Fourth Degree

Member Assembly of the
Fourth Degree Massachusetts District of the Bishop James A. Healy Province

The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to inculcate
a love of Country and impress the duties of Citizenship

Its motto is Patriotism, enlightened and informed by Religion

Awarded the “Fourth Degree Civic Award – 2008”

...as an Assembly to have successfully conducted and reported a minimum of four patriotic
programs during the year.

Active Membership

205 Members Total

The Cardinal O’Connell Assembly consists of the following Members from Easton Council No. 238:

PFN = Past Faithful Navigator

PGK = Past Grand Knight

HM = Honorary Member

HLM = Honorary Life Member

Corporate Monthly Communion

On the first Sunday of October 1944, the Navigator with his fellow Sir Knights attended Mass in a body at St. Patrick’s Church in Brockton, MA. The Mass was followed by breakfast at the Bryant Hotel. This was the first of what has become the Assembly’s finest example of Catholic Action, “the Corporate Monthly Communion”. The Assembly has not missed a Corporate Monthly Mass since its inception in October 1944. This monthly Mass/Communion Breakfast is carried out the first Sunday of each month, where the location is decided by agreement beforehand by the Members of the Cardinal O’Connell Assembly. For current and future dates, times and locations, please see our Cardinal O’Connell Assembly Newsletter for further details.

Councils of the Assembly

Avon (Rev. James T. Smith Council No. 5683)
Braintree (Braintree Council No. 1462)
the Bridgewaters (Bridgewater Council No. 488)
Brockton (Seville Council No. 93)
Easton (Easton Council No. 238)
Holbrook (Fr. Francis X. Bransfield Council No. 5046)
Kingston (St. Joseph Council No. 4480)
Norton (St. Mary’s Council No. 11690)
Pembroke (Cardinal Cushing Council No. 6267)
Plymouth (Plymouth Council No. 1190)
Randolph (Vera Cruz Council No.129)
Stoughton (San Salvador Council No. 200)
Stonehill College (Fr. Allen Kraw Council No. 7673)

Enrollment

Membership in the Fourth Degree is open to any Third Degree Member over the age of eighteen years of age in good standing, six months after the anniversary of his Admission (First) Degree, who is a citizen of the country in which he resides, and is a practical Catholic in union with the Holy See. Membership Application Documents (Form 10-99) are available at the Easton Council for Membership request. For more information about the benefits of being a Fourth Degree Member and/or application request, please contact:

Frederick J. Kippenhan, PFN

History

The Fourth Degree is the outgrowth and culmination of the desire of the Members to manifest their love for country and pride in their Catholic American heritage.

In 1882 the Reverend Michael J. McGivney had founded the Knights of Columbus to provide mutual aid and assistance to its Members and their families. At that time the Order had only three Degrees exemplifying the principles of Charity, Unity and Fraternity.

In compliance with the wishes of the body as a whole, the national board of directors met in August 1899 and approved the addition of a Fourth Degree to the work of the Knights of Columbus.

The new ritual was adopted on the 9th of December and went into effect in 1900 with its primary purpose to foster the spirit of patriotism through the demonstration of one’s love for its country and by responsible citizenship. It is the highest Degree in the Knights of Columbus, giving a greater knowledge and appreciation for our Catholic heritage.

To qualify in 1900, a brother knight had to have been a Member for three years and played an active role in the community. Today an applicant must be over 18 years of age, a citizen of the country in which he resides and a Third Degree Member in good standing and initiated in the admissions Degree at least six months prior to his initiation in the Fourth Degree.

During the period of 1900-1910, the Fourth Degree Members, called the Sir Knights, were to be found only in Local Assemblies. Then on January 10, 1910, a major restructuring took place when Councils merged into General Assemblies.

On March 12, 1912, Bridgewater, Brockton, Easton, Rockland, Weymouth and Whitman met at the Rockland Council to consider the feasibility of a merger. John F. Whalen, Faithful Navigator of the Rockland Assembly presided and Timothy Hanahan, Master of the Fourth Degree was also present at the meeting, which has brought us to our current structure.

The new Assembly, with the permission of William Cardinal O’Connell, Archbishop of Boston, adopted the name of Cardinal O’Connell General Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

Meetings

The Fourth Degree Assembly of the Brockton, MA area conducts its Monthly Business Meeting on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM in the Chapel Hall of Sisters of Jesus Crucified – Our Lady of Sorrows Convent, located at 261 Thatcher Street, Brockton, MA 02302. Coffee, tea and pastries are served at each Business Meeting, provided by the nuns of the convent.

Newsletters

The following are the official bi-monthly publications of the Cardinal O’Connell Assembly – serving the parishes and the residents of Avon, Braintree, the Bridgewaters, Brockton, Easton, Holbrook, Kingston, Norton, Pembroke, Plymouth, Randolph, Stoughton & Stonehill College.

The Cardinal O’Connell Assembly Newsletter is published by and for the Membership of the Fourth Degree Cardinal O’Connell Assembly No. 394. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. It is published bi-monthly to inform the Membership and affiliates on topics of concern. The Fourth Degree Assembly of the Brockton, MA area issues bi-monthly newsletters to its Members.

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2009 / 2010 Newsletters

Officers

2009-2010

Faithful Navigator
James H. Earle

Faithful Friar
Rev. John P. Phalen, CSC

Faithful Captain
Paul J. Ohrenberger, FDD

Faithful Admiral
Gregory N. Belcher, PFN

Faithful Scribe
Norman Corriveau, PFN, FDD

Faithful Comptroller
Christopher F. Gilday

Faithful Purser
Michael J. O’Leary, FDD

Faithful Pilot
Vincente B. Reyes

Faithful Inner Sentinel
Alfred J. Amoroso

Faithful Outer Sentinel
Joseph T. Qualter

Faithful Trustee 3 Year
William H. Elsemiller, PFN

Faithful Trustee 2 Year
Frederick J. Kippenhan, PFN

Faithful Trustee 1 Year
Michael D. Hatch, PFN

Faithful Commander
Christopher F. Gilday

Scholarships

Each year the Cardinal O’Connell Assembly presents its Annual Monsignor Mimie B. Pitaro Scholarship Award ($500), open to all graduating 8th graders living in Avon, Braintree, the Bridgewaters, Brockton, Easton, Holbrook, Kingston, Norton, Pembroke, Plymouth, Randolph & Stoughton, who are planning to enroll in a Catholic High School the following scholastic year. Additional inquiries and/or charitable contributions directed toward this Cause may be forwarded to the Cardinal O’Connell Assembly by contacting:

John H. Drane

17th Annual “Monsignor Pitaro Scholarship Award – 2009”

Leigh Ann D'Andrea, Plymouth, MA

Veterans Affairs

The Cardinal O’Connell Assembly works diligently to support our active military troops and veterans of foreign wars.  For more information detailing our continuous efforts in this Cause, please see our Cardinal O’Connell Assembly Newsletter for further details.  Additional inquiries and/or charitable contributions directed toward this Cause may be forwarded to the Cardinal O’Connell Assembly by contacting:

Edwin A. Putkonen

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