Celebrate Blessed McGivney - KC Austin Chapter - A Report of the Spiritual Director (7/28/2025)

Worthy Chapter President and Brother Knights,

I bring you greetings from our State Chaplain, Bishop Mulvey, and our Associate State Chaplain, Fr. Chen, whom I am in contact.

Here is the link to my report on the Organizational Meeting that took place a couple of weekends ago in Denton, TX: Reflecting on the KC Texas State Council Organizational Meeting (7/11-13/2025). The key take away from the Organizational Meeting was something that our State Deputy emphasized: membership recruitment. However, membership recruitment not for the sake of growth in and of itself but because we desire to help men become better versions of themselves, better men, husbands, fathers, etc. for their families, and faithful disciples and apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who loves being a Knight? Who feels that being a Knight has made him a better man, better husband and father, etc? Most important of all, who believes that being a Knight has helped you grow in your relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Then, why would we not desire this for men and boys in our lives and at our parishes? As we grow our Order, we are bringing more men to Christ.

Who here knows that is so special about the month of August in our Order? That's right! We celebrate Blessed Michael J. McGivney's birthday on Aug. 12th (1852), his feast day on Aug. 13th, and the date of his death on Aug. 14th (1890). Therefore, for my report this month, I encourage you all to celebrate Blessed Michael J. McGivney in your families and at your parishes. Here are some ideas:

1. We are invited to the Men's Retreat at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, which is hosted by Council 10333. We will start with Mass for Life at 7:00 A.M. For those you can, after Mass, a group will go to the Planned Parenthood at the corner of 183 and Burnet Road for a Vigil Prayer. Registration for the Men's Retreat will start a 9:00 A.M. We will have two speakers, Fr. Michael Rhodes and myself. After the Retreat, we will attend the 5:00 Vigil Mass together. There will be a reception after Mass.
2. There is a Votive Mass for Blessed Michael J. McGivney but, as I understand it, we would have to get permission from the Diocese. In the alternative, ask your pastors if you could include an intention in the Sunday Prayers of the Faithful for Blessed McGivney. You can find the Order for the Votive Mass with the POFs here.
3. Here is the Novena that you can pray with your families from August 6-14.
4. Enjoy a meal together as a Council and invite men from the parish to join.
5. Pass out prayer cards for the Canonization of Blessed Michael J. McGivney.

Finally, Cor is an initiative from Supreme (see my report from the Organizational Meeting linked above). The three elements of Cor are (1) pray, (2) faith formation, and (3) fraternity. I would encourage all council to start Cor. If you want to see what Cor is like, then come to the Men's Retreat on Aug. 16th and you will see all three elements of Cor during the retreat. If you need guidance, then please reach out to me at deaconphuc@gmail.com. I am the Director of Faith Formation and Evangelization (EFF) for the Diocese.

Vivat Jesus!

Here is a link to my previous report from the Chapter meeting in June:

KC Austin Chapter - A Report of the Spiritual Director (6/23/2025) KC Austin Chapter - A Report of the Spiritual Director (6/23/2025)

Deacon Phúc’s challenges for all Knights for the month of August

• PERSONAL & FAMILY: Share about Blessed Michael J. McGivney with your families, especially the boys and men. Here is a link to the graphic novel on the life of Blessed Michal J. McGivney, titled "A Father's Heart". It makes a great gift for the boys and young men in your lives to learn more about our founder. Also, here is the link to the "Parish Priest: Father Michael McGivney and American Catholicism". It is a wonderful read. I did my first presentation for the Men's Retreat on the life of Blessed McGivney using this book as a reference. I encourage all Knights to read it.
• COUNCIL: Share about Blessed Michael J. McGivney with your parishes (see above suggestions).