From State Deputy, Frank Schwartz re:COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Brother Knights and Families All,

The men of Council 5594 sent me the attached photo and the text above. As time goes on men of the Knights of Columbus show their passion time and time again as it relates to their Church, their Communities, and they continue to show their passions when it comes to opening our state and Churches. This passion sometimes comes on so fast they fail to remember that the one passion every Knight must have is that we are called to Stand in solidarity with our Pope, Bishops and Priests.

We as Knights must remember that every Pastor listens to his Bishops, every Bishop listens to his Cardinal and every Cardinal listens to our Pope. The decision must be weighed against the risks. For many Knights that risk is high.

So what can we do to help that process? That is very easy, talk to our Pastors, work with him on a plan that every church is working on. Council 5594 made some hand sanitizer stations that can be placed at any entrance in the Church. These can be very simple to make all you need is a 5 gallon pail, a ½ bag of Sack-Crete, and a 4 foot piece of 2”x6” of wood sanded and painted. Mount the dispensers on the 2”x6” and you are open for business. Maybe your council cleans the pews between masses, maybe your councils usher and help ensure social distancing, and the list can go on once you start working with your Pastor. The key is to open a dialog with your Pastor.

Do not let your passion be guided by the evil one and lash out at any of our clergy in any way.

Have pride in your communities. Remember our society has de-valued life in so many ways that sometimes we fail to understand how school shootings, and many other things even happen. We all fail to disconnect at times to calm ourselves and just pray. I know in my neighborhood we have 11 seniors and each of the other 33 families take turns buying food and reaching out to help with cutting lawns, weeding gardens and the like. We treat all families with the attitude we are in this together. Many neighbors had children who had birthdays or graduations that we would participate in with a car parade, music and noise, just to let them know they are special. Direct your passion in any way you can share Gods Love in your community. Be that face of Christ to all you come in contact with. At this time in our society reach out to the policemen throughout each of our communities at this time more then ever they need your smile and your friendship.

Greatness will then be how your council will be measured. Let your good works be shown to others, that we are Knightly by being Men of Honor, Men of Faith, Men of Forgiveness.

Today more than ever as the evil one walks unchecked throughout this world let your goodness, your prayers, your actions show him he will never win, that we will never bow down to him, and that we serve only God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Remember be the calmness wherever you go, always help those in need, keep your passion as it relates to you faith, and always be a Knight.

God watch over all of you and your families, Shelly and I pray for all of you daily and that might be as simple as “watch over all the Knights and their families Lord”