Council #3136
Fr. Patrick J. Murphy
Casa Grande, AZ US
Please support the rebuild of St. Anthony of Padua Church by participating in the Queen of Hearts raffle! The link to the raffle site is below:
https://goraisedough.com/buy/3340
Here is the link to the photo gallery of Queen of Hearts flyer. Share it with your friends and family! Please spread the word, and lets try to sell as many tickets as possible!
Brothers, please pray for these Seminarians. They are the future of the church! You can also write letters of support and/or send a monetary donation. The letters and/or money can be dropped off at the Rectory Office with Marta Rodriguez. She will make sure the Seminarian receive it. Here is the link to the photo gallery of the Seminarians. Below is more information about each one.
1) Roberto Cortes-Peral is in his "Propaedeutic" year. It is an introductory year-long program for men considering the priesthood that focuses on intense human and spiritual formation rather than academics.
2) Matthew David is in his "Internship" year. For seminarians this is commonly known as the pastoral year, which is a period of hands-on ministry in a parish or church setting, typically between the second and third years of theological studies.
3) Stephen Grummett is in his "Propaedeutic" year. It is an introductory year-long program for men considering the priesthood that focuses on intense human and spiritual formation rather than academics.
4) Josue Limon is in his "Discipleship" Year. This is where the heart of priestly discernment takes place, which is also the stage associated with full-time academic study of Philosophy. Men without a college degree work toward a B.A. in Philosophy; whereas men already with college degrees study to fulfill the prerequisites required for the study of Theology in the next stage.
5) Dylan Martin is in his "Propaedeutic" year. It is an introductory year-long program for men considering the priesthood that focuses on intense human and spiritual formation rather than academics.
6) Carlos Nagore is now a Deacon and he will be Ordained in June 2026.
7) Julian Osborn is in his "Discipleship" Year. This is where the heart of priestly discernment takes place, which is also the stage associated with full-time academic study of Philosophy. Men without a college degree work toward a B.A. in Philosophy; whereas men already with college degrees study to fulfill the prerequisites required for the study of Theology in the next stage.
8) Diego Robles-Quintana is in his "Propaedeutic" year. It is an introductory year-long program for men considering the priesthood that focuses on intense human and spiritual formation rather than academics.
9) Ethan Serrano is in his "Propaedeutic" year. It is an introductory year-long program for men considering the priesthood that focuses on intense human and spiritual formation rather than academics.
On September 7, 2025 Knights of Columbus from across our district gathered at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church in Coolidge for the 2025-2026 Officer's Installation. Officers were officially sworn into their positions, supported by their families and brother Knights from their Councils. A reception followed. A photo gallery from this year's Officer Installation here.
Through the [Silver Rose Program] we honor not only Our Lady of Guadalupe and express the unity of the [Knights of Columbus], but we also reaffirm [our] dedication to the sanctity of human life. It is to the Blessed Mother that we turn in prayer as we work to end the Culture of Death that grips our society. As we think in terms of ’One Life, One rose. It is most appropriate that we turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe who made known her will through Juan Diego and the miracle of
the roses,” - Past Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
The 118th Annual Knights of Columbus State Convention was held May 2 and 3, 2025 at the Wildhorse Pass Resort in Chandler. The convention was hosted by Fr. Bob Binta Council #12246. The theme of the convention this year was "Faith Transforms Culture". Members of Knights of Columbus Council 3136 were in attendance.
Photos from the convention can be found here:
https://uknight.org/CouncilSite/photo-gallery.asp?ID=18677&CNO=3136
A Call To Holy Priesthood
Michael Vento has the heart of a servant leader, with a calling to especially serve “Christ distressingly disguised in the poor” as Saint Mother Teresa described those her call within a call centered around. He is currently living as a full-time lay missionary in a homeless shelter run by the Missionaries of Charity in Gallup, New Mexico. He previously lived as a volunteer in the Missionary of Charity’s shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. His other service over the years include but is not limited to: Sacristan duties (three times), Prison Ministry, Youth Ministry (several times including Life Teen, and at a Tri-lingual Catholic Church), Street Evangelization (such as in Kensington, PA, AKA “Zombie Land”), Pro-Life including helping launch a consistent life ethic shelter for Migrant Women and Children in ‘cartel country’ (Juárez, Mexico), Lector, Eucharistic Minister (at Mass, to the homebound, and the hospital), Usher, Altar Server, Catholic Farming Community, Chastity Speaker, Faith Formation Catechist (for children receiving Communion and also Confirmation), RCIA/OCIA Instructor, Parish Office volunteer, Franciscan volunteer with the poorest in the Dominican Republic, and volunteer 5th Grade Teacher - just to name a few.
Michael Vento has ‘a heart restless until it rests in God’, as St. Augustine put it. Born into a Catholic Family and given a Catholic education by Priests and Religious from Kindergarten through college, he now clearly sees a call by God through Our Lady to Priesthood starting back in the 8th grade. During the decades seeking God’s will in his life, Michael was very successful in his secular career spanning from Manhattan, New York’s financial district to Asia’s biomedical field, to being asked by one of the largest global banks to learn a new line of business and launch an office for them in Arizona in 2018.
Michael Vento has a heart for Brotherhood, being a Knight for almost 15 years starting at Council 394 in New York while living, discerning, and volunteering full-time with the LaSalle Christian Brothers. Michael joined our Council shortly after moving to Casa Grande amid lockdown restrictions lifting. Michael had also found work in Catholic organizations over the years ranging from Pro-Life to international media as he sought to hear God’s wish for his life.
On a Mission Trip to Guatemala in February 2025, while walking to where the first US Martyr gave his life (Blessed Father Stanley Rother, a Missionary from Oklahoma), Michael was told the amazing news that Bishop James Wall gave his permission for Michael to apply to be a Diocesan Seminarian! The Diocese of Gallup is the largest and poorest Diocese in the US, so where better would Jesus be sending him? Michael is completing his application for the Diocese, and is excited to learn which Seminary he will be attending this fall!
All for Jesus’ glory, through Mary! Vivat Jesus!
Brother Simon Okuagu and his family recently returned from a visit to Eastern Nigeria, where they delivered food, medicine and medical supplies to benefit several orphanages. “The visit to orphanages in Eastern Nigeria was a resounding success,” Okuagu said.
A pharmacist, Okuagu raises money each year to take supplies to help the children in Mary’s Perpetual Help Community Children’s Home in Nikpor, Nigeria, and other facilities in December.
Area residents, Knights of Columbus Council 3136, the Catholic Daughters of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and others help with the fundraising effort. “We were deeply moved by the overwhelming support from St. Anthony of Padua Parish and the Casa Grande community,” Okuagu said. “Their generosity enabled us to extend our assistance to three orphanages instead of the initially planned one.”
The full newspaper article can be found here:
https://www.pinalcentral.com/casa_grande_dispatch/area_news/family-delivers-contributions-from-casa-grande-to-nigerian-orphanages/article_2c0cd764-e18b-11ef-b5e5-abe14635ee24.html
Photos from the trip can be found here:
https://uknight.org/CouncilSite/photo-gallery.asp?ID=18512&CNO=3136
A link to Brother Simon's YouTube video about his trip can be found here:
https://youtu.be/m2AV-KMvMy0?si=vnVIn7qgClx1MZJ0