Pope John XXIII Council No. 5441
• 1520 Prospect Dr • Sebring, Florida, 33870 • 863.385.0987 •
The Pope John XXIII Council No. 5441 is located at 1520 Prospect Dr., Sebring
The Grand Knight for 2009-2010 is Jack MacLaughlin. You can contact the Knights by phone at (863) 385.0987, or by email at Sebring Knights.
Second Tuesday of each month. The meetings start at 7:00 PM and are
held at 900 US 27 North, Sebring, Florida.
The following biosketch is taken in
large measure from the Catholic Forum
webpage entry on Pope John XXIII. Memorial
11 October
Profile
Italian peasant. Educated at Bergamo and the Seminario Romano, Rome. Ordained
in 1904. As pope, he stressed his own pastoral duties as well as those of other bishops
and clergy. Promoted social reforms for workers, poor people, orphans, and the
outcast. He advanced cooperation with other religions including Protestant,
Greek Orthodox, Church of England, and even Shinto. In April 1959, he forbade
Catholics to vote for parties supporting Communism. His encyclical Mater et
Magistra of 14 July 1961 advocated social reform, assistance to underdeveloped
countries, a living wage for all workers, and support for socialist measures
that promised real benefit to society. He nearly doubled the number of cardinals, making the college the largest in
history. On 25 January 1959, he announced his intent to call a council to
consider ways to renew the Church in the modern world, promote diversity
within the unity of the Church, and consider reforms promoted by ecumenical
and liturgical movements. Convening the council, known as Vatican II, on 11
October 1962, was the high point of his reign. His heartiness, his overflowing love for humanity individually and
collectively, and his freshness of approach to ecclesiastical affairs made
John one of the best-loved popes of modern times.
Birth
1881 at Sotto il Monte, Italy as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli
Papal Ascension
28 October 1958
Papal Canonizations
1959: Saint Charles of Sezze
1959: Saint Joaquina de Vedruna de Mas
1960: Saint Gregory Barbarigo
1960: Saint John de Ribera
1961: Saint Bertilla Boscardin
1962: Saint Anthony Pucci
1962: Saint Francis Mary of Camporosso
1962: Saint Martin de Porres
1962: Saint Peter Julian Eymard
1963: Saint Vincent Pallotti Died
3 June 1963 at Rome, Italy
Beatified
3 September 2000 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's Square, Rome
Canonized
pending 
Pope John XXIII Council was granted a Charter on 26 May 1963 for Sebring, Florida.
The first meeting was held on June 17, 1963, with Sam McCallum as Grand Knight at the parish hall of St. Catherine Church. At the second meeting on July 1, 1963, the members held a discussion and moved on the name of the council to be known as John 23 with the installation of officers to be at the July 15th meeting.
In the early years, while meeting at St. Catherine Church hall, the council was very
involved with the Boy Scouts; they also ran a beer booth at the Sebring races; held
Spaghetti Dinners for Fund raisers; also ran Bingo and split the profits with St. Catherine
Church; and, helped with repairs with the church and hall.
On the 16th Dec, it was voted to give St. Catherine parish $25. for past rent and $5.
a month for use of the parish hall.
At the meeting on September 7, 1964, the Charter from Supreme was presented to the council
by Grand Knight Al Dumbleton.
By the 16th August, 1965, it was voted on and passed to hold meetings at St. Catherine's
Woods during the summer and the parish hall when cold weather sets in.
On 20th September, 1965, a statue and bird bath was purchased and would be presented to
the animal shelter.
By the 19th August, 1968, a motion was made and passed to change the meeting nights to the
second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
On May 26, 1970, six acres was offered for $3,000 for a building site in Sebring Ridge, Plat. #1.
On June 5th, 1967, talk on setting of the flag pole that was purchased and will be donated to St. Catherine Church.
On 25th September, 1975, with reference to meeting of 9 June 1973 about donating a statue of St. Joseph to
St. Catherine Church that was requested by the pastor; the hand carved statue has arrived and has been installed.
A motion to donate $200.00 for the cost was passed, suggested a plaque in memory of deceased members.
On 27th April 1976, a motion that the newly formed Columbiettes be sent a letter of commendation and
congratulations from our council for the most impressive exemplification of the first and second degrees
that was held in Tampa, FL., on April 25th.
The council serves the parishes of St Catherine Catholic Church in Sebring and
Our Lady Of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park.
Secretary to the bishop of Bergamo from 1904 to 1914, during which he
wrote the basis for his 5-volume biography of Saint Charles Borromeo. Served
in World War I in the medical corps, and as a chaplain. Worked in Rome after
the war, and reorganized the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
Archbishop in 1925. Vatican diplomatic representative to Bulgaria, then
Turkey, and Greece. Named papal nuncio to France in 1944 where he mediated
between conservative and socially radical clergy. Cardinal and patriarch of
Venice in 1953. Elected pope on 28 October 1958.
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