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Worthy Brothers, As my time winds down as your Grand Knight, I look back at the success of the council and know that we are growing. With that being said, we are getting ready to elect new officers. I ask that each brother consider a candidate that they would like to have hold an office. It is vital for the success of the council. As we move into the summer months, let us remember those who have died in our parish and the families they have left behind. Let us also praise God for the sacrifice he made to forgive us of our sins. Above all, let us thank the men and women of our military. They have either paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country or are serving our country for us to enjoy the freedoms we have. The month of May also means Mother’s Day and College & High School graduations. Let us all remember these folks in our thoughts and prayers. Have a blessed Memorial Day from my family to yours. Vivat Jesus! Matt Hatch, Grand Knight Council 7120

Serving the parishes of Christ the King, Holy Spirit, St. Gregory, and Good Shepherd

Matt Hatch Grand Knight

THE DESOTO KNIGHT COUNCIL 7120

Father Gregory Bezy Assembly 2195

Volume 18, Issue 3

May 2018

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Worthy Brothers, As we come to the end of our fraternal year, let me encourage all who are willing to consider whether or not you would like to run for a leadership role. Officer positions and other roles will be available. If you've ever considered taking a more "hands on" role in shaping the course of our council, this would be a great opportunity. If you know someone who would be great at leading our council, speak to them and then nominate them. I'd also like to encourage as many people as possible to attend every meeting, but especially May 7 (nominations) and June 4 (elections). Make your voice be heard. Spring has sprung and as we see nature blooming, God's glory shines in the vibrant colors of the plants growing and sprouting and the animals we waking from their hibernations and taking full advantage of the new sources of food around them. We are planting gardens and looking forward to their produce. Let this remind us that we are called to bloom as well. We are asked to make the world around us better. We can do so by planting and harvesting the Earth, but even more so by harvesting the Holy Spirit in ourselves and one another. I'd like to encourage all of our Knights to read Pope Francis' latest exhortation, Gaudete Et Exsultate, the Call to Holiness in Today's World. In it, the Pope speaks to us to grow and develop in the Spirit. He challenges us to live a life that is holy. He reminds us that holiness is not just for those "who have already been canonized or beatified" (6). He exhorts us to be part of "the middle class of holiness." (7) The passage that has challenged me most is:

Don Coker

Membership Chairman and Chancellor

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14. "To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by labouring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain."

As Knights are we not called to holiness? Are we not called to stand out in this world? Are we not called to learn about and develop in our faith? Are we not committed to being "the strong right arm of the Church?" There's no better way to do those things than working to become more holy as an example to our families, parishes, and the world. Vivat Jesus, SK Don Coker Chancellor Membership Director Genesis 1:27 & 31... God created man in His image; in the divine image He created him; male and female He created them.... God looked at everything He had made, and he found it very good.

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Council Activities

Easter Decorations and Set Up

Many people dedicated their Saturday to helping get Christ the King ready for the season of Easter before the Easter Vigil Mass. Thanks to the parishioners, Knights, and their families for making this possible.

Some of these pictures are from March events that did not make it into the April newsletter. Fr Thi did an amazing job helping to bring in the light of Jesus at Christ the King’s Easter Vigil Mass on March 31!

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Easter Decorations and Set Up (continued)

Good Shepherd Easter Decorations

Thanks to all the great work the dedicated church family at Good Shepherd put in this Easter and for providing the pictures.

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Subiaco Retreat (April 6-8)

The Subiaco Retreat went very well this year. Our attendees said that it was one of the best in years (other than the dreary weather). Thanks to all the worthy Knights who represented 7120!

Hospitality Saturday at Good Shepherd (April 14)

The food was excellent and it was nice to gather with the parishioners at Good Shepherd again!

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Hospitality Saturday at Good Shepherd (continued)

A special congratulations for Sir Knight David Daleke and his wife for celebrating their anniversary! They renewed their wedding vows at the Saturday Mass after 45 years.

These 6 Knights manned Stand 2 at the Landers GK Matt Hatch, DGK Greg Henry, and Jeff Bell Center for the Jon Pardi concert on April 20. Go (Director of Bishop Houch’s New Hope Village Knights! Homeless Shelter) delivered 24 boxes (511 cans) of food to the homeless shelter on April 21. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Knights’ 40 Cans of Lent program!

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Knights of Columbus MS State Convention in Biloxi (April 27-29)

District Deputy Denny Fink

Thanks to GK Matt Hatch, FN Ted Lander, Fred Ward, and Lonnie Treadaway for representing Council 7120. We won a few awards this year: Best Extra Large Council of the Year, Superior Council for Programs, and the Church Service Award.

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Knights of Columbus MS State Convention in Biloxi (continued)

The following excerpt was submitted by our Church Activity Chairman, Ted Lander, that won us the Church Service Award:

Project of the Year – Church – Washing feet – A Year of Service

At the Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper Liturgy, we hear, during the Gospel, Jesus showing the

service to his apostles that they are expected to follow and we are to do as well. Even though we do not have the

need to wash feet in our society today, we are to serve one another in the same spirit of charity. Council 7120

incorporated this lesson last year and planned to give service to the four churches served by our council members

on an ongoing, continuous and weekly basis. Just as we keep holy the Sabbath Day by being an active participant

at weekly Mass, Council 7120 is active weekly and living Jesus’ teaching to wash feet by serving our church in many

ways. Many of the church programs below could individually be submitted as best programs, but for our Council

the focus was a Year of Service:

3 active roundtables at our smaller churches and development of new Hispanic roundtable for our Hispanic

community.

Set up and put away of seasonal liturgical decorations for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter

Quarterly food sales after English 11:00 and Spanish 12:30 for debt reduction raised approx. $4,000.00 for debt

reduction.

Food preparation and sales at church Fall festival Hispanic, Asian/Pacific, Vietnamese, Cajun and American county

fair food helped raise $11,850 towards church debt reduction.

3 blood drives hosted at Church

Cooking and serving pancake breakfast to over 300 First Reconciliation kids and their parents and family members.

Teaching RCIA and high school youth religious education on a weekly basis.

Adult chaperone and leadership for high school youth service weeklong retreats during the summer and

confirmation retreat for youth from our 6 parishes.

Monthly pancake breakfast

Seasonal grounds maintenance and litter clean up.

Painting rooms, HVAC maintenance/upkeep, pond/water fountain repair, conversion from high wattage lights to

low wattage LED lights in 3 of our parishes.

Weekly church clean up after masses of liturgical books, missalettes, Worship song book, envelopes.

Keep Christ in Christmas and Manger Lighting

Lenten talk led by a Brother Knight and Deacon, Lenten fish fries and leading Stations of the Cross, 40 cans for Lent

program at 3 of the 4 parishes our Council serves.

Monthly prayer breakfast hosted and discussions led by members for all men 18 years and older for our parishes.

5th Sunday Rosary before Sunday Mass.

Liturgical ministry during Mass is often mostly Knights serving as greeters, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and choir

members.

Our Pastor, during a recent Mass that was celebrated between a 4th Degree Exemplification and banquet, told

everyone during the Mass that he could always count on the Knights to help whenever there was a need. Some

examples he mentioned included assisting families in need, debt reduction food sales and LED light program at

three of our parishes. I hope reviewing the above partial list of Church activities we performed during the past

year can inspire you to be more involved with your church. Being the right arm of the church for your pastor does

not take the form of a quarterly or monthly event but being present and meeting needs all the time.

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Father Gregory Bezy Assembly 2195

This month we celebrate Memorial Day. It is a solemn time to remember the brave men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while serving in our Armed Forces; we also keep those that are currently serving in our thoughts and prayers. As Sir Knights, it is our duty to honor these men and women for their sacrifice. May 26 – Flag set up for Memorial Day at Christ the King starting at 8 am May 28 – Twin Oaks Funeral Home Memorial Day Service starting at 10 am, arrive before 9 am I want to encourage all Brothers and their families to consider joining us for the Memorial Day flag display and Memorial Day Service at Twin Oaks. You do not need to be a 4th degree member to attend and all are encouraged to help remember why we celebrate this day. It is much more than just a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. Vivat Jesus, Ted Lander Faithful Navigator Assembly 2195

Ted Lander

Faithful Navigator

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Assembly Activities

The following pictures are Sir Knights from our collective parishes standing guard by the Eucharist at Holy Thursday Mass on March 29.

Good Shepherd

Sir Knights Jim Tarver and David Daleke

Christ the King

Thanks to Sir Knights Dan Garrigan, Matt Hatch, John Robinson, Ted Lander, Tom Cusker, Don Coker, Robert Purifoy, Dan Bicknell, Bill Sonnemann, Terry Calvert, and Fred Ward! They took turns standing guard well into the night.

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Calendar for May

Landers Events

May 4 – Platinum Comedy Tour, Stand 5, Report time 6 pm

Other Important Dates

May 7 – Officers meeting at 6 pm, followed by May monthly Council meeting *May 7 – May monthly Council meeting, Rosary at 7 pm, followed by meeting at 7:30 pm May 12 – Men’s Prayer Breakfast at CTK starting at 7 am May 13 – MOTHER’S DAY May 20 – PENTECOST SUNDAY *May 21 – 4th degree meeting, Rosary at 7 pm, followed by meeting at 7:30 pm May 26 – Flag set up for Memorial Day at CTK starting at 8 am May 26 – Adopt-A-Highway clean up starting at 9 am, meet at new Walmart in Horn Lake May 28 – MEMORIAL DAY **May 28 – Twin Oaks Memorial Day Service starting at 10 am, arrive before 9, Honor Guard needed June 2 – Officers meeting at 9 am June 4 – June monthly Council meeting, Rosary at 7 pm, followed by meeting at 7:30 pm, ELECTIONS *Nominations for Council and Assembly positions begin at their respective May meetings **The Honor Guard will practice for the Twin Oaks Service on May 21 IMMEDIATELY after the 4th degree meeting PAY YOUR DUES IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!!

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MAY BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

BIRTHDAYS WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Eddie Granada 5/1 Mr. & Mrs. Flynn Clark 5/5 Raul Hernandez 5/1 Mr. & Mrs. Jack Dolan 5/9 William Shahan 5/3 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Condoure 5/11 Stephen Frazier 5/3 Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Orr 5/13 Nate Clifford 5/4 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Jolly 5/17 Leland Hill 5/5 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Elardo 5/28 John Hill 5/6 Mr. & Mrs. James Tarver 5/29 Christopher Paez 5/7 Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Steed 5/29 Carl Sanders 5/7 Rev Jack Kurps 5/7 Miles Nelson 5/10 Francis Mc Cann 5/10 Joseph Kinney 5/11 Raymond Oltremari 5/11 Rev Thi Pham 5/14 Nicholas Bickel 5/14 Jeff Wallace 5/14 Michael Webster 5/16 Kenneth Walker 5/20 Daniel Burr 5/20 Lonnie Treadaway 5/24 German Romero 5/28 The deadline for submitting anything for the newsletter is ONE WEEK before the 1st of the month. Submissions can be sent via email to djgodwin2416@gmail.com.

mailto:djgodwin2416@gmail.com