News & Announcements

NEW TIME FOR MONTHLY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETINGS IS 7:30 PM

Reminder the Council has voted to change the starting time for its monthly Council Business Meetings to 7:30 PM.  The Meeting will remain on the First Tuesday of each month.

Milestone Reached Over 10,000 Lunches Donated to the Emanuel Dining Hall

On October 29, 2020 Christopher Council surpassed a milestone! Operation Brown Bag (OBB) #24 made 480 lunches to bring the grand total of lunches made and delivered to the three Emmanuel Dining Rooms to 10,056!  Over the course of OBB, Christopher Council has invested 628.5 man-hours, and provided 16,341 pounds of food, valued at $12,354.61. Thank you to all those who have contributed and continue to contribute their time, talent and resources to the success of the project - Fr. John who included OBB in the G.O.D funding grants, businesses, Knights, family, and friends. Emmanuel Dining Room staff express their appreciation at every delivery.  Your efforts are noticed and appreciated.


OBB #24 volunteers - Maryann & Dave Stepnowski, Darlene Hobbs, Jo Kuhns, Pat & Jack Buckley, Fran Sailor, Jack Potts, Brenda Potts, Tim Potts, Lee Anderson, Tom Cassidy, Stephanie & Dave Robinson, Mike Ashby, Dominic 3 & Leah DiChristopher, Dominic DiChristopher Jr., Jeff & Tom Quinney, Kent Drake, Al Minutola, Pat & Eileen MacCormac, and Deacon Rich Maichle.

Christopher Council Helping During the Pandemic

Christopher Council of the Knights of Columbus keep busy helping community during coronavirus pandemic

By
Mike Lang, Dialog Reporter
-
 

CLAYMONT — The Christopher Council of the Knights of Columbus has been busy during the coronavirus pandemic spreading goodwill throughout the community it serves in Claymont and Bellefonte.

This afternoon (May 8), members of the council will be distributing food to area residents in the parking lot at the former Holy Rosary School. This will be the second distribution taking place at Holy Rosary, and it will be, by far, the largest. According to Holy Rosary pastor Father John Gayton, 24,000 pounds of food will be given away beginning at 3 p.m.

Spring Church, a nondenominational congregation in Claymont, has been spearheading food giveaways in Claymont for more than a month. On April 24, some 17,000 pounds of food was distributed from the Holy Rosary lot. Approximately 10 Knights from the Christopher Council assisted with that effort, which provided 40 lbs. of meat, fruit and vegetables, water and toiletries to those in need. These efforts are expected to continue every two weeks until the need subsides.

The Christopher Council also has been making brown-bag lunches for the Emmanuel Dining Room, which has experienced a large increase in people served. The dining rooms are offering packaged meals in take-out containers. Members of the council have been making at least 300 lunches each week for the past three weeks. The total has exceeded 1,000 brown-bag lunches and will continue as long as necessary, according to Grand Knight Neal Potts.

Potts recounted other efforts by Christopher Council Knights. One, Charlie Schiliro, repaired a handicapped entrance ramp at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. The church uses the ramp not only for services, but also for its outreach program.

Don and Rose Legg made and distributed 631 facemasks to postal workers and nursing homes in the Claymont and Bellefonte area, and Pat Buckley made 130 facemasks for nursing homes, senior-living facilities and Operation Brown Bag volunteers, Potts said. Others have offered to pick up prescriptions and do light shopping for parishioners and neighbors who are at high risk and are forced to stay home.

“I’m sure there are more good works that I am not aware of, but this is proof that the efforts of a few good Knights and their families can have a positive impact on so many in our community,” Potts wrote. “This is the stuff that makes me proud to be a Knight.”

Welcome to Our New Council Officers for the 2021-2022 Columbian Year

Grand Knight - Dominic DiChristopher, III
Deputy Grand Knight - Charlie Schiliro
Chancellor -  Tom Cassidy
Recorder - Steve Schaefer
Treasurer - Mike Maletesta
Advocate - Daniel Goodine
Warden - Kent Drake
Inside Guards - Ceasar Lorenzo & Mike Brower
Outside Guards - Jack Potts & Bill MacCormac
Trustee 3 yrs. - Neal Potts

Proposed Slate of Officers for Upcoming Columbian Year

The Nominating Committee chaired by PGK Dominic DiChristopher, Jr. submits to the Membership the following slate of officers for the 2021-2022 Columbian Year for the upcoming election of Officers at the June Business Meeting:

Slate of Officers for Christopher Council No. 3182

Grand Knight - Dominic DiChristopher, III
Deputy Grand Knight - Charlie Schiliro
Chancellor -  Tom Cassidy
Recorder - Steve Schaefer
Treasurer - Mike Maletesta
Advocate - Daniel Goodine
Warden - Kent Drakei
Inside Guards - Ceasar Lorenzo & Mike Brower
Outside Guards - Jack Potta & Bill MacCormac
Trustee 3 yrs. - Neal Potts
 
Nominating Committee - Raymond Cobb, Dominic DiChristopher, Jr., & Manuel Velez

Nominating Committee's Slate of Officers for 2020-2021 Columbian Year

The Nominating Committee chaired by PGK Raymond Cobb submits to the Membership the following slate of officers for the 2020-2021 Columbian Year for the upcoming election of Officers at the June Business Meeting:

Slate of Officers for Christopher Council No. 3182

Grand Knight - Neal Potts
Deputy Grand Knight - Dominic DiChristopher, III
Chancellor -  Ruben Melendez
Recorder - Dave Robinson 
Treasurer - Mike Maletesta
Advocate - Charlie Schiliro
Warden - John Pankowski
Inside Guards - Joe Gatone & Pat Shubert
Outside Guards - Kent Drake & Bill MacCormac
Trustee 3 yrs. - Manuel Velez
 
Nominating Committee - Raymond Cobb, Bill Northey, Dominic DiChristopher, Jr.

WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

On behalf of Christopher Council please welcome our two newest members: Robert Ferguson and Daniel Sigmund. Rob  and Dan both completed their Admission Degree in January 2017.  Please help make our newest Brothers feel welcome and help to engage them in our Council's many activities.

 

Thanks to: all the members of our Council's Degree Team and a special thanks to Deacon Rich Maichle for his "guest" appearance; those who attended and participated in the Admission Degree program on January 17, 2017 at Christopher Council;  and, our Worthy Warden, Tom Pace who cooked for the Brothers in attendance.

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

On behalf of Christopher Council please welcome our two newest members: James "Jimmers" Williams and Nicholas Borsello. Jimmers and Nick both completed their Admission Degree in February 2017.  Please help make our newest Brothers feel welcome and help to engage them in our Council's many activities.
 
Thanks to: all the members of our Council's Degree Team and a special thanks to Manuel Velez for his "guest" appearance as Financial Secretary and to Paul Coulston who took time from work to make this Admission Degree happen; those who attended and participated in the Admission Degree program on February 21, 2017 at Christopher Council;  and, our Worthy Advocate, Dan Goodine who cooked for the Brothers in attendance.

WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

On behalf of Christopher Council please welcome our two newest members: Samuel Weatherlow and Peter Polkus. Sam  and Pete both completed their Admission Degree.  Please help make our newest Brothers feel welcome and help to engage them in our Council's many activities.

 

Thanks to all the members of our Council's Degree Team; to those who attended and participated in the Admission Degree program on August 16 at Christopher Council; and, to our Worthy Warden, Tom Pace and our Worthy Past Warden Charlie Schiliro who cooked for the Brothers in attendance.

Remembering Father Edward Storck

Father Edward Storck was our past Chaplain, a member of Our Order for 57 years, and a member of Our Council died on June 12, 2017.  He was a fixture at Chaplain's Night and attended almost every Christopher Council function.  We honored Father Storck at the recent St. Patrick's Party.  While I did not know Father Storck well, my limited interactions confirmed what everyone said about him -- he was a kind, thoughtful, caring and generous Priest.

 

Despite being 91 years old, Father Storck did not seem to get mentally old; rather he acted as a young man by appearing in a St. Patrick's shirt at the recent St. Pat's Party and wearing his German hat to Oktoberfest (see picture).  I have heard many anecdotes about Father Storck over the past few days and everyone is somewhat similar in that Father Storck would do anything to help Our Council and his Brother Knights.  We have lost a true friend but hopefully we will all be reunited when we receive our eternal reward. 

 

"Tempest Fugit, Memento Mori"

THANKS TO RICK JOHNSON AND ALL THE OKTOBERFEST VOLUNTEERS

Menu - see what you missed
 

Thank you to the Oktoberfest Chairman Rick Johnson, and all who were involved in the planning for the event; preparing (Carmella Ianni, Dolly Albanese, Jeanne Fitzpatrick, Pat Bowhall and others) and cooking the food (Matt Puka); decorating Masci Hall (Carlo Ciabattoni and many others); building the stage extension (Larry Pelkey); cleaning the pots and pans (Dave Stepnowski, John Fitzpatrick and others); running the auction baskets (Paul Rapposelli); and,working at the event (Bill Northey, Jack Buckley, Mike Panfile, Charlie Schiliro, and many others). We are not trying to mention everyone by name because the list would be too long but we do want to recognize some of the people who took the lead in some areas.  Also, thank you to everyone who attended -- we are very confident that you had a great time.

 

As always such an event can only successful with the support of many people from within Christopher Council but also from members of our respective Parishes.  It is crucial that we as a Council do our best to support all the "fundraisers" that we sponsor during the year -- these fundraisers are important to the financial health of our Council and allow us to engage in the many charitable works that we do throughout the year. Without these events being successful our ability to help others will be compromised, so please remember this when you get a notice of our next event.

 

As a new event Oktoberfest, was amazing and very well attended with over 200 tickets sold. We are already looking on ways to improve Oktoberfest for next year. If you missed the event you MUST be there next year -- it is unlike any routine fundraiser and truly was an incredibly enjoyable evening. We anticipate this event will be a "sellout" next year so remember to buy your tickets early next year so that you are not shut out.  Again thanks to everyone who helped or attended the event -- your support makes what we do possible.

THANKS TO THE STATE PICNIC VOLUNTEERS

Thanks to Brian Dennis and all of the other members of Christopher Council who participated in the annual State Picnic at Holy Rosary on August 21.  To list what Brian does in order to prepare for this event would take up too much space here, but he literally spends weeks in getting all the pieces in order to make this event run so smoothly.

 

Many Brothers and their families were involved in the preparation and set-up for the picnic; cooking and serving the delicious  and plentiful food; and, cleaning up after the picnic was over.  Mother Nature played a large role in deciding when the picnic was over, but despite some adverse conditions, our Council came through in true Christopher Council fashion. To all those who participated thank you very much.  Your efforts make our Council "the shining star of the North" according to our Worthy District Deputy.  It is your efforts that make our Council so successful and let us take on projects of this magnitude.

THANKS TO NEAL POTTS FOR ORGANIZING THE COUNCIL FISHING TRIP

On Sunday, August 28 the Council's Annual Fishing Trip took place in Lewes, Delaware. The entire Council, and in particular the 25 Brothers and their families who went on the trip, thank Neal Potts for all his efforts in planning, organizing, and overseeing the trip.  The weather was wonderful, the liquid refreshments were ice cold, there were some fish biting, but most important we were able to strengthen the bonds of fraternity within our Council and with members of our families.  If you missed the opportunity to go on this trip make sure to register early next year, it certainly will be a great time.

 

Additionally, we should note that through Neal's efforts we will be able to listen to our Worthy Financial Secretary, Mike Panfile, talking about the "one that got away" for the next year.  If the fish was as big as Mike thinks our Council would be eating fish chowder for the next year!

THANKS TO THE RONALD McDONALD HOUSE VOLUNTEERS

On Saturday, July 16 our Council prepared and served dinner at Ronald McDonald House for the parents and families of children who are currently being treated at A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children.  Thanks to our Brother Knights and family members who took time from their busy schedules to provide a home cooked meal to parents and family members who have young children dealing with serious medical situations.  This annual event allows us to help others but also serves as a reminder to us how lucky we are -- one person going through the line related that she was there because her young niece was not expected to last the weekend.  She said that she was taking the dinner we were putting in a "take out" container   to the child's father who was at his daughter's bedside.  Please remember in your prayers and intentions not only this family but all those sick children at A.I. DuPont Hospital and their families.

WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

On behalf of Christopher Council please welcome our two newest members: Robert Borchester and John "Keebler" Burroughs. Robert made completed his Admission Degree and John completed his Admission and Formation Degree.  Please help make our newest Brothers feel welcome and help to engage them in our Council's many activities.

 

Thanks to all the members of our Council's Degree Team, to those who attended and participated in the joint Admission and Formation Degree program on July 19 at Christopher Council, and to our Worthy Warden, Tom Pace, who cooked for the 40 plus Brothers in attendance.