News & Announcements

Father Edward Fox Council 6747 – St. Mary’s Lenten Fish Fry's

 

Father Fox Council will be sponsoring Lenten Fish Fry’s on Friday, March 25 and Friday, April 1 at 5:00 pm (before the Stations of the Cross) at St. Mary’s. Dinners will consist of Fish (grilled or fried), French Fries, Hush Puppies, Coleslaw, and a Dessert Cookie. Cost is $10 / dinner.  The Knights will be taking pre-orders following all masses on March 12 -13 and March 19-20 in the Narthex. Carry out is available or eat in.

 

Ten volunteer Knights are needed each day. Please use Sign-up Genius to volunteer:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A5AD29A5F4CF8-knights

Silver Rose Prayer Service Promoting the Dignity of All Human Life

 

The Knights of Columbus Silver Rose Prayer Service is a Faith in Action – Life Program.  Father Edward Fox Council 6747 has been honored and privileged to host The Silver Rose Icon in March 2022. Please join the Knights of Columbus on Saturday, March 19, 2022, 6:30 pm at Holy Spirit or Sunday, March 20, 2022, 9:45 am at St. Mary’s for the Silver Rose Prayer Service. 

The Silver Rose program demonstrates the unity between Knights of Columbus in Canada, the United States and Mexico, through a series of prayer services promoting the dignity of all human life and honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe.

 

“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

St. Mary's Glean Team High Tunnel (Hoop House) Announcement

                The St Mary’s Glean Team has a High Tunnel (Hoop House) being delivered next week (7-9 March) and has requested assistance from the Knights with offloading the parts off the delivery truck. The truck is scheduled to leave New Hampshire on March 7th so the actual delivery time is still TBD but will most likely come in during daytime hours (9-5) on Tuesday, 8 March or Wednesday, 9 March. John Galbraith will update the actual delivery time on Monday, 7 March.

I understand the if the delivery comes in during the workday hours (9AM-5PM) those of us that are required to work a daytime job to pay the mortgage cannot assist, but if the truck comes in after 5 PM – perhaps we can find time to assist.

The Glean Team stated that they need 6-8 persons, but many hands make work light. The individual pieces are not heavy but need to be unloaded by hand. It should take about 30 minutes to unload and 30 minutes to drive the parts over to the garden area. 

Please let me know if you will be able to help the Glean Team next week, so I can update John Galbraith so he can plan the offloading event.

Vivat Jesus

 

Timothy J. Leake

Grand Knight

Knights of Columbus

Father Edward Fox Council 6747

540-808-5959

GK6747@vakofc.org

 

Polar Plunge 2022 Update

 

 

WSLS 10 Polar Plunge:

Special Olympics’ Polar Plunge raises more than $56,000 (wsls.com)

 

Excerpt from Joey Wheeler’s Polar Plunge Speech:

 

“Good morning, my name is Joey Wheeler.  I participate in Special Olympics with Area 9 in Blacksburg, VA. I moved here in September 2020 from Area 26 in Northern Virginia. It was really important to me to be able to join new teams and make friends all while being safe during the pandemic.  Special Olympics and YOU make a difference for so many people.  THANK YOU!

 

The sports that I have participated in are Basketball, Bocce, soccer, flag football, Bowling, Softball, Track and Field, Floor Hockey, Cross Country Skiing and cycling.

 

I am plunging as part of a team for the Knights of Columbus.  I would like to thank my council for their support.  In addition, many friends and family have donated to my page.

 

Thank you to all of the plungers for coming out and supporting me and my fellow Special Olympics athletes. As you can see, I am joining the many people out here today to plunge. The funds that you have raised go to opportunities for athletes, coaches and unified partners to train, compete and make new friends.

I would just like to say to all of the plungers and the onlookers today let's have some FUN plunging. We are ALL IN and Plunging Our Way!”

 

Future Leaders Training

 

The Training Team will hold two sessions for your council's future leaders on Wednesday, March 16th, and Saturday, March 26th.  They are open to anyone who'd like to attend, so please share with anyone you think might be interested.  Each session will be identical, so there's no need to attend both.

Registration is required for these sessions.  Registration links are located below and will also be posted in the Training Room on the State website at vakofc.org.  

Each session is scheduled for approximately two hours and includes time for discussion and questions.  The information covered will be general in nature, and not exclusively for Grand Knights.

Topics to be Covered

  • GK Duties and Council Officer Responsibilities
  • Important Council Roles (Membership, Program, Retention, Faith in Action)
  • Relationship with DD and State Officers & Staff
  • Planning (Financial, Membership, Programs, Tools)
  • Officers Online/Member Management Overview 
  • State and Supreme Websites
  • Faith in Action Program 
  • Forms & Reports
  • Meetings (State, District, Council)
  • Nomination and Election Process
  • Youth Protection
  • KOVAR & VKCCI

First Session: Wednesday, March 16th, 7:00pm-9:00pm

https://meeting.windstream.com/j/1125688699?pwd=bHpuT3dQL204UjZDcEVUL1QzbUF5UT09

 

Second Session: Saturday, March 26th, 10:00am-Noon

https://meeting.windstream.com/j/1121612074?pwd=Z1NHczBDRW4za2R0ZWs0NzhINE5EQT09

Message from Supreme Knight on Ukraine

 

Brother Knights,

The situation in Ukraine is dire and worsening. The people of Ukraine, and our brother Knights and their families in that nation, need our help. I call upon all Knights to join me in praying for peace in Ukraine, and especially for the safety of our more than 1,800 brother Knights and their families who suddenly face the danger of war. Please also join me in responding to the recent appeal of Pope Francis to join him in prayer and fasting for Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, March 2.

 

In addition to our prayers, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council has committed $1.5 million for immediate distribution to support Ukrainian refugees, including Ukrainian Knights and their families. We will be working with our councils in Poland as well as the Latin and Greek Catholic Churches in Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance.

Knights of Columbus Charities has launched the Ukraine Solidarity Fund for this purpose, and the Supreme Council will match all funds up to $500,000. Please prayerfully consider contributing to this effort. For additional information about the Knights of Columbus Ukraine Solidarity Fund and how to donate, please visit here.

 

Let me conclude with the words I addressed to our brother Knights in Ukraine in a video message to them: “In this time of intense danger, know that your brother Knights of Columbus around the world are praying for you, your families and all the people of Ukraine. We ask that our Lord protect you and your loved ones and restore peace in your land. We ask that He give you strength and courage to persevere.”

 

You can view the entire video message here.

 

Fraternally,

Patrick E. Kelly
Supreme Knight

SJNA Catholic Schools Week 2022 – Student Recognition

 

National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic Education in the United States. Catholic Schools Week 2022 is from January 30, 2022 – February 5, 2022.  “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” is this year’s theme. Annually as part of our “Knights Helping Knights” initiative, the Knights of Columbus collaborate with Neumann Knights in our Catholic Citizenship Essay and Keep Christ in Christmas Poster contests. Grand Knight Tim Leake recognized students from Saint John Neumann Academy (SJNA) on February 2, 2022.

 

The topic for the Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest was to describe everyday obstacles that you may have experienced or witnessed others experiencing while living a life of authentic faith. Explain how you have overcome these obstacles and how, by doing so, it has helped your faith to continue to grow.

 

Students wrote a 500–700-word essay and judged on Content, Grammar, and Style.

The First Place Student in the essay contest is Mollie Hughes.

 

The Keep Christ in Christmas Essay contest engages the creative talents and imagination of students with the hope that they develop a deeper understanding of the true, spiritual meaning of Christmas. Posters judged on being 11x17 in size; the original work; and on Slogan, Visuals, and Overall Impact.   

 

The First Place Student in the 5–7-year age group is Charlotte Harrison

The First Place Student in the 8–10-year age group is Emma Harrison

 

Thank you to all Judges that participated this year: Jamie Cogbill, Frank Gwazdauskas, Jim Holt Family, Tim Leake, Matt Motsko, Asa Weber, Matt Wheeler and Claude Steele for coordinating these “Faith in Action” Programs. Great Job!

 

Submitted by: Claude Steele, Chancellor

Food and Fund Drives 2021 Update


Two Food and Fund drives were held at Food Lion stores in Blacksburg and Christiansburg to benefit MCEAP and
address hunger issues in the New River Valley. On October 20, 2021, in Blacksburg, 926 lbs. of food collected and
$502.26 donated. On November 6, 2021, in Christiansburg, 861 lbs. of food collected and $506.45 donated. Thank you to
all Brother Knights that volunteered their time. Our first principle is Charity.

KOVAR Update Ending 2021


This year, the Father Fox Council has collected $1,775 in support of KOVAR by placing donation Kan’s at 12 businesses
in Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Shawsville, Virginia The money collected will support KOVAR in providing grants to organizations that provide work, job training and housing for individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout Virginia.


Fraternal year 2020-2021 (FY21), KOVAR provided $347,471 in grant funds to 24 different organizations. In addition,
KOVAR has provided $1.8M in interest free homes loans to 17 Group Home in Virginia. The payment on these loans
enabled KOVAR to provide an additional interest free loan in FY21 for $204K. In the 50-year history of KOVAR, no
Group Home Provider has defaulted on a KOVAR home loan.


The Kan’s continue to provide Father Fox Council the opportunity to support KOVAR and its goals for FY22.


Submitted by: Matthew Wheeler, Treasure

March for Life 2022

 

The theme of this year’s march is “Equality Begins in the Womb,” which organizers say “highlights how true equality is only possible if we recognize that children in the womb also deserve protection.”

 

This year’s march comes at a time as a decision is awaited in the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

 

Knights and their families are encouraged to participate in the @marchforlife – the world’s largest annual human rights demonstration – in Washington, D.C., Friday, January 21, 2022. The event will be livestreamed on the March for Life website beginning with a rally at 12 pm EST. https://marchforlife.org/

The Toys from the Heart 2021


The Toys from the Heart made Christmas morning a little nicer for 261 children throughout the New River Valley.
Each child (through their parents shopping) received 6 gifts, sack of stocking stuffers per household, food basket and
Kroger gift card from United Way according to family size, other clothing items they could use and a free artificial or real
tree

Gifts From The (Heart) For The Holidays

WDBJ 7:  Published: Dec. 20, 2021 at 11:32 PM EST featuring Worthy Financial Secretary Nelson Carey talking about the Toys from the Heart Program.

 

Gifts From The "Heart" For Holidays (wdbj7.com)

PRESENTING, FATHER ANTHONY SENYAH

Rev. Anthony Oduro Senyah is from Ghana, born on December 29, 1976. He was brought up in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti Region, Ghana by his parents; Mr. Peter (deceased) and Mrs. Agnes Oduro Senyah. He is the eldest of five children (Anthony, Albert, Elizabeth, Peter and Abigail).  

He entered the major seminary in response to God’s calling in 1998 and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Kumasi on July 17, 2004. He was appointed as Chaplain to St. Louis College of Education, Kumasi and was reassigned after four years as a co-chaplain to Opoku Ware School, Kumasi. He taught an introductory course in Information Technology in both educational Institutions.

In 2014, his Bishop received a humble request from the Diocese of Richmond, VA to send priests for ministry. He was contacted by his Bishop, and with all humility and obedience, accepted the mission. He arrived in November, 2014 from Ghana and stayed briefly with another Ghanaian Priest at Suffolk, Va. He subsequently had his first appointment as Parochial Vicar to St. Anne’s, Bristol, St. Bernard, Gate City and St. Patrick Catholic Church, Dungannon. In June 2015 he received recognition as Parish Administrator of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Christiansburg and Holy Family Catholic Church, Pearisburg. Hoping and trusting that God will continue to use him as an instrument in contributing to the enrichment of our Catholic Communities. We welcome Father Anthony and pray that our Heavenly Father will watch over and bless him.