By Anne Marie Amacher
DAVENPORT – The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Color Guard processed to the front of St. Paul the Apostle Church Feb. 9 to present Michael Laake of the Iowa KCs with the charter for Knights of Columbus Council 15725.
Laake, immediate past state deputy for the Iowa KCs, presented the new charter to Bishop Martin Amos for a blessing. “Father of all, look upon the members of the St. Paul the Apostle Council of the Knights of Columbus, and help them to grow in your love. Be pleased with their work and service for the people of this community. Bless this charter and let it always remind us of the principles for which we stand. Give your peace to all, and help us to work together in harmony. ”
Pastor Father Tony Herold said about 90 members have joined the new council since its formation last year. New councils generally take six weeks to obtain 35 to 40 members, but St. Paul’s attracted 90 members in less time than that. “It was just a super job. They talked up the Knights of Columbus and had pulpit messages and the pastor was on board,” said Iowa KCs State Deputy Joe Ramirez. “They’ll be recognized for that.”
Some members of the new council had previously belonged to other councils while some members are new to the KCs. The council sponsored a bake sale, raised $3,100 during the People with Intellectual Disabilities Drive, and held a trivia contest and open house, Fr. Herold said. Since last summer the KCs have given more than 1,600 hours of service to the church, community and other projects.
In the future the group hopes to hold a basketball free-throw contest, poster coloring and essay contests, more trivia nights and taco and spaghetti dinners.
Grand Knight Jim Herrington said the parish began working on establishing a council early last spring. Although paperwork for the charter was received in the fall, it took time to coordinate the schedules of Bishop Amos and the parish for the blessing.
Herrington said several activities planned this winter were cancelled due to weather, but the KCs look forward to future events. Previously a member of a KCs council in North Dakota before moving to Davenport 18 months ago, Herrington helped establish the new charter for St. Paul’s.
During a reception that followed Mass in Denning Hall, Herrington presented checks to the Quad City Special Olympics and Challenger League. Both groups received money from the People with Intellectual Disabilities Drive. “We decided since this was our first year to limit it to two groups,” Herrington said.
Nancy Shannon received the check on behalf of Special Olympics and Curt Locey on behalf of Challenger League.
