Supporting the family as part of our council’s Faith in Action programming, our brother Knights (Mario Zappia, Trent Heckathorn, Jay Salazar, Mike Cuellar, and Alex Knobloch) volunteered at the Notre Dame School Back-to-School BBQ on August 18th. We grilled over 400 hot dogs and manned the drink station for this annual event. Looking forward to many more opportunities to strengthen our relationship with our parish school!

Pictured: Lilianna, Mario, Gianna, Gail Grimm (accepting the check for St. Joseph), and Deputy Grand Knight David Stickle.

On August 16, 2023, on behalf of the Knights of Columbus, Mario Zappia and his wife, Liliana, and daughter, Gianna, presented a check for $400.00 to St. Joseph Parish to help purchase paper, pencils, and other materials for the Parish Religious Education students in the School Year 2023-2024. It will allow St. Joseph’s to continue offering a robust faith formation curriculum aimed at teaching the tenants of the Catholic faith and preparing young parishioners to receive the sacraments.

At St. Joseph’s, sacramental preparation is a two-year process. Children typically begin preparing for First Communion in 1st grade and then receive the sacrament in 2nd grade. Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in 7th grade and continues through 8th grade, when the sacrament is conferred by the bishop.

“We are very grateful for the generous support of the Knights of Columbus. Their donation will help us nurture the faith of our next generation,” said Gail Grimm the business manager for St. Joseph’s. “Good religious education programs help build a strong foundation for a lifelong relationship with Christ and his Church.”

As we begin another Columbian year, our St. Joseph Council has much to celebrate from the past year and look forward to in the months ahead. The past year saw our council grow stronger in faith, fraternity, and service to our community.

Exciting updates are coming to improve our council’s communication, like a new website to connect members. We are also honoring our history by updating the Knights’ wall of honor for the first time in years. We are thrilled to welcome new brothers to our mission.

Our Learn to Love workshops have been well-received, with new sessions starting this month to continue helping parishioners grow in faith. We were proud to participate in the Eucharistic Procession last June, living out our call to publicly express devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Outreach events like our Charity BBQ enabled us to support local pregnancy centers, defending the sanctity of all human life. We are inspired by the generosity of donors matching our efforts.

As we begin this new year, we remember that our achievements come not through our own power but through the Holy Spirit guiding us. When we step up, attend meetings, and work together as brother Knights, God accomplishes great things through us.

Let us enter this year with renewed zeal to heed Christ’s call in Matthew 25 – feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. Our council has so much good still to do in 2023. Come and see how you can put your faith into action.