The Knights of Columbus tradition of giving back to the community and the Catholic church continues in Tillsonburg.
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On Sunday, May 26, St. Mary’s Council 3212 celebrated its 75th anniversary at the Tillsonburg Community Center Lions Auditorium.
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“We’re a community organization based on the church,” said John Murphy, Grand Knight of Council 3212. “The focus of the Knights is geared towards paying back. The Helping Hand Food Bank, all of our high schools with student bursaries, a basketball competition for youth. It’s a very family-oriented but community focused organization.”
Sunday’s anniversary gave the Knights an opportunity to reflect on 75 years supporting the community going back to 1949, and the importance of continuing those traditions for years to come.
“I think it’s very important,” said John Oliveira, a Council 3212 member. “Currently, I think everyone should be involved in something. There’s lots of people out there who do nothing. It’s easy to say ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘I’m too busy,’ but the people who help out are the busiest people, they are doing something every day.
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“What are we going to do? Well, keep raising more money to help different organizations,” said Oliveira. “We help the food bank, St. Vincent de Paul, every year we donate to the hospital…”
Basically, it’s ‘same as the old,’ he said, but they also strive to recruit new members. Two were introduced Sunday, including Oliveira’s 18-year-old grandson, and three more new members are joining in June.
“Hopefully more than age will come,” said Oliveira, noting membership is open to practicing Catholics.
Meetings are held twice monthly at the Father Langan Parish Center with about 20-24 of their 160 Knights regularly attending.
“I was here for the 50th (anniversary)and the meetings themselves haven’t really changed that much.”
Sunday’s 75th anniversary was attended by local Knights and their families, visiting area Knights including David Gelinas, State Secretary for the Ontario State Council and District Master Gord Edwards, priests, local Legion members, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman and Councilor Bob Parsons, who is also a Knights of Columbus member.
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