NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Honor guard visit to Crystal Lake, August 2025
 

Corr is meant to transform us, by drawing us closer to Christ and each other.
 

Why Cor?       The Knights of Columbus empowers Catholic men to live their faith and serve their family, parish, community, and country.  Why? Because families need strong husbands and fathers, and the world needs courageous witnesses to Jesus Christ. Through Cor, men will be formed and sharpened as disciples of Jesus, who are committed to serving him and willing to boldly live and share their faith. It is the mandate of every Catholic man to bring Jesus to a broken world. To live his faith and engage in this mission, every Catholic man needs a strong relationship with God that is rooted in prayer and the sacraments. Catholic men need to proactively invest in their ongoing faith formation, to be a part of a dynamic brotherhood that supports, sharpens, and strengthens them to be holy men, husbands, and fathers, and to engage in the mission of the Church. The mission of Cor is to refocus Catholic men on Jesus Christ and to form and strengthen them in faith and virtue through a brotherhood committed to prayer, formation, and fraternity. The goal of each Cor gathering is to provide the opportunity for men to encounter Christ, to pray together, to be formed in their faith, and to strengthen their bonds of brotherhood, preparing them for courageous leadership and the mission of evangelization for their families and communities.

Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Patriotism (Become a Knight Tonight) (30 MINUTES)
 

Dear Knights of Columbus Candidate: 

We are pleased to invite you to a special, on-demand ceremony of admission and advancement.

This Knights of Columbus ceremony advances new and existing members through the lessons of Charity, Unity and Fraternity required of a Third Degree member. These ceremonies, known as exemplifications, are normally done in person. However, due to current social distancing precautions, we now offer these ceremonies online.

By clicking the “View Now” link below, you will be able to register for and watch the ceremony, which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. After viewing the ceremony, you will be a Third Degree Knight! 

When completing your registration form, you will be asked for your Council Number

View Now

Instructions: 

Open the registration form by clicking the “View Now” link above. 

Provide the required information, including the council number you are joining.  Watch the 30 minute ceremony.  

Please note that your family and friends are welcome to observe the ceremony. If you are unable to complete the ceremony, clicking the “View Now” link above will bring you back to the registration page where you can enter your email address in the “Already Registered” field and continue watching the ceremony. 

We look forward to you becoming a Third Degree Knight of Columbus! 

District Deputies and Parish they Serve
 

Warriors to Lourdes
 

DONATEVISIT WTL

"It is very easy to lose faith or suffer both physically and spiritually, but the healing we have enjoyed, both during our trip to Lourdes and since returning, is something that I wish we could share with all of our fellow service members, particularly those suffering." Jonathan A., Marine Corps, 2017 Warrior Pilgrim

 

In partnership with the Archdiocese for Military Services U.S.A., the Knights of Columbus provides the opportunity and means for our non wounded, wounded, ill and injured U.S. warriors to participate in the Warriors to Lourdes pilgrimage for a period of prayer and spiritual guidance.

We accompany and support our warriors and their families throughout the course of the pilgrimage which occurs during the annual International Military Pilgrimage (PMI) in Lourdes, France.

Every $3,000 raised sends a warrior to Lourdes.

If you need to reach the Office of Charitable Giving regarding this donate page or making a donation, you can do so Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm Eastern:

Phone:1-800-694-5713
Email: info@kofccharities.org

 

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Third Degree Report:
 

Veteran Affairs Committee/ Bishop Boylan Assembly 198/ 1955-Present
 

Knights of Columbus

1882-2025

FAITH IN ACTION-SERVICE

PATRIOTISM

(PICTURE OF 4TH DEGREE)

Bishop Boylan Assembly 198

Veterans Affairs Commitee

1955-Present

70 Years of Helping Others

ASSEMBLY MEETINGS 2ND WED @ 730PM

Holy Apostles Church

5211 West Bull Valley Road

McHenry, IL

Mark Heiress - Chair

MHeiress@comcast.com

815-355-7742

text leave name

VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMETTEE -

MISSION STATEMENT

Provide information concerning benefits to Veterans and their dependents to the Assembly 198 and those Councils that are members of the Assembly 198.

REBBONS / MEDALS - How to Obtain

A common Question among Veterans and dependents of Veterans is "my Dad, Brother, Grandpa served. How can I get all of Medals and Ribbons he was awarded?"

-If you are a wife or blood relative, you would write a letter stating the following NOTE: It takes Six to Nine Month

--I would like the Ribbons, Awards, and Medals to which my (Enter Relationship, e.g., Husband, Father, brother) is intitled.

--Enlistment Date (Date of Entry) (if you do not know the Date Entry then Month year will do)

--Until this Date: MONTH/ Years is OK.

--Name, Rank, Branch of Service and Discharge last know City/ State or Country.

--Last four Numbers of Social Security# if know,

SEND TO:

NPRC WEB - ALL SERVICES

9700 Page Ave

St. Louis MO 63132-5100

IN THREE MONTHS, YOU WILL GET A LETTER FROM:

US (branch of service) Human Resources Command

1 Reserve Way St Louis MO 63132-5200

Stating Deposition of more information needed

Getting Veterans Status on IL Driver’s License or State ID
Illinois veterans are authorized to receive the
designation of “Veteran” placed on their driver’s
license or state identification card.

To obtain a "Veteran" designation on your Driver's License or
State ID card you must:

Be an honorably discharged U.S. Veteran.
Bring your Veteran document such as a DD214, Form 13038, or Department of Defense Form
DD-2 (Retired)

If done before the renewal date, it will cost $5. to update Driver's License and to update State ID
card $10. Veterans over the age of 65 can obtain an updated State ID card at no cost.

During normal renewal there is no cost and once
Veteran status is on license it is permanent.

There is no need to recertify Veteran status.

Tips to protect against Fraud follow these steps:
Remember – Don’t play Detective or send to Relative / Friend (See What I got …)
Just Delete Message or Email.
VA does not charge a fee for any service or ask for money.
VA will never contact you via text.
VA will never contact you via email unless you started the conversation.
VA will never request information from you unless you initiated the contact.
Never give your Social Security Number via Text or over the phone if you must provide
SS# over the phone then just last four digits.

Messages or Emails - Watch for and don’t respond if:
Spelling mistakes / Poor grammar is present
Charging money for fees and services
Urgency in Message – Desperate for help
VA has no Contests, Raffles or Prizes.

Veterans Assistance Commission
McHenry County
Mailing Address
2200 N. Seminary Ave.
Woodstock, IL 60098

Office Location
667 Ware Road, Room #100
Woodstock, IL 60098
Ask for Office Coordinator
Phone: (815) 334-4229
Email: veterans@mchenrycountyil.gov

Offerings
Forms – Financial Aid
Job Listings – Unemployment Help
Guidance – Spiritual and psychological
Helping homeless veterans

Hope Program

The "Veterans HOPE program" can refer to a few different initiatives. Veterans Path to Hope (VPH) is a non-profit that provides various resources to veterans, including housing, employment, and basic needs.
Burial Opportunities and Rights
Flag - VA Form 10-10EZ
Headstone – VA Form 40-1330

Special Dates for Veterans

May Armed Forces Month
May 31st Memorial Day
Nov 11th Veterans Day

Why are Poppies Red, Why Poppies?

Widely recognized symbol of remembrance, particularly for those who have served and died in war, with its association stemming from World War I.

Legend has it after burying the soldiers in Flanders Field, Belgium, the white poppies
turned red with the blood of over a million soldiers killed in WW1.

How to pray the rosary
 

The Talk/ Great Lakes Catholic Men’s Conference Release:
 

NEWS RELEASE

For: Great Lakes Catholic Men’s Conference Release: Immediately

P.O. Box 68 Contact: Mitch Striedl

Batavia, IL 60510 Phone: 630-617-1876 Email: mas9704@gmail.com

The country's longest-running Catholic men’s conference celebrates its 30th year on Saturday, November 22, 2025! The annual Great Lakes Catholic Men’s Conference promises to be a day full of inspiration and hope, drawing close to a thousand men.

Men will explore what it means to offer praise to God and how to be a person of hope and joy, leading their families and friends closer to God. This Jubilee Year’s conference takes its theme from Romans 5, ‘Hope does not disappoint.”

This year's Conference speakers include Catholic convert, best-selling author, and host, writer, and producer of a Catholic DVD series featured on EWTN and FORMED, Steve Ray; President of the Augustine Institute, Catholic speaker and author Tim Gray; and Chairman and Executive Director of Relevant Radio®, Rev. Francis J. Hoffman “Fr. Rocky”. The event will be emceed by the ever-popular National Anthem Singer for the Chicago Cubs, Wayne Messmer.

The Conference will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Holmes Student Center on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.

In addition to speakers, the program includes music, reflection time, confession, Mass, and lunch. It is open to married, single, and divorced men, including fathers, teenage sons, and grandfathers, whatever their level of faith.

The cost of the Conference is $50 if purchased before Oct. 22, $55 if purchased after Oct. 22, $60 at the door, only $25 for college students or younger, and $15 for deacons, with lunch and parking included. Conference officials state that no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay. Doors open and music begins at 8:00 AM, with the formal program starting at 8:50 AM. Many area Catholic parishes have tickets for sale. For more information or to register with a credit card, visit the Conference website at thetalk.org.

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That man is you
 

State of Ilinois Council locations