Knights of Columbus

Who Are We?

We are the Bishop Eugene McGuinness Council 4660 of the Knights of Columbus, located in Wilson, North Carolina, USA. We are members of the North Carolina Council.

Our History

Council 4660 was established on September 8, 1958 when the Supreme Council granted us a Charter. Our Charter Members were:

• Albert Thomas - Grand Knight

• Rev. John Bruening - Chaplain

• Rev. Albert Todd

• John Constable

• Robert Farris

• Charles Hussey

• Joe Kannan

• Simon Lawrence

• Charlie Thackston

• Allen G. Thomas

• Vincent Thomas

• J. A. VerHeggen

Some Of Our Major Accomplishments

• State Officer-Matthew Bird, State Secretary, 1963-1964; State Deputy 1966-1967

• Home council for Past State Deputy Bob Singer

• Contributions of over $250K through 25 years of Operation LAMB Program

• Dennis and Ruth Beichner awarded "Family of the Year" fraternal year of 2000/2001

• Golden Knight of the Year awarded to Joe Rodri 1999

• Family of Year awarded to Dr. Gene Nemechek and family in 1992

• International Family of the Year runner-ups went to the Nemechek family 1992

• Family of the Year awarded to Robert Watson and family 1996

• Our most senior in terms of years as a K of C member is Don Michaud initiated in 1st degree, November 1956

• St. Therese Church built and consecrated May 1989

• North Carolina State convention held in Wilson, NC 1965

Who Are The Knights of Columbus?

The Order of the Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus and dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. There are more than 1.7 million members in 14,000 councils, including nearly 200 on college campuses. Membership is limited to "practical Catholic" men who are at least 18 years old.

Councils have been chartered in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, the Philippines, Guam, Saipan and most recently in Poland. The Knights' official junior order, the Columbian Squires, has over 5,000 Circles. All the Order's ceremonials and business meetings are restricted to members though all other events are open to the public.

An oath not to reveal any details of the ceremonials except to an equally qualified Knight is required to ensure their impact and meaning for new members; an additional clause in the oath subordinates the vow to the swearer's legal and religious duties.

Knights are known for their strong Catholicity and have been called the "strong right arm of the Church." In the 2005 fraternal year the Order gave $136 million directly to charity and performed over 63.2 million man hours of voluntary service. The Order's insurance program has more than $55 billion of life insurance policies in force and holds the highest insurance ratings given by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor and the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association.

Knights of Columbus round table formed in Iraq

By Meghan Walton
4/9/2007
The Catholic Review

BALTIMORE, Md. (The Catholic Review) - While on his second tour in Iraq, U.S. Army Maj. David Anthony had no Knights of Columbus council to join. But by the time the St. Francis de Sales, Abingdon, parishioner left the Middle East 10 months later, the Camp Victory Knights of Columbus Round Table in Baghdad was established and growing.


Maj. Anthony joined the Father Maurice J. Wolfe council of the Knights at St. Francis de Sales about a year and half ago because he felt the Knights provide a good opportunity to continue to serve the church and the community. In addition, his father was a fourth degree Knight and he wanted to carry on the tradition.

“When you are a kid you do the altar serving thing and the youth groups and the Sunday school, and when you are an adult you do other things in the church,” said Maj. Anthony.

In Iraq, Maj. Anthony attended daily Mass with Father Joseph Orlandi, a military chaplain who came from a parish in New Jersey. Father Orlandi joined with Lt. Col. Nicholas Scopellite, both fourth degree Knights, to start a council in Baghdad. Since the small group of about six men, including Maj. Anthony, didn’t have a Grand Knight, they enlisted the help of a Colorado Springs council and were able to form a round table of Knights.

“At first there were only six of us, but they continued to ask men to join, and every two weeks for about the first three months we would have a first degree (an initiation),” said Maj. Anthony. “Eventually there were about 60 Knights, and then before I left there were as many as 75.”

Council 11634 in Colorado Springs sent rosaries, Knights of Columbus pins and other important ceremonial items. The round table, even though everyone is equal, has a president, vice president and secretary to help keep things in order, said Maj. Anthony.


The Knights met every two weeks or so to pray and plan activities. They would help the chaplains by taking the Eucharist to other servicemen. There are only so many chaplains and hundreds of thousands of servicemen, said the Knight.

The Knights would also help the poor Catholics still living in the area, especially those at St. Basil in Baghdad.

“Until the Knights showed up, no one was helping them,” said Maj. Anthony. “We will lose sleep before we let anything bad happen.” It is tradition for St. Basil parish to give the children who are celebrating their first Holy Communion new shoes, so the Knights took up a collection to help provide shoes for the youth.

“The Knights have gotten much more involved since I left,” said Maj. Anthony. “They are really dedicated. They want to go out and make things happen.”

The Knights were also ushers during Mass and set up the nondenominational chapels for Mass.

Maj. Anthony said the men who became Knights in Baghdad are part of the Colorado Springs council, but they can join another council in their area when they come back to the United States or any other country in which they live.

“Going to the Knights meeting was a break from work and you get to be with other Knights who are doing the same thing you are,” said Maj. Anthony.

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Brothers:

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your patience regarding my delayed email about the "Knights of Columbus Day" event earlier this week. I was late getting to Dennis' email, and I had to ask my wife Ann-Marie to pick up the slack for me - which she did, with help from Jack Schimmick and Tony Gaetano. Thanks, Brothers.

Ann-Marie tells me that she saw you all on TV that night - bet you didn't even know it!

Anyway, here's the news, from Grand Knight Dennis Beichner:

***
For the St Patrick Day Supper. We could use some help in setting up the Gym for this event. If you could help be at the gym at 2pm. Then make sure you come to the party also. We have over 120 people sign up to go.
***
Church yard clean up is scheduled for March 24 at 9am. Come out and support Tony our new Yard contractor.
***


I am enclosing a small version of the proclamation we were given by the City of Wilson. I will also be putting it on our website!

Vivat Jesus!

Bill Mattocks
Humble Webmaster

Knights of Columbus Council 4660 Announces our Annual Original Spaghetti Dinner!

When: Tuesday, February 20th, 2007, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Saint Therese Catholic School Gymnasium, 700 Nash Street NE, Wilson, NC 27893

All You Can Eat (Dine In Only) $6.00 Donation Per Person

Drive-Thru Takeouts Available!

Contact Joe Marcello 230-9929 or
Bob Watson 291-9896

Organization donates food for 75 families

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By Alex Keown
Daily Times Staff Writer

Christmas came early for 75 needy families in Wilson County.

Saturday, about 50 members of the Wilson County Knights of Columbus chapter and their children gathered up about three tons of perishable and non-perishable foods to deliver.

"This is something we've been doing for about 30 or so years," said Dennis Beichner, the grand knight of the Wilson County council of the Knights of Columbus.

When the Catholic organization began the food donation program, Beichner said they had about 15 families to receive the food. Over the years, the need in the county has steadily risen, he said.

The Christmas after Hurricane Floyd in 1999, there were 100 families signed up to receive the food. Now, it's settled back to 75 families.

"There's a lot of need out there, and we want to do our part to help out," Beichner said.

On Friday, the Knights began transporting the food from Beichner's house to the gymnasium at St. Therese Catholic School. The food and sundries lined dozens of long tables waiting to be boxed up. On Saturday morning, more food was purchased at Aldi. Beichner said the grocer opened early so they could pick up the last-minute items. In addition to food purchased in bulk, Beichner said Bruce Foods donated food as well.

"My wife is the one who finds the food. She's great at scouting out the best deals," Beichner said. He added the parish members donated much of the money to purchase the food.

Once all the food was collected and sorted, the Knights and their children began boxing up the food. They marched up and down the rows of food placing one of each items in the boxes. When all was said and done, there were 225 packed boxes waiting to be shipped out to 75 families across Wilson County. Each family received three boxes.

Joe Rodri said each Saturday morning it seems like the food will never get boxed up and delivered.

"But it always gets done," Rodri said.

Once the food was boxed up, the boxes were placed in several automobiles and driven across the county.

"I think it's really good that the kids go along on the deliveries and see who the food is going to. It's a real eye-opening experience for them," said Don Michaud.

Beichner said the names of the food recipients come from various sources, including parish members, Department of Social Services, the Hispanic ministry at St. Therese, Hope Station and hospice care.

The recipients aren't all Catholic though. Joe George, who's been part of the delivery program since its inception, said about 90 percent of the recipients aren't Catholic.

"This helps bridge the differences in our community. We give to anyone in need," said Rafael Aguado.

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Brothers,

Grand Knight Dennis Beichner has asked me to pass on this information about the upcoming Fourth Degree Examplification, which will be held at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro, NC October 28, 2006. This information was kindly provided by Brot

Brothers,

Grand Knight Dennis Beichner has asked me to pass on this information about the upcoming Fourth Degree Examplification, which will be held at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro, NC October 28, 2006. This information was kindly provided by Brot