Great Start!
Thanks to your efforts and those of your teams, we are off to the best membership start in at least the last 40 years. Orderwide intake is over 11,000…that has happened only once since 1983. Membership is up in the United States…it’s up in Canada…it’s up in the Philippines…(AND IT'S UP IN ILLINOIS!) it’s up pretty much everywhere. We’ve had a great summer and – if we keep our eye on the ball – we’ll have a great year.
Thank you for driving such a great start…keep up the good work!
It's Time for the ID Drive
Here are links to resources to help you run a successful Drive for the Intellectual Disabilities Fund. Monies collected through this drive are distributed back to our community organizations through the local councils. In addition the State Council sponsors the Illinois Special Olympics and provides loans to organizations providing group homes.
Councils can plan their street corner "Tootsie Roll" Drive, an online fund campaign, or another creative fundraiser to support this cause.
More information can be found on the ID page by clicking here
District Deputy Report Due Sept 15
The Annual Reports on Council Status submitted by district deputies are due September 15th. District Deputies please submit a report for every council in your district regardless of status. The easy online report takes only a few minutes per council to complete. This information is critical in helping us direct resources to better serve our fraternal leaders.
Into the Breach in Illinois
Illinois is rolling out a new program to introduce men and their families to the Knights of Columbus. Read about it here and contact your Diocesan Representative to find out more.
Quest for Circle of Honor 2024
Circle of Honor Goal: 2100
Total Intake YTD: 235
Percent of COH Goal: 11.21%
Abe Able Enters Another Race
Fresh off his first place finish in June, Able Abe is in the running again as part of Team "Faith Formation" to compete September 1 thru December 31. In September all teams will compete against one another for seeding (the team with the highest aggregate intake will be the No. 1 seed, the team with the second highest aggregate intake will be the No. 2 seed, etc. The head-to-head, bracket-based competition begins in October. And if your team is the one standing on January 1, you could earn up to 4% in intake goal reductions! So get ready…and get your team ready!
Membership Incentives
FAST START COUNCIL INCENTIVE
The top (10) councils (based on percentage of intake goal) in each jurisdiction that achieve a minimum of 100% of their intake goal by September 30, 2023 will receive a choice of either a personalized Feather flag, tablecloth or roll up retractable banner from KnightsGear. The award can be used at membership drives and other council events.
FIRST QUARTER RECRUITER INCENTIVE
Every individual recruiter who recruits 5 new members by September 30, 2023 will receive a limited-edition recruiters’ lapel pin to show his pride in growing the membership of the Order
Fall 2023 Fraternal Benefits Nights Announced
September 19 and October 24 @ 7pm Central Time.
What's News
National Eucharistic Revival
At the 140th Supreme Convention, Bishop Cozzens called on all delegates to be leaders in the National Eucharistic Revival. To stay up to date on all that is happening, locally and nationally, sign up for the Heart of the Revival newsletter here.
The USCCB has also created a Leaders Playbook for Year 1. This playbook offers the “Why” and “How” of the Revival, along with some practical suggestions about “What” might happen. Please refer to this document as your state council continues to support this initiative. We will be sharing this playbook with state program and faith directors as well.
ASAP - Aid and Support After Pregnancy
The Order is more than halfway to reaching its $5 million goal for ASAP this fraternal year! Encourage councils to find resources and submit their applications by visiting kofc.org/asap.
Click here for the Top 15 ASAP rankings.
New Resource Links for Member Recruiting
Employment Opportunities
With over 50 departments across three locations, the Knights of Columbus offers a diverse set of opportunities. Click on the links below to find one that matches your skills and goals:
Knightcast - the video podcast for Knights of Columbus
KnightCast is a groundbreaking video series from the Knights of Columbus with the aim of engaging today's Catholic men in a compelling conversation about the Catholic Faith and their own, personal growth as they lead their families in service to the Church. Featuring host Jonathan Reyes as well as guests and subject matter experts in each episode, KnightCast seeks to cover topics ranging from sports and marriage to evangelization and the Saints.
Watch now at kofc.org/KnightCast.
We have an App!
Download the new ILKofC app with content and schedules for the summer meeting. Works with Andriod and iPhones. Download by clicking the link for your phone.
Building the Domestic Church
Through the Orderwide Building the Domestic Church initiative, Knights and their families have greater opportunities to participate in a variety of activities that promote the New Evangelization, strengthen our parishes and grow the Order. Knights of Columbus has always been an organization dedicated to the well-being and support of Catholic family life. The family is the first and primary place where we experience and are formed in our Catholic faith. By building upon our current programs and activities, the Knights of Columbus continues to promote the family as a ”domestic church” where husbands and wives, parent and children, grow in their knowledge and practice of the Catholic Faith. In order to perform its important mission of evangelization, each family needs to find support in the sacramental life of the parish.
Find the State program activities under Church link or click here.
More information can also be found on the Supreme Council Website by clicking here.
AN ILLINOIS KNIGHT’S 365 PRAYER
My Council is composed of members like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be a Council dedicated to Faith, Family, and Fraternity,
if I am.
It will stand in solidarity with the Church and the Clergy,
if I do.
Its meetings will be filled,
if I attend and encourage others as well.
It will do great Programming,
if I am involved.
It will make Charitable gifts to many causes,
if I am a generous contributor.
It will bring other Catholic men into the Order,
if I invite them to join.
It will be a Council of Charity and Fraternity, of Unity and Patriotism, if I live those principles.
It will be a Council united through the Eucharist,
if I, who make it what it is, am truly committed to “Faith In Action”.
Therefore, through the intercession of
Blessed Michael J. McGivney
and with the help of Mary, Queen of the Knights,
I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things
that I want my Council to be.
AMEN