Knights of Columbus Council 8521 St Joseph Catholic Church - Honey Creek 25781 Hwy 46 West Spring Branch TX 78070-3613

November 2017 NewsletterKC Officers for 2017-2018

Grand Knight Rudy Gonzales 210-488-5431Deputy Grand Knight Hal B. Lane III830-980-6848 Financial Secretary Joe Vocks 830-885-4340 Chancellor Martin Hernandez830-863-9146 Treasurer Terry Temple 830-438-8058 Recorder Donald Zaiontz830-980-2505

Advocate Greg Canfield830-438-8266Warden Matt Wohlfeil830-388-0469Inside Guard Carl Newton210-488-7181Outside Guard Henry Delgado830-885-4425Chaplain Rev. Francis McHugh210-824-0139 Trustee 1st YearMichael MertaTrustee 2nd YearGilbert Alvarado 830-980-5918 Trustee 3rd Year Max Engel830-229-5657LecturerSam Haines 830-438-4049

Though we revere him as

something of an American saint,

while in office Abraham Lincoln

was one of the most reviled of

presidents, and not only by those

who supported the Southern

cause. When Union victory

proved elusive, everyone

became a critic, had a better idea

and did not mind sharing it.

Here is a small letter, which

would be all but lost to history if

George Saunders had not

retrieved it for his novel Lincoln

in the Bardo, the newest

recipient of the Booker Prize.

How miny more ded do you

attend to make sir afore you is

done? One minit there was our

litle Nate on that bridge with a

fishpole and ware is that boy

now?

And who is it called him

hither, in that Notice he saw

down to Orbys, well sir,

that was your name he saw

upon it “Abraham Lincoln.”

At our distance, we are

willing to grant the dead

boy’s father his pain, even

as we dismiss the

resentment toward the

president from Robert

Hansworthy of Boonsboro,

Md. We consider Abraham

Lincoln to be an instrument

of providence. Who could

have done more to keep the

country united and to

suppress slavery?

Even with so many dead in the Civil War, what Lincoln teaches us about the value of human life.

10/26/2017By: Terrance Klein

Lincoln teaches us about the value of human life.

But let us set aside our 21st-century perspective and our inclination to read the purposes of history, and listen to the pain of the boy’s father. Does it matter that the world which Mr. Lincoln is fighting to create comes to fruition if the world of Mr. Hansworthy comes to ruin? His son was his world. Most all of his hopes, his desires, his dreams. “One minit there was our little Nate on that bridge with a fishpole and ware is that boy now?”

We love our definitions, our categories and our ability to transform most anything in the world into an equation. But what cannot be defined, nor even adequately described, is our own personhood. One could even say, to know another person, the sort of knowledge that comes with love, is to know more of absence than of presence. Why? Because whatever the loved one has said, whatever the loved one has done, the bounteous joy of human existence is that the loved can still speak, can still do more. Unlimited human potential is the reason why we are more absent than present to others, even to ourselves. Saint Augustine spoke of a mystery at the core of every person, “an abyss so deep as to be hidden from him in whom it is.”

Come at it like this. It is easy enough to

define a bridge, but who can define that

boy Nate, fishing off the bridge, early

on a summer morning? Who can say

what the objects in his pocket mean to

him, like that pretty polished stone he

found in a dry river bed? Who can

recount the reckless deeds of boyhood,

which produced the scars his young

body already bears? Who can say what

lies within the absence of his life,

within that which is yet to be revealed?

How do we know that Abraham

Lincoln—unwillingly, reluctantly,

unknowingly—did not kill the next

Abraham Lincoln?

This is why there are moral absolutes.

When the value is incalculable,

reverence and reticence must be

intense. And every human life is of just

such an untold value, because both the

infant in the womb and the prisoner on

death row present us with more

absence than presence. We do not

know—and we deceive ourselves if we

say that we do—what this human

being, this person, will yet say, will yet

do.

You shall not molest or oppress an

alien,

for you were once aliens yourselves in

the land of Egypt.

You shall not wrong any widow or

orphan.

If ever you wrong them and they cry

out to me,

I will surely hear their cry. (Ex 20: 20-

22)

We, and our government, must

reverence all persons. Every law we

enact and enforce must look to the

good of the individual, because it is not

government which endows the person

with rights. Rights are how we

recognize and revere persons. Because

we come from God, because our origin

is that mystery which is always more

absence than presence—yet never

ceases to manifest itself in works of

mercy—we cannot make any

individual into a mere instrument of

polity. We must reverence the absence

of God that lies within the absence of

every person.

You shall love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. (Mt 22: 37-40)

Mr. Lincoln did not start the war, and Nate knew what he was doing when he was called hither. Indeed, Nate freely surrendered the incalculable whole that was his life, and he did this, ultimately, in love of other persons. We have no honor to bestow upon such a sacrifice. All the honor is already his, in virtue of what he gave. As Mr. Lincoln was later to note at Gettysburg in dedicating its cemetery, “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”

Lincoln teaches us about the value of human life.

In a fallen world one right vies with another, and the interests of one group smash against those of another. Sometimes it seems that all we can do is to struggle to minimize evil. Perhaps that is why the church teaches that government is essential but it is not our savior. The best it can do is to shield us from some of life’s evils.

Only that which is truly noble, only that which is boundless, which, in offering itself on the cross, has already given everything that can be given—only this one can ask for the very sacrifice of self. The only time it makes sense to waste a world of untold potential, the absence within the human person, is when you are throwing it into the abyss of that absent yet absolute life, which we call God. We alone have the right to do that, and only for ourselves.

“How miny more ded do you attend to make sir afore you is done?” In the eyes of Providence, Abraham Lincoln stands absolved from the charge of failing to reverence his God in his fellow persons. But in those very same eyes, are we?

Terrance KleinThe Rev. Terrance W. Klein is a priest of the Diocese of Dodge City and author of Vanity Faith.

A Message from our Worthy Grand Knight

Brother Knights

As we inch closer to the holiday season, let us not forget to give thanks for

the many blessings we have experienced throughout the year. There is also

a huge need to think about the goodness in our lives and forget about the

worries or troubles each of us had in the past. Gratitude is our most direct

line to God and the angels. If we take the time, no matter how crazy and

troubled we feel, we can find something to be thankful for. The more we

seek gratitude, the more reason the angels will give us for gratitude and joy

to exist in our lives. As Knights, let us focus on the moments of laughter,

love, hope, and joy, being grateful to our Lord for providing us with fun

and loving experiences.

Lastly, I am absolutely honored to have each of you supporting our

Council’s efforts. Our attendance at our meetings keeps increasing and

more of our newer Knights are answering the call for service. Time spent

together on our parish activities make us rely on each other as men of God

and shows the essence of true friendship as Knights of Columbus. Charity,

Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism have never been stronger. Let us share all

of these blessings Christ has given us. What good are these blessings if

they are not shared?

May your Thanksgiving be filled with Love and Happiness! Vivat Jesus

Viva Cristo Rey

Grand Knight,

Rudy Gonzales

Washington, D.C.October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.

Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.

They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,Secretary of State

In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know

right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.

President Lincoln’s Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible on September 7, 1864 (CWAL VII:542)

FINANCIAL SECRETARY REPORT FOR

November 1, 2017

Total Membership : 197which includes 71 Insurance, 12 Honorary and 26 Honorary Life

YTD Change in membership 2

Awards Program

Month to Date Year to Date

Quota Gain Loss Net Gain Loss Net %

MBR 13 0 0 0 3 0 3 23%

INS 5 0 0 0 2 0 240

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Book recommendation:Be Not Afraid: A Book of Quotes for Catholic MenWe live in an age of soundbites and bullet points, in which fragmented attention is a fact of life. It is often difficult to find time to finish a lengthy article or essay, much less a book. That's one reason why I love quotes. A good quote can inspire, rebuke, motivate, or encourage you in only a sentence or two....

Author: Sam GuzmanPublisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformPages: 114Format: paperbackPublication Date: 2015ISBN: 1502936232$17.98

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October Birthdays

Daniel H BusenlehnerGene E CarnicomDavid D DeeHerbert W Detmer, JrRichard W ElkinsMax W EngelHugh J FlemingDavid N FletcherSteve M FrostNorman E GlenewinkelJurgen P HutzlerTimothy K Jones

Tim J JungEdward C KaminskiRoderick L MagsamJesse E MendezEustace MessiahJose R OtegaChristopher J ParraRafael E PerezJohn R RuizChris H SchweinsbergDavid K WalterscheidNolan O Wehe

Congratulations on earning higher degrees

November 8th, Council Meeting St. Johns Hall 7p.m.

November 11th, Knights of Columbus BBQ, St Johns Hall 5-9 p.m.

November 15th, Officers Meeting St. Johns Hall7p.m

November 20th, 1st Degree Exemplification rehearsal, St. Johns Hall 6-9 p.m.

November 21st, 1st Degree Exemplification, St. Peter the Apostle, Boerne TX. 6:30-9 pm

November 23rd,

December 9th - Christmas party, St John’s Hall 7 p.m.

December 13th – Council Meeting, St. Johns Hall 7p.m.

December 18th – 1st Degree Exemplification, St. Johns Hall 6-9 p.m.

December 20th - Officers Meeting St. Johns Hall7p.m

December 25th – Christmas day

Insurance Q & A

Do I need life insurance?Yes, the chances are you do need life insurance, whether it’s for paying funeral expenses, replacing income, providing money for your child’s education, protecting your home or many other reasons. Unfortunately, too many people don’t know the value of a life insurance policy and go without any or adequate coverage.

Is the Knights of Columbus financially strong?Yes. The Order is one of the strongest organizations from which you can purchase insurance, as assessments by independent evaluators consistently show. Our margin of safety is among the best in the industry. The Knights of Columbus annually receives the highest ratings given by the A.M. Best Company and Standard & Poor’s.

What exactly are dividends?Dividends are the divisible surplus the Order has left over after paying expenses and setting aside the necessary amounts to assure that future benefits are fully funded. Dividends develop from favorable experience, such as people living longer than expected or from interest earnings higher than those guaranteed in their policy. Remember, the payment of dividends cannot be guaranteed.

If I have questions about my insurance policy, or have an interest in learning more about the products the Order offers, whom should I ask?Your professional Knights of Columbus agent can answer any questions you may have. Even if you are not currently a policyholder, a field agent, who is also a brother Knight is available to meet with you at your convenience the needs of you and your family. To identify your agent, call 1-800-345-KOFC (1-800-345-5632).