News & Announcements

GK Notes for May 16th

Vivat Papum!

If you are looking for signs to strengthen your faith, you have seen a few over the last month. First the inspiring Pope Francis, pushing himself to the limit of his earthy life, to see and speak to the faithful on Easter. He gave his last bit of strength to be a Shepard to his people, before joining the Lord on Easter Monday.  Then the surprising election of Pope Leo XIV, a man who seems to be a fantastic successor to Francis and St. Peter! I can’t speak for you, but I’ve been inspired by Pope Francis, the Cardinals, and our New Pope Leo XIV!

This is a big weekend for our council, First is our last Café of the fraternal year this coming  Sunday. The Café is supporting the Pentecost Barbeque on June 8th. Second, I will be presenting the proceeds of our fish fries to the Teen Ministry and Holy Family Catholic Academy at the 9am mass. These funds are possible due to the over 600 volunteer hours, and the generosity and support of our fellow parishioners. We raised $7300, and served an average of 184 customers per week, and including volunteer meals, we served 1080 meals in five weeks!

We will be posting the volunteer list for the Pentecost Barbeque next Monday. Please prayerfully consider helping us serve our fellow parishioners!  It is a wonderful event out in the sunshine of our parish courtyard (we pray). I will send out an email with the Signup Genius Link next week, and this link will be in the FridayBLAST on May30th.

Lastly, next Wednesday May 21st is the annual Lou Malnati’s, Feed My Starving Children benefit day. Several of us are planning to meet at the Malnati’s at 1 S. Roselle Rd. in Schaumburg at 1pm. We have done this for a couple of years now, and it’s a fun event! Please contact me via email if you can come so I can make reservations (mcmahonrick1@gmail.com)  All members of our Knights volunteer family are invited, as are spouses or whomever else you’d like to bring.  

Again, I am thankful always for your service to our parish and organization!  

Rick ☘️

Fish Fry proceeds donated to Teen Ministry and HFCA!

Your Holy Family Knights are proud to announce the proceeds of the 2025 Lenten Fish Fries were presented Sunday May 18th at the 9am Mass.  

The Knights family of volunteers worked over 600 hours in the 5 events, serving over 1000 meals. We raised a total of $7300. The Fish Fries were also successful for creating Community at each event. We Were pleased to bring parishioners together to “grow” and share our Lenten journey - together.   

We are proud to support our youth in ensuring that more teens can afford to attend retreats with a donation of $3650 to the Teen Retreat Fund.  We are equally as proud to give a donation of $3650 to the Holy Family Catholic Academy Tuition Fund, as a part of our council's Neil McManus Scholarship fund. This fund helps families afford the quality education our parish Academy provides. 

Lastly and most importantly, we’d like to thank our fellow Parishioners who supported the Fish Fries allowing us the opportunity to provide these funds! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archdiocese Chapter Newsletter

Click to open latest newsletter
 

Click Link Above ↑

 

Please click on the most recent edition  (May June 2025) for the latest Archdiocesan news.  Note our Breakfast and next Blood Drive are advertised. 

Knight and Family/Volunteer of the Month Honorees!

 

This Month We Honor Mike Gilbert as our March Knight of the Month, and Dan and Mary Hall as Family of the Month. We thank them for their contributions to our Council.

For All Knight of the Month, Family/Volunteers of the Month - Click Here for Council Recognition Page

Some Good Press for the Fish Fry

Printed Article on HF Fish Fry
 

At our March 14th Fish Fry, we had Multimedia Journalist Karie Angell Luc in attendance.  Karie was invited by Father Terry to document our Fish Fry for publication by the Archdiocese. Karie also made a video of her time at the  Holy Family Fish Fry, interviewing many of our members -  You can read the Article in PDF form above, or Click the Link below to see the video! 

https://youtu.be/L9NsQ3rzi-w?feature=shared

Eucharistic Adoration 
June 5th and 6th
First Friday of every Month
 
From PGK Glenn Yamamoto: 
Let me ask you a question: How would your life change if you spent an hour each day before the Blessed Sacrament? I realize for most people this is not possible, but consider it for a moment anyway. How would your life change?  Now consider this, "What is possible"? One hour each month, for most people that would be doable.  Spending time in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist transformed me and my life in ways I could not even begin to imagine.  I believe that by spending time in the presence of Jesus, in the Eucharist, we  become more like Him.  Mother Teresa was quoted as saying, "If I can give you any advice, I beg you to get closer to the Eucharist and to Jesus.  We must  pray to Jesus to give us the tenderness of the Eucharist."
 
At Holy Family we Knights sign up for monthly 1 hour time segments for First Friday Adoration.  We serve from from 7pm on the Thursday to 6pm on Friday.  I encourage you to consider our one-hour adoration opportunities. 
 
Please contact brother Glenn Yamamoto at yamo225@gmail.com or call him at 847-609-2983
 

Chicago Food Depository Produce Distribution

Chicago Food Depository Produce Distribution
 
The next  and LAST Chicago Food Depository produce distribution will take place at :
 
Holy Family
2515 Palatine Road
Inverness, Illinois 60067
 

Date:  Thursday, June 12th, 2025

Time:  8:30 am to 11:30 am

 

This is a great opportunity to work with many of our Holy Family council friends, but also to work with volunteers  from other councils.  All of us working together to provide fresh produce to those in need in our surrounding area. If you have questions contact Rick McMahon  847-450-8010 / mcmahonrick1@gmail.com or Dan Tokarz dtokarz58@gmail.com. 

The following number has been set up to provide information on the next produce mobile. If there are ever any last-minute changes, it will be on the recorded message : 224-764-0179.

 

District Deputy Richard Lambke - Columbian Award Winner

Richard ( Dick) Lambke, our district 7 District Deputy, was honored by the Columbian Boosters on Thursday March 27th.  Although Dick belongs to the Schaumburg/ Hoffman council #6964, he has been regularly attending our council meetings and has been a great advocate for our council. 

Those of us who know him, know that he never turns down an assignment, be it overseeing multiple districts or leading the Safe Kids program in the Archdiocese. We are fortunate to have him in our corner, Congratulations Dick!   

A thank you from Mary Whiteside and the RCIA Group

Back in February when we were discussing ways to interact with other ministries, Greg Flanagan  had the idea to present Rosaries to our new RCIA candidates and catechumens. This way we could begin their faith journey with knowledge of both the Rosary and the beauty of time with the Rosary in the Adoration Chapel. Greg found K of C Rosaries with a card that explains how to pray with the Rosary. Faith Director Glenn Yamamoto and GK Rick McMahon presented the Rosaries on Sunday March 9th.  Below is a thank you note from Mary Whiteside who is the Director of Adult Faith for Holy Family . 

 

 

Knights make a $500 Donation to Little Sisters of the Poor / St. Joseph's Home

On Monday February 10th, DGK Bob Vanselow and GK Rick McMahon presented a $500 Check to Sister Amy Marie, at Little Sisters of the Poor / St Joseph's Home.  The funds were raised at our January Café which was dedicated to this cause. 

2024 Vocations Lunch (12/27)

It was wonderful catching up with brother Knights and Seminarians, Tyler Harris and Jack Rosenwinkel at our Vocations Lunch at Moretti's.  Their experiences and perspectives gave us hope for the future of our faith. We presented both of them with monetary support from our vocations drive funds.  We are also giving monetary support to three other seminarians from Mundelein.  Attending the lunch (photo) from the left, Faith Director and Vocations drive Chairman Glenn Yamamoto, Jack Rosenwinkel, Tyler Harris, Financial Secretary Dan Tokarz, and  Grand Knight Rick McMahon. 

Vocations Raffle Money - Thank You

Thank You Note from Mundelein Seminary Director
 

Some of our Vocations money went to three Seminarians at Mundelein.  Attached above is a thank you from the Director on behalf of the Seminarians we gave funds to. 

2024 HFCA Teacher Christmas Breakfast

Thank you from Assistant Principal Laura Clark
 

Some dedicated Knights, served our Holy Family Academy Teachers Breakfast on December 16th, the morning after our annual Christmas party.  It was our privilege to help honor our Schools Teachers in the Christmas Season.   Thank you to Greg Flanagan, Kent Deener, Lou Rundio, Frank Biank, Mike Gilbert, and John Posch ( Not pictured ).  Thank you note is attached at the top of this article. 

Click on the photo below to see the photo gallery of this event.  

St Joseph- Libertyville Won the 2024 Kringle Classic

As written by Kringle Classic Director, Brother Larry Szmurlo:

The weekend of, December 14th & 15th, we had four school teams compete for the 2024 Kringle Classic.The four schools include Immanuel Lutheran of Palatine, Willows Academy of Des Plaines,
St Thomas the Apostle of Crystal Lake and St /Joseph of Libertyville.
We had some wonderfully played games among these schools and St Joseph School won the tournament over Willows Academy. Immanuel had a well fought win over St Thomas for 3rd Place standing.
As usual, parents appreciated their kids playing through this tournament and were also very appreciative of the Knights of Columbus providing a great atmosphere and help to their teams.
Thanks to Brothers Ron Wojewoda and Tom Kabaec for handling the two days of scorer duties.
Certainly appreciate all of  the Brother Knights that helped out at the concessions table on Saturday and Sunday.
This is a great event for the Council to provide a memorable outlet to those guests attending.
During this past competition, many of the parents were very pleased with the overall tournament.

Keep Christ in Christmas 2024

2024 Keep Christ in Christmas as an enormous success due to the work of Holy Family Catholic Academy Art Teacher Jamie Schnell, and program director Mike Colby. Approximately 330 students participated, making the drawings in Jamie's art class.  The drawings were judged in 5 categories, Kindergarten, First and Second, Third and Fourth,  Fifth and Sixth, and Seventh and Eighth.  In each category the first place winners received a $25 gift card, Second received a $15 gift card, Third place was a $10 gift card.  All of the winners as well as three consolation prize winners received a free breakfast at the "Café" for their Family. 

The poster below created by Rich Surma, contains the winning pictures. To see the photo gallery for the winning students, click anywhere on the image below. 

Holy Family Christmas Tree Lighting 12/08/24

Thanks to our wonderful volunteers ( from left) Dan Ostermeyer, Mike Stacy, Bob Vanselow, Rick McMahon, and Dan Tokarz.  See photo gallery for more images. 

Thank you note from Scott McCoppin

Scott's Thank you card
 

Our wonderful weekend maintenance man, Scott McCoppin left Holy Family before Christmas to  fulfil his education and goal of being a High School Teacher. Scott has a new job in Michigan.  The Knights appreciated Scotts help and dedication on weekends that we had events.  Rick McMahon presented Scott with a gift card as a token of our appreciation for all he did to help us.  

Attached above is a thank you note received from Scott. 

Holy Family 40th Anniversary

On Saturday November 23rd, our Parish celebrated 40 years since the parish formation!  The Knights served in the opening procession. These photos and more are in the website photo gallery.  

 

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Intellectual Disabilities Drive Donation to Little City

Our Council is proud of our partnership this year with Little City.  Little City does so much to build confidence and independence among those with neurologic challenges, and they are located right here in our Parish.  Between our hours outside of Jewel,  at the intersections, in the church narthex, our online contributions, and our  $500 Café donation, we were able to  donate $8276.07 to Little City. The check was proudly presented to Little City's Theresa Fifarek by Father Terry at our November 17th Café. 

Thank you to all our volunteers for your long hours and sore feet, You made a difference! 

 

Below is the Photo of the donation presentation by Father Terry to Theresa Fifarek of Little City, and GK Rick McMahon.  Also below is a thank you note from Little City CEO Rich Bobby. 

Thank you note from Military Outreach

Military Outreach Thank you Note
 

Back in November of 2024 we donated $500 to Military Outreach from our Café proceeds.  Attached above is the note from Military Outreach showing appreciation for our gift.  

Thank You Note from Stepping Stones Foundation of Hope

Stepping Stones Thank You Note
 

As you may recall, the beneficiary of our Cafe in Octoberr was the Stepping Stones Foundation.  We donated $500! Attached above is the Thank you note for our gift. 

Thank You Note from our recent Coat Donation

In early October the Knights ordered coats to be distributed between the Welcome a Stranger ministry and the Chicago Voyagers, Chancellor Bernie Rupe is involved with both organizations and recommended that instead of donating money to a coat fund, we actually buy them for these worthy organizations. It is incredible to see how quickly these coats made a difference in the lives of the Gawiya family!  Pictured are Amos, Rahila, Sylvester, Andrew, Rifkatu, Yakubu, Patience and Adamu.  

Your efforts will keep a family warm, who are not accustomed to winter weather.  What a blessing to have the opportunity to help! 

How to help us Recruit more Members - Quick and Easy!

How many times have we been asked about joining the Knights.  Were you ready?

Our Website has a button ( on the front page)  that takes you to a page with easy instructions and a link to online sign up.  It costs the person nothing to sign up, all we need is YOU to be ready! 

Please put a 11981 Website Icon on your phone so you are ready to help recruit! See Rick or anyone in the leadership team for instructions on how to do this!