Illinois State Council
Knights of Columbus
2020 Summer Organizational Meeting
Due to the continuing restrictions for gathering in the State of Illinois. The Illinois State Council will be offering regional meetings in place of the one large meeting. We ask each District Deputy to pick a location & a date convenient for them. All District Deputies are expected to make one of these meetings. We encourage members of the State leadership, State Family & Council officers.
All Sessions run 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday July 11, 2020 (Springfield Diocese)
Effingham Council #665
1501 W. Fayette Ave.
Effingham, IL 62401
Saturday July 18, 2020 (Belleville Diocese)
Marion Council #6210
1601 W. White St.
Marion, IL 62959-0184
Saturday July 25, 2020 (Rockford Diocese)
LOCATION CHANGE
Radisson Hotel
200 South Bell School Road
Rockford, IL 61108
Saturday August 1, 2020 (Rockford Diocese)
LOCATION CHANGE
Hampton Inn & Suites
2423 Bushwood Dr.
Aurora, IL 60506
Saturday August 8, 2020 (Joliet Diocese)
St. Viateur Council #745
187 S. Indiana Ave.
2nd Floor, Cameo Room
Kankakee, IL 60901-3901
Saturday August 15, 2020 (Chicago Archdiocese)
Holy Family Council #11981
Holy Family Catholic Community Church
2515 W. Palatine Road
Inverness, IL 60067
Saturday August 22, 2020 (Peoria Diocese)
Location to be Determined
Links to video Mass and other Services on the Faith page.
Let's Get Ready!
See the flyer linked here for upcoming Council training session.
State Convention Highlights posted on the Convention Page.
Never Easier to Obtain a Star!
Need a little help with your A-I goal this year? Your General Agent or Field Agent can help.
By hosting a Fraternal Benefit Night, members will learn the advantages of the Order's many financial programs. Contact your Agent today!
We have created a fillable PDF flyer that can be used to help plan and promote your event. Click here to download.
Pope Francis Advances Cause for Fr. Michael McGivney
On Wednesday, May 27, Pope Francis advanced the the Cause for Canonization of 12 holy men and women including Fr. Michael McGivney.
"The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints recognized miracles attributed to the intercession of Venerable Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus; and to Venerable Pauline-Marie Jaricot, foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary Association. The way is now cleared for the two to be beatified."
"On May 26, 2020, the Holy Father Francis received in audience His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience, the Supreme Pontiff authorized the same Congregation to promulgate the Decrees regarding:
"- the miracle, attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Michael McGivney, Diocesan Priest, Founder of the Order of the Knights of Columbus; born on August 12, 1852 in Waterbury (United States of America) and died in Thomaston (United States of America) on August 14, 1890;
"Venerable Michael McGivney was the founder of the Knights of Columbus, now the world’s largest Catholic fraternal organization. After studies in Canada and the United States, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop James Gibbons in Baltimore. He founded the Knights of Columbus as a mutual aid society, geared especially to working men and their families. He was known for his tireless work among his parishioners. He died at the early age of 38 from pneumonia."
You can read the full article from Vatican News by clicking here.
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”
The prayer below is yours to share. God Bless each of you and remember pray often.
Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
I look to you for the comfort of a mother's love,
I pray to you on behalf of those who are suffering
and for my own healing needs.
Mary, your love strengthens me
and brings me peace.
Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
embrace all who are emotionally and physically ill that they may return to
good health under your tender care. And please intercede for my very
special needs. (mention your needs here).
Mary, your love strengthens me and brings me peace.
** say your intention here***
Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us. Amen.
Finish Strong - Start Fast
There is $7000 up for grabs in incentive money this month!
Help Illinois finsh in First Place for the Month of July.
At the moment we are in 10th place with a score of 15.38.
Sign up new members and help Illinois TAKE THE MONEY!
Faith in Action Replaces Surge With Service as Supreme Council Progamming Model
A new programming model is being launched by the Supreme Council for the 2018-19 Fraternal Year. The new model reduces the number of programming areas and redistributes the most successful programs into new areasa of concentration. You can learn more by clicking here to download a flyer of frequently asked questions
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 (2019-2021).pdfUsing Webex for Illinois KofC Meetings
To Join via Computer or Tablet:
After you have registered, download and install the "Cisco Webex Meetings" App from https://webex.com/downloads.html or if you are using an iPad or Android tablet from their respective App Store.
After installing the app, test the installation by clicking https://webex.com/test-meeting.html this will launch the application and connect you to a test meeting to check your audio and video settings prior to the meeting.
At event time, click the green "Join Now" button in the email you received after registering. The application will launch (be patient) and you will be connected to the event.
To Join via Telephone (audio only):
If you do not have a computer with internet connection available, you can join the event via telephone. The email that you received after registering contains a toll-free dial in number. At event time, dial that number.
You will be prompted for a Meeting ID. Enter that with the keypad on your phone. Press # after you have entered the number.
You may be prompted for a User ID. If you received one, enter that number and press #, otherwise just press #.
You will join the meeting with audio only.
If the event allows, you can "raise your hand" by pressing *9. The Host will unmute your phone and call on you to speak. You can lower your hand by pressing *9 again. (The Awards Ceremony probably will not have this feature available)