March 2025
FROM COMMANDERY No. 2
Happy New Year, Sir Knights!
Please join me in congratulating the 2025 Line of Officers of the Sacramento Commandery No. 2:
Commander: Jesse Solis-Jacques
Generalissimo: John McCoy
Captain General: Eric Johnson
Senior Warden: Andrew Grajeda
Junior Warden: John Weldon
Excellent Prelate: Dillon Mitchell
Treasurer: Joselito Viray
Recorder: Joseph Dongo
Standard Bearer: David Cobb
Sword Bearer: Sean Moncalieri
Warder: William Erdman
Sentinel: Richard Wilson
We want to continue encouraging all Knights Templars to pursue their personal journey, expand their humble kindness and develop the art of charitable servitude for others on every occasion.
I would like to also present the theme for 2025!
Failure is Growth
The foundation of achievements is the multiple opportunities of failure. Failure is a requirement for growth, for unlocking uncharted wisdom, and for exposing the human nature of humility in each of us.
It takes courage to embrace failure and provide us the celestial gift of Self-Reflection to mold and shape or re-shape our decisions and personal development.
Failure is our mentor, guide, teacher, and friend. Failure is a choice and those who choose to fail have chosen to grow. Failure does not discriminate and will knock on your door when it is time to grow.
Sir Knights, as we continue to share and enhance our brotherly love, charity, and relations to others within our communities, I would like to inspire the gift of embracing failure in pursuit of achieving your best and developing yourself.
Thank you again, Sir Knights, for being part of our amazing fraternal family, and I look forward to enjoying another fantastic year with you!
Jesse Solis-Jacques
Commander
FROM COUNCIL No. 1
Companions,
While on vacation this past week, I brought my trusty slouch hat with me. I saw another brother once put a square and compass pin on their cowboy hat, and I decided to do the same after finding this kilt pin at the Yolo County Scottish Games several years ago.
While on vacation, we met some friends living in Southern California. While at dinner, they noticed my hat that was resting on my chair. This led to a conversation about the craft and why I joined.
Truth be told, I find that I never have a good answer to this question. I explained how everyone gets something different out of it and that men join for different reasons ranging from historical to social aspects; there really is not a right answer.
For myself, I am still developing my own reasons. What I did tell them for certain was that it is not for financial gain. None of us are getting rich off the craft despite what popular conspiracy theorists may believe. We do it for the love of traditions and our brotherly duties.
Being part of something greater than ourselves is one of the main reasons that drives me. Whether it is in your blue lodge or in the appendant and concordant bodies, we are the ones keeping several hundred-year-old traditions alive. We may not wear the symbols of the sword and trowel openly as Cryptic Masons, however, know that you are still a walking symbol of the craft in your own life.
I ask that you reflect on what keeps your light burning for the craft. As always, if there is something you would like to see more of in the Council and you believe it would benefit your fellow Companions, please let me know and let us make it happen.
I look forward to seeing you at the next stated assembly on March 8, 2025.
Sincerely,
Andrew Grajeda
Illustrious Master
FROM CHAPTER No. 3
Fellow Companions:
Well, we have had our first Stated Convocation for 2025 and have started on, what I believe to be, a Great Year.
I would like to start by thanking all of you who went to Stockton #2 to help them confer the Mark Master and Past Master Degrees.
They had seventeen candidates, thirteen of whom said they would complete the Capitular Degrees. The next Capitular Degree Festival will be in Woodland on March 22.
The next item I would like to address is the debt that we owed to the Hall Association.
An anonymous Companion contacted Ill. Companion Joseph Dongo and donated monies to pay for the debts of both Chapter No. 3 and Commandery No. 2.
I would like to extend the most Heartfelt Gratitude from ALL at Sacramento York Rite for his Financial Aid. This is the definition of "True Masonic Charity." "Thank You".
Next, I would like to update you on "The Sacramento York Rite Degree Team." EC Eric Johnson has agreed to lead the Team, which will offer to help confer the Second Degree for Blue Lodges that request assistance.
Please read his article below. If you are interested or have questions, please contact EC Johnson.
Finally, I would like to announce a fundraiser that is in the early stages of development. I have reserved the Banquet Room at the Sacramento Masonic Temple for October 10th.
It will be an All-You-Can-Eat Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread for only $15.00 per ticket.
The Silent Auction is where the money is made for these events, so I'm asking you all to start thinking about what you can donate for the Silent Auction.
Suggested items are good whiskey, scotch, cognac, etc., art, sports memorabilia, toys (it will be almost Christmas!), home-crafted food items, and whatever your imagination can come up with.
Companion Eric Johnson's wife has offered to bake. I will donate the ingredients required for the dinner. If we all come together and support this, we can make this an annual fundraiser.
Hope to see you all on the second Saturdays of the month.
Dave Cobb
High Priest
Greetings Companions & Sir Knights,
Last year, EC Jairo Gomez, Assistant Grand Lecturer of Division IV, suggested the idea of forming a degree team to assist Blue Lodges in Division IV with 2nd degrees.
This degree team would operate in similar fashion to the Ben Ali Past Masters Unit and Sacramento Scottish Rite 3rd Degree teams.
There is no requirement to be a Past Master to be a part of this team. The only requirement is to be qualified to do the assigned work.
The idea of forming a degree team is to promote York Rite Masonry throughout Division IV. Division IV is a Grand Lodge geographical area that includes Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin and Sacramento counties.
As requests are received, we would alternate between the Chapter, Council, and Commandery and wear the respective jacket during the degree. I have been asked by our High Priest, EC Dave Cobb, to begin the process of forming a team.
If this is something that interests you, please let me know so that I can create a contact list. Once I have a list of those interested in participating, I will set up a meeting time to discuss further details and begin the process of getting the degree team qualified to confer 2nd degrees in Division IV.
Fraternally,
Eric Johnson
Past High Priest
UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH
Saturday, 03/08/2024
1123 J Street
08:15 AM
Fellowship and Masonic Education Breakfast
09:00 AM
Council No. 1 of Cryptic Masons
Stated Assembly
(Election)
10:00 AM
Commandery No. 2 of Knights Templar
Stated Conclave
* * *
APRIL
Monday, 04/07/2024
1123 J Street
07:00 PM
Commandery No. 2 of Knights Templar
Practice
___
Saturday, 04/12/2024
1123 J Street
08:15 AM
Fellowship and Masonic Education Breakfast
09:00 AM
Chapter No. 3 of Royal Arch Masons
Stated Convocation
10:00 AM
Commandery No. 2 of Knights Templar
Stated Conclave
NOTICE
From the Secretary / Recorder Desk
Have you paid your 2025 dues?
If your dues cards do NOT read "member in good standing ... through December 31, 2025", then you have fallen behind, and now would be a good time to catch up.
Please contact your Secretary/Recorder at Joe@JosephDongo.com or make a payment at https://www.sacramentoyorkrite.org/dues
Sincerely and fraternally,
Joseph K. Dongo, KYCH
Secretary / Recorder
SACRAMENTO YORK RITE WEBSITE
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