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Our Council's official name is now the Fr. Joseph A. Cassidy Council #6100. The
council has been renamed after our deceased former chaplin Fr. Joseph Cassidy.
There was a formal installation of new officers and a renaming of the council
held on July 26, 1998. Our Council continues to thrive and we were named Star
Council for the 1999-2000 Columbian Year.
In February, 1968, a small body of men sat around a table, as did the Knights of Old, and discussed the possibility of forming a Knights of Columbus Council in Mount Olive. With the blessings of Father Leo P. Carey, pastor of St. Jude's Church, Mickey Callahan, Chuck Digney, Pete Kinsella, Walter Lata, Phil Pelligra, Rich Phillips, Bob Piatt, John Planker, Tom Puco, and Frank Ruggiero held the first official meeting in St. Jude's Church Hall. July 18 of that year saw the Knights of Columbus Council 6100 instituted with 85 names appearing on the charter. The first Grand Knight was Phil Pelligra and the Deputy Grand Knight was Mickey Callahan. Under the watchful eyes of State Deputy, Patrick O'Reily, and District Deputy Hugh E. DeFazio, the new organization was well on its way to becoming one of the township's largest with a current membership roll of well over 300 members.
The formation of the Mount Olive Columbian Club became a reality in July, 1970. The Knights now had their own home on Lake Shore Drive in Budd Lake. A Board of Trustees consisting of 15 Knights were elected to have the duty to oversee the operation of the Columbian Club. The first officers were president George Byron, vice-president Bob King Sr., secretary E. Carroll Gagnon, treasurer Mitsie Kruzel, and house chairman Frank Ruggiero.
It was through the efforts of many of the founding members that the Mount Olive Squires were formed. On January 17, 1971 twenty-two young Catholic gentlemen put their signatures on the charter of the St. Jude Columbian Squires 2192. The first members met weekly at the Mount Olive Columbian Club. Their officers were chief squire Steven Phillips, deputy chief squire John Kulawiak, notary Sal Ruggiero, bursar Joe Butrymowicz, marshall squire Jim Butrymowicz, sentries Raymond Phillips and Ed Nicolicchia. The Father Prier was Father Ed Whorlan of St. Jude's Church
Grand Knight: Tom Rohe
Deputy Grand Knight: Joe D'Anna
Recorder: Pierre Kernizan
Chancellor: Shaun Mickus
Financial Secretary: Gerard Petrocelli
Treasurer: Wally Krake
Warden: Michael Mallon
Advocate: Joe Taralo
Inside Guard: John Watral
Outside Guards: Steve Sammarco
Trustee 3 Year: Gerry Kaufhold PGK
Trustee 2 Year: Daniel Fuller
Trustee 1 Year: Gregory Buckalew
Chaplain: Rev. Antonio Gaviria
Spiritual Advisor: Rev. Daniel Staniskis
Lecturer: Jack Abbott
District Deputy: Michael Leyden
Insurance Agent: Alexander Johansen
Our Council holds all it's meetings at the St. Jude Thaddeaus Parish Center, on Mt. Olive Rd. in Budd Lake NJ. Officers Meeting is the First Monday of the Month at 7:30 PM. Business Meeting is the second Monday of the Month at 8:00 PM (October – April) and at 7:30 PM (May – September).
Our Council is involved in numerous activities throught the Columbian Year. These are just a few of the regularly scheduled events throught the year. For detail of the exact event dates see the Monthly Activities section.
July - Installation of Officers August - Wheelchair Brigade to Lyons Hospital St Jude Parish Picnic September - Fishing Tip Altar Server Appreciation Day October - State Retreat November - Wheelchair Brigade to Lyons Hospital Scholarship Dinner Dance Thanksgiving Clothing Drive December - Birthday Party for Jesus Cobblestone Home Christmas Party January - Council Free-Throw Contest Right to Life March in Washington D.C. February - Wheelchair Brigade to Lyons Hospital March - Communion Breakfast April - Children with Special Needs Drive Fourth Degree Exemplification May - Wheelchair Brigade to Lyons Hospital Memorial Day Parade June - Council Elections
In addition to the above activites, the following activites are held monthly. Bingo is held every Friday in the Parish Center at 7:45 PM (early bird game), doors open at 6:30 PM. Contact Rick DiCicco by E-Mail if you want to help.
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Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practical Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who shall not be less than 18 years of age on their last birthday. A practical Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. Application blanks are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus. Every knight is happy to propose eligible Catholic men for consideration as members.
Acceptance of the applicant depends upon a vote of the members of the subordinate council in which he is making application.
All priests and religious brothers having duly made application for membership and participated in the ceremonials become honorary life members of the Order and are exempt from payment of dues.
Application for membership must be made through the council in the community nearest the applicant's place of residence. Interested prospects without a permanent domicile, such as men temporarily away from home through duty in the armed forces, may make application through their hometown council or at the nearest council on a military base.
If favorably voted upon, the applicant becomes a member by initiation known as the First Degree. He subsequently is advanced through the Second Degree and the Third Degree.
There are modest initiation fees and dues set by subordinate councils under regulations established by the Supreme Council. The insurance privileges are available to all members who can qualify, which represents an important advantage of membership. For men in every walk of life the name Knights of Columbus engenders the image of a united organization, efficiently going about it tasks of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism and defense of the priesthood. It is composed of men who are giving unselfishly of their time and talents in service of God and their country.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus provides opportunity for wholesome association with congenial companions who are, first of all, practical Catholic gentlemen. It offers the opportunity for fellowship with those who are of the same belief, who recognize the same duty to God, to family and to neighbor and who stand side by side in defense of those beliefs. Programs are so organized as to appeal to the individual interest of the members. Through many constructive activities of Christian fraternity, members are enabled to render service to their Church, their country and their fellowman. Through membership they develop a consciousness of their ability to lead and to assist.
Organized Columbianism, united behind the individual Knight of Columbus, provides the power of an intelligent, alert body of Catholic men--a strength which the individual by himself cannot achieve.
Knights of Columbus has a proud heritage. The qualified Catholic man can share in that heritage and build an even greater future by affiliating himself with this forceful, effective body.
Another degree open to members of the Knights of Columbus is that of the Fourth (or Patriotic) Degree. On February 22, 1900, the first exemplification of that degree was held in New York City. The ritual added patriotism to the three original principles of the Order: charit, unity and fraternity. Any Third Degree member in good standing, one year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree.
The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of partiotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights' respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups called assemblies. Fourth Degree members must retain their membership as Third Degree members in the local council to remain in good standing.
Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity which has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus organization.
The council current enrollment is about 300 members. For further information about membership, contact Tom Rohe by E-Mail.
The council has it's own First & Second Degree Teams. We are always looking for new members. If interested, contact Ernie DiCicco. by E-Mail
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