2023 - 2024

Pat & Pete Nause Family

Pete and Pat have been an integral part of the Knights of Columbus for decades. Pete has shopped for the kitchen, bar and restroom supplies for our Council Home once a week for over 20 years. He has additionally chaired our aluminum can recycle program. He will regularly collect the cans, clean and smash them. He will then wait until aluminum prices spike before selling them. Each year our Council adds about $1,000 to our Priest Education donation at the Convention because of his efforts.
Pete and Pat are active in our parish. Pat serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. They both attend our weekly adoration. Pete visits a homebound parishioner weekly and brings him Holy Communion each visit.
Pat is a member of our ACES (Young-at-Heart) group and coordinates/plans trips for the Parish (both international and local domestic).
Pete is retired from the ICG Railroad and Pat is a retired Registered Nurse. Both have been volunteers for various community groups throughout the years. Especially since he has retired.
Pete and Pat Nause will celebrate 60 years of Marriage on July 19, 2024. They have been faithful members of St. Patrick Parish all those years. In the 26 years that Pete has been a member of the Council 802, he and Pat have been an integral part of our Council They have participated in progams such as our Columbus Day Mass, Deceased Members Mass and other social activities.
As mentioned above Pete and Pat do most of their service out of sight behind the scenes. However, it does not go unoticed by our membership of Council 802 and our Parishioners of St. Patrick Church. They more than live up to the ideals of our Catholic Faith and correspondingly the Knights of Columbus. We are honored to have selected them as our Council Family of the Year.

2022 - 2023

Brent & Christi Gregory Family

Council 802 and State of Mississippi Family of the Year for 2023 is the Brent & Christi Gregory Family. They celebrated their 19th Wedding Anniversary on February 21st. They have two daughters: McKinley (18) & Mary Lee (15). Brent serves as the President of East Central Community College in Decatur and Christi works in education as well. He also serves on the St. Patrick Finance Council.

All four members of this family serve as Lectors for the Saturday evening Mass. Both young ladies attend PSR every Wednesday and have been active in the Youth Group. Brent and Christi teach the 5th grade PSR class every Wednesday evening. I doubt that very many college presidents around the country teach elementary religious education at their church.

Recently, McKinley was recognized as one of the Bishop Chanche honorees in the Diocese. The Bishop Chanche award is for a person’s involvement not only in their church, but their school and in the greater community. McKinley’s recognition was well earned and deserved.

In short, this Family is living up to their Catholic Faith despite the obstacles they are facing. Oh, they also live in Decatur which means they have a 35 minute drive each way to come to church and PSR. That does not deter them as they are here every week.

2020 - 2021

Rick and Paula Berryhill

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Church involvement:
Richard and Paula Berryhill and their family are very involved with the church. They drive the over 35 miles to Meridian from their home both for Mass and for PSR classes. Richard and Paula are both Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, and Lectors. Both Richard and Paula have in the past or currently teach PSR. Richard is also an usher and coordinates the sanitization of the church after Mass. Paula was and will be again our trainer for altar servers as well as handling the laundering of the altar linens.
Their eldest daughter, Hannah, is a member of the choir, and often is the song-leader during these times of pandemic limitations. She also Lectors and helps sanitize the building. Their second daughter, Louise, was a lector until her marriage and move out of town. Michael the older son is a lector and usher. Currently he operates the video stream in the gym next door for overflow seating at Mass. He also assists with sanitization. Cooper, the youngest was an altar server until last year and is looking forward to doing that again.
Community involvement:
Rick is a retired US Airforce officer and farms. Paula is the STEM teacher at Newton County Elementary School. Together they are leaders of a Boy Scout Troop in Union Mississippi their home. Both Michael and Cooper are members of the troop. Michael was just made Eagle Scout. It definitely is a family affair.
Hannah Berryhill is Assistant Director of the Kemper-Newton Regional Library System.
Louise and her husband live in Jackson Mississippi where she is attending Medical School.

2019 - 2020

Danny & Rory Santiago

Our congratulations go out to Rory and Danny Santiago on being selected as Council 802s Family of the Year for the year 2020-2021. Brother Danny and his wife, Rory, can be found participating in every event held by our Council. In addition, both work each and every week at our Bingo on Wednesday nights which allows us to do the multitude of charitable works that we do. Danny is also a member of our Fourth Degree Assembly.

The Santiago Family are pillars of the parish. Danny is serving his fourth term on the Pastoral Council. In addition, he has previously served on the Parish Finance Council and the School Advisory Council. Rory has organized the Filipino Choir and serves as the substitute pianist when needed. They sing at St. Patrick Parish and also at the Naval Air Station.

The most important aspect of the family involvement in their community concerns our Catholic school. For the past 22 years Danny and Rory have organized a Musical Variety Show with all proceeds going to the school for tuition assistance. They are also members of ACES (Active Christian Enthusiastic Seniors) and members of the Sodality and Hospitality Committees.

They will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary (50 Years) this year. They exemplify in all of their interactions in the community with their deep devotion to each other and to God. They are always ready to "lend a helping hand" wherever needed.

They are known throughout our Catholic Community and our council for their generosity and giving nature. As a physician, Danny has dedicated his life to the service of others. Rory is an RN and has also demonstrated this same dedication to others as has Danny.

Again, we are very proud to name Danny and Rory Santiago as our Family of the Year for the Council Year 2020 to 2021.

2018 - 2019

Frank and Carolyn Sharp

This family embodies what it means to be a member of the Knights of Columbus. Though
he only joined the Knights a relatively short time (5 years ago) back, Frank and Carolyn have
been fully invested in our Council in numerous ways. He quickly attained his second, third and
fourth degrees in a short time period. They are both at virtually every activity/program that the
Council sponsors often working behind the scenes in preparation and then afterwards during clean-up
without fanfare. Frank and Carolyn are both regular workers in the kitchen and bar on Wednesday Nights during Bingo. He has served as an Outside Guard, Inside Guard, is a valued member of the Building Committee and is a member of the Assembly Honor Guard.
During the years that the NAS-Meridian Base has had a Chaplain on post, both Frank and Carolyn have been instrumental in their support to make the Mass available to the sailors/families who live on the base. They along with one other couple worked to ensure that the Chapel was properly set up for Mass, led the music, and completed any other duties as needed.
Frank and Carolyn have been involved in the community in many aspects over the years. They have supported many school and youth related programs by donating their time, expertise and money. Most recently they have lent their support to the rebuildingof a local playground to make it completely disabled accessible.
Frank and Carolyn were high school sweethearts in Missouri and were married on July23, 1966. Frank served in the Navy for 23 years (1965-1988) retiring as a Command Master Chief. He was on 11 aircraft carrier cruises that lasted anywhere from 6 months to 14 months in duration each. They lived in Memphis, Oak Harbor (3 tours), Lemoore, Ca., finally retiring to Meridian. Later he worked in a second career as Class B Water Operator for the City of Meridian and as a Maintenance Technician. Carolyn was mostly a full time Mom through years though she did work at a local bank and a credit union in Meridian. In addition to their 2 children, they have 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Their Catholic faith is central to their marriage and the example they have shown their family has been followed by them.

2017 - 2018

The David & Adrian Viger Family

Congratulations to our family of the year, the David and Adrian Viger family. The recently blended family has set a great example of what "Family" really means. The husband, David, is our immediate past Grand Knight and during his two year tenure, set about to integrate more family activities that involved not only the Knights but our two parishes as well. Several times a year, the Knights sponsor a Family Fun Night in the St. Patrick Family Life Center after the Saturday evening Mass. This was to encourage fellowship among Men who were not Knights, involve spouses, children and others throughout our Catholic Community. His wife Adrian has been instrumental in planning and guiding various games/activities that involve the young and the "young at heart" during these Fun Nights.

This past Christmas, they hosted our Council Family Christmas Party at the Hall and both of them put in a number of hours of work to make the event special for the children and families who attended.

During his time as Grand Knight, it was his vision that we renovate our Hall with the new wall in the ante-chamber and the recently completed bathroom/front entrance project. He did this with an eye on our council being more family friendly when we host events/programs/parties. Judging by the increasing attendance at various activities in the recent months/year, I think his vision in this has been fulfilled and will continue to be well into the future.

Adrian has served our Catholic Community in numerous ways over the recent years. For several years, she served as the PE teacher/coach for St. Patrick School, she has chaperoned numerous CYO activities/programs/trips over the last couple of decades. She has been a regular PSR Instructor/Teacher for the Parish for a number of years. If we fast forward to the present day, she will always willingly give of her time/effort to help in any parish/knight related activity when the opportunity presents itself.

David and Adrian do not just sit back and wait to be asked, they are proactive in seeking out where they can help. If they see a need, they will work towards getting that need satisfied.

Lastly but most importantly, this couple takes care of a special needs son, Patrick, who is beloved throughout our Catholic Community. During the time of David and Adrian's courtship and after their marriage, it was obvious that David and Patrick had hit it off and that a special relationship had developed between the two of them. Adrian has been a wonderful Mother to Patrick and with David's support and love, they are both a blessing to Patrick. As was mentioned above, Patrick is seen as an inspiration to many in our parishes and particularly to other youth who all love him and treat him as one of their own.

Once again congratulations to our Family of the Year, David and Adrian Viger. It is well deserved honor to a very deserving family.

2016 - 2017

Debbie and Darrell Hover

Our Congratulations go out to our Family of the Year for 2016-2017, Debbie and Darrell Hover.

2015 - 2016

Liberty & Salvator (Sal) Moreno

2014 - 2015

Rosalee & Robert (Bob) Leo

2009 - 2010

Betty and Patrick J Carter (PJ) With Chris & Tiffany

2008 - 2009

Joyce & Alan Woolley

2007 - 2008

Virginia & Jim Baughman

2006 - 2007

The Richard & Kathryn Gough Family

Congratulations to Richard, Kathryn and Katie on being selected as our Family of the Year for 2006-2007

2005 - 2006

Theresia & Tommy Beeman

Congratulations Tom and Theresia

2003 - 2004

John & Bridget Harwell Family

Congratulation to John, Bridget, Serena, and Kara

2002 - 2003

Denise & Jack Huntley

Congratulations, Jack & Denise

2001 - 2002

Lee & Kathy Foley

Congratulations to Lee & Kathy

2000 - 2001

Theresia & Tommy Beeman