Divine Mercy Assembly 3005 – Council 10910 Knights of Columbus

Divine Mercy Message from Supreme

As Christians throughout the world prepare to commemorate the last hours of Jesus’ passion, we invite each of our brother Knights and their families to pray the Novena to the Divine Mercy. The novena begins Good Friday and ends on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23.

Learn more about the devotion to the Divine Mercy by checking out the Knights of Columbus #MercyStories YouTube series. The series focuses on Catholics whose lives have been transformed by their devotion to the Divine Mercy message.

To watch the videos, click here.

The Journey Begins on Divine Mercy Sunday

Our Forty Days of Lent are coming to a close and the celebration of Easter. Then, one week beyond, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Are your prepared? Do you understand Divine Mercy Sunday? Why not make it part of your journey as a Knight. It may be what leads you to the Fourth Degree and membership in the local Assembly.

“The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.” Won’t you join us on Divine Mercy Sunday on April 23rd at St. Thomas More Church.

We encourage you to learn more about Divine Mercy Sunday by visiting the Divine Mercy Shrine website. Learn more about why we gather for this special event. And, while you are there, click on their link to The 100th Anniversary of Fatima.

Divine Mercy 2017

Chapel Hill Columbian Squires – A Quest completed at Bedford, VA

And now the Squires’ journey begins… It’s June 6th and the 67th anniversary of D-Day. The sun is coming up and it is 6 a.m. Squires have been up for awhile and they are eagerly heading for St. Thomas More Church to join other squires. A steady stream of cars carrying veterans, seven students, counselors […]

And now the Squires’ journey begins…

It’s June 6^th and the 67^th anniversary of D-Day. The sun is coming up and it is 6 a.m. Squires have been up for awhile and they are eagerly heading for St. Thomas More Church to join other squires.

A steady stream of cars carrying veterans, seven students, counselors and teachers from Chapel Hill and Carrboro started loading and departing town. They have started their three-hour journey to Bedford, Virginia, and a veterans memorial nestled on a hillside.

Included in the travelers are local World War II veterans Jerry Pilarski, 82^nd Airborne, Gene Drogos, U.S. Navy air crewman, and Louise Drogos, U.S. Navy Nurse Corps.

They were about to join others from many neighboring states heading to the National D-Day Memorial and the home of the Bedford Boys.

Their mission is to deliver $1,500 raised by the youth of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. These kids were inspired by one of their members who had visited the memorial on an earlier Chapel Hill High School field trip. Garcian D’Cruz, a 10^th grade student, was moved by the memorial and the World War II veterans he met. He was also saddened when he learned of their financial plight. He told his story to other members of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle 5485 of the Columbian Squires.

The kids decided to honor all veterans by raising money for the memorial. They purchased potted plants for resale to members of their church and used money from their other projects. Others donated cash. They raised $1,500.

The National D-Day Memorial Foundation was moved by the Squires’ generosity and patriotism and invited them to participate in the 10^th Anniversary ceremony for the memorial. Garcian and Mr. Tom Stanfa, Chapel Hill High School 10th grade teacher, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with D-Day survivors, a congressman, civic leaders and a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient “Woody” Williams, as special guests and speakers.

Garcian told his story to a crowd of over a thousand participants and spectators. It was a story of local kids making a difference and their efforts to help keep the memorial funded. Their mission was to help preserve the World War II veterans’ legacy by “keeping their legacy living.” His remarks moved the audience. His speech served as the inspiring lead-in to a request for audience participation with a donation. Watch, listen, and be proud.

The National D-Day Memorial is ten years old and was dedicated by then President George W. Bush. It has been hit hard by our current economic situation and is fighting to raise money to keep its doors open.

The last surviving member of the Bedford Boys died in 2009 at the age of 94. He was Ray Nance.

Learn more…

Photos by Lee Heavlin

Squires Raise Money for National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA

Dario Sena with squires Nick Clemmons and Garcian D’Cruz are working on a Squires project to raise funds for the National D-Day Memorial located 120 miles north of Chapel Hill. The squires are going to raise money by selling plants after each mass the weekend of 14-15 May. They will also work with the Knights […]

Dario Sena with squires

Nick Clemmons and Garcian D’Cruz are working on a Squires project to raise funds for the National D-Day Memorial located 120 miles north of Chapel Hill.

The squires are going to raise money by selling plants after each mass the weekend of 14-15 May. They will also work with the Knights to collect donations after the masses, too.

Did you know that St. Thomas More Church members generously donated about $4,900 on Veterans Day last year for active duty amputees who were hospitalized over the Christmas holiday period? The squires are hoping that this project will draw similar support.

The plan is to travel to the memorial and participate as invited guests on the June 6th commemoration ceremonies. Their presentation will be during the ceremony.

When Squire Garcian was asked, “Why?”, he told a story of a recent visit and seeing that it needed help financially. D-Day also just happens to be remembered on its anniversary, June 6th, which is also his birthday. Garcian said, “They are having a tough time raising funds. The soldiers died for us on that day. Without that day (Operation Overlord and invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944), we would be speaking a different language today.”

Garcian may be right. Many of today’s citizens cannot comprehend what went on during their grandfather’s or even great-grandfather’s time. Our country mobilized for war and many never returned home. That is why this memorial is in Bedford, Virginia. Bedford lost two thirds of the men it sent to war. The museum is now struggling to survive. It’s location near Lynchburg, VA, puts it off the main tourist paths. If you have not visited it, it is a good day trip for the family. Maybe your and your children will be moved as much as Gracian. Learn more about the National D-Day Memorial

Our squires are an exciting and energetic group. They have become a vital part of our local council by helping the Knights at special events and with the Pancake Breakfast. They are trained to cook and serve food, but, more importantly, they are learning responsibility and gain a spirit of giving back to the community. And, as seen by this current project, their reach is not limited to Chapel Hill.

The squires are also looking to connect with any parishioner who has served during World War II. Efforts are now underway to reach out to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion members who served during World War II. There are quite a few of them right here in Chapel Hill. Within the Knights we are honored to have Jerry Pilarski and Gene Drogos, among others.

Want to make a donation to this project? Contact the Squires.

The Squires are a religious youth group of catholic young men and can be compared to the Boy Scouts. They are self-governing circle and are guided by counselors from the local Knights of Columbus Council, 10910.

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 17^th. 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?”