We are men who lead, serve, protect and defend, whether we are giving out Coats for Kids, donating wheelchairs, lending a helping hand in disaster relief efforts, supporting local pregnancy centers or providing top-quality financial products.
In a few days many of us will exercise our right to vote. As I understand the Council’s policy regarding politics, no member should use his membership to solicit votes for himself or any particular candidate or political party. Therefore, I urge every brother Knight to carefully weigh the opinions and promises as stated by the candidates. Determine those candidates who most closely agree with your own personal beliefs and exercise your right to vote. Voting is not only a right it is also the duty of every American citizen. Remember if you don’t vote you have no right to complain about the outcome of the election.
At the last Council meeting we were told that Father Uche wants us to continue to serve breakfast after the 11:00 Mass. I mentioned that only about a dozen people came into the dinning room to eat breakfast after that Mass. I know because I was helping with the Parish Craft Group sale. Someone made the comment that I should have been helping with the breakfast.
During the meeting at least ten members were named as helping with the breakfast. I agree I could have stood around, drank coffee, chatted about one thing or another and maybe done something constructive. However I believe being a Knight includes supporting other Parish organizations. Instead of helping with the breakfast I worked to support the Craft Group with their sale. I set up the tables, brought the merchandise from the craft room to the dining room and helped set up the items for sale. I was there at 7:30 am and finally finished repacking the remaining merchandise and moving it back to the craft room about 1:00 pm.
When my mother was alive, she wished to participate in parish activities as much as she could. Since she was in her 80’s and could no longer drive I would take her to the Wednesday morning craft group. I usually stayed with her until it was time to come back home. I would help the ladies with lifting heavier items and doing little odd tasks as needed. After Mother died, I continued to help the ladies.
Many parishioners know the craft group exists, but few know much about the members, what they do, and specifically what they do with the money they raise from their sales. The Craft Group has been part of the parish almost from the beginning in one form or another. They started as part of the Women’s Club and when that club disbanded continued on their own. They are part of the parish Outreach organization. Each Wednesday morning from 9:30 am until noon the members who can make it arrive at the church. They spend those two and a half hours enjoying each other’s company while working on various projects. The average age of the members is probably 70 although that may be a bit conservative. A few have mobility issues and need a cane or walker; most cannot stand for long periods of time, a few are not able to drive a car anymore and must rely on others to bring them and take them home..
About four times a year they hold a craft sale to earn money to support their various projects. Very little of the money they earn is used to buy supplies. Most of their supplies are donated either by members of the parish or by the women themselves.
What are some of their projects? They collect shoe boxes, cover them with wrapping paper and pack them with items they have purchased or items that have been donated. The boxes usually contain pens, pencils, a note pad, socks, gloves, books, and a toy. The boxes are consolidated with boxes from other parishes and shipped to children in Central America who otherwise might not receive any Christmas presents. Additionally, they furnish Christmas gifts for 20 to 25 families as requested by the Duncanville Independent School District who also might not receive any gifts. Each year donated Christmas cards are signed and sent to our service personnel. Baby supplies are given to White Rose and Crisis Pregnancy Center. Some completed quilts are given to Court Appointed Special Advocates for children (CASA) or other similar organizations. Each year they make Christmas Stockings for Parkland Hospital for newborns to come home in on Christmas Day. They work with the parish youth group making Easter baskets. They also work with Catholic Charities on various projects. Once a month they travel to Catholic Charities to help them with their projects.
They have performed various projects as requested by parishioners or other parish organizations. A few helped repair the damage to the tapestry in the church caused by our yearly infestation of crickets.
We observe about ten holidays during the year. Each holiday, they make a small token gift to be distributed to the homebound members of the parish and to Meals on Wheels recipients.
In their spare time they assemble the items that they offer for sale four times a year. Since two and a half hours a week is not enough time to complete many of their projects a few take projects home to be worked on. I am sure other parish organizations could use a little help now and then with their various projects. Isn’t that what Knights are supposed to do, help others when they
