From the Grand Knight

Brother Knights:

Before I returned to the Church, I never thought much about this time of the year, other than following Church rules meant I must give up something that I enjoyed for forty days. Of course I never followed through on my commitment and did not think much of it.

Giving up, or sacrificing, your desires--not watching your favorite television program, not smoking, or not eating ice cream--was the norm for most Catholics that I knew. For me, almsgiving was just giving money to the church for its support.

Now, since I have returned to the true Church of Christ, I have begun to relish the season, and I find that it is a perfect time to examine my mind, that great gift from God that is able to either focus on Jesus and receive blessings from heaven through free will, or to reject Him.

When I ask God during prayer to increase my faith, hope, and charity, it seems that charity is always comes first to mind because of love. That prayer was answered when I was asked to join the Knights of Columbus, an avenue to help Him in so many different small ways: I now see that I need not be a great martyr to please Jesus.

Now, I see that just helping a fellow human being through our council's projects is very pleasing to our Lord, and that is what He has been asking all along.

BUT, is that all? Well, not really, what He really wants is that the efforts or sacrifices are from the HEART, to help my fellow man because I really felt compassion for him and not just because it "was a good thing to do."

What a great opportunity to be able to serve through the Knight of Columbus. Then I ask myself: with over 150 members in our council, I have noticed that about 10% use this way of service to our Lord. I am aware that there are other means to achieve the same goal, but the KofC is a terrific way to serve.

To those, for whatever reason, have not put their Lenten duties into action, come work with us. We welcome you.

- Gary Kiesel