Fourth Degree Update: September 2025

Supreme Master

Michael McCusker

suprememaster@kofc.org

Supporting our Country, Community, and Church

With Respect and Honor

Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree

September 2025

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Supreme Master's Message

On September 9th, I traveled to Poland to meet with our Polish State Council, which was a wonderful opportunity to see the great things our Polish Fourth Degree are doing across the sea.

One part of my trip included a visit to Markowa, Poland, where the Blessed Ulma Family lived. If you are not familiar with the Ulmas, please click HERE.

The Ulmas were a typical Polish family in a rural community. In their town were also Jewish neighbors, and at the height of World War II, Józef and Wiktoria Ulma made the decision to hide their neighbors in their attic. They did so knowing that if caught not only the neighbors but the Ulma family, as well, would be executed.

Józef’s bible is in the museum in Markowa where it is open to the parable of the Good Samaritan. At the heading of the passage, in Józef’s handwriting, appears one word “Tak”, which is Polish for “Yes”.

It is apparent that when Józef was trying to decide what to do concerning his neighbors, he turned to scripture, read the words he had heard from youth, and affirmatively accepted that we must live the parable of the Good Samaritan beyond the pew.

He answered “Yes” to God’s call to serve, and in March 1944, his fears came true as the entire family was murdered by the Nazis.

To me, Józef is the epitome of the true patriot. The man who knows that patriotism calls us not to flag waving, proudly thumping our chest with patriotic fervor, or trying to quiet the voices of our brothers and sisters in Christ who may not agree with one ideology or another.

The true patriot is the one who lives as a son of God in Heaven. Who knows that we are called to serve even at our own peril, and that we cannot run from the lessons we have heard all our lives, simply discounting them as nice stories from the bible.

It is the true patriot who hears God’s word, accepts it in his heart, and says “Tak, tak, tak!”

Vivat Jesus!

Michael McCusker

Supreme Master

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.
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.

Submission Details:

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.
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 a prize which will be announced soon.

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.

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.

Application & Companion Information:

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.

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

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:

October 20 – “Star Assembly” Every Assembly's Goal. Led by the Fourth Degree Directors.

We will walk through the planning and implementation of the keys to every assembly planning and achieving Star Assembly.

Invited to this training are all Vice Supreme Masters, District Masters, Marshals, 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

Sharing Fourth Degree Events

Worthies,

Many of your Districts and Assemblies have wonderful events that could inspire others. These events contribute to the life of the Order as a whole, and the lives of the members and those they impact. If your Assembly or District has any event they would like to share, please send it via email to catholicpatriot@kofc.org.

Submissions should include a brief write up and hi-resolution JPG pictures. The write up can be either in a Microsoft Word document or in the email body. Pictures should be included with the email as attachments.

Not all content shared can be included, however, we try to cycle through different Districts to give a good survey of activities across the Fourth Degree.

I look forward to seeing your submissions.

Faithfully in Christ,

Sterling C. Roatch

Director of Fourth Degree Communications

24th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemoration

On Thursday, September 11th our Fourth Degree Assembly 1653 in the Most Reverend Francis C. Kelley Province sponsored a special service at St Stephen’s Church to mark the 24th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America.

The service was highlighted with the individual lighting of candles by first responders and representatives of the different agencies that took part in the Town of Stephenville’s response to the landing of passenger jets at our airport. Approximately 150 people attended the service with many first responders and veterans dressed in uniform.

May God have mercy on the souls of all those who lost their lives on that tragic day.

Bob Miller, Fourth Degree District Master lighting a candle for the Knights of Columbus

Representatives and First Responders from the organizations that answered the call on 9/11

SK Ken Wall: 75 years of service to the Order!

From Frank J. Consentino, Jr., the Fourth Degree Color Corps Commander of Assembly 2810 in Palm Coast, Florida:

One of the Color Corps members from Corpus Christi Assembly 2810, Ken Wall, age 94, has been a Knight for over 75 years.

Ken became a Knight in the class of Dec.1949 in Springfield Illinois. He has been a Fourth degree since about 2005.

In the class picture (below) he is the person on the far left. I took the other picture on Monday at a funeral for a Brother Knight. SK Ken is a very active member of my Color Corps. As two US Navy veterans, he and I had the privilege of going on an Honor Flight to Washington DC about a year ago.

SK Ken Wall, we thank you for your service!