June 30, 2023
Brother Knights,
Vivat Jesus! Today is my last day as our Grand Knight, so I thought it appropriate that I send one last email, and it has one topic: thanks.
Thank you all for accepting me as Grand Knight, for your countless instances of help and support, and for all we have done together. It has been together that we have earned Star Council for the first time in more than 20 years. Together, we served aebleskivers to thousands. Together, we fed Fish Fry crowds larger than ever in our history. Together, we fed the hungry through the food pantry and Thanksgiving baskets. Together, we kept Christ in Christmas with our Advent wreath-making event. Together, we made Christmas a little merrier for families with our Christmas Angels program. Together, we prayed the rosary, we honored Blessed Michael McGivney, we prayed for peace. Together, we supported the unborn and mothers in unexpected pregnancies, as well as young mothers struggling with their new role. Together. we have begun supporting a seminarian.
We have done so much. We have so much more to do. I look forward to all we will continue to do under new Grand Knight Kevin Norton. I will be there to support him every step of the way. I ask you all to do the same. Let's all be the Catholic men we know we can be, growing in our faith and growing in our service. If you help with one council activity during the year, consider helping with two. If you join in on two, consider three or four. The more help we provide, the more we can do for others. And that's why we're here and that's what we're supposed to do: serve God by serving his people; grow in our faith by growing together as brother Knights.
Thank you all. Let's go forth and make Star Council two years in a row. It's well within our reach. Let's take our success and ask others to join us so we can do even more.
God bless you all. Vivat Jesus!!!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
June 6, 2023
Brother Knights,
Offer it up.
My mother used to say that to me, my brothers and my sister when we were young. It is good Christian advice.
Think about it. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, offer his very self up for us. He was tortured for us, scourged at the pillar. He was ridiculed for us, mocked and forced to wear a crown of thorns before a jeering crowd. He was condemned for us, forced to carry his own cross on the way to his execution. He died for us, nailed to the wood and left to die on public display. All of it for us. And the night before, he offered us even more, his very body and blood, appearing in the form of bread and wine, to eat and drink, heavenly food to be offered up on the altar continually to this very day. Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, for us.
Can we not, then, do a little something for Him, our Lord and Savior? Can we not carry an awkward but lightweight canopy over the Blessed Sacrament on a short procession around the block at St. Charles on Sunday after Mass? Can we offer it up? Can we do it and pray for our Brother Knights physically unable to do it? I still need five volunteers. Please reply to this email.
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
June 4, 2023
Brother Knights,
We now have entered the final month of our fraternal year. We have important events yet to complete before the end of the month.
Thursday, June 8, is our regular meeting, with rosary at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m. It is the earliest we can possibly have a meeting in any month, since we meet on the second Thursday. Our second meeting of the month, then, will be on June 22. I will be in Ohio that week helping take care of my grandchildren while their parents are away on a trip, so this Thursday will be my last meeting as your grand knight. It has truly been an honor and a privilege serving you in this office, and I look forward to then serving you as District Deputy. For now, please do me the honor of attending this meeting on Thursday.
To show my thanks for all of you and for the work we have accomplished in the past two years, I will be bringing pizza and pop to serve you Thursday. Don't worry, Worthy Financial Secretary, it will be my treat, not the council's burden. In addition, for those of you who ordered new shirts, they arrived yesterday, and I will be distributing those. Nine of us (including me) have not paid yet, so please get your money in before you get your shirt.
We have other things to talk about as well, including the Eucharistic Procession at St. Charles on Sunday, June 11. It will be held after the 11 a.m. Mass. I need five Knights to volunteer — four to carry the canopy over the Blessed Sacrament and one to carry our Knights of Columbus banner. I'm sorry to say I wrenched my back last weekend, so my ability to carry anything is not guaranteed. Please respond to this email if you would like to volunteer. By Tuesday, I will start calling people individually to ask them to help if I don't get the five people we need.
We also have to discuss our end-of-year picnic. Because I'll be out of town, and then in training on the last weekend of the month, I would like to hold the picnic in early July, if that's acceptable to the Council. Since we made Star Council, I'd also like us to do a little something special this year. Buy beer? Buy burgers instead of just hot dogs? I'm open to any and all suggestions.
As I said, it has been an honor to be your — our — grand knight. I know our incoming grand knight, Kevin Norton, will lead us into great things next year. Let's work under his guidance to make Star Council two years in a row!
Hope to see you all Thursday.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
May 16, 2023
Brother Knights,
Thank you so much to all who volunteered to work at our Mother's Day Breakfast. I was very impressed and happy with the number of Knights who showed up, ready to go.Thanks especially to our event chairman, Ron Woycehoski, and kitchen manager, Stewart Smith, for running this event like a well-oiled machine. We also welcomed our recently transferred Brother, John Kirsch, who was making pancakes like a pro by the end of the morning. And let me tell you, I heard many, many compliments on the food and the decor. We did good, men, and we can be proud of that. (Special thanks to Ron's wife, Krysta, for the table designs. They were beautiful.)
The biggest disappointment was the number of people who attended, but we could come up with several things working against us: that it was a holiday, that it was early and before Mass, that people are out of practice in coming to Knights' breakfasts, and several others. We are faced with the reality that we used to hold breakfasts after a 9 a.m. Mass, and now we have to deal with an 11 a.m. Mass. Perhaps, going forward, we will hold brunches instead of breakfasts. But the enthusiasm to put these events on for our parishioners has spilled over into brainstorming and planning for the next one, and that is wonderful to see.
We ended up serving about 45 people, and the free-will offering raised exactly $300.00, which will go to Alpha Family Services. I wish we had more to give them, but they are so very grateful for all we do.
Meanwhile, I want to tell you that the Council shirts have been ordered, so look for an announcement on their arrival in the coming few weeks. If you have not yet paid for yours, please do so soon so we can get that account settled.
Last Thursday, we elected our new officers for the next fraternal year. Thanks to all who will take on an officer's role. I don't have the complete slate in front of me, so I don't want to leave anyone out. I will get that list out to you all as soon as I can.
And one last thing: On Sunday, my daughter took me to a Whitecaps baseball game for my birthday (which was Monday). Who did I see sitting just a few seats over? Our Past Grand Knight Mike Willadsen. He has moved back to the area for a new job and said he would like to attend a meeting. I invited him to the first meeting in June. Perhaps he will transfer back into our council. We can use all the active Knights that we can get.
Have a great week, everyone. Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
May 10, 2023
Brother Knights,
Here we are again, in desperate need of volunteers, this time for our Mother's Day Breakfast. I am told we are at least six men short to run this event smoothly.
Please volunteer. Respond to this email to let me know you can help.
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
May 8, 2023
Brother Knights,
First, another reminder to place your order for a new Council shirt by Thursday so we can send in our order on Friday. Here is the order form link:
Shirt Order
Second: Big meeting on Thursday. We will hold our election of officers for the 2023-24 fraternal year. Please show up and cast your vote. We have many other things to discuss as well. Rosary at 6:30 p.m., business meeting at 7 p.m.
Third: Mother's Day Breakfast is fast approaching. Our Council has a long and successful history of putting on breakfasts for our parish. This is our first one since before the pandemic. Let's volunteer and make it our best. Here's a link to the volunteer sheet. You'll notice it's pretty empty. Please add your name to it:
Help Mother's Day Breakfast sign-up
I am a little disheartened that the St. Mary's men's club decided to have a breakfast as well. I had to attend a parish-wide calendar planning meeting in July to schedule ours. They did not. This is all the more a reason for us to put on a great breakfast.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
May 3, 2023
Brothers,
Another sign-up sheet, this time for the Mothers Day Breakfast. Please sign up so we have a good crew to serve the ladies of our parishes and their families.
Click on this link and add your name.
Help Mother's Day Breakfast sign-up
Thanks in advance,
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
May 3, 2023
Brother Knights,
So far, as of this evening, we have 11 new Council shirts ordered. The minimum number for bulk orders is 12, so we're almost there. If you plan to order, please do so sooner rather than later. That will help us get everything in order and more importantly, help us eliminate making any mistakes when we order. Once again, here is the link for the order form:
Shirt Order
The particulars again: The shirts will be red, breathable and moisture-wicking, and they come in sizes S to 3X. I have negotiated a 2.5-by-2.5-inch order logo (a little larger than what they normally do), which will be on the left chest, and three lines of embroidery on the left sleeve, so as to not look too gaudy on the front of the shirt:
St. Charles
Council 2084
Greenville, MI
They normally only allow two lines, so that was a nice concession they made when I expressed my frustration about their customer service. They have assured me we can get our bulk order, in hand, by June 1 if we place the order by Friday, May 12.
Deadline to order will be Thursday, May 11. Please pay promptly by then, check or cash. Payment can be made to me, Kevin Norton, Ralph Van Ocker or left at the parish office. If there are any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks, and I look forward to placing this order.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
April 30, 2023
Brother Knights,
This afternoon, I completed and submitted our Form SP-7, the report on our year's service programs. While the fraternal year is not yet over, I wanted to submit this form so we would be guaranteed our recognition as a Star Council. The form must include 16 programs, four each in the categories of Faith, Family, Community and Life. I can tell you I had 28 programs from which to choose, and we have several yet planned before the year ends on June 30. That, my brothers, is the sign of a truly active Council. We are doing great work here, but that is what we are supposed to do.
If you, as an individual, feel you weren't a part of this, know that you definitely were. While we wish every single member could share some of his time working on these programs and events, we know that is not always possible. But when you pay your dues or pray for your brother Knights and the Council, you are indeed contributing. Thank you to all.
Our next event will be our Mother's Day Breakfast in two weeks. It would be great to have TOO MANY volunteers willing to serve the women of our parishes and their families this meal. Deputy Grand Knight Kevin Norton will be developing a sign-up form for volunteers, similar to the sign-up form for Council shirt orders. Look for it soon.
Speaking of shirt orders, there already is a nice group of orders that have come in. Thank you. Remember, deadline is May 11, and we need payment at the time we place the order on May 12. The way Knights Gear operates, they only take credit cards on orders, so somebody (me) will have to use his personal card to place this order, with the Council then reimbursing the cost. I will send out the shirt order email again from time to time until the deadline to remind people. Pay cash or make checks payable to the Council, and drop them off with me, Ralph Van Ocker, Kevin Norton or the parish office.
I will end this email with a note from our state director of evangelization and faith formation:
Gentlemen:
Tomorrow, we begin the month of May. The month of May is traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Consider adding the following to your spiritual practices this month:
Crown a statue of Mary in your house.
Pray the Rosary, or at least one decade, every day of the month.
The Challenge for the month of May:
"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." Gospel of John 14:18
Jesus keeps his promise to us. He does not leave us orphans. He appeared to the disciples several times after he rose from the dead. He gave us the Eucharist, his real presence, to nourish us until the end of time. He said he would return at the Second Coming. And there's another way he did not leave us orphans: He gave us his own mother to be ours. Let us turn to the Blessed Mother often with our needs and prayers of intercession.
Hail, Holy Queen-Salve Regina
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. to Thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve, To Thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, o most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
April 18, 2023
Brother Knights,
As of our meeting last Thursday, we are officially going to hold a Mother's Day breakfast on Mother's Day, May 14, from 8 to 10 a.m. Moms will eat free, and the proceeds from all other breakfasts will go to Alpha Family Services, our local pregnancy resource center that helps women in difficult situations and pregnancies.
Ron Woycehoski has volunteered to chair this event, and Stewart Smith has volunteered to be the kitchen manager. We will need cooks, servers, "busboys" and cleanup crew. You can volunteer in reply to this email, or you may be contacted as we seek the help we'll need to do this right for the women of the parish.
Right now, however, I'm putting together an "ad" for the parish bulletin. What I need from you is advice: what will we serve? And what should we charge? Please respond soon with your comments on those two issues so I can get this submitted and in this weekend's bulletin.
Thanks in advance, and Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
April 12, 2023
Brother Knights,
Brother Knights,
Please attend tomorrow's meeting, Thursday, April 13, with rosary at 6:30 p.m. and business at 7 p.m. We have many things to discuss and act upon. Here are just a few I can think of right now:
> Election of officers.
> Mother's Day.
> RSVP.
> MI Drive wrap-up.
> Right to Life Dinner wrap-up.
Plus I have a special proposal I would like to make, to be revealed tomorrow.
Please attend for the big reveal. You might be underwhelmed, but maybe not.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
April 9, 2023
Brother Knights,
This is our big day. This is the day God promised, and this is the day our Lord, Jesus Christ delivered. Sin and death no longer reign, for our conquering king has subdued them both. He is alive! This unfathomable gift of love is for us, totally undeserving but so loved by God that He would save us in such an emphatic way. Suffering, death, burial, but also Resurrection! Newness of life! Everlasting joy to those who believe! And we as Knights make the active choice to believe, to have faith, to build our faith, and to spread that faith in loving service of others.
As I did in this weekend's bulletin, let me again quote St. John Paul II, who is far more eloquent than me:
“We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. ‘We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!’”
Happy Easter! Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
March 28, 2023
Brother Knights,
Once again, I am thankful for all you do — all we do — in volunteering for our various programs. Our Right to Life Dinner this evening can be considered a big success. We served 124 people and still had a little food left over. The ladies who worked in the kitchen under Stewart's management did a great job with a delicious meal. We had Knights as servers, table busers and cleanup crew. It was great to see.
One of the issues with asking for a free will offering is never knowing how free people will be with those offerings. Supplies cost more than $500 this year, and even though that is our donation, we do like to write a nice check to Right to Life from the people's offerings. I think it's safe to say the Spirit was moving in people's hearts this year, as the basket had donations of $1,527.00 in it. God is great! All the time!
Now, it's on to the Tootsie Roll Drive this Friday and Saturday. Please, sign up for a shift if you haven't already done so. There are plenty of slots available. Let's go and raise money for our local people with intellectual disabilities. I think we all know someone personally who could benefit from this fundraising. What a great way to honor them by helping in this drive.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
March 28, 2023
Brother Knights,
If at all possible, please volunteer for today's Right to Life Spaghetti Dinner, which our council sponsors. We could use help setting up, serving and cleaning up. The dinner itself is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., so serving would be then, and cleanup would immediately follow. I'm not sure when set-up will be done, but showing up around 3 might work, as I'm sure the kitchen workers will be there then.
Meanwhile, please take 10 minutes out of your day today and watch this video about a Eucharistic miracle that recently occurred in Connecticut. It is affirmation that God is at work in His Church even today.
https://youtu.be/c_CKy65YYFk
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
March 19, 2023
Brother Knights,
Pie-making has been completed and pie distribution should be nearly complete. I will let you know the results as soon as I learn them, but I do want to thank the group from our council who braved Saturday morning's weather and went to Pewamo to help make pies. We had more than a dozen people representing our Council, and I am very thankful for that. Thanks to all who helped with this sale, making pies, taking orders, and helping distribute.
Next up is our regular meeting on Thursday, March 23, with rosary at 6:30 p.m. and the business portion of the meeting at 7 p.m. Please attend if you can.
Next weekend, we will need Knights to distribute prayer cards after each Mass. I will bring it up at the meeting, but please, anyone who wants to volunteer, please respond to this email.
Then, there's the Right to Life Spaghetti Dinner on Tuesday, March 28. If you can help in the kitchen or with cleanup, please let me know. We need to support this very worthy cause.
Finally, and certainly not least, please remember to sign up for a shift during the Tootsie Roll Drive on March 31 and April 1. Contact me, Kevin Norton or John Brown, or go directly to stcharleskofc.org to sign up there. Again, thank you in advance. We need as much help as possible to raise this money for people with intellectual disabilities.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
March 16, 2023
Brother Knights,
Attached to this email are a couple of tests of your charity, unity and fraternity. Please fill in the appropriate boxes to the best of your ability.
OK, no kidding here. Image one is the empty pie boxes this morning down in Pewamo. We need you to volunteer to help make those pies Saturday morning. Volunteers will meet in the lower level parking lot at St. Charles at 6:30 a.m. to carpool down to Pewamo. The work tends to wrap up around noon or very early in the afternoon, giving us plenty of time to get the pies back to Belding and Greenville for distribution. Volunteers should contact Mike Smith with questions or for more information, 616-835-3892.
Image two is the Tootsie Roll signup sheet on stcharleskofc.org. Notice all the empty boxes. Yes, that's right. Only five names are on it right now. All of this money raised goes to people with intellectual disabilities. Please sign up for a shift as soon as possible so we know where we stand.
(Images not available anymore)
Thank you in advance.
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
Brother Knights,
March 14, 2023
Brother Knights,
Just another reminder that we need helpers to join in the pie making on Saturday, March 18, in Pewamo. You might never have this much fun working anywhere else. Volunteers will meet in the lower level parking lot at St. Charles at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning to carpool down to Pewamo. The work tends to wrap up around noon or very early in the afternoon, giving us plenty of time to get the pies back to Belding and Greenville for distribution. Volunteers should contact Mike Smith with questions or for more information, 616-835-3892.
Thanks to all in advance who volunteer and take part. I'll see you there!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
March 9, 2023
Brother Knights,
Over the course of our 103 years as a Council, the month of March has become one of the busiest of our fraternal year. This month is no exception, with many of our biggest events and fundraisers occurring right now and in the days to come. Let's go chronologically:
Friday, March 10: This will be our last fish fry of the year before they move to Belding and are run by the St. Joseph crew. Ours have had record attendance so far and excellent food. The crew has done an outstanding job, but they always can use a few more helpers. Why not join them for this grand finale? Prep begins around 2 p.m. tomorrow, serving takes place 5 to 7 p.m., and then there's cleanup. Contact Ralph Van Ocker if you need any more information, 616-240-0273.
Saturday, March 18: Our annual pie sale culminates with the pie-making event in Pewamo. Again, we need volunteers. This is a busy but fun event, and all are welcome. Volunteers will meet in the lower level parking lot at St. Charles at 6:30 a.m. that morning to carpool down to Pewamo. Volunteers should contact Mike Smith for more information, 616-835-3892.
Tuesday, March 28: We annually sponsor the Flat River Right to Life Spaghetti Dinner, and it will be held this day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Stewart Smith will be kitchen manager, but we need a cook and others to help with serving and cleanup. Last year's cook is unable to participate this year, but raising funds this year is more important than ever. If you or someone you can could do the cooking, we'll provide the recipe and the supplies. Contact me soon at 616-225-9419. Right to Life does help with serving and cleanup, but it would be nice for more Knights to take part, since we sort of left them on their own last year.
Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1: The Tootsie Roll Drive returns on the weekend of Palm Sunday. We need dozens of people to take part to raise these funds for Special Olympics and others with intellectual disabilities. We need dozens of people (bring family, kids, friends!) to man two-hour shifts at various locations. You can sign up at stcharleskofc.org or contact John Brown at 616-255-6183.
As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved, to help each other, and to help those in need. I urge you to sign up for whatever you can as soon as you can. In a spirit of charity, unity and fraternity, let's go out and do God's work -- together as brothers.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
March 5, 2023
Brother Knights,
It is with a great amount of thanksgiving that I let you know our Council has reached its membership quota for the 2022-23 fraternal year. At our exemplification this afternoon, we brought in two new members, Thomas Key and Benjamin Mason, and we're not done, as Membership Director Kevin Norton is pursuing several other prospects.
In addition, way back in October, we met our obligation to hold two Fraternal Benefit Nights, meeting that quota. We also have far more than the 16 service programs necessary to reach Star Council this year, which I believe is the first time to reach such an honor in 20 years. I apologize if that's not quite accurate.
Brothers, it is all thanks to you who have worked hard to serve our communities, to recruit new members, and to look into the financial needs of the future. You have done this work, and I couldn't be more proud of all of you. Thank you so much for all of your efforts.
Having said all that, our work is not done. We have many service projects coming up, as well as fund-raisers, with plenty of need for volunteers to take part. I will share that in my next email, but for now, let's just bask in the glow of our achievement — briefly — then move on to the work that needs to be done.
Oh, and at the suggestion of Juan Salazar, there's a good chance there will be pizza at Thursday night's meeting. Let's celebrate our success.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
February 21, 2023
Brother Knights,
Ash Wednesday tomorrow starts Lent, as you of course already know. And Lent is a busy time for our Council. Fish fries begin this Friday. Please volunteer to help if you are at all able. Ralph Van Ocker is coordinating this again for the Council, with Stewart Smith as kitchen manager. We should all be very thankful for their willingness to step up and serve in this capacity, and I know personally I cannot thank them enough, along with their team, as well.
Father Jim has agreed to take part in another Exemplification on Sunday, March 5, after the 11 a.m. Mass. I ask our worthy Membership Director to contact our candidate, Benjamin Mason, to let him know about the scheduling. Please, members of the Exemplification team, let me know if you are unable to attend that day so we can work to get substitutes to fill the roles.
We have a meeting scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23, and we also are scheduled for terrible winter weather tomorrow and Thursday with snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain and wind. It's a perfect recipe for treacherous roads and power outages. Out of an abundance of caution, I am going to cancel the meeting and ask everyone, in its place, to pray a rosary, either alone or with family, for Brother Knights, for our pope and clergy, and for the souls in purgatory who most need our prayers. May God keep us all safe and the power on as much as possible.
If anyone has any issues that they think we need to address before our next meeting on March 9, please let me know. We can always schedule a special meeting to take care of any pressing needs, including approving any new candidates for membership (hint, hint. Keep asking!).
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
February 10, 2023
Brother Knights,
Two simple but incredible things happened at our Council meeting last night that I want to share with you. Even if you were at the meeting, you might have missed the significance of them.
Event No. 1: We were praying the rosary, as we do before every meeting, and one of our brothers who was leading a particular decade paused at one point, then very humbly but also very bravely admitted that the words weren't coming to him for the next prayer.
Event No. 2: Immediately, without judgment and without even a second of hesitation, the 15 other Knights in the room quickly joined with their Brother and prayed that prayer as beautifully and sincerely as I have ever heard.
That, gentlemen, is the fraternity we strive for as Knights. But it also is the amazing bond of unity and pure charity that we profess and strive to live out. It brings tears to my eyes at this very moment. Humility. Bravery. Charity. Unity. Fraternity. You are true Knights.
It is an honor to be your Grand Knight, but it is an even greater honor to call you Brothers.
Vivat Jesus!
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
February 7, 2023
Brother Knights,
Please plan to come to Thursday's meeting at St. Charles, with rosary at 6:30 p.m. and business at 7 p.m. We have to discuss final plans for fish fries, another exemplification, and the election of delegates for the state convention.
I hope as many as possible can attend.
--
Mike Karpus
Grand Knight
St. Charles Council 2084
(616) 225-9419
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!
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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!
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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