District Event Announcements

Brother Knights,

The State Soccer Challenge is fast approaching.  Council and District level challenges should be completed in the next few months so your winners can move onto the State Challenge in November, date and venue to be determined. Any questions please call or email:

Howard Birnbaum, Soccer Chairman 

602-861-1966 

buckbirn@aol.com 

A Higher Purpose
Offer an athletic outlet for youth ages 9 to 14 in your community. Councils can sponsor a competition by ordering a Free Throw Championship Kit, or volunteer to host and/or support the district, regional and state/province championships.

Overview
Since 1972, councils have sponsored the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship for boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 14 to provide an athletic outlet and encourage the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition. Kids compete within their own gender and age and progress from local level to district, regional and state/province competitions. This program is a great way to introduce the Knights of Columbus to the community and recruit faithful family men of service.

In June 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver – sister of brother Knight and President John F. Kennedy – held a summer day camp for young people with intellectual disabilities in her backyard. She was inspired to do something for this group of children after seeing limited opportunities for them to participate in athletic events. This was the revolutionary moment that eventually led to the first International Special Olympics Summer Games at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 20, 1968 – 50 years ago today – where about 1,000 athletes from the U.S. and Canada competed.

Since the first games, the Knights of Columbus have been there. Here are the highlights of the 50 year history between the Knights and Special Olympics:

Founding members of the Special Olympics were associated with the Knights of Columbus

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s brother, John F. Kennedy, was a Knight. Her husband, Sargent Shriver, was also a Knight. He was a member of the Mater Dei Council 9774 in Rockville, Md.

A Higher Purpose
Promote the true spirit of Christmas in our homes, schools, parishes and communities. Knights of Columbus councils will evangelize society through their faithful acts, celebrations and a variety of activities.

Overview
The Knights of Columbus offers multiple activities that promote Christmas and the season of Advent in their proper context: Journey to the Inn, Light Up for Christ, Crèche or Advent Wreath Blessing, and the Christmas Poster Contest. These programs are centered on the example of the Holy Family and the Nativity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

The new Keep Christ in Christmas program brings all related activities together under one umbrella. It encourages councils to compel their neighbors to shift from a preoccupation with materialism to the light of Christ and the spirit of giving. Activities include whatever efforts best suit the parish and community of a particular council and do not need to originate from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. 

A Higher Purpose
Save lives by help each abortion-minded woman to choose life by viewing their unborn children on ultrasound machines at pro-life pregnancy centers. This initiative is funded by Knights of Columbus state and local councils with matching grants from the Supreme Council’s Culture of Life Fund.

Overview
The Knights of Columbus works together as an organization to purchase ultrasound machines for qualifying pregnancy centers. After the state and/or local council raises 50% of the cost, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council will provide the other 50% to complete funding for purchase of an ultrasound. Or, if the council raises 100% of the cost of a vehicle outfitted to serve as a mobile medical unit for a pregnancy center, the Supreme Council will provide 100% of the funds for an ultrasound machine to be used in that vehicle.

A Higher Purpose
Keep the faith alive by supporting our seminarians and postulants. As the strong right arm of the church, the Knights of Columbus are committed to providing moral, financial and spiritual support to future priests and religious at all stages of their formation.

Overview
The Knights of Columbus stand in solidarity with our priests and religious. Through this program, council and parish families will raise funds to support seminarians in their area. For every $500 given to an individual, the Supreme Council will refund the council or assembly $100. The maximum refund a council or assembly can receive is $400 per individual supported. Though financial support is vitally important, it is not the only aspect of RSVP. Councils are also called to provide their “adopted” seminarian or religious aspirant with moral support and prayers for their success.