St. Maximilian Kolbe
Knights of Columbus
Council 11483

St Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church
1441 Spear St
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Correspondence to:  P.O. Box 381316  Murdoch, FL  33938
koc11483@gmail.com
Financial Secretary, Bob Wright 941.875.1964

An American Blessed 

Father Michael McGivney - Our Founder

This new documentary explores the life, legacy and impact of Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus and America's newest blessed.

To sign up for the free quarterly newsletter of the McGivney Guild, click HERE

Council By-Laws

At our membership meeting on April 1st, we will have a presentation by our Worthy Advocate, Karl Ebert, on our current and proposed By-Laws, as well as on Standing Rules. 

Please click on the links below to download these documents.
Current By-Laws - Click HERE
Proposed By-Law - Click HERE
Standing Rules - Click Here

Knight Knews

Things You Need to Know Now
Scroll Down to view latest announcements.
Click on the Calendar Link and Pages for Other Info Options
Have You Volunteered Some of Your Time and Talent to Support the Council?
Sign Up Today for God and Country!

The Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund

Click on PAGES > Insurance 
To Learn More

PLEASE NOTE NEW MEETING START TIMES FOR BOTH THE OFFICERS' 
MEETINGS AND THE MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS IS NOW 6P eff Oct 2023.  A light dinner is served starting one hour prior to the Membership Meeting.  Your family is welcome during the dinner.


MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS - There will be a Membership Meeting for all members on Monday April 1st, beginning at 6p in the Parish Center and Zoom. Please scroll down to the Council Membership Meeting section below for more information and easy links to Zoom and meeting documents. 


OFFICERS' MEETING -  is planned for Monday, April 28th at 6 pm.  The WGK, Thomas Reichert,   will send a notice of the meeting.  The meeting will be held in the K of C modular building.  It will be available via Zoom as well.


Knightline Magazine now Online

Want to get the latest edition of the Knightline?  Click HERE!


Columbia Magazine now Online!

Want to read the latest edition of the Columbia Magazine?
Click HERE


SCROLL past the Calendar to see other topics/events being featured., 








4th Degree Exemplification - Call Grand Knight Thomas Reichert for more info at 941-763-4905

Ask These Old Knights - Scroll Down Past the Calendar to learn about this new program and how you can participate.


The Invocation - K of C State Council Publication of statewide Knight Knews!  I think they copied us!  Click HERE to see the latest edition.


There are MANY Charity-Unity-Fraternity Degrees scheduled via he Call-In exemplification. Please check the Calendar or contact the Grand Knight for help in setting up a time for your Degree!



Council Membership Meetings

How to Call-In to Participate in Membership Meetings, Officer or Council - Click HERE
Join meeting via Zoom - Click  HERE
Minutes of Meetings:  Will be Emailed approx 3 days before our Meeting
Father McGivney Prayer - Click HERE
Zoom Tutorials - New To Zoom?  Click HERE for Helpful Videos

Charity, Unity and Fraternity Exemplification Video - Click HERE for English or HERE for Spanish


Brother Joe Manna is leading an effort to support our Brother Knights who are either permanently or temporarily incapacitated and need help with some simple home repair support. This will include the Knight’s spouse and the widows of our Knights. Often either from skill set limitations, age or health issues, a Brother Knight needs some help in some simple chores/repairs around the house. Fun!

These Old Knights will be a team of Brothers who can trim a bush, do some minor drywall repair like fixing a hole, change that light bulb that needs a ladder to reach, and on and on. There are those things that we just cannot, for our safety or for legal reasons, do. They will include any type of major electrical or plumbing that calls for a licensed and bonded professional. We’re not going up on roof tops! No lawn maintenance, i.e. we can’t be in the lawn care business, but we could trim a hedge or drag a palm frond to the curb. We could install grab bars and other handrails.

Each request will be sent to Joe for his and the team’s review. Can we do the job with the skill sets in the team? Does it require more skills or special licensing? The team may need to go out and review the job and let them know the costs. We expect the requester to pay for all the expenses. We are saving them on the labor side and the Council is not budgeting for these expenses.

So how do we get started and how can you participate? As Joe Manna has volunteered to be the organizer/contact/gatekeeper, you need to have his contact information:

(941) 661-2734, cell/txt   LEAVE Message if you call      email: josmanna@gmail.com

Next, you need to sign-up. Below, you'll be able to "click to download" a sign-up form.  These forms will be compiled into a master list that will help Joe organize the Brothers and their skill sets. Be as thorough as possible. Fill that in and email to Joe.  If you need to, call him to discuss.

Next, review the attached “requester” forms that will be used to send in the request to have some type of work done, typically with two Knights on the job. This form not only tracks the project but the estimated budget.

There is also a form that you would take to the job site to keep notes on the project and expenses. Your feedback to Tom on these forms is welcome too.

Tom looks forward to hearing from you as soon as possible. He'll be compiling the list of volunteers and then coordinate a kick-off meeting to further talk about the services and answer other questions.

Volunteer Form - Click Here to Download and Print
Project Site Notes Form - Click Here to Download and Print
Project Request Form - Click Here to Download and Print
Indemnification Form - Click Here to Download and Print

WHO ARE THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Who are the Knights of Columbus?

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with 1.7 million members. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.


Membership Benefits

As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 free issues annually of Columbia magazine, the world's largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal benefits.


How to join...

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. Application blanks are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus.

If interested in receiving more information please Email our Chancellor, Brother Henry Renaud at: chancellor11483@gmail.com or call (508) 801-5754.  You can also click HERE for an online link.

Fourth Degree

Any Third Degree member in good standing is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree. 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 the Knights' respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups (called "assemblies"). Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus. If interested in becoming a 4th Degree Knight, speak with the Grand Knight or Chancellor of Council 11483.


Squires

Under the guidance of Christian Brother Barnabas McDonald (1865-1929), the first Columbian Squires circle was instituted in 1925. Membership in the Squires is for Catholic boys between the ages of 12 and 17. Squires' activities are many, varying from spiritual to active service for the Church and community. Each circle elects officer members from their own rank, teaching skills of leadership and responsibility.  We currently do not have a squires program at our council. If you are interested in the Squires program do not hesitate to contacts us and we will connect you to a local council that has the program.

                             We are council 11483 located at St Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte, FL                                                       Interested in becoming a Member?       Contact Henry Renaud, our Chancellor.  
(508) 801-5754
chancellor11483@gmail.com


A Brief History of Our Council

For God and Country


It all started in the fall of 1994 when Charles Maloney, who at that time was District Deputy and Rich Oliva, the District Warden asked Louis Nagy for help to start a council at Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish.Our Rector Fr. Bob Mattingly gave the OK to proceed and by January 20, 1995 we had the over 40 members required by Supreme to start a Council and so Council 11483 was founded.One of our First events was a Spanish American dance held on September 16,1995. George Ponzio & Henry Libergall were the chief-cooks and music was provided by the Spanish American Society of Pt. Charlotte and a great time was had by all.Later that same month we sponsored a parish picnic at Harbor Heights Park.On November 20, 1995 a lighted Christmas Holy Family Centerpiece valued at $ 325.00 was donated by Ron Ferguson of Silk & Sea for our first fund raiser. Art Croteau won a 50-dollar gift certificate for selling 190 tickets. Stan Brokaw and Ted Rivera both sold over 100 tickets each.On January 22, 1996 we held our first spaghetti dinner. Adults were served for $ 2.50 and children were admitted free of charge. Jim LaBee was our chief-cook and with his help we bought the stove for the kitchen which was used many times at future dinners.On February 19,1996 we held our first social dance and the music was provided by John Del Genio.On March 14, 1996 Father Bob conducted a service for members to renew their marriage vows and a certificate was given. Twenty-two couples were present representing 839 years of marriage and 92 children.Our first Tootsie Roll drive was held that March of 1996 and handled by Bob Mungovan, Jim LaBee and Roger King. We raised and donated $ 1,000.00 to A.R.C.On April 14, 1996 we hosted a pasta dinner at a cost of 4 dollars for adults and 2 dollars for children.On May 23, 1996 we received a Certificate of Appreciation for sponsoring Girl Scout Troop #177. Leaders were Dorothy King & Beatrice Briggs.We held our first Golf Outing on June 29,1996. Our chairman and golf-lunch, beverages and prizes.We also painted the inside of the Church building in August of 1996. The building included the parish hall, classrooms and offices.On November 3, 1996 we held our second parish picnic at Harbor Heights Park.We sponsored our second fund-raiser in December of 1996, raffling off another nativity scene donated by Ron Ferguson of Silk & Sea.We had our first Valentine Day celebration with a pasta and meatball dinner held on February 13,1997.The celebration continued for St. Patrick's Day when we sponsored our first Corn Beef dinner on March 17,1997.This and many other events has contributed to the building of our council, organization, and parish. We continue this work today and have fun doing it every time.