On June 21, a 5:30pm mass at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Little Rock was concelebrated by Bishop Anthony Taylor and the priests who were being honored - those who had attained 25, 50, or 60 years in the priesthood and those who had retired.
In his homily, Bishop Taylor referenced the feast day of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, while both comparing and contrasting the saint's life with that of the priests in attendance. One very obvious difference was the breadth of life experiences, since St. Aloysius died at the age of 23 from the plague contracted while serving in a hospital, only five years after he had joined the Jesuit order.
All of the Sir Knights were dressed in tuxes and social baldrics with their spouses also appropriately attired for the event. The food was catered to 81 diners by Home Plate.
Faithful Navigator Jerry Bertrand conducted the meeting before handing the gavel to the new Assembly leader, Ron Boudreaux.
Father Vic Bieberle was honored with a plaque for serving the Assembly as Faithful Friar from 1997 until February 2011, when he relinquished his duties to Father Elser, Sacred Heart of Jesus Pastor. Also honored with special plaques were Bill and Diane Patterson, Family of the Year, and Ray Bertrand, Sir Knight of the Year.
The new faithful officers are as follows:
Navigator - Ron Boudreaux
Comptroller - Sam Justus
Friar - Father Bill Elser
Captain - Ed Miller
Admiral - Jerry Bertrand
Purser - Ray Bertrand
Pilot - Tom North
Scribe - Bill Roe
Outer Sentinel - Clyde Porterfield
Inner Sentinel - Marshall Garrison
Trustees - Mike Kerwin, Russ Harrison, Hal Platt
Honor Guard Captain - Tom North
Membership Chairman - Jim Passe
Flags Forever Chairman - Russ Harrison
Click on Organization to view photos of the new officers and click on Photos to view a gallery of photos from the installation ceremony.
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Coordinating the organization of the event for the Assembly were Sir Knights Mike Kerwin, Gerald Krawczynski, and Bill Patterson with John Bodensteiner as MC. The Ladies' Program, held at Tranquilo Restaurant, was arranged by Pat Widlowski, Cathy Bertrand, Pat Cudworth, Janice Spaniel, and Kathleen Nosek. The Honor Guard, under the direction of Captain Tom Yerina, and many other sir knights participated not only in the preparations, but also all other phases of the activities, including most of the ministries involved in the 5:00 pm mass concelebrated by Father Bill Elser and Father Vic Bieberle.
The dinner with three entree choices and three dessert choices was catered by the Home Plate to 175 knights and spouses. A program followed during which the new sir knights were given their certificates, and Father Bill Elser, a 4th Degree knight himself, was given special recognition for his long and dedicated service to the Knights of Columbus, including service as State Chaplain and State Friar. The thirteen knights exemplified from local Council 10208 included: Richard Fernald, Deacon John Froning, Robert Heisler, Jim Jendro, Billy Jones, Scott Krantz, Alexander Ladish, Deacon Larry Lipsmeyer, John Lucas, James O'Donnell, Robert Rodgers, Greg Rogers, and Larry Stein.
Check out the photos from the exemplification by clicking on Photos on the top right of the Assembly home page and click on the first photo of the April 2 Exemplification.
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Father Bill came to Sacred Heart of Jesus in June 2010. He was the fourth of nine children, born and raised in Hot Springs, and he attended schools there. During that time, he also was a mass server for former Sacred Heart of Jesus pastor, Monsignor Malone. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. He subsequently enrolled at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving TX, and, after earning a Master of Divinity Degree, he was ordained a priest in the Little Rock Diocese on May 31, 1986.
Before being assigned to Sacred Heart of Jesus, Father Elser served in a number of parishes as an associate pastor including Immaculate Conception in Fort Smith; St. Peter the Fisherman in Mountain Home; Immaculate Conception in North Little Rock, and he served as pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Jonesboro; Sacred Heart of Mary in Barling; St. Boniface in Fort Smith; St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Bay; and Our Lady of Fatima in Benton.
The Hot Springs Village Assembly 2316 will be hosting a 4th Degree Exemplification at Sacred Heart on April 2, 2011. Click on Read More for events and times.
Father Vic Bieberle Accepting Sir Knight of the Year Award from Max Nutt, Master of the Arkansas District |
Father Victor Bieberle, a native of Bushton, Kansas, was born on September 27, 1925. He attended Holy Name Catholic School near Bushton, later high school and college at the Salvatorian Seminary, St. Nazianz, Wisconsin. After completing his philosophy and theology studies at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado, he was ordained to the Priesthood in his home parish church in Bushton on May 21, 1951 by Bishop Mark Carroll of Wichita, Kansas.
Max Nutt, AR District Master, presenting plaque to the Assembly. |
At the Assembly's August 24 meeting, AR District Master Max Nutt presented Faithful Navigator Jerry Bertrand and the membership with a personalized commemorative plaque in recognition of their successful campaign for the Knights of Columbus Incarnation Dome Fund. Aided by a significant $1,000 contribution by the late Sir Knight Douglas Joslyn, the Assembly contributed $1,566 to the fund.
In his letter to the Faithful Navigator, Supreme Master Lawrence G. Costanzo stated:
Your contribution exemplifies the great appreciation all Sir Knights have for this wonderful shrine, and continues our long history of Fourth Degree support for the Basilica. It is with pleasure that I enclose this personalized commemorative plaque with a photo of the mosaic dome to your assembly. It is hope that all members of your assembly have the opportunity to visit our National Shrine in Washington DC for the distinct honor of looking up to the sacred mosaic dome which they helped build.
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