Volume #8 / Issue #13 July 2026
A SAINT IN THE MAKING
On May 26, 2020, Pope Francis approved a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Father McGivney and opening the way for his beatification. On Oct. 31, the Mass for Beatification was celebrated in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, Conn. An Apostolic Letter was read from Pope Francis that declared Father McGivney would now have the title of Blessed Michael McGivney. He is the third priest born in the United States to be raised to this honor, and the first priest to be beatified who spent his whole priestly ministry in a US parish.
The pope’s Apostolic Letter stated that Blessed Michael McGivney’s “zeal for the proclamation of the Gospel and generous concern for the needs of his brothers and sisters made him an outstanding witness of Christian solidarity and fraternal assistance.”
The Cause for Canonization for Father McGivney was opened in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1997, when he was given the title Servant of God. On March 15, 2008, his heroic virtue was recognized by Pope Benedict XVI, and Father McGivney was given the title Venerable Servant
of God. This important step occurred after years of careful investigation of Father McGivney’s life, spirituality and holiness by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The declaration of Venerable confirmed what those
neighbor.
Having been raised to the honors of the altar, Blessed Michael McGivney has an annual feast day of Aug. 13, the day between his birthday (in 1852) and the day he passed into eternal life (in 1890). His cause has now entered the final phase toward canonization or sainthood. One more confirmed miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney is needed for him to be declared saint.
who knew him in life, and others who call upon him since his death, have believed about Father McGivney: He lived a life of heroic virtue with an extraordinary love of God and
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
All Knights and their families, as well as all those devoted to Father McGivney, are asked to pray for his intercession in their daily needs, especially in cases of serious illness, and to report any favors and healings to the Guild.
Visit the Father McGivney Guild at www.fathermcgivney.org for more information.
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
Happy Birthday, USA! It is your 250th birthday. We pause not only to remember the courage of those who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but also to give thanks for the blessings, sacrifices, and responsibilities that have shaped our nation. A semi-quincentennial is more than a milestone on a calendar. It is an invitation to look back with gratitude, look around with honesty, and look forward with hope.
For Catholics, and especially for the Knights of Columbus, this anniversary offers a special opportunity to reflect on the relationship between faith and freedom. The Knights of Columbus have long understood patriotism not as mere sentiment, but as a virtue rooted in love of neighbor, service to the common good, and fidelity to God. In this anniversary year, the Order has encouraged prayer, charity, Eucharistic devotion, and works of mercy as fitting ways to honor America’s past and help renew her future.
July is also dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, the Blood poured out on Calvary for the redemption of the world. At every Mass, we are drawn again into the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice, where mercy triumphs over sin and love proves stronger than death. The Precious Blood reminds us that true freedom is never separated from sacrifice, and that the deepest liberty is found in belonging to Christ.
America’s story has always included both noble ideals and human failures. The words “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” continue to challenge every generation to build a
society worthy of the dignity God has given to every person. We know that no nation can be renewed by politics alone. Renewal begins in converted hearts, in families formed by prayer, in parishes alive with charity, and in citizens willing to serve with humility.
This is where our witnesses becomes especially important. Founded in faith and committed to charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism, we Knights offer a model of faithful citizenship. Through support for families, care for the vulnerable, service to veterans, defense of religious liberty, and devotion to the Eucharist, we show that love of country is most authentic when it becomes love in action.
As fireworks fill the sky and flags wave across our communities, may our celebration also rise as a prayer. May we thank God for the blessings of this land, honor those who sacrificed for liberty, and recommit ourselves to the duties of faithful citizenship. May the Knights of Columbus continue to lead by example, helping families, parishes, and communities place Christ at the center of American life.
Looking back on all that you and your councils accomplished during the 2025 –2026 fraternal year is truly inspiring. The Cleveland Diocese led the state in growth percentage, exemplifications, recorded DD visits, submitted forms, donations, charitable activities, and more. All I can say is: THANK YOU! Your dedication to our principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism is unmatched. I
Please join us on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 1:00 PM for our July State Tour meeting. Supreme has announced many changes related to Growth, Fraternal Benefits, and Programs that you need to know about. We will explain these updates
and how we, as a state, plan to help. You will also be able to pick up your Football Crazr tickets at the meeting.
State Per Capita invoices have been sent to the FS and DDs of record and are available online through the state’s Google Drive. If you are unable to access the drive through the email link, please contact me and I will assist you or send your statement directly. This process is saving the state more than $2,000 in printing and postage costs. Per Capita payments are due by August 31, 2026.
On America’s 250th birthday, let us remember that our hope does not rest in our achievements alone, but in the saving love of Jesus Christ. God bless America, and may the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ redeem, protect, and sanctify us all.
Vivat Jesus, Jim
EVANGELIZATION & FAITH FORMATION
Monthly Messages from Our Worthy State Chaplain
Father John Paul Walker, O.P. provides insight monthly to all brothers across the State of Ohio. These messages provide details about our Catholic faith and how we has Knights can continue His mission through the vision of Blessed Michael McGivney. Visit our YouTube page via the state website.
Hello Brother Knights of the Cleveland Diocese!
While it is not the calendar New Year, it is the start of the K of C Fraternal Year. July brings changes and challenges new Council and Assembly Officers, yearly program planning, and more. I’ll first recap last year’s progress, then share Supreme’s new COR changes for this Fraternal Year.
Before that, let’s cover some housekeeping:
Please ensure your Council EFF Director is registered with Supreme to receive training updates, new materials, and other valuable information. Visit the state website and on the home screen there is a button to register the council EFF director. If your Council is changing EFF Director or needs help with registration, training, or COR, contact me anytime at kofcclevelandeff@gmail.com or (440) 867-4503.
The Cleveland Diocese ended the Fraternal Year with 16 Councils hosting COR meetings, up from 7 last year a 128% increase
in under one year! THANK YOU to all Grand Knights and Council EFF Directors for making this a recordsetting year.
Next, here are the COR changes affecting STAR COUNCIL requirements:
• Every council must submit a Council EFF Director.
• Cor is now required for the Columbian Award.
Cor and the Columbian Award
Complete 3 activities:
1. One to bring men closer to Christ,
2. One to build fraternity among the men of your council and/or parish.
3. One to support your parish or community.
These activities may be unique to the council and do not need to be Faith in Action programs. You cannot claim activities already submitted for other requirements.
Conducting Cor satisfies all three of the activity criteria. Councils must sustain monthly Cor gatherings featuring prayer, formation, and fraternity. To qualify,
Cor must begin by April 1 and include plans for longterm sustainability. Cor may be held with another men’s ministry and use nonKofC content. If you choose this option, you must include your council Evangelization and Faith Formation (EFF) Director’s name and email address.
Finally, let’s keep our momentum going this Fraternal Year. We now have 16 Councils hosting COR meetings, with 2 more forming steering committees. Our 2026 goal is 27 Councils hosting COR meetings! With hard work and communication, the Cleveland Diocese can become #1 in our great State. I know WE CAN DO IT!
If you have questions about the Star Council changes, steering committees, or COR, please contact me anytime.
That’s all for now, Brother Knights. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our Councils, Diocese, and Order this past Fraternal Year. I look forward to working with you in the new year. God bless you all, and Vivat Jesus!
The month of July is dedicated to The Precious Blood of Jesus.
The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of July 2026
For respect for human life: Let us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
GROWTH REPORT
Worthy District Deputy, Grand Knight, Financial Secretary, Council Membership Director and Fraternal Leader,
First congratulations on a job well done, this past Fraternal Year, 20252026. For the third year in a row, the State achieved Circle of Honor by welcoming almost 2100 new members. In the Cleveland Diocese, we welcomed 365 new Brothers and led the State in total percentage gain of 115%.
As Diocesan Growth Coordinator, my job is to serve and assist you in any way possible in
growing your Council through member recruitment; completion of any membership forms; answer questions about Charity, Unity and Fraternity exemplifications; membership retention; growth or membership drives; and any questions about eMembership, Officer's Online and, Membership Management.
My goal is to ensure each Council in the Diocese earns the McGivney Award or, at least, recruit one person this fraternal year. Understanding each Council and Parish are different, I will be reaching out to the District Deputies first and then the Council leadership afterward to
find out how I may be of assistance.
The State Growth Circle of Honor goal this year is 2200 new members and 60 Star Councils. We can achieve this goal once again.
If you have any questions about eMembership, Prospect Tab, Church Drives or anything dealing with Officer's Online or Member Management, please feel free in reaching out to me.
Fraternally yours, Teran Taggart Diocesan Growth Coordinator, DD#23 440-665-4078
GROWTH FOR 2025-2026
As of June 30, 2026
Ohio July 1: 55,836
Ohio Growth: 2,030 (107.75%)
% Growth: 3.64%
Cleveland July 1: 7,539
Cleveland Growth: 368 (116.94%)
% Growth: 4.88%
% 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 (44.12%)
2. 18527 Chariots of Fire (15.00%)
3. 11831 SS Cosmas & Damian/ OLOG (14.67%)
4. 16137 St. Charles Borromeo (10.17%)
5. 11464 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (9.68%)
TOP-5 TOTAL NEW MEMBERS Excluding New Councils
1. 3269 Fr. Ragan (21)
2. 774 Elyria (17)
3. 4847 Brunswick, 18565 St. Elizabeth of Hungary (15)
4. 4168 Medina, 310 Gilmour, 14551 St. Hilary (14)
5. 10936 Fr. Maruskin (13)
TOP-5 DISTRICTS
1. DD #20 DeWitt Gober (53)
2. DD #22 Robert Walsh (38)
3. DD #24 Tom Donovan (36)
4. DD #31 Bill Christner (28)
5. DD #32 Jim Maslach*, DD #27
Tim Daley, DD #25 Mike Rauh (27)
* - Started New Council 18892 University of Akron
Welcome to a New Fraternal Year!
DISTRICT DEPUTIES
Congratulations to all on a very successful year. The State earned the Circle of Honor for the third straight year, grew by 2,100 members, and had more than 70 councils earn prestigious Star Council awards.
Thank you to all District Deputies for your tireless work assisting councils in achieving Star Council honors. Now we begin again success again.
The Cleveland Diocese welcomes one new District Deputy this year: Dave Heilman of St. Ambrose Council 4847, who will serve District Deputy #24. As Grand Knight, Dave led his council to earn Star Council honors for three consecutive years, and he is a welcome addition to our team.
Please introduce yourself to Dave at our July State Tour meeting. Thank you as well to all returning District Deputies for serving another year; your aid is essential to our continued success.
Important Dates & Reminders
• Sacred Heart Icon: The Sacred Heart Icon has completed its travels throughout our Diocese and will remain with us through the summer. If your council missed the opportunity to host this devotion, contact Jim Maslach; July and August dates are still available.
• July 12, 2026 July Road Show: Mary, Queen of the Apostles Parish will host our annual July Road Show on Sunday, July 12. Mass is at 11:00 AM, lunch is at noon, and the meeting begins at 1:00 PM.
• July Road Show agenda: The meeting will highlight and review the new FY26–27 Supreme and State award criteria. Football Crazr tickets and new State Growth handbooks will also be distributed. We look forward to seeing two members from every council attend.
• June 30, 2026 Council 185 and 365: These submissions are now overdue.
• July 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027 Council EFF Director appointment: All councils are required to have an Evangelization and Faith Formation Director. Please note that this position is not included on Form 365 and requires a separate submission. The Director Submission form can be found by searching “EFF Director” on Supreme’s website.
• September 15, 2026 Form 944 DD Annual Council Report: The report will be available online in August.
• Ongoing Council Officer Installations: Any District Deputy may officiate at any council officer installation. If you are unavailable, please contact another District Deputy for assistance.
• August 4–6, 2026 144th Annual Supreme Convention: The convention will be held in Denver, Colorado.
• August 15, 2026 Form 1295, Annual Fraternal Audit: This form is due by August 15. The audit form has changed and is now an easy online submission, eliminating the need to chase trustee signatures or repeat membership data that Supreme already has access to.
Thanks again for a great year.
Vivat Jesus, Tom Donovan, PGK, PFN, FDD Cleveland Diocese DDC Td3430@att.net
FRATERNAL BENEFITS
Brothers,
This month, Americans celebrate and give thanks to God for the 250th anniversary of the United States. The American story is one of 250 years of great sacrifices, freedoms and the responsibility to bear those freedoms well.
This month I want to talk to you about a special kind of freedom - freedom in retirement.
What do you want your retirement to look like? Maybe you’d like to spend more time with family, travel, volunteer or pursue hobbies.
If you’re already retired, you likely know how important it is to prepare financially for this period of life.
Retired or not, have you considered just how long your retirement could be? It could, in fact, last
multiple decades. Will you have enough money to cover the lifestyle you want for years to come?
Now, you might doubt that your retirement will span decades. But what about your family? Will their needs be taken care of when you’re no longer here? What legacy do you want to leave your children and grandchildren?
Don’t miss the opportunity to prepare for the freedom of long-term financial stability in retirement. While it’s easy to get lost in
the expenses in front of us right now, planning ahead with insurance and fixed annuities can pay off enormously for you and your loved ones.
If you have any questions, please contact your agent to schedule a time to meet. Let’s continue to thank God for our nation and for all his blessings.
Thank you!
Jason Staas John Spencer
Happy and Blessed Independence Day to you and your families.
What a great turn out for our Summer Kick-Off Picnic on Friday, June 10, 2026, at Garfield. We enjoyed some hamburgers and hot dogs grilled to perfection by Master Griller Steve Federko. Others brought various salads, desserts, and other munchies. There were about 25-30 people there. Again, thank you to Garfield Council for the use of the hall and we look forward to doing this again next year!
The Chapter is already looking forward to the upcoming fraternal year. We are in the planning stages for some new activities as well as
rearranging some others. Next month we should have a tentative calendar so stay tuned. If there are any ideas that you would like to see, please contact one of the Chapter officers.
One thing that I am considering for this coming year is reaching out to the other Chapters across the state. For those of you
that do not know, there are Chapters in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo, and several in the Youngstown Diocese. I think there are opportunities that we can collaborate, but I know that there are some activities that those Chapters participate that could be good ideas for the Cleveland Diocese.
Traditionally, the Chapter would be involved with Rainbow Camp. Based on the events at last year’s camp, the Chapter is no longer directly involved with the camp. Please continue to pray for
the camp attendees and their families.
Finally, the July Chapter Meeting is CANCELLED! I will be on the State Tour on the eastern side of Ohio. We will meet next on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Garfield and via Zoom. All councils in the Cleveland Diocese are welcome and encouraged to attend. The Chapter is here to help facilitate larger Diocesan-wide programs and activities.
Finally, if you are interested in being a Chapter officer or retaining your office, please let me know. We are looking to ensure that the Chapter has the officers looking forward to the future of the Knights of Columbus here in the diocese and we would love to have you join us!
Have a safe Independence Day and we will see you at the State Tour and again in August!
Vivat Jesus, Jim
KNIGHTS IN ACTION
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Knights of Columbus St. Ambrose Assembly #3105, Brunswick Council #4847, St. Ambrose Catholic Parish, City of Brunswick, and American Legion and VFW came together to have their annual Flag Retirement Ceremony on the grounds of St. Ambrose. Below are some scenes from that day taken by Joe Vallowe, PGK St. Adalbert Council #15901 who was in attendance. Please note that PSD Roland Bator and retired Air Force tossed in the first piece of the retired flag. Thank you, Joe, for these great pictures!
If you would like to have your event shown here, please send your information to Jim Maslach at kofcjkm@gmail.com.
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 #28 State Per Capita / Inactive Councils Jim Maslach 4927 Autumnwood Ln Brunswick, OH 44212 440-785-9838 kofcjkm@gmail.com
State Treasurer Super Cash 2027 Chris Sarka 7239 Winterbek Ave New Albany, OH 43054 c_sarka@hotmail.com
State Advocate Matching Funds 2026 Tony Offenberger 15200 Muskingum River Rd, Lowell, OH 45744 tonyoffenberger@gmail.com
State Warden Measure Up 2026 Stewart Vetter 706 Northwest St, Bellevue, OH 44811 betterwithvetter@hotmail.com
State Life Director Mike Incorvati 330-671-1490 mlbincorvati@gmail.com
Growth Coordinator / DD #23 947, 3304, 14714, 15942 Teran Taggart 440-665-4078 adm5893@yahoo.com
Ohio District 1 Master 4th Degree Brandon Robinson 216-374-2682 BDRobinson@kofccleveland.org
Past State Deputy (2015-17) Robert Collins, Jr 216-410-7174 rfcollinsjr@gmail.com
Past State Deputy (2003-05) Roland Bator 330-225-7354 rbator4591@msn.com
General Agents
DD Coordinator / District Deputy #32 789, 3541, 5506
Diocesan EFF Coordinator
Jason Staas John Spencer 800-484-0304 740-444-9632
jason.staas@kofc.org john.spencer@kofc.org
Tom Donovan 216-650-4213 TD3430@ATT.NET
Ty Tyjewski 440-867-4503 kofceffcleve@gmail.com
State Website Director Tom Buehner 216-554-0722 tom.buehner@gmail.com
District Deputy #19 3213, 3410, 4664, 14111 Tom Goodhart 330-773-9379 MLTRG@ATT.NET
District Deputy #20 637, 774, 3269, 4891, 7970, 8369 DeWitt Gober
District Deputy #21 4731, 13984, 14416, 15901, 16373, 16376 John Brown
District Deputy #22 733, 2643, 4217, 18527, 18565 Robert Walsh
District Deputy #24 4168, 4847, 10792, 11464, 14769 David Heilman
District Deputy #25 2362, 3529, 5613, 10936 Mike Rauh
District Deputy #26 3970, 14406, 15056, 15614, 16137, 16279 Ron Snyder
District Deputy #27 2886, 3164, 4498, 4801, 5405, 13755 Tim Daley
District Deputy #30 547, 14054, 14255, 14551, 18892 Bill Christner
District Deputy #31 2803, 4130, 4893, 5106, 5559, 11831 Jerry Nowesnick
District Deputy #33 310, 2726, 8320, 15023, 15737 George Metz
440-541-3317 DD20GOBER@GMAIL.COM
330-610-0308 trouter0523@gmail.com
216-533-1134 rewalsh731@aol.com
380-222-4467 davidpheilman24@gmail.com
330-256-3038 MIKERAUH58@GMAIL.COM
216-396-1200
SNYDERCRESTON@AOL.CO M
216-486-1298 tdaley1861@aol.com
330-604-7189 williamchristner16@gmail.com
440-336-0039 nowesnick@gmail.com
440-449-0081
georgegmetz@aol.com