Knights of Peter Claver Inc.: Northern States District

Greetings and prayers for a blessed and prosperous New Year!  This time of year is filled with resolutions, goals, and commitments.  Let us be sure to re-affirm ourselves to fulfilling the values and mission of our Noble Order in our everyday interactions, thoughts, and deeds. In 2017, we will celebrate the 100th Anniversaries of the authorization of the Meritorious Fourth Degree Knights and of the Junior Knights!  As our Order progresses forward, we must use these milestones to serve as important reminders of our commitment to being living examples of Christ's love as well as the work and life of our Patron, St. Peter Claver. Our faith in God assures us that His limitless and unconditional love, grace, and mercy will not only continue, but will increase as we enter this new year - desiring to be even greater servants of His Will and His Word. Wishing you continued blessings, James K. Ellis Supreme Knight Vertelle A. Kenion Supreme Lady

Mother of the Courts and Past Supreme Sentinel, Lady Joyce Y Broden (pictured second from the left on the top row) will be eulogized on Friday, January 6, 2017 at St. Charles Lawanga (St. Cecilia Location) on 10400 Stopel Detroit, Michigan 48201. Family Hour is 10 am. Funeral Mass is 11 am. Cards of condolences should be mailed to the church in her name.

Christmas Greetings and Prayers for a Happy New Year!  We pray that we will continue this season’s spirit of love and giving throughout a blessed and prosperous 2017. The Christmas Season comes at a timely point in our Nation's history - serving as a valuable reminder of God’s unconditional and infinite love, power, mercy, and influence in a seemingly constantly changing and different world! We are reminded of that poor and homeless family of immigrants bearing a child and seeking escape from political unrest.  They were turned away, scorned, and looked down upon, but their faith and trust in God brought them through.  On today, we celebrate the birth of that child - our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are especially encouraged to remember the less fortunate and to exhibit the spirit of the season through charitable giving and service: volunteer at a food bank, donate to a noble cause, invite someone who may be spending Christmas alone to fellowship with you and your lov

Newly elected Mother of the Courts, Past Inner Sentinel and Past President of the Michigan Central Committee Gracious Lady Joyce Broden has passed away. More information on her funeral is to come. A great lady has joined Jesus Christ today, a moment of silence please!

Here is the link for the registration packet to the Milwaukee Conference. Email me at: ataylor41512@hotmail.com for further questions. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwidX4sB_hAHdnREWHhmZjBLc0dhcEoxVXA4Q0hYSlRCbkQw/view?usp=sharing

Christmas is right around the corner! Make sure you read the new Claverite. The Supreme Knight, James Ellis, is profiled in it. Northern States District Conference is around the corner. Milwaukee, Wisconsin in April. The information sent to the councils and courts will be posted on this blog later this week. Please pay special attention to the Knights form for Grand Knight of the Year and Council of The Year.

Thanks to Knight Charles Brooks from New Jersey for sending this out: http://tsdmemphis.com/news/2016/aug/23/most-reverend-martin-holley-named-5th-bishop-memph/#.WASF3lviXBw.email

The Northern States District Board has met in Milwaukee, WI. Planning is under way. The Milwaukee Central Committee has taken an active role in participating in the Conference for next year. The hotel is interesting. It is five minutes away from the airport with around the clock shuttle service. Here are some shots from the room and of my room:

STATEMENT OF THE SUPREME KNIGHT VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND A DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE Friday, August 12, 2016  Greetings: As I consider my own work in the Church and the community, particularly the development of youth, my heart aches for our families that are torn by violence and our communities that are destroyed by violence. As we have seen, the shootings of black men at the hands of law enforcement officers have prompted protests throughout the country. However, it is important that we also take a stand on the violence that is self-inflicted within our own communities. We cannot allow hatred, hostility, despair and indifference to prevail in our society. We have an obligation to respond to this progressively growing culture of aggression by standing up and speaking out as a matter of our faith in Christ.  The news media communicates daily how very much our nation is troubled and divided. Our people are frustrated and angry. This frustration is impossible to disregard. We c

Clavers on the east side of the Northern States District are preparing for a special event! Knights of Peter Claver and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Bishop Francis Joseph Council #383 St. Josephine Bakhita Court #383                        Established Sept 23, 2006 St. Joseph Catholic Church 1012 French Street Wilmington, DE  19801 302.658.4535 June 2016 Dear Councils and Courts: Greetings! The Knights of Peter Claver Council 383 and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 383 seeks your support as we celebrate a decade of service to the Catholic Church and Wilmington downtown community. On October 1, 2016 we will commemorate this noteworthy achievement with a celebration at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware. We seek your support with the purchase of an advertisement to be placed in our souvenir journal. The souvenir journal ad agreement is attached for your use. This journal will pr

The Conference Altar for Mass.   Below are several Ladies that will celebrate the Mass at Conference. From right to left, the Supreme Lady, the new Vice President of the Ladies, the Outer Sentinel. The Sir Knights are preparing to march in below to serve as honor guard.

Before the banquet, the District Officers, National Officers and other dignitaries met for cocktails in the anteroom. Below is the Supreme Lady and District Director. Below are the National Treasurer and Supreme Lady. Below are the District Treasurer, Supreme Inner Sentinel, and National Treasurer. Below are the District Deputy, Vice Supreme Lady, and Deputy Supreme Knight. Below are the spouse of the Ladies Vice President and the Vice President, herself. Below are the District Deputy, National Lay Board Member, the Ladies President, and the Deputy Supreme Knight. Below are the Knights' and Ladies' President, the Supreme Lady, the Vice Supreme Lady, and the Deputy Supreme Knight. Here are the a portion of the Michigan Central Committee officers that serve the board: District Secretary (at the top), Ladies' President, Ladies' Treasurer, and Ladies' Past President. *Lady Almeta White used to call either one of

On Saturday, the district sponsored the President's Luncheon; the proceeds supported the Junior Conference.   Pictured are (from left to right): Mother of the Courts, Supreme Navigator, Supreme Inner Sentinel, Vice Supreme Lady, and Deputy Supreme Knight.  Pictured are (from left to right): Supreme Lady, National Lay Board Member, Past District Deputy, Vice President, Father of the Councils. Pictured are (from left to right): Past Director, President, Vice President. Here is the District Deputy, smiling for the camera.  (below) Past Director Marvin Bardo and District Sectetary McShan were the Master and Mistress of Ceremonies. Below are a group of Clavers conversing on friendship.

Over the next few days, I will be posting pictures from the various Northern District Events over the last few months. To start things off, here is a list of saints from now until the end of August: July 25th: Saint James, the Greater, apostle, patron of Spain July 26th: Joachim and Ann, parents of Mary July 29th: Saint Martha July 31st: St. Ignatius of Loyola August 1st: St. Alphonsus Marie Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church August 4th: St. John Vianney, Priest August 6th: Transfiguration of Our Lord (B) August 9th: St. Teresia Benedicta a Cruce (of the Cross), patron saint of Europe August 10th: St. Lawrence, martyr August 14th: St. Francis Maximilian Maria Kolbe, priest and martyr August 15th: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 24th: Bartholomew, apostle August 28th: St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church August 29th: Beheading of John the Baptist, martyr

Here is an important update about the Junior Conference: Timeline of Events: May 8th - Deadline for Registration of Junior Conference May 15th - Deadline for Credentials May 31th - Deadline for other important documents Theme: Ignite, Invite the Holy Spirit Through Claverism Grand Knights and Grand Ladies, please check your email (within the last three weeks) for other documents related to the Junior Conference.

During the Joint Session on Saturday, Council and Court 90 thanked the Northern States District for their assistance during the crisis in Flint, MI. Clavers will continue to support Clavers. The Ladies Division asked for a prayer of healing before the joint session began. After the joint session, the membership continued to visit the vendors, attend the silent auctions, and visit the various charity fundraisers.  Then, we went to the President's Luncheon. This was the menu. The proceeds went to support the Juniors Division.