Major Programs for Council 10009
Church Activities Program
Director: Brian Bolt
In response to the changing world around us, we must search for ways to further develop the ministry of the Catholic Church. Men and women throughout our communities must come forward and participate actively.
Activities:
- October - Keep Christ in Christmas. After Mass on selected weekends we will sell religious Christmas cards at or below cost to counter the increasing secularism associated with this holy feast. This program is very popular every year and this year we are ordering more than ever. Be sure to check out the display at the Parish Center doors in the weeks preceeding the sales dates.
- May - Roses on sale for Right to Life.
- Identify and promote special church services and missions through our monthly newsletter and meetings. Provide assistance to our pastor by promoting attendance at all parish devotions
- Promote a "Keep Christ in Christmas" electronic sign.
- Support St. Ann's parish in Ancaster by providing one-third of our donated funds to causes in the parish.
- Arrange for the installation of a Nativity Creche during the Christmas season.
- Arrange for the video taping of Sunday homilies for insertion into the parish website.
Community Activities Program
Director: Mike Piggott
Wherever we live, we all have perceptions of community formed by the concrete reality of the world immediately around us - with all of its features: both positive and negative. Every individual has a voice in shaping this world and that voice can be heard. Our community offers limitless opportunity for actions that can be seen, felt and judged for their true worth. As Knights of Columbus we try to identify the needs in our community and then get involved to allow our voice and actions to make a difference.
Activities:
- Promote letter writing to support the definition of marriage as the union between a man and a woman.
- Promote and support pro-life and right-to-life issues.
- Participate in support of the Hamilton Out of the Cold program by providing Knights as volunteers during the months of November to March inclusive.
- Participate in Annual Ancaster Food Drive - In February each year. About 35 000 kg (77 000 lbs) of food items and $3,000 in cash donations were collected this past year to be distributed to six local food banks.
- Organize our major fund-raising activity: Lobsterfest - May 24, 2008.
- Participate in the Heritage Days Parade - Parish Float.
- Hold our third Octoberfest celebration: October 18, 2008 at the Ancaster Community Centre.
- Tastes of Ancaster (Chair: Scott Rastin): held on June 12, 2008. Included the Hamilton All-Star Band, Ron Palangio Trio; Opportunity to sample meals from eleven Ancaster restaurants, local wines and beers from around the world.
- Provide assistance to the annual Old Mill Race in June annually.
- Participate in a Remembrance Day Service annually.
- Support our local community by providing one-third of our donated funds to address needs in our local community.
- Defeat hunger by donating food and monies for food to local food banks.
- Support groups that assist the aged, the disabled, the abused and the homeless.
Family Life Activities Program
Director: Kevin Dunn
Today's society makes it hard to be a family and the family is under heavy attack. The hustle and bustle of business, rushed meals, school work, committee meetings, sports, entertainment and shopping are cramming our days and weeks and reducing the quality time a family can share. To survive the family needs support. A primary source of strength can be found in a growing religious and parish life. As Knights of Columbus we can also provide substantial support to families in our community.
Activities:
- Hold an annual Marriage Renewal Mass.
- Held a very successful Family Pot Luck Supper featuring guest speaker Teresa Hartnett director of the Office of Family Ministry for the diocese.
- Plan and hold a Golf Tournament at Chippewa Golf and Country Club.
- Support maintaining the definition of marriage as the union between a man and a woman by writing the local Member of Parliament and the Prime Minister.
- Support Catholic Schools.
- Support organizations that assist families in need.
- Maintain contact with widows of members.
- Offer masses for departed members and their families.
- Provide opportunity for discussions around religious or spiritual themes.
Youth Activities Program
Director: Jim Lennon
Today's youth, the leaders of tomorrow, are looking for a challenge, for responsibility, for faith and trust. Despite their commitments and dedication, they are often condemned because of the inappropriate actions of a minority of young people. As Knights of Columbus, it is our responsibility to provide youth with the means and the opportunities to become personally committed and involved in meeting the challenges of our times.
Activities:
- Basketball Free Throw Competition - a competition for boys and girls ages 9 - 13. Participants are selected from local school competitions and participate in our council event. Council winners receive trophies and all participants receive certificates. Winners from the council event move on to the district and potentially the regional event.
- Alcohol and Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Competition – a competition for boys and girls ages 9 - 13. Participants create and submit a poster on either Alcohol Abuse Awareness or Substance Abuse Awareness. Council winners receive a gift certificate and all participants receive certificates. Winners from the council event move on to the district and potentially the regional event.
- Essay Contest - a competition for graduating students in elementary school (grade 8) or secondary school (grade 12). Participants write a 500 - 750 word essay on the The Responsibility of the Catholic Citizen in Society. Winners receive a monetary award.
- Provide support for local community and school sports teams.
- Provide scholarships for graduating students in grade 8 or grade 12.
Council Activities Program
Director: Paul Downey
Many of the activities of the Knights of Columbus are demanding but many others can be just for fun. Members of our council are neighbours, friends and acquaintances who are just as interested in athletic, cultural and social events as you are. These types of council activities are an important part of fraternal life. As Knights of Columbus we also strive to provide through public relations information about the works that we do for church, community and charity.
Activities:
- Provide a monthly newsletter and minutes for our members.
- Maintain a council web site for up-to-date information on our council and its activities.
- Maintain a council directory of members include address, phone and email contact information and provide a copy for all members.
- Inform the church community and local community about upcoming council events.
- Provide copies of the Columbian magazine to the church congregation.
- Fraternal gathering with light snacks and conversation following the meetings.
- Dinners for Knights and their spouses four or five times a year following a general meeting.
- Hold a Super Bowl or Grey Cup Party.
- Participate in Annual Curling Bonspiel in Midland and Penetanguishene.
- Utilize the council lecturer to provide a schedule of guest speakers from the community. Council lecturer (Mike Creaghan).
- Hold an annual open house to provide information for potential new members and the church community.
- Acknowledge any Brother Knight or spouse who is sick, gravely ill or has died, with a Mass card, get well card or flowers.
- Support the Annual Bishop's Dance and Bishop's Charities.
- About 5,000 hours of volunteer time was provided by Knights of Columbus to Church, Community and Charity.
Newsletter Coordinator
Director: Mike Boicescu
Not everyone can attend the council meetings and it falls on the shoulders of our newsletter coordinator to make sure we are informed of the upcoming activities. The newsletter is emailed to most of our members, uploaded to the private section of the website, and mailed to those members who do not have internet access.
Membership Activities Program
Director: Mike Hanmer
Membership in the Knights of Columbus helps enrich the lives of your fellow man and your own life, too. Recently, the St. Ann's Council has been growing rapidly but there's always more work to do. The membership program introduces Catholic men to our organization all year round, but in particular during the two bi-annual membership drives.
Hamilton Out of the Cold Program,
The Hamilton Out of the Cold program is co-ordinated by Sister Carole Anne Guay, with a board of directors and 400 volunteers, and runs from the beginning of November to the end of March. It is a program which strives to respond, in a meaningful way, to the needs of the most abandoned of our city's poor and homeless people - the basic physical needs of: shelter, food and warm clothing and the deeply human needs of compassion, dignity and feelings of self worth.
Our Knights of Columbus, through the co-ordination of Mike Pigott, support this program by providing members to assist with security on specific days throughout the program. We also contribute monetary donations to the program.
Through the program the homeless and near homeless are provided with:
- A hot nutritious meal
- Overnight accommodations
- A hot breakfast and bag lunch
This past winter 400 volunteers assisted and fed 14800 guests and accommodated about 2000 overnight guests. The following churches are used throughout the week:
| Day | Churches |
|---|---|
| Monday |
James Street Baptist Church
Church of the Ascension Anglican |
| Tuesday |
Beth Jacob Synagogue at James Street Baptist Church
Centenary United Church |
| Wednesday | Central Presbyterian Church |
| Thursday | Central Presbyterian Church with the assistance of the Ismali Muslim Community |
| Friday | Wentworth Baptist Church |
| Saturday | Church of the Ascension Anglican |