More than 1,000 people are participating in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults will either be baptized or come into full communion with the Church during the Easter Vigil on April 4. Many KofC Councils and Members sponsor these adults helping with their faith formation!
Upcoming Events:
• Bringing America Back to Life Conference: March 6 and 7 (Independence)
• Catholic Men’s Conference @ March 7 (Independence)
• Diocesan Free Throw @ March 8 (Stow)
• State Free Throw Championship @ March 21
• Bishop’s Brunch @ March 22
EARLY YEAR & SEMINARIAN
Michael Joseph McGivney was born in Waterbury, Conn., on August 12, 1852, the first child of Patrick and Mary (Lynch) McGivney. His parents came to the United States in the great 19thcentury wave of Irish immigration and were married in Waterbury. Patrick was a molder in the heat and noxious fumes of a brass mill. Mary gave birth to 13 children, six of whom died young, leaving Michael with four living sisters and two brothers. Life was not easy, especially for Catholic immigrant families who often faced prejudice, social exclusion, and financial and social disadvantages. Young Michael thus experienced from an early age grief, anti-Catholic bigotry and poverty. But his faith sustained him. At home and in church, he learned and embraced love, faith, fortitude, prayer and putting love of God above any
earthly rewards.
Michael attended the public schools of Waterbury’s working-class neighborhoods. A good student, he was noted for “Excellent deportment and proficiency in his studies.” At age 13, shortly after the Civil War, he graduated three years early and began work in the spoon-making department of a brass factory to provide a few more dollars for his family.
In 1868, 16-year-old Michael left home to pursue God’s call to the priesthood. His formation as a seminarian was rich and diverse, spanning two countries, four seminaries and instruction by three religious orders the charity-oriented Vincentians, the academically rigorous Jesuits, and the experienced formers of diocesan clergy, the Sulpicians.
Throughout his formation, his personal virtues, concern for others and use of God-given intellectual talents shone forth. At the College of St. Hyacinthe in Quebec, Canada, he received an award for his studious dedication. He also stood out academically at Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and St. Mary’s Seminary in Montreal.
PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF BLESSED MICHAEL
MCGIVNEY
God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church.
Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify Blessed Michael McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen
In June 1873, tragedy struck with the death of his father, nearly upending 20 -year-old Michael’s vocation. He returned to Waterbury for the funeral, unsure whether he would need to leave seminary and return to factory work to support the family. By God’s grace, the bishop of Hartford intervened. Seeing Michael’s great priestly potential, he provided financial support for him to enter St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. There, Michael was appointed sacristan, a responsibility that underscored his reputation for piety and orderliness. Holiness did not make him aloof, and he was remembered for his sense of humor as well as for his enthusiasm for the relatively new game of baseball.
After four years of study, Michael was ordained by Archbishop (later Cardinal) James Gibbons on Dec. 22, 1877, in Baltimore’s historic Cathedral of the Assumption, the nation’s first cathedral. A few days later, with his widowed mother present, Father Michael J. McGivney celebrated his first public Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Waterbury, beginning his life as a priest a busy and difficult vocation which then had a life expectancy of only about 40 years.
You can play a key role in advancing
Father McGivney’s cause by joining the Guild for free and praying for his intercession and canonization. May Father McGivney intercede for you!
The Father Michael J. McGivney Guild serves as a source for information about the life, works and spirituality of Father McGivney. The Guild publishes a quarterly newsletter and offers a weekly Mass for the intentions of members. Click HERE to Join!
STATE OFFICER REPORT
March is dedicated to Saint Joseph. We hold a special reverence for Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ and the patron saint of workers and families. This connection is deeply rooted in both spiritual devotion and the values that Saint Joseph embodies, which align closely with the mission and principles of the Knights.
Saint Joseph represents humility, dedication, and protective care qualities that resonate with our commitment to charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. As a model of quiet strength and unwavering faith, Saint Joseph serves as an inspirational figure for Knights, who strive to emulate his virtues in their service to family, church, and community.
Many of our councils put forth that humility and dedication during the March.
This month you will be able to find the Knights of Columbus members at the various fish fries and services throughout the diocese. Some of those are listed in this issue. Please take some time to visit and say hello to your brothers while in line.
You will have an opportunity to see your Diocesan Team at the 25th Anniversary of the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of NE Ohio Conference next Saturday, March 7th, at the Holiday Inn in Independence. We will have a table out with the vendors where myself and the some of our Benefits Team will be present to help you with your needs as well as looking to help those grow in their faith. Please take a minute to say hello.
The Diocesan Free Throw Championship is on March 8th at Holy Family in Stow. Thank you to DDC Tom Donovan for organizing and running the event. This is Tom’s first time running this event. Take a second to thank him. Times for DDs and competition are in his article later on in this issue. The winners from here will represent the Cleveland Diocese at the State Free Throw Championship on Saturday, March 21st in Columbus. Cleveland has been in a bit of a slump lately but I know that God will provide all our competitors with the spirit of sportsmanship. Good luck to all!
On March 13-14, the team will again be at the Bringing America Back to Life Conference at the Embassy Suites in Independence. This year’s conference promises to bring together from around the region pro-life supports and to provide information concerning the culture of life. If you are attending, you cannot miss us. We are right by the door going into the speaker area.
On Sunday, March 22nd, the annual Bishop’s Brunch supporting seminarians will be happening at the Landerhaven. I have had the pleasure of working with the committee for the past six years as a representative of the Knights of Columbus. There are some dedicated people helping to support our seminarians on their journey. I hope to see you there!
We conclude our month with Holy Week. Take some time to reflect, in your hearts as you prepare for the Easter Resurrection.
With the Easter Vigil, this is a great time for the Knights to provide the OCIA candidates with Rosaries and invitation to continue to growth in
their faith and to put that faith into action. Reach out to those men and invite them to join our ranks!
A lot of activities and we get closer and closer to the end of the fraternal year. Councils should be looking forward to State Convention in Columbus this year. Information will be sent to the GK via email and USPS here in March.
With the coming state convention NOW is the time to elected your delegates. Convention is May 22-24 at the Columbus Hilton at Easton. We will also be electing a representative from the diocese to attend the Supreme Convention in Denver, CO later in August. Prayerfully consider this as it is a great honor to represent OUR diocese. If you are interested, let me know.
Remember, our relationship between Saint Joseph and the Knights is one of profound spiritual kinship. Saint Joseph's exemplary life of faith, humility, and dedication mirrors the ideals the Knights uphold, making him a natural patron and source of inspiration for our work and community involvement. This bond continues to inspire us to live with integrity, serve others, and honor their faith and families with devotion. As we March forward, let us look to Saint Joseph for strength and guidance as during this Lenten Season and beyond.
Vivat Jesus!
Jim
EVANGLEIZATION & FAITH FORMATION
Hello Brother Knights of the Cleveland Diocese! This is Ty Tyjewski, Your Diocesan Coordinator for Evangelization & Faith Formation. LENT Is upon us! What an amazing time of the year it is! I’d like to suggest something different for Lent this year… maybe even issue a “challenge”…. but first, some “housekeeping” items…
As of March 1st, the Cleveland Diocese is running 2nd across Ohio in Councils actively participating in COR with 16 councils! We have had at least %25 growth in the last 3 Calender quarters! A great big THANK YOU to all of the Council Grand Knights and E.F.F. Directors for spreading the good news of the Gospel to Men of our great Diocese!
First, There still seems to be some confusion regarding COR, so let me briefly Clarify: COR is NOT A REPORTABLE COUNCILPROGRAM. Ive been suggesting to all Council Grand Knights and E.F.F. Directors not to use use the words “COR” and “Program” together. COR is a SUPREME INITIATIVE, not a REPORTBLE PROGRAM. Our Worthy State Faith Program Director, Chris Crumm, is receiving Faith Programs reports for COR meetings. COR is not eligible for Council Faith Activities. If there any questions regarding this, please feel free to contact me, and I will work Directly with your Council E.F.F. Director.
For Current Council E.F.F. Directors, Supreme has redesigned their website. If you have not seen the new website yet, please do so A.S.A.P. and re -familiarize yourselves on where to find COR information. And, If you have not already done so, please make sure your Council’s E.F.F. Director has registered. This ensures that your Councils E.F.F. Director receives updates and communications from Supreme regarding Training, content and more. If you are an E.F.F. Director for your Council, and have not registered yet, please go to Info.kofc.org/EFFonboarding-LP to register.
If you, or anyone you know, are interested in starting a COR group with your Council, please contact me at any time at kofcclevelandeff@gmail.com, . Also, you can visit www.kofc.org/COR for more information.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming … LENT is here! As is says in our C.U.F. exemplification, “ The Greatest act of Charity the world has ever seen” is quickly approaching. Now we all know what Lent usually means… picking one thing to sacrifice on the name of our Lord and Savior.
It could be giving up out favorite dessert, it could be refraining from out favorite adult beverage, it could be many many ,things ( One year for Lent I gave up popcorn … believe me Brothers, the struggle was real!) …. But What If …
What if, instead of sacrificing something that, in the Grand Scheme of Life is relatively minor …. What If during this Lent, we took 1 step outside of our own comfort zone and did something completely different. What if we made it a point to Evangelize; even in the smallest way … whether that be a simple Hello and a Handshake to a stranger, buying a cup of coffee
for a coworker, or maybe something even larger, like finally attending the Mens Fellowship Conference for the first time; (shameless plug!) Or maybe, just maybe, its introducing yourself to that one man you see at Mass consistently, but have never talked to him before … My Bother Knights, we are quickly approaching the greatest Triumph in Human History … it took the Sacrifice of our Lord to save us all. Don’t you think we can muster up the Courage to approach 1 man and talk to him? Don’t you think we have it in us to break out of our comfort zone and help bring just 1 man closer to Christ?
YES WE DO!!
Brother Knights, every day we have the opportunity to Evangelize ... not just during Lent, but every day, to share the promise of Eternal life with another man. To share that walking with God and the path He has for our Lives holds so much more than this world has to offer. WE have that opportunity every day… and all it takes, is for us to take that 1 step outside of our Comfort zone.
Until Next time Brothers, may God continue to Bless you and you families, and have a safe, happy and Holy Lent.
Vivat Jesus!
The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph.
The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of March 2026
For disarmament and peace: Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.
The Lord has put his faithful servant in charge of his household.
GROWTH REPORT
Worthy District Deputy, Grand Knight, Financial Secretary, Council Membership Director and Fraternal Leader,
Thank you for your continued efforts in recruiting men to the order. Please continue to invite men to learn about the Knights and encourage them to sign up; First year is still free via BLESSEDMCGIVNEY code.
Currently there are two active Membership incentives.
1: Shining Armor Award – 5 Month Challenge: The first 100 completed Shining Armor Award cards turned into the State Growth Director, will have their pins paid for by the State Council and they will be entered into a drawing to win $100. These pins will be purchased by the State and sent to the Grand Knight for presentation at the council. Anyone that sends in their completed Shining Armor Award cards after the first 100 will also be placed into a separate drawing to win $100. Program runs most of the year and ends on the Saturday of the Ohio State Convention, at which time the two drawings will be held.
2: NEW Supreme Join ASAP Council Incentive – Council recruits three new members during February 1st until March 31st AND donates at least $500 through the ASAP
program any time during the 2025-2026 fraternal year will receive an additional $250 for the pregnancy resource center or maternity home they supported. The top 10 councils recruiting the most members will also receive an additional $750 for pregnancy resource center or maternity home, bringing the total incentive to $1000 for those winners.
For more information see here
If your Council is planning a growth drive, I would like to attend. Please either inform your District Deputy or contact me directly with the information.
As your Diocesan Growth Coordinator, I receive any State eForm-100 communication for review and validation. https:// fs22.formsite.com/stambrose/ gssmboyytb/index Reminder, any new or existing transfers requires the Signature of both incoming Council Financial Secretary and the Grand Knight. The Council should also inform their Field Agent of the new or transferring member.
Although this has been provided as a service to the Councils; Supreme and State strongly recommends using Member Management for any Fraternal administration; it is quick, easy, and accurate. If you need assistance with Member Management or using the CANDIDATE or PROSPECT TAB, feel free in reaching out to me.
Unless there are extenuating circumstances, Councils, please do not expend any
further energy on contacting eMember Prospects; If the Council has made a good faith effort in contacting the eMember Prospect, after 30 days, please notify your District Deputy or myself. I will move the eMember from your Council and they will no longer appear on the Council Prospect Tab in Member Management. Please do not reject the Prospect, I will reassign the eMember Prospect. This will allow the Prospect to be reassigned and available to another Council's Prospect tab in the future.
For clarification, when an eMember Prospect is ASSIGNED to your council, the eMember Prospect is not necessarily available on your Prospect tab. Please contact me if you want the eMember Prospect available on your Council Prospect tab.
If you have any questions about eMembership, Prospect Tab, Church Drives or anything dealing with Member Management, please feel free in reaching out to me.
% Growth is a measure of the YTD gain compared against the July 1st membership number.
TOP-5 % GROWTH
YTD Gain against the July 1 Membership Excluding New Councils
1. 18565 St. Elizabeth of Hungary (29.41%)
2. 18527 Chariots of Fire (15.00%)
3. 16137 St. Charles Borromeo (8.47%)
4. 4891 Holy Family Amherst (7.06%)
5. 8320 John Carroll (6.98%)
TOP-5 TOTAL NEW MEMBERS Excluding New Councils
1. 3269 Fr. Ragan (18)
2. 774 Elyria, 14551 St. Hilary (12)
3. 10936 Fr. Maruskin (11)
4. 18565 St. Elizabeth (10)
5. 4847 Brunswick (9)
TOP-5 DISTRICTS
1. DD #20 DeWitt Gober (42)
2. DD #25 Mike Rauh (22)
3. DD #22 Robert Walsh (21)
4. DD #24 Tom Donovan (20)
5. DD #26 Ron Snyder (19)
PRAY
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
REFLECT
The ability to cooperate with God’s creative power to conceive and raise a child is one of the most profound gifts that a married couple can receive. Yet sadly, about 1 in 6 people face infertility at some point. For some, the joy of conception never happens. Others suffer repeated miscarriages. Still others experience secondary infertility: after giving birth to one or more children, they experience difficulty having another. When couples are unable to bear children, very often there is an understandable feeling of great loss. It is essential to note that the Church has true compassion for couples suffering from infertility and wants to be of real help to them. Many causes of infertility can be addressed through medical assistance that is fully in accord with Catholic teaching.
The desire to have a child is beautiful and good. At the same time, we are called to cooperate with God’s design for married love and the creation of new life. Some practices, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, are not morally legitimate ways to address infertility. In addition to failing to respect the dignity of the couple’s marital relationship and of the child, such procedures often result in the loss of human life.
St. John Paul II affirmed to couples who bear the Cross of infertility, “you are no less loved by God; your love for each other is complete and fruitful when it is open to others.” It is important that couples who experience infertility know that their love is still fruitful and their married life remains filled with meaning. We pray that couples struggling with infertility would know Christ’s closeness in a special way and embrace God’s design as they seek to grow their families.
For more information, please visit respectlife.org/ navigating-infertility.
ACT (Choose One)
• Offer a decade of the Rosary for all couples struggling with infertility.
• Choose one day this week to abstain from sweets or your favorite snack as a reminder to draw close to Christ in times of suffering and trust in His plan for our lives.
• Offer some other sacrifice or prayer that you feel called to do for this month’s intention.
ONE STEP FURTHER
Learn more about the moral problems posed by IVF with answers to common questions in “A Catholic Primer on In Vitro Fertilization”: respectlife.org/catholic-primer-ivf.
Winners advance to State Finals on Sunday March 21, in Columbus.
The Sacred Heart Icon in currently traveling in our Diocese it will be in District 31 until April 2. Inform your councils of this devotion and schedule with your DD.
It will move to District 32 and 33 in the following months. The District DDs should contact each other to transfer the Icon. The Schedule can be found on the State website.
The Silver Rose Icon will be in our Diocese on June 25 to 27. Please contact me, your Diocesan DD to reserve. This Silver Rose comes to us from the Toledo Diocese and we will hand it off to the Youngstown diocese. Last year District wide devotions were held to maximize its exposure.
March 29: Knights of Columbus Founders Day What is planned in your District ? Great time to represent out brotherhood to the community (it is Palm Sunday this year) Are your councils processing?
April 1: “Of the Year” nominations due to the State Forms can be found in the We Are Called State general program handbook.
April 15: The State Program reporting ends on April 15 The programs must be entered by April 15 to be recognized for the State awards Note to qualify for any State award a council must achieve 10 percent of its
Order Vivat Jesus 2026 Today!
The Vivat Jesus Spiritual Planner for 2026 is now available! Designed to help men develop and maintain a daily prayer routine, your council is encouraged to buy copies in bulk via Supplies Online (20 books for $100). Individual copies are available at shopcatholicinfo.com for $7.99 each.
Supreme Growth goal. There are still 15 councils in our Diocese with 0 growth while good we can do better.
May 22 -24: Ohio State K of C Convention at the Hilton Easton, Columbus Ohio. Initial letters will be sent out in March to the Grand Knights.
Finally, as we enter our final quarter of this Fraternal year it is time to reflect on our many successes as well as areas where we can do better. Did you enjoy your year as DD? Are you onboard for FY26-27 Know any Knights who wish to join the DD Ranks? Now is the time. Our State Secretary will be reaching out to us soon to discuss individually what our options are for the upcoming year.
Vivat Jesus Tom Donovan, PGK,PFN, FDD Cleveland Diocese DDC
This year’s edition is updated with a special emphasis on giving men a space to plan their prayer routine. Additionally, the book is now in a larger format. Many men have reported to us how transformative Vivat Jesus has been in their faith life. Please consider ordering this year’s edition in bulk so we can help supercharge the prayer lives of as many men as possible!
Thank you to all the brothers that came out to our February Meeting in person and online. This is the first time that we offered the Exemplification of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity prior to the Chapter Meeting. We welcomed two (2) new members in our Order. We followed up with a Rosary and General Meeting that was productive.
Looking forward, our next Chapter Meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026. We will once again offer the Exemplification prior starting at 6:30 PM, followed by a Rosary, and then the meeting. This meeting will be in person and available via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out prior to the meeting along with the minutes. I look forward to seeing all of you there one way or another.
Many of our councils are in the middle of their Fish Fry Season. Some of their flyers are in this issue. Please take some time to visit them and say hello as go through the lines or before you leave. The councils put a lot of work into making sure that the fish is fresh and the food is great!
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM join Past Chapter President Frank Carangio
and his team for an early dinner at Fuji Grill and Buffet at 1930 Snow Rd in Parma. The cost is only $15 per person and you get to have a great time with those there. We would love to have you and bring a friend along as well.
The next major event for the Chapter is our Nun’s and Ladies Appreciation Dinner. See the flyer. If you know any Sister’s invite them! Bring your lady and treat
them to a night out. See the flyer for more details.
If your council has any major projects that they would like to pitch to the Chapter for this Summer, please let me know. We are always looking where we can help out.
Have a blessed Lenten season and prepare your hearts for the Holy Week and Easter!
Vivat Jesus!
Jim
Jim Maslach Chapter President kofcjkm@gmail.com 440-785-9838
Tom Donovan Chapter Vice President td3430@att.net 216-650-4213
Martin Steward Chapter Secretary martinasteward@gmail.com
Patrick Graham Chapter Treasurer patrick_graham60@yahoo.c om
Chapter Meetings
Second Friday of Month 7:00 PM Rosary 7:30 PM Meeting Visit www.kofccleveland.org
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Fraternal Trainers provide important support for Fraternal Leaders; training can be tailored to meet the needs of both new and seasoned officers, as well as any members who are interested in advancing to officer roles in the future.
Visit kofcohio.org under FOR MEMBERS to locate training for state, council, district and assembly officers, an archive of fraternal webinars, and important resources that will assist you in navigating your leadership role. Our helpful list of Suggested Training by Officer Role highlights the training sessions that are recommended for your officer position. Training is reviewed on a continuing basis, so you will always get the most up-to-date information. Best of all, these ondemand sessions are available to view at any time, on your own schedule, and the average length of each session is only 30 minutes!
OFFICER TRAINING
Fraternal Trainers provide important support for Fraternal Leaders. Training for State, District, Council and Assembly officers is available to view On Demand, providing the opportunity to review essential information and best practices on your schedule.
OPERATIONS TRAINING
Operations training provides valuable information to support council leadership in managing their time, organizing council functions, and handling financial responsibilities. A council secures its place in the parish and the community through the activity of its members, and a smoothly running council can focus more time on charitable output.
Training that focuses on three of the important aspects of leading a council: the administration of council duties; council finances; and guidance on finding and completing the forms that are necessary for reporting contact information, fraternal activity, and more.
GROWTH AND RETENTION TRAINING
Membership is every member’s responsibility: keeping active makes a council successful, and a successful council keeps growing. These training sessions will help with tips for recruitment strategies and membership retention, along with the steps and best practices for holding activity and church drives and conducting exemplifications.
PROGRAMS AND ENGAGEMENT TRAINING
Running successful programs and events involves advance planning, communication, and member engagement. Training sessions that provide tips and strategies for helping your council to plan and promote events and keep your members involved in council activities.
The mission of Cor (Latin for “heart”) is to help focus Catholic men on Jesus by building Christ-centered brotherhood through a simple, flexible framework of prayer, formation and fraternity. Learn more about starting and supporting Cor in your council through these informative videos.
TRAINING AUDIENCES AND REQUESTS
Fraternal trainers provide officer training at state, district and council level, online and in-person. Sessions are tailored to meet the needs of both new and seasoned officers, as well as any members who are interested in advancing to officer roles in the future.
To quickly look up which on-demand sessions are related to your officer role, check out the Suggested Training by Office infographic.
Looking for a specialized in-person training opportunity for your jurisdiction, district, or council? Training can be requested using the Fraternal Training Request Form.
DIOCESAN CALENDAR OF EVENTS
STATE & DIOCESAN DIRECTORY
State Deputy
Mike Felerski 1580 Gelhot Dr #234 Fairfield, OH 45014 mfelerski@icloud.com
Immediate Past State Deputy Support Our Seminarians Jeff Kiliany 559 Walnut St Leetonia, OH 44431 jtktg@yahoo.com
State Secretary, District Deputy #32 State Per Capita 789, 3541, 5506
State Treasurer Super Cash 2026, & 2027
State Advocate Matching Funds 2026
State Warden Measure Up 2026
State Life Director
Jim Maslach 4927 Autumnwood Ln Brunswick, OH 44212 440-785-9838 kofcjkm@gmail.com
Chris Sarka 7239 Winterbek Ave New Albany, OH 43054 c_sarka@hotmail.com
Tony Offenberger 15200 Muskingum River Rd, Lowell, OH 45744 tonyoffenberger@gmail.com
Stewart Vetter 706 Northwest St, Bellevue, OH 44811 betterwithvetter@hotmail.com
Mike Incorvati 330-671-1490 mlbinvorvati@gmail.com
