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 JULY 2026
Brothers and Sisters,
This year we are celebrating the 800 Anniversary or Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, and I would like to greet all of you in the Franciscan tradition with Pax et Bonum……Peace and All Good to All of You.
It is with joy and gratitude that I welcome you to the Columbian Year 2026-2027
My Brothers and Sisters, I am humbled and honored to be elected as State Deputy of California for Columbian Year 2026-2027. Thank you, for your trust, confidence and support. And I am here to serve, to give back and work with all of you.
For the last 144 years as knights, we were guided by the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. And In the coming days as we continue to follow the vision of our founder Blessed Michael J. McGivney and the mission of the Knights of Columbus, we will continue to invite, to engage more catholic men to join us and do more charity works or Faith In Action program activities to serve the needs of others. We are now in a new Columbian year but our mission is still the same…. To evangelize and invite Catholic men to join the Order.
Membership is the lifeblood or the heart of our order……we cannot grow, we cannot survive, we cannot do our charity that evangelizes…. the charity that is the root of all good works or our Faith in Action program activities if we do not have members! More knights more hearts to serve.
And to quote our patron saint this year, St. Augustine: “Charity is the root of all good works” ……“With out Charity the rich man is poor, and with it the poor man is rich”
We need to invite more catholic men to keep California Strong, Active and Engage Jurisdiction.
On behalf of the California State Council, I would like to thank our Clergy, Brother Knights, their families, friends and supporters for your never ending service, generosity and support to the Knights of Columbus.
In ending, please allow me to quote our Supreme Knight Patrick Kelley;
“May we the knights of Columbus walk together with Pope Leo and our fellow members of the Body of Christ in the bonds of charity, Unity and Fraternity so that we might all follow Christ more closely through lives of HUMBLE SERVICE.
Thank you and Vivat Jesus!!
Vladi Rivera
State Deputy 2026-2027
#kofccalifornia2526
STATE CHAPLAINS MESSAGES FOR JULY 2026
Dear Worthy Brothers,
Allow me to welcome you all, your beloved spouses and families to the new Columbian Year. We thank our immediate Past State Chaplain, my predecessor, Fr. Dan Avila, for his spiritual guidance and wisdom during the last Columbian Year.
I am happy to relay the news that we shall be invoking the intercessions of three holy men of God during the new Columbian Year. I believe Blessed Michael McGivney, our beloved founder, Saint Augustine of Hippo, the saint dear to our State Deputy, Brother Vladi, and Saint Francis of Assisi, whose 800th death anniversary is commemorated during this special jubilee year, will be able to help us enrich our faith and persevere in pursuing the many programs of the Order and the support for our Clergy.
Our State Pin bears the immortal quote from our co-patron, Saint Augustine of Hippo, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.” Saint Augustine convincingly argued that true happiness could not be attained from anything finite in this world, be it the right amount of money, the finest of goods or even a beautiful relationship. He explained that whenever we obtain these things that make us happy, they could also be a source of anxiety and unhappiness for they could be taken away from us. Our savings might be spent; our possessions could be destroyed or stolen, and our beautiful relationships could end in death. Thus, Saint Augustine maintained that true happiness could only be found in that which does not pass away: God. Truly, our hearts can only rest until they rest in God.
Vivat Jesus,
Reverend Raymund M. Reyes
My brother Knights of Columbus, your families and friends. As we celebrate the 250 anniversary of our country let’s celebrate our Catholic tradition and faith. I celebrate your inspiration in the different communities and also in my life. At this time, I want to thank you for allowing me to journey with you. I am here to listen, to learn and to explore the better ways of how to integrate and be integrated in our association.
At this time let us have solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the Country of Venezuela as they have suffered the consequences of the earthquakes. Let’s hope that Venezuela recovers through the collaboration of many.
May the Heart of Jesus continue to bless us in our own spiritual journey.
Happy 4th of July to all!
Blessings!
Rev. Pedro Valdez
Mis querido hermanos Caballeros de Colon, familiars y amigos. Al celebrar los 250 aniversario de esta gran nacion celebramos tamiben nuestra fe catolica y nuestras tradiciones. Yo personalmente celebro la inspiracion de ustedes en mi vida ministerial y la inspiracion que ustedes ofrecen a nuestras comunidades. Yo les agradezco por su dedicacion y por permitirme estar con ustedes en esta mission de los Caballeros de Colon y estoy para escuchar, aprender y explorar metodos mejores de como invitar a otros a integrarse en nuestra asociacion.
En estos dias hagamonos solidarios con el pueblo de Venezuela que han sufrido la catastrofe de los terremotos. Esperemos que puedan recibir la ayuda necesaria del mundo para recuperarse.
Que el Sagrado Corazon de Jesus nos siga bendiciondo en nuestro camino espiritual hacia Dios.
Desenadoles un muy Fe
liz 4 de Julio a todos.
Con mis bendiciones!
Padre Pedro Valdez
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