The Right of Every American – Vote November 4th

Voting is your way of participating in the defense of our Country. As citizens, we are called upon to elect the leaders of our Nation. How we vote is a matter of conscience. It is our duty to help select the very best men and women from our community and our nation at large. Our […]

Voting is your way of participating in the defense of our Country. As citizens, we are called upon to elect the leaders of our Nation. How we vote is a matter of conscience. It is our duty to help select the very best men and women from our community and our nation at large. Our choices determine the direction of our Country. Let your voice be heard by voting at each and every election; especially on November 4th. Learn more by watching this video from CatholicVote.com

 

LAMB Drive Coming Sep 26-28th

It’s that time of year again. It is time to help those in our community that are less fortunate. Our Project, Operation LAMB takes it name and mission from the biblical passage, “..whatever you have done for the Least Among My Brethren… You have done unto me..”. Our quest is simple. There are children and […]


It’s that time of year again. It is time to help those in our community that are less fortunate. Our Project, Operation LAMB takes it name and mission from the biblical passage, “..whatever you have done for the Least Among My Brethren… You have done unto me..”. Our quest is simple. There are children and young adults in our town who have mental disabilities. We are raising money in our community to help them.

Brothers Kevin Wolff and Ed Kaiser have stepped up to co-chair the Operation LAMB activities for the council but they need your help. They have arranged for ten sites on the last weekend of September. In order to be successful, we need 174 volunteers.

Yes, that’s right, 174 volunteers. We want this to be the most successful Operation LAMB we’ve ever had. Helping out is not hard. You just need to donate (at least) two hours of your time to stand in front of a store, hand out Tootsie Rolls and collect money. It’s also a great way to involve the family.

PLEASE, consider giving at least two hours of your time on either the 26th, 27th or 28th to help this wonderful cause. If you have one or more family members that can help, that’s even better.

Brothers Kevin and Ed can provide more details about the sites and the specific schedule needs. They can be reached via email at: ekaiser1@nc.rr.com or
kwolff@wolff-law-offices.com

Our program is part of the LAMB Foundation of North Carolina, a 401c3 charity. Since the project first started in 1974, over $12.2 million has been raised in North Carolina. We are especially proud of our support for ARC and NC Special Olympics.

Father Michael J. McGivney Declared “Venerable”

An American priest of humble beginning pulled local men together to provide for the families of deceased parishioners. That beginning has created a world-wide organization of men serving their local priests, their parishes and their communities. On Saturday, March 15th, the Pope declared Fr. Michael J. McGivney a “Venerable Servant of God.” This declaration is […]

An American priest of humble beginning pulled local men together to provide for the families of deceased parishioners. That beginning has created a world-wide organization of men serving their local priests, their parishes and their communities.
On Saturday, March 15th, the Pope declared Fr. Michael J. McGivney a “Venerable Servant of God.” This declaration is a critical step on the path to sainthood. Fr. McGivney may one day be declared a Saint, and he would be the first American priest so honored.
For more details, visit www.kofc.org.

Newman Students Need Our Support

If you left church in a rush today, you missed the smiling faces of two UNC Chapel Hill students from the Newman Center. Your editor spotted them and stopped by. I spoke with Kelly Dunlap. She was announcing their Alternative Spring Break activity. No, they are not Daytona Beach bound, and they are passing Ft. […]

If you left church in a rush today, you missed the smiling faces of two UNC Chapel Hill students from the Newman Center. Your editor spotted them and stopped by.
I spoke with Kelly Dunlap. She was announcing their Alternative Spring Break activity. No, they are not Daytona Beach bound, and they are passing Ft. Lauderdale by too. So, where are they headed? To Montego Bay, Jamaica.
No beach parties for these students. They are on a mission of mercy and will work with handicapped children at one of the Mustard Seed orphanages scattered all over the island. That is where we come in. The students are selling tickets to a Silent Auction, Friday, Feb 1st, from 8 to 12 p.m. Tickets are just $30 per person. There will be wine, finger foods, and a chance to bid on auction items.
Some you are muttering as you read this. Yes, $30 is a little steep for wine and finger foods, but, wait. It is not about what we get for our $30. It is what you are enabling them to do with your money. You are empowering our youth to make a difference where it counts. Your editor applauds their drive, compassion and vision. I’ll be there with Yoli. How about you?
You can order your tickets by contacting the Newman Center and asking for tickets. Can’t attend? Call and ask them where to send a personal donation. Next, pick up the phone and call your Grand Knight. Tell him you support a motion to make a Council contribution of $100.

Parish Priest’s Appreciation Dinner

About forty Knights and their ladies joined together last night, September 5th, to honor our parish priest, Fr. John Durbin, at the La Residence in Chapel Hill. After an open bar cocktail social gathering, everyone moved to the outdoor patio for dinner under the stars. The meal was served family style and included four courses. […]

About forty Knights and their ladies joined together last night, September 5th, to honor our parish priest, Fr. John Durbin, at the La Residence in Chapel Hill.

After an open bar cocktail social gathering, everyone moved to the outdoor patio for dinner under the stars. The meal was served family style and included four courses. There were heavy hors’deuves at the bar and again on the patio. This was followed by a salad buffet. Then, to the delight and surprise of all, we were presented with the main course. Splendid, elegant, beyond expectation, all hint at the beautiful presentation of our main course.

There was a huge selection. Each dish drew “Oohs” and “Ahhs” from the ladies. There was something sure to delight everyone. There was prime rib, trout with red potatoes and corn sauce, lamb with Southern grits, salmon with Peruvian potato salad, and roasted pork chops sliced thick and served with creamed potatoes. There was a nice selection of steamed vegetables, too.

Dinner was followed by coffee and sweet treats of strawberries, puffed pastries with filling and chocolate, and dainty morsels of pecan pie squares.

It was one of those meals that is sure to be described over and over. (If you missed the event, well… there is always a next time. )

District Deputy (9) Haddon Ware and his wife also joined us as guests.

Many thanks to Grand Knight Gil Montoya for arranging for this event, and to Deputy Grand Knight Gene Keeling and his lovely wife, Lisa, for hosting it. “I was worried about the attendance,” Gene said, “but at the last minute it all came together and we have a great showing.”

Fr. Durbin was much appreciative of the display of support by his Knights and their families. He commended the knights not just for their work in the parish, but for their extended service to the local community through projects to help the handicapped, feed the poor, and to serve their neighbors. “These are the kinds of things that really make a difference,” he said.

We are all humbled and proud to be of service to the community, but our work is just a flicker of light when compared to the sacrifices and service to our parish and church by our Fr. John Durbin.

We look forward to making this an annual event. Won’t you join us next time?

The restaurant La Residence is owned and operated by parishioners. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to dine there. It will be an evening to remember.

Oktoberfest Coming September 21st

John Felten is heading up our first annual Oktoberfest. The Little German Band and Dancers are joining us and is providing the music and show. This group has been performing since 1971 and has toured in several European countries and has performed at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, in September 1996. Our meal is catered […]


John Felten is heading up our first annual Oktoberfest.

The Little German Band and Dancers are joining us and is providing the music and show. This group has been performing since 1971 and has toured in several European countries and has performed at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, in September 1996.

Our meal is catered by the Guglhupf Bakery & Patisserie of Durham. “It’s in the bread…”

Between the band, beer, and bread you are sure to find the evening to be enjoyable and memorable.

The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. One price fits all. Everything is included. That is food and beer (two glasses included with meal).

What’s on the menu? Brats, potato salad, sauerkraut, rolls and beer. We will have Black Forest Cake, tea, coffee, pretzels and potato chips for snacks.

Our host servers are the St. Thomas More Men’s Club. Dessert, snacks and coffee are presented by various church ministries.

The keeper of the tickets is Brother Knight Gene Keeling, but many of our knights will have a few to sell you. The price is $25 per person. Tickets are required to enter and are limited as this is a catered affair.

This event is open to all members of the parish and to our neighbors as well.

If you like this event, watch for upcoming ethnic events. Be it Polish, Italian, Mexican, English, or Irish, where there are Catholics there you will find celebrations with good food, good friends, and the common bond of family and church. We are building Family in the Knights of Columbus.

Council Newsletter – Where did it go?

Your council newsletter has been published just twice so far this council year. There are plenty of stories out there, but none are arriving at the editor’s desk. Your reporter needs stories to publish. The next edition will be a photo collage of council events so far this year. We’ll take a look at what […]

Your council newsletter has been published just twice so far this council year. There are plenty of stories out there, but none are arriving at the editor’s desk.

Your reporter needs stories to publish.

The next edition will be a photo collage of council events so far this year. We’ll take a look at what we have been doing. You may be amazed, for we have been a very active council.

Watch for it to hit your email inbox soon.

First Monday Meeting Change – Jan 8th

Just in case you forgot, the first Monday of the Month is our dinner meeting night. This coming meeting falls on New Year’s day. Gene has rescheduled the meeting for January to January 8th. Same time, same place. See you there.

Just in case you forgot, the first Monday of the Month is our dinner meeting night. This coming meeting falls on New Year’s day.

Gene has rescheduled the meeting for January to January 8th. Same time, same place. See you there.

New Assembly for Chapel Hill – Durham

The Chapel Hill Knights of the Fourth Degree will hold a formation meeting for a Chapel Hill Assembly on Thursday, August 17th. The formation meeting will be held in at St. Thomas More church at 7:30 p.m. When would the Assembly take form? This is up to the charter knights. However, since the October Exemplification […]

The Chapel Hill Knights of the Fourth Degree will hold a formation meeting for a Chapel Hill Assembly on Thursday, August 17th. The formation meeting will be held in at St. Thomas More church at 7:30 p.m.

When would the Assembly take form? This is up to the charter knights. However, since the October Exemplification will include several Chapel Hill and Durham knights, it may be best to form in November. This will permit each of the newest Sir Knights to be part of the formation. It is an honor to be a Charter Member of a Fourth Degree Assembly.

Who should attend? All members of the Fourth Degree. This meeting is also open to any Third Degree knight preparing for the October Exemplification. Each is eligible to hold an office in the new Assembly.

Location of the Assembly. Although the Assembly has its roots in Chapel Hill, it is for all members of the Fourth Degree in the Chapel Hill – Durham areas. Therefore, we should not think of it as an Assembly “just for Chapel Hill.” The Chapel Hill Council’s roots and historical ties are to our brother Knights in Durham. The Durham Council was once the Durham-Chapel Hill Council and provided a home council for the few knights then residing in Chapel Hill.

Assembly Meeting Locations. Meetings can be held both in Durham and Chapel Hill. Our third meeting is traditionally a social event with spouses. The social events are held in local restaurants selected by the members.

What is the purpose of this particular meeting? We have finished the Assembly exploratory phase. We know that there is a desire and need for a Chapel Hill Assembly. This meeting is where we enter the “commitment” phase. We will now

  • Confirm our desire to start an Assembly,
  • Select our Charter officers,
  • Select a name for the Assembly,
  • Decide on a regularly scheduled meeting night and location,
  • and approve our Assembly by-laws.
Do we have enough members? Thirty members are required to form a new Assembly. We have over thirty members of the Fourth Degree in the Chapel Hill council. Additionally, we have in hand two requests for transfer to the new assembly from members outside of the council.

Assembly Officers needed. Officer positions parallel those of a council; only the names are slightly different. Officers are drawn from the charter members. They can be from Chapel Hill or a Durham council. The critical positions (those needing men with a strong commitment to nurture and grow the Assembly) are:

  • Faithful Navigator
  • Faithful Captain
  • Faithful Pilot
  • Faithful Comptroller –Financial Secretary equivalent
  • Faithful Purser – Treasurer equivalent
  • Faithful Scribe

What is expected of meeting attendees? Come to the meeting prepared to help make the tough decisions needed to form an Assembly. Bring your thoughts on who should fill these positions. You should consider your fellow Sir Knights as candidates.


Who would you like to see fill the core positions? Encourage them to consider accepting the position, if elected. You can even nominate yourself. But, unlike a council, it is not unusual to have the Faithful Comptroller, Purser and Recorder serve for many years. These three positions require more work of the men who take on the responsibility, but each position is key to the success of an Assembly. No one should accept a nomination to them without considering fully the responsibilities they are accepting.


A time for inner reflection and prayer. If you are not sure if you want to hold a position that you know you are qualified for, consider a mini-retreat in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. Remembering the words of a hymn, “Whom shall I send?” Ask yourself, “Is it I Lord?”

Next Fish Fry is April 7th

We just closed the doors after serving over 220 dinners! That is 100 more than our first fish fry. We started with 100 lbs of fish and had to go and get another 20 pounds. We were running out as early as 6 p.m. and people patiently waited in line for more fish to arrive. […]

We just closed the doors after serving over 220 dinners! That is 100 more than our first fish fry.
We started with 100 lbs of fish and had to go and get another 20 pounds.

We were running out as early as 6 p.m. and people patiently waited in line for more fish to arrive.

Everything worked out well. We cooked the extra 20 pounds and served everyone. We sold out again.

Get ready for the next one and come early! The food is great and there is plenty on your plate. Remember that we cook it just as you arrive. It is a restaurant quality meal, served piping hot!

Proceeds benefit the parish and will go to paying off the mortgage.