Pope Benedict XIV: "To the intercession of Our Lady and St. Pio of Pietrelcina, I would like to entrust the Special Year for Priests ..." more

In keeping with the Order's longstanding "In Solidarity With Our Priests" campaign, the Supreme Knight has called upon all Knights to actively participate in the "Year for Priests" declared by Pope Benedict XVI. The centerpiece of the Order's program for this yearlong celebration (June 19, 2009 -- June 19, 2010) is a new holy card featuring a prayer for priests.

Please visit the "Action Steps" for more information on the holy card as well as other activities that your council and its members can undertake to honor our priests during this celebration.

Coming Attraction -- More to follow

The State Council Organizational Meeting will be held on Saturday July 11, 2009 at St. Gregory's School (St. Benedict Council 9056), 5351 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach at 9 a.m. Council attendees should include the Grand Knight, Immediate Past Grand Knight, Membership Chairman and General Program Chairman. Directions are enclosed and are in the State Directory. Recommended attire for the meeting is jacket and tie. In addition, there will be a luncheon for all ladies beginning at the conclusion of the Ladies of Virginia meeting in Benedict Hall located directly behind the gymnasium. (See attached flyer-Organizational Weekend 2009)

Hotel reservations for the Organizational Meeting, July 10-12, 2009, may be made at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center Hotel (800.937.8461). The room rate is $109.00 plus tax per night. Reservations must be made by June 19, 2009. Be certain to identify yourself as part of the Knights of Columbus Installation Weekend. In addition, a personalized web site has been created for our group. Guests can access the site to learn more about the event and to book, modify, or cancel a reservation. Below you will find the appropriate link(s) for your participants to access the site: Attendee (copy and paste the following link into a web browser) http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/KCG10A

VA eligibility rules changed Monday, June 15, 2009, making it easier for more Veterans to enroll in VA's health care system. A web-based calculator is available for Veterans to enter their income information, dependents, and zip code to assess if their income would fall within the income threshold adjustments. Veterans: Check to see if you qualify under new rules for VA health care. www.va.gov/healtheligibility/. If you have any enrollment or eligibility questions, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387).

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Silver Rose Program began in 1960 as a project of the Knights of Columbus Columbian Squires of North America to honor the Blessed Virgin under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.

Click Here to read more and visit the Silver Rose website. Virginia Silver Rose schedule of events coming soon.

I want to thank you and your brothers in the Knights of Columbus for their outstanding support of our Vocations Ministry.

As Bishop, I am grateful to the Knights of Columbus in Virginia for their consistent and generous support of our seminarians over the years. The financial gifts to our vocation efforts; the continual prayers for our seminarians and priests; and the work with our Vocation Office to encourage young adults to serve the church as priests, deacons and religious enriches our Diocese. ... Read entire letter here

In addition to helping with the successful launch of the Consider Your Call vocations program in both dioceses, Virginia Knights of Columbus councils provided great financial support this fraternal year.

As of May 1, 37 councils participated in Supreme''s Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) and donated a total of $47,000 to support seminarians. For each $500 donation made to a seminarian, Supreme refunds $100 to the council.

Furthermore, councils collected more than $40,000 through the Penny per Knight per Day (PKD) program for the State Vocation Fund. This allowed the Virginia State Council to give $15,000 each to both the Arlington and Richmond dioceses and $10,000 to the Military Archdiocese.

Thanks to all Brother Knights for supporting vocations and seminarians in the Virginia jurisdiction.

Our State Chaplain, Bishop Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of Arlington,recorded a special message to our State Council for the Mid-Year Meeting on January 10th. The complete message is available for playing or download by clicking Here [15MB WMV file playable with Windows Media Player or other .wmv players ]

Our Chaplain, Bishop Paul S. Loverde brings pro-life message to Virginia lawmakers. On a cool and rainy afternoon last week, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde visited Virginia's Democratic Sens. James Webb and Mark Warner to demonstrate Catholic opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and any similar legislation.

The bishop was accompanied by Father Richard Mullins, Arlington diocesan director of Multicultural Ministries, and Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Sister Clare Hunter, director of the Respect Life Office ...[more]... by Dave Borowski in the Catholic Herald 4/1/09

This is a simple yet wonderful program from Squires Circle #5069. Please spread this within your Councils, your Parish and your own children. Download Faces of the Unborn
Ad Gloriam Dei,
Kelly Mortensen
State Deputy

What is VKCCI? VKCCI (Virginia Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc.) is a 501 (c) (3) organization formed in 1994 for the purpose of carrying out the first principle of our order, "Charity." VKCCI gives grants to individuals and families who are in financial distress and have no other place to turn to. These grants provide some of the necessities of life for these individuals. Through a grant from KOVAR, we can also assist an individual diagnosed with Intellectual Disabilities.

Donations from you enable us to continue to give that financial assistance to those who have exhausted all other sources of relief. Since July 1, 1994 to March 1, 2009, through your generosity, VKCCI has given 495 grants totaling over $712,400. The major source of income for VKCCI is the annual Mailing Label Program. Every fall, each of you should receive a set of Knights of Columbus mailing labels. We ask you to continue to support the Label Program again this year and we sincerely thank you for your generosity. Other sources of support are the Robert D. Neary Award Program and contributions from Virginia Councils and individuals.