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 Message from the Grand Knight 

Spring 2024 is upon us and before we know it summer will be here along warmer days, flowers blooming, gardens growing, and the Knights Spring/Summer events taking place. At the time of this letter we are celebrating Holy Week and moving to Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter itself.

“Easter is the most important liturgical time in the Catholic Church, celebrating the Lord's resurrection from the dead, culminating in his Ascension to the Father and sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Easter Sunday symbolizes the fulfillment of Christian faith, as Christ destroyed our bondage to sin through His Death and brought us the promise of new life, both in Heaven and on earth through His Resurrection. Easter celebrates the beginning and foundation of Christianity, as Jesus was raised from the dead, conquering sin and death.”

As Knights of Columbus, our principles of charity, unity and fraternity sum up the Gospels and invite us to deepen our relationship with Christ and one another. Let us beg the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney that during the Easter season, we might allow the Spirit of God to lead us through the mysteries of Christ to continual Easter joy, (Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori, 2022).

The 2024 Fish Fry’s have finished up and as in the past each week seemed to draw more and more people to enjoy the fish, shrimp, and other goodies being served. The Fish Fry’s for 2025 are already in the planning stages. Preparation for the Mother’s Day Flower sale (May 10th & 11th)and the Father’s Day Port a Pit Chicken sale (June 15th) are moving forward and we will be ready to serve everyone. Save those dates!

Your Knights of Columbus Council 12951 is growing. St. Stan’s is now building a Round Table Structure for their parish and community. A Knights of Columbus round table is a smaller, specialized group within the organization that focuses on specific interests or activities. These round tables allow members to come together for focused discussions, service projects, or social events related to a particular theme. While this process is still in the planning stages I have great confidence they will grow quickly and be an excellent addition to St. Stan’s! Plans are in place to build more Round tables within our Parish community. The Knights of Columbus are stronger than ever and will continue to grow and serve our Parish and community.  Please consider joining the Knights of Columbus Council 12951. The membership dues for this year are free and signing up is very simple. If you are interested, please reach out to any Knight and they can assist you becoming a Knight. I am very proud to be a Knight and I am looking forward to serving my Parish and community. This is a Great team, great partnership, and wonderful group of Catholic Gentlemen and Women.  

God Bless all of you. Be safe!

Vivat Jesus! (Jesus Lives!)

Bruce Garwood, Grand Knight


Remembering Jim Whelan

James Charles Whelan, 81, of Trail Creek, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at 10:01 a.m., in his home.  Jim was a 4th degree member of Knights of Columbus Queen of All Saints Council 12951, Michigan City, member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and was very active in the local Lions Club International, American Legion and Trail Creek Park Board.


Our Council Receives Double Star Council Award

District Deputy Marty Campanella presents the Knights of Columbus Double Star Ward to Grand Knight Bruce Garwood.

Earning the “Star Council Award” is an annual recognition from the Supreme office of the Knights of Columbus. The Double Star designation means we have greatly exceeded the requirements for the annual recognition.

The requirements cover a variety of efforts. These include membership increases, community service, parish service and faith-based activities.  This year the members of our council conducted many activities which can be seen by clicking on the Activities link at qas.org/kofc.

“These men demonstrate that Christ is alive in our parish. On a daily basis, they practice their faith, by being the example of a Catholic gentleman” said Grand Knight Bruce Garwood.


The QAS Knights continue to win awards for their activities.  At the Indiana KofC Mid-Year State Convention QAS Council 12951 received the Santa Maria award for excellence in continuing activities.  This is an award which is presented to a council which has satisfied the criteria for all three of the state awards, the Nina, the Pinta and finally the Santa Maria. QAS submitted more than sixteen qualified activities covering over 2,300 hours of service in four categories: Faith, Family, Community and Life, as well as continuing to expand its membership.  In addition, the council raised over $32,500 which was distributed to the parish, the school and Michigan City charities. 


KofC District 6 is Awarded Star District for the First Time

District 6 comprising the Knights of Columbus Councils of Michigan City, Chesterton, Valparaiso and Wanatah was awarded Star District status at the Indiana Knights of Columbus Mid-Year meeting.  This is the first time in over ten years that District 6 achieved this status.  To be awarded Star District status the combined results of the four councils in the district had to meet the combined goals of activities and membership gains. In addition, at least one council had to achieve Star Council status. District 6 had two Star Councils, Valparaiso and Michigan City. District 6 was one of only two districts in Indiana to have two Star Councils, as there were only 21 Star Councils in the state.  The QAS Knights in Michigan City actually were awarded Double Star Council as they had more than doubled their goals for the year, a rare honor.   Marty Campanella, the District Deputy for District 6, received the award on behalf of all four councils.


Knights of Columbus Round Table Formed at St. Stanislaus Kostka-Published in the NWIC by Bob Wellinski, NWIC correspondent

It’s been a long time coming for St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, but on Feb. 11 a Knights of Columbus Round Table was established at the parish following the exemplification of 10 men as third-degree knights.
    
The first step in setting up a new council is to set up a round table.
    
“It’s a semi-autonomous subcommittee of the Queen of All Saints council 1295. The meetings and leadership would be here. If it grew large enough to be a separate council, then it would develop into another council. If not, it could continue under QAS council,” said Marty Campanella, Indiana Knights of Columbus district deputy 6.
    
Since its beginning in 1891, St. Stanislaus has never had a Knights of Columbus council or organization.
    
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic brotherhood founded by Father Michael McGivney in 1882. Father McGivney sought to strengthen the faith and families of fellow Catholics through promoting the organization’s principles of charity, unity and fraternity. 
    
Those exemplified at St. Stanislaus were Anthony Banks, John Bunton, James Gallas, John Gardner, Jr., John Gardner, III, Kevin Higdon, Wesley Higdon, Ryan Labis, David Mankowski and Cliff Wozniak.
    
“We’ve been very happy with the success here,” said Campanella. “Mike Eisele went out of his way and recruited people.” 
    
Eisele was officially appointed the round table coordinator, which serves as the liaison between the round table and the parent council.
    
Eisele recalled that he spoke to Campanella about setting up a council following Mass “and it snowballed from there. Through the ‘Polish network’ we went from a couple men to 12,” he said.
    
He added the response was “very positive” from members of the parish, although one question kept popping up, “why haven’t we had this before?” 
    
Every one of the exemplified men is a second or third generation St. Stanislaus member. “We grew up in the church. We grew up in the school. It’s us now. By being a knight, we’re here to help the parish, to help people,” said Eisele.
    
Campanella shared that the QAS council and other councils will offer whatever help they can, including advice or funding, to name a few. “We’ll probably sit there and advise at the first few meetings, but the real goal is to allow them to develop themselves – how they want and with what sort of projects they want to undertake.”
    
Bruce Garwood, grand knight for Queen of All Saints Council 12951, explained that the QAS council had membership drives at the area churches. “We had an interest by a couple guys here at St. Stan’s and it just exploded. I was surprised by how many guys were here. It was really nice to see all the guys here.”
    
He said he is also looking to offer guidance, along with members of St. Francis Xavier in Lake Station, for a group of Spanish-speaking men who have expressed interest in forming a Knights council. 
    
There is also interest from men at Notre Dame parish in starting a council. “It would be interesting to see if we end up with three different councils here in Michigan City. It would be a beautiful thing. It’s not a competition by any means.”
    
Family is a key piece of the Knights. The newly formed round table welcomed two sets of fathers and sons. John Gardner, Jr. and his son, John III, along with Kevin Higdon and his son, Wesley, as they shared their feelings on becoming Knights together.
    
John Gardner Jr. and his son, John, III, are excited to become knights together and said it’s very special to be part of the first round table as the beginning of forming a St. Stanislaus Knights council. “It came pretty quickly and I’m not sure what it’s all about, but we’re going to find out,” said John, Jr. “It’s really good. It’s an opportunity to help the parish. The Church is very important to our family.”
    
John, III said, “It’s really neat to do this with my dad.”
    
Kevin Higdon said bringing the Knights to St. Stanislaus has been a desire for a long time. He added that with the number of youth joining, like his son, it helps bring unity and compassion to the Church. “It’s really special. It’s good to do it together.”
    
“Having my dad there is a good support system. Then from there we can grow quickly with the other brothers in the Knights of Columbus,” said Wesley Higdon, Kevin’s son.
    
Wesley said the involvement of his maternal grandfather, Gene Fowler, and brother, Kyle, in the organization sparked his interest. “My grandfather has passed away and now that there is a Knights of Columbus at St. Stan’s, it was an opportunity I jumped at. Family ties for me are huge,” he said.
    
Standing at Wesley’s side was his wife, Maddie, and their six-month-old son, Sebastian. Although it will be more than a few years before Sebastian will be eligible to become a knight, Maddie feels the family will grow in their faith through the Knights community.
    
“I really like the idea of fraternity,” she said. “We’re not meant to walk along. We’re meant to grow in faith and community together. It will be a great opportunity to grow our little family community into a bigger community.”


Knights of Columbus License Plate

Indiana Knights of Columbus Charity Fund Inc. Special Group Recognition License Plates for your vehicles (cars, light trucks, RV and motorcycles) are available for purchase from your local BMV office.

These plates can be ordered through IN.gov/BMV, at BMV branches, at BMV Connect kiosks, or BMV partial service providers. The plates will cost $30 in addition to applicable taxes and registration fees. A $15 supplemental fee and a $15 group fee is due for each Knights of Columbus plate that is purchased. The BMV will return the $15 group fee for each license plate sold to the Indiana K of C Charity Fund Inc. This plate may be personalized for an additional $45.

The Indiana K of C Charity Fund Inc is Indiana State Council's 501(c)(3) established to help people in urgent need situations; disaster relief, coats for kids, food for families, ultrasound machines, and other similar needs.