Knights of Columbus - California State Council

Welcome to our new 2026-2027 California State Council Officers and a big thank you to IPSD Ken Rose

Front L-R: Rod Olguin (State Advocate), TW Starkweather (State Secretary), Ken Rose (Immediate Past State Deputy), Vladimir Rivera (State Deputy), Gene Hays (State Treasurer), Alex Castanon (State Warden)

Rear L-R: Rev. Pedro Valdez (Associate State Chaplain), Most Rev. Joseph Brennan (Bishop of Fresno), Rev. Raymund Reyes (State Chaplain)

STATE DEPUTY MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2026

Worthy Brother Knights,

Pax Et Bonum!

We just finished a very informative, educational and successful District Deputy Organizational and Training Meeting last July 10-12, 2026, held at the Visalia Marriott.

And I would like to congratulate the newly installed District Deputies and the returning ones for the Columbian Year 2026-2027 for your service, dedication and leadership. Thank you for stepping up, accepting and taking this very important responsibility.

As we enter the 2^nd month of our Columbian Year, August, let us not lose focus on what we need to do. And that is to bring more Catholic men to the Order.

I was invited to join the Order by someone.……Give someone that same opportunity to be a better Catholic man, husband, father, a humble servant to his family, parish and community. Give our brothers out there the gift and the joy of serving others…A Man For Others.

With the grace of God, we can do more for our fellow brothers and sisters in need if there’s more knights out there. And this the reason why this Columbian Year it is my goal to increase or open new councils.

We grow the order by opening new councils. Blessed Michael McGivney’s vision is to have more councils in our parishes. And our goal this year is 16 new councils.

Next year, 2027 we are celebrating the 125^th Year Anniversary of the California State Council. The first that was chartered was Council 615 in San Francisco, followed by Council 621 in Los Angeles and the third one is Council 715 in Oxnard and they became the California State Council. Imagine if the Knights of Columbus did not open new councils. What would happen to the vision of Blessed McGivney.

California is home to more than 10 to 12 million Catholics…. we are 16 Chapters, 179 District, 640 Councils and over 88,000 brother knights and families. My Worthy Brothers we need to grow the Order in California and together we can do great things for the “Greater Glory of God!”

Let us invite more Catholic men to the Order. We need to keep California Strong, Active and Engaged Jurisdiction…where California goes so does the Order.

Thank you and Vivat Jesus!
Vladi Rivera, State Deputy

STATE CHAPLAIN MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2026

Dear Worthy Chaplains and Brothers,

Praying that summer has been restful and rejuvenating to all!

As we enter a new month, allow me to echo the challenge of our Supreme Chaplain, Archbishop William Lori, “to study the life and example of our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney.” Archbishop Lori is asking us to get ourselves familiar with our founder because his feastday is observed this month, i.e. August 13^th. And for us to know more about our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, and to have a meaningful observance of his feastday, may I offer the following recommendations as encouraged to us by our Supreme Chaplain:

Let’s prepare for the feast day of our founder on Thursday, August 13^th, by praying theNovena from Aug. 4-12. To our Worthy Brother Chaplains, for the Votive Mass of Blessed Michael McGivney on Thursday, August 13th, here are the updated Propers as well as suggested Preaching Themes. For other resources, they are available here.
Let’s encourage our respective councils to use the “Blessed Michael McGivney COR Session Guide” available for free at COR Resources.

Archbishop Lori cited on how COR faith formation sessions can help us imitate Blessed Michael McGivney, who always sought to align his will with that of God.

Please know of my prayers that all of us may benefit from this gracious month of our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, who has a lot teach us.

In closing, let me share with you another immortal quote from our co-patron of the new Columbian Year, Saint Augustine of Hippo. He said, “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; and to find Him, the greatest human achievement.”

Knights of Columbus – California State Council #kofccalifornia @kofccalifornia

Instituted May 12th, 1903

Welcome to our new 2026-2027 California State Council Officers and a big thank you to IPSD Ken Rose

Front L-R: Rod Olguin (State Advocate), TW Starkweather (State Secretary), Ken Rose (Immediate Past State Deputy), Vladimir Rivera (State Deputy), Gene Hays (State Treasurer), Alex Castanon (State Warden)

STATE DEPUTY MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2026

Worthy Brother Knights,

Pax Et Bonum!

We just finished a very informative, educational and successful District Deputy Organizational and Training Meeting last July 10-12, 2026, held at the Visalia Marriott.

And I would like to congratulate the newly installed District Deputies and the returning ones for the Columbian Year 2026-2027 for your service, dedication and leadership. Thank you for stepping up, accepting and taking this very important responsibility.

As we enter the 2^nd month of our Columbian Year, August, let us not lose focus on what we need to do. And that is to bring more Catholic men to the Order.

I was invited to join the Order by someone.……Give someone that same opportunity to be a better Catholic man, husband, father, a humble servant to his family, parish and community. Give our brothers out there the gift and the joy of serving others…A Man For Others.

With the grace of God, we can do more for our fellow brothers and sisters in need if there’s more knights out there. And this the reason why this Columbian Year it is my goal to increase or open new councils.

We grow the order by opening new councils. Blessed Michael McGivney’s vision is to have more councils in our parishes. And our goal this year is 16 new councils.

California is home to more than 10 to 12 million Catholics…. we are 16 Chapters, 179 District, 640 Councils and over 88,000 brother knights and families. My Worthy Brothers we need to grow the Order in California and together we can do great things for the “Greater Glory of God!”

Let us invite more Catholic men to the Order. We need to keep California Strong, Active and Engaged Jurisdiction…where California goes so does the Order.

Thank you and Vivat Jesus!
Vladi Rivera, State Deputy

STATE CHAPLAIN MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2026

Dear Worthy Chaplains and Brothers,

Praying that summer has been restful and rejuvenating to all!

Let’s encourage our respective councils to use the “Blessed Michael McGivney COR Session Guide” available for free at COR Resources.

Archbishop Lori cited on how COR faith formation sessions can help us imitate Blessed Michael McGivney, who always sought to align his will with that of God.

Please know of my prayers that all of us may benefit from this gracious month of our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, who has a lot teach us.

In closing, let me share with you another immortal quote from our co-patron of the new Columbian Year, Saint Augustine of Hippo. He said, “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; and to find Him, the greatest human achievement.”

Vivat Jesus,

Reverend Father Raymund M. Reyes

Blessed Father Michael McGivney relic tour requests

The 2026 Tours dates are now being made.

Click here to request a Father Michael McGivney 2026 relic tour for your Church

Submit form to ask for Fr McGivney’s Intercession for your needs

Report a Favor received through Father McGivney’s intercession

Welcome to our new 2026-2027 California State Council Officers and a big thank you to IPSD Ken Rose

Front L-R: Rod Olguin (State Advocate), TW Starkweather (State Secretary), Ken Rose (Immediate Past State Deputy), Vladimir Rivera (State Deputy), Gene Hays (State Treasurer), Alex Castanon (State Warden)

STATE DEPUTY MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2026

Worthy Brother Knights,

Pax Et Bonum!

We just finished a very informative, educational and successful District Deputy Organizational and Training Meeting last July 10-12, 2026, held at the Visalia Marriott.

And I would like to congratulate the newly installed District Deputies and the returning ones for the Columbian Year 2026-2027 for your service, dedication and leadership. Thank you for stepping up, accepting and taking this very important responsibility.

As we enter the 2nd month of our Columbian Year, August, let us not lose focus on what we need to do. And that is to bring more Catholic men to the Order.

I was invited to join the Order by someone.……Give someone that same opportunity to be a better Catholic man, husband, father, a humble servant to his family, parish and community. Give our brothers out there the gift and the joy of serving others…A Man For Others.

With the grace of God, we can do more for our fellow brothers and sisters in need if there’s more knights out there. And this the reason why this Columbian Year it is my goal to increase or open new councils.

We grow the order by opening new councils. Blessed Michael McGivney’s vision is to have more councils in our parishes. And our goal this year is 16 new councils.

California is home to more than 10 to 12 million Catholics…. we are 16 Chapters, 179 District, 640 Councils and over 88,000 brother knights and families. My Worthy Brothers we need to grow the Order in California and together we can do great things for the “Greater Glory of God!”

Let us invite more Catholic men to the Order. We need to keep California Strong, Active and Engaged Jurisdiction…where California goes so does the Order.

Thank you and Vivat Jesus! Vladi Rivera, State Deputy

STATE CHAPLAIN MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2026

Dear Worthy Chaplains and Brothers,

Praying that summer has been restful and rejuvenating to all!

Let’s encourage our respective councils to use the “Blessed Michael McGivney COR Session Guide” available for free at COR Resources.

Archbishop Lori cited on how COR faith formation sessions can help us imitate Blessed Michael McGivney, who always sought to align his will with that of God.

Please know of my prayers that all of us may benefit from this gracious month of our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, who has a lot teach us.

In closing, let me share with you another immortal quote from our co-patron of the new Columbian Year, Saint Augustine of Hippo. He said, “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; and to find Him, the greatest human achievement.”

Vivat Jesus,

Reverend Father Raymund M. Reyes

Blessed Father Michael McGivney relic tour requests

The 2026 Tours dates are now being made.

Click here to request a Father Michael McGivney 2026 relic tour for your Church

Submit form to ask for Fr McGivney’s Intercession for your needs

Report a Favor received through Father McGivney’s intercession

As we enter the 2^nd month of our Columbian Year, August, let us not lose focus on what we need to do. And that is to bring more Catholic men to the Order.

Thank you and Vivat Jesus!
Vladi Rivera, State Deputy