Brother Knights,

Last fall Pope Benedict XVI announced that starting in October 2012 the Catholic Church will observe a year of Faith.  This presents an amazing opportunity for the Order to help men, both brothers and other members of our parishes, renew their faith with their families.  The Supreme Knight has identified this opportunity and is asking all councils to plan faith based events before, during, and after the year of Faith.

We will be hosting a men’s Lenten Retreat this Lent in preparation for that year of faith and an Advent retreat in December.  Other programs are being investigated both at the council and district level.

The Year of Faith is an amazing chance to grow the membership of order, but more importantly to run and sponsor faith building programs for all those in our community.  I look forward to working with you all as we move into this exciting year.

Vivat Jesus!

Stefan Farrow

Brother Knights,

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for their efforts in 2011 to promote our programs and our Order.  2012 will be a new year and a new start for our council.  We will be launching a number of new programs in the first part of 2012 and we will need everyones support.  First will be a Parish Spaghetti dinner.  The second project that I would like to see come to fruition is a Men’s Conference and Retreat during lent for the men in our parish and area.  Full planning for both of these events will start in January.  Both are areas that were identified last June at the Round Table Discussion as lacking in our Parish and Council, and both received numerous Check Marks when we advertised the different ideas at our Sept and Oct meetings.

It is time to start thinking about the elections coming next spring.  Please consider running for one of the executive positions.  Talk to those you think will be a good fit and ask them to serve.  It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure the strong future of our council and our order.  Anyone interested in taking on the position of Grand Knight is welcome to talk with me about how I will assist them with their office on an ongoing basis.

We have no major activities planned between now and the end of January, so take the time to rest, be with your families, and spend some time with Jesus.  In January we will come back together and embark on the next steps of our journey.

Vivat Jesus,

Stefan Farrow

This is the text and videos as presented at our Annual CWL & KofC Appreciation Dinner by myself.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Once again here we are here together the Friday before the First Sunday of Advent.  This year however, the First Sunday of Advent will also see the introduction of the New English Translation of the Roman Missal.  This will be a challenge for us individually and as a community of faith.  As with everything else in our lives, we will make it through, together.

I would like to share with you some words of the Supreme Knights at the recent State Deputy’s mid-year meeting.

In light of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization that will take place in October 2012, and the Year of Faith announced by Pope Benedict XVI, the supreme knight said, “If we are going to be the strong right arm of the Church, we need to be the center of the year of faith and the new evangelization.”

Anderson noted that the Knights of Columbus has always proudly stood “in solidarity with our priests,” and stated that councils must be “fully integrated” into the life of their parishes and Catholic communities. Although the Order, in many places, is known for social events, he said, councils must also be the center of charitable and spiritual activities as well.

“We must be the strong right arm of our parish priest, of the Catholic Church at the parish level,” he said. “Where the Catholic community is active, the Knights of Columbus must be active.”

In conclusion, the supreme knight identified three pillars at the center of the Order’s mission. Calling the Knights a “Eucharistic brotherhood,” he said, “We have to make the Order an example for our parishes of the power of the Eucharist to transform our communities.” Lastly, he cited the Knights’ dedication to promoting a culture of life, saying it is important that members participate in pro-life activities and encourage faithful Catholics to vote for candidates and policies that support pro-life principles.

To take his words into the practical world I would suggest, Brothers and Sisters, that this Sunday is an excellent opportunity for Men and Women of our organizations, to be the example to the rest of our community of faith.  Let us embrace the new language of the mass and encourage those around us with words of love and kindness, in promoting the changes.  When we stand united behind our priests and bishops, we are noticed by the congregation, and they will find it easier to accept these changes when they see that we support them.

Over the last 5 or so months, the Supreme Council has released 5 short advertisements, aimed at promoting the good works of the Order and recruiting new families to our ranks.  However, I feel that they also serve as a reminder why we do what we do every single day.   The first is titled Healing Haiti’s Children.  I would like to share it with you now.

SEE VIDEOS AT BOTTOM OF BLOG POST

The second, titled Hero’s has a simple and powerful message.  Here it is.

SEE VIDEOS AT BOTTOM OF BLOG POST

The third: Be the Difference, show cases a number of the Order’s Charitable Programs.

SEE VIDEOS AT BOTTOM OF BLOG POST

The fourth is simply titled Legacy and reviews some of the Order’s greatest works and accomplishments.

SEE VIDEOS AT BOTTOM OF BLOG POST

Many of you may have already seen those four short videos.  They have been shown at a number of training events for the executive, and I have been playing them during the last two Pancake Breakfasts as parishioners wait in line.  They have also been available on the Supreme website since late August.

The fifth video, however, was just released earlier this week.  I would like to show it to you now and reflect on it in a moment.

SEE VIDEOS AT BOTTOM OF BLOG POST

So that the world may know new hope.  That was the theme at this past summers Supreme Convention in Colorado and it is most apt to our mission both as Knights and as Catholics.  That is our goal as we continue to carry out the task that was given to us by Jesus Christ.  In everything we do we must be focused on providing hope to those around us.  Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord.  It is also a time of Hope.  Hope that our Christ will come.  Hope for a better life.  Hope for ourselves.  Hope for others.  Hope for those who have gone before us and live now with Christ in the Eternal Life.

This past year saw three of our Brothers take that path.  While we mourn for their passing we are also filled with hope that we may one day be reunited with them.  So we take a moment to remember our fallen brethren.

Brother Bill Stuart

Brother Bill Gorges

Brother Frank Shalagan

It has long been a tradition of the Order to purchase memorial chalices in memory of past Knights.  Brother Frank’s Family was most generous to our council after his passing, and in September it was agreed to use the funds that they provided to purchase just such a chalice in memory of all of our fallen brothers, but especially Frank.  The chalice was blest by Father Pat last Wednesday at our District Necrology Mass, and was used in the celebration of the same.  However, tonight, I would like to personally present the Chalice to Effie Shalagan, before it goes into general use this weekend.

Father Pat:  We welcome you to our parish and our council, and would like to offer you this small token of our appreciation.

Now I have taken up too much of your time.  Please enjoy the rest of your evening.  We all deserve it.

Vivat Jesus!

Here is the text my Report to Council in November.

Brother Knights,

September and October have been busy months for everyone in our council and our Parish.  We have all seen lots of changes in the last while and it can be very trying on our patience, and our sensibilities.  Changes to some of the postures at mass have already started.  In a couple of weeks time we will see changes to the wording of a number of prayers and we will all have to work to learn these new translations.

We have just started working with this years executive.  We have a new assembly in town to work with.  We have made changes to our breakfast with the introduction of eggs benedict and setting up a membership display.

All of these changes require that we make an effort to embrace the change and give it our best.  All of these changes are going to have small hitches and will take some time to adjust to.  We of course will address each issue as it comes up and make small adjustments until we are satisfied with the result.  It does not happen over night, but it is critical to the life of a community that we change when needed.

Together we can help to lead this entire community through many of these changes by our own example.  Lets make an effort to be a living force behind the change.  After all it is all for the Greater Glory of Jesus Christ.

Vivat Jesus!




Stefan Farrow

Brother Knights,

We are almost 4 months into our Fraternal Year, and the Advent Season is fast approaching.  This is an important time of year for us in many ways.  First and foremost as Catholics it is a time to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child.  Secondly two major fundraisers are planned, the Charity Appeal and the Keep Christ in Christmas Campaign, which also has a evangelization message involved.  Finally, October is traditionally “Membership Recruitment Month”.

As was announced last month your executive conducted a survey of the council membership regarding Council Meetings, Programs, and value of membership.  We had 56 responses out of 125 members in our Council and I am pleased with both the quality and quantity of the responses.  Your executive will be looking at the results in detail, but there was one outcome that was very apparent.  The content and quality of council meetings must be improved.  Starting next month all Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairmen, will submit written reports the day before the meeting.  Those reports as well as my report will be available for you to review when you arrive at the meeting.  This will allow a more abbreviated presentation during the meeting and help those presenting to be as efficient as possible and speed up our meetings.  We will try it for November and December and then review it.

The other portion of the council meeting advise that we received was that you want more interesting content and discussion at the meeting.  Many of you indicated that the overall length was not your greatest concern but the quality of the content.  State has recently released a new Faith Program for inclusion in council meetings and we will be implementing that next month.  If you have other suggestions for new meeting content please let your executive know and we will look into it.

For the good of the order we will continue to move forward in our busiest months of the year.

Vivat Jesus!,




Stefan Farrow

The following is the text of the report I gave at the September 2011 General Council meeting.
Brother Knights,

Here we stand on the threshold of another year.  It is time to look forward and time to move forward.  The executive has worked hard over the last couple of months to brainstorm and develop the ideas that came out of the Council Retreat and Round Table in June.  We have narrowed the list of programs that came out of that day down to a list of the most plausible for the coming year.  You can see each of these suggested programs on the sheets around the room.  Please look them over and sign up for the ones that interest you.  The final decision on a programs viability will be based on the response tonight and at our next meeting.  We have programs that span the entire year and the estimated dates are included on each event so you can plan the ones that will be happening when you are around.  There are programs that only require 2 or 3 people to get together and little to no work, all the way up to a weekend men's retreat and conference, that will require the assistance of most of the council.  These programs are all critical to the vitality of our council.  As we become more active we will attract more members of all ages and our council will grow and grow.

My mother recently forwarded me a story that I would like to share with you.  It is titled “When Your Hut’s On Fire” and goes like this.  The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.  He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him.  Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.  Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.  One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky.  He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.  He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger.  He cried out, “God! How could you do this to me?”  Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!  It had come to rescue him!  “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers.  “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.  The moral of this story: Its easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives even in the midst of pain and suffering.  Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground... it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

Brothers lets work together with the Grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ to make this a year to remember.

Vivat Jesus!

Stefan Farrow

Brother Knights,

The 100th State Convention and Council meeting recently convened in Surrey.  The theme of the convention was “Thy Will be Done”.  Your Worthy Treasurer Brother Rob Braun and I attended as your delegates.  The experience was humbling.  Seeing so many amazing Brother Knights with truly amazing ideas and success stories.

A new State Executive was elected.  Our current State Secretary, Wil Wilmot, will take over as State Deputy in July.  Several other new members were elected and some have moved positions.  Full details of the new State Executive will be available on the state website soon.

If one thing became apparent, it is this;  While our council is a strong council, we have a long way to go.  The program possibilities for our council are endless and we must work hard to bring these programs to our council.  The council that was recognized as having the most successful programs had membership growth in excess of 300% of their quota.  One program that they ran brought in more than 30 new members.  We currently are only at 62% of our quota and 0% of our insurance quota.  

To this end, On June 4th I will be hosting the First Annual Council Retreat and Round Table to bring us all together to plan for a future that we can all be a part of, while also providing an opportunity for spiritual growth for our members focused on the principles of our Order; Charity, Unity, and Fraternity.  It is my hope that all of you will attend and take part in this important step in the growth of our council.

The second significant item that I brought back from this experience is the need to make long term financial plans that lead to an independence from Government Gaming Funds and other grants.  While this has been a  focus of mine over the past year, it was made even more clear this past convention.  To that end I spoke with a number of Grand Knights, Past Grand Knights, treasurers and other brother Knights from some of the successful councils from around the province to gather information.  The feedback that I got was invaluable, and the suggestion that I heard the most, both from councils with and without, was that a separate charitable foundation should be formed to give the council the ability to issue tax receipts, and hold long term funds outside of the government restrictions relating to gaming funds.  A charitable foundation will give us the ability to begin to build long term capital and begin to create a financial future that will be stable even in years when very little income can be received.   As such, today I am creating a task force committee on the creation of a Charity Foundation.  I would ask any member who is interested to please contact me to join the committee.  Later during the meeting I will ask you to authorize the committee in conjunction with the executive to examine and if they see fit implement the process of forming this Charitable Foundation, which will be controlled by the Knights of this Council.

With less than two months left in our fraternal year, I would like to take a few moments to reflect on the past year.  Our council had a bit of a rough start.  First we had difficulty filling all of our officer positions.  Then we saw first a delay in receipt of our gaming, funds, but finally a significant cut in the amount of said funds.  However, amidst all of that we had a very successful BBQ for the Father Pandosy Mission anniversary and we continued most programs.  I would like to thank all my Brother Knights for your patience with me as I learnt and continue to learn your names, and a little bit about you.  The position of Grand Knight is not an easy one, and not having been involved with this council for very long or knowing many of you very well presented a huge challenge to me.  It was only with your help and patience that I have been able to get the job done.  However, I feel that much of my and the executives time was spent on procedural things and on solidifying our financial position.  Not enough time was spent on programs in our Church and our community.  We had only one council event, the annual Christmas party.  Now that a strong and efficient base has been re-established in our council we can move forward next year and build our programs and in turn our membership!

At the State Convention much time was spent contemplating the theme and I wish that I could adequately reproduce everything that was said there, but unfortunately, I can only remember so much.  Our order was founded on the principal of Charity.  Charity is Love.  God’s will is that we Love our Neighbor and support those in need.  The convention theme could easily be a motto for our order.  Thy Will be Done.  With our convention falling on Divine Mercy Sunday, and the Beatification of Blessed Pope John Paul II much time was also spent reflecting on the life of the late Holy Father.  One phrase that was heard many times, was perhaps the phrase that our Beloved Pope said more than any other during his Papacy.  These words were first presented to us at the Holy Fathers Inaugural Homily in 1978.  They were: “Be Not Afraid.  Open wide the doors of Christ”.

Brothers, we must heed these words and open the doors.  We must not be afraid to stand up publicly for what we believe and stand for.  We are an organization that has its roots in public exercise of our ministry and we need to move forward to that end.  Consider these words as you elect your 2011/2012 executive tonight and as we complete the planning for the next fraternal year.  Lets make this coming year the most successful that our council has seen in many years.  Together we can “Be Not Afraid”, and we can “Open wide the Doors of Christ!”

Vivat Jesus,




Stefan Farrow

Merry Christmas!

The following is a exert from my presentation at our Annual Christmas Dinner with the CWL.  

In August our Order held its 128th Supreme Convention.  The theme of the convention was "I Am My Brothers Keeper".  These words ring true to our Orders strongest values and I pray everyday that we will all take them to heart and allow them to lead us to true compassion for all those in need.  These words could not be truer than during the Christmas Season.  Every day we see, hear, and encounter those who are homeless, freezing in the cold, those who have no food, and are going hungry, those who have no money, and their children no gifts, and those who have been injured physically and emotionally by others, who feel that they have no where else to turn.  We as individuals feel like we are powerless to help them, but as a community of Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we can make the difference that the world needs, because we are Our Brothers Keepers.  We are a warm bed... a hot meal... a child’s Christmas present, and a shoulder to cry on.  And so I challenge each of you, starting this Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent to try and make a difference in the life of one person each day until Christmas.  Image if each of the 100 or so of us completed this challenge over the next 27 days of advent... collectively we will have assisted at least 2700 people.... ... ... ... ... In Service to One.  In Service to All.  The motto of our Order can be given no better example.

This Sunday the second reading is from Paul's Letter to the Romans and provides a similar challenge:

"the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light;"

Last night I was watching the CNN Heroes presentations on TV, and it made me realize the real quality of the power of one person fighting for justice in our world.  I was particularly touched by the story of Aki Ra, and his organization the Cambodian Self Help Demining group.  By the age of 10 Aki Ra had been conscripted by the Kehmer Rouge regime and spent years laying thousands upon thousands of land mines in his own country.  Today he runs a non-profit that removes those same land mines.  Today, Aki Ra has removed in excess of 50,000 land mines, allowing the local peoples to move back into the land that has been unlivable since the 70’s.  On top of this he founded and runs an orphanage which has cared for over 100 children over the last 7 years.  Many who have lost limbs due to accidents with land mines.  Aki Ra is a shining example of the love that we have within us.  His motto... one mine, one life.

Perhaps a little closer to home we have the miracle of the Chilean miners trapped for more than two months after the mine they were working in collapsed.  We all know the story, but what do we know about Greg Hall?  Who is Greg Hall?  Greg is from Houston Texas, and owns the drilling company brought in to rescue the miners.  Greg led the rescue team.  However, what you may not know is that Greg will tell you that “God drilled that hole” and that prayer was perhaps the most important part of the plan.  Perhaps more interesting is that Greg is a Third Degree Knight of Columbus and is currently training as a Deacon.

Today, it has been nearly 1 year since the devastating earth quake in Haiti.  As Catholics we can be proud of the response that was provided.  Catholic charities were some of the first on the ground to provide immediate emergency relief efforts.  The Knights of Columbus was among them and they are still there helping.  To date over 2,200 wheel chairs have been shipped to Haiti and support for rebuilding has commenced.  However, perhaps the moment that we can be the most of proud of was the 8th of November, when the first shipment of prosthetic limbs was prepared and sent to Haiti.  The Knights of Columbus has committed an estimated $1 million to provide prostheses to every Haitian child who lost a limb in the quake, and the ongoing medical care and physical therapy that goes with it.  I believe that I can say on behalf of the some 1000 children who will receive this gift of life:  Thank You, God Bless.

Now let us turn to home and our growing community.  We are extremely lucky to have a parish that is as strong as St. Charles Garnier.  We have an amazing pastor, a deacon, a community that amazes me everyday, and we are still growing.  We are truly blessed.  Father Wayne and Deacon Neil.  You are a tribute to your vocations and model examples to all.  I am pleased to present you with these small tokens of our appreciation.

The Knights of Columbus has a proud tradition of supporting the Catholic Church, its Clergy, its people, and its lands.  Since its inception the Knights of Columbus Church loan program has distributed more that $500 million to parishes and dioceses throughout North America.  Further millions have been donated to parishes for the same purposes by individual councils and individual Knights.  Tonight I have the honor of asking Father Wayne to join me.

It seems like it was only yesterday that we had outgrown the “old church hall” and plans for the extension were in place.  Today, we are again faced with a lack of space for the many groups and functions that use our vibrant parish.  We are all now waiting in anticipation for the completion of the new meeting rooms in the Chancery office.  Bishop Corriveau, I would like to thank you for your commitment to our diocese and our parish.  With your help our parish will be able to grow and be a beacon in the darkness.  Thank You.

Father Wayne - On behalf of the Knights of Columbus St. Charles Garnier Council 9845 I am pleased to present to you this cheque to be used to repay a portion of the debt incurred in the building of the new meeting rooms for the amount of $10 000.

While making preparations for tonight I was considering all of the ways that the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women's League are present in our community and all of the places that we are still needed and a line by Helen Rice came to mind.  This tid bit is a true insight into the human mind and our world.  I will leave it with you to ponder:  "True peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas everyday".

Thank you, enjoy the rest of the evening.

Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas

Vivat Jesu!
Stefan Farrow
Grand Knight

When a devastating earthquake hit Haiti the Knights of Columbus was one of the first to respond with long term help and immediate support.  To date the Knights of Columbus has donated over 2000 wheel chairs to those injured in the earthquake.  The video below documents  our support and shows how we have a made a difference.   On August 4th 2010 at the Supreme Convention, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson announced that the Knights of Columbus will provide a prosthetic limb to each of the some 800 children in Haiti who lost limbs during the earthquake.  Included will be the cost of physical therapy, and replacements as they grow.  Please see the full press release below the video.   All this is in keeping with the theme of the Supreme Convention: "I Am My Brothers Keeper  
  Knights of Columbus partners with Medishare to provide physical therapy and prosthetic limbs. The Knights of Columbus today announced that it will come to the aid of every Haitian child who lost a limb in the January earthquake that destroyed much of their country and claimed nearly a quarter of a million lives.

Many thousands more were seriously injured, including hundreds of children who lost arms and legs in the tragedy. The Knights of Columbus has taken a special interest in helping those injured in Haiti.

Working in partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission, the Knights have so far provided more than 1,000 wheelchairs to those injured, including many children. One thousand more wheelchairs are slated for delivery over the next several months, for a total of more than 2,200.

Today the Knights of Columbus announced a new program – “Hope for Haiti’s Children” – to make assistance available to every child in Haiti who lost a limb in the earthquake.

The Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus approved a resolution last weekend that commits the organization to providing prosthetic limbs and therapy over the next two years for all the approximately 800 children who lost an arm or leg in the earthquake. The estimated cost of providing the prosthetic limbs and therapy is $1 million.

News conference participants included the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl A. Anderson; Prof. Robert Gailey, PhD, PT, director of rehabilitation services for Medishare; Mike Corcoran, chief of prosthetics for Medishare; and Chris Lewis president of the American Wheelchair Mission

“Almost eight months after the devastating earthquake, we must not forget the children of Haiti, who still need our help, and who continue to be so greatly affected by this disaster,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

“We believe that this program for the injured children of Haiti will not only alleviate their mobility issues in the near term, but also will provide real, concrete hope for their future.”

Each child will receive three prostheses and physical therapy over the course of a two-year treatment program. The program will be administered by Medishare, which operates the University of Miami/Medishare hospital in Port au Prince, and is the premier children’s medical facility in Haiti.