Council 9976 News

38th. MONTANA KNIGHT OF YEAR

Sir Knight Ken Kingman, St. Pius X Council 9976, Billings, was selected the 38th. Montana Knight of the Year at the 2012 Montana Knights of Columbus recent convention in Havre.

Br. Ken Kingman’s role as a Council leader is unparalleled. In mentioning only the highlights, it is important to note that he served as the Council’s Financial Secretary, appointed by the Supreme Knight, for six years. He became a mentor for newer Financial Secretaries throughout the state, during his tenure. He also served a term as the Council’s Chancellor and a term as the Council’s Pro Life Director. In addition, Ken served in leadership roles in the Fourth Degree, serving as Faithful Navigator of Fr. Pauwleyn Assembly #587, Billings, and presently the State Master of the Montana Jurisdiction, Fourth Degree.

Br. Ken played a leading role in three major Council initiatives in recent years. First, he lead a team of Knights in planning, coordinating, funding, and building a Memorial to the Unborn with a paver walkway leading to it – a lasting tribute to victims of abortion – that now resides permanently in the cemetery adjacent to St. Pius X Parish.

Second, he chaired for two years our Council’s primary fund- raising project – the annual Christmas Tree Sale conducted in partnership with our brother Knights from Billings/St. Patrick’s Council 1259. This important fundraiser generally lasts about four weeks and requires significant effort by both Councils. Proceeds from this event fund Council 9976’s charitable projects and programs.

Third, Br Ken was instrumental in developing a relationship with the special education program at St. Francis Intermediate School, Billings’ Catholic middle school. Through Br. Ken’s persuasion, Council 9976 has been a leading financial contributor to this particular special education program, assisting with the educational needs of scores of special students. These efforts played a part in Council 9976 receiving a recent State Council award for Youth Activities.

Br. Ken and his wife, Mary, own and operate a local security business in which they monitor clients’ homes and businesses in the owners’ absences. Br. Ken also is active in Billings’ Pro Life community, and volunteers at St. Francis Intermediate School.

James Conwell, then Deputy Grand Knight, submitted the nomination for recognition for Br. Ken Kingman, which was long overdue. Br. Ken’s contributions to the Council, church, and community – of which only a few are mentioned above – truly set him apart as a Knight who leads by example.

Br.Ken goes about his work quietly, never seeking recognition for his many contributions and good works. He supports Council leadership, whether he agrees with their decisions or not, and works tirelessly to improve the Council at every opportunity.

He is a Catholic gentleman in the finest tradition of the Knights of Columbus.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Thursday May 3, 2012 19:03 MDT
Category:  Council News

FOURTH DEGREE AWARDED

Congratulations to Fr. Pauwelyn Assembly #587, under the leadership of Faithful Navigator Steve Geiger.

The Assembly, consisting of Sir Knights in the Greater Biillings area, received the Supreme Assembly's Civic Award for 2010-2011.
The award states, in part:

'For outstanding implementation of patriotic programming faithful to the principles of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus'.

The award was presented on behalf of Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard and Vice Supreme Master Ken Stockwell by District Master Ken Kingman.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Thursday Apr 19, 2012 15:13 MDT
Category:  Council News

Council 9976 Officers

Results of St. Pius X Council 9976 election of officers for the 2011 - 2012 Columbian year are as follows:
Council Chaplain: is appointed by the Bishop.
Grand Knight: James Conwell;
Deputy-Grand Knight: James Holbrook;
Chancellor: Bob Holbrook,
Warden: Phil Zeeck,
Financial Secretary Bob O'Dea is appointed by the Supreme Office.
Treasurer: Art Loendorf;
Advocate: Boniface Frank;
Recorder: Andy Mikes;
Trustees: Chuck Legerski, Steve Geiger & Vic Frank;
Inner Guard: Mike Olsen and
Outer Guard: Clarence Propp.
Lecturer: is appointed by the Grand Knight.

Council Activity Directors & Committmen
for the coming year are:
Church & Vocations; Chancellor Robert Holbrook;
Community; FDD Steve Geiger;
Council; Treasurer Art Loendorf;
Family; GK James Conwell;
Pro-Life Couple; Br. Jon & Stephanie Swecker
Health Service; Trustee Vic Frank
Youth; PGK Andy Mikes
Columbian Squires; PGK Andy Mikes & Br. Richard Wood
Public Relations & Historian; FDD Harold Kelso
Membership Director; Br. Clayton Kuntz
Recruitment Committee 1; Br. Tom Canape
Recruitment Committee 2; DGK James Holbrook
Recruitment Committee 3; GK James Conwell;
Retention Chairman; DGK James Holbrook;
Insurance Promotion; FS Robert O'Dea.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Thursday Apr 19, 2012 15:12 MDT
Category:  Council News

OVER 50 YEARS IN CEREMONIALS

H. Harold Kelso, of Billings, MT became a member of Billings/St. Patrick’s Council 1259 in April 1959. Two years later he joined Council 1259’s ceremonial teams. While with council 1259, he became Grand Knight, the Faithful Navigator of Fr. Pauwleyn Assembly #587 Fourth Degree, a District Deputy, the Montana State Warden, was State Activity Director(s) and received the Montana Knight of the Year Award in 1974.

In 1989, he became the Charter Advocate of the third Billings council, St. Pius X Council 9976.
In February 2012, Brother Harold, now 80 years old, a Life Member and currently Council 9976 Historian, PR Chairman. and Friday Bingo Chairman and an active member of his council’s First Degree team, was honored at the February 2012 council dinner meeting with the wives, by St. Pius X Council 9976 and Fr. Pauwleyn Assembly #587 Fourth Degree, in Billings, MT, for over 50 consecutive years as a ceremonialist in First, Second, Third and Fourth Degree Exemplifications and for being Council 9976 top recruiter of new members for years. Members he has recruited, or helped recruit, have risen in the ranks of Knights, including at least four Grand Knights, four Faithful Navigators, two District Deputies and one Master of the Fourth Degree, Montana Jurisdiction.

For his dedication, Br. Harold received a personal letter of thanks and the book, By Their Works, from Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson; an icon of the Holy Family from Poland, a proclamation from Master of the Montana Fourth Degree Jurisdiction, Ken Kingman, Billings, MT and thanks from Vice-Supreme Master of the DeSmet Province, Ken Stockwell, Cody, WY; certificates of appreciation from Grand Knight James Conwell and Faithful Navigator Steve Geiger, a gas gift card and a black Council 9976 jacket, embroidered with council name, K. of C. logo and Degree Team Captain.

Sir Knight Harold, a 40 year Life Member of the Fourth Degree and PFN, spent ten years as First Degree Team Captain, a Second Degree team member for a number of years, three years as Third Degree Team Captain and over twenty years as Fourth Degree Team Captain for his Councils and Assembly. He also served as the Montana State Ceremonials Chairman in 1984. Br. Kelso also assisted the Northern Wyoming Fourth Degree Ceremonial team with a class in Greybull, WY and the Cody, WY Third Degree Team with classes in Cody, WY and Eastern Idaho.

For years, due to being the only 'active’ ceremonial team and the wide expanses of Montana, the ten to fifteen member Billings Third Degree Team could leave town in two cars or a motor home around 3:00am on a Saturday morning, drive six or seven hours to a class in Plentywood, MT put on the class and drive home, to return around 2:00am Sunday morning.
Or, drive to a Third Degree class in Glendive on Saturday, stay overnight and go on to a class in Wolf Point on Sunday, then return home. Or, drive to a Fourth Degree class in Lewistown on Saturday and return home for a Third Degree class in Billings on Sunday. Or, West to Bozeman, Butte or Missoula. Or, North to Helena and Great Falls. Or East to Miles City or Baker. Or, drop down to Gillette, or Cody, WY for a class and return home the same day.
Thousands and thousands of Montana and Northern Wyoming miles were covered by members of this (Band of Brothers), such as FDD Dick Deis, PFN Mike Kuntz, PSD Richard Aichele, PFN Mike Kennedy, PSD Wayne Beaner, Br. Gerald and sibling, PGK George Dunbar, PSD Howard Patterson, Br. Cliff Mack, PGK Mike Shaffer, Br. George and son Br. 'Corky' Staudinger, PGK Vern Oswald, PGK Nick Schneider, PGK Nilo Cabrera, PMFD Roger Gustin, PGK Scotty Scott, Br. Tom Kelly Sr. and son PGK Tom Kelly Jr. PSD Bob Murphy and many other Knights, dedicated to spreading the principals of the Order.

James Conwell, GK
St. Pius Council 9976
Billings, MT

Posted by: Site Administrator on Thursday Apr 19, 2012 15:11 MDT
Category:  Council News

23rd. ANNIVERSARY OF COUNCIL

St. Pius X Council 9976 celebrated it's 23rd. Anniversary as a council on January 26, 2012.

The following article appeared in the Billings Gazette on July 15, 1989.
Roger V. Gustin was installed as Charter Grand Knight OF St. Pius X Council 9976 Knights of Columbus.
Other Charter Officers are: Deputy-Grand Knight Matt Heinert;
Warden Robert Knight;
Recorder Don Baxter;
Financial Secretary Harold Mueller;
Advocate Tom Kelly;
Inside Guard Victor Frank;
Outside Guard Rick Ross;
Treasurer Dave Wilcox;
and Trustees Joel Loerndorf, Vern Oswald and Harold Kelso.
The Rev. Timothy Struckman is Chaplain.

The new council charter was presented by State Deputy Kenneth Colman of Bozeman.
The officers were installed by District Deputy Steve Day of Hardin.

Of the original Charter officers, Victor Frank, H. Harold Kelso and Andy I. Mikes are still active in officer, or chairman, positions in 2012.

The forty-three Charter members were: Louis H. 'Lou; Adler, Donald E. Baxter, Stuart J. Beagles, Nilo P.A. Cabrera, Louie F. Cucciardi, William L. Enslow, Anton C. 'Tony' Focht, Darin M. Frank, Nicodemus V. 'Nick' Frank, Victor Frank, Norbert J. Frigge, Ronald F. Gowin, Roger H. Gustin, Edmund W. Hartl, Jr., Matt J. Heinert, Eugene E. Heinz, Victor H. Kammer, C. H. 'Kampy' Kamperschreor, Thomas J. Kelly, H. Harold Kelso, Joseph P. Kennedy, Robert C. Knight, Vernon L. Koelzer, John L. LeFevre, Joseph G. Loendorf, Willard R. McNeely, Andy I. Mikes, Harold B. Mueller, Antone F. 'Tony' O'Dea, Lloyd E. Odermann, LaVern Otto 'Vern' Oswald, James O. Pickett, Brian J. Ross, Rickard A. Ross, Charles. R. 'Chuck' Sauvageau, Adam J Schafer, Philip J. Schwehr, Ralph G. Snodgrass, Gene V. 'Corky' Staudinger, Paul G.Tarman, William R. Tooley, Jr. and Peter J Zagorda.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Thursday Apr 19, 2012 15:11 MDT
Category:  Council News

FRIDAY NIGHT ADULT BINGO

ADULT FRIDAY NIGHT K. of C. BINGO

LOWER PRICES. NEW BIGGER PRIZES.
LIVE CALLER. 'NEW' EQUIPMENT.

$100.00 BLACKOUT, if won in required numbers.

If not, prize is 70% of BLACKOUT games sold.

ADULT Parish members, Council members and the Adult Public are invited to come join the fun at 7:00pm for FRIDAY NIGHT BINGO in the Parish Fellowship Hall.

Adult Bingo moves to
2:00pm, Sunday afternoons durnig Lent.

Bingo is canceled if:
a funeral vigil, wedding, church holiday, or other activity occurs.

FREE COFFEE AND POPCORN IS PROVIDED.

Cold soft drinks are available for .50¢.

Daubers are for sale for $1.00 each.

Bring adult friends and come join the fun on Friday.

We welcome Senior and other adult groups

Posted by: Site Administrator on Tuesday Mar 20, 2012 0:31 MDT
Category:  Council News

WELCOME TO COUNCIL 9976

Welcome to the website of St. Pius X Council 9976 Knights of Columbus in Billings, MT.

Look here for information on meetings, activities, and Council 9976 news.

On the left-hand side, there are links related to the Council, the State and Supreme Knights of Columbus and to the Catholic Church.
Look for this list to grow as we add sites.

Feel free to e-mail the site administrator with any suggestions or comments.

In case you find broken links, or things that do not work, please send the information, along with any error messages along to the site administrator.

Thank you, and we hope you find this site to be useful! Here is a little information about our parish council.

In 1989, a charter was issued by the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council in New Haven CT for the 9976 Council of the Order, named for the patron Saint of the parish, St. Pius X. The goal of the new Council was to become the "Mens Club" of St. Pius X Parish.

The Council immediately became active in Church, Community, Council, Family, Pro-Life and Youth Activities within the parish and community, winning top State Council and Supreme Council Awards for achieving goals set by the Order in the above activities.

Over 150 Council members invite Catholic men of St. Pius X Parish and all Catholic men, over 18 years of age to consider membership in St. Pius X Council 9976.

Come join over 1.8 MILLION Catholic men in over 15,000 councils in our Order, in our work for Church, Community, Council, Family, Pro-life and Youth.
Call 252-8003, 256-4976, 259-2270 or 656-6979 for more information.
The Knights of Columbus recently moved into England and Europe and chartered the first six councils in Poland, where the Knights are known as Rycerzy Kolumba! Over 300 Polish Knights have joined the Order since January, 2006. A Fourth Degree Assembly has also been instituted in Poland.
Councils have been formed in Krakow, Ludzmierz, Lomianki, Lomza, Radom and Starachowice. The Order now encompasses from Poland, England, to the Philippines, Japan & Korea in area.

St. Pius X Council 9976 officers meet at 7:00pm on the 2nd. Thursday of the month.

The General Council Meeting starts off with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30pm and a bit of "Food and Fellowship" at a 6:45pm dinner in the Parish Fellowship Hall. After dishes and cleanup, the meeting starts at 7:30pm.

Of course when a Church, or National Holiday occurs on meeting day, the meeting may be moved, or canceled.

All First, Second, Third and Fourth Degree Brother Knights are invited to attend.
If you are a former Knight and wish to renew or reinstate, just stop in at one of the above meetings and we will prepare a Form 100 with you to get you 'back home' with the Knights.

The same invitation is extended to Brother Knights of other Councils that have moved to Billings and may want to transfer into St. Pius X Council 9976.
Currently membership dues are $35.00 per year.

If you are a practical Catholic man, over 18 years of age and wish to join the Knights and St. Pius X Council 9976, just ask any of our over 150 members of the Council for information and a form 100 application, or call Financial Secretary Bob O'Dea at 1-406-534-1051 - or, spicnspan45@hotmail.com,.

If you know of a Catholic young man, 10 to 18 years of age, ask for information concerning the Columbian Squires. These young men have had their own organization since 1925, patterned after the Knights, where they learn growing responsibilities and organization while having fun.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Tuesday Mar 20, 2012 0:30 MDT
Category:  Council News

COUNCIL MONTHLY DINNER MTG.

The Council starts out the monthly regular Council dinner meeting with
recitation of the Rosary at 6:15pm and
then a bite of food at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall on the Third Thursday of the month.
The general meeting starts at 7:30pm

If you are a member of St. Pius X Parish,
a Knight of Columbus,
but not a member of our Council,
stop in and get acquainted.

Our Council of over 150 members will make you feel welcome.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Tuesday Sep 20, 2011 13:14 MDT
Category:  Council News

FOURTH DEGREE

Father Pauwleyn Assembly #587 Fourth Degree
meets at 7:00pm, the fourth Thursday of the month in the St. Pius X Church Day Chapel
from October to June.

All Fourth Degree Sir Knights are welcome to attend those nine months.

No meetings, July, August and September.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Tuesday Sep 20, 2011 13:07 MDT
Category:  Council News

IN MEMORIUM

Brother Knights
Let us remember to pray daily for our departed Brother Knights and their family members.
May they rest in peace and all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Posted by: Site Administrator on Tuesday Sep 20, 2011 12:52 MDT
Category:  Council News