The Cathedral of St. Patrick welcomes Knights of Columbus Council 16778

Peter Gallagher, G. F. Dwyer, D. F. Sullivan, C. E. Kelly, W.H.F. Lopez, and M. F. Maloney – what do these names have in common? Those names, and the names of many other El Paso men, represent the men who came to be part of the founding Charter Members for the first ever Knights of Columbus [KOC] Council in the State of Texas and subsequently; the first ever Knights of Columbus Council in the city of El Paso, Texas. On February of 1902, thirty-five El Paso men, meeting at Marquette Liberty Hall, signed on as the first ever charter members of the KOC and made the commitment to follow the KOC motto of “In Service to One, In Service to all”. Each El Pasoan, answering his own calling, would collectively make up the core of the first ever Knights of Columbus Council in the State of Texas. [The original 35 members were part of Border Lodge No. 374 which was organized on March 5, 1894.] Thus on April 12, 1902 the KOC Supreme Council granted those pioneering men a formal charter whereby the council would be officially recognized as Council 638 and consequently on April 13, 1902; Council 638 was formally instituted by the first initiation rites which were conducted at the Odd Fellows Hall located at 206 S. El Paso Street. Master of the Fourth Degree, John H. Redding, of Denver, Colorado presided over the ceremony assisted by members of the Albuquerque Council. Such came to pass that Council 638 was the first Knights of Columbus Council in the State of Texas and City of El Paso. D. P. Beckham was chosen as the first Grand Knight of Council 638 and El Paso would later become the first district council in the State of Texas. Membership into the Knights of Columbus grew steadfastly and by 1908, the Knights of Columbus Home – a beautiful 3 story building which still stands today, would be built to serve as headquarters for the Knights. The Reverend A. J. Schuler, the first bishop for the City of El Paso, was present at the dedication ceremony of the home.

The newest Council, Council 16778, which was formally chartered on July 1, 2017, was formally recognized with an installation mass for the officers at the Cathedral of St. Patrick on August 12, 2017 with Fr. Andy A. De Guzman, who is also the council Chaplin, presided over the mass. Others present at the mass were Bill Hegeman, District Deputy for District 1, who formally instituted the newest Council and the officers and Joe Grillo, Diocesan Deputy. Brother Steve Cobbs was installed as the first Grand Knight for Council 16778. Other Officers present at that mass were: Will Moreno, Jethro Armijo, Danny Gonzalez, Andy Ruvalcaba, and Gabriel Villanueva. With some 30 active councils in the City of El Paso, Council 16778 will be the first Council to be affiliated and headquartered at the Cathedral at St. Patrick. Many great things will be expected of the Council which will serve as the flagship Council for the El Paso Diocese.