Knights of Columbus

Last Updated 12-8-02

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
St. Michael's of Poplar Springs
Council No 10525
Mt. Airy, MD

The Knights of Columbus

A Catholic,
Family,
Fraternal,
Service Organization

Calendar of Events for 2002
Officers

Our history is exciting. The order of The Knights of Columbus was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven Conneticut. In December 1990, 31 men along with Father Michael Ruane Chartered our Council known as St. Michael's of Poplar Springs Council. Our Council was the 10,525^th of our order under the leadership of SK. Vincent Kirchner, PGK. Our first Grand Knight. Today, St. Michael's is one of over 12,200 councils worldwide.

We are a FAMILY Organization:

Our calendar is full of social events. In February, we hold our Ladies Appreciation Dinner Dance. This is the only function in which the men treat the ladies! Children are left with sitters or family and the men do all the work. Women are not allowed in the kitchen that evening. We even entertain our women that evening with a dancing chorus line.

In May we hold one of the two planned Parish picnics, the second one is scheduled for October.

In September we have our Annual Golf Outing, which proves to be fun for all, even for those of us who are not to talented in that sport.

And we cap off December with our Annual Breakfast with Santa and Santa's Secret Shop.

In fact St. Michael's does several events through-out the year with our youth. Besides our Breakfast with Santa we have a Scholarship Program for at least one youth each year.

St. Michael's of Poplar Springs Council, each year holds Fish Dinners in conjunction with Lent. These dinners are held on Friday nights to offer our parish family the opportunity to eat as a family, then attend the Stations of the Cross, provided by our Deacons.

Finally our members take an extremely activepart in the State Car Raffle Campaign. We reserve a booth at the Howard County Fair and our members and their family members man this booth for Eight Days and Nights. In fact, in 1997, St. Michael's of Poplar Springs sold over 10,000 Car Raffle Tickets to the Community.

We are a Catholic Organization:

St. Michael's of Poplar Springs Council, serves predominantly, St. Michael's Parish. However, we do have members from other parishes. We sing int their choirs, we are members of Parish Councils, Religious Education Teachers; we are Ushers, Lector's, we even serve as Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist. One of our Brother Knights Ushers at the Basilica of the NAtional Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

In short we serve our Pastor, as much or as long as our pastor wants us to serve him. We hold a Memorial Mass in December for our deceased Brothers. All of their widows are invited. We are part of the Keep Christ in Christmas Campaign, and we sell Christmas Cards. When a brother is called to God, we gather at the funeral home, and with the permission of the family, Pray the Rosary for the eternal repose of his soul. The Rosary is usually led by our Grand Knight. to promote the vocations to the priesthood and religious life, our council supports a seminarian, with an annual stripend.

We are a Fraternal Organization

Many long lasting friendships began in our Council thru Social and Service Activities. The membership finds out about our events and activities as well as the State's and Supreme's Activities thru our newsletter, The Knight's Pages.

New members enter our order about six times a year. Each prospective new member would have met with our Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee would have answered questions to the prospective members and explained to each prospective member what our order has to offer.

The Membership and Retention Committee's work to acquire new members and retaining the old ones with us.

Our Lecturer prepares instructive, interesting and entertaining programs which we enjoy at our Social Meetings. Certainly there is something for everybody in the multiple activities of our Council.

We are a Service Organization:

Our Council is involved with Civic Activities, many of us volunteer to: Donate goods, food, blood, and our time. Indeed, to lend a hand to all those in need.

Suring those religious educational months of our year (sept. thru March) we give recognition to the Catechist of the Month. Our Grand Knight awards the Catechist of the moth with a plaque and a Gift Certificate for Dinner at a really nice local resturant.

We are Pro-Life, and as such we have programs dedicated to this issue. Through them we learn more about the horrors of abortion and what we can do as society members and as parents to combat this inhumane and barbaric procedure. Some of our members participate in the Annual March for LIFE, in Washington, DC, in January of each year.

Each year, our Charity Committee distributes money raised for that purpose to several carefully screened organizations, in need of help. Finally, in October our members dedicate several hours, either at a Supermarket or at the door of our Church to request donations, earmarked for the Mentally Challenged (God's Special Children), through the Tootsie Roll Campaign!

Meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Classroom/Hall. Vince Naples, Grand Knight or John Lackay, Financial Secretary .

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