Mary Immaculate Council, 12769

Secaucus, N.J. 07094

July 2007

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A message from your Grand Knight:

"Brothers in faith shall do Great Deeds." That is the new State Council Theme for 2007-2008.  It is fairly close to the Franciscan teachings I have heard over the last ten years living here in New Jersey- "Brothers while we still have breathe in us let us do good works."  How true, both of these themes can be put into reality in the coming year if you, my fraternal brothers, can come out and participate in the council activities that are planned.  I know work, family and other commitments hinder many, but could you set aside five hours in the year to come to two or three meetings, help at one event or be part of one of our fundraiser's?  If the answer is "yes" our good works will expand and our deeds will not go unnoticed by others.

At our officers meeting on July 9th I decided to shake things up a little and assigned each council officer, including myself, seven or eight members. We will reach out to you not only to invite you to upcoming meeting but look to you to help us with whatever projects have been assigned to us and more importantly look toward you to help the officers find out why you joined and what ideas you have to spur growth in the council.

Also at the officers meeting we decided that the fair share raffle which we all had a part in on the collection that netted the council $3057 will be divided between Immaculate Conception Church, three seminaries, and a seminarian in his third year of studies under the RSVP program. The officers also approved two other items- $276 be given to the Hudson County Sheriffs department so a monitoring device can be purchased for an Alzheimer patient in the area and $100 to promote fraternity by approving the Unico Tournament placement fee for the council Bocce Team- if you want more information on this contact Jim Cannon .  Please come to the July 18th meeting to vote on these items.  You helped build the treasury it is your say that is important where the money goes.  

Next to last item, membership, my hope is that thru our programs and thru you, our members, we will attract new members while retaining the members already on our current roster. Starting today I challenge everyone to try to bring in at least one new member this year.  At the end of each quarter, our Council will award a $30 gift certificate to any member -except for the Grand Knight, who has brought in the most new members in the three month period.  I will award the first certificate at our first meeting in October!

To those of us who’ve joined the council and ask ourselves "I don't know how I fit in or I don't have time to help the council."  Here is a very easy way to help the council while also promoting the Knights- Do you attend mass at ICC? If "yes", why not consider becoming a Eucharistic Minister, a Lector or an Usher?  If you are going to mass why not fully participate instead of sitting on the sidelines.  If you or any family member would like more information on becoming a Eucharistic Minister contact Brother Knight George Broemmer at 201-864-0433. Lecturer information, you can contact Brother Knight Edward Lew at 201-865-8905. For usher information, please contact Brother Knight Angelo Andriani at 201-330-8589.

The Knights of Columbus is built on Faith, Family and Fraternity. You elected me to this position and I am here to listen to your needs for this is your council not mine.  I will guide the council to the best of my abilities but I can not do it alone. Let’s have a good year and continue to Great Deeds for our church, community and our families!

Vivat Jesus!

Neal McGarrity

A short message from our Chaplain:

Brother Knights, in two years we as a parish will celebrate our 100^th Anniversary! How awesome to realize that Immaculate Conception Church has provided religious and social services to the community of Secaucus for nearly one hundred years! We have celebrated Marriages, Baptisms, Confirmations, First Communions, and Reconciliation. We have anointed the sick, and entrusted our dearly departed to the Lord’s care.

We have provided and continue to provide Parochial School education and Religious Education [CCD] for our own children as well as sharing our Catholic Faith with those who come from other religious traditions. This too is part of the Mission of the Church. We were given the commission by Jesus to go and bring the Gospel to all nations. The work of Evangelization continues in many forms. Numerous students have gone on to distinguish themselves in just about every profession imaginable. They have been and are a credit to the foresight and sacrifices that go hand in hand with running a parish school and an even larger Religious Education program, caring for the spiritual needs and Sacramental preparation of those who attend our Public Schools.

By our presence here in town, thousands have been served!

We who presently live and worship here are enjoying the fruits of the labors of all who have gone before us; pastors, priests, Religious, teachers, lay volunteers, catechists, various organizations and ministries, too numerous to enumerate here. Now we are gearing up to commemorate our beginnings and our rich history. As I write this, the Pastoral Council is preparing some recommendations on how we might mark this wonderful anniversary with activities throughout the year leading up to and culminating with a Mass and Dinner Gala in April of 2009. This may sound like the distant future, but much work, planning and enthusiasm will be needed to honor who we are as a Church Community in Secaucus. 2009 will be here in the blink of an eye. I know you are justly proud of our accomplishments. I know the parish, as always, can rely on the support and “muscle” of the brothers in the Knights of Columbus Council of Mary Immaculate.

Fr. Joseph Pietropinto, Pastor

Attention members:

-Congratulations to Father James Tucker on celebrating his first anniversary as a priest.  Keep him in your prayers for many more years to our church.

-Congratulations to Joseph and Mary Capozio on their 50th anniversary in May! Congrats also goes to Deacon Earle Connelly and his wife Angela on their 30th anniversary in July! If anyone is celebrating their wedding anniversary, just let the council know so we may recognize you and your wife’s achievement!

-Keep Dr. Esteban Cabrera in your prayers as this year is a year of discernment for him to see where God is calling him in religious life.  He has also accepted to be the council Vocations Director.

-Let us keep the following brother knights in our prayers as they are recovering from illnesses: Jerry Casale, Alex Cunnan and Vincent Citro

-The council will continue to run its summer canned food drive. Please bring non perishable foods to our meetings during this summer and it will then be disbursed to the food pantries in the area to help those in need.  

-Contest with a prize: Brother Knights this newsletter has been around for awhile but it is not personable for it has no name.  I am asking all to put on your thinking caps and come up with some names- hopefully decent ones- and why it should be named that and I will bring it to an officers vote in September. Our next newsletter will be at the end of September. The member with the winning entry will get a free pizza pie from either Plaza Pizza or Natoili's compliments of the Grand Knight!  You can send your entries either via email to mcgarritye@aol.com or in the mail to 814 9th Street, Secaucus, N.J. 07094. Good Luck to all!

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Insurance Section

For nearly 125 years the Knights of Columbus have offered a portfolio of life insurance products to meet the needs of its members and their families.  They are now offering Long Term Care Insurance to meet the today's changing needs that our families are facing.  Don't let nursing home or other extended care costs wipe away what has taken you a lifetime to build!  Put your trust in the Knights of Columbus with your life insurance needs and contact your General Agent Miguel Rodriguez to set up an appointment to discuss your family’s needs.  He can be reached at 973-868-0967 or mrod694@yahoo.com.

Dates of Interest

July
        18^th Business Meeting

26^th Red Bulls Soccer game at Giants Stadium, $20.00 tentative on group rate for 25 attendees, see GK Neal McGarrity

28^th Italian Night with Frank Sinatra, $12 a person
29^th Medieval Times, with the children from Good Counsel at $40 adult/ $35 child

Aug.

1^st Installation of Council Officers 7:30 pm. all are invited.

15^th Business Meeting

19^th Council Picnic. All are invited with pool passes made available.

26^th Baseball Game Day trip to Trenton. $10 a ticket

Sept.

5^th Business Meeting

8^th Church Picnic

15^th Library Mini Fair. Council gives out Child Id Kits

24^th Officers Meeting

19^th Second Meeting

29^th Membership Drive before and after the 5:30 mass
30th Membership Drive before and after all masses. Open House in the cafeteria. 

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Fourth Degree News:

As we prepare to embark on a new year I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. There will be a 4th Degree Exemplification in October on the 14th in Haledon. I would like to see at least two new sir knights come out of our council. Meetings are on the second Thursday of each month at 8 PM at Queen of Peace Council Hall in North Arlington 194 River Road. I am contemplating on moving some meetings here to our church with Fr. Joe's approval if we can attract more Sir Knights to attend meetings.

We had our Veteran's Breakfast and raised funds to send to the Paramus Veteran's Home. As you know the 4th Degree is the Patriotic Arm of the Knights of Columbus and we show our patriotism in various ways through volunteering at various events. Also once you have become a 4th Degree Knight you are entitled to join the Color Corps. If you have any questions about joining the 4th Degree ask any Sir Knight in the Council or contact me at 201-866-2293.

Your brother,

Sir Knight Sal Manente Sr.

Faithful Navigator