By Renee Webb
Knights of Columbus from across Iowa converged on Sioux City for the state convention held April 13-15 at the Sioux City Convention Center.
The convention drew about 800 people — nearly 500 Knights and about 300 wives and children who attended over the three days, organizers said.
Mike Laake, state deputy for the Iowa Knights of Columbus and parishioner at St. Patrick’s in Estherville, said the state convention serves as the organization’s annual business meeting.
Iowa has 235 KC councils and each council was allowed to have two delegates vote at the business meetings, said Antonio Banuelos, executive committee member from Des Moines.
“The more councils we have present, the more we can enrich our experiences here and the more we can learn from one another,” he added.
Banuelos said that one of the more important resolutions approved this year was to protect the faith, protect the freedom of religious liberty against the Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate.
He stressed that the Iowa Knights — with 31,000 members — never want to lose sight that they are rooted in Christ. That is part of the reason why they offered faith formation sessions on the final day.
Bishop R. Walker Nickless presided at Masses held at the convention center Saturday and Sunday morning.
During the convention, 82 Knights from throughout the state received Fourth Degree exemplification. A knighting ceremony followed.
Speakers on Sunday included Kim Lehman of the John Paul II Stem Cell Research Institute, Joe Worthing addressing Project Moses, Father Brian Danner discussing faith formation within councils and Laake focusing on the mission of the Knights.
Honorees and officers
Awards were given during the Iowa Knights of Columbus Convention held earlier this month in Sioux City, Iowa, and a new slate of officers was announced. Honorees from the Diocese of Davenport included:
Davenport Diocese Chaplain of the Year Father Joe Wolf, pastor of Our Lady of the River Parish in LeClaire; and Family Service Award, Council 14385 Iowa City.
New officers elected for the 2012-13 fraternal year: State Deputy Joseph Ramirez of Des Moines; State Secretary Daniel Werner, West Des Moines; State Treasurer Francis Schlueter, Ankeny; State Advocate Brian Thul, Algona; State Warden Jon Aldrich, Altoona; Third Degree Representative to the Executive Committee John McGinness, Fairfax-Walford; Third Degree Representative to the Executive Committee Jason Follett, Ankeny; Immediate Past State Deputy Michael Laake, Estherville; State Chaplain Father Brian Danner, Sioux City Diocese.
