January 2025 - Knights in Action

Faith

New Priest Care Packages

Knights in France prepare care packages for newly ordained priests throughout the country to show the Order’s support for their ministry. Each of the 80 packages they prepared in 2024 contained a stole, a small computer bag, information about the Knights of Columbus, and a letter with several prayers for priests.

Mcgivney’s Men

Members of St. Francis Xavier Council 6608 in Buffalo, Minn., gather in front of a new statue of Blessed Michael McGivney installed at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Council 6608, in anticipation of its 50th anniversary, helped raise more than $22,000 to commission the bronze cast statue of Father McGivney, which would be placed in an empty space that resulted from the construction of a new church entrance. Father Austin Barnes, pastor and a member of Council 6608, blessed the statue after Mass on Sept. 15 — the anniversary of the council’s chartering in 1974.

Pew Patrol

Knights from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Council 10678 in Crystal Lake, Ill., assemble with other volunteers after a work day at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. The council organized the work day at the request of Father John Kladar, pastor and council member, to remove nearly 70 old pews to make space for new ones. The volunteers’ efforts saved the parish as much as $1,800.

Faith, Fitness, Fun

Participants of a fundraising run organized by Hearts of Jesus and Mary-Mojon Council 16445 in Malolos, Luzon North, assemble after the event’s closing ceremony. Council 16445 and the Catholic Women’s League chapter at Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish collaborated to organize the event, which raised 500,000 PHP (about $8,600) for celebrations related to the parish’s 25th anniversary.

Along the via Crucis

Members of St. Francis of Assisi Council 15240 in San Antonio gather behind one of the 14 new Stations of the Cross installed at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. As a gift to the parish, Council 15240 transformed a previously underutilized portion of the church’s campus, commissioning and installing the outdoor stations as part of a prayer garden. The project cost the council $5,500.

To the Mount

Carrying the flags of their country, the Vatican and the Order, Knights in France embark on an 8-mile walk across the shallow bay between the Normandy coast and Mont Saint-Michel, home to the Catholic abbey of the same name. About 150 Knights attended a jurisdiction-wide retreat at Mont Saint-Michel that included prayer, talks and fraternity. (Photo by Tamino Petelinsek)

Knights on Mission

Knights from the Diocese of Talibon, Visayas, assemble after the jurisdiction’s 6th Diocesan Conference, held at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Dagohoy. More than 200 Knights attended the conference, themed “On Mission,” which included talks on the Faith in Action program model and recruiting new men to the Order.

Asking Our Lady’s Intercession

Members of Msgr. Bernard G. Collins Assembly 2889 and Queen of Peace Council 9446 in Mesa, Ariz., help lead a rosary rally at Queen of Peace Parish. More than 70 parishioners came to the rally to pray.

Cheerful Service

Knights from Holmesburg Council 1284 in Philadelphia stand with Archbishop Nelson Pérez of Philadelphia after serving as ushers for a Mass at St. Dominic Church. Members of St. John Neumann Assembly 933 in Bristol provided an honor guard for the liturgy, which celebrated the parish’s 125th anniversary.

Follow St. Jude

Members of Kristong Hari-St. Augustine Council 16282 in Dasmariñas City, Luzon South, assemble around a statue of St. Jude the Apostle during a St. Augustine Parish celebration on the saint’s feast day. Council 16282 organized a motorcade to escort the statue to several stops, including several chapels under the parish’s jurisdiction.

Map of Canada with the western provinces highlighted.

BBQ and Trinkets to Go

St. John Paul II Council 15313 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, organized its annual garage and barbecue sale at St. John Cantius Church, raising more than CA$2,000. The money will be used to support the church’s youth programs and to create a display of some of the church’s historical items, among other projects.

Map of the U.S. with the southern states highlighted.

In Mother’s Sight

Knights from Aldo J. Zazzi Council 6992 in Kingsport, Tenn., organized a work day at St. Dominic School after noticing the school’s Marian garden was overgrown with weeds and grass, to the point where the garden’s statue of the Blessed Virgin was visually obstructed. Council members removed the grass and weeds, trimmed trees and shrubs, cleaned the statue, and spread mulch around the statue to ensure it wouldn’t be covered up by grass or weeds again.

Map of the U.S. with the pacific states highlighted.

Cornbread + Chili

Mt. Hood Council 18062 in Sandy, Ore., organized a cornbread and chili cookoff for parishioners of St. Michael Catholic Church. Council 18062 raised more than $500 to support parish events and ministries.

Map of the U.S. with the mid-Atlantic states highlighted.

Behold the Shroud

Don Bosco Council 7784 in Newton, N.J., organized a pilgrimage for parishioners from Good Shepherd Parish in Andover to view a Shroud of Turin exhibit at Our Lady of the Magnificat Parish in Kinnelon. The exhibit features a full-size replica of the shroud and nearly 50 museum-quality panels with photos and information about the shroud’s history and scientific research conducted on it.

Faithful Service and Sustenance

For the past 20 years, members of St. Joseph Council 12788 in Mechanicsburg, Pa., have provided hospitality — consisting of breakfast, homemade soup, or coffee and doughnuts depending on the weekend — after each Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Knights have become post-Mass fixtures at St. Joseph, providing refreshments free of charge to approximately 300 people each weekend.

Map of U.S. with New England highlighted.

Cemetery Fencing

Guardian Angel of Somerset Council 2089 in Madison, Maine, recently completed a two-year project to replace the fencing at St. Sebastian Cemetery. After being approached by a concerned parishioner, the Knights raised $750 for materials, tore down the cemetery’s old iron fencing, and installed new chain link fencing attached to freshly painted metal posts.

Map of the U.S. with the plains states highlighted.

Honor Guard for Men’s Retreat

Fourth Degree Knights from Msgr. Wrobel Assembly 1728 in Alexandria, Minn., provided an honor guard for a Mass celebrated by Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston during a retreat for men at the Church of St. Mary. More than 100 men attended the retreat, which included talks by Bishop Cozzens and several other speakers. Members of Ave Maria of the Runestone Council 4718 and Holy Redeemer Council 1621 in Marshall organized the event.

Fishers of Men

Since 2021, Bishop Klein Council 6488 in Calgary, Alberta, has donated about CA$25,000 to support the construction of a Catholic church in Tombo, a coastal fishing town in Sierra Leone. Past State Deputy Charles Pratt, a member of Council 6488 and native of Sierra Leone, has coordinated the council’s efforts with the Archdiocese of Freetown and has traveled twice to Sierra Leone to visit the proposed site and build relationships with the Catholic community in Tombo.

White and blue graphic with the Knights of Columbus shield on the left side and a map of the Philippines on the right side.

Rosaries for All

Members of Cebu (Visayas) Consolacion Sr San Narciso Council 8584 distributed free rosaries to parishioners after Mass in October, the Month of the Rosary.

Map of the U.S. with the western states highlighted.

Memento Mori

St. Francis of Assisi Assembly 2058 in Sierra Vista, Ariz., provided an honor guard for an All Souls Day ceremony at Fry Pioneer Cemetery. Msgr. Greg Adolf, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish and a former state chaplain, blessed gravesites with holy water as he processed through the cemetery, which was founded in 1919 and where many of the city’s first residents are buried.

Padre Night

More than 240 people attended the annual Padre Night organized by St. John Bosco Council 10986 in Edmonton, Alberta, to honor about 60 members of the clergy, including two archbishops. In addition to enjoying the evening’s food and entertainment, attendees also donated non-perishable food and CA$250 for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. John Bosco Parish.

Golden State Retreat

The California State Council partnered with the Maris Stella Institute to organize a one-day retreat titled “Marian Eucharistic Spirituality for Our Times” at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Yuba City. The retreat included Eucharistic adoration, talks and a Marian procession around the church’s neighborhood for which Santa Maria Assembly 1959 in Marysville provided an honor guard. Nearly 50 people, including Knights from throughout Northern California, attended the retreat.

Family

Santa Comes to Scottsbluff

Knights and family members from Father Timothy P. Molony Council 2681 in Scottsbluff, Neb., are joined by State Deputy Bob Wolf (back right) for a Christmas distribution last year. The council partners each year with Valley Christian Neighbors in Need and St. Agnes Catholic School to provide food, clothes and toys to more than 100 families. (Photo by Sage Macke)

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Children competing in the Knights of Columbus Cup in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, say a prayer before the games begin Oct. 5. More than 50 young people participated in the annual sports event, which Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Council 15804 has organized for the past four years. Many of the competitors were children from internally displaced families who are staying in shelters in Ivano-Frankivsk. (Photo courtesy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk)

A family wears some of the winter jackets gifted to them by Holy Family Council 11981 in Inverness, Ill. A family wears some of the winter jackets gifted to them by Holy Family Council 11981 in Inverness, Ill.

Protected From Chilly Chicago

A family wears some of the winter jackets gifted to them by Holy Family Council 11981 in Inverness, Ill. The family is originally from Nigeria and recently migrated to Chicago after spending several years at a United Nations refugee camp in Cameroon. Council 11981 worked with Holy Family Catholic Community’s Welcome the Stranger ministry to help the family prepare for its first Chicago winter.

Brothers Prayed for

Knights from Holy Spirit Council 13919 in Malolos City, Luzon North, assemble by the council’s meeting place during a memorial prayer service for council members who have died. The service was led by Msgr. Pablo Legaspi Jr., pastor of Holy Spirit Parish and council chaplain.

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Knights and volunteers from Father Theobald Spetz Council 5135 in Waterloo, Ontario, organize donations to the council’s annual toy drive for families and children in need. An initiative that began in 1997 with 175 donations now brings in tens of thousands of new toys annually, making it the largest toy drive in southwest Ontario. Last year, the council collected more than 35,000 toys to distribute to more than 35 charitable agencies. (Photo by Castletown Media)

To the Rescue

Bill McDonald (left), disaster response coordinator for the Indiana State Council, and his wife, Toni, stand with Nathanael Hughes, manager of a community donation center in Hampton, Tenn., after delivering $15,000 worth of pet food for households affected by Hurricane Helene. Knights in Indiana have made several trips to areas affected by the hurricane, bringing much needed supplies like generators and power tools and forming work crews to clear trees and other debris from properties.

Coming to Families’ Aid

Members of St. Anthony of Padua Council 14152 in Danao City, Visayas, gather with families whose residences were affected by a recent fire. Council 14152 prepared packages of rice, canned goods, noodles, instant coffee, laundry soap and shampoo to 10 families.

Ready to Serve

Knights from Church of the Madalene Council 17383 in Tulsa, Okla., gather with Karen Schulte, a parishioner from the Church of the Madalene, during a council service day. After learning that Schulte, who is blind, had no one to help her move belongings and furniture out of her house, Council 17383 offered to assist her.

Thanksgiving Food Delivery

Past State Deputy Charles Lirette of Louis Hebert Council 6468 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and his wife, Aurella, deliver more than 450 pounds of groceries and CA$200 in cash donations, collected during the council’s Thanksgiving food drive, to the Food Depot Alimentaire in Moncton. Council 6468 has been holding food drives at the three parishes it serves for more than a decade.

Making Hunger Disappear

Washington (Iowa) Council 2008 partnered with Take Away Hunger to organize a food packing event. One hundred volunteers packed 10,500 meals that will be sent to areas in need like Ukraine, Haiti, and regions in the southeastern U.S. affected by recent hurricanes.

Memorial Scholarship Awarded

St. John Council 1338 in Lewistown, Pa., recently awarded its annual Frank T. Zannino Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 to Giovanni Zannino. Giovanni, a freshman at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Ind., is a member of Notre Dame Council 1477.

Map of the U.S. with the south eastern states highlighted.

Knights Pitch in for Hurricane Victims

Members of All Saints Council 14475 in Lake Wylie, S.C., voted to raise money for families affected by Hurricane Helene and use council funds to match donations up to a total of $3,000. Individual Knights collectively donated more than $4,500, making the total funds raised by the council more than $7,500. The money was sent to several councils in the affected region for distribution.

Friday Night Stars and Stripes

Fourth Degree Knights from Msgr. Charles L. Elslander Assembly 167 in Sarasota, Fla., provided a color guard for home football games at Cardinal Mooney High School. Assembly 167 regularly provides color and honor guards for different community events and Catholic liturgies.

Map of the U.S. with the mid western states highlighted.

Charitable Contributions

At a recent business meeting, Holy Trinity Council 507 in Wellsville, Ohio, presented a total of more than $3,200 to different community organizations. More than $2,200 was given to Columbiana County Special Olympics, and $500 each to the Wellsville Police Department’s Toys for Tots program and East Liverpool Christian School.

Feed the Hungry

Members of Grande Prairie (Alberta) Council 3241 recently prepared and delivered 600 sandwiches to two local shelters for distribution to people in need. Council 3241 has organized this effort each month for nearly two years.

International Feast

More than 2,000 people attended an international food festival at St. Thomas the Apostle Church organized by Father John Savoca Council 12633 in Lenoir City, Tenn., and the parish’s Junta Pastoral ministry. In addition to providing more than 5,000 individual servings of different Hispanic and American dishes, Council 12633 arranged a performance of cultural Hispanic dance, rented a bounce house for children, and held its annual Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge. The event raised more than $12,000, which was split between the two groups to support different charities.

Map of Canada with the eastern provinces highlighted.

Family Hike

St. Helen of the Cross Council 15999 in Beamsville, Ontario, organized a hike for families from St. Helen Church. Several hikers trekked through Bruce Trail in crisp fall weather.

Hurricane Relief

Blessed Sacrament Council 8056 in West Lafayette, Ind., and Church of the Blessed Sacrament partnered to collect and deliver nearly 20,000 pounds of food and supplies to North Carolina communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Items donated included paper products, canned foods, 12 power generators and other essentials.

Feeding Beaufort Bellies

Michael O’Connor Council 5026 in Beaufort, S.C., collected more than 3,200 pounds of non-perishable food and contributed the donations to a food drive at St. Peter Catholic Church. Knights also made cash donations totaling more than $500 for the drive, which benefited St. Francis Food Bank on St. Helena Island.

The Answer is…charity

South Plainfield (N.J.) Council 6203 organized its 14th Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser at Holy Savior Academy to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Nine teams competed in the event, which raised more than $2,000 for Make-A-Wish. Since 2010, the event has raised over $47,000.

Hurricane Relief Travels From PA to NC

St. Joseph the Worker Council 5947 in Aliquippa, Pa., partnered with the Our Lady of Fatima Conference of St. Vincent de Paul at Mary, Queen of Saints Parish to organize a hurricane relief drive to benefit communities in western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. The drive collected more than $4,400 in cash donations and 18 pallets worth of cleaning supplies, hygiene projects, first aid kits and more. Council members drove the donated items to a Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh warehouse in Greensboro, N.C., for distribution to people in need.

Community

Protection From Bismark “brrrs”

Shane Hanson (right), a member of Msgr. Robert A. Feehan Council 1604 in Bismarck, N.D., shares a smile with a young girl as her dad helps her try on a new winter jacket at a Coats for Kids distribution at St. Mary’s Elementary School. All six councils in District #7 contributed to the annual event, which this year provided nearly 180 children with coats, gloves and knit caps. (Photo by Ben Gumeringer)

Celebrating Columbus

Declan Pennese, a member of Catholic University of America Council 9542, portrays Christopher Columbus for a Columbus Day ceremony at the Columbus Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 14. The state councils of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia were among several groups presenting wreaths at the ceremony, and Fourth Degree Knights provided an honor guard for the event. More than a century ago, the Order was instrumental in lobbying for the creation of the memorial, which was unveiled outside Washington’s Union Station in 1912. (Photo by Matthew Barrick)

Polish Parkas

Members of Our Lady of Częstochowa Council 14004 in Radom, Poland, unpack winter jackets purchased with funds raised by Knights in Canada. The jackets were delivered to Ukraine by a K of C Charity Convoy with other humanitarian aid and distributed by Ukrainian Knights to children in need. (Photo by Sebastian Nycz)

Convening in Patriotism

Knights of Columbus leaders in the Philippines bow their heads in prayer during the business session of a Fourth Degree convention organized by Ferdinand Magellan Province in Iloilo City. Several hundred Fourth Degree Knights attended the convention, which was the first to be organized by the Patriotic Degree in the Philippines. The two-day event included Mass celebrated by Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Jaro and other bishops, a business session discussing the Fourth Degree’s presence and growth throughout the country, and evenings of fellowship for Knights and their families. In attendance were the country’s four state deputies, Supreme Director Emeritus Jose Reyes Jr. and two former vice supreme masters. Additionally, delegates received video messages from Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, Supreme Master Michael McCusker and Supreme Director Rene Sarmiento.

On the Mark

Members of Father Bernard F. McMahon Council 8654 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, stand with winners of the council’s Knights of Columbus Hockey Challenge. More than 20 children participated in the event, including players from a local youth hockey team.

Snug in Stevens Point

Members of Msgr. John R. McGinley Council 1170 in Stevens Point, Wis., stand next to some of the new winter coats donated by the council to an Operation Bootstrap coat distribution at Stevens Point Airport. Thanks to a matching funds program with the Wisconsin State Council, Council 1170 paid nearly $2,400 to purchase 220 jackets through the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program.

Quarterly Cleanup

Knights from Our Lady of the Rosary Council 9039 in Shallotte, N.C., assemble before an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup along a 1.8-mile stretch of U.S. Route 17. Knights cleared enough garbage and debris to fill 16 large garbage bags during the cleanup, which was the third organized by Council 9039 in 2024.

Abrigos for Alexandria Kids

Grand Knight Jim Gorghuber (left) and other members of Ave Maria of the Runestone Council 4718 in Alexandria, Minn., present new winter jackets to Leah Wolkow (right), program coordinator for United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties. Council 4718 donated 36 jackets through the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program.

Pillars of Faith and Community

Faithful Navigator Gerard Butt, a former Fourth Degree master, leads others in praying the rosary during a prayer event organized by Dalton Assembly 1645 in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador. Forty people came to pray the rosary to ask Mary’s intercession for the betterment of their society.

Collecting Cash for Coats

Grand Knight Patrick Harrington (second from left) and other members of Father John S. Nelligan Council 5730 in Scotch Plains, N.J., solicit donations for the council’s Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids drive. Council 5730 raised nearly $9,500, allowing it to purchase winter jackets for distribution to children in the area.

Wheelchair Distribution

Knights from St. Anne Magarao Council 9027 in Camarines Sur, Luzon South, gather with a boy with disabilities who received a new wheelchair from the jurisdiction’s wheelchair program. Knights trekked through rainy and muddy conditions to the outskirts of Naga City to deliver two wheelchairs to people in need.

Columbus Day Celebration

Members of St. Matthew Council 14360 in Norwalk, Conn., stand ready to serve food during the council’s 11th Annual Columbus Day Italian Supper. The meal, which consisted of chicken parmigiana, pasta and more, raised $4,000 that Council 14360 will distribute among different charitable and parish programs.

Staying Warm in New Brunswick

Knights from Louis Hebert Council 6468 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and Margaret Estandarte, administrative assistant at Moncton Headstart, display some of the more than 60 pieces of winter clothing donated by Council 6468 to the charity. The council has supported Moncton Headstart for the past 20 years, donating more than 1,000 winter coats, snow suits, mittens and more for the charity to distribute to families in need.

All Hands on Deck

Eight councils near Chatham, Ontario, joined forces to staff the concession and raffle operations during home games for the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers, a new independent team in the Intercounty Baseball League, for the team’s inaugural 2024 season. From the profits of their efforts, the councils were jointly able to donate more than $18,000 to charitable organizations, and each council received between $4,000-$5,000 for its general fund.

Support for Hurricane Victims

Goldsmith Council 974 in Chippewa Falls, Wis., raised $3,000 for families affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The funds will be distributed through the Supreme Council’s Disaster Relief Fund.

Chipping in for Charity

Msgr. James J. Zegers Council 9113 in Marmora, N.J., raised about $20,000 through its annual Frank Lang Memorial Golf Outing. Council 9113 will use the funds to support several community initiatives such as Covenant House Atlantic City — which serves youth at risk of facing homelessness and human trafficking — and a program sending care packages to military personnel stationed overseas.

Everyone Has Dignity

More than 120 people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, British Columbia, were fed during an outreach event organized by St. Mary’s Council 13072. Knights prepared and served arroz caldo (a Filipino rice dish), sandwiches and juice during the event, held at Oppenheimer Park in the city’s Downtown Eastside. Council 13072 organizes a similar event every year.

Vittles for Vets

More than 20 Knights and wives from Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Assembly 3099 in Milford, Mich., prepared and served hot dogs, hamburgers and other barbecue fare for residents of Piquette Square, an apartment facility in Detroit for veterans at risk for homelessness.

Warm for Wisconsin Winter

St. Stephen the Martyr Council 16821 in Oak Creek, Wis., partnered with St. Stephen Catholic Church’s Council of Catholic Women to distribute 300 winter jackets and handknit hats and scarves to people in need. Council 16821 organized distributions at the parish’s food pantry and two local St. Vincent de Paul facilities.

Root Beer Floats Galore

Iron River (Mich.) Council 2300 recently held its second Black Cow event of the year at Iron Mountain VA Medical Center. After a hiatus of a few years, Council 2300 resumed its tradition of visiting patients and preparing black cows (root beer floats) and sundaes for about 20 veterans and staff members.

Rising From the Ashes

Since June, New Mexico has been impacted by wildfires and severe flooding in various parts of the state. Knights and their family members have helped families affected by the disasters in several ways: cooking and providing over 5,000 meals to people dislocated from their homes and first responders fighting the wildfires; providing clothing, water, food and hygiene items to those in need; and distributing a total of more than $100,000 in checks and gift cards to those affected.

Charity Abounds

A community fundraiser hosted by Pope John Paul II Council 13808 in Greensboro, Ga., collected more than $65,000 to support 15 charitable organizations, including Atlas Ministries, First Call Pregnancy Center and local food banks.

No Freezing in Florence

Our Lady of the Dunes Council 15773 in Florence, Ore., donated nearly 100 to students at three local schools through the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program. Council 15773 also donated $500 to Siuslaw Outreach Services.

First Responder Appreciation

Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Assembly 3099 in Milford, Mich., and Father Edmund Battersby Council 7586 in South Lyon held their annual First Responders Appreciation Dinner at St. Joseph Church in South Lyon. Thirty people from six local first responder agencies attended the dinner.

Squire Support

Arlington Circle 2121 in Jacksonville, Fla., donated nearly $800 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The money will be used to support Catholic Charities’ hurricane relief efforts.

Coats and Treats

Lewistown (Mont.) Council 1508 partnered with the coat closet ministry at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church to organize a Candy and Coats event on Halloween. Neary 110 winter jackets, as well as winter gloves, hats and Halloween candy, were given to people in need.

Life

Rally for Life

Members of Harvester Council 9625 in St. Peters, Mo., assemble after a rosary rally at Laurel Park to pray for greater respect for all human life. Council 9625 partnered with Sts. Joachim and Ann Catholic Church in St. Charles to organize the rosary, which included prayers for an end to abortion and euthanasia and for the defeat of a proposed amendment to the Missouri state constitution that would legalize abortion in the state. More than 30 people attended the service.

Pro-life Mississippi

Members of Msgr. P.J. Carey Council 1605 in Pascagoula, Miss., solicit donations in front of a local grocery store for the council’s annual fund drive for people with disabilities. The campaign raised $1,000, which Council 1605 donated to Jackson County Exceptional School, an educational facility that serves students with disabilities.

Respect Life Month

Parishioners from Ascension Catholic Church in Bastrop, Texas, place small white crosses in the ground in front of the church to create a pro-life display. Ascension Bastrop (Texas) Council 14943 organizes the display each October in observance of Respect Life Month.

Fund Drive Success

Knights from Father Timothy P. Molony Council 2681 in Scottsbluff, Neb., solicit donations during the council’s annual fund drive for persons with disabilities. The campaign resulted in more than $3,000 in donations, which Council 2681 split among Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy; Camp Scott, a summer program for children and young adults with disabilities; and Special Olympics Nebraska.

Monument to Life

Members of Corpus Christi Council 12960 in Lawrence, Kan., assemble behind a new memorial to unborn children purchased by Council 12960 for Corpus Christi Parish. The council spent $3,500 to purchase the memorial and donated the mulch and flowers around it. Father Jerry Volz, pastor and council chaplain, blessed the monument during a dedication ceremony on Oct. 6.

Babies in 4D

Knights from Orange Park (Fla.) Council 7399 and Most Holy Redeemer Council 17029 in Jacksonville gather near a new ultrasound machine purchased by the councils for the Jacksonville Westside location of Women’s Help Center. The councils combined to raise more than $19,000, which the Supreme Council matched through the Order’s Ultrasound Initiative, to purchase the machine.

Supporting Babies and Moms in Maine

Members of St. John Paul II Council 2344 in Scarborough, Maine, present Cynthia Broyer, director of the Mother Seton House in Fryeburg, with a $4,000 donation. Council 2344 organized a baby bottle drive to raise the funds. Since the donation was made through the ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program, the Supreme Council will donate an additional $400 to the maternity home.

California Sees Life

Knights from Holy Family Council 9213 in Kingsburg, Calif., Father Mark Maxon and staff from Care Pregnancy Resource Center in Tulare assemble around a new ultrasound machine purchased with help from Council 9213. The Knights raised more than $17,600 with help from the nonprofit 4US; the Supreme Council matched the amount through the Culture of Life Fund. Father Maxon, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church and council chaplain, blessed the machine during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Delaware’s Diapers Galore

Members of Bishop James C. Burke Council 11285 in Millsboro, Del., and Nina Pierce, a case manager at Catholic Charities Diocese of Wilmington, display diapers and wipes collected during Council 11285’s recent baby supply drive. More than 4,000 diapers and wipes were delivered to Catholic Charities.

Remember the Unborn

Bishop Liam Carey of Baker, Ore., speaks during a ceremony rededicating the memorial to the unborn at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bend. Bend Council 1872 commissioned and installed the monument in 2014; after 10 years of wear and tear, Council 1872 raised $6,400 to repair the monument. Bishop Carey blessed the restored monument on Oct. 12, during the Diocese of Baker Pro-Life Conference.

Crusade for Life

Three councils in the Albuquerque, N.M., area have revived a pro-life prayer program to ask the Blessed Virgin’s intercession for an end to abortion. A homily by John Cardinal O’Connor in the late 1980s inspired Past Grand Knight Robert Mendoza and his wife, Vera, of John F. Kennedy Council 5729 to establish a Crusade for Life rosary program, based on a Supreme Council initiative by the same name. The program consisted of a Marian statue traveling to parish households, where families would pray the rosary for an end to abortion; a married K of C couple coordinated the statue’s travel between homes. The Mendozas served in this role until they moved from the area. Robert died in 2023 and Vera, living in Albuquerque once more, sought to honor her husband’s memory by reviving the program. Three councils — Archbishop Lamy Council 4227 and St. Magdalene of Canossa Council 14920 in Albuquerque and St. Thomas Aquinas Council 6696 in Rio Rancho — have brought the program to their parishes and appointed a married couple to coordinate the statue’s travel.

Portage Pennies Add Up

St. Catherine of Siena Council 6980 in Portage, Mich., collected nearly $4,200 during its annual fund drive for people with disabilities. Since 2010, the drive has raised more than $65,000, which Council 6980 has used to support organizations like Special Olympics Michigan, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan Miracle League.

Barbecue’s on!

St. Andrew’s Council 9901 in Moore, Okla., and St. Mark Council 12108 in Norman partnered to hold a cookout for 125 residents and staff from the Center of Family Love in Okarche, which provides residential and vocational programs for people with disabilities. The center was established by the Oklahoma Knights of Columbus Foundation in 1981 and continues to receive financial support from the state and local councils.

Prayerful Witness

More than 30 parishioners from several parishes near Shallotte, N.C., attended a pro-life prayer demonstration organized by Our Lady of the Rosary Council 9039. Standing alongside a stretch of U.S. Route 17., participants prayed the rosary and engaged in other forms of silent reflection for the hourlong pro-life witness.

Walking for Moms in Need

Members of Most Holy Trinity Council 11995 in Pass Christian, Miss., passed out bottles of water to people participating in the annual Walk for Life organized by Pro-Life Mississippi’s Gulf Coast District. Council 11995 also donated $200 to the organization.

Prattville Prayers

Msgr. Malcolm Rafferty Council 10731 in Prattville, Ala., organized a pro-life prayer service with a Knights of Columbus Silver Rose at St. Joseph Catholic Church that was attended by nearly 80 parishioners. Deacon Charles L. Troncale Assembly 2416 provided an honor guard for the event.

New Jersey Rallies for People With Disabilities

Mother Seton Council 15540 in Three Bridges, N.J., raised $2,800 during its recent fund drive for people with disabilities. The funds will be split between Special Olympics and ARC of Somerset County.