September 24, 2014

The New York State Council of the Knights of Columbus has long been an ardent supporter of the Catholic schools in New York State, and has for many years matched monetary donations from local councils to Catholic schools in their vicinity.

The state council has also responded quickly with funds and supplies following natural and other disasters within the State.

Thus, on hearing about the devastating fire that crippled St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School in Ticonderoga,  Dr. Charles J. Robinson, state secretary of the NY State Council of the Knights of Columbus, and Bill McIntyre, the local K of C district deputy, urgently requested that the state council provide disaster relief funds to the school for its immediate needs.

The school serves students K to 8 in a nurturing Catholic environment.

Within a week, state deputy Carmine Musumeci, and the other officers representing the 90,000 Knights in NeW York State, approved an outright donation of $2500, and a pledge to match another $2500 of donations that would come from K of C councils and 4th degree assemblies throughout the state.

St. Isaac Jogues Council 333 in Ticonderoga will be coordinating the match efforts. It is led by Grand Knight Michael Edson.

Robinson and McIntyre and their wives traveled from a Sept. 13 K of C charity event in Tupper Lake, to Ticonderoga to attend Sunday Mass at St. Mary’s. They presented the check to St. Mary’s pastor, Father Kevin D. McEwan, and the school principal, St. Joseph Sister Sharon Anne Dalton at the end of Mass.

Father McEwan said that the funds “were already spent” as the supplies that the teachers bought to get the school running cost over $2000.

The school  restarted the next day in temporary quarters in the newly partitioned church basement and in the nearby Methodist Church.

The Knights of Columbus is a worldwide Catholic Benevolent Fraternal Society of 1.8 million men dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. By their action, their focus is on enhancing their parishes, families, communities and youth.

The Knights provide substantial relief and manpower after natural disasters, such as tropical storm Sandy in NY and NJ, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

On behalf of state deputy Carmine Muscumeci and 90,000 Knights of New York State, Dr. Charles J. Robinson, state secretary of the NY State Council of the Knights of Columbus, and Bill McIntyre, K of C district deputy, presented a check from the state K of C Disaster Relief Fund for the immediate needs of the fire-ravaged St. Mary’s  School in Ticonderoga to St. Joseph Sister Sharon Anne Dalton, principal of St. Mary’s, and Father Kevin D. McEwan, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish.