Breese Knights Newsletter

CHARITY UNITY FRATERNITY PATRIOTISM

Knight Line

Knights of Columbus

Breese Council 2869

Breese, IL

November 2004

This month, the vocation of a Catholic Marriage, in general, will be highlighted. This vocation not only combines two individuals, a woman and a man, as one, but also makes God as their central bond. The love of the couple

changes throughout their life together. Children, income levels, health aspects, attitudes, employment decisions, and social tastes are just a few of the changes encountered by a couple. A spouse can be passive or assertive, outgoing or introverted, conservative or liberal, outspoken or quiet. One spouse may supplement or complement the attitudes and actions of the other. So how does a Catholic couple manage to remain married and keep the vows of marriage with so many differences and changes affecting their union? Passive guidance is everywhere. The media is constantly defining a good or bad marriage. Methods of raising children often vary between couples. There is no specific checklist available that all Catholic couples can use to mold their union. We must look to God for assistance through prayer. We must take our vocation seriously and strive to open our hearts to an ever changing complexion of love. No one said it would be easy. We can all remember from our learning in our youth that the only way to earn things for ourselves through hard work. We valued things more if they were not attained easily. We learned through our toils. The Vocation of marriage develops with many such endeavors and blossoms with God’s help. We must keep our minds and senses open to God’s guidance through our lives during every waking moment. We must see God in our spouse as we change together. To all married couples: Happy Anniversary, today and tomorrow!

Welcome to Eric Kues and Craig Kuhl who received their 1st Degree on October 14. It is great to have you aboard, and the entire council looks forward to working with you in the years to come.

Congratulations to Shane Bowen, Mike Korte, and Ahren Langhauser on becoming 4^th Degree members on October 23, 2004 at Decatur. These 3 Breese Council members, along with Ed Kehrer and Tim Sphilmann from Albers Council, became members of the Bishop Althoff Assembly. Your Grand Knight was especially proud to be in attendance to witness his son Ahren and son-in-law Shane become Sir Knights, not to mention the pride in seeing former Breese Squires Ahren, Mike, Tim, and Ed joining the 4^th Degree.

Thanks to all who contributed to the NFL Sweepstakes tickets to benefit Newman Centers. The Council sold nearly 80 tickets for the sweepstakes sponsored by O’Fallon K of C. Our percentage check will be earmarked for Newman as soon as it is received.

The Breese Council hosted a presentation by Gregory R. Beabout, Ph. D. Associate Professor at St. Louis University, at the Hall on October 24 at 6 PM. The presentation was very thought provoking. Thanks to all who attended, and a big thank you to Pro-Life Chair Rich Koerkenmeier did a lot of leg work promoting this program.

You should have received your raffle tickets in last month’s newsletter. If you haven’t sold any tickets yet, today is the best time to start. The raffle book sells for $15.00 or $1.00 per ticket, with prizes of over $20,000 in cash. Please return your book in the envelope that was provided, or drop off at the Hall by December 31, 2004. Contact Mike Nettemeier at 526-4997 for additional books or questions. Additional books are also available at the Hall.

The upstairs bar area is currently being updated. Thanks to all who are sharing their talents to benefit all council members with this work.

All Knights and their families are encouraged to attend a Memorial Mass for our deceased Brothers from the past year. The Mass will be celebrated by our Chaplain, Father Chuck Tuttle, at 9:00 AM at St Augustine Church on November 7^th. Family members of our departed members have been asked to participate in the memorial service at the Mass. Sir Knights, in regalia, are encouraged to participate as well.

Beckemeyer will host the parade this year. Breese Council, along with other area councils will again participate in the parade. Check your newspaper for time and route.

Even though it is Veteran’s Day, we will meet on Nov. 11 @ 8:00 PM. Please try to attend and take an active roll in planning your council’s activities! Our new safe will be available for inspection.

Mark you calendars NOW to attend, work your shift, provide a pie, or all three! A work list is enclosed. Fruit pies (cream or custard pies are not permitted by the Health Department) should be delivered, if at all possible, between 9:30 and 11 AM on the 21^st. Ask your family, friends, and neighbors to attend and remind them that the proceeds will be given to the Parish School of Religion (PSR) at all six parishes in our jurisdiction. Enjoy a great meal and help finance educational materials for our young Catholic students.

Breese Council, along with other area councils, will deliver prepared turkeys to the Newman Center to be enjoyed by the students that will be spending the holiday on campus. There is a sign-up list in the lounge at the hall for all those who would like to donate a turkey for this program. Mike Nettemeier, local

chairman, will even buy the turkeys for you and send a bill to make it easy for you. Give Mike a call @ 526-4997 if you have any questions, to donate a turkey, or for directions if you have a bird to donate.

A Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament to benefit Newman Centers (the name of the Catholic Church presence on college campuses) for Saturday, November 27. Doors open @ 6:00 PM and play starts @ 7:00 PM. The prizes will be $500.00 in cash and Prizes for 1'st Place, $100.00 cash for 2^nd place and $30.00 in cash for 3^rd Place. The cost to play is $25.00 in advance, by 11-19-04, or $30.00, after 11-19-04, or at the door. You can register by sending your check and contact information to: Texas Hold ‘Em, P.O. Box 5, Breese, IL 62230. Don’t hesitate to call Chairman Shane Bowen @ 521-2690 if you have any questions or if you want to help. Shane needs dealers for that evening but our license (CG #1676) requires that all workers be members. Join the fun and help a good cause!

November 28 - Major degree in Trenton What a great time for all of our 1^st degree members to obtain their 2^nd and 3^rd degree initiations, while new candidates can receive all 3 in one day!

Rich Koerkenmeier works hard as Pro Life Chairman of Breese Council. Rich has taken his job very seriously and has strived to publicize and promote Pro-Life. He has been instrumental in our hosting of presentations on Project Rachel, The Moral Responsibility of Voters, and with participation in the recent Pro-Life chain. Rich, who became a Knight last year, is a member of St Rose Parish, works as a full time mechanic, and lives in rural St Rose.

Ray and Linda Brosch. Ray serves as the Warden of the Council, served as an effective captain on the MR/LD Drive, co-chaired the recent Harvestfest Food Stand and belongs to a Bingo Crew. Ray is also responsible for room preparations for all meetings and initiations. In his spare time, Ray enjoys fishing and travel, having retired from Scott Air Force base a number of years ago. Linda continues to be employed as a secretary at Mater Dei in the guidance department. Their family consists of 2 sons, 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren. Ray and Linda have lived in Breese for about 10 years and are members of St Dominic Parish.

The Breese Squires participated in the Squire’s State Bowling Tournament in Springfield on September 17th. The Breese team placed 2^nd overall! Breese Members Josh Mac Donald and Jacob Dieters were 1'st and 2^nd place bowlers respectively. Great job Squires! Our Squires will be having their own Corporate Communion at St Dominic Church on November 6^th @ 5:30 with their Father Prior, Reverend Pat Peter celebrating. The Squires are planning a trip to Morton on November 26 and 27 for the Squire’s State Retreat. The Breese Squires are also slated to help stock the Germantown Food Pantry after the food drive for the 8^th year in a row! Keep up the good work guys, and a special thanks to Chief Counselor Brad Halstead and the other Knights that help our official youth group.

Remember our departed Brothers: Edward Tebbe (10-15-04) at the age of 94, Walter “Corky” Schulte (10-23-04) at the age of 62 and Fredric “Doc” Reitz (10-23-04) at the age of 71, along with their families, in your prayers. May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace.

The local funeral directors continue to print the Knights of Columbus emblem on the death announcements for Brother Knights. When you see the emblem of the order on the announcements there will be a Rosary recited for the departed, with the permission of the family, at 7:00 PM at the funeral home on the evening prior to the funeral. Attendance at these rosaries has been good, but there is always room for more Knights to attend.

The only people you should ever want to get “even” with are those who have helped you!

CALENDAR

November

6 - Squire’s Corp Communion

7 - Memorial Mass - 9:00 AM, St Augustine

11 - Veteran’s Day Parade - Beckemeyer

11 - Regular Meeting - 8:00 PM

23 - Turkeys to SIUC Newman Center

25 - Happy Thanksgiving

26&27 - Squire’s Retreat in Morton

27 - Texas Hold-em Tournament

December

9 - Family Mass - 7:15 PM

Regular Meeting, Lady’s and Children’s Programs - 8:00 PM

- Judging of “Keep Christ in Christmas” Posters

- Christmas Caroling