Maria-Joseph Council 4022
• 3150B South Dixie Dr.		•Moraine, OH  45439		• (937) 299-4728

Support of Religious Liberty

On January 20th, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), made a final decision that would force Catholic institutions to provide health insurance that includes all FDA-approved contraceptive methods and sterilization procedures, including several drugs that cause an early abortion by interfering with the implantation of a newly-conceived human being.  This mandate poses a very serious threat to the religious freedom of Catholics and Catholic institutions.

 To combat this ruling and send a clear message to our elected representatives, on the weekend of 11-12 February, the Brother Knights of the Maria-Joseph Council 4022 gathered signatures from the parishioners of St. Albert the Great on postcards to be sent to our elected representatives expressing our opposition to this HHS determination and our support for “The Respect for Rights of Conscience Act”.

 Arrangements were made for pulpit announcements to be made at the end of each Mass.  Tables were set up at Friends and Fellowship in the school cafeteria, in the Gathering Space, and at the Church doors after all the Masses on Saturday and Sunday.

 Post cards were prepared with the following message to our elected representatives:

I urge you to schedule a vote for “The Respect for Rights of Conscience Act” (H.R. 1179, S. 1467).  To block any attempt to force and American to buy or participate in health care that violates his or her conscience, such as the recent order by the Department of HHS concerning contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs being included in health care plans.

 My religious freedom, protected by the First Amendment, is non-negotiable!  All Americans, regardless of their faith, are in danger.  We will watch closely to see how you vote.

To make participation as easy as possible, the postcards were preprinted with spaces provided for the parishioners to address each card individually to one of our elected representatives, add their own personal note, include their signature and place their return address on the reverse side.  Parishioners were encouraged to fill out a card addressed to our Congressman and two Senators..

The Council had the postcards printed, gathered signatures, addressed them, provided the required postage and put them in the mail.  To maximize the impact that these cards would have, they were individually mailed, to the maximum extent possible.  Through the efforts of the Brother Knights of Council 4022 a total of approximately 609 postcards were mailed to our elected representatives.

sirknightbob@woh.rr.com

www.kofc4022.org

Volunteers Needed:  Road to Recovery

The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteer drivers for a program they call, “Road to Recovery.”  It will initially be established for patients in Montgomery and Greene Counties.  Patients receiving treatment, chemo and/or radiation, would be able to drive themselves to the treatment center but are incapable of driving themselves home.  This program is for emergency situations where the patient cannot make other arrangements.  Volunteers can specify when they will be available and set their own schedules.  Provided sufficient volunteers are recruited, it is anticipated that this will be a commitment of no more than six times a year.

Dan Stiller is the volunteer driver coordinator.  Please prayerfully consider volunteering your services.  Contact Dan at 937-278-9199 to volunteer.  Application forms are available at the at the Council Chambers.

We recently got a letter from Bill’s wife Mary.  She reports that Bill is in the Liberty Nursing Home, 7300 McEwen Rd. Bill has requested visitors (anytime) and of course your prayers.

Collection Items

VA Support:

-          There is an appeal for serviceable clothing, both men’s and women’s, for the homeless at the VA.  If you have clothing that you no longer need, please bring it to the next meeting or leave in the designated box by the coat rack.

-          When you travel hotels and motels provide an array of soaps, lotions, etc. on the bathroom counters.  If you do not use those items, please save them and bring them to the next Council meeting.  The hospital provides a limited supply of hygiene items to the patients when they are initially admitted.  These do not last very long.  Donated items are used as a supplement.

-          The VAMC has many outpatient clinics that are in need of old magazines to help those in the waiting rooms to pass the time.  Patients and their families spend a lot of time waiting on an appointment or for test results to come back.  We all have a pile of old magazines lying around our homes but are reluctant to throw any of them out.  Either because we think we are going to read the rest of the articles or you do not want them to go to end up in a landfill.  Please collect these items and bring them to the next Council meeting.

Ronald McDonald House Support:

-          Please save those pull tabs from soda/beer cans.  The Council now has a collection box set up on the bar.  Various other bars/restaurants/service clubs throughout the community also collect these tabs as well.  The proceeds from the sale of the scrap aluminum helps to defray the cost of lodging for the families of children undergoing treatment at the local hospital.  The daughter of Paul Ault our Diocesan Squires Director is undergoing treatment in Columbus three times per week.  Paul is able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House at a reasonable cost as a result of this program.

2012

January Spirit

2011

June

2010