February 2025 Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2025
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by Grand Knight (GK) Joe Tarallo.
Warden’s Report
All present were in possession of a current membership card.
Opening Prayer
Opening prayer was led by GK Joe Tarallo.
Pledge of Allegiance
Salute to the flag was led by the council members.
Chaplain report
Deacon Tony noted that there was a great response at the March for Life, especially from young people.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted on a motion by Bob Jacobs, seconded by Mike Sabella, approved with a unanimous vote.
Grand Knight’s Report (Joe Tarallo)
It is great to see participation from the new members of the Council.
Last year we made $81,000 in charitable donations and performed 5,600 hours of service. Great job everyone.
RTL Ministries – there is a sign-up sheet in the back for support of upcoming events. We will be reaching out for parish-wide support.
State Convention – rooms still available. Forms are in the back.
Lent is coming soon. Ash Wednesday is March 5. The Knights have been asked to host Stations of the Cross on March 21 at 7pm. Email to come.
Eucharistic Procession for 2025 – Dan Fuller will be leading.
Hoops Mania – please return/activate your tickets.
Tricky Tray is being planned for October 11. We will sponsor a grand prize and will likely be asked to assist at the event.
Treasurer’s Report (Wally Krake Jr.)
The Bank statement was sent to trustees. A copy can be obtained upon request.
Membership Report (Chip Sturm)
Recruiting continues as we work toward our goals. There are few Squires candidates. Squires need to be between 10-18 year of age.
Financial Secretary’s Report (Gerard Petrocelli)
Financial secretary’s report is emailed in advance to Trustees for approval of expenditures.
Program Reports – Led by John Watral
Bingo (Mike Mallon) – Going well. We have been getting enough help. Last week we had approximately 70 players. All seems to be working well with no complaints. We have been getting good support in the kitchen from students.
Soup Kitchen (Lenny Martin)– Nothing to report.
Annual Dues – $25 (Gerard Petrocelli) – covers the per capita cost & general liability insurance.
Blood Drive (Gerard Petrocelli) – At the February 1 drive, we collected 135 products with 20 ALYX – still waiting on the official results. The blood center was hacked so it is harder to get reports. We had over 110 appointments. April 5 is the next drive. The 30 ALYX donors from December will be eligible to donate again. We need help to advertise the drive and clean up after.
RTL (Gerry Kaufhold) – Rose Drive raised more than expected and proceeds will be used for the bus trip on September 21. 40 Days for Life prayer vigils begin on March 5 after 9:30 mass. Vigil is held at PP on Speedwell Ave. Baby bottle drive distributed 150-160 bottles after masses this weekend and at bingo.
Intellectual Disabulities Drive (Mike Sabella) – Targeting April 26-27 at Budd Lake Diner and Tractor Supply.
Eucharistic Procession – (Dan Fuller) – We will be presenting a plan to Fr. Antonio and Deacon Tony. The plan should be ready, with budget, for next meeting.
Charity Mania (Tom Rohe) – Please get back to Tom. Tickets must be activated in the first week of March. There have been 42 activations so far.
4th Degree – All are welcome to join our meeting on Tuesday 7:30 at Flanders Hall to see if its for you. There will be a pasta dinner on May 3 at St. Theresa’s in Succasunna with all profits going to veterans charities. Cost is $18 per person – all you can eat. State convention – $145 deposit, $45 for hospitality. Please join us.
Squires – will be setting up outdoor Stations of the Cross and Easter Egg hunt. Looking for new members from ages 10-18. Noah Lopez is Chief Squire, also Commander of USAF Junior ROTC and recently became third degree knight. We are looking to build a Circle. St. Theresa is looking to start one. We will invite them to see how we do our program. International Squires Convention is upcoming in Canada in July.
Food Pantry Fundraiser (Gerard Petrocelli) – Treasurer Ray Bonker reported that $2,576 was raised, plus 2 baskets of food, including our donation of $500 plus 2 additional donations for $50 (total $550).
Dues ($25) for 2025 are due.
February 2025 Report (CY 2024-2025)
- Mt. Olive Council #6100 (Meeting 02/17/2025)Star Council Award Progress
| Awards Progress (as of 02/17/2025) | ||
| McGivney Award | Founders Award | Columbian Award |
| Membership Goal: 8 members; to date, 4 Prospect List Candidates: 0 | Financial Benefits Seminars Quota: 2; to date, 0 (Form #11077) # Members Req’d: 14 | Service Program (SP 7) due 6/30/25 |
OLM Prospect List:
| Safe Environment Program (As of 02/17/2025) | |
| Compliant | Non-Compliant |
| Grand Knight, Program, Community, Family Directors, Circle | None |
| Other Criteria (Forms Submitted and Per-capita compliance) | |
| Forms 185 (6/30)/ 365 (6/30)/ 1728 (1/31)/ 1295 (2/15)/ 990 (5/15)/SP-7 (6/30) | Per Capita Compliance Balance |
| 185-Yes/365-Yes/1728-YES/1295-YES/990-No/SP-7-No | As of 2/1/2025: $0.00 |
- Sat, Feb 22: 125th Anniversary Exemplification of the 4th Degree, St. Patrick’s CathedralFri, Apr 11 at 7:30PM: Next Federation meeting in Pompton LakesSun, Apr 27: Exemplification of the Degree of Patriotism at the LeNeve’s in Haledon. Please consider taking out an Ad Journal.May 16-18: State Convention in Wildwood. Please consider taking out an Ad Journal.RemindersThe Free Online Membership Code BlessedMcGivney remains in effect.To complete and submit Form #10784 at the end of each completed program.Submit Form #11077 for all Financial Benefits Seminar attendees.Fraternal Assistance is available at any time for a Brother Knight in need.GeneralPlease continue to provide spiritual and financial support to the CPCs through ASAP and the Ultrasound Initiative, our needy families and Food Pantries through the Helping Hands and Food for Families Programs, our teens through the KofC Scholarships, and to your deacon candidates, seminarians and religious novices through our RSVP program, and please acknowledge their sacrifices through letters of appreciation. For any Council that donated to ASAP, please ensure you complete the ASAP paperwork to get the $100 matching from Supreme (KofC.org/ASAP).Fraternal Leader Advisory (FLA) (02/06/25)Review kofc.org/training for upcoming training sessions and featured Programs: Global Wheelchair, ASAP, March for Life.February Religious & Civil Rights (R&C) Talking Points highlights from Dr. Dan Rossi, PSD:
The USCCB released its Annual Report of the Committee for Religious Liberty. The report focused on 5 areas and identified both threats and opportunities within each of these areas. Brothers should take time to read through this report as each of these topics is currently under much public scrutiny and discussion. The areas presented are:
- Immigration Services
- Antisemitism
- IVF Mandates
- Gender ideology
- Parental Choice in Education
This month’s topic for discussion and prayer focuses on religious liberty. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops just released its Annual Report of the Committee for Religious Liberty, “The State of Religious Liberty in the United States,” The Bishops identify five top areas of critical concern for religious liberty. They define these areas of concern as both threats and opportunities. The following briefly summarizes the report’s findings:
Targeting of Immigration Services
“The Catholic Church carries out ministries of service and charity in obedience to Our Lord…” and therefore “the Church can be found serving people in need at our country’s borders and beyond. It is true that a nation has a right to regulate its borders and safeguard the communities within them. And it is true that religious liberty is not a license to injure the common good. However, it does not follow from these truths that Christian ministries can be prevented from serving immigrants and refugees. When a person in need comes before us, we don’t check their papers before serving them as Christ taught us. Rather, we recognize their inherent God-given dignity…” “For these reasons, the targeting of faith-based immigration services constitutes a significant threat to religious liberty in 2025.”
Antisemitism
“Widespread antisemitism is an affront to religious freedom.” “The volume and viciousness of the anti-Semitic attacks that have been taking place in this country—and all over the world—is unconscionable. No community—whether Jewish, Muslim, or Christian—should be persecuted because of its faith. No individual should be attacked because of his or her religion.” “Antisemitism is one of the top threats to religious liberty in 2025.
IVF Mandates
“The demand for IVF that has been expressed recently is understandable. Couples who suffer fertility challenges desire to grow their families, a good and holy desire, and IVF is presented as the solution to the problem. However, IVF procedures fail to uphold the dignity of the human person in multiple ways, most especially in the destruction of human life required by the procedure.” “Some of the proposed IVF bills have not only tried to expand access to IVF but have indicated that those who conscientiously object to these procedures could be forced to participate in them.” “IVF mandates represent a significant threat to religious freedom. But the national discussion of IVF also represents an opportunity for Catholics to evangelize and advocate for human dignity.”
Scaling Back Gender Ideology in Law
The incorporation of gender ideology into regulations “has corroded religious liberty in recent years.” Many of the regulations that have been proposed and released will impose severe burdens on people of faith. “For example, a Catholic hospital could be forced to participate in harmful gender transition procedures.” “…the Supreme Court will decide on a case with significant ramifications for the place of gender ideology in law. In U.S. v. Skrmetti, petitioners claim that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment should be interpreted to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and thus invalidate the Tennessee law prohibiting the performance of gender transition interventions on children.” “This case presents both a threat and an opportunity. A ruling for the petitioners could be catastrophic for religious liberty. On the other hand, a favorable ruling could curtail some of the constant litigation religious groups have faced in recent years.”
Parental Choice in Education
The Catholic Church believes that parents have “the right to direct the education of their children.” “That may mean something as simple as allowing parents to opt out of instruction that clashes with their religious beliefs.” “This right may also entail that the government provide parents with the means to educate their children in accordance with their religion. The Church teaches that it is not enough for the government to merely allow parents to choose the right education for their children. The government should support parents.” Public subsidies are needed so “parents are truly free to exercise this right without incurring unjust burdens.” “In 2025, there may be opportunities to expand school choice programs across the United States.”
We recommend that you take the time to review the report (Annual Report 2025 | USCCB) and consider the
recommended ways to respond to these concerns.
Faith in Action Supreme Programs
| Faith | Family | Community | Life | ||||||||
| Into the Breach | 2 | Consecration to Holy Family | Helping Hands | Aid & Support After Pregnancy | * | ||||||
| Pilgrim Icon | Food for Families | 2 | Coats for Kids | 2 | Novena for Life | ||||||
| Holy Hour / Eucharistic Procession | 2 | Family Fully Alive | 2 | Global Wheelchair Mission | 2 | March for Life | 2 | ||||
| Family of the Month / Year | 2 | Habitat for Humanity | 2 | Special Olympics | 2 | ||||||
| RSVP | 2 | Family Prayer Night | 2 | Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest | Ultrasound | 2 | |||||
| Build the Domestic Church | Family Week | Disaster Preparedness | Christian Refugee Relief | ||||||||
| Spiritual Reflection | 2 | Good Friday Family Promotion | Free Throw Championship | Mass for Special Needs People | |||||||
| Rosary | Keep Christ in Christmas | Soccer Challenge | Pregnancy Center Support/ASAP | 2 | |||||||
| Sacramental Gifts | Hockey Challenge | Silver Rose | |||||||||
Complete and submit Form #10784 at the end of each completed program (online 5 minutes).
For a list of the State Council Programs reference www://njkofc.com
Blue Highlighted Programs are referenced in the FLA as programs to begin planning now.
Unfinished Business
The following motions were made and passed unanimously:
| Motion | Made by | 2nd by |
| 2nd READING Donate $575.96 to cover additional expenses for river rock, fabric and supplies for the installation of the statue of the Blessed Mother in the church courtyard. | Recorder | Dan Fuller |
| 2nd READING Donate $1,200 to the Diocese for the Diocesan Choir to perform at Jim Sweeney’s installation ceremony. | Recorder | Tom Rohe |
| 2nd READING Donate $2,000 to provide financial assistance in support of the Cooke family. William and Katrina Cooke recently lost their home on Stokes Avenue due to a fire and are currently living in an extended stay hotel. | Recorder | Lenny Martin |
| 2nd READING Donate $2,000 to provide financial assistance in support of Mayor Nicastro’s family. Mayor Nicastro’s granddaughter recently lost her battle with brain cancer. This donation will help defray some of the medical bills for her treatment and will be made directly to the family rather than through GoFundMe. | Recorder | Bob Jacobs |
New Business
The following motions were made and passed unanimously:
| Motion | Made by | 2nd by |
| 1st READING Donate up to $5,000 for California Wildfire Relief funded by the Community Impact Fund. This donation is to be made through the NJ State Council. | Lenny Martin | Wally Krake III |
| Spend up to $400 total to purchase an ad for the testimonial for the Outgoing State Deputy and an ad for the 2025 State Convention journal | Dan Fuller | Mike Sabella |
| Donate $250 to support Mike Layden with the 2/22/2025 Polar Bear Plunge for the Special Olympics | Gerard Petrocelli | Gerry Kaufhold |
| Donate $250 to support the Pet Food Drive | Chip Sturm | Lenny Martin |
| Spend an additional $11.66 to cover additional costs of purchasing 2 A-frame easels to hold signs to be used for the 40 Days For Life prayer vigils. | Mike Mallon | Chip Sturm |
| Donate $500 to the John Attardo scholarship | John Watral | Tom Rohe |
| 1st READING Donate up to $1,000 to support the October Tricky Tray event | Bob Jacobs | Dan Fuller |
| Spend up to $100 for signs for $40 Days for Life, Soccer Challenge, etc. | Gerry Kaufhold | Lenny Martin |
| Spend up to $125 to sponsor 2 bingo prizes at the upcoming State Convention | Tom Rohe | Joe Schalkoff |
Good of the Order
The Good of the Order was directed by Bob Jacobs.
Closing Prayer
Closing prayer was led by GK Joe Taralllo.
Attendance: 20 people.
Meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm.