Oct. 15, 2014

By Fred Herbst
Contributing writer

TICONDEROGA - The tragic fire at St. Mary’s School in Ticonderoga has at least one silver lining. It’s served as a rallying point for the local Knights of Columbus.

“Our support of St. Mary’s School gives us another opportunity to serve our community and grow,” said Grand Knight Mike Edson of Knights of Columbus St. Isaac Jogues Council 333.

“Our school needs us,” he said. “Our children need us. Our parish community needs us. As Catholic gentlemen, and as Knights of Columbus, we need to come together at this time.

“This year we have two goals,” Edson said. “To strengthen our brotherhood and council and to do whatever we can to aid and support the students and faculty of St. Mary’s School.”

With those goals in mind, the Knights will host an open house Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. at their home on Montcalm Street. Desserts will be served. Knights along with prospective members and their families are invited.

Officers and members will be available to discuss the organization, its role in the community and its goals.
“We will explain the charitable acts we perform, how we support our parish and community and the benefits of belonging to our honored order,” Edson said.

“If someone hasn’t been to the council hall in a while, they should join us and see the enthusiasm of the current membership and hear our plans for future growth and success,” he said.

The open house is for current and prospective members, the grand knight stressed.

“It’s an opportunity for prospective members to learn about us and a chance for older members to get re-acquainted with the council,” Edson said.

The St. Isaac Jogues Council 333 has 259 members and a long history. The local Knights of Columbus formed April 24, 1898, with 42 members.

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization dedicated to the core principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.

The Ticonderoga council has dedicated thousands of hours and monetary gifts to St. Mary’s Church, St. Mary’s School and the community.

Its emphasis on youth citizenship has included sponsorship of local Little League teams, the Knights of Columbus free throw competition, the Distinguished Young Woman and the Year program and high school athletes and athletic teams.

As a community service the Knights host many social events each year, including the Irishman of the Year dinner, a New Year’s celebration, a Valentine’s Day event and many fund-raising dinners and events for local groups and individuals in need.

The Knights of Columbus also host private functions such as graduation, wedding and anniversary parties and receptions.

This month alone the Knights will host five public events, in addition to its open house. The annual Ticonderoga High School Hall of Fame dinner  was held  at the Knights hall  Oct. 10.

The fourth annual “Wing War,” which brings area restaurants together in a friendly competition to determine who serves the best chicken wings in the area, will be held  Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. “Wing Wars” has been a benefit for the Ticonderoga Food Pantry.

The Knights will host a breakfast Oct. 19, to benefit St. Mary’s School.

Pat DeVaney will present a program on his trek along the Camino de Santiago Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.  El Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of Jesus’s apostle Saint James the Elder lie. The Camino has existed as a Christian pilgrimage for more than 1,000 years.

A spaghetti dinner to support the LaChute Road Runners Club’s scholarship and youth activities will be held at the Knights of Columbus Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m.