Renovo’s St. Joseph’s Parish Knights of Columbus celebrate 125 years
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RENOVO -- More than a century after its original charter was drafted, the Knights of Columbus in Renovo are celebrating 125 years of service.
The charter, signed on Nov. 11, 1900, marked the beginning of the organization's long-standing commitment to St. Joseph's Parish and the broader Renovo community -- a commitment that continues to this day.
Father, now Blessed, Michael McGivney (1852-1890) founded the Knights of Columbus in 1877 at his home parish, St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn., with the mission of making a difference through community service, philanthropy and prayer.
Today, there are 15,900 councils worldwide, with approximately 2.1 million members.
St. Joseph Parish in Renovo joined the Knights of Columbus in November 1900 with 30 charter members. A photo of these founding members is on display in the organization's conference room at 925 Huron Ave., and the public is invited to view it along with other memorabilia.
Over the years, Renovo Council 542 has hosted spaghetti dinners, picnics, bake sales, Mother's Day breakfasts, softball tournaments and contributed to the Flaming Foliage Festival. Members have also sent memorial mass, sympathy and get-well cards, planted trees and established scholarships for local students.
On Oct. 6, Pope Leo XIV met with national leaders of the Knights of Columbus, whom he thanked for their generosity to the Vatican and their dedicated service to communities around the United States.
During the meeting, the pontiff said that local Knights councils "seek to bring the compassion and love of the Lord into your local communities, including through your efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life at all stages, assist victims of war and natural disasters and support priestly vocations."
At St. Joseph's parish, members include Fathers Joseph Bender, Ignatius Wales, Timothy Grimmie, Carl Spishak, Donald Boslett and Joseph Orr; Fourth Degree members John R. Moriarty, Charles W. Maxwell, Canto Parletti, Robert Russell, Fr. Ignatius Wales, Kevin Dwyer and James Goetz; and member of the Board of Governors Francis Dargo.