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The Knights of Columbus Council 4863: Grand Knight Dan Krousey Reflects on the Blessings of Service
For nearly 40 years, Dan Krousey has been a member of St. Paul’s Church in Sauk Centre, and he can’t say enough good things about the area he calls home.
“What I love is that everybody is friendly and willing to help out,” he says. “I see it firsthand, as Grand Knight of Council 4863, Knights of Columbus. Whenever we need help, the businesses are always willing to help. They’ve never said ‘no.’”
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Dan lists as examples the requests of businesses for small donations for the Knights’ golf outing for seniors. So much was donated that the council was able to hold a raffle with the items.
The Coats for Kids project also brought in generous cash donations from local businesses so the Knights were able to purchase coats for children in need.
Dan attributes his becoming active in the Knights to his ability to grow in his faith. He retired five years ago after working for 35 years at the Jennie-O Foods plant. He had more time to become involved in his community and as a result, joined the Knights of Columbus.
“When I became Grand Knight, it started to really strengthen my faith because you have to — you have to really get involved, such as in the Divine Mercy Rosary, and you memorize those prayers and all the Mysteries of the Rosary, and you’re leading the Rosary,” he says.
He also attends adoration several hours each week, with plans to give more time, and he has been praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Being a member of the Knights of Columbus means that Dan is witness to the many attributes that his fellow Knights have in common — all are pro-life and pro-Christ. Charity is their main focus, and this takes the form of volunteering. Each time the Knights are asked to volunteer, they do so willingly because they believe they are volunteering for Christ.
“When you are asked to do something, it’s like you feel you want to say ‘yes’ because Christ is the one asking you to volunteer,” Dan says.
Activities for which Dan has volunteered include chairing the blood drive in October and helping with the annual food drive.
“When you’re Grand Knight, you’re always planning for the next event,” he says. “We have a Mass for deceased Knights coming up, so we will be notifying the families and arranging for the saying of the Rosary.”
Each month of the year includes activities sponsored by the Council, such as the Free Throw Contest in January, and the fundraising Breakfast for Vocations in February, with proceeds going to priests, deacons, and seminarians. In March, the Council holds the Rosary for the Unborn, and in April, the Special Olympics Tootsie Roll Drive.
In September, the Council begins 40 Days of Life for the Unborn, beginning on Sept. 22. At that time, the Council erects 100 crosses each day at a cemetery south of Sauk Centre.
“The crosses represent the 4,000 abortions performed each day in the United States,” Dan says.
In November, the Council holds a poster contest for their Keep Christ in Christmas campaign, with $50 awarded to local winners.
“We have a Nativity scene we put up each year in the yard of a Knight on Main Street,” Dan says. “We put it up the first week of Advent. Our chaplain, Fr. Rick, Parochial Vicar, comes out when we light it, and we sing Christmas carols and he blesses it.”
Throughout the year and through all the Council’s activities, recruitment of members is the top priority.
“We had 11 members who died last year, and we have added four new members,” Dan says. “Whenever we have an event, like Coats for Kids, we try to promote the Knights. And the best thing is, you have to be a practicing Catholic. So, at Mass, I try to see who we might recruit. However, our new members have been sons of Knights members.”
Dan Krousey and his wife, Lori, enjoy spending time in our outdoors. Since his retirement five years ago, Dan has become involved in many projects with the Knights of Columbus, and serves as Grand Knight of Council 4863.
