Ellie Kuhlman, left, and her brother Kyle Kuhlman represented the St. Timothy Knights of Columbus in the state Knights of Columbus Basketball Free Throw contest on March 23. Ellie, a 12-year-old student at St. Timothy School, won her age group.
02/16/2024 – 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
02/04/2024 – 02/05/2024 – 7:00 am – 12:15 pm
Date TBA – 7:30 am – 12:30 pm
Twas the night before Christmas, and the evening was near.
The Knights of Columbus luminaries were standing by, it was clear.
But who would turn out to light them? I asked to myself.
When there appeared to me, a group of little people gathered around God’s house.
I asked them and their fathers, and some mothers too,
If they knew about lights and batteries and what they should do,
And all of them were acquainted with the basic technology
Even the littlest ones, who would have known?
With the help of their parents around the church, they scampered and scattered
Until every last light was turned on with their tiny fingers flicking the switches.
So when the Mass was over, our parishioners saw
All the luminaries beaming light into the night.
Merry Christmas to all
And to all a good night!
Brother Knight Lynn Culkowski, an Air Force veteran who worked for the federal government for more than 30 years, died December 4, 2023, due to complications from emphysema and COPD.
He was 83.
Lynn Culkowki
Culknowski’s Dec. 12 funeral Mass at St. Timothy Church, which was officiated by Pastor David Meng, included a Knights of Columbus Honor Guard.
Born Sept. 21, 1940 in the upstate New York community of Lackawanna near Buffalo to Lucille and Vladimir Culkowski, he grew up in neighboring Blasdell and graduated from Father Baker High School. He started a tennis team in high school and entered the U.S. Air Force after his graduation.
After eight years in the military, he began a long career working as a civilian for the Air Force and the Department of the Army developing an expertise in computer coding.
Culkowski earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while working full-time and helping his wife raise their four children.
He also started a part-time business as a stamp collector traveling to stamp shows as a philatelist. He also was an avid fisherman, a Washington Capitals hockey fan, and a storyteller.
He is survived by his wife Mary Jane Culkowski; children Greg Culkowski, Susan Wright, Kerry Keys, and Erik Culkowski; grandchildren Elisabeth Schwieters, Blair Miller, Brittany Penksa, William Knarr, David Culkowski, Anthony Culkowski, and Aiden Culkowski.
Culkowski is also survived by his brothers Michael, and Justin, and sister Mary Ellen Beals. His brother, Vladimir, passed away in 2018.
Knights Budget 2023-24
Sixteen days after unloading our delivery of 175 Fraser Firs, our council marked a successful end to our biggest fundraiser by selling our last tree just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Our last customer took a photo of Brother Knights Brian Tumulty and John Owens, along with John’s wife Colleen, who staffed our lot to the end.
John and Colleen Owens, left, with Brian Tumulty after the sale of the last tree on Dec. 9
The trio gathered the few remaining wreaths and decorative roping onto a cart that was taken to the church’s narthex and sold that evening and the next day by Brother Knights Dick Wadden and Richard Stec, and our other volunteers who sold Christmas cards.
Christmas card sales ended a day later on Dec. 10.
Turnout by our brother Knights as volunteers was spotty at times, but many of the Knights who turn out every year stopped by to work a shift of two.
Brother Knight Mark Searle, left, with PVI student Alex Fromm, and Brother Knight Brad Allen
Brother Knight Carl Unterkofler (left) and his brother Paul Unterkofler flank Grand Knight Anthony Estrada on the Christmas tree lot during weeknight sales. The brothers also helped unload the trees the day after Thanksgiving.
Brother Knight Paul Hunter, left, with his daughter Megan, and his brother Mike Hunter. Megan is a student at Paul VI High School. They staffed the lot on a Wednesday night.
There also was a strong showing by Paul VI High School students filling in most of the holes. We often had a combination of students and Knights working on the lot together.
Knights, family, and PVI students volunteered on the busy Saturday afternoon of Dec. 2.
PVI student Lily Sheedy tying a tree to a car roof.
Both fundraisers performed above expectations financially.
Our net income of roughly $10,400 from tree sales was just shy of the $11,000 projected in our budget.
However, sales of Keep Christ in Christmas cards, Advent wreaths, and candles netted about $3,400, about $1,400 more than budgeted.
Taken together, these two fundraisers netted $800 more than budgeted.
That extra money will help us cover the higher-than-budgeted cost of several recent events, including the Thanksgiving senior citizens dinner.
Much of the income from these fundraisers allows us to support our charitable causes, including the $3,600 that we annually use to purchase bulk food items for the parish food pantry operated by our St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Brother Knights Jason Hepler and Steve Powers deserve a big thank you for administering the order, handling the delivery arrangements, setting up the tree lot, pricing the trees, and doing the takedown.
Please share with them the council’s gratitude for their behind-the-scenes work the next time you see them.
This fraternal year our council has four officers age 30 and younger.
At age 30, Grand Knight Anthony Estrada is the second youngest person to lead our council since our founding in June 1979. The record was set by Arthur “A.J.” Zadrozny in 2005-06 when he became our grand knight at the age of 28.
Statewide and nationally, there has been an effort to recruit younger men to join our order and to serve as officers.
Our youngest officer is Warden Patrick Hill, who recently turned 21. Patrick’s dad, Shak is also a council member and served as a grand knight while living in Colorado.
Dominic Schaad, our recorder, also has his dad, Mark, as a council member, along with his uncle Tim Schaad.
Our fourth officer under the age of 30 is Advocate Austin Lazo. Austin also serves as a leader of the parish’s Young Adults Group.
Grand Knight Anthony Estrada
Chaplain Rev. Christopher Hayes
Chancellor Mark Jaworowski
Treasurer Peter Grau
Financial Secretary Bill Cormier
Recorder Dominic Schaad
Warden Patrick Hill
Lecturer Mark Searle
Inside Guard Mike DePorter
Outside Guard Patrick Meere
Outside Guard Richard Stec
Advocate Austin Lazo
Three-year trustee Mark Zahuranec
Two-year trustee Brian Tumulty
One-year trustee Dennis Stone
Past Grand Knight Mark Zahuranec
Minutes of the KoC 7369 Council.
October 3rd, 2023 at 7:30 pm.
New Parish Hall, St. Timothy’s.
Called to order by Anthony Estrada
Time adjourned: 8:46 pm.
Roll call of officers:
Grand Knight: Anthony Estrada – Present
Chaplain: Father Christopher Hayes – Excused
Chancellor: Vacant
Recorder: Dominic Schaad – Present
Financial Secretary: Bill Cormier – Present
Treasurer: Peter Grau – Came Late
Advocate: Austin Lazo –
Warden: Patrick Hill – Present
Inside Guard: Mike DePorter –
Outside Guard 1: Patrick Meere –
Outside Guard 2: Richard Stec –
1 Year Trustee: Dennis Stone –
2 Year Trustee: Brian Tumulty – Present
3-Year Trustee: Mark Zuharanek – Present
Past Grand Knight: Mark Zuharanek – Present
CHAPLAIN’S REPORT: N/A
GRAND KNIGHT’S REPORT: “Brother knights, first I would like to thank everyone who helped with the
coffee and donuts this past Sunday. I was unable to attend and assist with the function because I was in Newport News attending the Fourth Degree Exemplification talking with other councils/assemblies and meeting new Fourth Degree members. I know that the coffee and donuts went well as they usually do.
Please give a warm welcome to Angela Clark as she shows and talks to us about what she has been
doing to save lives (Angela speaks).
Upcoming events: Brother Knight SK A.J.’s funeral arrangements are set for the following dates:
‘The funeral arrangements for SK AJ Ascone, PGK, PFN, have been set:
Viewings on Monday October 9th, (Columbus Day)
10 AM-2 PM and 5 PM-8 PM
Fairfax Memorial
9902 Braddock Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
(703) 425-9702
www.fmfh.com
Mass of Christian Burial; Internment to follow the Mass at Fairfax Memorial.
Oktoberfest – OCT. 7, 2023 following the 6:30 mass until 9:00. I have been in contact with Terri Miller and was asked that some knights help participate in that. PGK Mark Z will need help prepping in the kitchen Thursday and Friday evening, to make his famous side dishes.
Planning Meeting – we will have our planning meeting on Oct. 23 in the large conference room starting
at 7:30.
As we are rolling along with the fraternal year, that means Thanksgiving and Christmas trees and card sales
are among us. We will need help in the kitchen for Thanksgiving, to prep for Brunswick Stew. I will send
out a reminder in advance once the time gets closer. Everyone is doing a good job in this Council!”
TREASURER’S REPORT: The transactions were read aloud and discussed.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT: A list of transactions since September 1st was read out.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Multiple people are seeking to join our organization.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:
VOCATIONS – Went to the Vocations Liaison workshop. Have 40 seminarians this year.
CHURCH – Father Meng approves of our support of the Dominican sisters.
COMMUNITY – Arrange with Kovar for 3 days. Friday after Easter, Saturday, and the following Friday.
Lobster Dinner.
PRO-LIFE – Angela spoke, stressing the life-saving importance of mobile ultrasounds and asking for more
donations to continue funding the Pro-Life work of Mobile Ultrasound. Distribution of Baby Bottles will
occur again.
OLD BUSINESS: Voted on funding Mike Snow’s proposal for the Golf Tournament for $2,000. Motion passed, 8 to 5.
Voted on funding $500 to support the trip of one of our Deacons (Paver) to the Holy Land. Motion
passed, 11 to 1.
NEW BUSINESS: Discussion of donut quantities and varieties for the upcoming Coffee and Donuts.
Mention of the Upcoming 4th Degree ceremony. Mention of the request for KoC honor guards at the funeral previously mentioned.
DISTRICT DEPUTY’S REPORT: Mentions of Micheal Lynch. Prayers for Father Schultz were requested. Stressed
the importance of getting more enrollment. Supreme mentioned that the first quarter of the fraternal year
was the best in terms of intake in at least the past 40 years – over 17 thousand joined.
GOOD OF THE ORDER: Prayers were said for those Knights and their family members who are currently
in difficulties.
Closing prayer said by all.