Dear brothers and families,

Bellmore council finished up the calendar year 2009 with much fanfare with  our annual New Years Eve Party chaired by “Mr. Reservation” Jack Falci, PGK.  From what I was told the dance floor was packed all night and everyone danced till the wee hours of the morning and a great time was had by all who attended. Jack, thank you and your committee for your planning and hard work ensuring this party was a success.

January 9th was a very busy day at our council as we brought a close to the Christmas season by taking down the Crèche we set up in town back on the Thanksgiving weekend. Brothers John Ferrante, Tom Borst, Joe Cunningham, John Mahon, Ken Karchinski, PGK, Kevin Coleman, PGK braved the cold weather and joined me in breaking down the Crèche. We were all treated to a very special breakfast prepared and cooked by Brother Joe DeFino back at the council, which we all enjoyed. Later that day Bellmore Council participated in the annual Knights of Columbus Free Throw Challenge. Youth Co-Chairmen Rob Saylor and John O’Leary ran the event with the help of brothers Kevin Coleman PGK, Ken Karchinski, PGK, John Weber PGK and Joe Cunningham. Twenty two children participated in the annual event which was held in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School gymnasium. The winners at the council level will move on to the District level scheduled to be held on February 6th. Congratulations and good luck to all of our winners.

Bellmore council welcomed brother, Anthony Coscia, who attained his first degree in our order when he completed the first degree exemplification we hosted at our meeting on January 14th. Congratulations Anthony and welcome to the Knights of Columbus and to Bellmore council.

Our council honored our immediate Past Grand Knight, Mike Fiore, on January 16th with the PGK’s testimonial dinner. Mike was honored for all of his hard work and dedication during his year as Grand Knight. On a personal note I would like to thank Mike for a job very well done. Mike and I attended numerous meetings outside of the council together and saw firsthand his hard work and dedication to Bellmore council. Thank you Austin Cannon, PGK, Jack Falci, PGK and your committee for making the testimonial dinner a memorable occasion for Mike and his family.

On January 17^th I was joined by 15 members of our Knights of Columbus family for the annual Pro-Life Mass bus trip to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. We were treated to a beautiful and inspirational pro life mass celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Thank you brothers Steve Amante, Joe DeFino, Tony Ferro, PGK and Mike Fiore, PGK for all of your hard work preparing breakfast and lunch for all of us who attended the Mass.

Looking forward to February, our monthly Las Vegas night will be held on the 5^th starting at 8 PM.

The council Super Bowl party held in the lounge is the best deal in town for $25.00. The doors open at 6 PM and YES I will be making my buffalo wings again this year. If you haven’t tried them yet, make this the year. The sign up sheet is in the lounge.

Our annual Polish Night/Valentine’s Dance will be held on Saturday night February 13^th from 7:30 to 11:30 PM only $35.00 per person. Contact John Bloniarz or Joe Sostack for more information and for reservations.

Brothers, our council will soon be forming its nominating committee for the 2010-2011 Columbian year. It’s never too early to start thinking about a new and rewarding experience. Consider becoming an officer of your council or joining one of the numerous service committees. You can speak with any of the current officers to learn more.

When tragedy strikes, as it did on the morning of January 12^th in Haiti, we are reminded that this is a moment when all of us are called upon to love the neighbor we do not know…We can do it with prayer. If we do nothing else, we need to pray for the people of Haiti. Pray for the lost, the orphaned, the widowed, the homeless and the helpless. Pray for the students who were killed at the seminary. Pray for the rescue workers who are facing new challenges every day. Prayer goes a long way…..Pray it reaches the people of Haiti.

May my love for you always reflect God’s love.  May your goodness always reflect God’s goodness.  May the Holy Spirit unite us, and may Mary keep us close to her immaculate heart. May every blessing from heaven be yours always.

Fraternally,

James Mikowski

Grand Knight

Dear brothers and families,

I hope you all had a very blessed and joyous Christmas and found some time with your families and loved ones to reflect on the miracle of the birth of Jesus and to give thanks for our many blessings. I would also like to wish you and your families a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

I would like to thank brothers John O’Leary and Rob Saylor for all their hard work on the Children’s Christmas Party. We had over 70 members, children, and grandchildren in attended and a great day was had by all! Santa stopped by for a visit with the children for some last minute requests before he headed back home to prepare for his busiest night of the year.  John Weber, PGK provided the entertainment for the children, and with their help he performed his rendition of the 12 days of Christmas.

I would also like to thank Mike Fiore, PGK for all of his hard work planning for our Members Christmas party and ensuring it was a big success, which it was. Everyone in attendance had a great time. Thank you Mike!

The first half of our fraternal year is in the books and we start our next six months as ambitious as ever. I am asking all of my brother Knights for your help in making all of our sponsored events a success and plan to attend at least one of them. I know we are all busy and have other obligations with work and our families, but to ensure the continued health and growth of our council and order, we need the help of all of our members. If your a new member or haven’t been down to the council for awhile, consider joining us at one of our council or fraternal functions and get reacquainted with your brother knights. If you only have a few moments to spare, consider helping with an hour or so at one of our “Vegas Nights”. All the money we raise goes directly to charity. No experience is necessary and your help is greatly needed.

Looking forward to January. Our first event for the new year is our monthly “Vegas Night” on Friday night January 8th beginning at 8 PM.  Our next two events take place on Saturday January 9th. We’ll be taking down the creche from Bellmore Village at 9 AM and later that day at 4:00 PM we will be hosting the Knights of Columbus Basketball Free Throw Challenge at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton gymnasium.  January 14th is our first regularly scheduled council meeting of the month and we will also be hosting a first degree that evening.

On Sunday, January 17th our council  will participate in the annual Right to Life Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. This Mass will be the first Right to Life Mass celebrated by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan. This Mass offers our members an opportunity to join together with other Knights of Columbus  Councils from around the state in a faith-filled expression of our concern for the unborn. The bus will be leaving the council at 8 AM. Please contact me asap if you are interested in attending as the bus fills up quickly.

The 37th Annual March for Life will be held on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 in Washington, D.C. There will be a Mass at St. Barnabas at 5:00 AM and the bus will depart at about 5:45 AM. Sign up sheets are in the lounge. For more information contact Pro-Life Chairman Hank Holzwarth, PGK, or myself if you would like to participate.

Our next 5th Sunday Communion Breakfast will be held on Sunday morning January 31st. The mass at St. Barnabas will begin at 9 AM with the breakfast immediately following at our council. There is no doubt that this mass is an excellent opportunity to join together as Catholics, brothers and families in a truly inspirational setting, thank God for his blessings, and enjoy each other’s friendship. Corinthians 12:12 reads;
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.  Join me brothers, as knights of Columbus members, as one body at Mass. The cost for the communion breakfast is always free and all are always welcome.

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.  ~Ellen Goodman

The Bible tells us that it was God who formed us in our mother’s womb. And when He formed us, He placed within us the highest possible potential: theosis, union with God. Part of man’s tragedy is that this great potential remains only a potential and is not fully developed. Man is indeed a frail creature, but he is endowed by God with great potential. All of us are born equal. Our job is to outgrow equality by reaching out to achieve our potential in Christ. Join me brothers and let us together reach our potential and lets see what we can do as Catholics and as members of the worlds largest Catholic fraternal organization. There is greatness in us all!

Fraternally,

James Mikowski,
Grand Knight

Dear Brothers and Families;

Nov. 19th our council held its annual Memorial Mass in remembrance of our deceased brothers. Thanks to our Worthy Chaplain, Father Valentine, who didn’t let his 16 hour flight keep him from celebrating mass for us. Thank you Father Valentine. I would also like to thank our Eucharist Minister Ken Karchinski, PGK. Joe Camillery PGK, for his alter service. Mike Fiore, PGK, for helping with the readings and  Austin Cannon, PGK John Weber, PGK, Tony Ferro, PGK and brother Al Coli for reading the names of our deceased brothers.

On Nov. 22nd we held our annual AHRC luncheon. This year we helped Danny Robinson celebrate his 20th year at Bellmore council. Our guests had a great time thanks to Danny and his accordion, and the hard work of our members who prepared a wonderful spaghetti lunch. My thanks go out to all who came out to help during this worthwhile charity event. Our guests deeply appreciated each and every one of you who came down to lend a hand. Thank you all!

Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming events. On Friday, December 4th we have a Vegas night, help is always needed. We have our children’s Christmas party on Saturday, December 12th from 10:00AM to 12:00 PM. Saturday, December 13th is our council Christmas party starting at 4:00 PM. Please make you reservations now for our council party.

Our New Year’s Eve party is back this year after a short hiatus, once again Chairman Jack Falci, PGK will be taking reservations. Please see the ad in the log for further details.

On Saturday Jan. 10th we will be taking down the crèche at 9:00 AM. The council basketball free throw contest is also being held on Saturday, January 9th. The free throw contest begins at 4:00 PM. This event is for boys and girls between the ages 10 and 14 and will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton School. The winners will go on to advance to the District, County and State levels of competition.

Join me on January 16th for PGK Mike Fiore’s testimonial dinner and show your appreciation to Mike for all of his hard work and dedication to our council during his year as Grand Knight. Mike put his heart into every aspect of the council and led this council with dignity and represented Bellmore council with class. Reservations are now being accepted.

To catch the real meaning of the “Spirit of Christmas,” we need only to drop the last syllable of the word, and it becomes the “Spirit of Christ.” It beckons us to follow him, and become worthy of the blessedness which he promised to the most unlikely people—the poor in spirit, the sorrowful, the meek, the seekers after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and even the persecuted and the oppressed.

God is Love; Christmas is all about love; Christmas is thus about God and Love. Love is the key to peace among all mankind. Love is the key to peace and happiness within all creation. Love needs to be practiced – love needs to flow – love needs to make happy. Love starts with your partner, children and family and expands to the entire world.

From my family to yours, I would like to wish each of my brothers and their families a very Merry and blessed Christmas, and a safe and Happy New Year!

Fraternally,
James Mikowski
Grand Knight

Dear Brothers and families,

The first weekend of October kicked off a very busy weekend for Bellmore council. We held our first fundraising Vegas Night of the Columbian year on Friday night October 2nd. Several of our brothers who worked the entire evening stayed well after midnight to ensure the hall was set for our annual Italian night which was held the following evening. We could use your help at our next Vegas Night which will be held on November 6th. If you can spare an hour or two please come down and help out at this monthly fundraiser. All of the money we raise goes to charity and during this difficult time more people than ever need our assistance. No experience is necessary, you don’t even have to know how to deal cards, and the help is greatly needed.

Italian night was a huge success thanks to co-chairmen Jim Turzilli, PGK and our Worthy Chancellor Anthony LaBarbera who also cooked a fantastic meal for the 130 people in attendance. Not to be slowed down, the following day Jim Turzilli, PGK was installed as a District Warden of the 15th District. Please congratulate Jim on this prestigious appointment.

The annual “Stand up for Life” silent prayer rally was held on Sunday, October 4th along Jericho Turnpike and Route 110 in Huntington NY. Brothers Hank Holzwarth, PGK and Kevin Coleman, PGK, joined me and over 600 brother Knights and friends from across Nassau and Suffolk Counties for the one and a half our event to show our opposition to abortion. I would also like to extend my personal thanks to Father Nuss for spending time with us during this worthwhile event.

Looking forward to November, The Nassau County Chapter’s Memorial mass for deceased brothers of Nassau County will be held at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Center on Sunday November 8th at 11 AM.

November 11th is Veterans Day. Please find some time during the course of the day to stop and pray for the deceased members of our armed forces who gave their lives for this great Country. Please also remember and continue to pray for the safety of our service men and women who serve at home and abroad to keep our Country safe and free.

November 19th is our annual Memorial Mass for deceased members of Bellmore council. Please join us at 7:30 in the Holy Family Chapel of St. Barnabas church. Our Chaplin, Father Valentine, will celebrate the mass as we remember and pray for our departed brothers.

Crèche set up, On Saturday morning November 28th at 9:00 AM meet us at the council as we continue our long standing tradition of setting up the crèche on Bedford Avenue and in front of the council.

I would like to personally invite all of our members and their families to our next 5th Sunday Communion Breakfast which will be held on Sunday morning November 29th. The mass at St. Barnabas will begin at 9 AM with the breakfast immediately following at our council. There is no doubt that this mass is an excellent opportunity to join together as Catholics, brothers and families in a truly inspirational setting, thank God for his blessings, and enjoy each other’s friendship. I would like you to consider joining your brother Knights at this mass, even if you regularly attend a different mass or a different Parish. This is truly a spiritual and fraternal morning. The cost for the communion breakfast is always free and all are always welcome.

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude to God, our creator and provider, whose guidance and care go before us… and whose love is with us forever.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the changes, to remember that we, too, grow and change from one season of life to another.
Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving. As we see the beauty of autumn, let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours…
Let us think of our brother Knights, families and friends. And let us give thanks in our hearts.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

Fraternally,

James Mikowski, G.K.