KOC Holy Ghost Council #4977

08/23/2026

Fred Cimaglio needs our prayers.

Fred is a PGK and has been very active in Holy Ghost Council for many years.

I've just been alerted today that Fred had a stroke in early August; after a hospital stay he has been released and is resting at home. The stroke has left him unable to speak, but his wife Judy talked with brother knights at today's Farmer's Market and said he would welcome prayers and visitors. So my ask at this time is:
1. Please pray for Brother Fred;
2. Please consider stopping in for a short visit at his home. Please check in with Judy by phone first to make sure it is convenient for them. Her # is 847-514-9024.

As a reminder, Visiting the Sick is one of the corporal works of mercy.

Vivat Jesus

08/21/2026

HGC4977 Brothers,

September 11, 2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. A Mass of Remembrance for the Victims, Families, and Heroes of 9/11 will be celebrated on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM in St. Theresa's Church.

Father Tim Fairman (our Pastor and HGC4977 Chaplain) has requested that we honor and pray for these innocent victims with a combination Honor Guard (4th degree Sir Knights in uniform) and our HGC4977 Tribute Team (all Members in a dark suit/sash). Ceremonial sashes will be provided.

Uniformed 4th Degree and Tribute Team Members should assemble at 6:30 PM in St. Theresa's Gathering Space in preparation for the 7:00 PM Memorial Mass.

All Brothers - plan to participate in this important Honor Guard (or attend the mass). Please put a reminder on your personal calendar.

08/05/2026

BIG REMINDER – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THIS SATURDAY
ST THOMAS SUMMERFEST PICNIC / OUTDOOR MASS from 5:00-6:00

Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 12:00 pm 'til 9:00 pm

SK Jim DeGiulio is the Event Chairman for this event
The annual Summerfest at St. Thomas of Villanova is coming up on Saturday, August 8th, running from noon to 9 PM. Brother Knights will be setting up early on Friday to ensure we’re ready to go on Saturday.

Once again, our Council will be serving up our crowd-favorite - roasted sweet corn - and we could use your help!

Here’s how you can pitch in:
• Volunteer Opportunities:
We’ll need help throughout the day with grilling, husking, buttering, and serving the corn. Whether you can stay for a few hours or the whole event, your time is greatly appreciated! We need help at each shift –
11:00 AM – 2:30 PM,
2:30 - 5:00 PM and
5:30 – 9:00 PM (we are usually short for this shift)
whichever is convenient for you. Please let me know which you prefer.

• Grills Needed:
Last year went great with multiple grills in action, so we’re hoping to borrow an additional 2 Weber charcoal grills again this year. If you’re able to lend one, please drop it off at St. Thomas school any time on Friday or very early Saturday morning. Please reach out to Brother Jim DeGiulio at 847-494-3521 to coordinate.
•
• What to Wear:
Feel free to wear a Summerfest shirt from a previous year (if you have one), or something cool and lightweight. There’s not much shade, so bring a hat also!

THANK YOU!
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!



SK Jim DeGiulio

07/15/2026

07/03/2026

Palatine parade is coming! PGK Steve Taromina has volunteered to drive in the Parade so that is set.

Advance warning on schedule changes to think about:
HOT: St Theresa has asked us to fund and run a Summer Supper (hot dogs, burgers). Is this something we can do? Bad news it is July 16th. Can we do it? Need to decide at Monday's Planning meeting.

CHANGE: St. Theresa Bonfire moving from 9/5 to 9/12. Soccer Challenge should move with it? (Bill O'Brien heartily agrees to the move) And we have a Steak Fry scheduled for 9/12 so that should move too, perhaps 9/5 or 9/26? We can talk & decide Monday.

Anything I've missed, please let me know.

06/27/2026

The Palatine Hometown Fest Parade 2026 is almost here — and we’d love for YOU and your family to join us for this fun community event! We’ll be handing out candy along the parade route, so bring your best smiles and fun spirit!
- Saturday, July 4, 2025
- Lineup: 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM (Plan to arrive by 10:30 AM)
- Parade begins at 10:30 AM sharp
- We’re starting in Spot #31 and will be lining up on Wood St.

Please wear your Green Council shirt if possible. It will be too hot for uniforms or suits.

Family members are absolutely welcome to walk with us. The more, the merrier!

Please come prepared with water, sunscreen, hats, and anything else to stay cool. The staging area and route have very little shade.
If you are walking in the parade or being dropped off, please do so at the Palatine train station and walk to the parade line-up.
Hope to see you there!

SK Steven J Taromina
Grand Knight

06/25/2026

Cor calendar of events

06/25/2026

Gentlemen, and brother Knights of our Cor Group,

This is a quick reminder that our next Cor meeting is this Thursday, June 25, at 7 pm in the Bernardin Room at the Pauline Center. The last Cor meeting scheduled for June 11 was cancelled due to a tornado warning and severe weather experienced in our area that evening (as well as a water main break that affected the Pauline Center), so I am attaching an updated Calendar of Topics for Cor Men that indicates the cancelled Cor meeting and pushes back all the remaining Cor meetings by one session.

As announced at our last membership meeting, any Holy Ghost Council Officer who attends a Cor meeting for the first time will receive a free Knights of Columbus Rosary and Rosary pouch.

Our fraternal discussion for our June 25 meeting will focus on "Family Life." So, I hope to see you all then.
Vivat Jesus,
Mark

06/18/2026

We have a great volunteer opportunity for you to help support the Special Olympics IL this summer:
Special Olympics IL Region B Softball – Sunday, July 26th at Elgin Sports Complex

We are looking for volunteers to help with the Region B Regional Softball Competition on Sunday, July 26th at the Elgin Sports Complex. There are several time slots and a variety of roles available. Please see the attached form for our council’s sign-up information, and follow the directions to sign up for this event.

Please consider spending a few hours with us on Sunday, July 26th. You will truly get to see the impact that the Knights of Columbus has on this organization! If you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance to you with volunteering for this event, please do not hesitate to reach me. Thanks for your contributions to the Knights of Columbus, and God bless!

Tom Nicholas
Volunteer Coordinator
KOC Council #4977
847-380-0220
[email protected]

06/15/2026

I am deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of Dorothy Hlavacek, 91. She passed peacefully on June 11, under the care of the Alexian Brothers of Elk Grove Village. Dorothy was married to Brother SK Eugene 'Gene' Hlavacek in May 1959. Sadly, Gene passed away in December 2024.

CLICK HERE for a beautiful obituary highlighting Dorothy's life, activities, and accomplishments.
https://www.smithcorcoran.com/obituaries/Dorothy-Hlavacek?obId=48685991

• VISITATION. Thursday, June 18 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy., Palatine.
• FUNERAL MASS. Friday, June 19 at 10:00 AM at St. Theresa Church.
• INTERMENT. At St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery following the funeral mass.

Eternal rest grant unto Dorothy, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Dorothy's soul and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

SK Robert J Novak
Advocate

View Dorothy Hlavacek's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.