Knights LogKnights LogKnights LogST. RAPHAEL COUNCIL 10157

JANUARY 2014

Brother Bill Condon serves as St. Raphael Conference president in St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Two Brother Knights guide the work of St. Vincent de Paul Society

Service in the Pantry

Knights in Action: Basketball, soccer and Confirmation

Good things on the griddle!

Walt Miller: Knight of the Month

Luck of the Pot Luck

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Knights LogST. RAPHAEL COUNCIL 10157

From our Grand Knight

The Knight of Columbus is a Catholic family, fraternal service organization. Our service program is designed to assist the councils with program activities.

Our council success depends on the members and their families taking the initiative to participate in projects that help the church and the community.

The St Raphael Council’s efforts to help the community have been a great success in recent months. In October, the council sponsored the annual Pinellas Hope Dinner with Council 2105 of St. Mary, Our Lady of Grace parish. The dinner in St. Raphael Parish Center was well attended, and we are pleased along with Council 2105 to present gifts totaling $2,7OO to Pinellas Hope, the diocese homeless shelter. In addition, the council donated a Publix gift card to the St Raphael Feed the Homeless Ministry. The council also donated diapers and wipes (much-needed items) to the Foundation of Life Pregnancy Center. These are only a few of the service programs in which we are involved.

The Knights of Columbus nationwide Ultrasound Initiative will enable the placement of ultrasound machines in the majority of pregnancy centers across the country. According to industry sources, more than 90 per cent of pregnant women considering abortion choose life after they meet their baby via ultrasound.

Our council, along with other councils in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, is encouraged to raise funds to cover 50 per cent of the cost of the ultrasound machine. The Supreme Council provides a matching grant for up to 50 per cent of the cost of the machine.

Our January project is Super Sub for Super Bowl. in which proceeds will benefit the ultrasound machine placements at the Foundation for Life Pregnancy Center, the Catholic Charities ministry that provides support to women who are facing unplanned pregnancy.

And finally, this first issue of our newsletter you are reading is the combined effort of several of our Brother Knights. A few weeks ago, Brother T. Allan Smith approached me with an offer to produce a monthly newsletter to highlight council activities. It was a project we had been planning to start and the timing was just right. In the coming months, more council members will be contributing articles to make this endeavor a success. Thank you to everyone involved.

– Jorge Antunez, Grand Knight

ChaplainFr. Sojan PunakkattuGrand KnightJorge AntunezDeputy Grand KnightTom DoyleChancellorBill ReidyWardenConnie DeneaultTreasurerTerry WinsteadFinancial SecretaryRoy SmayRecorderWalt MillerAdvocateBill CondonLecturerOPENInside GuardWarren DeBordOutside GuardBob FurtekTrustee - 3 YearWendell WinsteadTrustee - 2 YearTom MachugaTrustee - 1 YearJerry Sirgey

What’s finished, what’s coming

Jorge Antunez

Knights LogEditorT. Allan SmithPhotographerJane Winstead

Knights Log is published monthly by St. Raphael Council 10157, Knights of Columbus. Please send submissions to smith.tallan@gmail.com

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Knights in Action

Our council has represented the Knights of Columbus and St. Raphael parish well.  We have had a busy, successful year and have sponsored, organized and hosted youth events, including the Free Throw Championship in January and Soccer Challenge in September.

Some 32 boys and girls participated in the Free Throw.  Emily Glasgow won second in state.  

In September, we had 12 participants in the Soccer Challenge.  Four of them went on to compete in the regional event. Chloe LePak, Shannon Harrington, and Emily Glasgow took first place and Sydney Charlson won second place, in their respective age groups.

We presented certificates, medals and plaques to all participants in both events during recognition celebrations at the school.

The Knights appreciate the support and encouragement from parents, children, Coach Brian Shaffer and our principal, Mrs.

Kathy Bogataj.Next year is shaping

up to be the best yet with our youth events.  Brother Bob Hargrove

is leading a group to plan a spelling bee for the students of St Raphael parish. The Free Throw

Championship is back on the calendar for January 11 from 9 a.m. to noon.)Thanks to all the

brothers who have been supportive of our youth events.  It look like 2014 promises to be our most fun, successful and rewarding year.

– Connie Deneault

With the superb guidance, energy and enthusiasm of Kaitlin Berger, our youth minister, we will have

THE PANCAKE CREW – You can always count on Knight Brothers to turn out to work in our Free Pancake Breakfasts. This one was in November. From left, front row: Vincent Marceano, Tom Machuga, David Bach, and Jorge Antunez. Back row: Stephen Kipp, Raul Quintana, Connie Deneault, Roy Bubb, Tom Doyle, and Robert Furtek. You can see more photos from the Free Pancake Breakfast on page 6.

Festival Time – Knight Brothers are ready to serve when it comes to the annual St. Raphael Festival in October. Among their duties, administering the 50/50 raffle, which has become a significant fundraiser for St. Raphael Catholic School. Knights also sell other items with proceeds going to various Knight projects. On hand in the Knights booth were, from left, John Tredo, Chet Ugan, and Warren DeBord.

A brief look at the service activities of our Brother Knights

Our council sponsors basketball and soccer youth activities

Please go to the next page

Confirmation retreat a success

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Knights in ActionA brief look at the service activities of our Brother Knights

director, 60 young men and women will be confirmed in early 2014. Fellow Knight Bill Reidy and his wife Debbi, have been involved in CCD/Youth Ministry/ Confirmation since 2000.

This involvement has led to trips to Steubenville, Lutherock, Cove Crest, March for Life and, more recently, retreats at the Bethany Center. In November, the confirmation candidates enjoyed the great accommodations that the Bethany Center in Lutz offers.

Over the last couple of years, the youth have provided great entertainment to their chaperones as they literally bounce off each other or allow

themselves to be stuffed into a large truck tire and rolled down a hill.

– Bill Reidy

Continued from the previous page

Bill and Debbi Reidy

Top: Running full speed with an exercise ball. Above: Ready to roll in a truck tire. Right: Off they go.

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JANUARY 2014 • 5

Knight of the Month

Walt Miller, on the go in serviceBrother Walt Miller is frequently immersed in Knight activities, both organizing them and participating. He is Knight of the Month for January.

A cradle Catholic, Walt has been a member of St. Raphael parish for 15 years. He also is active in numerous ministries, including baptismal preparation, eucharistic minister, and lector at the 9:30 a.m. Mass. He is a past member of Parish Council, past Boy Scout assistant scout master, and past usher.

It is a strong desire to be of service and to be a contributing member of the parish that keeps Walt on the go so much.

He originally joined the Knights of Columbus almost two decades ago in another parish but had been inactive for many years. When the new council at St. Raphael formed, Walt was there to be a founding member.

A retired U.S. Coast Guard captain, Walt now manages the marina and port for the City of St. Petersburg. He is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a bachelor’s degree in economics and management. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland in College Park. Walt is originally from Nassau, New York, a village near Albany.

When he’s not at work or engaged in church or Knight activities, you’ll find Walt involved in the activities of his children, Adam, who is a student at the University of Florida, and Christa, a student at St. Petersburg High School.

When he relaxes, he enjoys watching the New York-based crime drama series Castle, with his wife Maryann, or listening to smooth jazz.

Walt Miller collects donations for the Citizens with Disabilities Campaign.

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Batter up!Any time there’s a Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast, it’s a festive occasion, but it’s also an opportunity to meet parishioners. The breakfast is free but generous parishioners donate anyway. Proceeds go to help fund various Knight projects.

Above: Brother Raul Quintana helps a young diner. Right: Brother Roy Bubb has a young visitor.

Photos by Jane Winstead

Good things happen when pancakes are on the griddle!

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JANUARY 2014 • 7

Above: Earl and Barbara Alderfer seem excited to be attending the Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast. Below: Bob and Kathy Gluckenberger enjoy pancakes with Rosemary Early.

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Cover Story

Ministry of the pantry …By T. Allan Smith

Hidden away in an unassuming closet in the old church building, the Food Pantry stands ready to supply groceries to local families when the need arises.

The Food Pantry is a project of the St. Raphael Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Central Council in St. Petersburg.

Drawn by a desire to put faith into action, two Brother Knights have helped this ministry come to the aid of nearby residents in dire straits for more than a decade.

Brother Bill Reidy serves as a Finance Board member for the St. Vincent de Paul Central Council. He is also past president of the St. Raphael Conference. Brother Bill Condon is the current president of the St. Raphael Conference.

The seven-member group

… and much more, as Brother Knights directly serve the needy.

visits families and individuals in need and determines what available resources can be used to help ease the burdens they face.

Each year at Christmas time, the group coordinates The Giving Tree at St. Raphael parish. A Christmas tree is placed in the narthex of the church with tag ornaments that represent gifts

for families with whom SVdP is working. Parishioners are requested to take a tag and bring back a gift suitable for the recipient.

In 2011, the Mustard Seed program was started by parishioner Karen Boland to coordinate serving of a dinner meal to the homeless at the SVdP Food Center downtown. The St. Raphael Conference also supports the Food Center and the Center of Hope with food and monitary donations. Society activists also help migrant worker camps and communities without active SVdP ministries.

In addition, the society adopts families that were devastated by

Hurricane Katrina.These are by no means the

only ministries in which these active Brother Knights participate. Bill Reidy and his wife Debbie work with

Knight Brother Bill Reidy serves on the Finance Board for the SVdP Central Council.

the Youth Group and Confirmation classes, and he serves as chancellor of our Knights council. Bill Condon can be found frying fish every year for the St. Raphael Festival and Lenten Fish Fry. He also was involved with scouting for six years. He serves as advocate for our Knights council.

The SVdP ministry offers opportunity for parishioners to help the needy at whatever level they wish. Brother Bill Condon acknowledges the St. Raphael Conference’s appreciation of food

donations during the third week of each month. Those donations help replenish the Food Pantry, the Food Center and the Center of Hope. There are other opportunities, too.

“We currently need a few new volunteers to partner

with seasoned Vincentians to perform home visits,” said Brother Bill Condon.

If you want to help, contact Bill Condon at billcon327@aol.com or Bill Reidy at wreidy@tampabay.rr.com

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JANUARY 2014 • 9

Knight Brother Bill Condon in the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at St. Raphael parish.

St. Raphael Vincentians also produce The Giving Tree at

Christmas time.

Click to see a video interview with Brother Bill.

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There’s not much luck involved when it comes to a St. Raphael Pot Luck. We have such good cooks! The luck for the December council pot luck was for those who won the door prizes, delicious wine and cheese baskets.

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10 • JANUARY 2014

From left: Allen and Louise Barrett; Warren and Denise DeBord; K of C District Deputy Frank Dillon and Andy Needham, fraternal benefit/insurance field agent.

Above: Wendell Winstead reads the lucky numbers as Tom Doyle and Jorge Antunez watch. Right: Grand Knight Jorge

Photos by Jane Winstead

Pot Luck! What luck!

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JANUARY 2014 • 11

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JANUARY 2014 • 11

From left: Rod and Gail Brazzell; Joe and Mary Jo Cillian; Tom and Marie Machuga

Family friendlyAbove: Jeff and Danielle Kusek and their daughters Elsa and Grace.

Left: Justin and Jennifer Franke and their daughter Marion.

Right: Thomas Marlow and Mary Brophy-Lee.

Knights Log

Good of the OrderPlease keep the following Knights and their family members in your prayers:

• Brother Knight Mike Kenny is home from the hospital after suffering from a stroke.

• Deputy Grand Knight Tom Doyle's spouse Kathleen is recovering at home after undergoing open heart surgery.

• Brother Knight Tom Machuga's spouse Marie is recovering from breast cancer surgery.

• Brother Knight Tom Machuga is successfully recovering from surgery.

• Brother Knight Roy Smay's son Daniel is suffering from severe back issues and is undergoing treatment.

If you or someone in your family needs prayers, please contact Bill Reidy wreidy@tampabay.rr.com

Knights CalendarSunday, January 5Pancake BreakfastAfter 8 and 9:30 a.m. Masses in the Parish Center

Wednesday, January 8Assembly Meeting7 p.m. St. Paul Cafeteria

Saturday, January 11Council Free Throw Contest9 a.m. Parish Center

Saturday, January 11 State Officers MeeetingCouncil 5737, Pinellas Park

Thursday, January 16Council Meeting7 p.m. Parish Hall

Saturday, January 18Respect Life Day9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. St. Timothy, Lutz

Wednesday, January 22National Walk For Life DayAll Day Washington, D.C.

Saturday, January 25CCW Rummage Sale8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Parish Center

TBA Spelling BeeTBA St. Raphael Catholic School

TBADistrict Free Throw Championship9 a.m. TBA St. Paul Catholic Church

Saturday, February 1Super Sub Preparation8 a.m. to 2 p.m Parish Center

Sunday, February 2Super Sub DistributionParish Center

Wednesday, February 5Assembly Meeting7 p.m. St. Paul Cafeteria

Saturday, February 15Citizens with Disabilities Campaign8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Publix

Sunday, February 16Citizens with Disabilities Campaign9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Publix

Thursday, February 20Council Meeting7 p.m. Parish Hall

TBA Citizens with Disabilities CampaignAll Masses St. Raphael Church

Saturday, March 15Reg Free Throw Championship9 a.m. to noonSt. Pete Catholic High School

Are you ready for some Italian subs?It’s Super Bowl time and you know what that means – yes, football. But it also means great things to eat. We’re taking orders for Super Italian Subs on January 18-19 and January 25-26. All the proceeds will benefit the Foundation of Life Pregnancy Center to help pay for a new ultrasound machine.