Utah Knights of Columbus Presents 2022 Awards

Friday May. 13, 2022

OGDEN — Knights of Columbus from across Utah gathered at the Comfort Suites Ogden Conference Center May 7-8 for their 2022 state convention, which included the awards banquet Saturday night.

“I am always proud to be surrounded by Catholic gentlemen who are committed Catholics and partners in the mission of the Church,” Bishop Oscar A. Solis said in his remarks at the dinner.

The bishop, who is a Knight and served as state chaplain for the organization while serving as an auxiliary bishop in California, urged those attending the dinner to “be a witness of God’s presence in this world. Be a witness to God’s love, compassion and mercy through your works of charity. Be a beacon of light to a world plunged into darkness from suffering, pain, or any other challenge or tribulation.

“We who call ourselves Knights of Columbus have a very important role to play in making a difference in our world today. … If we live the principles and ideals of our fraternal order, we are going to have a different community; we will have another world,” Bishop Solis said.

The Utah Knights are already “changing lives and winning hearts” across the state by putting their faith into action and practicing the organization’s principles of charity, unity and brotherhood, said Rennan J. Duffour, Supreme Director of the International Catholic Fraternal Organization. organization.

Over the past year, the Utah Knights have raised more than $371,000 for various charitable efforts and donated more than 76,000 hours to programs such as the purchase of an ultrasound from a mobile van, the sponsorship of the diocesan science fair and the collection of coats for children in need.

The Knights support vocations in the diocese in several ways. The Utah Knights Reimbursement Vocation Support Program RSVP provides individual seminarians with money, personal communications, and encouragement. This year, 22 councils and one assembly in Utah offered this support to the 11 diocesan seminarians.

A disbursement from the Christopher Fund through the national organization and the Knights of Columbus Charities, along with donations from 16 local councils, totaled $1,504.75, while interest on the vocations fund as well as donations from 19 councils totaled $3,950.40.

In addition, the disbursement from the Culture of Life fund, combined with donations from 17 councils, totaled $2,704.40.

The efforts of local Knights contributed to a banner year for the organization’s activities worldwide, Duffour said. Around the world last year, the Knights of Columbus donated $1.85 million and 76 million man hours to charities and the Church, he said.

He mentioned the work of the Knights in Ukraine and Poland, in particular. With nearly 9,000 members in 200 councils in these two countries, when war broke out, the Knights “offered homes and comfort to refugees in Poland, provided essential food, services and shelter in huts of mercy on the border between Poland and Ukraine, and [got] essential food and medicine to those who have taken refuge in Ukraine,” said Duffour.