BVM-1839-Assembly

Worthies all,

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Happy New Year! Praise God that we made it through 2025. We start 2026 with heads held high, grateful for all the blessings we have received, and ready to do the Lord’s work. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

 

I have been working hard on some updates to the web site, in particular the calendar and the Color Corps page. Since we are in 2026, we have a Biennial meeting and forms to think about.

 

District Web Site

Recall that starting January 1, 2026, the Color Corps calendar start time will be the Arrival Time, NOT the Event Start Time. While this will typically add 30 minutes to each event, there are some events for which we are asked to arrive earlier (usually because of parking) or maybe perhaps a little later.

 

Additionally, I have replaced the Google calendar used on both the calendar web page and the Color Corps web page. The calendars used on both web pages will look similar, though all of the events as can be displayed on either. The difference is  the calendar web page will not have Color Corps items on it. (This should make it easier to find events like meetings and exemplifications.)

 

The calendar on the Color Corps web page will have all the Color Corps assignments on it, along with exemplifications (since most are Color Corps assignments). There are also check boxes below the small calendar that appear on each page that will allow the viewer to turn on and off groups of events (like meetings, exemplifications, etc.). Unfortunately, the check boxes revert back to what they were if you go to another month. I’m working on that, though it may take a while to fix. In the meantime, just recheck (or uncheck) a box if you change the month.

 

Both pages show a small monthly view with dates highlighted to show significant dates (like Christmas and Mother’s Day), the current date, and the number of events on a particular day. As for the number of events, once we get to four or more, the color is the same (red). . On the right are the details for the events that are visible (remember those check boxes I mentioned in the previous paragraph?). All the usual info is displayed. Once an event is in the past, the details don’t show, and the date turns grey. You can always get the details back by clicking on the little caret that appears by the event title.

 

The small monthly view has links to go directly to a date. This might be handy if the month has a lot of events, or you want to see what is on a particular date. It is also worth mentioning that if you have some of the items (like meetings and forms) turned off, the link will still be there and will take you to that date in the detail. So, it is possible that you might not see anything (again, because the display of those items is turned off). If this sounds confusing, just try it a few times.

 

Another feature I have added is the ability to add an event to a Google, Outlook or Apple calendar. I suppose it could be added to other calendars as well - use the Apple button, as it will download an ICS file to your computer that will likely work with whatever calendar you choose to use.

 

I asked not only my staff but also a handful of others to provide feedback before I rolled it out. I am very grateful for the comments I received, as I made a number of changes after reading through them. Please give this a try, and hopefully you will find this to be a big improvement from what we had.

 

District Biennial Meeting

The 2026 Spring Biennial Meeting for Michigan 1 will be March 28, 2026, at St Hubert's Catholic Parish Church, 38775 Prentiss St, Harrison Township, MI 48045 (click here for map). The Biennial occurs once every two years, and there are some special activities that need to occur in preparation for the event, as well as at the event itself. Some parts of this will feel more like a state convention that like a district meeting.

 

We will open the doors at 8:30am, with the meeting starting at 9:30am. 

 

Bishop Kelley Assembly 0490 will be our host assembly.

 

Lunch arrangements will be posted when available. This includes how much lunch will be. (We’ve been pretty successful at keeping the cost down, and I am hopeful to keep it about where it has been in the past.)

 

What to Send Me

I will need the names of the delegates, the alternate delegates, as well as anyone that will be staying for lunch to forms@kofcmidistrict1.org. It will make it a lot easier for me to find.

 

Delegates

Each assembly is allowed a delegate for the Faithful Navigator and an additional delegate for every 100 Sir Knights (or major fraction thereof). The delegates are elected in February and alternates are permissible. Please send me the names of the delegates and the alternates to the forms@kofcmidistrict1.org email address.

 

Supreme Assembly Resolutions

Any resolutions that an assembly wishes to submit to the Supreme Assembly will be read and voted on at the meeting. Start now if you plan to submit a resolution you would like considered at the Supreme Assembly. Resolutions must be in the “Whereas… Therefore, be it resolved…” format. Resolutions must be read in at a meeting, tabled, notice sent to membership, then taken off the table and voted upon at the next meeting.

 

If approved, the resolution must be signed by the FN and recorder as well as sealed with the assembly seal, then forwarded to the district master. Resolutions are considered by a resolution committee with a recommendation made by the committee to the biennial meeting delegates. If you have any questions, please contact me.

 

We have three people already selected for the resolution committee, and as I receive resolutions I will forward to them for consideration.

 

District Master Candidates

My second term as district master end August 31, 2026. I am not eligible for a third term. 4th Degree bylaws state three candidates need to be submitted for consideration, and those individuals are determined at the biennial meeting.

 

The application form includes general information, military service, Knights of Columbus service, two questions, a biography and full pic of the Sir Knight in uniform (which means you need to have the uniform to be considered for the position). The 2 questions from 2024 were “why am I the best candidate for the position of district master” and “what is my plan to promote and grow the 4th degree in my district.” Note that the answers to the questions are limited to 250 words.

 

The candidate’s information is forwarded to the VSM and the state deputy for their consideration. Input is also requested from a supreme director, past state deputy, immediate former VSM, and anyone else the Supreme Master chooses. The Supreme Master decides based on all the input received.

 

If you have any questions about being district master, you can talk to me, the VSM, or any of the former masters. I feel confident we would be happy to tell you what we feel the job entails.

 

Exemplifications

My goal this year is to try and provide as many exemplification opportunities as possible, as locations spread over the Archdiocese, to give assemblies and candidates the ability to find a time and location that will work for them, and hopefully remove this as an obstacle to doing the Fourth Degree.

 

To that end, the next Exemplification of Patriotism will be Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, 5481 Dixie Hwy, Waterford Township, MI 48329 (click here for map). I expect the ceremony will start at 10:30am, with dinner somewhere around 12:45pm to 1:00pm. Msgr. A.X.M. Sharpe Assembly 477 will be the host assembly.

 

Note that I do not have the forms on the website yet. I am waiting to hear from the caterer to make sure I get the costs correct. I expect to only charge $70 for candidates, as in the past. Since prices have been going up for many things (including food), I want to make sure I can cover the costs for the event for the other meals. I am also working on the Class Honoree, and hope to have that posted soon, as well.

 

Following that, I am planning an Exemplification of Patriotism on Monday, June 1, 2026, at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, 48115 Schoenherr Rd, Shelby Township, MI 48315 (click here for map). This being a weekday, the ceremony will likely start at about 6:30pm (or whenever everyone arrives), with dinner at about 8:30pm. Sacred Heart Assembly 2599 will be the host assembly.

 

For both of these, I will be asking for Color Corps, as I feel the venues should be large enough such that I don’t need to limit the number of guests.

 

In addition to the two mentioned above, I am also working with Edward Cardinal Mooney Assembly 2032 to have an Exemplification of Patriotism in the Imlay City area  ~6 pm on Wed May 27, 2026. This will likely be a weekday event, though we are still working through the date and location.

 

Finally, I have asked the FN’s of Msgr. Francis F.J. Van Antwerp Assembly 0475 and Raisin River Assembly 488 Monday June 8, 2026 if either of them would be willing to hast an Exemplification of Patriotism in late May or early June.

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Tentative Date for the Fall Harvest District 1 Meeting is Saturday November 7, 2026 at Ss Cyril & Methodius Church in Sterling Heights hosted by the Blessed Virgin Mary Assembly #1839.

 

So far, we have brought in 117 new Sir Knights this fraternal year, which is about 63% of the district quota of 185. While 68 seems like a lot to recruit, a couple of successful exemplifications with 30 or 40 new Sir Knights should get many of the assemblies close, perhaps even at or over, their quota for the year.

 

Forms

Form 1728 Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity is due on January 31, 2026. Please send the form to fraternalmission@kofc.org, w.winkle@mikofc.org, spwasmund@aol.com, and forms@kofcmidistrict1.org. Also, please be mindful of the due date. This form is needed to qualify for Star Assembly, and Supreme as been a bit more firm on when the form was turned in.

 

The To Be a Patriot Award Entry Form is due on April 30, 2026. Although this is a few months from now, I have already started to receive them. While optional, there is no reason why any assembly should not turn one in. All that is needed is a patriotic activity. Further, this form needs to be turned in to qualify for Star Assembly.

 

The next set of forms are not due until June 30 (RSVP Refund and Plaque Application, Civic Award (needed to qualify for Star Assembly), and Report of Assembly Officer Chosen (also needed to qualify for Star Assembly).

 

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As always, I thank you and your Sir Knights for all they do. I will be making visits to assemblies in January, though likely not in February. I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can!

 

Gene

 

Eugene J. Suchyta, Master, Michigan 1

https://kofcmidistrict1.org