THE
March 2011
Compass
est. aug. 3, 1902
Mother Teresa’s Way
M other Teresa is undoubtedly a
fascinating woman of our time.
She embodied Christian love in all her
actions. She gave the poor what they
needed. It’s not silver or gold, nor mon-
ey, or property, but simply to be wanted!
The thing that Mother Teresa offered
that government agencies couldn’t offer
was love.
Her way of love is the reason why
Mother Teresa has international acclaim.
In order for her to do something beauti-
ful for God, she had to become the
“poorest of

the poor.”
faithful
To be
poor in the friar’s
Biblical focus
sense is not
the beggar, the starving or the unem-
ployed. So, who can claim to be poor
in the Biblical sense? The poor person
is the one who has discovered his or her
own limitations. When we read in the
Scriptures that Jesus spoke to the poor,
he had in mind all the people; not just
a particular category of people. He said,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The
beatitude of poverty has to be the basis
of our whole spirituality. The person
who embraces the beatitude of poverty is
one who reflects the beauty of the spirit
in all its transparency. This is what we
see in the face of Mother Teresa – seren-
ity, because she was free of disturbing
complexes. She was a person without a
mark. This poverty that Mother Teresa
embraced was knowing her own limita-
tions, which is the spirit of love.
Before we can resolve the problems of
poverty, we must first learn how to love.
(Continued on Page 2)
knights of columbus council 697 www.kofc697.org Racine, Wisconsin
volume lvii no. IX
Knights of Columbus Council 697
Knights in Action: Putting God First
A ction. Such a simple word
to say, yet often not an easy
word to live. As Knights, we are
called to live our Catholic faith
in action. This has far-reaching
ramifications for us, and it can
have even further reaching results
for those whom we serve.
I was reminded of this on a
recent Sunday at Mass. Father was funds for charity programs, to
discussing the closing passages doing maintenance on our own
of the Sermon on the Mount. In clubhouse, to recruiting the next
Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tell us, generation of Brother Knights.
“Everyone who listens to these We need more of you in-
words of mine and acts on them volved in our programs. Most of
will be like a wise man who built the great work of our Council is
his house on rock.” Those who do carried out by a small number of
not act on Jesus’ words, the Gos- men. How much we could do if
pel says, will be “like a fool who more men stepped forward to take
built his house on sand.” up the mantle!
“Many do not live with God Let this
as the center of their lives,” Father be a clarion
said. That gave me pause for re- call, especially
flection. Am I acting on the Word for our newer
as Jesus commanded? As Knights, Knights, to grand
are we fully acting on Jesus’ help build up knight’s
words? Do we hear them and put our Council. message
them into action? Becoming ac-
I found this to be a great chal- tive Brother Knights is a great step
lenge set before us as Knights. toward putting God at the center
How can we better live as Knights of our lives.
for Christ and His Church? Our Remember that Christ said,
Order offers many ways live our “Not everyone who says to me,
faith in action. Each of the more ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the king-
than 14,000 local Knights of Co- dom of heaven, but only the one
lumbus councils relies on the time who does the will of my Father in
and talents of many good men. heaven.”
The tasks are many, from raising Vivat Jesus! — Joe Hanneman
Mar. 19 Mar. 27 Mar. 30
state bowling 2nd & 3rd youth awds.
tournament degrees NIGHT

Notes from the Third Degree
• We have 208 members: 135 active, 40 insurance
and 33 inactive members. We have no Honorary mem-
bers and 36 Honorary Life members.
• Membership director Stan Fortuna told those pres-
ent at the February Council meeting
that he was disappointed with our
progress in membership recruitment.
He asked the Brother Knights to
come forward with any recruitment
ideas. “The only way the Holy Spirit
can put the ideas in my ear is to use
COUNCIL 697
your mouths toMSGR.
do it!” he said.
STANLEY B. WITKOWIAK
• GK Joe Hanneman said that
Bob Sullivan had staffed a table at St.
RAC IN E , WI S CO N S I N
Rita’s ministry fair to promote the
Knights of Columbus. Joe suggested we might do the
same thing at upcoming pancake breakfast events.
• Jim Sisak made a motion to donate $250 from the
charity account toward the cost of the bus to the Men of
Christ Conference. The motion was seconded and passed
unanimously.
• John Shelby submitted a resolution for Council 697
to take over the payment of all bills associated with the
new clubhouse and begin conducting its financial affairs.
He also included a suggested budget with the resolution.
John made a motion to accept the resolution and the
Mother Teresa’s life can be a blueprint for the Knights of Columbus
(Continued from Page 1)
That is, we have to learn how to love others as equals.
Mother Teresa became the “poorest of the poor.” She
had to, if she was going to be of any help to them.
Her way of life is a perfect blueprint for every Knight
of Columbus! Every one

of you can reach this Way faithful
of Love, first of all through
meditation and an intense
friar’s
inner life. Secondly, soli- focus
tude that creates a space
within us, in which it allows room for others. Souls do
not meet! We need silence and solitude as a way to love.
Third, we need to become the “poorest of the poor.”
That is, to live a life of simplicity. Simplicity to Mother
Teresa was to unify life around one great idea: the love of
God. In order to become attached to God as Father, we
must detach ourselves from all things that clutter up our
lives.
knights of columbus council 697 www.kofc697.org Racine, Wisconsin
March 2011
budget. Stan Fortuna said that if the intention of the reso-
lution was to have Council 697 begin paying all the bills
for the new clubhouse, he would support that. He added
that the budget attached to the resolution was not in a
standard form that would be ready for Council discussion.
Stan suggested that the motion to accept the resolution be
tabled. Jim Sisak made a motion to table the resolution.
The motion to table was seconded and passed.
• Stan then made a motion that Council 697 begin
paying all bills associated with McGivney Hall, effective
March 1, 2011. This motion was seconded and approved.
• GK Joe Hanneman told the membership that during
the distribution of the Coats for Kids he learned of a fam-
ily in need. The daughter has cancer and the husband is
paralyzed. Joe said Council 697 will put in a charity grant
application to State Council to help the family.
• So far no one has stepped forward to help organize a
series of pancake breasfasts to restock our charity account.
Just a couple of Brother Knights could organize each
event, line up our volunteers, etc. Those ‘cakes won’t flip
themselves! Volunteers? Let’s aim to have our first pancake
event before summer.
• We should start considering seminarians for Council
697 to support as part of the RSVP program. We’re aware
of at least one seminarian involved at St. Lucy parish. If
you know of others we should consider, contact GK Joe
Hanneman or Bill Frayer.
As Knights, we are called to live a simple life; a life
that is so single-hearted that it can be a witness against a
world of complexity and comfortableness.
The role of a Knight of Columbus should emerge, I
believe, not by emulating Mother Teresa, but from her
hidden quality of feminine creativity. That is, nourish in
silence, solitude and surrender to a loving God. From this
quality of creativity, you can help those most in need by
becoming the “poorest of the poor.”
I think you can see, I have a high regard for Mother
Teresa. To me, she was a woman of our time who devel-
oped her creative potential through the gift of faith given
to her.
Her life was centered in the love of God and dedicated
to the destitute and the dying. What remains to be seen is,
what will you and I do with the gift of faith given to us?
Can we say our life is something beautiful for God?
— Father Richard Molter
March 2011
Notes from the Fourth Degree
• Assembly 1207 approved placing an ad with the
Kenosha and Burlington assemblies in the Eastern Dis-
trict Exemplification booklet, $20 cost. Bill Frayer, Jim
Sisak and Gary Brown will take care of the details.
• Faithful Navigator Jim Sisak and Faithful Comp-
troller Bill Frayer were elected official delegates from As-
sembly 1207 to the Eastern District Meeting on Friday
evening, April 1 in Appleton.
• We have 25 members whith unpaid dues.
• Some $640 in raffle tickets have been sold so far –
well behind last year’s pace. There are only two definite
reservations for the Exemplification and one “maybe”
– way behind normal. All Fourth
Degree members planning to attend
the Exemp should make room reser-
vations ASAP. Meal reservations and
raffle tickets should be sent to Bill
Frayer as soon as possible.
• Jim Sisak and Bill Frayer will
invite prospective new members to a
pizza and informational gathering at
McGivney Hall on Tuesday, March
8 at 7:00 p.m. We hope to get at
least two or three candidates for the
Fourth Degree, but if none apply, the
hospitality room at the exemplification will be canceled.
• Tom Goetz is working on a date for ushering at
Holy Hill.
• John Murphy and John Heinish are working on the
Memorial Day flag display at Holy Cross Cemetery.
• Bill Frayer will have more information on lapel
pins, flag retirement, the Christmas Coalition and the
July 4 parade next month. Flags for schools are on hold
until we raise more funds.
• Gary Brown told of opportunities for the Honor
Guard. He will get representatives of the three local
assemblies together to evaluate and plan for the Tri-
Assembly Formal.
• Jim Sisak and Bill Frayer are being trained as alter-
nates for the Fourth Degree Exemplification team.
Grow your faith at men’s groups
Faith-centered groups offer area Catholic men a great
way to grow their faith and enjoy fellowship:
• That Man Is You! – Sessions run Thursdays at 5:45
a.m. or Sundays at 6:00 p.m. at McGivney Hall. Learn
how to be a man after God’s own heart at this Lent-
themed program. The program is free. Light snacks are
served. Register online at www.paradisusdei.org/tmiy/.
knights of columbus council 697 www.kofc697.org Racine, Wisconsin
• St. Lucy Men’s Bible Study – Meets Saturdays from
7-8 a.m. in the narthex conference
room at St. Lucy parish on Drexel
Avenue. Get a deeper understand-
ing of the week’s Mass readings and
how to apply them in your life. All
are welcome to this free program.
Contact Mike Benner (msbenner@
gmail.com) for more details.
• Racine Catholic Men –
Monthly faith-building event that
includes 8 a.m. Mass, followed by a
program, speakers, breakfast and more. The next meeting
is Saturday, April 2 at St. Rita Catholic Church. Contact
Steve Martin (9martins@sbcglobal.net) for more informa-
tion on upcoming events.
District Deputy news and notes
• Thanks to all who helped make the Diocesan Knowl-
edge and Free
Throw Contest a
success on March
5 at St. Lucy. We
couldn’t have
done it with-
out you. A big
feather in the cap
for Council 697!
• Council
697 is joining
with councils
973, 14362,
4831 and 6554 in District 67 to procure an ultrasound
machine for the CareNetCenters of Racine/Kenosha.
Three councils have designated some funds for this proj-
ect. We will do the same through our Life Savers for Life
or other programs. If the councils raise half the funds,
Supreme Council will match. It’s a great goal. If you’d
like to be the representative to the
planning committee, contact me or
Grand Knight Joe Hanneman.
• Archdiocesan Program Director
Mike Angeli has resigned his position.
State Deputy Dan Hull and Immedi-
ate Past State Deputy Roland Ransom district 67
have appointed me to that position. I
will be filling both roles until June 30. There will be a new
DD on July 1. We believe we have someone to step in as
DD, but if anyone is interested in the position, contact
State Deputy Dan Hull or the State Office. – Bill Frayer
 March 2011

News from Ladies of Columbus

The Ladies potluck held Feb. 24, 2011 was awesome.
As usual, the Ladies brought their favorite dishes. Thanks
to all for the effort needed to make this function so
successful. The Scholastic 4 men’s quartet entertained us
with a great musical program.
A special tribute to all of our Irish friends (and those
who would like to be). A little note of history regarding
St. Patrick, patron saint of
Time Marches On – Into Eternity
Dear Brother Knights,
Time marches on, moment by moment, until it
merges into eternity. Because of our creation by God in
His image and likeness, as spiritual beings, we too like
God will have no end to our existence. There is this dif-
ference. We had a beginning when we were born. God

L Ireland. had no beginning. He exists forever.

ADIES He was born in Great

Britain about the year 385.
It was through
Christ that we
Words
OF COLUMBUS He was captured and sold became immor-
as a slave in Ireland, where of tal. Although we
he tended sheep. After six years, he escaped from slavery Wisdom all die, there will
and decided to enter the priesthood. Later, he became a come a time when
bishop and preached the Gospel to the people of Ireland. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Christ will come
He converted many to the faith and established 400 Stanley B. again to judge
Catholic Churches. Witkowiak
the living and the
His labors were so successful that he came to be dead. Christ Himself gives us the example. Becoming
known as one who found Ireland all heathen and left it a human being, He also died. But by His Resurrection,
all Christian. According to legend, St. Patrick planted through His own divine power, He will use His divine,
the Shamrock in Ireland ( the national flower) because omnipotent power to make us rise from the dead. When?
of it’s three small leaves representing the Holy Trinity. We do knot know. So it behooves each and every one of
To this day, many still wear the shamrock as a tribute to us to so live and die that when Christ comes, our im-
Christianity. mortal souls will be in such good condition that they will
The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March merit eternal salvation and not condemnation.
24 at McGivney Hall. Please be there. – Joyce Junge [From the January 1982 issue of The Compass]

Pray for the sick and in distress

Pray for Fr. Paul Daniels, Clyde Sustachek, Dr. Ray Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Skupniewicz, Frank Feil, Chet Leskowicz, Helen Lesko- www.archmil.org
wicz, Lu Goetz, Gail Otwaska, Milwaukee Catholic Herald
Steve and Barb Jansta, Curt www.chnonline.org
Pippenger, Bill Pinnow and all Fathers for Good
who are in ill health. Mary, Help www.fathersforgood.org
of Christians, Pray for Us! catholic Catholic Information Service
Our sympathy is extended resources www.kofc.org
to Bill and Delores Pinnow and
family on the death of Bill’s The Holy See Magnificat Daily readings, prayers
brother, James. May he rest in www.vatican.va www.magnificat.net
the peace of Christ. Catholic Answers Relevant Radio
(To add or remove names www.catholic.com www.relevantradio.com
from the prayer list, contact Bill Frayer or John Shelby.) Encourage Priests
Holy Hill Shrine

Lent
www.encouragepriests.org
Turn Away www.holyhill.com
National Catholic Register
From Sin and St. Josaphat Basilica www.ncregister.com
be Faithful to www.thebasilica.org
Paradisus Dei Catholic apostolate
The Gospel www.paradisusdei.org

knights of columbus council 697 www.kofc697.org Racine, Wisconsin

 March 2011

Pro Deo Et Ecclesia Award

Knights honor Earl Wirtz of St. Sebastian for Lay Service to the Church

“H e has inspired me to be a better person.” With

PHOTOS BY SUE WEISENSEL

that statement, Kathy Wirtz succinctly summed
up a key reason her husband Earl was given the Knights
of Columbus Pro Deo Et Ecclesia Award on Feb. 27.
Earl J. Wirtz, a longtime parishioner at St. Sebastian
Catholic Church,
became the second
recipient of the
Council 697 Pro
Deo Et Ecclesia
Award for his service
to the parish, the
community, the state
and beyond. Grand Knight Joe Hanneman presents Pro Deo award medal.
More than 100 peo-
ple turned out to see council member and president, festival coordinator, vol-
Wirtz receive the Pro unteer electrician and sound man, Men of Christ confer-
Deo medallion and ence leader, Racine Catholic Men leader, mission volun-
certificate, presented by Grand Knight Joe Hanneman. teer and much more. The Knights salute Earl, Kathy and
Wirtz has done so much for his parish and beyond family for outstanding witness to Christ and His Church
that it took quite a bit of time to recite it all. Parish in southeastern Wisconsin.
PHOTOS BY GRAND KNIGHT JOE HANNEMAN

Council 697 families came together on March 5 and 6 to help raise money for Heraclio
A Child Shall Lead Torres, a Racine man savagely beaten and left paralyzed. Hannah Nelson, left, daughter
of Warden Matt Nelson; and John Paul Wehnert, son of Deputy Grand Knight Bill Weh-
nert, participate in the “bucket brigade” collection at St. Lucy Catholic Church.

knights of columbus council 697 www.kofc697.org Racine, Wisconsin

 March 2011

march 2011 april 2011

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 1 2
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

March April - continued

09 Ash Wednesday (Lent begins)
10 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 5:45 a.m.
10 Council 697 officers mtg., McGivney Hall, 6:30 p.m.
10 Council 697 business mtg., McGivney Hall, 7:30 p.m.
13 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 6:00 p.m.
17 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 5:45 a.m.
17 1st/2nd Degree exemp, McGivney Hall, 7:00 p.m.
19 Bowling Tournament, Green Bay (also March 20)
20 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 6:00 p.m.
22 Dartball tournament at St. John’s, 6:30 p.m.
23 April Compass articles due
24 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 5:45 a.m.
24 Holy Rosary, McGivney Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Ladies of Columbus, McGivney Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Council 697 Social Meeting, McGivney Hall, 7:30 p.m.
25 Day of the Unborn
27 2nd /3rd Degree Exemplification, 11 & 1:30, St. Lucy
27 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 6:00 p.m.
28 Assembly 1207 meeting, McGivney Hall, 7:30 p.m.
29 Knights of Columbus Founder’s Day
30 Youth Awards Night, St. Lucy’s parish hall, 6:00 p.m.
10 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 6:00 p.m.
14 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 5:45 a.m.
14 Council 697 officers mtg., McGivney Hall, 6:30 p.m.
14 Council 697 business mtg., McGivney Hall, 7:30 p.m.
16 Tootsie Roll drive for intellectually disabled, @ parishes
17 Tootsie Roll drive for intellectually disabled, @ parishes
17 Palm Sunday
17 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 6:00 p.m.
20 1st/2nd Degree exemp, McGivney Hall, 7:00 p.m.
21 Holy Thursday
22 Good Friday
24 Easter Sunday
25 Assembly 1207 meeting, McGivney Hall, 7:30 p.m.
28 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 5:45 a.m.
28 Holy Rosary, McGivney Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Ladies of Columbus, McGivney Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Council 697 Social Meeting, McGivney Hall, 7:30 p.m.
30 State Convention (Green Bay). Also May 1.
30 Tootsie Roll drive for intellectually disabled, @ stores.
Also May 1.
THE

31 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 5:45 a.m.
April
01 Fourth Degree Eastern District meeting, Appleton
02 Fourth Degree exemplification, Appleton, noon-9 p.m.
03 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 6:00 p.m.
04 Kaycee Limited meeting, McGivney Hall, 7:30 p.m.
07 That Man Is You!, McGivney Hall, 5:45 a.m.
09 Tootsie Roll drive for intellectually disabled, @ parishes
10 Tootsie Roll drive for intellectually disabled, @ parishes
Compass
Knights of Columbus Council 697
Published 12 times per year by Msgr. S.B. Witkowiak Council 697
McGivney Hall, 2516 Winthrop Ave., Racine, Wisconsin 53403
www.kofc697.org compass@kofc697.org
Editor........................................................................ Bill Frayer
Chaplain.............................................Rev. Richard Molter
3rd Degree.................... Joe Hanneman, Stan Fortuna
4th Degree......................................Jim Sisak, John Shelby
History................................... Joe Hanneman, Bill Frayer
Kaycee Limited........................ Bill Wehnert, Jim Marks
Ladies of Columbus......................................... Joyce Junge

knights of columbus council 697 www.kofc697.org Racine, Wisconsin