Saturday, December 21, 2013

Year End Awards

For participating in more events than anybody else this year, and for his involvement with Special Olympics, our Knight of the Year is Our Worthy Warden, Michael Chau. Here are a few pictures from the potluck of him receiving his award and jacket.

For their great work making our breakfasts better and rescuing the Easter Egg Hunt, the last of which we got an award from Supreme for, and for Judy letting Jim step in to go to the State Convention last year, the Family of the Year is Jim and Judy Van Domelen.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

As Prophets have foretold: A young child's view on St. John the Bapitst



A long time ago, in Ireland, a young child was taped for a TV show retelling the story of John the Baptist. The video is long since lost, only the audio remains- but somebody has created this cute animated short. As our theme for the season at St. Clare's is "As Prophets Have Foretold" and, being Year A in the lectionary, we've been hearing a lot about John the Baptist from St. Matthew, I thought I'd post this early 1960s Irish child's view of the subject.

St. John Fisher Atrium Progject

Catching up on my paperwork, I noticed I never posted this report on the St. John Fisher Atrium Project: Way back on October 26, 2013, Ken Paulsen sent this picture and the following report: Thanks again, Phil Jarvis, Marc Gregoire and Mike Devlin for your hard work and generous charity in the St. John Fisher Atrium project this morning. We were able to wrap things up fairly quickly this morning. Both Jim VanDomelen and Polinus had their hearts in the right place, but were just a little bit too late - but they were ready to help out. We were finishing off the donuts that Fr. Richard provided fairly early this morning after sweeping up our mess. Thanks everyone!

Monday, July 1, 2013

The Stories One Hears

I was doing my duty on my last day as Charter Grand Knight, spreading the love at the Pancake Breakfast, getting some of the older ladies from the 8:30 Mass coffee refills. One of them stopped me and said "You're the one who finally brought the Knights to St. Clare's!" She proceeded to tell me how her father and brother were Grand Knights elsewhere, and how her husband had joined in Newport 50 years ago, and when they moved to St. Clare's in the 1960s, had attempted to start a council but ended up just joining St. Anthony's 3591. She asked me what my secret was- and I told her- merging the two roundtables.

A later conversation I had, which I will bring up with my fellow Trustees, is this: Supreme has now lowered the number of Knights needed to start a new council from 30 to 20. This means, with ten good new recruits this year, five from each parish, we will not only give Paul the honor of leading a Star Council for the 2nd year our council is around, but we will be in a position to start talking about a council for each parish.

I will be working in the next two weeks on transition to the new leadership. My last gavel bang- will be to turn the meeting over to the DD for installation of officers on July 15th.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Star Council our first year

On the advice of our DD, Food for Families Chairman, Roundtable Chairman, and Council Chairman; I have in the last 24 hours completed the last of the paperwork. We will have Star Council our first year. Amazing.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Address of Archbishop Emeritus Vlazny to Knights of Columbus

The following is Archbishop Emeritus Vlazny's homily from the Opening Mass of the 2013 Convention of the Oregon State Knights of Columbus. His office was kind enough to send me a copy. The only difference I can see from the homily I heard is that Bishop Liam Cary actually did make the opening Mass.
Annual Assembly of the Oregon Knights of Columbus Pendleton, Oregon May 3, 2013 In the preface of today’s Mass we pray about today’s apostle saints in these words: “You, Eternal Shepherd, do not desert your flock, but through the blessed apostles watch over and protect it always, so that it may be governed by those you have appointed shepherds to lead it in the name of your son.” This feast of Saints Philip and James comes quickly after our great Easter feast. Your bishops, Archbishop Sample and Bishop Cary, and I have been called upon in God’s providence, to serve as successors to the apostles, to share in the work of the Eternal Shepherd and to guide his flock. You, my brothers and sisters, are among our most treasured collaborators and friends. I am delighted to be with you here in Pendleton as we begin this annual assembly of our Oregon Knights of Columbus. On behalf of Archbishop Sample and Bishop Cary, neither of whom was able to be with us for this gathering, I thank you most sincerely for all you do to support us in our apostolic tasks.

It would seem that there was no need for a committee meeting to choose the readings for today’s feast. The rationale seems simple. James is mentioned in the first reading – Philip in the second. Fortunately we can count on a good and gracious God bringing all things together for our good. I find God’s message today both timely and helpful.

The words of St. Paul written so long ago to the Corinthians are particularly timely for us as we continue our great Easter feast. We continue to celebrate the paschal mystery of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection. We also remember how important it was for those first disciples, bruised and disheartened as they were, to meet the risen Jesus. You Knights have assumed some formidable tasks in support of our church’s evangelizing mission. In order to be enthusiastic, committed and effective in your service, you too must meet the risen Lord, in His word, in this sacrament of the Eucharist, and in the gift of His church. In your sometimes tedious tasks, it is good to reflect upon the fact that others will hopefully be meeting the risen Lord through you. Your patience, attention to detail and fidelity to church teaching and practice are the tools whereby the risen Savior makes himself present in our churches and families, especially now during this Year of Faith. We pray that the Lord’s Easter gift of the Holy Spirit will continue to guide you and enlighten you in your important service.

In today’s gospel St. Philip reflects some of our own impatience and dullness. Jesus has just told Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” Then Philip quickly says, “Show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Was he really listening? Would he ever get it?

Yes, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Because our encounter with him is so critical for our salvation, and because most of us keep looking for help, albeit in keeping with our own whims and fancies, we need some guidance along the way. Church law, which you understand so well and interpret with such care, is set forth so that we might truly come to know God’s way, God’s truth, and God’s life. But it is not always our way, our truth or our life.

When Catholics profess their belief each Sunday in the one God, they are not making a mathematical statement. This is a moral statement. When we acknowledge that there is indeed only one God, we necessarily limit our discussions about right and wrong. With God in the picture, some things are absolutely forbidden and other things are absolutely required.

When we affirm our belief in one God we acknowledge that there is built into the universe a series of positions about right and wrong as firm as the law of gravity. They are not subject to popular vote. We don’t vote about whether it’s all right to steal from neighbors or to kill babies. We don’t vote about the laws of adultery any more than we vote that rainfall should be light in Oregon or that pizza should be more nourishing than fresh vegetables. There are some things which are simply right and/or true.

We live in a world where too many people believe that right is anything we feel good about and wrong is about anything we feel guilty about. If morality is relative, why was Hitler wrong?

As you gather this year for this assembly, there is much newness in our church. A new bishop was ordained for Baker back on May 18th of last year, Most Rev. Liam Cary. A new archbishop was installed for the Catholics of western Oregon back on April 2nd at the Chiles Center in the University of Portland. During Lent, at the conclave in Rome the cardinals elected our new Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis. The Pope has been a very effective evangelizer during these early weeks of his pontificate. He is a clever speaker and he uses some rather vivid images in his remarks and addresses. In addressing the need for a new evangelization in our church, mindful of the fact that so many of our fellow Catholics have truly marginalized the practice of their faith, Pope Francis made this observation. He said that today’s situation is the mirror opposite of the biblical parable of the shepherd who leads his 99 sheep to find the one that is lost. The Pope said, “Today we have one in the pen and 99 we need to go looking for!”

Yes, our challenge is formidable and you are wonderful partners in our church’s evangelizing mission. And yes, our good and gracious God does show us the way. He holds us accountable for our behavior and clearly signals what is right and wrong. Yours is a ministry in the service of God’s goodness and God’s truth. Our sacrifices in the name of the things we believe and hold dear will not be wasted. No good deed ever goes unnoticed. God is attentive to us and will provide our eternal reward. That apostolic ministry that we celebrate today in the persons of Philip and James is now in our hands. In order to be effective we too must meet the Lord regularly, as did James after the resurrection. That’s why Sunday Eucharist and frequent confession are so important for us. We too, like Philip, must acknowledge that the only life worth living is found in Jesus Christ, our way, our truth and our life.

Sometimes with all our activities and services as Knights of Columbus we can start feeling like we are in management, so many details to organize and coordinate. But, in truth, we are in sales. God manages and manages quite well. Jesus sends us forth as His sales force: to proclaim the good news, to share the faith, to serve the needy, to show others the way to the Father. God bless you and may this convention be a time of grace and blessing for all of you.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Egg Hunt

St. Clare's Egg Hunt went pretty well, and was enjoyed greatly by the children. Here's a few pics that I sent to the State Program Director, in hopes of winning an award for our council at the State Convention.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Beaverton Hoopstars

This is the full program photo for Beaverton Hoopstars Special Olympics Basketball, who our council gave money to.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Prayer for the Church | #PrayerfortheChurch

In this time of transition, our Supreme Knight asks for prayer.

Prayer for the Church:


Running From Hell: Thoughts on Love and Sin | Crisis Magazine

A great philosophical discussion on where the sexual revolution in general, and Spirit of Vatican II Catholics in particular, went wrong- written by a now-conservative Catholic who lived through the era.

I AM going to be posting things like this to the council blog from time to time, when I see it as useful.

Running From Hell: Thoughts on Love and Sin | Crisis Magazine:


Sunday, February 17, 2013

New Knight, brothers advance in degrees

On Saturday, February 16, 2013, degrees were held at St. Francis in Sherwood.  Our Lecturer, Mike O'Phelan, received his Third Degree.  Aerton Pereira received his 2nd.  And our new member for our council, Dan Scott of St. John Fisher, received all three of his degrees.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

40 Cans for Lent

The Knights of Columbus John Clare Council challenges all Catholics in the West Hills/Multnomah Village area to give food to St. John Fisher chapter of St. Vincent De Paul- one can, per family, per day during Lent. Help our council out, e-mail Grand Knight Ted Seeber when you do it! For every 500 pounds of food we collect, for every $500 donated, or every 500 volunteer hours spent, our council gets money back from Supreme through the Food For Families program that we can spend on our charities. You do not have to be a Knight to help with this program- include the whole family! Other opportunities: St. Clare's St. Vincent De Paul would like drivers to help deliver food boxes. Contact Tim Crimmins for more info. Also, a group has formed to do dinners at St. Andre Bessette, the Downtown Chapel. Contact Cindy Hessler for that. Remember- report your hours, report your giving this Lent, and help our council out!

Gumbo Dinner

Thank you to all who volunteered to help set up and tear down for the Gumbo Dinner. FS Phil Jarvis, GK Ted Seeber, Lecturer Mike O'Phelan, and Chancellor Marc Gregoire helped with the setup, and GK Ted Seeber, Chancellor Marc Gregoire, John Creegan, and Trustee Ken Paulsen helped with teardown. The families of the GK and Chancellor also helped.