News & Announcements

UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVE

2026 Knights of Columbus Scholarship Announcement!!

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Knights of Columbus

St. Peter Damian Council 8699

The St. Peter Damian Knights of Columbus are offering College Scholarships for the upcoming school year. There are four one-time $500.00 scholarships available for students attending 4-year Colleges/Universities, or two-year community or technical college. Eligibility is open to all whose families are active members of St. Peter Damian Parish. Recipients of the previous year’s scholarships may apply this year as well.

The funds may be used for any college related expenses including tuition, books, fees, supplies, room and board, or incidentals like dorm furnishings, Transportation, or moving expenses. Checks will be made out to the student.

To apply, the student should provide a cover letter that includes their name, contact information, including email address, the school they are attending, their major or course of study. The letter should also include their current high school and course of study as well as their participation in any Church Activities, Youth Group, Sports, Community Activities, Volunteerism, Family Activities and Work Experience if any. Finally, the student should include their post-graduation and career plans.

The last portion of the application is an essay. The subject is: What do your Catholic Faith and Values mean to you at this point in your life, what challenges you face in keeping that Faith in the current world climate and what you feel it means to be a Catholic Youth today.

Finalists may be asked to come for an in-person interview with the scholarship committee. Arrangements will be made for those who attend school out of town. In the event of a tie, ranking will be determined by lottery.

 Once complete, please email the application as either a word document or PDF file to: SPDKofCScholarship@gmail.com  .  Please put scholarship in the subject line. You may also submit any questions you have to this email or call Bill Manton at 630-878-1093.

The deadline to apply is Sunday April 5th at midnight. Winners will be announced on or about April 26th. Checks will be presented at the 9:30 am mass on Sunday May 17th.

 

 

UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVE

St Peter Damian Knights of Columbus are hosting a Blood Drive in conjunction with Vitalant on Saturday February 28th, from 8 am until 12 pm at St Peter Damian Church 109 S Crest Av Bartlett. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be accepted.

To schedule an appointment call Vitalant at 877-258-4825 or visit Vitalant.org and refer to group code ORD0911B. For more information, please visit our website St. Peter Damian Knights of Columbus (kofc-8699.org) , or scan the code above and enter ORD0911B

There is a HUGE need right now for Type O blood. Vitalant is asking for any one with Type O to please donate. You could save a life!!

2026 Dues Payable January 1 2026

2026 Dues Payable January 1 2026

Christmas Party 2025 December 19, 2025 6:00PM

Enthronement of Jesus de Nazareno

The Knights recently provided an honor guard and participated in the St Peter Damian Filipino Community's Enthronement of the Icon of Jesus de Nazareno,

More photos of this celebration of faith are in our Gallery Section

Our Lady Of Fatima

On October 13th the Knights assisted the Parish with the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady Of Fatima. Our Lady appeared to the 3 children on the 13th of every month from May through October of 1917. On October 13th 1917 Mary again requested that we all pray the rosary for sins that have offended God the Father. She then performed the Miracle of the Sun. According to accounts, after a period of rain, the dark clouds broke and the Sun appeared as an opaque, spinning disc in the sky. It was said to be significantly duller than normal, and to cast multicolored lights across the landscape, the people, and the surrounding clouds. The Sun was then reported to have careened towards the Earth before zig-zagging back to its normal position. Witnesses reported that their previously wet clothes became "suddenly and completely dry, as well as the wet and muddy ground that had been previously soaked because of the rain that had been falling".  Praying the Rosary is the commons theme of Mary's apparitions and it's good advice for all Catholics. Photos of the Parish Celebration are posted in our photo gallery.

CONGRATULATIONS NEW 4TH DEGREE MEMBERS!!!

On Saturday June 28th 4 members of St Peter Damian Council 8699 were initiated into the 4th Degree of our order and became members of Bishop Bernard J. Sheil #2330. 

The 4th Degree is the highest degree of the Knights and an entity separate from the local councils. Membership in the 4th degree, which focuses on the virtue of Patriotism, is optional and demonstrates a higher degree of commitment to the order.

 

Our newest 4th degree members are:

SK Deacon John Porter
SK Bret Caruso
SK Justin Pilman
SK Craig Weber
Again, congratulations Brothers, on attaining this honor!
If you are a Catholic Gentleman over the age of 18, why isn't your name here?
 

 

 

Knights Present Check

Members of the St Peter Damian Knights of Columbus recently presented representatives of Clare Woods Academy (formerly Bartlett Learning Center) with the proceeds from our  annual Tootsie Roll Drive. Our council has supported the school for Intellectually Challenged Children since 1984. 

Pictured are Grand Knight Craig Weber, PGK Ray Arndt, PGK Rich Henkel (also chairman of the drive) Treasurer George Mikosz, and Brother Knight and Clarewoods Academy Board Member Mike Kelly.

St Peter Damian Council Reecives Star Council Award again!!

At the Council Christmas Party, District Deputy Dick Lambke presented Grand Knight Craig Weber with the 2024-25 Star Council Award. This award is the top honor a council can receive from the Supreme Council. It is awarded to councils that meet all of their goals, and have done outstanding work in their parishes and community. Council 8699 has received this award more than 20 times in the past 41 years. 

Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus' triumphant ride into Jerusalem.  Bringing our faith to life, Parishioners were greeted by Squiggy The Donkey. They got to pet and take pictures with him and the kids even got to ride him. Our grand Knight Craig Weber made a new friend as he helped out leading Squiggy around. His only regret was he didn't get to take Squiggy home. Of course the worthy Grand Knight got some good natured kidding about his role from his Brother Knights 

St Joseph's Table was a huge success!

The Knights of Columbus answered the call again, this time assisting the parish in bringing back the St. Joseph's Table Lenten event. Once a parish tradition, it had fallen by the wayside in the wake of COVID-19 and other things. Parishioners asked the parish to bring it and the parish asked the Knight so to help put it together.

The Knights are always happy to help out, especially to promote a sense of Community and Fellowship in our parish. 

Check out the new photo album showcasing the return of this time honored  tradition!

Thank you, Father Chris and Parish Staff, for asking us to be a part of it!

EASTER BASKETS 2025

On Monday April 7th the Knights gathered to make 190 Easter Baskets for underprivileged children all over the Chicago Area. Some went to our own food pantry, others to Wayne Township's Food Pantry and even the Port mission on Chicago's West Side. This program started in the early 1990's and was the idea of our late Brother Knight Louis Giambalvo who spent most of his time helping the poor. Over the years we've improved the process so that it runs like an assembly line. Henry Ford would be proud. 

NEW OFFICERS INSTALLED

On Monday June 23rd under the direction of District Deputy Dick Lambke and District warden Jim Posch the council's officers for the 2025-26 Fraternal Year were sworn in and installed. They are:

 

Grand Knight Craig Weber
Deputy Grand Knight John Porter
Chancellor Clyde Heineman
Warden Dan Naleck
Recorder Dave Dortmund
Treasurer George Mikosz
Financial Sec'y Ken Kaczynski
Trustee 1 Yr Bob Corrado
Trustee 2 yr Ray Arndt
Trustee 3 year John Warwick 
Advocate Bill Manton
Inside Guard Paul Sleszynski
Inside Guard Len Korona
Outside Guard Phil Christensen
Outside Guard Andrew Koch  
Chaplain Fr Chris Ciomek
Lecturer John Warwick *