Welcome to a public digest of The Queen's Messenger for our parish family and friends. Here you will find letters, prayer, and council highlights from Queen of All Hearts Council 4126 — shared in a warm, readable form. For the complete newsletter layout, please download the PDF.
At a glance
Brothers,
Summer 2026 is coming to an end, and I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer as I have had with family and friends. It has certainly been a memorable one for my family and me, as I had the incredible joy of watching my son graduate from college and begin the next chapter of his life in seminary.
As we close out the summer, I also want to take a moment to recognize what an incredible start we have had to our new fraternal year. I have been truly impressed by the involvement and commitment I have witnessed from our Brother Knights over the past few months.
We had one of the largest turnouts I can remember for a July meeting, three incredible community meals in June, July and August, and one of the best Lobsterfests I have witnessed. And, of course, every Friday night we host a tremendous Bingo — an undertaking that requires a significant commitment from so many of our members.
Thank you to everyone who gives their time and lends a hand. Your involvement is what makes us one of the most active councils on Long Island. More importantly, it allows us to do so much for our parish and the community we serve. Every meeting attended, every meal served, every event supported and every hour volunteered makes a difference. I hope each of you takes pride in what we accomplish together. We have exceeded every expectation I could have imagined, and I am grateful to each and every one of you.
This summer has also brought sadness as we have lost a few of our Brother Knights. Please continue to remember them and their families in your prayers. Let us also pray for our brothers who are facing health challenges and those who are recovering.
As we begin this new fraternal year, I would also like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new Brother Knights. Please take the time to introduce yourselves, welcome them and help them become involved in the life of our Council. And as always, continue to invite other Catholic men to join us and experience the fraternity, faith and service that make the Knights of Columbus so special.
Finally, remember that membership in the Knights also provides access to valuable benefits and resources for our families. I encourage you to speak with our Worthy Insurance Agent, Patrick McGuire, to learn more.
Thank you again, Brothers, for everything you do. It has been a great summer and a fantastic beginning to our new fraternal year. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the months ahead.
In Prayer and Brotherhood.
TJ McCann
Grand Knight
Brothers,
As we come to the 25th Anniversary of September 11th, please say a prayer for the families who lost loved ones that day and those who have been lost since.
There will be a 9/11 Memorial Service in Patchogue (see the District notice).
There will be a Grand Knight and Financial Secretary Training on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Patchogue — coffee at 10:00 a.m.; training starts at 10:30 a.m.
Suffolk Chapter is holding a Putting for C&B event Saturday and Sunday, September 12–13.
I look forward to installing all the newly elected officers of Queen of All Hearts Council.
Vivat Jesus!!!
James J. Kaan, PGK
District Deputy, 1st New York District
The Totus-Tuus men’s prayer group has started working with the Knights of Columbus COR program. What is COR? How does it work? How can I learn more about it?
Come to the convent (Seton Chapel) Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m., grab a cup of coffee, and find out.
2026 schedule of Masses for the canonization of Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Dates marked as council-attended appear on our calendar when confirmed.
August 2026 · St. Benedict & ora et labora
Brother Knights,
Even though the feast of St. Benedict occurred last month in July, I felt compelled to write this for this month’s reflection. We have an old family friend who lives in Nevada who has a special devotion to St. Benedict. At times she likes to send medals of the Saint and prayers for his intercession which she mailed to us last month.
As a result I did some reading on St. Benedict as I wasn’t too familiar with him. There are many teachings we can take from Saint Benedict and apply them in today’s world.
St. Benedict was born in the late fifth century; however, much of the advice he offers can feel particularly current and useful in today’s world. In 530 A.D. Saint Benedict wrote a book of precepts which today is commonly known as the Rule of Saint Benedict.
The way of life he established is commonly used in the phrase “ora et labora” — pray and work. This can be summed up as making God the center and focus of one’s life and taking care of your responsibilities, creating a balance between prayer and work. As such, this phrase has been adopted as the motto of the Benedictine Order as well as other monastic communities. While in theory this sounds like a simple concept, the world we live in seems to do everything it can to keep us from fulfilling said concept.
Saint Benedict starts out his book of precepts with “listen with the ear of your heart.” To me this is exceptionally useful advice, as in our modern world we are surrounded by many distractions — many of which are aimed at keeping one from hearing God’s will and perceiving him in the world we live in. It has been said that by seeking God in all that we do, we can love him as well as our neighbors with our whole heart.
Brothers, so perhaps it can be said that St. Benedict’s message for us in today’s secular world full of every kind of distraction imaginable is this: slow down a little, listen and perceive the Lord in our daily life, pray, and do the work that is in front of us.
Vivat Jesus
Vincent Ladalia
Lecturer
A message from our Field Agent · Life Insurance Awareness Month
Brothers,
I want to start off this month’s message with an interesting, but lesser-known story about Father McGivney. We know our Founder cared deeply about the lives of his parishioners and strengthening their sense of community. He was also very practical about what a parish community most often needs: support that sustains families.
One fall, with St. Mary’s in debt to creditors, he led an ingenious combination fundraiser and social event. St. Mary’s hall turned into a coffeehouse filled with music, dancing, skits, dessert and, of course, coffee. The party was only supposed to last one night, but the people of New Haven kept coming and drew it out for a week! In the end, Father McGivney was able to pay down a good amount of the debt — and further solidified his reputation as a priest deeply embedded in the life of his parish.
Father McGivney recognized and valued the things that really matter: God. Fellowship. A sense of belonging and the space to reinforce those ties of friendship, mutual support and common faith.
Brothers, September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, but what I’d like to propose is that we think of it as “The Things That Matter” Month. What does your family value? What are the pillars of your family culture? What do you want to preserve for them when you’re no longer here?
Life insurance can be a big part of that. Maybe you want to protect the home that shelters your family. Maybe you want to ensure that your children — or grandchildren — will have access to high-quality education. Or maybe you want to safeguard a family business or a similar legacy that can continue to provide for your loved ones.
We can talk about these options and more, and whether they might best be covered by temporary or permanent policies. Ideally, I want to help you match your insurance coverage not just with your basic needs, but with the things that your family deems most important to preserve.
This month, I challenge you to think about what those things are — and to speak with our council Field Agent if you would like help putting a plan in place.
Thank you!
Patrick McGuire
Field Agent
God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commitment of charity and building up his body, which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory be to the Father
Please keep the following Brother Knights and members of their families in your thoughts and prayers, as they have been ill or need your support.
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