Vivat Jesus! I hope and pray that you, your families, and council members and their families continue to be safe. Please know that all of you are in my prayers every day.

Are you feeling alone? Isolated? You don’t want to talk to anyone? Terry Pluto wrote another Faith and Light article for the Plain Dealer on Sunday, August 23. He talked about the Elijah Blues. No, it is not a new band playing at the House of Blues, but something very real. See what you think Feeling worn down? Are you hiding at home?

Many of us are at home with COVID-19 laughing at us. What are we to do? As Knights of Columbus, we can easily insert ourselves into Elijah. “Part of him was a guy who got things done. He was brave. He felt God’s hand on his life and had the courage to act on it in the face of those who despised him.” Sounding familiar? Knights do this day-in and day-out. But, there is also the other side of the coin, “But then he got tired. I’m going to repeat that: Then he got tired…very, very tired. When we’re tired, we hear the voice of our emotional enemies.” You cannot do that. You should stay home.

Terry suggests that you get up and do something. So what is stopping you? Safety is the first and foremost thing that should be on our minds. But, life must go on and continue to move forward. If the settlers looked at the picture above, their first thought would be on a wasteland where nothing can grow where we would our crops come from today? Instead, we put our nose to the grindstone – get creative – and find a way to continue. That is all we are asking you as councils to do now. Get creative, explore areas were you might not have before. You never know what you will find out about yourselves in the process.

Finally, Steve Cohen, Regional Training Director, is providing training sessions throughout September. You can sign up by visiting the state website site and clicking on the Supreme Training Opportunities button.  If any council is in need of assistance in setting up and running virtual meetings, please contact Jim, Mike or George. We can help you get things started, communicate to the members, and facilitate. Brothers, we are here to assist you. Stay safe and pray. Together we will get through this – together we will be stronger!

Hello my Brother Knights. Thank you for the participation over these past two months in our Virtual Benefit Knights. As we start the new fraternal year my Agency is excited to take our Benefit Knights and our Recruitment of Catholic Men into our order to the next level. What a Blessing to join the Knights of Columbus in light of the upcoming Beatification of Father Michael J. McGivney!

Please reach out to my office at anytime to set up a fraternal benefit night in your parish.