Newsletter: December 2020

In This Issue:

• Message from our Worthy Grand Knight
• Call for Volunteers
• Blessed Mother Statue Refurbishing Fundraiser
• Meeting Minutes for December 3rd, 2020
• Hall Update
• Order Wide News:  Free Year Membership Last Chance and more...
• Diocesan News: Posada
• Prayer Corner
• Upcoming Events

Message:

As we look forward to the new year. I am always reminded of why I became a Knight of Columbus. My personal story starts with trying to find a way to give back to my community. I was at that point in my life where I felt so grateful for what the Lord has provided me and my family. I couldn't find the right organization that had the same catholic values as I did.
I was invited to join Knight Council Assumption 3397 at St. Bridget's. I quickly found a group of brothers that had my same beliefs and goals of Charity Unity Fraternity and Patriotism
So, to any catholic gentlemen interested in joining Assumption 3397 we welcome you with warm hearts. To my current brothers please reflect on 2020. Ask yourself did I reach my personal goals as a Knight of Columbus. How am I going to build my faith and spirit as a brother Knights?
Thank you
God Bless

Worthy Grand Knight Neal Cullen

Call for Volunteers

Fr. John is asking for volunteers to assist on two days:

December 20th Christmas Setup 

Help set up for Christmas Mass on December 20th after the 11 am Mass (~11:45 am). Contact the parish office to volunteer 856-881-2753

December 24th Christmas Eve 4 pm Mass.

Help is needed escorting people, cleaning, and other tasks related to church regulations. Contact the parish office to volunteer 856-881-2753

Blessed Mother Statue Refurbishing Fundraiser

Do you know someone who has a Marian statue that could better show the world the beauty and glory of Mary? Assumption 3397 is refurbishing Marian statues as a fundraiser for the Council. Please contact Jim at 856-630-1263 for more information.

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Highlights From December 3rd, 2020 meeting.

Fr. John Rossi spoke on the symbols and meaning of Advent. A recording can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/neal.cullen.5/videos/10218574745736643

Fr. John's message used the beautiful stained glass windows in our church that are just under the roof on the Church St. side, see images below. These beautiful windows show salvation history, from Creation to the Cross.  This history is important. It is God calling His people into a more intimate union with Him. This history is His- story. We see in the windows the building up to Christ's secret and hidden 1st coming. Consider prayerfully gazing upon the windows next time you are in the church. They are subtle but beautiful symbols. 

In closing Fr. John contrasted the anticipation of the 1st coming, which the Church Fathers symbolically viewed as 4,000 years, to our Advent season each year. How long did God's people wait for their Savoir! In contrast, our Advent season is so short. While we celebrate the 1st coming in Advent,  Fr. John reminded us that we also anticipate and prepare for the 2nd coming. This second coming will not be quite, everyone will know it is happening. How can we prepare? We must be with Jesus who comes to us in the Blessed Sacrament. Sadly, just as people during the 1st coming missed the presence of God, many people today do not realize that Jesus is with us so intimately in our churches. Fr. John made the following challenges to help us during this Advent:

• Make sacrifices
• Do things to show your love for God
• Sit in silence with God. Pray "I welcome You God into my heart"

Our meeting ended with prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. John led the council in praying the Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary.

A reflection from the Lecturer:

Consider the last challenge Fr. John provided. Take a few minutes each day to sit silently. There are profound places and moments to take advantage of such as receiving the Eucharist or before Mass or when reading Scripture. Try to do this weekly.  Also, consider making the not so profound moments profound. Try setting a timer after you have lunch. Give yourself 60 seconds to sit in silence and pray as Fr. John suggested. Maybe sit with your eyes shut or while gazing at one of the beautiful symbols the church offers, such as the stained glass windows at St. Bridget's, which point us to God.

Download the December business meeting minutes to review more meeting details.

Hall Updates

We finished the first coat of paint and a lot of cleaning! The second coat of paint is to come next as well as decorating with the accouterments to make the Hall fitting for our business meetings (flags, photos, awards, etc.). We hope to have the Hall blessed and dedicated early in the new year! View More Photos Here

Order Wide News

Free Year Membership Last Chance

Limited Time Offer Ends December 31st! Free Online Membership

Invite men to join online for free using the promo code MCGIVNEY2020. We all know men who know about the Knights but haven't stepped into the breach and joined our ranks yet. Share the news of our Founder's beatification and offer them free online membership!

Become a Knight  

Conviértase en Caballero 

A WITNESS FOR THE WORLD

New documentary examines the global impact of Blessed Michael McGivney.  See the video and other recent news at https://www.kofc.org/en/news-room/index.html

Community: Coats for Kids

A gift of only $20 today will provide a new coat for a child in need, keeping him warm all winter. Knights step into the breach in their communities to ensure that no child goes without a coat during those cold winter months. For more information on how your council can help provide coats to those children in need, please visit kofc.org/coats. 

Life: March for Life

Step into the breach and start planning for the March for Life near you by visiting marchforlife.org or kofc.org/march for important updates and resources.

Diocesan News

December 18, 2020: Posada, a traditional Hispanic Advent celebration that commemorates the travel of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph to Bethlehem. This year the Office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry is teaming up with other offices to bring this celebration to you via the Diocesan social media platforms.

Join us live, go to: www.facebook.com/DioceseOfCamden/live_videos/;
https://www.facebook.com/YoungChurchSJ:
https://www.facebook.com/MinisterioHispanoDOC

To learn more about what is going on in Camden Diocese check out https://www.camdendiocese.org/

Prayer Corner

A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION IN TIME OF PANDEMIC

 O Mary, you always brighten our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the Cross, took part in Jesus’ pain while remaining steadfast in faith. O loving Mother, you know what we need, and we are confident you will provide for us as at Cana in Galilee. Intercede for us with your Son Jesus, the Divine Physician, for those who have fallen ill, for those who are vulnerable, and for those who have died. Intercede also for those charged with protecting the health and safety of others and for those who are tending to the sick and seeking a cure. Help us, O Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who took upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows, so as to lead us, through the Cross, to the glory of the Resurrection. Amen. Under thy protection we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God. In our needs, despise not our petitions, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. Adapted from the prayer of Pope Francis

Upcoming Events

About Assumption Council 3397 

Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society.  

Assumption 3397 chartered January 07, 1951. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. Assumption 3397 was formed to render aid and assistance to sick, disabled, and poverty-stricken parishioners of St. Bridget’s along with our council’s members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, and public relief works.  

Our membership stays strong with growth up to 67 members with a strong core of devoted catholic brothers living the mission of Father McGivney. Our order is stronger during these trying times than ever before. As you can witness in our weekly mass, parish events, donations on a community and larger level, during trying times, we come together in unity for the betterment of each other.  

Join the Knights

Become a Knight  

Conviértase en Caballero