Knights of Columbus Council 8521 St Joseph Catholic Church - Honey Creek 25781 Hwy 46 West Spring Branch TX 78070-3613

June 2018 NewsletterKC Officers for 2017-2018

Grand Knight Rudy Gonzales 210-488-5431Deputy Grand Knight Hal B. Lane III830-980-6848 Financial Secretary Joe Vocks 830-885-4340 Chancellor James Sulak210-649-7904 Treasurer Terry Temple 830-438-8058 Recorder Donald Zaiontz830-980-2505

Advocate Greg Canfield830-438-8266Warden Matt Wohlfeil830-388-0469Inside Guard Carl Newton210-488-7181Outside Guard Henry Delgado830-885-4425Chaplain Rev. Francis McHugh210-824-0139 Trustee 1st YearMichael MertaTrustee 2nd YearGilbert Alvarado 830-980-5918 Trustee 3rd Year Max Engel830-229-5657LecturerSam Haines 830-438-4049

The Memorial of the

Blessed Virgin Mary,

Mother of the Church,

was observed for the first

time on Monday; the

movable feast is set for

the first day following

Pentecost. In his homily

during Mass at the Casa

Santa Marta, Pope

Francis said the first

virtue of a mom is

tenderness.

“The Church is

feminine,” Pope Francis

said in his homily on

Monday, “she is a

mother.”

When this trait is

lacking, the Pope

continued, the

Church resembles

merely “a charitable

organization, or a

football team”; when

it is “a masculine

Church,” it sadly

becomes “a church of

old bachelors,”

“incapable of love,

incapable of

fruitfulness.”

Pope Francis: The Church, like Mary, is woman and mother

By Vatican News

That was the reflection offered by Pope Francis during the Mass

celebrated in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta for the Memorial of the

Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. The feast is being celebrated

this year for the first time, after the publication in March of the decree

Ecclesia Mater (“Mother Church”) by the Congregation for Divine

Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Pope Francis himself

decided the feast should be celebrated on the Monday immediately

following Pentecost, in order “to encourage the growth of the maternal

sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a

growth of genuine Marian piety.”

The “motherliness” of Mary

In his homily, Pope Francis said that in the Gospel, Mary is always

described as “the Mother of Jesus,” instead of “the Lady” or “the widow

of Joseph”: her motherliness is emphasized throughout the Gospels,

beginning with the Annunciation. This is a quality that was noted

immediately by the Fathers of the Church, a quality that applies also to

the Church.

Pope Francis: The Church, like Mary, is woman and mother

Pope Francis: The Church, like Mary, is woman and mother

The Church is feminine, because it is “church” and “bride” [both grammatically feminine]: it is feminine. And she is mother; she gives life. Bride and Mother. And the Fathers go further and say that even your soul is the bride of Christ and mother.” And it is with this attitude that comes from Mary, who is Mother of the Church, with this attitude we can understand this feminine dimension of the Church, which, when it is not there, the Church loses its identity and becomes a charitable organization or a football team, or whatever, but not the Church.

No to a Church of old bachelors

Only a feminine Church will be able to have “fruitful attitudes,” in accordance with the intention of God, who chose “to be born of a woman in order to teach us the path of woman.”

Pope Francis: The Church, like Mary, is woman and mother

The important thing is that the Church be a woman, that has this attitude of a bride and of a mother. When we forget this, it is a masculine Church. Without this dimension, it sadly becomes a church of old bachelors, who live in this isolation, incapable of love, incapable of fecundity. Without the woman, the Church does not advance—because she is a woman. And this attitude of woman comes from Mary, because Jesus willed it so.

The tenderness of a mom

The virtue that primarily distinguishes a woman, Pope Francis said, is tenderness, like the tenderness of Mary, when she “gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger.” She cared for Him, with meekness and humility, which are the great virtues of mothers.

A Church that is a mother goes along the path of tenderness. It knows the language of such wisdom of caresses, of silence, of the gaze that knows compassion, that knows silent. It is, too, a soul, a person who lives out this way of being a member of the Church, knowing that he or she is [like] a mother [and] must go along the same path: a person [who is] gentle, tender, smiling, full of love.

A Message from our Worthy Grand Knight

Brother Knights

As I write my last message for our monthly newsletter, I can't help but look back at

the past two years and how much our council has accomplished. There are so many of

you I need to thank for your guidance, support and for stepping up when the council

needed you. I have always felt a sense of pride being your Grand Knight and can

honestly say we have one of the best councils in Texas. Our membership is over two

hundred strong and we are gaining new knights each month. Our Golf Tournament

has reached new heights and is attracting more sponsors. The fish fries are enjoyed by

so many parishioners and many out of town guests. Our dances are becoming a hit

and St. John Hall has turned into a great venue. Our principles of Charity, Unity,

Fraternity and Patriotism have never been stronger. A huge thanks to all of our

significant others who have also supported us and even volunteered to help with

many of our events.

As I turn over the gavel to my successor, my wish for our council and the new board

is that we continue to experience unending success. I pray we will be fulfilled in all

we do as we continue to give generously to our ministries and charities as well as our

community needs.

"Dear Lord, as we rise to meet each new day, please let us be filled with Your Holy

Spirit. Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness and faithfulness. Let

us desire to become more like You and to worship You in all that we do. All this we

ask in Your most precious name." Amen!

Viva Cristo Rey

Grand Knight,

Rudy Gonzales

What’s the deal with craft beer? Why does everyone suddenly love craft beer? How can it be that in 1978, there were 89 breweries in the US, but now, there are over 5,300? Why are microbreweries, craft beer companies, and brewpubs opening left and right? Why has production by US microbreweries seen an increase of more than 500% since 2004 [1]? And why does every male craft brew enthusiast have a beard?

Okay, I’m not too sure about the beard question, but to the others, the short answer is: because beer is good; and because beer brewed by someone with whom you can speak, someone who enjoys meeting the people for whom they brew, is even better.

A somewhat more long-winded answer to these questions is, in my opinion, the economic theory called “distributism” and the subconscious longing that people have for it.

Craft Beer and Catholic Teaching: Drink Up, Gents

By Mr. Max Milan

A somewhat more long-winded answer to these questions is, in my opinion, the economic theory called “distributism” and the subconscious longing that people have for it. Now before anyone falls asleep or remembers some nightmarish ECON class they had in college, let me assure you that I’ll make this very light, and I think you’ll find it more interesting than you may predict. First of all, I like distributism because it is explicitly based on Catholic Social Teaching and was advocated by folks like Pope Leo XIII,

Pope Saint John Paul II, HilaireBelloc, and G.K. Chesterton. Distributism places emphasis on people as individuals within a community and opposes the lack of freedom present in socialism and the heavy burden imposed on the laboring class resulting from unbridled capitalism.

Craft Beer and Catholic Teaching: Drink Up, Gents

Now, just a brief overview of distributism: in this system, property ownership is a fun- damental right, and the means of production should be spread as widely as possible rather than under the control of either the state or a few individuals or corporations. Distributism promotes a society of artisans and is influenced by an emphasis on small business, promotion of local culture, and favoring small production over capitalistic mass production. If I were to say that sentence out loud in a brewpub full of people with beards drinking craft beer, I dare say I would get shouts of affirmation and agreement in reply. That’s because this is the type of society people long for.

The one theme of the seven encompassing Catholic Social Teaching that I think is the most applicable here is called solidarity which underscores the unity found in a community of people dependent upon one another. To be in solidarity with others is to share in their experiences, to care about them, and to recognize their dignity as people and children of God. It suggests that one’s own good is not independent of the welfare of their neighbor and of their community. This emphasis on the community and local culture is objectively good and expresses in an ordered way God’s commandment to love one another.

Craft Beer and Catholic Teaching: Drink Up, Gents

Theoretically, a distributistsystem built upon the foundation of neighborly solidarity (and, of course, augmented by craft beer) would be the type of society that people are realizing is more appealing than one based on impersonal consumer capitalism. By purchasing products from people who live in the same neighborhood, one is extending the Christian ideal of loving one’s neighbors to the economic environment.

So how is all of this related to beer? Well, in my opinion, people are yearning for this type of distributist system whether they realize it or not, and I think that this

Craft Beer and Catholic Teaching: Drink Up, Gents

desire is manifesting itself through the craft beer industry (among others).

Many people, the younger crowd especially, are relinquishing the American adjunct lagers made by macrobreweries like Bud, Miller, Coors, and all the rest. They’re leaving behind these beers and flocking to their local microbreweries and brewpubs. I think they’re doing this for a more significant reason than the fact that craft beer tastes better than light lagers. They’re doing it because they have figured out that being handed a freshly brewed beer from the person who made it is more fulfilling than pounding back a Keystone Light. They’ve tapped into (pun intended) the hard work of an artisan who cares about the product he or she is producing. They’ve figured out that there is an actual person behind the product and that the consumption of goods doesn’t have to be impersonal.

Craft Beer and Catholic Teaching: Drink Up, Gents

The same goes for the brewer; sure, every business person needs to be profitable, but what I see with most craft breweries is that they start as enthusiastic homebrewers who get into the trade because they appreciate excellent beer and care what people think about what they make. Another essential point of distributism suggests that craftsmen should not be alienated from their work. It is beneficial for a manufacturer to see the fruits of their labor, to be able to take pride in what they have made and feel that they are a worthwhile member of society.

In this context, drinking a craft beer is not merely about drinking it. Granted, craft beers are meant to be drunk and are crafted to be the best that they can be, but the experience of a having a craft beer is not entirely about the taste. When combined with a distributist attitude toward economics and a sprinkling of Catholic morality, drinking a craft beer becomes an experience of a communion of sorts. This is not to say that beer itself brings about this fellowship – it is merely a commodity. However, I think that the interactions and experiences centered around craft beer can bring people together in a healthy way, the way members of a community are called to substantiate the love of Christ among themselves and between each other.

Craft Beer and Catholic Teaching: Drink Up, Gents

So, the next time you find yourself sampling the newest test batch at a local brewery or out for drinks and laughs with some friends at your neighborhood brewpub, look around, notice what is going on around you, and bear witness to the unspoken desire to seek God through the manifestation of the “love of neighbor” described by distributism in the world of craft beer. Cheers! Or as we say in Texas: Prost, y’all!

Max Milan is a Catholic, a husband, a pun enthusiast, a certified nerd, and a Structural Engineer in Dallas, TX. He and his wife both hold Bachelor’s Degrees in Physics from the University of Central Arkansas and went on to become Masters of Science at Texas A&M. Through his writing, Max hopes to help bridge the unfortunate gap between faith and science. In his free time, he enjoys doing crossword puzzles, drinking and homebrewing beer, exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog, and writing on matters of the Catholic faith.

We had 33 teams playing this year resulting in our largest net profit of $17,535.82. We have raised over $104,000 for charities these past 8 years. This is a result of the team work of our bother Knights who sold raffle tickets, hole sponsorships, played in the tournament, recruited players, work at the tournament, and served on the golf committee.Mark you calendars... The 9th Annual Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament will be May 31, 2019 at the River Crossing Club.

8th Annual Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament

Edwardo AndradeThomas J BrodGerald A CoaleHenry B Flores

Ronald C FrenchQuentin D MeyerJeffrey L Moore

Gregory S MurrayJames C SulakMark W Worth

June Birthdays

FINANCIAL SECRETARY REPORT FOR

May 1, 2018Total Membership : 207

which includes 73 Insurance, 11 Honorary and 28 Honorary LifeAwards Program

11

Payments were due by December 31, 2017. There are 4 Knights who have not paid their dues for 2018 for a total of $120.00. Knight Alert Letters were mailed to these Knights on May 16, 2018. Please make checks payable to Knights of Columbus Council 8521 and mail to Joe Vocks, Financial Secretary, 923 River Way Spring Branch, TX 78070.

FAITHFUL COMPTROLLER REPORTFOR

June 1, 201886 Members which include 1 Honorary and 5 Honorary LifePayments were due by December 31, 2017. There are 4 Sir Knights who have not paid their dues for 2018 for a total of $112.00. Final Notices Letters were mailed on May 16, 2018. Please make checks payable to Father Virgilius DraesselAssembly 3439 and mail to

Sir Knight Joe Vocks, Faithful Comptroller, 923 River Way

Spring Branch, TX 78070.

June 13th – Council Meeting, St. Johns Hall 7p.m

June 14th – Flag day

June 17th – Fathers day

June 18th - 1st degree Exemplification, St Johns Hall

June 20th - Officers Meeting St. Johns Hall 7p.m

June 28th – Admissions Degree, hosted by St. Marks Council 7613

July 4th – independence Day

July 11th - Council Meeting, St. Johns Hall 7p.m

July 18 - Officers Meeting St. Johns Hall 7p.m

At first glance, ArdyRoberto’s “Real Men Are POGI” is obviously written for men. With its tag line below it, “How to be Handsome in God’s Eyes so You can be Ready for your God’s best”, it serves as a man’s handbook guide for Christian living. But no book lying on our living room table would be spared from my book-hungry eyes. Once I sat down flipping through page one, this bookworm enters a heart-to-heart talk for real men.

Recommended Books for Men

Insurance Q & A

Do I need life insurance?Yes, the chances are you do need life insurance, whether it’s for paying funeral expenses, replacing income, providing money for your child’s education, protecting your home or many other reasons. Unfortunately, too many people don’t know the value of a life insurance policy and go without any or adequate coverage.

Is the Knights of Columbus financially strong?Yes. The Order is one of the strongest organizations from which you can purchase insurance, as assessments by independent evaluators consistently show. Our margin of safety is among the best in the industry. The Knights of Columbus annually receives the highest ratings given by the A.M. Best Company and Standard & Poor’s.

What exactly are dividends?Dividends are the divisible surplus the Order has left over after paying expenses and setting aside the necessary amounts to assure that future benefits are fully funded. Dividends develop from favorable experience, such as people living longer than expected or from interest earnings higher than those guaranteed in their policy. Remember, the payment of dividends cannot be guaranteed.

If I have questions about my insurance policy, or have an interest in learning more about the products the Order offers, whom should I ask?Your professional Knights of Columbus agent can answer any questions you may have. Even if you are not currently a policyholder, a field agent, who is also a brother Knight is available to meet with you at your convenience the needs of you and your family. To identify your agent, call 1-800-345-KOFC (1-800-345-5632).