COUNCIL INFORMATION
Council 7119 2017 Founders' Day Article (St. Louis County West Magazine)
St. Clare’s Knights of Columbus present awards at Founder’s Day celebration
July 17, 2017 271 Views
By JIM MALVEN
As part of its annual Founder’s Day celebration earlier this year, Knights of Columbus Council 7119, located at St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Ellisville, recognized various members of the St. Clare and local communities by presenting community, fraternal and youth awards.
In the community awards category, the council acknowledged Ellisville Police Department Corporal George Corless as Police Officer of the Year and Metro West Fire Protection District’s John Godfrey as Firefighter of the Year, giving $200 to The BackStoppers Inc. in the men’s names.
The council also presented community awards to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Lafayette Industries and St. Gemma Center. Cardinal Glennon received a donation of $2,778, while Lafayette, which employs individuals with developmental disabilities, and St. Gemma, which provides educational opportunities for children with autism, were granted $1,389 each. Council 7119 is supported in its charitable efforts by local partners such as the Dierbergs in Clarkson-Clayton Center and Lukas Liquor.
Fraternal awards were given to the Knight Family of the Year, Knight of the Year and Knight of the Month.
Several members of the St. Clare of Assisi School received youth awards for winning competitions sponsored by Council 7119. Kate Hanlon and Max Mundwiller finished first and second, respectively, in an eighth-grade essay contest focused on the importance of religious freedom. In a substance abuse poster contest, Lily Tournier and Hanna Schmitz won in the age 8-11 group, and Jennifer Mansfield and Blake Ryle won in the age 12-14 group. There were a number of winners, both male and female, aged 9 to 14, in a basketball free-throw contest. Those winners are eligible to move on to district, state and national rounds.
In the tradition of the Knights of Columbus’ promotion and support of Catholic education, the council presented an annual $500 academic scholarship to one graduating student of St. Clare of Assisi School. To apply, the student had to submit an essay about how he or she plans to fulfill his or her goals through a Catholic education, provide proof of acceptance by a Catholic high school and complete a community service profile form. The council awarded this year’s scholarship to Mary Mansfield, who will attend St. Joseph’s Academy.
Want uplifting Catholic literature? Look no farther than the "Knights Nook" in the Gathering Area
In 2008 Bob Villaire (who was our District Deputy) approached me and asked for help with establishing a Knights RIB display for our parish. Each Council is assessed a yearly fee (based on the numbers of council members) to fund the Missouri Knights RIB program. The thought was since we have to pay a yearly fee how can we take advantage of the program to provide the religious literature to parishioners of St. Clare.
We approached Msgr Callahan and he approved of us building a display in our church gathering space. We have been providing literature ever since. There are a series of books and pamphlets that we order from the MO state bureau to use on our display. We rotate the series every few months. The display has had a lot of use over the years.
Since inception in 2009, we have provided 8,300 pieces of religious literature to our parish. If you have any questions, just let me know. Thanks.
Jim Kaiman
(RIB Custodian, stock boy, librarian)