It’s a common concern among many Brothers that they just don’t have the time to participate in the Council’s activities – we have over 100 members in our roster, but only about 20% of those volunteer. All of us have many commitments, from our duty to family to obligations to our workplace – there are constant calls on our time. I would like to propose how by just giving 24 hours a year to the Knights of Columbus you could make a positive difference in our community and Church:

• 12 hours a year reading the weekly parish bulletin, the Knight Lamp, and Columbia magazine, and surfing the Council’s and Supreme Council Web sites.
• Two hours a year volunteering at the council’s annual drive for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Two hours a year on a council-sponsored Church, community, council, family or youth project of your choice.
• Two hours a year attending one council business meeting.
• Two hours a year attending, with the family, two corporate Communions or Mass of Reparation.
• Four hours a year enjoying (again, with the entire family) a council social function such as a dinner, picnic, etc.

That’s only 24 hours a year, which practically any man can fit into his schedule. Right now we can use some help on April 3^rd, for preparing Breakfast for those joining the Church this Easter. We also have fundraising efforts to support seminarians, and wheelchair donations. We also would like to start a spaghetti dinner and/or pancake breakfast project that would fund a Relief Fund for members of our Parish who are facing financial crisis. Finally, we are in need of a new Financial Secretary.

I encourage all of you to find those 24 hours in a year and help us out, not out of obligation or duty, but truly as a reflection of appreciation for all the blessings we’ve got, and for the benefits we will obtain for our families and the Church. There are 8,760 hours in a year. By giving the Knights less than 0.3% of those hours, we can become better Catholics, better fathers, better husbands, and better persons.

Vivat Jesus!

SK Rafael Betancourt, GK