February 5, 2023

Brothers,

Larry Kassuba has brought to us a request from St. Charles parishioner Ken Lehman seeking volunteers to help with his maple syrup operation. Ken needs help gathering sap and tending the wood fire in the sugar shack, where the sap is boiled down into syrup. He needs four or five people per day for a couple of hours each day. The operation will be starting soon, probably mid-February.

Any number of helpers or amount of time is appreciated and flexible. Starting time would be about 10 a.m. That of course means he's probably looking for you retired Knights, not us working stiffs. Larry also isn't sure if the commitment is every day. Anyone interested or in need of more information, please give Ken Lehman a call at 616-754-0403.

This, of course, is not a Knights' function or Knights' project, but we as a Council do recognize Ken's continued generosity to our church and school, which is why I'm passing this along to you.

--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419

February 5, 2023

My Dear Brother Knights,

Through various circumstances, my wife and I ended up going to Mass this weekend at St. Jude's in Grand Rapids. Our priest was Fr. Phil Shangraw. What you are about to read is a little reflection on the Gospel and Fr. Phil's homily.

In Matthew's Gospel for today, Jesus called his disciples — and that means he called us — salt and light. But, as the subject of the email says, not just salt, and not just light. He calls us "salt of the earth" and "light of the world." That means we're not just a box of Morton's or a flashlight somewhere in storage. It means we belong somewhere and we have a role — that is, a job to do.

Salt, of course, is used in cooking to enhance the other flavors of the food. That is our role on earth, to go out and enhance others here through our actions, our evangelization, and our service. And just as light is not meant to be hidden under a basket, but put up high to brighten everything in the house, we are called to brighten others in the world with our love for them, with the Gospel, and with our prayers and good deeds.

Jesus uses one other metaphor: "A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden." While this is not a directive to us, the way being salt and light is, it is an indication of how we are supposed to be. A city, of course, is a community. Our faith is not meant to be kept to ourselves, but to be shared, with others and for others. That is why it is so important to go to Mass every weekend, to worship our Lord and God in a community of believers, praying together and supporting each other. And why it's so important to bring that faith out into the greater community where we live and serve.

All of this is right up our alley as Knights of Columbus: salt, light, community. Let us continue our commitment to letting our salt enhance others and letting our light shine before others, all within our spirit of community, so that others may see what we're doing — for the glory of God — and glorify our heavenly Father.

Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419

January 17, 2023

Brothers, let me share early with you some of what I have submitted for this weekend's bulletin:

"Never settle for maintenance mode."

That direct quote from Bishop David Walkowiak at Monday's Grand Rapids Diocesan Meeting of the Knights of Columbus pertains to our Church, our parishes and our individual faith. What the bishop was telling us is simple: if we aren't trying to grow -- membership, participation, our personal faith -- then we are instead shrinking or, even worse, dying.

Do you consider yourself a good Catholic? Great. But even good Catholics need to try to be better Catholics. That's what some of the holiest saints in history continuously strived to be. And when it comes right down to it, the only reason we are here on this Earth -- not our jobs, our homes, our vacations, our hobbies, our "stuff" -- is to get to heaven, and to help others to do the same.

That is the goal of the Knights of Columbus. By striving to form a stronger faith through prayer, education and service, we are trying to get to heaven and to help others do the same. We do it as a community of brothers in support of each other and our families, all for the glory of God.

St. John Paul II once called the Knights "the strong right arm of the Church." The world needs Knights more than ever. Our parishes and communities need you. Help us help them.

Brothers, our council also must not settle for maintenance mode. We have added three new members this year and soon will add two more, but time is against us as our membership ages. And let's face it, some of our most active members are tired. They've answered the call, they've run the race. Thank God many of them refuse to quit answering that call, but we need more new members and we need many of our younger members to step up their activity.

Another thing we heard at the diocesan meeting: Throughout Michigan, only 5% of Catholic men are Knights. Our local percentage might be a little higher than that, but there are many men of all ages within our parishes who could be Knights, and who could be great Knights.

I urge -- even challenge -- every Council member over the next month to ask at least one person to join our order. We cannot maintain. We must grow, or we'll die. And Columbianism is worth way too much to our communities and our world to let it die.

Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419

January 13, 2023

Brother Knights,

Don't worry, no warning about content needed for this email. However, this is the weekend that the outdoor nativity scene on the corner of Lafayette and Benton needs to come down. We will need some brother Knights to help with this task tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 14, starting at 8 a.m. Please, anyone who can show up, it's very much appreciated.

Also, PGK Tom Russell has reminded me (thanks Tom) that in one week, Friday, Jan. 20, it is our 103rd anniversary as a council. The pizza we have on Thursday, Jan. 26, can be our celebration, but please, on Friday, take some time to say some prayers for our deceased brother Knights from the council who have gone before us, as well as pray for our current brothers who are sick or in distress and for the future of our council and the order.

And, may I also add, next weekend will be Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, so please also pray for life at all its stages, and pray for a change in the thoughts and minds of those who don't consider all life sacred, even the disabled, vulnerable and unborn. Come, Holy Spirit, help us change to a culture of life!

Thanks in advance for volunteering and praying. Vivat Jesus!

Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419