November Grand Knight Message
Greetings Brother Knights,
As we have moved through November—a month of remembrance, gratitude, and service—I want to thank each of you for the work you do to strengthen our Council, our parish community, and those we serve. I have some personal invitations for each of our members included in this newsletter – I hope that you are able to take me, and the Council, up on these offers of brotherhood and community.
General Council Meeting & Dinner - Monday, November 24
Our next general meeting will be held Monday, November 24. We’re adding dinner before the meeting, so times are:
- Dinner: 6:00 pm
- Rosary: 7:00 pm
- Meeting: Following dinner
- Location: Columbus Conference Centre
Our previous minutes can be found here:
Special presentation: Indigenous Veterans Day
We are very pleased to have Brother Michael Seymour presenting at this month’s meeting. His talk will walk us through a historical timeline of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, highlight Indigenous patriotism and service during both World Wars, and explain the rationale behind establishing an Indigenous Veterans Day. This will be an informative and meaningful discussion at our meeting.
Getting involved
Similar to many groups, a smaller subset of our members actively participates. We want everyone to feel welcome, so I would like to personally invite you and your family to reach out and attend events, help out occasionally, join us for a Friday Fish Fry, or other dinner. If you haven’t participated in our Faith of our Father’s program, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Need some guidance on what you can do? Let me know. Check out our schedule of events and fee free to propose your own ideas too.
Annual Toy Drive for Needy Kids – Kick off
A heartfelt congratulations to everyone who helped kick off this year’s Annual Toy Drive for Needy Kids. This initiative supports over 35 agencies across Waterloo Region, and although it provides help year-round, this season marks our largest and most important push. Thank you to every volunteer who continues to make this drive such a vital part of our community outreach. Read more on our web site.
Upcoming initiatives
Please stay tuned for details on our next two pilot programs:
Keep Christ in Christmas Campaign
&
Coats for Kids
Both initiatives are important ways we bring our faith and service into the community during the Advent season.
All are invited to 85th Anniversary Gala – November 30
A final reminder that our 85th Anniversary Gala for the Fourth Degree is taking place on November 30th. If you have not yet reserved your spot and your spouse/significant other, and would like to attend, please contact Todd Cowan ([email protected]) at your earliest convenience. This will be a wonderful celebration of our Council’s legacy.
As a reminder, you do NOT need to be a fourth-degree member to attend.
Keeping Watch – Invitation to Attend
Join Monsignor Con O’Mahony, Vicar of Education for the Diocese of Hamilton, to learn what St. John Henry Newman and Pope Leo XIV have to say about keeping watch during Advent.
Date: December 6, 2025
Time: Doors open 9:30 am, Presentation 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, 173 Lourdes Street, Waterloo, ON
Charity nominations and volunteer opportunities
If you know of a charity or local cause that our Council could support, please reach out to me directly. We are always looking for ways to extend our mission of charity to those most in need.
And check out our volunteer opportunities. You can reach out to me, or any member of the Council Executive, and read more about volunteering for things like:
- Clergy Steak Fry
- Rose Sunday help
- Charity Casino
- Memorial Mass Committee
- …and more on our web site.
Thank you once again for your continued service, fraternity, and dedication to our mission. I look forward to seeing you over the Advent season.
Warm regards…
S.K. George Dube
Grand Knight
Waterloo Knights of Columbus Council 5135