Fourth Degree Update: October 2025

Supreme Master

Michael McCusker

suprememaster@kofc.org

Supporting our Country, Community, and Church

With Respect and Honor

Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree

October 2025

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Supreme Master's Message

It’s a blistering hot morning at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It’s so long ago that it’s a time before marriage and children, and I’m just a new lieutenant. Our guns (155mm self-propelled howitzers) were blasting away for the better part of the morning when suddenly we heard an odd thump from the gunline.

Over the radio, we got a panic call to come to gun 1, where a 100 pound shell armed with a point detonating fuse just went halfway down the barrel before coming to a stop instead of flying to its target some five miles down range, leaving us confounded as to how we’re going to get that bullet out of the tube.

A few minutes later, while seeking a solution to our dilemma, I asked a fellow officer. “How did this happen?” He looked at me and said, “That’s the wrong question, lieutenant! The right question is: what are we going to do about it?”

This month, I am deeply proud to recognize the 170 Star Assemblies for 2024–2025. Each of these assemblies has demonstrated remarkable dedication, achieving growth and delivering outstanding programs. Congratulations to all who reached this distinction!

At the same time, these 170 assemblies represent only 5% of the total assemblies in the Order. There is tremendous opportunity for growth ahead. It’s also noteworthy that some provinces had no Star Assemblies this year. I am confident that each province can have multiple Star Assemblies this fraternal year.

Much like in the past, we now face an important choice: we can dwell on why this happened, or—more constructively—we can focus on what we’re going to do about it. Identifying a challenge is easy; rising to meet it with solutions and renewed commitment is where true leadership shines.

As we near the halfway point of the fraternal year, it’s time to start asking, “How are we going to turn around the low number of star assemblies? How will we realize measurable gains in membership? What programs are necessary to confirm the continuing relevance of the Fourth Degree as we now head into our 126th year?

It begins with the commitment to make every assembly a star assembly. That must be the goal for this fraternal year. As the old maxim goes “whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Think and act with the courageous conviction that you can and then get that bullet out of the barrel and on target.

Vivat Jesus!

Michael McCusker

Supreme Master

125 For 125 Incentive Program Congratulations

Please join me in congratulating the District Masters for successfully completing the 125 for 125 incentive program. This program ran from February 23rd to August 31st and was created to celebrate our 125th Anniversary. Each Fourth Degree District was challenged to recruit either 125 new members in a single exemplification or to achieve 125% of their quota in one exemplification. (Click on the image to view at full size.)

Congratulations!

Membership Musings

Our Fraternal year is well into the 2nd quarter of the year: Do you know where your membership numbers stand?

We all have our membership goal at 6%. How many Exemplifications do you have planned or completed to obtain this goal? I hope for all reading you have your recruiting plan in place and are working your plan to perfection.

District Masters should be connecting with Faithful Navigators to have an Exemplification date scheduled and also be reporting this to your Vice Supreme Master.

Faithful Navigator should be working with your supporting Councils to recruit and promote the Exemplification date and banquet.

Worthy Sir Brother Knights, you are the key! You need to be the one to personally ask a fellow Brother to join the Fourth degree. You will be the one that can make a difference to your Assembly and to the Fourth Degree.

To wrap this up, I am pleased to share all the Provincial leaders through the end of September:

Cardinal McGuigan Province @ 21.97% of goal.
Bienville Province @ 19.64% of goal.
Fr. Edward Sorin C.S.C. Province @ 18.58% of goal.

Congratulations, let’s keep going and increasing our goal attained.

Vivat Jesus.

Bret Ladenburger, Wyoming PSD

Fourth Degree Membership Director

Message From Fourth Degree Director of Training

Upcoming Training and How to Participate

January 21 – “Programs that activate & motivate your assembly members” – led by the Fourth Degree Directors.

We will give examples of meaningful programs that get members enthused to participate in. An active assembly is a growing assembly, so this touches Programs, new membership, and retention with the assembly leaders

Invited to this training are all Vice Supreme Masters, District Masters, Marshal’s, and All Assembly officers.

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 the Director of New Assembly Development

My brother Sir Knights,

Happy Autumn Worthy District Masters. I am directing this message to you. We finished off the last fraternal year on an incredible roll in new assembly development. This fraternal year has been much quieter so far.

In my travels and conversations, I hear repeatedly that assemblies are struggling in some areas. What are those areas? They are areas that share various struggles. Maybe their membership is too big or maybe too small to function effectively. Examine your districts, talk to your Faithful Managers, find out where the problems are.

If there are two many members or the geographic area is too big, let’s do something about it. Break things up, but don’t hurt what you either. It is a fine balance.

Next, we all know that because of the growing third-degree membership, more assemblies are a definite reality. Again, look for opportunities on where assemblies can be created. Pull out your map. Look at your territory and circle where all the councils and current assemblies are physically located. Where can you insert another assembly. You got this. You have a goal of one new assembly this year, and you can do it.

Let’s make this fraternal year a huge success. If you need any assistance from me, please just ask.

God Bless,

Dale Hofer, PSD

Director of New Assembly Development

Communications

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV welcomed the Supreme Officers and Board of Directors at the Vatican on October 6, 2025. Supreme Master Michael McCusker and his wife, Theresa, were among those honored to meet the Holy Father, who expressed his sincere appreciation for all that the Knights of Columbus do in service to the Church, especially its charitable activities.

Featured Assemblies

Archbishop Blanchet Province

On Saturday October 11th, during Columbus Day Weekend, the Archbishop Blanchet Province in the Northwest, convened for their 2025 Provincial Meeting at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City, Oregon, the Seat of the Diocese of Baker and also a Jubilee Pilgrimage Site. Sir Knights from Oregon, Idaho, and Washington were all present. Vice Supreme Master Kenneth J. Anderson was installed and received the provincial sword from Supreme Director of Fourth Degree Programs Ron Boyce. It was a meaningful ceremony and informative meeting for all who attended.

Most Reverend Francis C. Kelley Province

Sponsored by members of the Most Reverend Francis C. Kelley Province, the Gifts from Home Program consists of providing gift packages to Newfoundland soldiers serving overseas during the Christmas period 2025. Working in close cooperation with the Military Family Resource Center (MFRC) satellite office in Corner Brook, the Assembly members purchased a wide variety of snacks and treats, word/number games, socks, and other souvenirs. They also asked the local Elementary School to provide handwritten cards and letters thanking the troops to go along with the packages. All the items were picked up to be shipped to the troops in time for Christmas.