Programs Overview - Council 12963

Programs Overview
Council 12963

Programs within the Knights of Columbus generally come under the heading of one of five broad categories: Church, Council, Community, Family, or Youth. Below are the recurring programs our Council runs within each category.

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Church Activities:

Pancake Breakfast

Takes place in the Church basement. Pancakes and Sausage served after the 8:00 am and 10:30 am Masses. Serve food from the kitchen window, help with set up of tables, clear tables after people are finished, and new group enters. Cook pancakes and clean up after activity is over to include returning the tables to their original positions for CCD. Normally takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Church Grounds Clean Up

Pick up any trash found on grounds; some members may bring tools for trimming and pick up fallen branches. Please bring work gloves! Coffee, juice and doughnuts are usually provided. Usually takes place twice a year, once in the spring and once just before the parish picnic.

Chili Cook-off

Help set up tables and chairs in the basement of church. Assist with the pickup of supplies. Help with set up of cooking supplies, storing of soft drinks, and setting out food. Clear tables after people leave and new group arrives. Help with cleanup and returning all chairs and tables to proper setting. Assist in tabulating votes, making certificates, and distributing awards. Normally takes place during mid- to late-February.

Church Picnic

Help move tables and chairs from the basement of church to the outside and set up tables and chairs. Assist with the pickup of supplies. Help with set up of cooking grills, storing of soft drinks, and help cook and serve food. Clear tables after people leave and new group arrives. Help with cleanup and returning all chairs and tables to storage after picnic. Normally takes place during early to mid- September.

Decorating Church for Christmas

The Knights help provide the “muscle” to decorate the Church for Christmas. This is done in conjunction with the ladies of the Church. After the New Year we also assist in taking the decorations down and storing them away. This usually takes place the Sunday before Christmas after the 10:30 am Mass. The decorations are taken down on the Sunday after New Year’s Day after the 10:30 am Mass. These dates can change based on the Pastor’s requirements.

Community Activities:

Blood Drive

Work with Nova/Red Cross gathering basic paperwork as people show up to give blood. If we are giving out juice etc, make sure it is available. Make sure people have easy and safe access to Mobile Blood van. Attempt to conduct in the March to May timeframe. Is dependent on availability of Mobile Blood van.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Collect Food donations from people at every mass. Store frozen Turkeys in refrigerator. Sort food out and assemble boxes for individual meals. Pack meals; deliver boxes and Turkeys to St. Andrew. Normally takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Road Cleanup

Road cleanup involves the strip of Henderson rd between Yates ford intersection and Clifton. Bring your own gloves! Other equipment is provided. We usually work in teams of three. We clear bottles, cups etc off side of road. We do not enter any private property (usually no more the 10 ft in). Avoid anything that could be hazardous. Must be careful and aware of traffic at all times! Usually have coffee, juice and something to eat before or after cleanup. Takes place twice a year, usually in the April/May and September/October timeframes.

KOVAR (Knights Of Virginia, Assistance for the Retarded)

Collection takes place at the Giant located in Lorton Plaza. Usually there are two persons collecting one in front of each entrance of the store. Each person does a two-hour shift. You will be standing most of the time. You wear a vest which identifies you as a KOVAR collector. If people contribute you offer them one or more tootsie rolls. If a child is with a parent, ask the parent if you can give a tootsie roll to the child. All money is collected directly into the container provided. Takes place in mid-April each year.

Council Activities:

Council Installation Ceremony

This ceremony installs the new Council officers for the Council year (July 1st to June 30th). All newly elected Council officers are required to attend or have a proxy in their place. Spouses, families and parishioners are invited to attend. Normally there is a reception of light refreshments that follows. Depending on new officers schedules this ceremony normally takes place in August or September.

Past Grand Knight’s Dinner

This dinner is held to recognize and thank the Grand Knight who has just become the Past Grand Knight as a result of a change in the Council year. All Council members and spouses are invited to attend as well as state and district representatives. This can take place any time between August to October. The dinner is scheduled and overseen by the incoming Grand Knight.

Social Gatherings

Our Council tries to schedule social gatherings during the year that Knights and their spouses can enjoy. These may include a St. Valentine’s Day Dinner & Dance, a St. Patty’s Day Dinner & Dance, Christmas Party, dinner at a local restaurant or wine and cheese tasting. The dates for these events are established as the Council year progresses. They are advertised in the Council newsletter and announced at Council meetings. An attempt is made to hold one of these types of gatherings during each quarter of the Council year.

Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) Sales

This activity includes the sale of Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) cards sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. This takes place starting at the Parish Picnic and continues most weekends after Masses outside the front doors of the Church until about Thanksgiving.

Family & Youth Activities:

Children’s Christmas Party

The Council conducts a Children’s Christmas Party for the parish children in the basement of the Church. The party includes games, refreshments and entertainment along with small gifts. Normally one of the Knights dresses up as Santa Claus for the party. This normally takes place on a December weekend prior to Christmas. Schedule can depend on CCD requirements.

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt

The Council conducts a Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday after the 10:30 am Mass. The Easter Egg Hunt takes place in the area in front and to the sides of the Church. Children are divided into age groups to allow for equal opportunity among the youngsters to find eggs. All children in the parish are welcome. This takes place on Easter Sunday. If it rains there is no rain date.

Basketball Free Throw Competition

The Council, normally in conjunction with another District Council, holds an annual basketball free throw contest for young men and women aged 10 to 14. Local winners are sent to District (dependent on participation), State, and International competition. Participants need only be local to the area: they do not have to be associated with the Knights, attend St. Clare’s, or even be Catholic. Local competition usually occurs in the January timeframe, with District in February and State in March.

Young Man and Young Woman of the Year

At the end of each fraternal year the outgoing Grand Knight selects the Young Man and Young Woman of the Year. These two young people, who do not have to be parishioners, are selected based on their contributions to their family, schools and Church. In the past awardees have been young people who have helped with Church projects, been altar servers, excellent students and/or well rounded individuals who have had a positive influence in their community. These awards normally take place at the reception after the Council Installation ceremony in August or September.

Knight of the Month and Knight of the Year Awards

Each month the Grand Knight selects a member of the Council who has made the most significant contribution to the Council and the parish during that month to be the Knight of the Month. At the end of each fraternal year the outgoing Grand Knight selects a member of the Council as the Knight of the Year which is the highest individual recognition the Council can bestow on one of its members. The selection is based on that Knight’s overall contributions to the Council and the parish during the fraternal year. The Knight of the Month award normally takes place during one of the Council meetings each month while the Knight of the Year award normally takes place at the reception after the Council Installation ceremony in August or September.

Family of the Month and Family of the Year Award

Each month the Grand Knight selects a family who has made the most significant contribution to the Council and/or the parish during that month to be the Family of the Month. At the end of each fraternal year the outgoing Grand Knight selects a family as the Family of the Year. The family does not have to be parishioners at St. Clare. The award is based on overall contributions to and involvement in the parish and its various support organizations. The family of the Month award normally takes place during one of the Council meetings each month. The Family of the Year award also normally takes place at the reception after the Council Installation ceremony in August or September.

Additional Activities:

Car Raffle

The Council also participates in the All Saints Car Raffle which is our biggest fund raiser. The majority of the proceeds the Council receives from this activity is donated to the parish building fund. This raffle effort extends over the months of March and April.

Adopt-a-Child Program

The Council sponsors a child from a foreign country through the Christian Foundation for Children and the Aging. We currently sponsor a young man named Felix from Guatemala. Copies of his letters in English and Spanish are posted on our Council website. Knights are asked to take turns corresponding with Felix by writing letters. This is an activity that takes place during the entire fraternal year.

Sponsor a Seminarian

Under this activity the Council tries to identify a seminarian that needs financial support and we contribute $1,000 a year to him to help offset expenses. Any seminarian who is a parishioner of St. Clare’s receives priority for finding purposes. In the absence of a St. Clare related seminarian we select candidates based on recommendations from Council members, parishioners and religious. This is a one-time event each fraternal year as a worthy recipient is identified.

This year, our Programs Director is Rich Stretton.