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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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It seems that sometimes crazy luck follows me. For example, I departed for Afghanistan on, of all dates, the Fourth of July, 2005. The Army, I guess, just has bad timing or no timing at all.
Jump ahead six months and it ends up that I returned from my two-weeks leave arriving back at my forward operating base on Christmas Eve. Perhaps, it was God‘s plan to ensure that I always value these very important holidays, as a reminder of the sacrifices that so many have to make and appreciation of making it home.
On that Christmas Eve, so long ago, as I walked through the dark toward my B hut, which were plywood buildings that we lived in when we were not out on patrol, I saw my friend walking through the dark shadows toward the hut. Tired from a long journey back to the front, I was nearly dragging my heavy duffel bag. My rifle was clumsily slung over my shoulder. I wanted to be anywhere in the world but there in Deh Dadi, Afghanistan.
It was then that my friend, Major Keith Brent, began to quicken his pace and walk excitedly toward me. As he was approaching through the darkness, he said “Mike McCusker! Mike McCusker! Man, it’s so great to see you! Welcome home, buddy!”
As he greeted me, he pulled me in and gave me a massive bear hug. It is one of my favorite Christmas memories. Even though I was far from home and away from my loved ones, I found the love and warmth that any of us could hope for on Christmas or any holiday.
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The late Jimmy Buffett had a beautiful Christmas song called “Merry Christmas, Alabama”. In that song, he sings of all the faces and the places that were home. Well that night, my friend and that place were home.
I wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy new year. This is my prayer that wherever you find yourself this holiday season that you will be brought into a warm embrace and you’ll know all the faces and the places that are home.
Vivat Jesus!
Michael McCusker
Supreme Master
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Please view the District Quotas as of November 30th.
Keep up the good work!
Click the image to view at full size.
| | | Message from Fourth Degree Director of Programs | | |
Father McGivney Military Chaplain Scholarship
The Knights of Columbus Father McGivney Military Chaplains scholarship program was established in 2011 to help fund the education of seminarians preparing to become Catholic chaplains in the U.S. Armed Forces.
There are around 1.8 million Catholics served by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), worldwide. The Archdiocese has barely a third of the number of chaplains needed to meet the needs of those catholic men and women. This is why AMS created the "Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program" to recruit priestly vocations for the benefit of the armed forces. The military archdiocese contracts with participating dioceses and religious orders to fund 50 percent of the cost of a seminarian's five-year education. The seminarian agrees, following ordination and three years of service at a parish, he will commit to serve as a military chaplain under the auspices of the military archdiocese for a minimum of three to five years.
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While the number of seminarians has increased because of the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, the program initially placed a huge burden on the archdiocese, which receives no financial assistance from the military or government.
Through this scholarship, the Order hopes to ensure the future development of the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, and increase the number of Catholic chaplains, to serve the Catholic men and women in uniform today. The Archdiocese of Military Services USA continues to recruit your men to serve as military chaplains at great cost; and our Order-wide fundraising projects help to support the program, which is led by Fourth Degree members, the patriotic degree of the Knights.
Please read the article “From West Point to the Priesthood” by Susan Klemond, a freelance writer for National Catholic Register. Here’s the ARTICLE.
The Supreme Master Michael McCusker would like to see a concentrated effort on this program during the winter and spring months. We need our assemblies to inform our council members their Assembly supports the Father McGivney Chaplain Scholarship program, and those councils who have Pennies for Heaven Funds may also want to participate in this program. We need our assemblies to inform our local council on the need to make sure our armed service men and women have a Catholic Priest available for them during their service.
These funds will help produce a new generation of much-needed Catholic chaplains to minister to U.S. military personnel and their families. For inquiries and donation for the Military Chaplin Program, please see below:
If you need to reach the Office of Charitable Giving regarding this donate page or donating, you can do so Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm Eastern:
Phone:1-800-694-5713
Email: info@kofccharities.org
Let us encourage our assemblies to concentrate on this program during the Winter and Spring months and continue to inform our council members that their Assembly supports the Father McGivney Chaplain Scholarship program. Those councils who have Pennies for Heaven Funds may want to use part of those funds to participate in this program. We need our assemblies to inform our local councils on the need to make sure our armed service men and women have a Catholic Priest available for them during their service.
Ron Boyce, PSD
Fourth Degree Director of Programs
| | Message From Fourth Degree Director of Training | | |
Know our updated Drill Manual and Manual of the Sword
This week, Our Supreme Master, and three of the Fourth-Degree directors are judging the worldwide Color Guard competition.
So far, the teams that submitted videos have made it difficult to decide, it is apparent that each team practiced and understands the importance of our actions when serving in our Color Corps. Thank You!
While viewing the videos, I did see some old habits, and former practices that have changed with the updates to the Drill Manual.
- Proper present sword
- Proper carry, and return sword
- Timing (some were a little quick, some a little slow on the commands)
I want to encourage each Faithful Navigator, each District Master, and every Vice Supreme Master to go back and review each page of the updated Drill Manual and make sure we are practicing the proper way with the correct actions as outlined in our Drill manual.
I will call out my District Master who corrected me at a call out when I instinctively went from present sword to carry sword the old way and not the proper way. I’ve had to mindfully practice the correct way to transition from present to carry sword and think I now finally have it in my muscle memory (thanks Ken).
Let’s all work hard to perform our responsibilities as a member of our Color Corps. to do things literally by the “Book” and not simply the way we have done it in the past.
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 the Director of Ceremonials | | |
My brother Sir Knights,
I would like to start by thanking all Vice Supreme Masters for their help in trying to make the Fourth Degree Exemplification Schedule a great tool for the use of our Supreme Master! I’d also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year!
As we continue to work on the Exemplification Schedule spreadsheet, please try to send all information on upcoming exemplifications and all results of exemplifications (new Sir Knights made) to me as soon as you know about them. If I send a spreadsheet out and your events are in red, then you owe me the results of the exemplifications. If I do not hear the results from you, then I plan to contact each of you personally after the first of the year. How you do this is up to you as leaders of your provinces. Thank you!
Also, lets work to make sure that all Color Corps members have read the new Drill Manual and are working to comply with it. This is the best way to ensure uniformity in the way that we execute color corps events!
Fraternally and Patriotically,
Mike Thumm, FVSM
Fourth Degree Director of Ceremonials
| | Message from the Director of New Assembly Development | | |
My brother Sir Knights,
Early on in our fraternal year, we had very little Fourth Degree new assembly activity. I am quite happy to see that things have now picked up. I find myself involved with always a few VSMs or DMs in forms, procedures and discussions. This is good to see.
On the last report on new assemblies, there are eight waiting for approval at the next sitting of the board of directors. Thank for your efforts on this.
Congratulations to the Magellan Province who again leads the way on new assembly development.
Let’s make this fraternal year a huge success. If you need any assistance from me, please just ask.
We are now well into Advent, a time of reflection, prayer and hope. My wife Sister Dianne and I wish you all a very Joyful and Merry Christmas.
God Bless,
Dale Hofer, PSD
Director of New Assembly Development
| | Message from the Director of Communications | | |
December 14 marked the 226th anniversary of the death of George Washington—the American Cincinnatus. Few figures have left a mark on history as profound as his. Less often recognized, however, is Washington’s role in advancing religious tolerance, particularly toward Catholics, in North America.
In November 1775, during the Siege of Boston, General Washington issued a general order addressing anti-Catholic behavior among some of his troops. Upon learning of a plan to revive an old custom, he wrote: “ As the Commander in Chief has been apprized of a design form’d for the observance of that ridiculous and childish custom of burning the Effigy of the pope–He cannot help expressing his surprise that there should be Officers and Soldiers in this army so void of common sense, as not to see the impropriety of such a step at this Juncture; at a Time when we are solliciting, and have really obtain’d, the friendship and alliance of the people of Canada, whom we ought to consider as Brethren”.
Beyond words, Washington’s actions reinforced this principle. Throughout the Revolutionary War, he permitted Catholic chaplains, like Fr. Pierre Gibault Fr. François-Louis Chartier de Lotbinière, to accompany the Continental Army, affirming the place of Catholic soldiers within its ranks.
Ironically, although one of the stated grievances of the American Revolution was the Quebec Act of 1774, which granted religious freedom to Catholics in Quebec, the British Army itself continued to bar Catholics from service. Only in 1778, facing a pressing need for manpower to suppress the rebellion Washington led, did Parliament pass the Papists Act, lifting those long-standing restrictions.
Today, that legacy of support continues. Like General Washington before them, the Knights of Columbus stand beside Catholics serving in the Armed Forces, most notably through the annual Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage and Blessed Father McGivney Military Chaplain Scholarship. This Christmas season, consider raising a toast to Washington, and encourage your assembly to honor him by sponsoring a pilgrim for this year’s pilgrimage through a donation.
Sterling C. Roatch
Director of Fourth Degree Communications
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Knights of the Kelly Province braved the cold and rain to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day. Those present paused to honour the brave men and women who gave their lives in service and for the cause of peace.
We remember their courage, their sacrifice, and the gift of freedom they secured for future generations. We remember the many Knights of Columbus in Canada who have served and continue to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, living out our mission of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity.
| | Archbishop Blanchet Province | | Knights of the Archbishop Blanchet Province and VSM Kenneth Anderson gathered in Oregon for the Installation of a new District Master, and an Exemplification of Patriotism where four men joined the Fourth Degree. | | | Fr. Michael J. McGivney Province | | | | On December 6 Knights of the Fr. Michel J. McGivney province in Seoul, South Korea conducted their annual Fourth Degree Exemplification and Gala Dinner at the chapel of the Military Ordinariate of Korea. The Assembly welcomed 59 new Sir Knights from the 13 councils that make up the Territory of Korea. The degree team, led by Sir Knight Rufino Flores (LtCol, US Army), conducted the exemplification in three languages: English, Korean and Tagalog. Territorial Deputy Kyoung-Soo Shin conducted the Knighting ceremony in front of family and friends. After the exemplification, His Excellency Bishop Titus Seo Sang Beom, Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Korea celebrated Mass for all attendees. The evening culminated with dinner and presentation of council awards. | | If you would like to see your Assembly or Province’s activities featured here, please submit them to CatholicPatriot@kofc.org! | | | | |
