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Supreme Master
Michael McCusker
suprememaster@kofc.org
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Supporting our Country, Community, and Church
With Respect and Honor
Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree
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Please join us in recognizing the Top Districts in the Order on achieving 100% of their intake quotas.
Job well Done!
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| | | Supreme Convention Honor Guard | | The Supreme Master, Vice Supreme Masters, District Masters, and Sir Knights from across the world gathered at the 143rd Supreme Convention in Washington D.C. to provide an honor guard for Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. | | Message from the Director of New Assembly Development | | |
My brother Sir Knights,
We are well into our new fraternal year and hope your plans and goals for this year are put together and being executed. Our goal is still one new assembly per district.
District Masters should be looking at their territories to find opportunities for new assemblies. Work with your Faithful Navigators to search these opportunities out. Things to look for are:
- Assemblies that are very large in membership and tough to manage. Maybe splitting it up into two would solve that problem.
- Assemblies that cover a very large geographical area where travel for programs and meetings would be difficult.
- Areas where there may be no assemblies. Put a notice out to the Councils in the area to see if it makes sense to create an assembly in their territory.
Whatever the reason in creating a new assembly, however, don’t hurt what you already have in place by robbing the officers for the new assembly and leaving no leadership in the “mother” assembly to function.
Two Reminders:
- You need 30 members to create an assembly.
- We are looking for quality, not so much quantity.
I look forward to working with you in this fraternal year. If you need any assistance from me, please just ask.
God Bless,
Dale Hofer, PSD
Director of New Assembly Development
| | Message From Fourth Degree Director of Training | | |
Upcoming Training and How to Participate
Here is a look into September for our first quarterly training of the new fraternal year:
September 22 – Drill Manual update, led by FVSM, and Fourth Degree Ceremonials Director, Mike Thumm.
Sir Knight Thumm will do a general overview of the manual, the importance of regular practice in all aspects of the manual and highlight the major changes that have been made to our Fourth Degree Drill Manual and Manual of the Sword.
Invited to this training are all Vice Supreme Masters, District Masters, Marshals, and all Assembly officers, including Color Corps Commanders.
Here’s how you can participate:
The Supreme office will send a registration email to all listed Vice Supreme Masters, District Masters, and Assembly officers (That’s why it’s important to complete the 186 Officers Report form properly).
When you get this email, register for the training session. About one week before the training date, you will receive a second email from the Supreme office with the link to the meeting.
If you can’t make the night of the training, still register. All those who register will be able to view the training On Demand on the Supreme site. If you don’t register, you will not have that option.
We have some exciting things coming your way for the 2025-2026 Fraternal Year in the Fourth
Degree.
If you have any other questions on training your members, please email me at
MJPKNIGHT9282@aol.com.
Fraternally,
Michael J. Porter, PSD,FM,FVSM
Fourth Degree Director of Training
| | Message from Fourth Degree Director of Programs | | |
Color Guard Competition
It is time to prepare your Color Guards for the second competition this fraternal year! We are pleased to announce the First International Fourth Degree Color Guard Competition.
This competition will take place during the worldwide Catholic Patriot Day on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. The objective is to highlight the Fourth Degree Color Guard's purpose of encouraging active Catholic citizenship and fostering the spirit of patriotism in members and the community at large.
Participation Requirements:
- District Masters are to either hold a competition among their Assemblies' Color Guards or select their District's best Assembly Color Guard Team.
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Each District must submit one video, between three to five minutes in length, showcasing its Color Guard Team's skills.
Judging Criteria:
The judges will evaluate each video based on the Color Guard's performance, specifically assessing:
- Proper wearing of the Fourth-Degree uniform
- Proper carrying and posting of the National Colors, Papal Flag, and State or Province Flag
- Timing
- Movements
- Commands, both verbal and silent
- Proper sword control
All judging will be conducted strictly according to the instructions outlined in the Supreme Drill Manual.
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Submission Details:
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The videos must be submitted to the Office of the Supreme Master at suprememaster@kofc.org.
- If the video file exceeds size limits, please upload the video to YouTube or other similar type of social media platforms and email the link to the address above.
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The submission deadline is November 28, 2025.
We will select the top five Color Guards in the Order and recognize their District Masters. The winning District Masters will receive [TBA - To Be Announced].
I also want to remind all Vice Supreme Masters, District Masters, Faithful Navigators, and Color Corps Commanders that Michael Porter and Michael Thumm will be conducting a training session on the updated Drill Manual on September 22, 2025.
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It is hard to believe that we are two months into the new fraternal year.
September, October, and November are great months to focus on the Warriors to Lourdes Program. It is a smaller pilgrimage within the International Military Pilgrimage, which began in 1946 to promote reconciliation and peace after World War II. Ever since, for one weekend in May, Lourdes, France, has become a place of prayer and healing for active-duty military and veterans representing more than forty nations. The Knights of Columbus, in partnership with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, provides the opportunity and means for our non-wounded, wounded, ill, and injured U.S. warriors to participate in the Warriors to Lourdes pilgrimage for a period of prayer and spiritual guidance. All expenses for approved non-wounded, wounded, ill, or injured military personnel, as well as their designated caregiver, are covered by the Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc.
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Fundraising Ideas & Opportunities:
- This is a chance to reach out to the State Deputy in your jurisdiction to see if he could set up Warriors to Lourdes designated fund in his Charity account, to which assemblies and councils can send their funds directly. Because these Charity accounts are 501(c)(3) organizations, individuals or companies who wish to make a large donation can obtain tax credit.
- This is an incredible opportunity for assemblies and councils to hold a joint breakfast or dinner, with the proceeds dedicated to this program.
- Another idea is to hold a special collection during a specific weekend in September, October, and November. With the approval of the parish priest, the Fourth Degree could wear their regalia at Mass to collect donations.
- An idea from Idaho Past District Master David Ellingsen was discussed at a past Archbishop Blanchet Provincial Meeting. The Bishop Kelly Assembly 185 in Coeur d’Alene donates American Flags to anyone who has a U.S. flag that is worn and tattered. This would be a terrific opportunity to get a donation from those who received a new flag, informing them that the proceeds will be directed toward the Warriors to Lourdes Program. I would recommend handing out the trifold brochure (5059 WTL Brochure), which includes the QR code for donations, with the flag.
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Application & Companion Information:
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If you know a Warrior who wishes to apply to join or would like to volunteer as a companion for the pilgrimage, please visit the Warriors to Lourdes website www.warriorstolourdes.com and fill out the 2026 Warrior to Lourdes Application by January 15, 2026.
- Companions are invited to attend and may be offered needs-based financial assistance on a case-by-case basis with a validated Chaplain’s certification of need. The AMS-K of C package rate for companions and volunteers traveling from the United States to Lourdes is $3,000.00 for double occupancy and $3,300.00 for a single occupancy room. All applications and payments are due by January 15, 2026. The applications are reviewed by the K of C pilgrimage leadership team and medical director for selection. All applicants are notified of the status of their application beginning February 15, 2026.
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If you have any questions, please email lourdes@kofc.org.
If your local Assembly would like more information on fundraising for Warriors to Lourdes please reach out to me and I can send you the fundraising guidebook.
Ron Boyce, PSD
Fourth Degree Director of Programs
| | | Knights Honor Guard Serves at Jubilee Celebration in Champion | | |
On Saturday, July 27, members of the Eastern District of Wisconsin Fourth Degree Honor Guard had the distinct privilege of serving during the Diocese of Green Bay’s Jubilee pilgrimage at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion—America’s only Church-approved Marian apparition site.
As pilgrims gathered from across the diocese for a special Jubilee Mass celebrated by Bishop David Ricken, our Honor Guard stood in solemn witness to the sacredness of the occasion. With reverence and unity, we participated in the procession and liturgy, adding dignity and visible support to the celebration.
Following Mass, Bishop Ricken led a 1.7-mile Jubilee Walk through the peaceful countryside, ending back at the Shrine at the grave of Adele Brise—the young Belgian woman to whom Our Blessed Mother appeared in 1859. The walk served as a moving symbol of pilgrimage, renewal, and hope during this Holy Year.
This Jubilee, themed *“Pilgrims of Hope,”* invites all Catholics to deepen their faith through prayer, reconciliation, and acts of mercy. The Shrine remains an official pilgrimage site for the Diocese of Green Bay throughout the Jubilee Year.
Serving at this holy place was both an honor and a blessing. We are grateful to have represented the Knights of Columbus and encourage all members and families to make a personal pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year of Hope.
| | Bishop Ciceron Sta Maria Tumbocon Assembly 3727 | | Knights of the Bishop Ceciron Sta Maria Tumbocon Assembly 3727 in Luzon North - Ferdinand Magellan province held an “Umbrellas for Kids” program, distributing umbrellas to 184 recipients at a local elementary school. | | | | |
