Grand Knight’s message — April 2016

Brother Knights, Ladies, and families,

Happy Easter to you all! It has been an eventful month since our last newsletter.

On Wednesday, March 16, Fr. Bonner Council hosted a spring social. At this event, we invited the eight recently-arrived families from Syria and Iraq as our special guests. Other than a short program wherein we introduced the families and presented each with a small gift from our Council, most of the time was devoted to socialising. It is unbelievable what these families have gone through. Senseless war and violence have meant that they have had to abandon their work, their schools, their homes, … pretty much everything. Now they have come to Canada and have started new lives, reborn. Let us remember that there are many more people in need and ask for God’s guidance as to how we can help.

At this spring social, we were also witness to something quite moving. The parish’s boys’ and girls’ youth groups were also meeting on this same evening and joined our event to hear the presentations. After the formal part of the program had ended, the youth groups invited the children from our refugee families to join them in some games. The parish hall was filled with the sound of laughter and joy of the children having fun and making new friends. What a delight to behold and what a blessing this was!

On Thursday, March 17, our Council hosted a First Degree Exemplification as part of our spring membership drive. We welcomed many new members into the Knights of Columbus, including several of the men of these newly arrived families in our parish.

On Saturday, April 9, Knights from all over Edmonton gathered for the Charter Night dinner to celebrate the establishment of the new St. Alphonsa Syro Malabar Council 16320. Our very own Bro. Wally Streit served as the MC for the evening.

In other news, our fraternal year is soon coming to a close, and with it, we’ll be transitioning to our next Grand Knight. Nominations for 2016–2017 Council Officers will be opened at the April Council meeting, with elections to be held at the May 10 meeting.

A few highlights of upcoming events:

Pancake breakfast (Bro. Real Demers’s team) — Sunday, April 24 after the 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM Masses.
Marian Mass — Monday, May 2 at 7:00 PM
Elections for 2016–2017 Council Officers — May 10
Parish volunteer appreciation evening — Tuesday, May 31 at 7:00 PM
Installation of Officers and year-end BBQ — Saturday, June 18, following 5:00 PM Mass

Christ is risen, Alleluia, Alleluia! May this be a joyful Easter season for you and your families, as we await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Fraternally yours,

Bro. Jeremy Sit
Grand Knight