The Knightly News – Council 11091
From the Grand Knight’s Desk
Worthy Brother Knights!
So there has been some excitement in the news that has even overshadowed 11091’s activities! Yes, Pope Francis is visiting the US. It seems he is everywhere! He has been at the White House, New York, the United Nations, and will visit Philadelphia. He is the first Pope to address a joint session of Congress and he has Canonized Blessed Fr. Junipero Serra. What is really unusual is the excitement among non-Catholics that has developed around him.
Meanwhile, back here in Algonquin, we have also been busy as usual. In September we held our 2nd annual Charity Softball Game for MDA. 11091’s team defeated the Algonquin Fire Department’s team 2 out of 3 games and took home the “Manly Cup”! Please take the time to admire it in our trophy case. The Knights operated a food and concession stand and donated all of the profits to MDA. On the same day we finally delivered all of the cans and other recyclables to a facility in Crystal Lake. It took several trips. There were over 1,100 pounds of aluminum alone and it raised over $500! We also held a blood drive in September – thank you all who participate or volunteer. I wish there was a way to convince more Knights, families, and parishioners how valuable the gift of life is and how easy it is to do. We also conducted the annual ID (Tootsie Roll) drive and have been selling Vocations raffle tickets at Mass. If you haven’t turned in your tickets yet, please get them in.
Recently Past Grand Knight of 11091 and Past District Deputy Mark Halper was honored at the Rockford Diocese Roundtable Dinner. Please congratulate him for jobs well done! Mark continues to work tirelessly for the Knights of Columbus – for our Council, for the Assembly and for the Diocese as KC Academy faculty.
Also taking place at the end of September is the annual Men’s Fall Retreat at Deer Lake in Northern Cheeseland. This is the first one I have not attended at that location and miss it already. I’m sure there will be many stories, but what happens at Deer Lake…., well you know.
We have some very important events taking place in October. On the 3rd is the 4th Degree Exemplification in Crystal Lake. TEN members of our Council will become Sir Knights. Our Assembly, Bishop O’Neill #2381, is hosting the event, and Council 11091 is taking the lead on a very important part of the day, the hospitality suite. October 23rd is the Clergy Appreciation Dinner at St. Mary’s in Huntley. The reservation deadline has been moved back to October 9th. Our council will be hosting a Major Degree on October 25th in the Education Building. A Major Degree is an opportunity for all First Degree Knights to experience the Second and Third Degree of our order. It is also a way for all of our members to bring a new Knight to his First Degree and witness the first three degrees of the order. Please take the time to invite a Catholic gentleman to join our order and share in the experience of the first three degrees of our order.
St. Margaret Mary is celebrating the closing of its Jubilee Year with a mass on Sunday October 18th at noon to be celebrated with Bishop Malloy. There will be other events occurring throughout the weekend.
Again, thank you for all you have done for our parish and community over the past month. There are many, many acts of charity that are done on an almost daily basis by members of our council. Your dedication and humility is a blessing for us all.
Vivat Jesus!
Dan Perna, Grand Knight
