Knights of Columbus

Council 5776

Westerville, Ohio

Grand Knights Message – December 2012

Dear Brother Knights, Family Members, and Honored Clergy,

The Season of Advent is upon us once again, and is a time for us and our families to begin in earnest the preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s Birthday.

We participate in this liturgical preparation as a way of being keeping a lively faith, keeping the focus on Christmas as the birth of our Savior, keeping the more wordly practices in check. Advent is a time of preparation, anticipation in our vigil for the next few weeks. It is also an opportunity for us and our families to deepen our faith by renewing time-honored Advent traditions. By doing so, this will enable us, and our families, to truly celebrate Christmas in a deeper, more spiritual, sense.

One of these traditions is the Advent wreath. This is a great way to keep our own family’s countdown to Christmas, at home, every Sunday, following our parish. Light the candle, recite the reflection, and prayer before the evening’s grace before meals. We can deepen the sense of waiting and anticipation by fasting, alms giving, and charitable acts towards others, especially those in our family. Some families keep an empty crib for the Christ child, and set aside straw, or other suitable bedding. With each kind act toward another person during this season, some straw or bedding is placed in the crib. By the end of this time of preparation, it is hoped that there is ample straw for the baby Jesus’s bedding.

A great resource for Advent prayers can be found here: EWTN Advent Devotionals. I am hoping that, as Brother Knights, and spiritual heads of our household, that we take the time for some spiritual renewal during this Advent season.

Remember that there are twelve days of Christmas, from Christmas Day, until Epiphany, or the Feast of the Three Kings. By the time the twelfth day arrives, most of the secular world has forgotten Christmas, but we as Christians are still celebrating. Our Christmas tree is probably the last tree to be taken down in our neighborhood each year.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my Brother Knights for all that they do for this council. We had our first Sub-Sale for the fraternal year. There were 44 dozen subs made and three dozen of those donated to a charitable organization. The Sub-Sale went very well as we sold out before the 12:15 Sunday service. Thanks to PGK Carl Haaser for his work in coordinating all of this. Our First Degree Team participated in a few first degree exemplifications for our fellow knights, including one at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in honor of Bishop Campbell.

Looking ahead to the upcoming year, I would like to get the word out there to my fellow Knights, regarding the Annual March for Life, happening on Friday, January 25, 2013. Buses for Washington DC will leave Columbus on Thursday, January 24. Members of our council are planning to attend. I hope you will consider participating in this event as well, especially if you have never made this trip before. You will be amazed to see how many young people attend this event. Take this opportunity to stand up and be counted in defense of life. Stay tuned for more details in the next few weeks.

Oremus Pro Inviciem,
Sebastian Mauricio