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Knights of Columbus Council 1002: Actively Growing in Service and Fellowship
The Knights of Columbus pancake breakfasts are returning Oct. 10, thanks to Knights of Columbus Council 1002 Msgr. Conrad Saille, one of the most active Councils in the area. The breakfasts will be held on the second Sunday of the month from 8-11:30 a.m. at Sts. Mary and Hyacinth Parish, and will continue through June.
These breakfasts, along with other Council 1002 activities, help provide the important financial support given to our Antigo Area Catholic Churches and to our parish priests. The funds help with projects such as lawn care and snow removal, or any important projects that arise.
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Besides the fellowship the Knights enjoy, membership enables each man to not only deepen his own faith but also to help other fellow Knights in their faith journeys that encourage them to practice charity, unity, and fraternity, all within a place of evangelization. These tenets are put into action when Council members say the Rosary for a deceased Knight if the family requests it.
“Being a member of the Knights of Columbus allows men of faith to support each other,” says Tom McGrath, District Deputy and past Grand Knight of Council 1002. “The Knights of Columbus has a really solid spiritual fellowship. A lot of men lack that connection with each other spiritually that the Knights offers.”
The Council takes in members from St. John, Sts. Mary and Hyacinth, and St. Wenceslaus Parishes, as well as six other parishes in the area. There are currently about 180 members. During the summer, the Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month, in the lower basement meeting room of St. John Church. From October through May, the meetings are on the first and third Mondays at the same time and location.
With a membership drive recently completed, the Council is planning to begin a Family of the Month program this fall, under a state-wide Knights program. “The program is underway in other Councils,” Tom says. “It will have a committee to select a family from nominees who are involved in their Catholic faith in their parish. A team of Knights will interview the nominees and identify their Catholic beliefs and activities before the selection is made. There will be a spiritual exercise with their parish pastor and possibly a reception honoring them.”
When the parking lot paving project at St. John was completed in mid-September, the Council organized an ice cream social to celebrate.
There also was a “welcome back to church” Belgian waffle and pancake breakfast that invited parishioners and the community to celebrate lifted pandemic restrictions. The event was held at Vickie and the Vets Restaurant to allow for the crowd.
“That was one of the Knights’ goals to support the parish,” Tom says.
The Knights of Columbus are also moving to include their families in more activities, including attending the initiation ceremony.
“There is no need for secrecy,” Tom says. “While there are beautiful rituals, they now include families. It is now a more family-oriented organization.”
Any Catholic man at least 18 years of age who accepts the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church, may join.
During this year honoring Blessed Michael McGivney, founder of the order, the first year of online membership is free. Joining may be done online at www.kofc.org with the promo code McGivney2020. Council dues may vary.
