Welcome to the August 2025 edition of our Council newsletter!

A few quick but important items up-front before we get into the news.

• Our next regular business meeting will be this Wednesday, August 13th, starting at 7:30 p.m. Dinner for $5 will be at 6:30, as usual. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

• Volunteers are needed this Thursday (8/14) starting at 10 a.m. to help unload and load food supplies for Putnam C.A.P. starting at the Putnam County garage located at 526 Gage Road in Brewster. Please contact Denis Hanrahan or Pat Barry if you are able to help. Please see our June 2025 newsletter for full details on this volunteer opportunity.

• Our Council Hall will be closed from August 15th through August 30th while the wood floors are refinished.

• Our Lady of the Lake/Mt Carmel Church will be closed for renovations for three weeks, from August 11th to September 5th. A 4 p.m. Mass (no music) will be celebrated at St. James the Apostle Church during this period.

A Message from our C&B Chair

The winners of the Charitable & Benevolent Program Quick Start Drawing have been announced!

And the winners (and their councils) are:

1st place - $400

Long Island: Richard Soto, 5723

Downstate: Peter Stafford, 7551

Upstate: Mark Trzonkowski, 6282

2nd place - $250

Long Island: Richard Soto, 5723

Downstate: Charles Wiggins, 5169

Upstate: Tom Nescot, 15917

3rd Place - $100

Long Island: Richard Soto, 5723

Downstate: Charles Nesto, 11590

Upstate: Roger Lavauey, 6136

The next drawing -- "The Early Bird" -- will be on September 27th. Be in it to win it!

Since our Council did not have a July meeting, we are behind our pace of 2024 book sales (167 in 2025 vs. 186 in 2024). We need to catch up!

I'm asking that ALL MEMBERS take at least two C&B Books. More is better!

C&B Books go for $15 each, two for $25, and (your best buy!) 5 or more books at only $10 each. I will have plenty of books at our next meeting on Wednesday, August 13th. 

Cash or checks are accepted. Please make checks payable to: "Council 6318 KofC ."

Checks or cash may be left with any of our bartenders, or you may send checks to me by mail at this address: Kevin Shea, 59 Blair Heights, Carmel, NY 10512. (Please do not mail cash.)

Contact me at (914) 941-2105 or by email if you have any questions.

Remember, not only could you be a big winner, but the more we sell, the more our Council earns for our own charitable donations.

As usual, thanks for all your help. 

Fraternally,

Kevin Shea

C&B Program Chair

Thanks to Our Parish Feast Volunteers!

The 2025 Feast of Saint James, held over three nights from July 17-19, was another great success thanks in no small part to the many volunteers from our Council, certainly including our Ladies Auxiliary.

After a hot start on Thursday, the weather Friday and Saturday was nothing short of perfect, and the new attractions and activities were well received at our 17th Annual St. James Feast. As Father Quarato noted in the parish bulletin, "our inability to book a ride vendor after months of effort led us to repeat last year’s approach to amusements with some modifications."

Toward that end, our members stepped up and helped with the planning and staffing of numerous, critical areas including the casino, the casino bar, the Sausage Connection booth, the Polish Food boot, the beer tent, as well as with security and accounting functions. As always, we donated all of the beer and wine that was sold in the casino bar and beer tent.

Practically everywhere you looked, you found a brother Knight or Ladies Auxiliary member volunteering in one capacity or another.

Grand Knight Rick Kreps expressed his gratitude to all of the "captains" who planned for and managed the various areas, as well as to all of the volunteers who donated their time and talents to ensure that we were fully staffed for all three nights. Many days of hard work -- planning, shopping, food preparation, booth setup, cleanup / breakdown, etc. -- went into making the event the success that it was.

Again this year, special recognition goes out to our Ladies Auxiliary! Without their many volunteers, we would not have had enough help. So thank you Ladies!!!

Volunteer Worker Thank You BBQ - Saturday, Sept. 6

As a token of appreciation for all who help our parish throughout the year and at the annual Feast of St. James, our parish is throwing a Tent Party on Saturday, September 6th, from noon to 3 p.m., in the lower field by Doherty Hall.

This is a party for adults only and spouses are invited. Food and drink will be provided.

Our Members and Ladies Auxiliary should let GK Rick Kreps know that they are coming so that he can give a list of reservations to the parish on our behalf.

San Gennaro Statue Procession - Thu. Sep. 4

Members of our Council will once again be helping with the Statue Procession at the San Gennaro Feast at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 4th, in Veterans Memorial Park in Carmel. See the flyer below and speak with GK Rick Kreps if you are interested in participating.

Comedy Dinner Theater Returns September 20th!

Join us for another night of fine food and laugh-out-loud fun as a three-headliner Comedy Night returns to our Council on Saturday, September 20th.

All the details are on the flyer below. Make sure you make your reservations and pre-pay before it's too late. These events always sell-out (for good reason!) and there are no walk-ins!

Fourth Degree News

MEETING NOTICE

An There will be NO AUGUST MEETING of Mother Cabrini Assembly. The next meeting will be Thursday, September 18th, at Carmel Council starting at 7:30 p.m.

• Aug. 15 (Fri.) - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - This day celebrates the Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul, signifying her purity and her close relationship with God. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. There will be Masses at St. James the Apostle Church at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., Noon, and 7:00 p.m.

• Sep. 26 (Fri.) - There will be an Admission Degree on Friday, September 26th, at 7:00 p.m. (Candidates should arrive by 6:00 p.m. properly attired!) All current members are encouraged to attend in support of our newest prospective brother Knights. The new degree ceremony is brief (approximately 30 minutes) and dinner will be served afterward. Please encourage your Catholic gentleman friends and family to join our Order and become a part of our incredible Council. Speak to GK Rick for more information.

• Oct. 4 (Sat.) - Oktoberfest! Authentic German cuisine, German beer, and live German music from the famous Austrian Boys Band will all be back, so save the date!

Remember, a full calendar of events can always be found on our website: carmelknights.org under the Upcoming Events tab. And don't forget to "like" our Facebook page and Instagram for up-to-the minute announcements, photos, event listings, and items of interest.