Local Knights of Columbus earn international nod for 3rd straight year
Published 12:15 am Wednesday, November 23, 2016
- District deputy George Becnel, above, is seen with Grand Knight of Council No. 9623 Michael Abbate Sr.
For the third year in a row, Knights of Columbus Council 9623 in LaPlace has received the distinction of Star Council, one of the international organization’s top awards for the 2015-16 fraternal year.
The organization’s headquarters, located in New Haven, Conn., made the announcement.
A major tornado hit the LaPlace area Feb. 23. AOL Knights of Columbus 9623 was first to the scene taking care of the community. Starting on that Tuesday night helping residents cover damaged roofs and starting the next day for several weeks, volunteers cooked and served more than 8,000 hot meals, handed out 15 pallets of bottled drinking water, 300 brooms, 200 mops, 200 yard rakes, 200 wide shovels, several cases of baby food, four pallets of heavy duty garbage bags, eight pallets of ice, a pallet of cookies, a pallet of crackers, a pallet of toiletry items, two pallets of paper towels, two pallets of lemon bleach for cleaning, a truck load of batteries, 500 tarps, two pallets of potato chips and several other items.
The award recognizes overall excellence in membership recruitment, retention, fraternal insurance program promotion and sponsorship of service-oriented activities.
District Deputy George J. Becnel presented the award to the membership at a special ceremony.
In announcing the LaPlace winner of the Star Council Award, Knights of Columbus CEO Carl A. Anderson offered his “sincere congratulations” for attaining the “prestigious award.”
“Your dedication to the Order is seen in the high standard of excellence you have achieved,” Anderson said. “At the same time, I encourage you to carry forward this enthusiasm to meet the challenges that will face the Knights of Columbus in the years ahead. May this award be a reminder and an inspiration to the members of your Council to continue to promote the ideals of Columbianism for the good of the Church, your community and the Order.”
Grand Knight Michael A. Abbate Sr., head of the local council, said receiving the Star Council Award is quite an honor.
“We’re extremely proud of this accomplishment,” Abbate said.
Abbate, of the Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church-based Council, said the group boasts more than 130 members with approximately 40 percent of them active.
Knights of Columbus members made a tremendous impact this year following the devastating February tornado that ripped through LaPlace, damaging hundreds of homes and more than 50 businesses.
Abbate said volunteers showed true dedication, harnessing local manpower to fill the Ascension of Our Lord parking lot each day before 7 a.m. and staying until dark, providing food and giveaways to anyone who showed up.
The effort lasted through mid-March and was fueled through the gratitude of those who accepted the meals.
The effort caught the attention of the international Knights of Columbus, which recognized the LaPlace group for serving more than 8,000 meals by presenting a prestigious service award at this year’s 134th international convention in Toronto.
Council No. 9623 hasn’t slowed down since, leaping into response following the devastating August floods that impacted Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes.
Abbate said they served more than 4,000 meals and have been all over the state almost every weekend.
The Knights of Columbus are the world’s largest Catholic lay organization. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Church, their communities, families and young people.
With more than 1.9 million members in more than 15,000 councils around the world, the Knights of Columbus annually donates more than $175 million and 73 million hours of service to charitable causes.
— by Stephen Hemelt
