengths to show kindness and charity, and he notes that "nine times out of ten, maybe ten times out of ten there is a deep religious faith that motivates them." In his work he believes he has seen "more weakness than evil," evidence of what Chesterton believed was 'the Fall of Man.' While the Christian view of crime might suggest a theme of sin deserving consequences, he has seen a more therapeutic view in our justice system--one suggesting rehabilitation.
Bill believes he has been pretty successful at trying not to bring the office home with him, certainly more so than while at the DA's Office. He has learned that there is a certain value in occasionally second-guessing his decisions. He's also learned to appreciate some of the simple pleasures of life, such as reading, spending time in the park and going out for ice cream. He gets some exercise by riding his bike to work occasionally and would like to play tennis more. Bill and his wife, Joanne, have been married for about twenty-three years now and have four girls. Joanne, who is from Texas, teaches religion at Notre Dame Academy on the Sophomore and Junior level. Bill enjoys his work and is looking ahead to running for Judge again in 2002, hoping that the citizens of Brown County will also recognize the gifts which he and his family bring to Council 10243.
January 20002000 Charity Raffle Information
In the past year, the following disbursements were made:
various forms of cancer: $ 26,000.00Distributed to Councils for local
community charitable purposes: $ 243,358.00
29 Tuition grants to men studying for the priesthood: $ 31,400.00
14 Grants to children with medical needs: $ 23,750.00
34 Grants to adults with medical problems: $ 57,992.00
63 Grants for tornado and fire damage: $ 34,500.00
12 Grants to adults suffering from
3 Grants for miscellaneous needs: $ 4,500.00
Total Charitable Distribution (1999): $ 421,500.00
Total Charitable Distribution (1998): $ 358,150.00
2000 Prize Structure:
$ 50,000.001st
2nd 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
or 2000 Dodge Dakota Club Truck or $ 25,000.003rd 2000 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Motorcycle
or $ 15,000.004th 2000 Harley-Davidson Sportster Hugger Motorcycle
or $ 7,500.005th $ 5,000.00
6th - 30th $ 1,000.00 each
Tickets: $5.00 Donation Drawing April 29,2000 Oshkosh (State Convention)
Lic# R0009675-A-30799