On Friday, September 18, St. Joseph the Protector Council #16255 proudly served our parish and diocese during the celebration honoring Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint.
Knights from our council, accompanied by the Assembly 51 Honor Guard, escorted the Most Reverend Rey Bersabal, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, and participated in the procession with the statue of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila was a Filipino Catholic layman and a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. Of Filipino and Chinese heritage, he became the Philippines’ first martyr after being executed in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate’s persecution of Christians in the 17th century.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint of the Philippines and the Filipino people. Our council was honored to help celebrate his courageous witness to Christ and his enduring legacy of faith.
One Knight Advances to the Third Degree as We Welcome Three New Brother Knights
On September 12, 2026, Council 16255 joyfully hosted an Exemplification Ceremony for four Knights of Columbus. It was a wonderful morning of faith, brotherhood, and celebration as Michael Butcher advanced from First Degree to Third Degree, and three new Knights were welcomed into our council family.
The new Knights exemplified into Council 16255 were:
Jaime Ramirez
Rafael Del Rio
Salvador Osorio
With grateful hearts, we warmly welcome our new brothers into Council 16255. We are blessed by their willingness to answer the call to serve God, our parish, our families, and our community. May they always find in this council a true brotherhood of faith, support, friendship, and shared mission.
The ceremony opened in prayer as we asked God’s blessing upon these men and welcomed them into a deeper life of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity within our brotherhood.
As our Grand Knight administered the pledge to our new brothers, the Knights gathered in attendance raised their hands as well, joining them in spirit and renewing their own commitment to the principles of our Order.
It was a joyful and inspiring event, filled with smiles, laughter, fellowship, and faith. The warmth of the evening reflected the true spirit of the Knights of Columbus: men standing together in service to God, our parish, our families, and one another.
May this Exemplification remind every Knight of Council 16255 that our pledge is not a one-time promise, but a daily call to live Charity, Unity, and Fraternity with generous hearts and faithful service.
On Saturday, August 22, 2026, St. Joseph the Protector Council 16255 hosted the Knights of Columbus Silver Rose at St. Joseph Parish.
Council Family Director Mario Zappia led the event with the assistance of Grand Knight James Hunter. Several Brother Knights and their families joined St. Joseph parishioners in praying the Holy Rosary before Mass. Fr. Abraham, also a Brother Knight, celebrated the Holy Mass.
The Silver Rose is a Knights of Columbus Faith in Action Life program honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe and affirming the dignity and sanctity of every human life, from conception to natural death. Each year, Silver Roses travel through Canada, the United States, and Mexico, inviting Knights, families, and parish communities to pray for greater respect for human life.
The tradition began in 1960 and was inspired by St. Juan Diego and the miraculous roses associated with the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Its theme, “One Life, One Rose,” unites devotion to our Blessed Mother with the Knights’ commitment to protecting human life.
Council 16255 thanks everyone who participated in this beautiful celebration of faith, family, and life.
Brother Knights, Lovely Ladies, and Gracious Volunteers,
Through your generosity, hard work, and dedication, we presented the Vocations Office with the largest donation on record in support of the seminarians of the Diocese of Sacramento:
$40,027.30
Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.
St. Joseph the Protector Knights of Columbus Council 16255 is proud to introduce its officers for the 2026–2027 Columbian Year:
Grand Knight: James Hunter Deputy Grand Knight: Danny Couture Financial Secretary: Alex Knobloch Chancellor: Dennis Tremethick Treasurer: Ralph Cadriel Advocate: Mario Zappia Recorder: Derrick L. Bell Warden: Juan Vallejos Inside Guard: Tim Neilson Outside Guard: Lionel Domulot Three-Year Trustee: Jimmy Peerson Two-Year Trustee: Frank Martinez One-Year Trustee: Matt Berger Lecturer: Brian Perley
These Brother Knights have answered the call to serve our council and to uphold the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Their leadership will help guide our council as we support St. Joseph Parish, serve our community, strengthen Catholic family life, and stand faithfully beside our priests and one another.
Our officers are not only here to lead—they are here to serve you. Every Brother Knight is encouraged to approach them with questions, concerns, ideas, or requests for assistance. Whether you need help becoming more involved, understanding a council program, supporting a Brother in need, or finding your place within our council, please do not hesitate to reach out to these gentlemen.
A strong council is built when every member knows that he is valued, supported, and never alone. Let us work together, encourage one another, and make this Columbian Year one of renewed fraternity, faithful service, and meaningful growth.
Please keep our officers and their families in your prayers as they accept the responsibilities entrusted to them.
May God bless our officers and every member of St. Joseph the Protector Council 16255 throughout the 2026–2027 Columbian Year.
Pictured above, from left to right: Lionel Domulot, Derrick L. Bell, Frank Martinez, Juan Vallejos, Alex Knobloch, Ralph Cadriel, Tim Neilson, Danny Couture, Matt Berger, Dennis Tremethick, Jimmy Peerson, Mario Zappia, James Hunter, Brian Perley, and District Deputy Jesse Palapas.
St. Joseph the Protector Council 16255 was honored to host the Diocese of Sacramento Vocations Dinner on July 11, 2026, at St. Joseph Parish in Vacaville, California.
It was a truly momentous evening, and our council executed this event with excellence. Our Grand Knight, officers, brother Knights, Lovely Ladies, and an outstanding team of volunteers from St. Joseph Parish and neighboring councils came together in a remarkable display of faith, fraternity, and service to create an event that will be remembered for years to come and serve as a standard for future diocesan gatherings.
We were especially honored by the presence of Bishop Jaime Soto and the seminarians. Their gratitude and appreciation for the hospitality and support provided by our council were deeply encouraging and reaffirmed the importance of promoting and supporting priestly vocations.
To every Knight, every Lovely Lady, every volunteer, parish staff member, donor, and supporter who contributed your time, talent, and generosity—thank you. Your dedication made this evening an outstanding success and a beautiful witness to the mission of the Knights of Columbus: Charity, Unity, and Fraternity.
On June 14, 2026, Council 16255 was proud to host an Exemplification Ceremony for nine Knights of Columbus. Seven new Knights joined our council, and two joined Our Lady of Mount Carmel Council.
The new Knights exemplified into Council 16255 were:
Fr. Thommy Abraham
Nicholas Pagliari
Christopher Bailey
Demetrius Cagampan
Jonathan Rizzo
Kristian Diaz
Anthony Da Silva Sr.
Fr. Memo opened the ceremony by leading everyone in prayer as we welcomed these men into a new life of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity within our brotherhood.
As our Grand Knight administered the pledge to our new brothers, the Knights gathered in attendance raised their hands as well, renewing their own commitment to the principles of our Order.
It was a joyful and inspiring event, filled with smiles, laughter, brotherhood, and faith.
May this Exemplification remind every Knight of Council 16255 that our pledge is not a one-time promise, but a daily call to live Charity, Unity, and Fraternity in our parish, our families, and our community.
This weekend, May 30-31, 2026, the Knights of Columbus Council 16255 at St. Joseph Parish in Vacaville held a fundraiser upcoming July 11th Vocations Dinner to support our seminarians as they prepare for the priesthood. Our goal was ambitious: sell 600 homemade empanadas over the course of five Masses.
Edith and I were responsible for ordering, picking up, transporting, and setting up the empanadas for sale. Fresh batches were scheduled to arrive before each Mass so that parishioners would receive them hot and fresh. Our Brother Knights and their families generously volunteered after each Mass, helping to organize the sales, greet parishioners, package orders, and keep everything running smoothly.
As we packed up after the Saturday evening Mass, our excitement had faded. We looked at table after table of unsold empanadas. Less than half of what we had available had been sold, and we knew that hundreds more were arriving the next morning. We exchanged worried glances and quietly wondered, “What are we going to do with all this food?”
Many of us were discouraged. We had worked hard to prepare for this fundraiser, and it seemed possible that we had simply ordered too much.
Then Sunday morning arrived.
Before we had even finished setting up after the 8:00 AM Mass, parishioners began lining up. One tray disappeared, then another, and then another. People kept coming. Soon we were sold out, with parishioners still asking if there were any empanadas left.
The same thing happened after the 10:00 AM Mass.
And again after the Noon Mass.
And once more after the 5:00 PM Mass.
What had seemed impossible the night before became a blessing beyond anything we had imagined.
What made the day even more beautiful was watching Brother Knights, their wives, children, and families working side by side. Some were selling empanadas, others were carrying boxes, restocking tables, greeting parishioners, or helping with cleanup. What began as a simple fundraiser became a visible expression of faith, charity, fraternity, and unity.
The generosity of the parishioners of St. Joseph Parish was truly overwhelming. Time and again, people stepped forward not only to purchase empanadas but also to support the young men who have answered God’s call to serve His Church as priests.
Looking back, it is hard not to see the hand of God in what happened. Just when we began to worry, the Holy Spirit reminded us that this work was never really ours alone. The Holy Spirit desires holy priests for Christ’s Church and continues to inspire faithful Catholics to support vocations.
By the end of the weekend, every empanada had been sold. The Knights of Columbus raised a substantial amount of money to help support our seminarians in their formation for the priesthood.
The lesson for me was simple: never doubt the Holy Spirit.
When God’s people come together in faith and place their work in His hands, He can accomplish far more than we could ever imagine. What began as a night of uncertainty ended as a celebration of faith, generosity, and hope for the future priests who will one day serve His Church.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
We are proud to announce another successful food drive collection by our Knights of Columbus Council 16255! Our recent collection resulted in our best collection yet – an impressive 118 pounds of food donations that were delivered to St. Mary’s Food Locker.
Our Community Impact
To date, Council 16255 has made a significant difference in our community through:
233 pounds of food collected and donated
$500 in monetary donations to support St. Mary’s Food Locker
Consistent support from our dedicated brother Knights
A Testament to Brotherhood
This outstanding achievement reflects the generous spirit and commitment of all our brother Knights. Each donation, whether large or small, contributes to supporting families in our community who need it most.
As we often say – “It’s what Knights do!” – and Council 16255 continues to exemplify the charitable mission that defines our organization.
Thank you to all our brother Knights for your continued support and generosity. Together, we are making a real difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Council 16255 – Serving Our Community with Pride/isolated-segment.html
