July Meeting Minutes
July 2026 Meeting Minutes
July 20TH 2026
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 PM by Grand Knight Michael Sabella.
Warden’s Report
All present were in possession of a current membership card.
Opening Prayer
Opening prayer was led by Mike Sabella .
Pledge of Allegiance
Salute to the flag was led by the council members.
Chaplain report
Deacon Tony was absent from tonight’s meeting.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted on a motion by Tom Rohe, seconded by Michael Mallon, approved with a unanimous vote.
Grand Knight’s Report (Mike Sabella)
Mike stated that he is happy that we have a district deputy that can drive at night and welcomed Tony Caroleo.
Mike introduced Paul Farruggia Jr. who spoke about his time as a Focus member.
Paul Farruggia (Focus) Paul said that he was very grateful for all our support during his time spent at College’s especially in the Boston area where he was able to speak with student’s about returning to the Church. Paul stated that there were over 200 students on his team in Boston. He stated that he couldn’t have done his work without the financial support of Council 6100. He stated that there were many high’s and low’s during his time spent with Focus and that he was happy to see students come back to the Church and grow deeper into their faith.
Mike stated that he is honored and privileged to serve as Grand Knight and he wants to live by the promise that he will do his best to “Not Screw it up”. He said that he is counting on past Knight’s for support while he learns the procedures. Gerry Kaufhold reminded Mike that we need to take a vote to approve the last meetings minutes.
Mike stated that on June 30th he attended his 1st Grand Knight Meeting where the theme was “Men who put faith into action”.
Mike reminded us that this Saturday July 25th is the monthly “Faith into Action” meeting at 8 AM before mass. He encouraged everyone to attend.
Mike stated that Paul Capone is the new EFF standing for the “Evangelical Faith Formation” program chair.
Mike stated that last year we approved over 140k to donations to help those in need. He stated that most of the funding has come from Bingo our main source of funding. He stated that is important for us to preserve this program to continue as a Council.
Mike wanted to thank everyone who participated in the State Convention and that our council is very fortunate to have our own Council member “Jim Sweeney” as our state representative.
Mike stated that Jim Sweeney donated 1,000 dollars to our Council because of our hosting of the State Officer’s installation that was held at our parish on July 18th 2026.
Mike stated that it is a privilege and honor to have Jim Sweeney as a member of our Council.
Mike stated that there is still a planned “Somerset Patriots” baseball game and that our Knights should plan to attend on 8/16/26 since a section of tickets have been reserved for our Council and so far 0 Tickets have been sold. Game will be on a Sunday evening at 5 PM. All are encouraged to attend. Tickets can be purchased through “Megan” at the ticket office by phone or you can go on-line. Seats are located in right field line but since it is a small stadium all seats have good views.
Mike stated that we are working with the Paterson Head of Security in applying for a Homeland Security Grant to upgrade our Parish. Grants can be applied for up to 150k and can include anything that pertains to security such as Lights, Cameras. Doors, Locks etc.
Mike stated that he believes everyone has a Knights of Columbus badge but if he is mistaken to please let him know and he will work on getting you a badge.
Joe Tarallo stated that we still have a Kitchen clean up sign up list on the back table and all are encouraged to help to periodically clean up the Kitchen in the Parish Center.
Treasurer’s Report (Michael Uszacki.)
The bank statement was sent to trustees. A copy is available upon request..
Financial Secretary’s Report (Gerard Petrocelli)
Financial secretary’s report is emailed in advance to Trustees for approval of expenditures.
Membership Report (Chip Sturm)
As usual Chip is continuously looking for new members. Chip stated that we have 2 potential members attending our meeting tonight.
Program Reports – Led by John Waltral
Bingo (Mike Mallon) Mike stated that Bingo is going well. Mike stated that we need to a new head cook to help Gerard out in the Kitchen and that we should have a schedule put together. Mike stated that he does all the food ordering and that the new Cooks need to be there from 5 PM until about 9:30 PM to finish cleanup. Mike stated that it is a simple job as our menu consists of hamburgers, hot dogs and steak sandwiches, and that we serve Pizza at the end of the evening. Mike stated that keeping the Coffee going is the hardest job.
State Officers Installation (Joe Tarallo) Joe wanted to thank everyone who attended the breakfast and service and all who volunteered during and after the event and that it was success.
Family Events (Sal Ubaldini)-Sal stated that he is working on starting a few Breakfast Events after Mass to allow families to get to know one another. Sal stated that these events will allow people to get to know one another at a get together and will allow people to get involved more with the church. He also stated that these events will allow us to get more Volunteers for the Knights and allow folks to expand their faith. He stated that the planned event can be a pancake and egg bite breakfast and that volunteers will be needed for setup for the event, running the event and clean up afterwards.
Blood Drive (Gerard Petrocelli) – Gerard stated that the next drive will be held on August 8th and that he needs volunteers to help run the drive but mostly he needs help with marketing the drive to bring in donors. Gerard stated that Volunteers are needed the night before after Bingo to setup the room. Gerard stated that the day of the Drive folks will be needed to setup, run the kitchen, help during the drive and for cleanup afterwards. Gerard stated that he needs us to get folks to come in and donate.
Council Report (Gerard Petrocelli)- Gerard stated that we currently have 131 members and that 30 of these members are insured through the Insurance Policies available through the knights of Columbus. Gerard encouraged those members who are in need of Insurance to contact our Insurance Agent Joe Savarimuthu.
Audit (Gerard Petrocelli)- Gerard stated that we need to look at our Quick Books and Reporting so that our finances are in order in case of an audit. Gerard stated that we do not want to miss our reporting dates.
Financial Report (Gerard Petrocelli) Gerard stated that we are behind in our tax reporting and that he is trying to get our Accountant to get us up to date.
Bingo Kitchen (Gerard Petrocelli)- Gerard stated that he is stepping down as the manager of the Bingo Kitchen and needs new members to take over those tasks. He also needs more help with the Blood Drives and the Wreath Drive.
Football Mania (Tom Rohe) Tom stated that we are still not doing well enough and we need to sell more tickets. Tom stated he has the tickets in his possession and that we need to start selling them as soon as possible. Tom stated that they are only $20 each and that all proceeds go to helping veterans and their families.
4TH Degree (Tom Rohe) Tom stated that there isn’t a meeting planned for July. Tom stated that the Veterans Picnic was a huge success and that our Council Members (Tom Rohe, Robert Jacobs, and Jim VanDenberg) were volunteers at the event. Tom stated that everyone had a good time and that the food was good. Tom stated that over 40 Veterans attended the picnic and that one of the Veterans Girlfriend’s took the extra food and was able to feed another 70 Veterans at the Community Hope Event.
Squires (Tom Rohe) Tom stated the 3 of the Squires are present at tonight’s meeting and that all 3 are planning to join the Knights. Tom stated that the new name for the Squires is “Diocese Squires”.
Mike Sabella (Cornerstone)- Mike stated that the next Men’s Cornerstone meeting will be held on this Saturday 7/25/26 in the Parish Center at 8 AM before the 9 AM Mass. Mike stated that this is a meeting where attendees can speak about issues confidentially. Mike stated that this is a meeting where we can come closer to Jesus and our Faith. Mike encouraged all to attend.
Lenny Martin (Stations of the Cross)- Lenny stated that we 1st need to select the proposed Plaques that will be used for the Stations of the cross. Lenny stated the our next meeting will be scheduled soon.
Right to Life (Gerry Kaufhold)- Gerry stated the right to life program has supplied 2 strollers and 2 car seats that were provided to “Care Net” in Hackettstown and “Birth Haven” in Newton and that these organizations were very happy to receive these items. Gerry stated that on this Saturday 7/25/26 that we will be presenting the check to “Care Net” in Hackettstown to help with the purchase of an Ultra Sound machine. The check amount is the promised $6300 and will pay for a portion of the Ultra Sound Machine.
Mount Olive Life (Gerry Kaufhold) Gerry stated that over the years that our Council has donated a significant amount of funds to the Township of Mt. Olive. These funds have allowed the Township to purchase 4 Flag Poles at the Turkey Brook Park Veterans Memorial.
Gerry stated that our Council is selling commemorative coins for $10 each to help support Veterans. Contact Gerry for details.
Council Website (Dan Fuller)- Dan stated that he is working on our new Website and that he needs content to upload. Dan has requested a photo and short biography of each officer to upload onto the Website. Dan reminded us to take photos at every event so that pictures can be uploaded to the Website for all to see what we do.
District Deputy Report
Greetings From Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, and State Deputy James Sweeney.
- Welcome to Columbian year 26-27 I am looking forward to this council having another successful year growing the order and spreading the faith. Remember, we are First in Faith through Charity
- 2026-2027 goals for membership (8), FBE and reporting remain basically unchanged
- There are changes to our requirements to achieve STAR Council, so I encourage you to review them now and be prepared.
- The requirements for STAR council should be viewed as the minimum a council should do: reach membership goals, participate in spreading and sharing our faith (COR), protecting our family and generally speaking, continuing the mission of Blessed Fr McGivney in Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Faith
- Your COR programs and Faith In Action programs are important.
- Fraternal Benefit Event requirements, and a requirement to invite our Field Agent and 4th Degree to CUF ceremonies.
- Timeliness of reporting is very important. Late reporting will affect our ability to achieve STAR council and STAR District. Your information is available on the KofC website.
- Let’s not get too caught up in the details- do what you do best: planning, membership, programs, and reporting
- Let’s get dates set for Officer installation, CUF degrees, and 26-27 membership drives.
- We still need to invite new memebrs during the summer, plan and hold your COR meetings, and plan your next Columbian year.
DATES
- Annual Council Audit due August 15
- The next GK training meeting in September
- Paterson Golf Outing September 14 at Farmstead GC
State Officers Installation-Jim Sweeney-Jim stated that it is good to be back home. He wanted to thank all members who volunteered during the State Officers Installation that was held on July 18th at our Parish Center and Church.
Jim Stated that this was our best year in 26 years and he can’t get over all that we did to make it happen. Jim stated that this was the best State Officers Installation ever. He stated that it was a sign from God that it poured during the mass only to have ended just before the mass was over and everyone was able to go outside like it never happened. Jim stated that it was a sight to see everyone in their white tuxedos at one service and that everything looked great. Jim stated that the Parish Center and Church looked great and that 1 Bishop was missing because he was in transit. Jim stated that the Paterson Children’s Choir really made the mass a wonderful ceremony and that Bishop Kevin Sweeney provided a wonderful Homily. Jim stated that the Knights did an awesome job and he wanted to thank all from our Council for making it happen. Jim stated that he has only 1 ask and that is to take that same enthusiasm with us and provide it to others. Jim stated that we need to show people who we are. Jim said thank you so much from the bottom of his heart for all that we did to make this a very special event. Tom Rohe then presented a ring to Jim Sweeney from a past Knight.
Unfinished Business
| $25,000.00 | 2nd READING Spend up to $25,000 to subsidize the construction of an outdoor stations of the cross to cover costs not covered by donations from parishioners to memorialize loved ones. Funding to be provided from the Community Impact Fund. Final plan approval from our pastor is required before anything is purchased or any money is spent. |
New Business
The following motions were made and passed:
| $1,000.00 | First Reading Donate $1000 to a Husband and Wife in need, parishioners of St. Jude Church, to help defray medical costs from both being in poor health. |
| $500.00 | Donate $500 to CJD Foundation celebrating the life of Gary Halliwell (Husband of parishioner Mary Halliwell), who passed away from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare, rapidly progressive neuro-degenerative disease |
| $100.00 | Donate $100 to the Mt. Olive HS Girl’s Soccer Booster Club, helping to supprt Mt. Oilve girls’ soccer team’s booster club sponsored activities for the upcoming soccer season. |
| $2,500.00 | 1st Reading Donate $2500 to St. Joseph by the Sea HS Pillar Fund for their 25th Anniversary to support Catholic education, helping offset the cost of tuition for students in need along with honoring the memory of the 8 alumi who perished on 9/11. |
| $500.00 | Donate up to $500 to the church garden club to buy plants and materials needed |
| $500.00 | Donate $500 to sponsor a hole at the 20th Warren Wormann Jr, Memorial Golf Outing to be held on September 21, 2026 with all proceeds being donated to the Pope John XXIII H.S. WW Jr. Scholarship Fund. |
| $500.00 | Donate $500 for a Golf Outing run by Paterson Federation |
| $7,000.00 | 1st READING Spend up to $7,000 to pay for the expediting services to sumbit a Grant Application to the Department of Homeland Security to make upgrades to the Church’s securty and telephone systems. |
| $750.00 | 1st READING Spend up to $750 to pay for the food and drinks for a “Coffe And” event to be held on 9/13/26 in the Parish Center after the 10 AM Mass. |
| $500.00 | Donate $500 to help fight Huntington’s Diease. |
Good of the Order
The Good of the Order was run by Tom Rohe
Prayer List for Sick and Deceased
Sick
Steve Sabella
Elaine Abbott
Scott Alleynetto
Darin McCormick
Gregg Buckalew
Helena Maines
Chris (Anonymous Last Name)
Deceased
Jack Abbott
Sal Bellacomo
Ginny Nolan
Jim White PSD
Elijah Duplessis
Martin (Anonymous Last Name)
John Level
Closing Prayer
Closing prayer was led by Joe Tarallo
Attendance: 33 people.
Meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.