The New Jersey State Council Knights of Columbus held their 119th annual State Convention in WiIdwood May 15-16.
The annual event began with Mass at St. Ann Church, the Parish of Notre Dame de la Mer, with Bishop Dennis Sullivan celebrating, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Christopher Columbus Monument across the street from the Convention Center.
At Saturday’s business session, election of officers was held for the 2015-16 Columbian Year with Andrew Lipenta of St. Peter Parish in Merchantville scheduled to complete his term as State Deputy on June 30.
Raymond Sands of The Parish of St. Maximilian Kolbe in Woodbine was elected to the Office of State Warden.
The convention meeting closed with Mass at St. Ann Church and a grand banquet at the Convention Center.
The guest speakers were Chief J. Scott Thomson, Chief of Camden County Police serving the City of Camden; Sister Helen Cole of Guadalupe Family Services in North Camden; and Dr. Daniel Rossi, Past State Deputy, Supreme Director of the Knights of Columbus.
At the banquet, the Gregory Stagliano family of the Parish of St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Gibbsboro, was announced as the Family of the Year, and William Flynn of Ocean City was announced as Knight of the Year.