We are proud to announce that so far this year 8 members of our Council
have performed 288 hours of Volunteer Service in our parish and our community.
 

Council News

Thinking of Joining or Transferring to the Council?   We have many great opportunities for serve others and grow in faith as a man of God.  Ask a Knight about the Knights of Columbus Queen of the Apostles Council and join our fraternal brotherhood.  Contact: Tom Carey, Grand Knight 904-728-4300, tomc933@proton.me or Joe Bruno, Chancellor and Membership Director, 704-860-9634, announcer@aol.com for information. 

NOTE: If joining through KofC.org Join Online, remember to select council 11076 so we know you want to join our council or you may leave the council number blank and remain in the affiliate council until you decide to join the men of our council in support of the parish, family and faith. 

Congratulations to Our Transfers and New Knights - Congrats to Patrick Winham, Robert "Bob" Chaplin, Thanh Vu, Chris Adams, Mac Kruse and Ed Eckert and Felipe Acosta, Kyle Boor and Joseph Zullo, welcome to the council. 

NEW Officers and Program Directors for 2024-2025.  Grand Knight - Thomas Carey, Deputy GK - Vacant, Family Director - Tony Citro, Chancellor and Membership Director - Joe Bruno, Recorder - John Jurchak, Treasurer John Rupp, Advocate and LAMB Director - Mark Colone, Warden - Ken Borek, Inside Guard - Richard Pasqualone, Outside Guard - Mark Copeland, One Year Trustee and Community Director - Vin Lindgren, Two Year Trustee - Gerald Manley, Three Year Trustee - Andrew Kloak.  Faith Director - Raymond Remeika  Vocations/RSVP Director - John Rupp, Retention Director  - Vacant,  Life Director - Joe O'Brien, Program Director - Tom Carey.  Also, thanks for serving again this year Lecturer Deacon John "Zeke" Panzica, Chaplin Fr. Paul Buchanan and Financial Secretary, Billy McHenry.  Officers and Directors can register now to get the skills you need to help run a successful council and make a difference in your community. For more information, visit the NEW Fraternal Trainers page on the Knights of Columbus website.

Council Officers Meeting First Tuesday (after first Monday) Each Month.  June 3rd, 630PM at Parish Center Conference Room - The officers meeting is open to all members.  The meeting membership includes all council officers appointed and elected, along with program directors.  The meeting is the main forum for discussing new activities, highlighting opportunities for charitable giving and planning events for the council.  The meeting also helps us set the agenda for the business meeting.  If you have ideas for new projects, charities, service activities, recruitment or fund-raising ideas this is the meeting for you.  You can call or text the GK if you have a topic for discussion but can't make the meeting, 904-728-4300.  Next Officers Meeting is Tuesday July 8th.

Business Meeting June 9th, 730P, Monday, in MAK Center with Holy Rosary at 7:00P prior to meeting.  The business meeting agenda includes updates from program directors; news on opportunities for faith, family, community, and life activities; vote on charitable giving; and prayers for good of the order. There will also be opportunities to sign-up for monthly support to our seminarians through RSVP and for help with events at the parish.  Awards and recognition to Brother Knights will be included.  Sign up to help at parish Pentecost Sunday events June 8th.  Directors will present updates on Bottles for Babies Fundraiser, Just For Men Bible Study, CRO Food Drive, Blood Drive, and much more!  We will take nominations from the floor and hold election of Officers for next Fraternal Year (see meeting minutes for the listing).  Social after meeting with beverages and a delicious meal.  The GK will not have a one hour slide show on his trip to Spain and Portugal, so don't be afraid to attend.  Next Meeting Monday July 14th.

William Gaston Assembly 2531, Third Monday Each Month, St. Michael's Parish Center, Gastonia, 700PM. Regular fourth degree business meeting. May meeting (5-19-2025) will be at QofA in MAK.  If you change address, email or phone number please send your new contact info to the following email address along with any prayer requests. KofC.Assembly2531@gmail.com  

Good of the Order Prayer Cards, Bible Study and Praying the Rosary - Roger Duncan is going to send prayer cards to those we offer prayers for via the Good of the Order.  To do this, he will need the address to send the cards, in addition to the name of the person we are praying for.  The prayer sheet at the business meeting will be expanded to capture that info if brothers would like a card sent. 

As a reminder the Holy Rosary is prayed every Monday in the church at 700P and a Just for Men Bible Study is held the first Monday of the month 730 – 830P in the church parlor.  Deacon Chip is leading the group in their study of The Book of Revelation..  Held after weekly Rosary at 7:00PM in Church (also on LiveStream).  Come join men and share your faith.  Reminder: Exemplification and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, every Thursday 530P - 630P.

Assisting Raphael Winters – Raphael is a brother knight of the council with stage 4 brain cancer.  He needs charitable and service opportunity assistance.  He sometimes needs drivers to take him for medical appointments and other errands.  He also needs help cooking meals, giving his parents a break, and assistance with groceries.  If you can help with these please call or text your name to him at 704-277-8961, his email is raphaelwinters2@gmail.com  He also would like to go on a pilgrimage and there is a go-fund-me page.  Give here: https://www.givesendgo.com/G2BQB he would also like three mountain bikes.   If you are going to send him money, contact him for his P.O. Box address.

Council Prayer List

December Prayer List:  Raphael Winters, Charlie Martin, Jeff Ingle, Mark A. Colone, Philip Rupp, Margaret Rupp, Mary Carol Wood, Kathleen Williams, Al Citro, Raymond Remeika, Ray King, Kevin Eagon, Ken Borek, Cookie Bruno Quigley (Joe’s sister), Michael Underwood, Ray Kirby, Mark Ebreo, Bruce Weiler, Mark Ruocco.  

January 2025:  Raphael Winters, Charlie Martin, Jeff Ingle, Philip Rupp, Margaret Rupp, Mary Carol Wood, Kathleen Williams, Al Citro, Raymond Remeika, Kevin Eagon, Ken Borek, The family of Paulette Bruno-Quigley (Joe’s sister), Michael Underwood, SK Mark Ebreo, Ray King, Gloria Buchanan, Nicole Wylie daughter of Dennis Kast, Roy Kirby, Debbie Kirby
SK Joe Bell, Mark Ruocco, and Deacon Ed Karon.

February 2025: Raphael Winters, Charlie Martin, Jeff Ingle, Philip Rupp, Margaret Rupp, Mary Carol Wood, Kathleen Williams, Raymond Remeika, Kevin Eagon, Gail Bruno, Michael Underwood, Ray King, Ray Kirby, SK Joe Bell, Drew Stanbridge, Long Vu, Marylee Vue, Tom Batista, Mike Cloninger, Abbie Volpini, John Olynick and wife, Bob Atterberry, and Liz Atterberry's brother Jim Eaton.  Bill Bridgeman's father who passed.

March 2025: Raphael Winters, Charlie Martin, Jeff Ingle, Philip Rupp, Margaret Rupp, Mary Carol Wood, Kathleen Williams, Raymond Remeika, Kevin Eagon, Gail Bruno, Michael Underwood, Ray Kirby, SK Joe Bell, Drew Stanbridge, Marylee Vue, Tom Batista, Mike Cloninger, Abbie Volpini, Christopher Carey, Vlad Babin (deceased), Mike Cloninger, Wilson Mancadi, Al Citro, David Slesinger, Mark Ebreo, Katie Mason, Matthew Mahoney, William Bridgman, Long Vu.

April 2025: Raphael Winters, Jim Schleagel, Charlie Martin, Jeff Ingle, Philip Rupp, Margaret Rupp, Mary Carol Wood, Kathleen Williams, Raymond Remeika, Kevin Eagon, Gail Bruno, Michael Underwood, Ray Kirby, SK Joe Bell, Drew Stanbridge, Long Vu, Marylee Vue, Tom Batista, Mike Cloninger, Abbie Volpini, Christopher Carey, Vlad Babin (deceased), Mike Cloninger, Wilson Mancadi, Ray Kirby, Al Citro, Mark Ebreo, Katie Mason, Matthew Mahoney, William Bridgman, Jim Eaton, Mark Kazack, Joan Kazack, Ken Borek, Gloria Buchanan, Bob Atterberry, Elizabeth Atterberry’s brother Jim Eaton, Mary Selecky and family.  Fr. Buchanan and his mother Gloria.  

May 2025: Raphael Winters, Charlie Martin, Father Paul and his mother Gloria Buchanan, Jeff Ingle, Margaret Rupp, Phillip Rupp, Greg Edel, Michael Underwood, Hazel Messer Hall, Mark Ebreo, Mike Cloninger, Charles Eaton, Mary Carol Wood, Armida Colone, Martha Chaplan. 

COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

Helene Disaster Rebuilding - Alan Campos Project.  The State Council has established a process for men and their families to volunteer to help with rebuilding homes in western NC.   To help track activity, individuals must send an email to our State Secretary Rick Lewis at statesecretary@kofcnc.org with the subject line VOLUNTEER(S) FOR ALAN CAMPOS PROJECT. In return, the waiver form, an internal registration form, address location, and the onsite contact person will be emailed back.  Thanks for your service to those in need.

California Knights of Columbus Disaster Relief.  The Knights of Columbus are engaged to help through relief centers for the displaced. Please pray for all affected. Send donations to: https://kofc.org/disaster If you want to send a check directly to the California Knights of Columbus, please make the check to:

California Columbian Charities, Inc., P.O. Box 2649, West Covina, CA 91793-2649

Safe Box Post Cards.  Please remember to send out your post card to State Leaders.  Help support our State Life Committee in changing the NC law.  If you need another copy of the info, sent out to your email, please let the GK know.  

Update:  Our baby box bill, HB 139, was passed by the NC House on May 6^th and referred to the NC Senate. HB 139 is thus the bill that we must now lobby our senators to support. Note: our lobbying partners, NC Values, has made it EXTREMELY easy to lobby our senators. They have created a webpage at: NCValues.org/baby-box-bill  that has our request, which will be sent to each person’s state senator directly. All they have to do is enter their names and address info (so the senator knows they are a constituent) and click on the send button. Couldn’t be much easier, huh?  All Knights, their family members, friends and anyone else who is interested in saving the life of a baby, should use this link to lobby their senator. 

Spaghetti Dinner at St. Michael's in Gastonia - Parish Center 430-7PM 2nd Wednesday Each Month.    Monthly fundraiser for Council #6700.  Dinner with salad garlic bread and dessert, $8 per person max $36 for a family.  Beer and sodas for sale.  Every 2nd Wednesday of the month, except for during Lent (then it is fish fry's on Fridays).  Please support our brothers in 6700.  

Just for Men Bible Study, Monday May 5th at 7:30PM.,  The final "just for Men" reflection on "The Woman We Love" will be at 7:30 pm., on Monday April 7th, in the church parlor.  The topic is "She is Their Mother Too: Telling Protestants About Mary".  We will discuss what Holy Scriptures and Tradition and even some Protestant say about the Blessed Mother.  All men are welcome (bring a new member or a non-Catholic friend).  Call or text Deacon Chip at 704-468-5822 for details.  A lot of your brother Knights attend.   

Parish Blood Drives..  Next blood drives for 2025 are -  July 19th, and Nov. 8th. More details to follow.  To sign up please use this link: https://donor.oneblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/1410160  . 

Young at Hearts Potluck Dinner, Saturday, May 10th, in the MAK following the 5pm Mass.  Next potluck dinner is on Saturday May 10th. And your food theme is Brunch food. Quiche and French toast or something with eggs and fruit is a great suggestion. Be creative and have fun with those over 50 in the parish.  A lot of FUN.  For more info contact Rich Dudley at richardadudley@yahoo.com

Mira Via Fundraiser - The Knights of Columbus are holding a Bottles for Babies fundraiser for Mira Via. Mira Via is a Catholic, 501(c)(3) nonprofit maternity and after-care program with services in Belmont and Charlotte.  For more information and how to get involved, visit MiraVia.org.  There will be baby bottles available at all Masses on Mother’s Day weekend May 10-11 and available for pick up in gathering space over several weeks  Bottles to be return the bottles by Father’s Day weekend June 14-15, when the Knights will collect them at all Masses.  Our Life Director Joe O'Brien will need help collecting bottles on Father's Day weekend.  Thanks to Bob Atterberry for his help sorting the change and our Treasurer John Rupp making the heavy deposits of coins.

Golf Cart, Tram and Bus Driving Fundraiser (we need the money) Various Dates next is TBD.  Raise money for the council general charity fund by driving at Speedway and Drag Strip events.  Task is to transport fans from parking areas to event area.  Council earns money for each hour you drive.  St. Michael Council 6700 in Gastonia is in charge of staffing for the event.  Contact Dan Frazeur 704-524-0530 or Jim Roberts at 704-524-8090 for details and schedule.  Please volunteer, we need the money to support our charitable activities.

Investment Webinars.    

Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors invites you to two webinars this May with presentations by Knights of Columbus Chief Distribution Officer and Senior Vice President of Field Management Joseph Monestere. These webinars are part of our new Family Finance series, Foundations, designed to help investors make informed decisions.  These events qualify as a fraternal benefit event.*  Please join us to learn more about investing and invite others who may benefit from learning the foundations of investing. Click on the dates below to register.

RSVP May 22, 2025, 8 PM ET Ten Tips for Managing Market Volatility: How to approach market fluctuations in times of uncertainty

RSVP May 28, 2025, 8 PM ET Investing for Beginners: Planning for Success Learn how systematic investing can help you work toward a long-term goal of building wealth over time.

Fraternal Benefit Night Webinar, Tuesday June 3rd 8 pm.  Learn about extended care plans.  You can do so by attending the upcoming Fraternal Benefit Event on Tuesday, June 3rd at 8pm ET.  Remember to put in our council number 11076, so we get credit for your attendance.  This virtual event* will allow members to learn more about how extended care planning can help you protect their family’s future.  

Food For Families Parish Food Drive, for BREAD, after all Masses May 24-25.   They need canned pasta, dry pasta, pasta sauce, bar soap, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, and canned sweet peas.  Please help the Knights and our Community Director Vin bring the food from the altar to the MAK, after the 11:15AM Mass.  We can always can use help.

Parish Breakfast in MAK, Saturday May 31st, 8-11AM.  Come out for a FREE breakfast with all the typical menu items.  See your friends and catch up with parishioners.  Great time for all.  Thank you to Bryan and the breakfast crew.

Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church Pentecost Sunday Events, June 8th on Church Campus, after 10:30 AM Mass.    This is a BIG event at the parish celebrating Pentecost and our parish's founding.  Tents, games. eats, etc.  GOLFCARTS!  Need Knights to help with setup, operation, tear down and cleanup as well as helping transport parishioners from parking areas.  Probably traffic control as well.  More details to follow.  We had a sign up for this service opportunity at our business meeting, but you can still participate.  Dennis Kast 443-717-1786 is point man for us.

Patriotic Degree Exemplification, Saturday June 7th, Greenville, NC.  The District Master, Chris Losack, would like to extend a cordial invitation to all men who are Third Degree Members to attend the upcoming Exemplification of Patriotism, to be held on Saturday, June 7th, in Greenville, North Carolina.  This significant event marks the next step in our journey as Knights, as we embrace the fourth principle of our Order, Patriotism. Full details, including location, schedule, and registration information, are available on the North Carolina State Council website.  https://www.kofcnc.org/4th-Degree/Next-Exemplification

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, June 22-26, 5-8PM.  Knights serve evening meal to the kids.  Always a fun event for the kids and the knights.  Need help with setup, cooking, cleanup.  Remember to have taken your parish safety training to participate (contact Lisa at Parish Office for enrollment).  We had a sign up for this service opportunity at our business meeting, but you can still participate.  Billy McHenry 704-718-7061 is point man for us.

Charlotte Eucharistic Congress, Friday-Saturday September 5-6, Charlotte Convention Center.  Bishop Martin, will lead this popular event, with largest Eucharistic Procession in U.S., with Mass, Adoration, confessions, musical performances and more.  It's FREE.

Other Reminders

MONTHLY ISSUE Tar Heel Knight and Golden Plume.  This month's issue here https://www.kofcnc.org/THK/May-2025  both are published on the State Council website at https://www.kofcnc.org 

Council RSVP - please sign-up at business meeting to support our seminarians - Sir Knight John Rupp is heading our Councils Refund Support Vocational Program as Vocations Chairman, thanks to John for "stepping up".  RSVP is the way our council supports seminarians in their important vocation.  For every $500 we give supreme refunds us $100, hence the refund part of the program.  We provide support through an annual $500 gift to each seminarian and by having brothers signup and send them a monthly note of encouragement and a small monetary gift.  We have 3 Seminarians in our program with our two recent additions, so everyone, if they can, needs to participate in the monthly letters.  

Knights of Columbus Financial Security Programs - Our Worthy Field Agent is John Olynick in Charlotte, his email is john.olynick@kofc.org and phone 203-450-0062.  As a reminder our general agent is Christopher Mahoney at 919-719-2715 or christopher.mahoney@kofc.org.