The 124th state convention of the Vermont Knights of Columbus took place May 13-15 at Jay Peak in Jay. The theme was “The Power of Fatherhood” with an emphasis on St. Joseph.

State Deputy Steve Shover addressed the 140 people at the banquet stating, “Vermont Knights donated over 72,000 hours of charitable service and over $298,000 to support charitable initiatives and programs this past fraternal year. Each council in their own right has done tremendous acts of charity, and you should be applauded for your efforts.”

Shover has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 30 years. When he was elected state deputy two years ago, he said his main goal was to “bring God back into the Knights of Columbus in Vermont.” One of his first orders of business was to meet with each council grand knight and request that they sponsor Eucharistic Adoration at least once a month at their local parish.

Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne attended the convention and praised the Knights of Columbus for their consistent support of the Catholic Church in Vermont and charity to the most vulnerable. He was especially grateful for the Knights of Columbus Catholic Ministries Donor Advised Fund created in the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation to meet specific apostolic needs of the Church each year as advised by a committee including representation from Knights of Columbus councils.

Bishop Coyne acknowledged the recent $100,000 pledge to the fund made by the St. John Vianney Council in South Burlington over the course of this year.

All the Knights of Columbus councils are considering a significant contribution to grow the fund to address the greatest needs of the Catholic Church at any given time and engage the Knights of Columbus more fully in the issues concerning the future of the Catholic Church in Vermont.

St. Stephen Council in Winooski recently committed $25,000 to the new fund.

Shover reminded the knights of the challenge he set forth in his first year as state deputy, “when one lights a lamp, they do not put a bushel basket over it. Rather they let that light shine for all to see,” he said. “I’m not asking you brothers to climb to the highest Church steeple and shout it out to the world, however, I am asking you to continue to let your council shine.”

Awards

Knight of the Year: Jim Read, St. Stephen Council, Winooski

Family of the Year: Richard and Jacqueline LaBrecque, St. John Vianney Council, South Burlington

State Council Program Awards:

Family: Gibbons Council, Newport

Life: St. Albans Council, St. Albans

Community: Gibbons Council, Newport

Faith: Richmond Council

—Originally published in the Summer 2022 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.