Montana Knights News

New Haven, Mar 26, 2008 / 07:34 am (CNA).- On Tuesday the Knights of Columbus published the results of a survey they commissioned on American’s opinions about the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI and their hopes for the papal visit to the United States in April.

The survey results show that Americans have a generally positive opinion of the Pope and the Catholic Church. Most hope that during his visit Pope Benedict will address the place of spiritual values in ordinary life.

Fifty-eight percent of the United States residents polled have a “favorable” or “very favorable” opinion of Benedict XVI, while 13 percent have an “unfavorable” or “very unfavorable” opinion of the Pope.

Seventeen percent of the respondents claim to have never heard of the Pope.
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The Vatican has released more details of the Holy Father’s upcoming visit.

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The site of this year’s Montana State Convention is the Red Lion Hotel/Kalispell Center Mall.

The address and contact information is as follows:

Red Lion Hotel Kalispell
20 North Main St.
Kalispell, MT 59901
Voice: 406-751-5050
Fax: 406-751-5051
Make sure to reserve your room as soon as possible.If you wish to stay at another hotel, here is a list of nearby hotels.This is a real boon for convention attendees as all of the activities will be under one roof with the exception of opening and closing Mass at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church; which is only six blocks away.

Thursday will include a golf outing at the Village Greens Golf Course at 500 Palmer Drive. (OK, so the golf course isn’t under the same roof as the rest of the convention but you get our point.) The Course has six tee times set up for us starting at Noon. Cost is $65.00 per couple, which includes green fees for 18 holes, a bucket of range balls, a cart, and lunch for two. The phone number for the course is 406-752-4666 if you have questions for them.

The schedule for the men is here and the ladies is here.

For registration information contact:
K of C 1328 Registration
PO Box 724
Kalispell, MT 59903-0724

Feel free to download the registration form.
You will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer to be able to open the schedules and forms. If you don’t have it on your machine download it here.

If you have questions we haven’t answered please call Chairman Jim Petesch at 406-752-9088 or via e-mail sjpete@centurytel.net

We are honored the Supreme Representative will be John P. Wainscott and his wife Linda.

Do you want to get a head start on convention business and read the resolutions which will be proposed in Kalispell ahead of time? If so, click here.

We look forward to seeing you in April. Vivat Jesus!

Popularity: 71% [?]

To read the March 2008 issue of Visions click here. 238 KB

You will need Adobe Reader to read the newsletter and you can get it here.

Popularity: 61% [?]

Fr. Michael J. McGivney would be first American-born priest to be declared a saint

New Haven, CT – March 16, 2008 – Pope Benedict XVI Saturday approved a decree recognizing the heroic virtue of Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. The pope’s declaration significantly advances the priest’s process toward sainthood and gives the parish priest the distinction of “Venerable Servant of God.” If canonized, Fr. McGivney would be the first American born priest to be so honored.

“All of us who are members of the Knights of Columbus are profoundly grateful for this recognition of the holiness of our founder,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “The strength of the Knights of Columbus today is a testament to his timeless vision, his holiness and his ideals.”

Worried about the religious faith and financial stability of immigrant families, Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus with the help of several men of St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven in 1882 to help strengthen the faith of the men of his parish and to provide financial assistance in the event of their death to the widows and orphans they left behind. He was also known for his tireless work among his parishioners.

Born in Waterbury, Conn., Aug. 12, 1852, Michael Joseph McGivney, was the first of Patrick and Mary (Lynch) McGivney’s 13 children, six of whom died in infancy or early childhood. His parents, natives of Ireland, had immigrated to the United States during the 19th century. Patrick was a molder in a Waterbury brass mill, where Michael himself worked for a brief time as a child to help support his family.

From an early age, however, he realized a calling to the Catholic priesthood. After studying in several seminaries, he was ordained in that Baltimore’s historic Cathedral by Cardinal James Gibbons Dec. 22, 1877. He took up his first assignment, as curate at St. Mary’s Church, New Haven, Conn., Jan. 2, 1878. Father McGivney was named pastor of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, Conn. in 1884. He became seriously ill with pneumonia in January 1890, and died Aug. 14, 1890 at age 38.

The cause, or process, for Father McGivney’s sainthood, was opened by Hartford Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, in December 1997. The cause was presented to the Vatican in 2000, where it has been under review by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. With the pope’s recent decree, and the authentication of a miracle at Father McGivney’s intercession, the priest could be beatified. A second miracle would be required for canonization.

Still maintaining its headquarters in New Haven, the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic Fraternal Organization with more than 1.7 million members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean islands, the Philippines, Guam and, most recently, Poland.

Here are more extensive articles from The Hartford Courant and The New Haven Register.

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From: Bob Murphy, Knights of Columbus State Deputy, Montana Jurisdiction

To: State Officers, District Deputies, Grand Knights, All active and Inactive Knights in Montana

Subject: Montana Knights of Columbus support of our Bishops and Priests regarding Montana State Constitutional Initiative 100

Date: March 3, 2008

Worthy Brothers,

On February 26, 2008, the Catholic Bishops of Montana issued their statement that confirmed their commitment to “defend human life in all stages, from conception to natural death.” The goals of our bishops are in concert with those of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops and include the full legal recognition of the right to life of the unborn child. They “Seek an end to all abortions, so that all unborn children will be protected in law and welcomed in life.”

The United States Council of Catholic Bishops, the Bishops of Montana and the Bishops of several other states that have also proposed, “Personhood” amendments to their State Constitutions, “Do not believe
CI-100” in Montana and similar initiatives in other states, “Are the most beneficial venue to pursue necessary change.”

If passed into law, any state “Personhood” initiative would be challenged in Federal Court and struck down either in Federal District Court or the Supreme Court could refuse to here it, because Roe V Wade is a Federal issue, not a state issue. Only the Supreme Court or the Congress of the United States can overturn Roe V Wade.

The Catholic Bishops of the United States continue to support a “human life” amendment to the Federal Constitution giving legally feasible means for bringing about an end to legalized abortion.

We, the Montana Knights of Columbus, having pledged to, “Support and be…In solidarity with our Bishops and Priests,” must do so now with regard to Montana CI-100.

This support will include not using to promote or collect signatures in support of CI-100:

• The name of the Knights of Columbus.
• Any Emblem of the Knights of Columbus.
• Any signs, banners or flags of the Knights of Columbus.
• Statements or language that would be personally offensive in regards to our Bishops and Priests or their offices.

We, the Knights of Columbus must remain steadfast in our support of pro-life and Right to Life issues that are supported by our Bishops. Some of these are:

• Helping to establish and fund pregnancy help centers.
• Participating in Right to Life Marches with KC defend life signs.
• Rosaries and prayers in a peaceful manner in front of Planned Parenthood or other abortion clinics.
• Be involved with “Adoption” as an option to “Abortion.”
• Ask your lawmakers to pass a law making it required to notify parents of women under the age of 18 seeking an abortion.

Vivat Jesus

Bob Murphy

To read the Montana Bishops letter concerning this matter click here (2.1 MB)

Popularity: 56% [?]

To read the January/February 2008 issue of Visions click here. 186 KB

You will need Adobe Reader to read the newsletter and you can get it here.

Popularity: 46% [?]