COUNCIL INFORMATION
Founded on the principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus was established to provide financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, and disaster and public relief works.
Our Lady of Lourdes Council #4500 was established in 1957 with 10 charter members from St. Kevin and surrounding parishes. St. Kevin Parish is our home base and is where we concentrate most of our support and outreach programs. The council donates thousands of dollars and members volunteer hundreds of hours each year to support various faith, community, life, and charitable activities. Our Lady of Lourdes Council #4500 engages in the following activities:
Food for Families
The council conducts annual Thanksgiving and Lenten food drives, collecting food and other essentials for donation to food pantries located at Holy Cross parish in Springfield and Ridley Park United Methodist Church. On designated Sundays prior to Thanksgiving and during Lent, council members collect food donations from parishioners attending mass at St. Kevin Church, transport the food to the pantries, and help unload the food at the pantries. In addition to the food drives, council members also gather periodically to prepare meals for St. Kevin's Food for Friends freezer.
Gift Cards for H.O.P.E.
Each year, Council 4500 holds a benefit to collect gift cards for St. Kevin's Helping Our Parishioners in Emergencies (H.O.P.E.) program. The council treats St. Kevin parishioners to dinner at a local restaurant in exchange for gift cards to nearby grocery and department stores. All gift cards collected are donated the parish H.O.P.E. program.
Coats for Kids
The Coats for Kids program is just one of many ways that we put our faith into action. We purchase new winter coats of different sizes and styles and donate them to a local charity for distribution to needy children and youth. Each year, proceeds of one of our fundraising activities is earmarked for this program.
Free Throw Championship
Council 4500 conducts an annual free throw championship for boys and girls aged of 9 to 14 to provide an athletic outlet and encourage the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition. Kids compete within their own gender and age and progress from local level to district, regional and state/province competitions. Held in the St. Kevin PLC, the event attracts competitors from St. Kevin parish and the surrounding community.
Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP)
Our council provides financial support to future priests during their religious education. Every year, our council contacts St. Charles Boromeo Seminary to identify a seminarian in need of financial support. The seminarian is then invited to attend a council meeting and presented with a donation. The funds donated can be used by the seminarian to cover needs such as books, car insurance / maintenance, emergency expenditures and other living expenses. The council also provides the seminarian with moral support and prayers for their success.
Keep Christ in Christmas
Each year Our Lady of Lourdes Council conducts a number of activities to remind parishioners of St. Kevin to keep Christ in Christmas. These activities have included giveaways of Christmas ornaments, car magnets, and advent calendars; maintenance, set-up, and take-down of an outdoor nativity scene and Keep Christ in Christmas banner; and a Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest for children attending PREP classes at St. Kevin.