Scully Assembly #3418 was founded on May 1, 2013. From our start the primary purpose of the Fourth Degree Assembly or Patriotic Degree Assembly has been to encourage active Catholic citizenship and foster the spirit of patriotism in members and the community at large. The Fourth Degree, from its beginnings, is based on the idea of Catholic Citizenship, and the activities of the Fourth Degree shoul
d reflect that. To that end, there are four different areas of emphasis that drive our organization and activities.
1. Community Service Related Citizen Duties: This includes such things as support to veterans, support to families of military who are deployed, support to law enforcement and first responders, and services related to voter assistance. The following committees have been established to implement this vision:
Welfare Committee (Faithful Admiral)
Committee Focus: To identify Knights in Need within our Assembly, Councils and Parish Communities, and make recommendations for needs mitigation. Also, to support the Global Wheelchair Program
Color Corps (Color Corps Commander S/K Rick Gnatowsky)
Committee Focus: To promote and support participation in the Color Corps and provide leadership and support for Color Corps assignments – Funeral and Memorial Support, IncrediBull Support, and other assignments approved by the Faithful Navigator, as needed. Veterans Support (S/K Rich Sarnowski)
Committee Focus: To promote support for our Veterans – to include My Warriors Place, VAVS Fisher House Meal, and Annual Thanksgiving Day Meal Support and other events, as needed
Memorials and Chalice Committee (Faithful Navigator)
Committee Focus: To identify Memorial and Chalice needs and present to the Assembly for consideration.
2. Catholic Citizenship Education: This can includes such things as lectures or programs with outside speakers on such topics like the responsibility as Catholics when going to the polls and local history, especially local Catholic history. It can also include the K of C Catholic Citizenship Youth Essay contest. The following committee has been established to implement this vision:
Catholic Citizenship and Education Committee (S/K Julio Alvarez))
Committee Focus: To promote and support Catholic Citizenship and Education within our Parish School, Faith Formation and Squires Circle.
3. Civic Engagement and Advocacy: This covers engagement by the Assembly or by its members in appropriate issues of the day. Examples include appearing before local government bodies advocating specific issues or letter writing campaigns to the State legislature in support of positions by the Florida Catholic Conference. Activities under this category must be undertaken with care, in that they must conform to the teachings of the Catholic Church and must not cause disunity within the Order. The following committees have been established to implement this vision:
Civic Service Committee (S/K Jason O’Neill)
Committee Focus: To promote and support Civic Service by championing charity centered efforts such as protection of the weakest and helping families in poverty. Civic Engagement Committee (S/K Jason O’Neill)
Committee Focus: To promote and support voting in primary and general election and communication of candidates voting records and to promote the Catholic Voting Guide. Pro-Life (S/K Jason O’Neill)
Assembly activity is participation in and communication of upcoming events promoted by the Councils. Any fund raising activity will be done by the Councils - No need for duplication. Religious Liberty (S/K Carl Alerta)
Committee Focus: To promote and support Religious Liberty throughout the fraternal year with support of the USCCB sponsored Religious Liberty Week.
4. Assembly Administration: This includes the promotion and increase in the membership of the Patriotic Degree, the building of fraternity among the membership and effective communication practices. The following committees have been established to implement this vision:
Membership Committee (S/K Jerry Coffey)
Committee Focus: To promote and support Membership in the 4th Degree of the Order and to provide updated information to the Councils and Assembly on available 4th Degree Exemplification Ceremonials and to work with the Faithful Comptroller to accomplish enrollment process. Retention Committee (Faithful Trustees)
Committee Focus: To identify Knights in Arrears and work with the Faithful Comptroller on Retention efforts and assist Membership Director, wherever possible in promoting membership in the Assembly. Social ( Faithful Navigator )
Committee Focus: To establish, plan and promote events to build fraternity within the Assembly. Newsletter (S/K Scott Huetteman)
Committee Focus: To serve as an effective Communication Vehicle to promote and report on Assembly activities, events, accomplishments, goals, objectives, support initiatives and spiritual needs and support.
