Supreme Master

Michael McCusker

 suprememaster@kofc.org

Supporting our Country, Community, and Church

 With Respect and Honor

Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree

September 2024

Supreme Master's Message

Finding the time this month to report to you, my brother Sir Knights, is equivalent to swimming up to the surface to catch a breath. Simply put, it has been an exceptionally busy month! To begin, the 142nd Supreme Convention was an exceptional success. Not only did we have the highest participation of Sir Knights in recent memory, we also launched our program for providing Canadian manufactured uniforms for our brothers in the north. Initial reports indicate great excitement and enthusiasm for the new business relationship with Moores Clothing of Canada, which ended a long struggle to provide affordable uniforms without incurring high duties and shipping costs! I am very proud of all who worked many long hours to make this a reality.

Following the convention, I was honored to travel with our Worthy Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly to the Philippines for his inaugural visit to the Pearl of the Pacific. Everywhere we went, we received a warm welcome from our brother knights. It was amazing to visit one of the strongest Catholic nations in the world, where we are proud to have more than 500,000 Knights! Every year, the Philippines leads the way in growth and new assembly development for the Fourth Degree. To them, I say Salamat! On our return, Theresa and I also enjoyed a brief but wonderful visit to South Korea where we discovered tremendous opportunities for Fourth Degree growth. 

Now, our focus turns to the 125th Anniversary of the Knights of Columbus. We are finishing up the details and plan to publish the registration site in the next two weeks. All members are welcomed to join us on Saturday, February 22, 2025 in New York City for this historic event at America’s home parish, St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

In closing, please keep Former Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard in your thoughts and prayers. He is battling serious health issues and is in need of a kidney transplant. 

Vivat Jesus! 

Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, His Excellence Archbishop Charles Brown, visits with Theresa and Michael McCusker on August 24, 2024, at Girls-town in Cevite, Philippines. The school is operated by the Sisters of Mary.

Sir Knights from the Visayas and Mindanao Jurisdictions of the Magellan Province prepare to welcome the Supreme Knight and Supreme Master at the closing banquet in Cebu City on August 27, 2024.

Supreme Master Michael McCusker addresses more than 1,100 Knights of Columbus at the Banquet to Welcome Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly to the Philippines on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at the Manila Hotel.

The Fourth Degree participation was the largest in recent memory! So many Sir Knights showed up for the Opening Mass on Tuesday, August 6th, that it was necessary to find additional space for the overflow of volunteers.

The Supreme Master has received multiple compliments on how well the honor guard performed throughout the convention. 

As Director of Communications, I took the opportunity to observe and take pictures. So much of this newsletter will be a reflection of the convention. Many thanks to those of you that participated! For those that did not, you missed out!



Fraternally,

Matthew Maly, PSD,FVSM

Director of Communications

Opening Mass

We had 72 Sir Knights in the Honor Guard with an additional 26 assisting with communion.  

Canadian Sir Knights gather with the Supreme Master after Mass

Opening Session 

Memorial Mass 

Current Vice Supreme Masters

District Masters Present at Convention 

Marshals Present at Convention 

Commanders Present at Convention 

You Never Know Who You Will Meet at a Supreme Convention

Meet my new friend. A proud member of the Fourth Degree! Father Tom Weise is proud to say he is a member of the first assembly in the Order. Father Weise is from Alabama and will tell you he enjoys every convention he attends. His member number has been removed for security reasons, but rest assured that it did not contain many digits! He ended our conversation by commenting on how great the Fourth Degree looked for the Opening Mass.

Matt Maly, Director of Communications 

Message from Fourth Degree Director of Ceremonials

Over 70 Sir Knights turned out for practice for the Supreme Convention Masses and the Flag Pageant at the States Dinner on Monday, August 5, 2024, and the practice went very well.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, over 70 Sir Knights attended the Supreme Convention Opening Mass, and all who turned out did an outstanding job! For the States Dinner presentation of the country flags, once again, all did an outstanding job!

For Wednesday’s Mass we had over 40 Sir Knights turn out, and over 30 on Thursday for the Memorial Mass. Again, an outstanding job was done by all Sir Knights.

On behalf of the Worthy Supreme Master, I want to thank all who turned out for the Masses, for the Eucharistic Escorts, for duty as Adoration Chapel Guards, and for the States Dinner flag presentation! You were serious and dedicated at all practices and at the actual events, and performed well for the Order, Our Country, and Our Church! Well done!

Fraternally and Patriotically,

Micheal Thumm, FVSM

Director of Ceremonials 

We had a great turn out for the first ever training sessions (parts 1 and 2) for "New" District Masters. Thank you all for your participation. 

Quarterly District Master training will continue on October 21, 2024 at 8:00 PM EST. Our topic in October will be preparation for the 125th Anniversary of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus. 

We will have a very special roll out of the new exemplification in New York City on February 22, 2025. At this quarterly training, we will provide you with information on how you and your assemblies can register new members to attend, along with an agenda of all the events for this special weekend. Our Supreme Master is finalizing the details now and is looking forward to sharing them with you at this meeting.

Call or email me with any training tips you would like to have me cover in these articles.

Fraternally,

Michael J. Porter

PSD,FM,FVSM

4th Degree Director of Training 

October 21, 2024 Quarterly Training

“Planning for our 125th Celebration”

As we look at our 125th year of the Fourth Degree we need to plan how to make this a special event across the Order. Join us in preparation for our anniversary. We will be discussing what goals, incentives and events will be structured around this special year.

To Be A Patriot Award:

Monsignor Herman P. Fedewa

Assembly 2050 Howell, Michigan

Father Hennepin Province 

Edward Ponder - VSM



Rescuing One to Heal Another 

Many veterans suffer from strong feelings of separation, isolation, loss of hope and lack of support. Too often many of these men and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) have been driven to suicide. Members of Assembly 2050 decided to do something and come to the aid of veterans and firefighters at risk through supporting the Rescuing One to Heal Another Program. The program begins with the assembly rescuing dogs destined to be euthanized. These dogs undergo several months of therapy dog training through Blue Star Service Dogs and are then matched with an at-risk veteran. The entire process – which is supported by volunteer labor and financial support from the assembly, which also works raising awareness of the program – takes about a year. The Knights raised $12,712.85 for the program in the past year. The funds were raised in a variety of ways including a car show, spaghetti and wild game dinners. Blue Star successfully pairs approximately 16 service dogs per year with a deserving veteran or firefighter.

To Be A Patriot Award:

Nuestra Senora de la Escalera

Assembly 3579

Nasugba, Batangas, Luzon North

Ferdinand Megellan Province 

Anthony Nazario - VSM

Three Stars and a Sun:

251 Odes to Freedom 

The Philippines flag is an emblem of that country’s freedom. The most symbolic parts of it are the flag’s three stars and sun. The three stars represent the country’s major islands –Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The sun’s eight rays represent the eight provinces that rebelled against the Spanish occupation. Assembly 3579’s Three Stars and a Sun – 251 Odes to Freedom Program aimed to display the Philippines flag at the homes of the assembly’s 251 members in preparation for the celebration of the country’s national flag days May 28 through June 12, 2024. The goal of the project was to visibly express patriotism and the appreciation for the sacrifices Filipinos have made to protect their country’s freedom. Following the display of flags, all the assembly members and their families gathered and recited the country’s pledge of allegiance to the flag. The assembly obtained the flags for the program with funds from the donations of members. The flags were installed at the homes of assembly members from April 9-17, the same period as the Bataan Death March during World War II.

To Be A Patriot Award:

St. Dominic Assembly 3678

Wichita, Kansas

Father Padilla Province

Guy Steier - VSM

“Doc” Exemplification

On Veterans Day of 2023, 95 Knights of Columbus – including seven priests – became Sir Knights when they participated in the Fourth Degree exemplification held at the “Doc” Hanger and Museum in Wichita, Kansas. Seventeen assemblies, mostly form south-central Kansas, were represented at the event including the four Wichita-area assemblies (St. Dominic 3678; Blessed Stanley Rother 3336; Bishop Mark K. Carroll 2138; and Columbia 287 who co-hosted the ceremony). The event was specifically dedicated to Father Emil Kapaun as its honoree and his nephew, Ray Kapaun, was the guest speaker. The degree was followed by a patriotic rosary and Mass. Among the dignitaries at the event was Supreme Master Michael McCusker who spoke of his experience as a U.S. soldier deployed to Afghanistan. The “Doc” Hanger and Museum is home to one of the last B29 Superfortress aircraft still capable of flying.

Congratulations VSM Anthony Nazario 

Ferdinand Magellan Province Achieves 100% of Goal 

The Most Reverend Francis C. Kelley Province

Many Fourth Degree members and Brother Knights from Dalton Council 1448 attended Father Emmanuel's 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Mass at St. Joseph's in Riverhead, Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador on Friday, Aug. 9. 2024.

A large crowd turned out to offer congratulations and blessings on this special occasion.

Sir Knights from three different Assemblies in Windsor and Michigan gathered to lead the Canada Day Parade in Windsor. A total of 23 Sir Knights were in uniform. 

The Sir Knights from Michigan included a former Vice Supreme Master, a current Master, a former Master, a Marshal and two Sir Knights.