In this season of Lent, I’d like to introduce you to St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen. Born in Germany in 1577, his birth name was Mark Rey. After going to college and becoming a lawyer, he focused his efforts on doing legal work for the poor. Eventually he grew disillusioned with his profession and followed his brother into the Capuchin order. Sent as a missionary to Switzerland, he was tasked with preaching and converting Protestants, in particular, those who had left the Catholic Church. For his powerful preaching, he was martyred by Calvinists and Zwinglians. His feast day is April 24th, but I bring him to your attention during Lent because of a quote of his that is appropriate for this season:
“Woe to me if I should prove myself but a half-hearted soldier in the service of my thorn- crowned Captain.”
As I mentioned to our new members last night, as Knights of Columbus, we do not serve the Grand Knight, as his term is only two years. We do not serve the Council, because we may move and change councils. We do not serve our brother Knights, because they may move and change parishes and councils. Neither do we serve our pastor. No, we must remember that no matter what our actions—fish fry, praying outside an abortion clinic, selling raffle tickets—all we do, we do in in service of our thorn-crowned Captain.
With that in mind, let none of us be be a half-hearted soldier!
Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities:
- ASAP: Need someone to take care of Super Cash Bonanza raffle tickets. Contact me if you’re willing to take this on. ¹
- Friday, 3/13: Fish fry. Many opportunities still open!
- Sunday, 3/15: Need someone to pick up donuts for Corporate Communion. (You will be reimbursed)²
- Thursday, 3/19: Need someone to coordinate with Joe Kohler to help unload beverages for St. Joseph’s Table³
- Friday, 3/20: Fish fry!
- Wednesday, 3/25: Honor Flight reception for Brother Tony Schera*
- Friday, 3/27: Last Fish Fry!
Have you given your 1% this month?
For More Information
¹ For those of you who are unaware, Super Cash Bonanza is a raffle ticket fundraiser for the state-level Knights of Columbus to support many worthwhile programs. More info can be found here. We have the tickets, you just need to figure out how to sell them. Want to walk around the fish fry and sell them? Mail them out to all Knights in the council? However you want to run it, it’s up to you! The easiest way is to mail out the tickets to everyone in the council. Any and all expenses are reimbursed. Contact me if you’re interested in taking this on.
² Corporate Communion is coffee and donuts for Knights and their families after the 10:30 Mass. Just need someone to order and pick up donuts. You will be reimbursed! Contact me for more details if you can take this on.
³ Brother Kohler is picking up the beverages from Costco and having the order loaded into his car. With his bad shoulder, he needs someone to meet him at the parish and help him unload the beverages and get them into the refrigerator in Marian Hall to get cold before St. Joseph’s Table.
* Brother Tony Schera is going on Honor Flight, a veterans’ tour of the monuments in Washington DC. (Honor Flight info can be found here.) We are gathering as a council to welcome him home! More info and RSVP here so we can coordinate.
