* * * 'TIS THE SEASON! * * *
“Glory to God in the highest:
and on earth peace to men of good will.” - Luke 2:14

The officers of Our Lady of the Lakes Council wish you and your family a joyous and blessed Christmas! Let us all remember what Christmas is really about, as nicely summarized by Bishop Matthew Clark several years ago in the Catholic Courier:

"What it means, of course, is that our loving God gave us the greatest gift possible: his own Son. God gave us a savior, the Prince of Peace, the promise of eternal life -- and all the wisdom, peace and comfort the little child Jesus would grow to give us as a very way of life and a pathway to God. This gift that changed humanity forever came to a couple without much means, without the ability to lavish presents on anyone, in the form of an innocent child born in a simple manger full of animals and straw. All they really had was each other and a love that gave them the drive and confidence to endure all, and to do God’s will."

Before you go, please check out the information below on important upcoming events, including the holiday blood drive, Men's Beefsteak Parish Fundraiser, our successful food drive for local families, and a reminder to get in your reservation for a Communion or Confirmation party hall rental.
Come "Get Stuck With Us" at the Holiday Blood Drive - Friday 12/30

During the Christmas and New Years holidays, the supply of blood is low, but the demand is high. So join us along with the Stephen P. Driscoll Lodge FOP, Putnam County Emergency Service, and local FDNY members in giving the gift of life at our annual Holiday Blood Drive!
 
WHEN: Friday, December 30, 2-8 P.M.
(Setup will begin at noon; volunteers needed throughout)

WHERE: Daniel O'Brien VFW Hall, 32 Gleneida Ave. (Rt. 52), Carmel, NY.

For your donation, you'll receive coupons for appetizers at Applebee's Restaurant in Southeast (Rt. 312). You’ll also receive the much-cherished NY Blood Center T-Shirt!

For more information or any questions, please call  Denis Hanrahan (845) 225-3048, or Rob Firriolo (845) 225-6318.

Thank you for your past and future participation!
The "J.O." Men's Beefsteak Parish Fundraiser - Sat. 1/14

Join us for our James "J.O." O'Neill Memorial Men's Beefsteak Dinner on Saturday, January 14th!

We'll continue the tradition started by J.O. last year and gather at our Council to enjoy great food, watch the NFL Playoffs on our BIG screen TVs, and have lots of fun while we raise funds to benefit St. James the Apostle Parish!

Doors open at 3 p.m. for the afternoon playoff game and cash bar. Dinner at 5 p.m. includes gourmet filet mignon, fries, beer or wine, dessert and coffee. Stay after dinner and watch the evening playoff game with us.

$40 if prepaid by Jan. 7 - $45 after Jan. 7. SEATING IS LIMITED – RESERVE TODAY! Make reservations today with GK Rob Firriolo or mail your check and list of guests to KofC Council 6318, 10 Fair Street, Carmel NY 10512 .

NOTE: We are looking for more donations of items for our raffle table, including sporting event tickets, theater tickets, gift certificates to local restaurants and other businesses, and items for gift baskets. Please contact GK Rob about any donations you may be interested in making or soliciting for us.

Adults' Christmas Party Food Drive Raises $900 for Families in Need!

We would like to thank everybody who helped make this year's Christmas Party and Food Drive another great success! We had a scrumptious buffet dinner (chicken marbella, orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe, bacon-wrapped pork loin in gravy with herb-roasted red potatoes and red cabbage, Caesar salad, and desserts) made by our in-house chefs, and free for all.

The best part is that we collected about $900 in  donations for the St. James the Apostle Church Food Pantry so local families in need can buy perishable items like milk, meats, and frozen foods, which the pantry cannot stock. Thank you for your generosity!
Hall Rental Reminder
 
A reminder to families who may wish to reserve our hall for a First Holy Communion or Confirmation party this coming spring. Our home corporation is holding open rental reservations for council members only until January 15, 2017. After then, the hall will be rented on a first-come, first-served basis. St. James parish Confirmations will be April 22 and 29, and First Holy Communions will be May 6, 13, and 20. Please contact our Rentals Chairman to book your party today, as these dates go very quickly.
Remember, a full calendar of events can always be found on our website: carmelknights.org under the Upcoming Events tab, and check out our Breaking News page. And don't forget to "like" our Facebook page for up-to-the minute announcements, photos, event listings, and items of interest.