On September 1, Mike Webber, our parish maintenance supervisor, reached out to our council with an important need. The outdoor Nativity stable along John R Road has reached the end of its useful life, and Father Steve needs a new solution that is lighter, more durable, easier to assemble, and easier to store. Within two days, eight Brother Knights stepped forward:
Chris Dempsey, Glenn O’Connell, Steve Duffy, John Svoboda, David Barczys, Daniel Tardiff, Michael Mulhearn & Ed Bahoura.
These men brought together engineering, design, construction, and hands-on experience, and we already have a meeting scheduled with Father Steve and Mike on September 14 to review the concepts and determine our next steps. I want to recognize and thank these Brothers for answering the call so quickly. This is what Knights in action looks like. But I also want to challenge the rest of our council. We have approximately 170 members, yet event after event, the same small group of men continues to carry most of the workload. That cannot continue. We all joined the Knights of Columbus for a reason. We joined to serve, to strengthen our faith, to support our parish, to help our families and community, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Brother Knights. No one is asking every Knight to attend every event. No one is asking every Knight to lead a project. But I am asking every Brother to do something. Maybe you have a skill we need. Maybe you can give us an hour. Maybe you can help set up, clean up, serve food, make phone calls, help with a project, or simply show up when your council needs you.
I want to recognize all of the Brother Knights who have volunteered their time, talent, and energy over the past year. Whether you helped at one event or twenty, your service matters, and it is appreciated. This message is not directed at you. It is directed at the many members of our council who have not yet found a way to get involved. We need you. You do not have to do everything, and you do not have to be at every event, but every Brother Knight should be willing to do something.
This Nativity project is one opportunity. There will be many others. You do not have to do everything. But you should be willing to do something. Imagine what this council could accomplish if 50 or 75 men became actively involved instead of the same 20. We have the manpower. We have the talent. We have the opportunities. Now we need more Brothers to step forward.
If you would like to help with the Nativity project or become involved in another council initiative, contact me directly. Let’s show St. Anastasia what this council is capable of when we truly work together.
Vivat Jesus!
Ed Bahoura Grand Knight
586-212-0286