The Knight Shield - June 2026

 A Word from  

Grand Knight Gary Skarb

Keep praying for vocations and our Archdiocese Restructuring. Based on the listening session I attended, there will be changes coming in 2027. Our Council stands ready to support our Church and more importantly Fr Jim!  

Road Clean up – It was a little on the chilly side to start; however, everything work out pretty well.  Ten Knights showed up and it took about an hour to finish the job.  Thanks to Chairman Greg Csernai, Don Kosnik, Art Krygowski, Stan Labuda, Ken Krause, Dan Steele, Frank Lucido, Ray Coughlin and Steve Kargenian.  

Fraternal Benefit night – There were 24 people who attended...decent turnout. I learned a few things about estate planning and long term care from Charles Shaw and our Worthy Field Agent, Don Wesley. Both of these gentlemen have years of experience in their respective fields. The program lasted only an hour but was jam packed with great information. If it’s been a while since you looked at your legal and insurance situation, contact Charles Shaw at 586-226-3805 or Don Wesley at 888-393-7539. 

New Officers elected – The following Officers were elected at our Council meeting on May 14: Grand Knight, Gary Skarb; Deputy Grand Knight, Steve Kargenian; Chancellor, Paul Parker; Recorder, Rob Tusset; Treasurer, Ray Coughlin; Advocate, Ken Krause; Warden, Tony Guido; Inside Guard, Dr. Rob Amsler; Outside Guard, Mike Essad; Three Year Trustee, Dan Steele. Thank you gentlemen for agreeing to serve as Council Officers! 

Scholarship Program – The Council amended the Scholarship program to have the ability to award all  the available scholarship funds if there were no candidates for any one of the categories.  We did get three excellent candidates for Scholarships. Based on the amended program, we awarded three Scholarships to the families. The scholarship funds will be made directly to the schools on behalf of the students who were awarded the scholarships.  We will invite the Scholarship families to the Pot Luck dinner in June to present the scholarships to them.  

Rosary Rally – The parishioners of this parish never cease to amaze me. The day started out with a huge thunderstorm. We moved the Rosary to under the walkway by the bell tower. I didn’t think the event would have many people show up. Mother Mary had other ideas! The rain stopped by about half just before noon, clouds started to break up, the people started to come. By the time we started the rosary, there were 42 people there! Wonderful! Thank you 

Chairman Tom Pardo for setting up the event. 

Pot Luck sign up  – Annual Pot Luck Dinner at our June 11 general meeting!  Please sign up on the Sign Up Genius link so we can get a headcount and enough food for the event. Here is the Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49A8A82CABFBC07-64151631-potluck  

Upcoming events: 

May 20-22 State Convention 

June 1 Officer planning (Original date May 25 is Memorial Day) 

June 11 Council Meeting Pot Luck Dinner 

June 14 Corporate Communion 7:45 AM Mass 

June 22 Officer Planning Meeting 

Next Council meeting is Thursday June 11 Pot Luck. Meal at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:30pm.  

Peace and God Bless! 

Gary Skarb

The Knight Shield - May 2026

    Our Council gets a well-deserved break in our activities over the next few months. Enjoy the Spring and Summer! 

    MI Drive – Thanks to Jeff and Chis Gapczynski for chairing the MI drive and all the work they put into it to make it a successful fundraising event. I also want to thank Sherri Ignatowski, Phil Kwasny, Kurt Buhlinger and the ladies who provided the wonderful food and anyone else who was helping out at the home base that I might have forgotten. They spend most of their days during the drive feeding the Knights and counting the cash. I also want to thank all the Knights who participated in the collection. The weather was a little chilly; however the Knights came through working their assigned posts. Finally, please consider volunteering to deliver the checks to the designated Charities. You’ll see how grateful the people are to receive the funds and the impact it has on the special needs families. 

    Easter Meats sales – Sales were a little bit down from previous years; however, profits were about the same! Thank you Chairman Jerry Hund for being the front person with Dearborn Brands, getting the orders together and coordinating the delivery of the products. Special recognition and thanks to Ted and Sherri Czarny. They summarize all the orders by last name, set up an order log, then have a numbering system for each of the 70-100 orders! When the order is delivered, there are two or three pallets, they are bagged up and ready for pick up. This process runs smoothly because of what Jerry, Ted and Sherri do! Thanks a million! I want to thank the guys who show up early in the morning to unload the order and put them in the bags. Pictures attached.  

    Scholarship Program – We did extend the due date for turning in the completed information packets to May 1.  We did have one family submit an application. Hopefully, we will get a few more. 

    Fraternal Benefits night – We are announcing the benefits night in the Church bulletin the first few weeks in  May. The Benefits night is on Monday May 11 at St Paul’s. Light meal at 6:30pm, presentation at 7PM. Lots of good information on insurance and financial planning. Hope you can attend. Invite a non-knight to the presentation.    

    Restructuring – At our last meeting, Fr Jim emphasized the need to attend the listening sessions and to ignore any rumors and not to spread any rumors. Nothing has been decided on the status of any parishes!  The Sessions will be at St Paul’s on Monday May 4th 7-9pm & Wednesday May 6th from 7-9pm sign up at: https://restructuring.aod.org/  or call the office 586-228-1210 

    Officer Nominations – Officer nominations were held at our last meeting. We will be holding nominations and elections at our next Council meeting to determine the Council Officers for the next Fraternal year.  

    PGK Mike Hartel Communication- I received a message from our Past Grand Knight Mike Hartel.  His sister Ruth Allore passed away suddenly Monday April 20. Mikes mom, Elaine Hartel, fell and broke 4 ribs and collapsed a lung! She is out of the hospital and recovering. Please keep Ruth, Elaine and the Hartel family in your prayers. 

Upcoming events: 

May 09 Road Clean up Not Confirmed  

May 11 Fraternal Benefits Night 

May 14 General Council meeting  

May 16 Rosary Rally 

May 20-22 State Convention 

June 1 Officer planning (Original date May 25 is Memorial 

Day)  

Next Council meeting is Thursday, May 14. Meal at 6:30 

pm, Meeting at 7:30pm.  

Peace and God Bless! 

Gary Skarb