August 2026

by Hank Kempton - Grand Knight

Council 10852 Newsletter

Second Edition | A Fraternal Year Update for Council 10852

Upcoming Dates:

• 8/15:  Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive meal-packing event

• 9/20:  Parish 40th Anniversary celebration and council food booth

• 9/23 - 11/1:  40 Days for Life Fall Campaign  

• 9/26:  Paper Shredding Event to Benefit the LAMB Foundation of NC

• 9/26–9/27:  Car Raffle volunteer weekend after Masses

• 10/1:  The H.E.L.P. Pregnancy Resource Center’s Banquet 

• 10/10 – 10/11:  Car Raffle volunteer weekend after Masses

• 10/14:  Mira Via's 32nd Annual Fundraising Banquet
  
  

Officer Installation Ceremony

This is our second newsletter, and I am pleased to share that our officer installation ceremony was a meaningful and successful occasion. We were honored to have our Worthy District Deputy, Phil Giordano, and State Warden, Richard Seanna, officiate the ceremony.

Our Worthy Chaplain, Father Nicholas Kramer, blessed the officer medals and offered prayers and blessings for a strong and fruitful fraternal year ahead.

Financial Stewardship and Unity

In light of this year’s financial shortfall from not holding the Lenten dinners, the officers agreed to cover their own dinner expenses. This thoughtful decision allows the council to preserve more of our revenue for charitable work, with the council paying only the gratuity.

I am deeply grateful for this spirit of unity and shared commitment among our new officers!

Upcoming Activities and Volunteer Opportunities

We have many activities already planned, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue building fellowship, service, and charitable impact together throughout the year.

Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive

• The Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive is underway, with the meal-packing event planned for 8/15.

• All Knights who volunteer for this event are encouraged to wear their Knights shirt or name badge as a visible sign of our continued support for the parish. This simple gesture will also help strengthen awareness of the Knights of Columbus within our parish community.

Parish 40th Anniversary Food Booth

• Our parish’s 40th Anniversary celebration on 9/20 presents a wonderful opportunity for the council to help offset some of our lost charitable revenue by sponsoring a food booth. The parish will need volunteers to support the celebration, and the council will need volunteers to help staff the booth. More details will be shared as the date approaches.

40 Days for Life Fall Campaign 

• There is a huge need for prayer warriors from 9/23 - 11/1 to spend time in peaceful prayer on the sidewalk beside the Sidewalk Advocates for Life ant the Planned Parenthood Abortion facility in Uptown Charlotte at 700 Torrence Street.  You can witness there any day.  During the 40 Days for life campaign St Matthew parishioners will have suggested days and time to gather.  Check the Bulletin for more information later in the year.

Paper Shredding Event to Benefit the LAMB Foundation of NC

• Our Council will be having a free to the public paper shredding event at the South Charlotte Banquet Center (SCBC) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  The SCBC is located not far from the Church on 9009 Bryant Farms Road; Charlotte, NC  28277-1611.  There is a limit of three (3) banker's boxes per vehicle.  Free will donations will be collected at this event and will be given to the LAMB Foundation of NC.  A SignUpGenius request for volunteers will go out mid-August.
  
  

Car Raffle Fundraiser

• The Car Raffle is coming up next month and remains one of our most important fundraisers. A SignUpGenius link will be sent at a later date. Please watch for it and consider signing up for the Mass that works best for your schedule.  I invite all Knights of Council 10852 to lend a hand before and after Mass on the following weekends:

  • 9/26 - 9/27

  • 10/10 - 10/11

The H.E.L.P. Pregnancy Resource Center’s Banquet 

• Banquet is on Thursday, 10/1, in Monroe, NC at the Union County Agricultural Center.  Please join with other Brothers for an inspiring evening witnessing their loving and generous ministry to save unborn babies and providing parents with the resources to provide for their families.  If you are interested please contact Brother Tony D’Angelo or Norm Gemignani.

Mira Via's 32nd Annual Fundraising Banquet

• Will be held at the Convention Center with a Keynote Address from the Sisters of Life

• There are always fellow brothers who will sponsor a table and they will come forward; you will be welcome to join them.  If you are interested please contact Brother Norm Gemignani or Tony D’Angelo 

Thank You!

Thank you for your continued service, generosity, and commitment to the charitable mission of Council 10852. Your willingness to serve makes a meaningful difference in our parish and in the broader community! Please continue to refer to the Council's website here and the church bulletin for additional volunteer opportunities.

Some of Your Councils past accomplishments:

• • • $52,000 + hundreds of man hours renovating the Parish kitchen

    • $9,000 for adoration chapel renovation

    • $2,500 flagpole at South Campus

    • Put up and take down of two Creches each Christmas

    • Provide 10 breakfasts each year to foster parish community

    • Repair and paint all waste bin enclosures on main campus

    • Sponsor a Free throw contest each hear and donate to the school

    • Provide financial support to LAMB, St. Matthew Spread, Walking with Moms, and many other St Matthew and Community Charities.

GiGi’s Summer Camp at St. Matthew

One of the many charities our Council supports through Operation LAMB is GiGi’s Playhouse of Charlotte.

GiGi’s mission is to make a lifetime commitment to changing lives and providing hope through the consistent delivery of FREE educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community, using a replicable playhouse model.

Recently, GiGi’s started a Summer Camp at St. Matthew, which is open at no cost to not only parishioners of St. Matthew (some members of our SPRED group are attending) but others in our local area.

At each session students do physical activities and learn life skills such as cooking and housekeeping.