MAJOR GRANT FOR ABUNDANT HOPE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER
The State Board presents a check to Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center for a major grant.
EXEMPLIFICATION FOR A NEW COUNCIL
An Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity was held for new members who will be Charter members of a new Council at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Chicopee, MA.
PROM FOR GOD’S SPECIAL PEOPLE
Father Francis Coppens Council 4336 in Tewksbury, Mass., held it’s annual God’s Special People Prom. Over 100 guests enjoyed dancing and a meal hosted by Council #4336 with help from many local Councils. See the video below.
Knights from St. Mary’s Longmeadow (Mass.) Council 5406 collected 90 snowsuits and several large boxes of diapers for Bethlehem House, a pregnancy resource center in Easthampton. The council also recently donated several beds to Ukrainian refugees arriving in the area.
NICHOLS ASSEMBLY 398 CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY
MASSACHUSETTS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DONATES BOXES OF COATS TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Kathryn Buckley-Brawner, executive director of Catholic Charities, and Thomas Butler, the state deputy of the Massachusetts Knights of Columbus, pose for a picture with new coats donated by the Knights.
SPRINGFIELD – The Knights of Columbus presented Catholic Charities with dozens of new winter coats as part of their order’s Coats for Kids program. Councils all across Massachusetts purchased and distributed close to 7000 coats statewide.
“The goal of the program is to ensure that no child in North America goes without a coat during the winter season,” said Thomas Butler, the state deputy of the Massachusetts Council of the Knights of Columbus. Butler is also a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Springfield.
“It is one of our many charitable programs to help those who are in need,” he said.
Catholic Charities will distribute the coats to families they serve.
“The donations of 6 large boxes of warm winter coats from the Knights of Columbus will serve our homeless clients and some of our incoming refugee families,” said Kathyrn Buckley-Brawner, the executive director of Catholic Charities. The agency assists refugees from several countries including Afghanistan and Ukraine.
“As the weather gets colder these coats are critical to some of these families that cannot afford to purchase them,” she said.
In addition, Catholic Charities has a variety of programs to assist families with rent, housing and employment referrals, staying true to their mission, which states, “believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing the mission of Jesus given to the church.”
“We all have felt the impact of steeply rising prices over the last few months,” said Buckley-Brawner. “The cost of all items, food, household goods, and clothing have put many of these necessities beyond the income of people who struggle in poverty. Donations, like the coats from the Knights can be a God-send.”
The Knights of Columbus was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 with a mission of charity. Pope Francis beatified the Connecticut priest who is now Blessed Michael McGivney, one step before sainthood.
“Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus on the principles of charity, unity and fraternity to bring financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled and needy members and their families,” said Butler. “Today, Blessed Michael McGivney guides us as we are empowering Catholic men to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work and in their community.”
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GARDNER KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL GIVES GENEROUS DONATION TO LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER
The Gardner Knights of Columbus Council surprised the Gardner Community Action Center (GCAC) with a $200 donation for the organization’s Season of Sharing holiday campaign and 72 brand new children’s winter jackets in three different sizes on Dec. 20.
The Knights of Columbus established the Coats for Kids program in 2009 and has donated 400,000 children’s winter coats in the United States and Canada. The program purchases new winter coats for children at a discount and donates them to local organizations, which in turn distribute them to children in need.
The Gardner Council of the Knights of Columbus, founded in October 1898, provides services to Catholic churches and Gardner residents.
MASS K OF C PARTICIPATES IN WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
The Massachusetts State Board and Honor Guard participated in this year’s Wreaths Across America at Bourne National Cemetery.
Click here to view the State Deputy’s Address
