Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 16, 2025

St. Mark’s Parish Hall (1011 Eastwood Rd), Wilmington, NC

Opening Ceremony

• SK Colin Simpson opened the meeting at 7:00 pm in the Saint Mark’s Parish Hall, 1011 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC. There were 21 Sir Knights with ID cards and rosaries in attendance.

Call of Officers

• Acting Faithful Navigator – SK Colin Simpson
• Acting Faithful Captain – SK Charlie Backes

Opening Prayer

• Meeting’s opening prayer was led by the SK Deacon George Keenan.

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Opening Ode

• The Opening Ode, America the Beautiful, was sung.

Call for the Approval of the Minutes of the Prior Meeting

• Minutes approved as posted on website.

Report of the Faithful Friar

• Discussed the 60-foot rosary that was said at the cemetery in Newton Grove in which a rose was laid as each bead was prayed in remembrance of aborted babies.

Report of the Faithful Comptroller - SK Bio

• 149 total members. One transfer out - Richard Singleton.
• No payments required of Supreme
• The financials reported can be requested by contacting the Faithful Comptroller.

Report of the Faithful Purser - SK TSullivan

• The financials reported can be requested by contacting the Faithful Purser.

Report of Committees

Membership Report/ Reading of Applications/ Balloting

• No membership report.
• Next 4th Degree Exemplification: November 1, St James the Greater, 139 Manor Ave, SW Concord, NC 28025.
• No candidates to be presented.

Veterans Report – SK Ludgate

• 50/50 Drawing – will be held after the meeting concludes.
• Ashley House Transitions – $50 gift cards to Veterans.
• Veterans Parade – November 8.
• SK Greg Decker
  • Veteran Support Raffle underway with each council asked to help. The drawing will eb held November 18 for the three cash prizes: $500, $250 and $125. For more information and to purchase tickets online, see our website.
  • Veterans Council Meeting, September 18, to be attended by SK Decker and SK Apicella. Information from this meeting will be posted here.
  • Concert to provide support for the Honor Flights on October 4 at Oak Island.

Color Guard Report – SK Gabel

• September instruction of the colors at St. Mark and St. Mary Catholic Schools have been completed.
• An Honor Guard has been requested by the Raleigh Diocese Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, November 8, at 10:30 am at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 3008 Old Raleigh Rd, Apex, NC 27502. Sign up here.

Uniform Reimbursement

• Two available to offset 50% of the cost. Contact Faithful Navigator.

2026 Collegiate Scholarship Report – Co-chairs: SK Reynolds/SK Murphy

• Look for further details in November.

Fraternal Socials

• Christmas Party December 16 at South Beach Grill on Wrightsville Beach in lieu of our regular December meeting.

Trustees Report

• No report

Unfinished/Old Business

• VA Clinic Canteen. No action. The membership will be polled for interest and action in the coming month.

New Business

• Approval of the fraternal year budget approved with unanimous vote.

Report of Third-Degree Councils

• 1074 Wilmington

  • September 8 – Lou Mattes 1st Annual Golf Tournament at Beau Rivage Golf Course
  • September 14 – Council and District Soccer Challenge at the Wilmington YMCA
  • September 15 – COR, 1st and 3nd Wednesdays of each month at Immaculate Conception Church at 6:30 – 8:00 pm
  • September 20 – Inter-council Bocce Tournament at Empie Park
  • September 20 – Pasta Dinner at St. Mary’s Basilica
  • October 3 – ICC Blood Drive
  • October 5 – Life Chain
  • October 11 – Blood Drive at St. Mary’s Basilica
  • October 17 – Special Olympics
  • October 25 – Anthony’s Way Ride for Kindness

• 12017 St. Mark

  • September 21 – Membership drive
  • October 4&5 - Baby bottle campaign to support Lifeline Pregnancy Center
  • October 4 – Movie Night at 6:30 pm on the Life of St. Therese
  • October 5 – Life Chain
  • October 18 – Columbus Dinner

• 12885 St. Therese

  • Review of Council ByLaws
  • September 20 - Shrimparoo
  • October 1 – St. Therese Feast Day, sign up at St. Therese parish website
  • 1st and 3rd Tuesdays help unload food truck at St. Joseph’s Church in Burgaw get there by 10:45 am

• 11817 St. Stanislaus

  • September 21 – St Stan’s Parish Picnic
  • The Blood Connection Blood Drive
  • Security Mission at ICC
  • November 1 – Polish Festival (Set up on October 31)
  • October – passive recruitment
  • November – Active recruitment
  • December – Exemplification

Brothers in Need

• Bishop Herb Bevard
• SK Frank Pinkston
• Council Member Mike Z

Good of the Order

September is a month of reflection and remembrance – a time when the calendar and the conscience call us to honor those who have served, sacrifice, and suffered in the name of freedom and peace.
As we approach the anniversary of September 11th, we remember the thousands of innocent lives lost and the heroes – firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary citizens – who ran toward danger with courage in the hearts and love for neighbor in their souls. Their actions echo the very values we, as Sir Knights, strive to uphold selflessness, bravery, and a steadfast commitment to the common good.
This month also marks the beginning of many civic observances, such as Patriot Day and Constitution Day, reminding us of the precious rights we enjoy and the responsibility we bear to defend them – especially the right to practice our Catholic faith openly and without fear.
Our patriotic duty as Fourth Degree Knights is more than ceremonial. It is a call to action – to stand up for truth, to promote moral leadership, to honor our veterans, and to teach our youth the virtues of sacrifice, service, and citizenship ground in faith.
Let us use September not only to remember the past, but to renew our commitment to shaping the future – as Catholic gentlemen who proudly serve both the Cross and the Flag.
May we always carry the sword of our faith and the shield of our convictions into the world.
Vivat Jesus?

Closing Prayer

• Conducted by SK Deacon Keenan

Closing Ode

• Sung the Star-Spangled Banner.

Adjourn

• Next regular meeting will be at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 21 at St. Mark's Parish Hall.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.

Minutes submitted by [SK Mike Apicella](mailto: scribe@kofc2017.org), Faithful Scribe.