Home
THE ARIZONA DISTRICT
The Arizona District is comprised of 41 Assemblies throughout
Arizona. Annual activities include a variety of patriotic events.
Fourth Degree Honor Guards are found participating in events such as
Rosary Sunday, Episcopal and pastoral installations, presenting the
Colors at athletic events, escorting the Relics of the six Mexican
Martyrs and Relics of the Passion, marching in parades and the Feast
of the Holy Innocents.
The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of
patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and
loyalty to our country through active membership in local Fourth
Degree groups (called "assemblies"). Certain members of our assembly
serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity
that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus.
Independence Day Greetings
 On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.
The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. As you celebrate this 4th of July let us not forget those that gave their lives for the pursuit of liberty and freedom.
Have a great and safe 4th of July
Yours in Christ
Michael H. Kingman
AZ District Master
The Story of Independence Day
and America's Birthday
 Independence Day
is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on. As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.
In April 1775 as the King's troops advanced on Concord Massachusetts Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets.
The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.
The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.
By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.
Supreme Convention and Guadalupe Festival
Callouts
Each assembly should commit to support the upcoming Supreme
Convention and Marian Congress.
Click here
for information on this experience of a lifetime...
127TH ANNUAL SUPREME CONVENTION
PHOENIX, AZ AUGUST 4 - 6, 2009
Hosted
by the Arizona State Council
Click
Here for the Supreme Convention Website
Click Here for the Convention Presentation from the 2009 Arizona State
Convention
Message from
Supreme Master:
This is the Fourth Degree Dress for
the convention:
Black tuxedo
Clean jacket (with no pins)
Pleated white tuxedo shirt (with lay down collar)
Black bow tie
Black shoes
Black cummerbund (no vests)
Service baldric
White gloves
Black cape with red lining or color of office
Black chapeau with white plume or color of office.
NO swords, NO name badges,
NO wing tip collars, NO pins of
any kind.
We will need Sir Knights in colors for
Adoration of Blessed Sacrament from Sunday thru Thursday (may
change). We will need Sir Knights in colors for Mass each day. We
would like to see 200 plus for the opening Mass. We will also need
Sir Knights in colors for the Guadalupe Festival Saturday afternoon
- 150 or more.
Knights Plan Congress, Festival in Honor of
Our Lady of Guadalupe
 The
Knights of Columbus will hold its First International Marian
Congress on Our Lady of Guadalupe from August 6-8, 2009, following
the organization’s 127th annual convention in Phoenix.
The Congress will conclude with a Guadalupe
Festival at Jobing.com Arena on August 8. Nearly 20,000
attendees are expected from throughout the United States and from
Mexico.
Co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Diocese of Phoenix,
the Archdiocese of Mexico City and the Center for Guadalupan
Studies, the Congress will be held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge
Resort and will feature talks by experts from throughout United
States and Latin America on Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“The centrality of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Americas as ‘the
Christian Hemisphere’ is clearly evident throughout North and South
America,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who will speak both at
the Marian Congress and at the Guadalupe Festival. “Her message
today is one that has as much importance and meaning today as it did
nearly 500 years ago.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe is honored as the Empress of the Americas
and devotion to her is widespread throughout the hemisphere, and in
a particular way throughout Mexico and the Southwestern United
States.
The lectures will focus on the meaning of the message, some of
the scientifically inexplicable aspects of the image, and the
relevance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in today’s world. Speakers
include Dr. Jose Aste Tonsmann from Peru, who has done extensive
studies of the reflections in the image’s eyes; Rev. Msgr. Eduardo
Chavez, who oversaw the cause for canonization of St. Juan Diego –
the Indian to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in December 1531;
and other experts on key elements of Our Lady of Guadalupe and her
message.
The Guadalupe Festival will feature an afternoon of music, prayer
and inspiration speeches. Appearing will be best-selling author
Imaculee Ilibagiza, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City,
Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix. Special invited guest speakers
include actor Eduardo Verastegui. Performers at the festival will
include Irish singer Dana, a mariachi band and matachin dancers.
A schedule and more information are
available at
www.guadalupefestival.org
June 13
- Exemplification of the
Fourth Degree
Those of you who attended the exemplification
on June 13 witnessed a milestone in the legacy of the 4th Degree in the Great State of Arizona. What a thrill it was for me, the degree team, Marshals and dignitaries to have 219 candidates experience the Patriotic Degree of our Order.
I want to thank all of you for making this happen and giving us the experience of a lifetime. How wonderful it was to have Father Albert Francis Hoorman from Corpus Christi Parish as our Class Honoree and for the wonderful donation he made of the collection which came to $1,681.00. This funds will be used to purchase wheelchairs for those vets that cannot qualify under VA requirements. And to follow that our Vice Supreme Master Jerry O'Connor who won the 50-50 Raffle of $700.00 turned right around and also donated the funds for us to purchase wheelchairs. So far we have collected a little over 4000.00.
Soon you or the next FN will be hearing from the Marshals to get the names and numbers of those Sir Knights who are volunteering to be at the Supreme Convention for the Masses and Adoration Chapel. we need these names
ASAP. We also need the names for those volunteering to be at the Marian
Congress as well. I need to order the tickets that we will need to have in order to participate.
Thank you for all you do for our Order and our great state.
Yours in Christ
Michael H. Kingman
AZ District Master
Memorial Day
The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice:
- by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
- by visiting memorials.
- by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
- by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
- by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
- by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.
Click HERE for some interesting
Memorial Day Thoughts
OUR LADY OF CHARITY
MARIAN HOUR OF PRAYER
 Through
the next year, the Knights of Columbus is promoting devotion to Our
Lady under her title of Our Lady of Charity.
The program was announced in the September edition of Columbia
Magazine and in the September 10th issue of the KnightLine. Worthy
State Deputy Stanley Schroeder cam back from the Supreme Convention
with two copies of the painting of Our Lady of Charity, the
patroness of Cuba, which will be traveling between councils and
parishes as the focus of a rosary centered prayer program.
Arizona, in union with the entire order, will be offering this
prayer program for the intentions of His Holiness, Pope Benedict
XVI. Next year at the conclusion of the program, a "spiritual
bouquet ", including the total number of participants and services
held will be presented to the Holy Father.
"It is altogether appropriate for the Knights to honor Our Lady
of Charity this year since charity is one of our founding
principles. This program is an opportunity to reflect on the virtue
of Charity and what it means to every Knight,” said Supreme Knight,
Carl A. Anderson.
Ed Deppert, Family Life Program Director, is coordinating the
scheduling of the Our Lady of Charity tour. Below are links to
information needed to plan and schedule the tour in your council or
parish.
Cover Letter from the Family Life Program Director
Supreme Knight's Message
Columbia Magazine Article
Prayer Program Book
Prayer Card
Supreme Council Marian Program Website
|
