THE MISSION AT HEART: Knights of Columbus find serving others rewarding

Published 7:00 am Friday, June 30, 2023

The list of church and community endeavors that the local Knights of Columbus Council is involved in is a long one to say the least, but perhaps even greater is the reward that members often find in serving others.

“We volunteer our time, our treasures and whatever we have that is needed, and it’s a very, very rewarding experience and organization,” said Grand Knight Elect Ross Martinez.

Martinez has been a Knight for more than 37 years, and others within the local council have been involved for more than 50. It’s worth noting that nobody who is part of the council gets paid. Those who serve do so voluntarily. Perhaps, then, it’s the mission at heart that has kept the men involved for so long.

Locally known as Father Robert Kennedy Council 9458, Milledgeville’s council is one of more than 16,000 Knights of Columbus councils worldwide with a total membership that exceeds 2 million people. With councils in Canada, Ukraine, the Philippines and many other parts of the world, it’s the largest fraternal organization in existence.

“We are a brotherhood of practicing Catholic men who work for the good of the church, our neighbors, community and each other,” Martinez said.

The organization was founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, whose goal was to protect the livelihood of Catholic families when the bread winner passed away or was disabled.

“At that time, if the breadwinner passed away, most families were left to fend for themselves with little or no support,” Martinez said. “Father McGivney started the Knights in order to help these families.”

Though it’s not directly an insurance business, the organization has continued in that role through the years by providing members with life insurance programs and annuity products. It is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world and has provided Catholic families with financial protection for more than 140 years.

Locally, Knights of Columbus has a strong tradition of service, both financially and through volunteer endeavors. During Fraternal Year 2022, the organization distributed more than $17,000 in donations and more than 22,700 man hours in service to the church and community. Most notably, volunteers donated more than $5,000 to programs that support life; $2,000 to programs that support individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities; $2,500 in college scholarships; $3,000 in audiovisual upgrades to the church and $2,000 to seminarians.

Each year, the council sponsors the annual Parish Yard Sale on Labor Day weekend, as well as a Lenten fish fry where they sell fish and shrimp plates to the public every Friday during Lent. Their fundraising efforts have helped to raise money for the Special Olympics, sponsor church picnics, support and defend the lives of the unborn and the dignity of life. In addition, they conduct blood drives, provide Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, maintain the Catholic cemetery in Sparta and directly support their parish priest in projects that affect the community, among other initiatives.

Members in Milledgeville are affiliated through Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Chartered in 1986 in Milledgeville, Martinez said one of the aspects of the local council he’s proudest of is its  dedication to programs that support life. For instance, their Baby Bottle Boomerang initiative runs each year from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, and it’s then that members work to collect money in baby bottles that is later donated to pregnancy centers.

“Last year, we donated over $5,000 just out of the Baby Bottle Boomerang, and habitually we’ve raised at least 25% of the total that’s collected out of the Milledgeville area, and that’s something we’re kind of proud of,” Martinez said.

They also host a yearly baby shower that runs from April through Mother’s Day.

“People just buy clothing, diapers, baby needs, and then we take it over to the pregnancy center at the end of the month,” Martinez explained. “That’s really a rewarding thing because we know that we’re helping all of these women and children, and we’re helping keep babies alive.”

Currently, there are about 110 members in the local council. Criteria for membership is that a person must be 18 years or older, be a practicing Catholic man and must follow the rules of the order.

“We’re constantly looking for new members,” Martinez said.

Having served as membership director for the last two years, one of his goals was to increase the number of young Knights locally, specifically within the 18 to 29 year old age range.

“The more we increase, the more we can provide services and other things in the community,” Martinez said.

Anyone interested in membership should email Martinez at rossrm@att.net.