Star of the Sea Council 7297

Latest Updates: Home 5/7/21 Family 4/16
Prayer List 4/14 Minutes 2021 (Login) 4/21
Hybrid Business Meeting 4-13 (Login) 4/14

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Meetings: 2nd Tuesday - Business @ 6:30 pm
4th Tuesday - Social @ 6:30 pm (CANCELED )
Held in the hall of St. Edmond Catholic Church

St Edmond's YouTube channel

CATHOLIC PRAYER BOOK
Latest Version 5/1/21
(Click smartphone to download)

This Catholic Prayer Book includes over 50 prayers for daily or devotional needs. It can replace or compliment your hard copy pamphlets (Pieta Prayer Book, Prayer Cards, etc.). It is free and text and images were sized to accommodate use on a smart phone. The Prayer Book is in PDF Read software and can be downloaded. Use the prayers you find appropriate. This is occasionally updated based on suggestions, research, etc.

MARYLAND CATHOLIC CONFERENCE CONGRATULATES NEW BISHOP-ELECT OF WILMINGTON

The Maryland Catholic Conference congratulates Bishop-elect William Koenig, whom Pope Francis today appointed as the new Bishop of Wilmington. The diocese includes the eastern shore of Maryland. He succeeds Bishop W. Francis Malooly.
“The Maryland Catholic Conference welcomes the appointment of Bishop-elect Koenig, who brings deep pastoral experience to Wilmington. We look forward to working with him as a member of our Board of

Governors in our advocacy in the areas of economic and social justice, Catholic education and respect for life,” said Jenny Kraska, executive director of the Conference.
Bishop-elect Koenig has worked in parish ministry, vocations, and pastoral work with seminarians and clergy in the Diocese of Rockville Centre throughout his priesthood.
Kraska said, “I want to thank Bishop Malooly for his leadership, kindness and support of the Maryland Catholic Conference. For the past 21 years he has shared his wisdom, insight and experience as a member of our Board of Governors. He will be greatly missed.”
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The Diocese of Wilmington has set up a webpage here for the transition. Bishop-elect Koenig will be ordained as a bishop and installed as Bishop of Wilmington at a Mass on July 13, 2021. The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions and 27 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. There are over 240,000 Catholics in the diocese.

MOTHER'S DAY ROSES SALE

We will be asking everyone who all the Masses on May 8th and 9th to support Birthright’s crisis pregnancy services by purchasing roses after Masses on Mother’s Day weekend, May 7th - 9th.

Roses cost:
$2/one Rose
$5/three Roses
$18/Dozen Roses
$35/Twenty five Roses

FAITH IN ACTION – FAMILY – FOOD FOR FAMILIES

We extend our thanks to all of those kind and generous people who have made the 40 Cans for Lent Food Drive a success this year, despite the effects of COVID-19. In the end, your donations totaled $2,278.68 in cash, and 5000 pounds of food. Because of your generosity, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council will add $500 to this total.

Your help will truly make a difference! In fact, we can conduct this sale only if we get physical help from among our Brothers. To properly staff the sale, 5 or 6 volunteers are needed for each Mass. It will take only 10 or 15 minutes after Mass to assist in the sales. Please CLICK HERE to let us know which Mass you will help Life and your Brother Knights. 100% of the proceeds goes to Birthright.

STAR OF THE SEA SEEKS ONE NEW MEMBER

Since July 2020, Star of the Sea Council has successfully carried out the key elements of its Faith In Action programs. Faith: Seminarian support; sacramental gifts, and a retreat to allow for spiritual reflection. Family: Consecration to the Holy Family; 40 Cans for Lent; Family of the Month; and Keep Christ in Christmas. Community: Coats for Kids; two blood drives; a Helping Hands project. Life: Novena for Life; Silver Rose; Tootsie Roll drive to benefit intellectually challenged; and Roses for Birthright. We achieved this because of your support.
We have accomplished every goal except one: we need one more new member to join our council and enjoy the fellowship we experience while doing good works. If any man, 18 years of age or older, will join our brotherhood as a new Knight in the next 60 days, Star of the Sea will receive national recognition as a Star Council.
For more information call Membership Director Mark Petrusic at (240)-478-1011.

Click here to go to our eMember signup

WHAT IS THE SYMBOLISM EMBODIED IN THE KNIGHTS’ EMBLEM?

The emblem was designed in 1883 and reflects a shield mounted upon an artistic rendition of the Cross of Christ through which all graces of redemption are provided to al mankind. The cross has arms that are narrow at the center and expand in width as it expands outward, like our Catholic faith.
The shield is reminiscent of medieval knights. Mounted on the shield are three distinct objects: a fasces, an anchor and a short sword. A fasces is an ax symbolic of the authority that must exist in a tightly bound and efficient operating organization. The anchor is a mariner’s symbol for Columbus, the patron of our Order. The short sword is a weapon that was carried by a Knight when undertaking an errand of mercy. In other words, the shield represents Catholic Knighthood engaged in merciful action. The letters “K of C” proclaim our specific Order.
In addition to the patriotic symbolism of the red, white and blue colors, there is an ecclesiastical meaning. The red reflects Christ’s blood shed on Calvary, and martyrs’ blood, shed in defense of the faith. White is the color of the Eucharist, God’s love for mankind and Charity. Blue is the color of Our Lady’s mantle in which she wrapped her Son, a symbol of Hope.

FEATURED K OF C COUNCIL WEBSITE Updated 5/5

Our Lady of the Valley Council, #3591 Tigard, Oregon

STAR OF THE SEA COUNCIL FAMILY OF THE MONTH 

FAITH IN ACITON - FAMILY OF THE MONTH for APRIL
Les and Carol Lak set an example of family values, both within and outside of their own. They met at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1976 in Massachusetts, and married in 1978. Their faith has been a constant in their relationship, as their family grew and as employment led to various relocations. During this journey, they raised four children – three girls and one boy. Given accessibility and their strong faith, the children were enrolled in Catholic schools wherever they lived.
The closeness of the Lak family to the church provided opportunities for both service and leadership, setting an example for their children. At St. Augustine Parish in Thomasville, Georgia, Les was elected president of the parish council and in 1979 was one of the founding members of the Knights of Columbus Pope John Paul I Council 7366. He and Carol were Eucharistic ministers, and founded a parish prayer group. Additionally, Les was the Saturday evening altar server, Lector and Eucharistic minister. After relocating to Holden, Massachusetts, Les taught Faith Formation, started a bible study and was active in a prayer group at St. Mary’s parish. Moving to East Greenbush NY and Holy Spirit Parish, working with the local Bishop, Les and Carol took on the challenge of recruiting students from 5 local parishes in order to save their own parish school.
In 2008, a visit to Medjugorje had a profound influence on Les’ life. At the shrine, he witnessed miracles and was given the gift of tears. For many years, Les has said the rosary during his lunchtime walks, praying for an hour or more in the early morning, and attending morning Mass when possible - a practice he continues. Les has given away over a thousand rosaries blessed by Mary from the shrine and has felt the overwhelming presence of God in his life ever since.
In 2014, Les was working for a company that employed immigrant workers. He worked closely with the Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County in teaching English to the immigrant workers. They taught English during lunch on all three shifts twice a week. Over ten employees went on to become US Citizens. Les worked diligently to help secure funding. Unknown to Les, the Literacy Volunteers nominated him, along with eight other individuals from across the country, for the Presidential Champion of Change for Strengthening the Economy through Citizenship. He received the award from President Barack Obama in October 2014 at the White House, to which he returned on two additional occasions – another recognition of his values as a father and Catholic gentleman.
Wherever Les and Carol have lived, they have always found time to participate in church and community activities. They were members of their children’s Catholic School Board (Les was President), initiated day care and nursery school programs, ran Bingo to raise money, and many other programs. Their children were altar servers and received the sacraments as part of their own faith formation. Today, two of their children, Allison and Kristen, reside in Delaware and are members of St Edmond's Parish where their children are active in the Family Life programs, continuing the example and commitment shown by Les and Carol.
Since moving to Lewes, Les has immersed himself in Star of the Sea Council 7297. He volunteers at Sunday Breakfasts, Themed Dinners, 40 cans for Lent Food Drive, our Lenten soup ministry, and the Tootsie Roll Drive. He attends Business Meetings, Monthly Socials and has become a faithful contributor of time and talent to the Knights.

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday, June 3rd will be a great day to enjoy a meal at the Iron Hill Brewery. The COVID pandemic has quarantined the normal Star of the Sea fund-raisers like our dinners. So, we are trying something new! Your Knights will get a percentage of the price of food when you order between Noon and 9 PM and tell your server that you are there to support the Knights.

CATHOLIC NEWS