Author: Greg Searle

I am reminded of a homily so very long ago given by one of our parish priests.  It was about 1993.  He told the story of his shopping experiences in Chapel Hill.  He marveled at the cute sayings, little mice, Santa, animals, bright red banners of “Happy Holidays,” and other seasonal decor.

But, he asked, “Where was Christ?”  Our Holy Day was fast becoming a “shopping and celebration” experience without Christ in the middle of our life.  We were more for us and were losing, or maybe even lost, the meaning of Christ’s Holy Day.  The day he was born was fast becoming forgotten.

Like the book, “Neverending Story,” where the world was disappearing because the inhabitants lost interest and their beliefs …and … their world of Fantasia is slowly being devoured by a force called “The Nothing,” Christ and Christianity is being overshadowed and even erased from our lives and culture.

But, at Christmas we are reminded that The Promise of Christmas is still with us and brings hope to the world, for we believe.

Luke  2:9-14

 9. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

10 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.

12  And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

13  And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 

 

The Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Men of the Carolinas  announced the 2016 Catholic Men’s Conference in Raleigh.

Father James Sichko, one of the appointed “Missionaries of Mercy” appointed by Pope Francis, will share his dynamic stories and help us become the “Men of Mercy” that we are called to be.

Please join us at Saint Michaels the Archangel in Cary on October 1st for this spectacular speaker.

We are the leaders of our families and we are called to be Holy and merciful. Come listen as Father Jim guides us to be better men, fathers, and leaders within our communities! Tickets are $20 in advance, with discounts for Knights of Columbus members, seniors, and students. Priests and Deacons register for free! Check-in begins at 8am with a complimentary continental breakfast. Event begins at 9am.

For further information, go to https://rsvpbook.com/raleighcmc2016 or contact Jeff Hoffman at 919-249-7707 email CatholicMenRaleigh@gmail.com

Active Knights of Columbus members receive a $5.00 discount using the code KOC when registering online.

Please signup early, as no discounts will apply on the day of the event.

 

Calling all Knights and Men’s Club members (and, of course) kind-hearted volunteers to another monthly edition of “Let’s make a meal!”

We need volunteers to help staff the kitchen, serving line, and dining hall duties, and help with setup and tear down. Your help will contribute to the success of this ongoing fundraiser for STM School and Church.

If you can’t help out, then we invited you to support the breakfast by coming and eating, and bringing some family and friends along.  We also invite you to chat with the working Knights, Catholic Daughters, and other helpers.  Ask questions about what they do and how they do it.  You will learn a lot and you may want to join them in one of their many projects.  After all, our church is a family.  We work, pray, and play together.

We will set up tables and chairs at 7:00 am Sunday morning.  Have questions?  Contact Tom Stoffel.  Just click here

 

Oktoberfest is coming in just a few weeks.  It is set for Saturday, October 1, 2016. Where? It is in St. Thomas More Catholic Church’s huge Friends and Family Hall located next to our main church building.

We will hold our Oktoberfest from 6 p.m. (after 5:15 mass) to 9:30 p.m. with food, beer, wine, dancing, and family-style entertainment and music.

Your ticket includes brats, sauerkraut, potato salad, pretzel roll, cake and non-alcoholic beverages. There is a Cash Bar for beer and wine.

This event is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.  It is open to the public.

Learn more about this event by visiting our Oktoberfest page.

As has become our tradition, we will be having our annual Knights of Columbus Religious Appreciation Dinner on September 14 at the University Club in Durham. Each year, this is a great social event, as well as an opportunity to show our appreciation for those that sacrifice so much for our catholic community.

We will gather at 6 and sit down to dinner at 6:30 pm. Dinner will be served buffet style. Cost is $30 per person and includes dinner, dessert, coffee, tea and iced-tea (tip included). There will be a cash bar.

If you’ve never been to the University Club, this is a wonderful meal at a very good price. It is located in the 17th Floor Penthouse of University Place, Durham. Guests are welcome so bring along a friend or family member.

Gene Keeling will need your RSVP with number of people attending by Friday, September 9th. Payment will be by cash or check the evening of the event.  Email Gene Keeling

Summer is over and our pancake crew is forming.  Are you ready?  We’ll have our jumbo sausage links, scrambled eggs, and novelty pancakes to complement our traditional fluffy grilled pancakes.

The Knights of Columbus have continued the legacy of the St. Thomas More Church Men’s Club.  A legacy of building church through the active participation of our parish men.  You, too, can  participate as a helper.  You do not have to be a Knight,  However, many have started their quest as a knight through working with friends who are knights.  Come on by and  ask, “Can I help?”  We will gladly welcome you as a helper or as a candidate for the Knights.

Take a look at some of the background activities of our Catholic community in action, click here.

Our first breakfast for the season is this coming weekend, Sunday, September 11th.  We start to serve after the 7:30 mass and continues until 11:30.

Our monthly pancake breakfast is announced in the church bulletin.

 

Our society is …. Well, some have simply forgotten that “Christ” is the root word for Christmas.  It is His birthday and we, as Catholics, loudly, brightly, and full of love proclaim “Hallelujah, Hallelujah!  Christ was born this day.”

Exchanging Christmas cards is our way of sending greetings to others near and far, as we gather to remember and celebrate the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The council will soon begin its Christian Christmas card sales.  There will be no blowing New England snow, smiling and dancing mice, or other “Holiday Season” cards.  We ask your support for this program  by sharing with others our rituals and beliefs.  Traditions begin in the family and grow stronger by continuing and sharing them.  You can help by supporting businesses that display and share the Christmas theme.

You can also help sell Knights of Columbus cards in the parish and by using religious cards this Christmas.  Program details will be available soon.

Cards that the council sell are a fundraiser for the council and the core program is sponsored by North Carolina Squires.

Our Council year has begun and some positions are still open.  It takes teamwork and lots of it to make short work out of tedious jobs.

Our Grand Knight, Newton Grant, is seeing volunteers to help fill some of the service personnel roles we have for the council. Of note, the volunteers he wants to prioritize are for the following roles:

1. One Brother Knight  to fill both Membership Director/Retention Chairman
2. Up to  three Brothers to assist the Membership Director on the Recruitment Committee.
3. One Brother to officially fill our Public Relations position. (Lee Heavlin has volunteered for this task, but he needs a helper to learn how to update the council website and promote the council and our programs in the community.)
4. One Brother for Culture of Life.

Helping others and helping to improve our council is an important service that the men of our church have done for many years.  We are an active, visible team of men that serve our church and church community and, thereby, serve as positive role models for our youth  and other men in our parish.  Maybe, just maybe, you may touch the heart of an inactive, but seeking, non-practicing Catholic. Jesus said, “‘By their fruits you will know them’” (Matthew 7:20)

To learn more, contact Newton Grant and discuss the details of each position.