Saint Thomas the Apostle

Brian Browne , GK

GRAND KNIGHT'S Message March 2008:

Dear Brother Knights:

The calendar indicates that winter is soon coming to an end. Spring training has already started, daylight savings time has been moved up and with a very early Easter it is safe to say that the season of Spring is right around the corner. With the season of Spring comes the Holy celebration of Easter and all of the resurrection, re-birth and the new life that is associated with the changing of the season.

Easter and Spring affords us all an opportunity to start anew. We can shake off the old dreariness of winter and experience a sort of “spring cleaning of the soul.” I encourage you all to participate in the upcoming Holy Week services especially the many opportunities to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. So much of the spirit of Holy week at St. Thomas the Apostle is shared and supported by the members of our Council and I look forward to praying along with and for the members of our Council this Easter.

Thanks to the small “band of brothers” who braved a chilly but sunny day to march in the Garden City/Mineola St. Patrick's Day Parade. Many local KofC Councils were represented and it was a great celebration of all things Irish. Speaking of Irish, we will be celebrating the feast of St. Patrick on Saturday March 29 with a St. Patrick's Day party at the Msgr. Smith Auditorium. Do join us for some great Irish music, traditional Irish food and always the warmth and camaraderie of the Council.

Be on the look out for many upcoming events that the Council will be sponsoring. You will notice that there is a rich variety of spiritual and social events this month that include:

• Palm Sunday, Sunday March 16 . We will be distributing palm at the 9:30am Mass at the Chapel.
• The Council is sponsoring Good Friday/Way of the Cross Procession on Friday March 21 at 5:30pm
• Saturday March 29 from 7pm-11pm we will have our St. Patrick's Day Party (Click to see advertisement) in the Msgr. Smith Auditorium.
• Tickets are $20 per person. $40 per couple and $50 per family (Family = 2 adults and children under the age of 16.)
• The council will host Divine Mercy Sunday services on Sunday March 30 at the 12pm Mass.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the sad news that we all learned recently of Msgr. Jim Lisante not being renewed for another term as Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. I know that you join me in wishing this wonderful Brother Knight and servant of God well in his new assignment, wherever that may be? Our Council grew and was spiritually nourished during Msgr. Lisante's time as Pastor and we were blessed and benefited from his steadfast support of the Knights of Columbus. Serving as Grand Knight has taught me that some other nearby Councils do not enjoy the same level of personal support from their pastors, as we do from ours. We were fortunate to have him for as long as we did and I hope that his successor shares an affinity for the good work of the Knights of Columbus.

Let me close this message with a brief Irish Prayer

“You have blessed me with friends and laughter and fun

With rain that's as soft as the light from the sun

You've blessed me with stars to brighten each night

You've given me help to know wrong from right

You've give me so much. Please, Lord give me too,

A heart that is always grateful to you.”

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Brian, GK