From Father Steven - October 8, 2023

 
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
 
Please see below a letter from the Knights of Columbus.
 
God Bless,
Fr. Steven
——————————————————————--
 
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. Fr. McGivney had a mission to aid the widows and orphans at the time, as when the husband/father of the family passed away, the wife/mother were left helpless and with no money or security. Many times when that happened, children were taken from the mother and relocated to other families in the area by order of the state. Father McGivney did not want this to continue, so he wanted to form a band of brothers to be there to aid the widow and orphan in their time of need.
 
Back in the 19th century, Catholics were the minority, especially in the area of New Haven, CT, where it was mostly a Protestant community. Father McGivney broke new ground and reached out to the community to help break the barriers and to solve the differences between the faiths. He was successful in doing this, and while he was in the height of this endeavor, he became ill and passed away at the young age of 38. After his death, the Knights of Columbus continued to expand and grow within Connecticut, and into other states in New England. They focused on 4 areas of brotherhood: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Together Brother Knights joined each degree of these areas, and grew their local councils promoting their Catholic faith, all in an effort to continue to aid the widow and orphan, and to help the communities throughout the expanding states.
 
Fast-forward from 1882, to present-time in 2023, The Knights of Columbus are now more than 2-million strong, world-wide, and help in humanitarian efforts throughout the world. One area in particular the Knights of Columbus supports year-round, are those with intellectual disabilities, working closely with The Special Olympics, headquartered right here in our own backyard of Marlborough. Each year, the Knights of Columbus launches their historic “Tootsie Roll Drive”, where the Knights of Columbus hand out Tootsie Rolls after Mass, and other locations, in exchange for any donation individuals wish to make in support of this worthy cause. All proceeds go to support those with intellectual disabilities in the form of development, wheel chair ramps, and many, many other ways to help those in need with intellectual disabilities.
 
This Columbus Day weekend Oct 7-8, after all Masses, the Knights of Columbus members will be standing outside in their familiar yellow smocks, handing out Tootsie Rolls. Any donation is accepted, and, we also have a QR Code that can be used and it goes directly to our secure website for additional donations for this cause. Council 81, Knights of Columbus, in service now for 130 years, serves both Immaculate Conception and St. Matthias parishes in Marlborough, and we are also in alliance with St. Michael Parish in Hudson. Between the three parishes in both Marlborough-Hudson, we continue to promote the values that Father McGivney started. Father McGivney, is now known as “Blessed Michael J. McGivney”, as he is on his path to sainthood. Please check out our website: www.kofcmarlboro.org, for more information.
 
Thank you,
Vivat Jesus! (which means, Jesus Lives)
 
Brendan Butler, Grand Knight, Marlborough Council 81
Mike Gibson, State Warden, Knights of Columbus