Chapel Hill Knights – Page 2 – Council 10910 Knights of Columbus

“Honored, Thankful, and Blessed”: Patrick E. Kelly Elected 14th Supreme Knight

by Colin J. McNeil 2/14/2021 Shortly after Father Michael J. McGivney was beatified in 2020, Supreme Knight Carl A.Anderson remarked, “The gift of Father McGivney’s beatification presents to us a greatresponsibility – to be faithful and productive stewards of his legacy.” Now, as Supreme Knight Anderson’s 20-year tenure draws to a close, Father McGivney’s legacy […]

by Colin J. McNeil
2/14/2021

Shortly after Father Michael J. McGivney was beatified in 2020, Supreme Knight Carl A.
Anderson remarked, “The gift of Father McGivney’s beatification presents to us a great
responsibility – to be faithful and productive stewards of his legacy.”

Now, as Supreme Knight Anderson’s 20-year tenure draws to a close, Father McGivney’s legacy has been passed on to former Deputy Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly. By all accounts, Mr. Kelly is a man with an illustrious career and a fervent love of Christ and His Church: a man well equipped to lead the Knights into the future.

Mr. Kelly joined the Knights while studying for a bachelor’s degree in economics at Marquette University in 1983. From there, he went on to earn a law degree from Marquette University Law School and a master’s in theology from the Catholic University of America.

From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Kelly served as senior advisor to the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department. He was the Department’s principal liaison to the Vatican, and led delegations to the World Summit on Islamic-Christian Dialogue in 2005 and to the UN Conference on Interfaith Cooperation in 2006. That same year, he was named the Knight’s Vice President for Public Policy, the mediator between the Knights and the United States Government. He held this position for 11 years.

After becoming the first executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., Mr. Kelly oversaw the renewal of the site when it was purchased by the Knights of Columbus in 2011.

In 2012, Mr. Kelly became both the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the March for Life, a position he still holds today, and the State Deputy in the District of Columbia until 2013. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

In 2016, Mr. Kelly retired from the United States Navy after 24 years of honorable service as a Judge Advocate General. He had earned a Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Achievement Medals, and five Navy Commendation Medals.

On January 1st, 2017, Mr. Kelly was elected Deputy Supreme Knight. As the COVID-19
pandemic spread four years later, he led KofC’s “Leave No Neighbor Behind” COVID-19 relief initiative, providing loving aid to those under quarantine or isolation and supplies to food banks and blood banks.

After his election as the next Supreme Knight on February 5th, 2021, Supreme Knight-elect Kelly remarked,

“I am honored, thankful, and blessed.

I am honored to be called to serve as Supreme Knight.

I am thankful to my wife and family, and to my brother Knights for affording me this honor and privilege.

I am blessed to have worked beside Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who has done so much to strengthen the Knights of Columbus and fulfill our mission through acts of love, kindness, compassion, and prayer that have helped countless people here at home and around the world.”

Mr. Kelly will be sworn in on March 1st, to continue the order’s legacy of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.

Blessed Fr. Michael J. McGivney, pray for Patrick E. Kelly and all of us!

About Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly

Gene Drogos – The Passing of an Era

Today the Council, Assembly, and local veterans from the American Legion gathered at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery to say goodbye to a dear friend–Eugene Chester Drogos. It was a blustery day, but the sun was out and the large crowd huddled closer to block the wind that was testing the tiedown of the casket flag. […]

Today the Council, Assembly, and local veterans from the American Legion gathered at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery to say goodbye to a dear friend–Eugene Chester Drogos.

It was a blustery day, but the sun was out and the large crowd huddled closer to block the wind that was testing the tiedown of the casket flag. Solemn prayers, committal words, and words of condolences were followed by a family friend playing Taps.

The trumpeter gave a beautiful rendition and the notes wafted across the cemetery as the Assembly Honor Guard and veterans stood smartly at attention.

Several Chief Petty Officers were provided by the United States Navy to fold the National Ensign, crease the corners smartly, and pass the flag from the folder to the presenter for solemn delivery to Louise Drogos, Gene’s wife of 74 years.

Then, as the gathering was about to depart, the family nurse of 15 plus years stood up and moved forward to personally honor Gene. She wanted to honor the Drogos family in a special, personal way. She sang AMAZING GRACE a cappella. It was beyond expectation as we “held church” at the gravesite. The moving words captivated the gathered crowd. Gene Drogos was going home to be with his Lord.

The local veterans of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Chapel Hill Post No. 6, American Legion, presented Louise with a special Bible in a cedar chest. It was a special remembrance and new family treasure from the area veterans.

Gene is gone, but his 67 years of community service to Chapel Hill and local veterans is full of special deeds, special moments, and personal example.

–^{– Chapel Hill, NC Feb. 3, 2021, by Lee Heavlin}

Passing of an Era – Our Jerry

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jerome “Jerry” Pilarski on Friday, December 4, 2020. A Council 10910 Charter Member, Jerry has been a driving force and great motivator for the Council and Assembly. No matter what the council was promoting, Jerry was first to step forward to say, “We can […]

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jerome “Jerry” Pilarski on Friday, December 4, 2020.

A Council 10910 Charter Member, Jerry has been a driving force and great motivator for the Council and Assembly. No matter what the council was promoting, Jerry was first to step forward to say, “We can do that.” Actually, sometimes it ended up “I did that.” No job was to hard, too long, or too dirty. He exemplified the servant

Our catalog of council photos includes many, many events over the past 25 years. Jerry’s face or apron is sure to be in each file of photos.

We’ll provide a page of photos for the website, but for most of us, his face and voice are ever present as we think about the Catholic Community of St. Thomas More.

Details on a memorial service are pending. We will provide as we can obtain.

Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. A faithful Christian servant is patient to serve everyone, even when they are not ready to be served. Sometimes we need to wait for the perfect time to be a servant to a fellow brother or sister in Christ.

Beatification of Father McGivney

Brother Knights of Council 10910, on Saturday, October 31, 2020, Father Michael J. McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be one step closer to Sainthood as he is beatified through a special Mass in the Connecticut birthplace of the Knights of Columbus. As pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, this […]

As pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, this dedicated parish priest gathered men together in the basement of his Church to help save widows and children from destitution and defend the Catholic faith. Today these men we call Knights are over two million strong and are dedicated to serving Jesus Christ and their communities at home and around the world. To honor Father McGivney’s Beatification the Knights of Columbus is offering a one-year free membership if a candidate signs up by June 30, 2021.

In addition to this event, Supreme is offering another promotion for free membership for new members to join the Knights through June 30, 2021. Council 10910 will conduct another Gift Card Drawing during this Membership Drive.

Join

Memorial Mass Set for October 3rd

Brothers…please note that we have our annual Council’s Memorial Mass is scheduled for Saturday October 3 at the 5:15 pm Mass.

Membership in the Knights is Now Open

Brother Knights of Council 10910, Knights of Columbus Supreme Headquarters is offering a limited one year membership opportunity for new members to join the Knights of Columbus. Please see the attached message for details:

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME MEMBERSHIP PROMOTIONAL OFFER:

For a 2-week period commencing Wednesday, July 22 and continuing through 11:59 p.m. ET on August 5^th, new members are being offered FREE ONLINE MEMBERSHIP for their first year. The Supreme Council will pay the first-year dues for every man who joins online between now and August 5. Prospects simply need to visit kofc.org/joinus and enter the code MCGIVNEY2020 to take advantage of this special offer. This is a $25 offer to join. It just does not get better than this!

Help the men of the Catholic Community of Saint Thomas More join Chapel Hill Knights in service to our church, parish, and community. We are called to serve. It is our mission.

Father McGivney was faced with a pandemic in the 1880s, as we are today. And in the face of that pandemic, he persevered in his efforts to evangelize those in his community, to form his parishioners in their Catholic faith, and to grow the Knights of Columbus. As his spiritual heirs, we can do nothing less.

Our pastors need the Knights of Columbus. Our fellow parishioners need the Knights of Columbus. Those impacted by COVID-19 need the Knights of Columbus. Just as our holy founder surely would, let us resolve to Leave No Neighbor Behind, and to offer every Catholic man the opportunity to join the Order that he founded some 138 years ago.

Council 10910 would like to take advantage of this offer and is offering a drawing for a $50 gift card to those Knights that sign up a new member. Each Knight who signs up a new member during this promotion will receive a ticket for the drawing to be held on August 6, 2020.

If candidates wish to find out more about the Knights or the Council please have them contact:

William Jackson at GK10910koc@gmail.com or

James Davisson at FS10910koc@gmail.com

Humor Comes in Many Forms

Laughter is often the result of a joke played on someone. But what if you sat down with someone with a message for you? What would you expect?

May 7, 2020

Laughter is often the result of a joke played on someone. But what if you sat down with someone with a message for you? What would you expect?

Here is parish priest from way down South. He shares a message that is worth sharing with you.

New KofC Ceremonial Approved

It’s official. All three Knights of Columbus Degree Ceremonials have been combined into one public ceremony.

This Little Light of Mine... It’s official. All three Knights of Columbus Degree Ceremonials have been combined into one public ceremony.

This means that family members can now attend to witness their new Knight’s induction ceremony. The ceremony is no longer a “secret” ceremony.

You can learn more by visiting the Supreme Knight’s news site. Click here.

Look around …

Have you taken time to just “look around?” Do you jump into your car or pick-em-up truck and just go from here-to-there? Can we even admit to driving blindly in Orange County and missing all of the things that are here for us?

Helping hands

Ouch. Felt that one. But, seriously, there is so much to do and see in our town and within Orange County. I often find out about events after they happen or that happen on a day that I chose to write just one more note or story.

Our Council is huge by local standards, but it should be twice as large and four times as effective. Yes, it is possible. The secret is to “stop, look, and listen.” Be a fly or butterfly for an afternoon. Find a nice destination, get there, park the car and slowly, repeat, slowly walk about and just browse around.. Don’t be in a hurry. Slow down.

If you can find a nice spot to sit down and watch people, listen to the ruffling tree branches, and the yelping of little tykes and frantic parents. All is good as you absorb the sounds of our town.

So, how does this help you as a Knight of Columbus? It’s the exposure to others and what is important to them. It will help your reshuffle your priorities and come up with ideas on how to improve self and your surroundings.

If you look about the parish parking lot and school area you can see the results of others coming up with ideas and projects to improve the appearance of our church. The Garden, the walkways, the pond overlook, the play fields, and more. One such project of the Knights is “Parish Pride Day.” It was inspired by one Knight working with another Knight to solve a problem. The church was ready to open, but there was no money for landscaping!

The solution was individual contributions of funds, plants, talent, and a fun meal. Yep! We created a mini-work project with hot off the grill food at the end of the morning. And, it was an idea from a Knight with no cash, but a lot of inspiration. He even served as the cook for the next five years. (Read the background story.)

How about you? Do you have an idea that will help make things better, Improve our Council or Assembly, or have a project to help others? Now is the time to share.

Lastly, if you need an energy boost and a day out with a buddy, your kids, your spouse or a brother knight, explore Orange County. Visit the Orange County Visitor’s Center on-line and learn about the hundreds of things ready and waiting for you stop by and explore. Learn more

Jerry Pilarski at 92

Today is the day that our Jerry Pilarski turned 92 years old. Surrounded by family and friends, he celebrated at Captain John’s Dockside Restaurant. Four generations of Pilarski family attended for dining and celebrating with two large cakes.