Fr. E. Philip O’Hern Council 10776, St. Austin Catholic Church in Austin

The Council has become the “go to“ group at St. Austin Catholic Church in Austin for organizing car parades for parish functions. Due to Covid-19 pandemic precautions, the parish was not able to conduct many of its normal events because of large crowds. One way to gather safely was to hold a car parade with people queuing up in their cars and driving through the parish grounds. The Council was asked to conduct the first one in July 2020. That successful parade established our reputation. The Council conducted two more parades in 2021. Our January parade observed the Epiphany and was titled “A Parade with a Purpose.” Parishioners brought food and toiletries for the Knights to collect and deliver to the Micah-6 food pantry. As they drove away, our parish priests gave them a blessing (Photo 1). Donations filled up 3 & 1/2 pickup trucks! Our third parade was planned to honor Marti Gras but was delayed a week by the severe winter storm. The Council collected a pickup truck of cleaning supplies and delivered them to a local charity. One person participated on his bicycle and another joined the Knights the next day! (Photos 2, 3 and 4) Other Council activities during the Easter season included leading the Stations of the Cross, conducting the Good Friday Family Promotion and the Blessed Michael McGivney Prayer Hour.