Council
Activities

Welcome to the Council Activities page. Help all our Brothers by sending your Council events and news in to alykahn@optonline.net ..

mith Haven Creche Photos

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Please go to our website to begin your registration process: www.catholicmensministry.net Lunch this year is Bring Your Own. However, the Holy Trinity Titan Club has offered to provide food for purchase during the day in the cafeteria!

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Mary McGuirk, a member of Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church Rosary Society contacted the Director of Marketing and Business Development at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove N.Y. and mentioned how beautiful all the decoration looked, the Christmas tree, the Menorah, and Santa, however she did not see the Nativity Scene.  When she requested that a Nativity Scene be displayed, she was told the Nativity was religious and could not be displayed.  Mary reminded the Director that the large Menorah that was on display was also religious.  As she was leaving the Mall she was praying to the Holy Spirit.  She found herself going from store to store in the Mall enlighten people concerning this issue.  She was amazed that almost all agreed, the Nativity should be displayed with the Menorah.  She encouraged all, to let family and friends know about this and go to management and request the Nativity.     Mary made a follow up visit to the Director who was at a meeting.  She left her Phone number with the secretary.  Mary took the liberty of stopping in to any church she passed and told them her story, again she was amazed at the positive response.  She was told by one Pastor of a Lutheran Church, “God bless you, I will tell my congregation on Sunday!”  A few days later Mary received a call from the Manager of Smith Haven Mall.  After much persuasion, she reminded him, Christmas is about the birth of Christ, not Santa or a Christmas tree.  Mary told him, most of the people shopping in the mall are shopping for Christmas presents.  They are supporting the mall and should be accommodated with proper symbol for Christmas.  By displaying the Menorah and not the Nativity, he was dividing and not uniting people.  Is it not time to bring unity and joy back to our country and stop caving in to the Atheists who claim to be offended.  She asked how many Christians are you offending?  The Manager then advised Mary this issue may have to go to corporate.  Two days later Mary received a call giving permission to place a Nativity Scene in the Smith Haven Mall with 3 conditions.
# 1 Create a Zero net lease ( a formality to say they will give space rent free)
# 2 Certification or letter to say, the Mall will not be responsible for any physical injury caused by the Nativity.
# 3 Mary must supply the Nativity Scene
            Mary called the Grand Knight of Sacred Heart Council #4402 in Centereach whose Council if affiliated with Mary’s Parish.  She told him what she had done up to this point, and asked him for help to meet the 3 conditions.  The Grand Knight agreed to help.  He called a meeting of brother Knights within his district to discuss the situation, and what could be done.  It was already the 13th of December and time was running out.  The Grand Knight arranged a meeting with the Manager of the Mall, and two brother Knights to discuss the 3 conditions.  The Manager was very cordial, and friendly. Of the 3, certification that the Mall would not be responsible for any physical injury caused by the Nativity Scene was the most difficult condition to meet. This would require a substantial liability insurance coverage.  The Grand Knight made several contacts about this matter, and was finally able to resolve this problem with the help of his Council.  Once final approval was given by the Mall, the beautiful Nativity scene was set up by brother Knights, and Mary and Doris from the Rosary Society in the center of the Mall side by side next to the Menorah.
The Grand Knight invited the Manager of the Mall, the Pastor of the Lutheran Church, a Rabbi from a local synagogue, and the Pastor of Assumption Roman Catholic Church to join him at the Mall to take pictures by the Menorah and Nativity showing unity and respect for each others faiths.  Several pictures were taken and new friendships were made that day.
Fraternally Yours,
Joseph J. Neri, Grand Knight Sacred Heart Council #4402

Walt Whitman Mall Creche Photos

Above are two pictures from the creche sponsored by the Councils of the 10th district (Huntington) at the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington, Long Island.
Pictured  from left to right, John Lazar, PGK, DD, James Kelly, GK, Gate of Heaven Council 468, Walter Scalley and William Murphy, GK of St. Elizabeth Council 5753 (first Picture)