Knights throughout the Diocese of Camden continued to build on the definition of “community” over the past year as they strove to support victims of natural disasters, political strife and financial difficulties across the state – and globe.
“Every Knight is for the faith, and for the benefit of all,” said Raymond Sands, state secretary for the New Jersey Knights of Columbus. “Our motto is ‘in service to one, in service to all.’”
For example, in answer to the ongoing pandemic, the Knights of Columbus focused that service to all by instituting the “Leave No Neighbor Behind” program, which urges Knights to continue to lead their families, protect their parishes and serve their communities.
Sands explained, “We cover every [part] of the Diocese, addressing the needs of the parish and the community.” He shared a few of the good deeds performed by Knights within the Camden Diocese, state, country and world over the course of last year:
Knights collected $7,400 to “Water for Texas,” where hundreds of cases of fresh water were sent to Texans without power due to ice storms.
They sponsored bus transportation to Washington’s March for Life.
They raised funds to erect highway billboard signs urging people to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Sands said, “We hope to continue this into the new year and in the Easter season throughout South Jersey.”
Donations to Hurricane Ida victims from the Knights included food, clothing and $100 grocery gift cards. Knights also raised $5,600 for residents of Gloucester County’s Mullica Hill section affected by the storm, and some $30,000 was distributed statewide.
They donated $7,000 to “For Health and For Hope” initiative for Mayfield, Ky., residents affected by last year’s tornadoes. In addition, the Knights sent four truckloads of food and home repair supplies to St. Jerome Catholic Church, Fancy Farm, Ky.
Knight Dan Gilliam Jr., district deputy for five councils in Cape May County, reported his members paired up with the Christ Child Society of Cape May County to provide 600 coats for the needy, totaling more than $10,000 in donations over the last ten years.
“We’re finding new ways to reach out to the community,” Gilliam said, “for there is a big need. My guys haven’t let off the throttle [during COVID].”
Replenishing food banks and promoting the sanctity of life were the dual goals of the Knights’ Saint John Paul II Chapter, which encompasses 37 councils in Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties. Chapter President Richard MacDonald reported that the Knights collected more than 16,000 lbs. of food for the Holy Angels Parish Food Bank, and scores of diapers for Guadalupe Family Services in Camden. The chapter also donated funds to purchase and place an ultrasound machine in the National Life Center, Woodbury.
“We were founded to look after our brother Knights and help people in their time of need,” MacDonald explained. “Pandemic or not, we are doing it. For the year ahead, we have a battle in front of us with the recent legislation passed on abortion.”
Proving their charity is not limited to those in need close to home, last year the Knights also donated funds and resources to victims of the Haiti earthquake, California wildfires, Tennessee floods and Hurricane Ida victims in Louisiana.
Nurturing priests, seminarians
In 2021, after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the annual “Pride in Our Priests” dinner was held Oct. 26 in Deptford. Nearly 300 priests, deacons and seminarians were sponsored by the fraternal organization, witnessing Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan declare, “The Knights support the parishes, and the parishes are the Church.” Upon their presentation to him of a check for $2,500 for the needs of the Diocese, the Bishop told the Knights, “People see your faith in action. Thank you for reaching out in support of [the priests].”
The 13 seminarians studying for the priesthood of the Camden Diocese also benefitted by the Knights’ largesse, noted Father Adam Cichoski, director of vocations for the Camden Diocese, in the form of their spiritual “adoption,” offering them moral support and prayers for the success of their faith journey success.
“It’s such a good thing [to have their support] coming from back home,” Father Cichoski said. “The Knights are praying for them, and they have great love and support.”
Last year, numerous Camden Diocese councils availed themselves of their Supreme Council’s Refund Support Vocations Program, or RSVP, to offer the seminarians in their area financial assistance. For every $500 given to an individual, the Knights’ national headquarters will refund the council $100.
Father Cichoski explained that different councils sponsor seminarians with their out-of-pocket costs such as books and other school materials, gasoline and vehicle maintenance, proper seminarian attire and other expenses, easing the financial pressure on them and their families. “The Knights of Columbus come through in so many ways for the seminarians; we’re blessed to have so many good councils reaching out.”
An innovative outreach project, created in the Camden Diocese and now a state-wide program, encourages even young Catholics to show their support for those studying for the priesthood. Each spring, Knights councils encourage the local Catholic schoolchildren and religious education students to participate in the Seminarian Letter Program designed by Knight John Tirado of Blackwood in 2000. The children ask questions about the priesthood and offer their best wishes (complete with crayoned drawings) to the seminarians, forging a spiritual connection with the future priests; then the Knights send them to the various seminaries where the young men reside, often accompanying the missives with their own written support.
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