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Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus. Above is pictured the Fourth Degree Emblem. Bearers of this emblem are committed to conduct themselves honorably as Christian gentlemen in their private and public lives, as well as acting patriotically for the good of their nations. Likewise, the Fourth Degree sword represents the bearer's reverence for the Eucharist and the Pope, bishops and hierarchy of the Church, and displays publicly his willingness to protect his Church and priests. Considered under a religious aspect, we have the honor and privilege of wearing on our swords and our lapels the sacred symbol of the Most Blessed Trinity. This should always remind us to live a good Christian life, and that we should never bring dishonor on the emblem we have been privileged to wear. By this, others may see our good works, through which we will glorify our Holy Religion, our Honored Order and our Beloved Country. |
October NEWSLETTER
Knights of Columbus
Fourth Degree
Right Reverend Monsignor Daniel F. Curtin Assembly
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Glens Falls 194 Whitehall 276 Fort Edward 336 Fr. S.C. Gulovich 343 Greenwich 1239
Schuylerville 1735 Rev. J. E. Dignan 3271 St. John Neumann 7670 Holy Cross 10848
St. Michael The Archangel 11160 St. Cecilia 11166 Sacred Heart 11428
October 20, 2009
My Dear Sir Knights;
Mark your calendar now- Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:30 PM in the Glens Falls Council 194 home that is the date for this month’s meeting- IT IS THIS THURSDAY! We need you there to help make a plans and prepare for not only our next couple of meetings but also to prepare for the upcoming Holidays!
Yep, I said Holidays! It is hard to believe that we are staring at the month of November, but that is exactly what is only about 10 days away. As you know, we always try to plan a meeting between the regular 4th Thursday of November and the 4th Thursday of December, so that our members can spend the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays with their families and friends. We need to discuss the best time for that meeting.
I would also like to discuss the fact that I have let you all down a bit. We had planned to be doing an installation of officers, celebration of the selection of our “Knights of the Year” and even a pot luck supper with our spouses during the November meeting. I have done very little with regard to preparing for these items and I really could use some help getting ready for these things.
I am going to suggest that we use the mid-November/December meeting as our Social Event and invite our spouses to attend and watch as we honor our Knights of the Year and really turn this meeting into a Holiday Event rather than just a business meeting. I would like to hear your thoughts on this idea, as well as recruiting some help to keep ME moving along on your behalf.
I am keeping this Newsletter short and hope that you can attend this week’s meeting for more discussion. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE put it in big red letter- THURSDAY Evening at 7:30 PM in Council 194- our next meeting.
Until then, all good wishes and may the Peace of Christ be with you and your family.
Fraternally yours,
Don Coalts
Faithful Navigator
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At our April assembly meeting- the membership present asked the Faithful Navigotor to prepare a letter to be sent to
Georgetown University regarding the recent Presidential visit. The letter is shown below......
May 3, 2009
Georgetown University
Office of the President
204 Healy Hall
37th & O Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20057
Atten: Mr. John J. DeGioia
Dear President DeGioia;
I am writing to Georgetown University at the urging of the members of the Fourth Degree Monsignor Daniel F. Curtin Assembly of The Knights of Columbus in Queensbury, New York. I am the Faithful Navigator of our Assembly. At our most recent monthly meeting we discussed the recent Presidential visit to your facility. Our members were very disheartened to read that your university chose to hide references to our Lord and in essence hide a portion of the university’s Mission Statement- “Georgetown is a Catholic and Jesuit, student-centered research university.”
As the visible arm of the Knights of Columbus, all Fourth Degree Assemblies take great pride in displaying our love for our Lord, Jesus Christ. Too many followers of Christ, who have gone before us, have given their lives so that we can proudly show our love of God in an outward display and profess our love and faith in Jesus Christ. From the reports that we have read, Georgetown simply agreed with a request from the President’s office to remove the visible aspects of our religion from the field of view when President Obama spoke at Georgetown in mid-April.
I cite again another section from your own Mission Statement- Georgetown is…. “An academic community dedicated to creating and communicating knowledge, Georgetown provides excellent undergraduate, graduate, and professional education in the Jesuit tradition for the glory of God and the well-being of humankind.” We feel that this would have been a perfect opportunity for the University to communicate not only knowledge but also the time-tested Jesuit tradition leading to the glory of God. The university should not be afraid to stand up for what has been its long standing Catholic base. All in all, if the university has stood its ground and invited the President to speak at your University just as it is, humankind would have been better served and in essence, educated.
After all, the President was speaking to not only those present in the University auditorium but to a world-wide audience. His speech would carry the message he was putting forth no matter where it was delivered from. However, if the University had stood its ground and left its Catholic symbols in plain site, there could, quite possibly had been some further education of the world-wide audience about the precepts of Georgetown University. A healthy discussion may have taken place and the university could have been in a better place for the visit.
Instead, now Georgetown University has shown that apparently it is ashamed of its Jesuit background, so much so that it would hide any visible aspects of its religion to accommodate a speaker at its location. As far as we know, this has never been done before- why was it done now?
Our Assembly strongly encourages the University leaders to re-read their own Mission Statement and make every effort to comply with the sentiment contained within that document. Stand true to your goals and your religion. The university was established with lofty goals established by the Jesuits and Catholicism is at the base of those goals. We suggest that you stay true to the religion that has helped the university to achieve such a well respected position in the educational world today. It is our feeling that this episode has taken away some of the respect that the university has developed over these many years.
Separation of Church and State is one of the planks upon which this country was founded. In this case, it appears that the State has crossed that separation line and your university has capitulated and allowed the state to dictate rules and/or regulations that were contrary to the precepts of Georgetown University. We ask that you carefully review this occurrence and seek stronger, internal rules which will assure that our sacred religion never takes a back seat again at Georgetown University.
Yours truly,
Don Coalts
Faithful Navigator
Msgr. D.F. Curtin Assembly-0709
PC: file
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Rt. Rev. Msgr. Daniel F. Curtin Assembly