Council finds faith-in-action in working with their Parish School

Knights of Columbus Council 15789, Good Shepherd Catholic Community; in Colleyville, TX; may have found a perfect fit for its faith-in-action programs. Chartered in 2013, the Council has been an active part of the parish since it began, but the parish already had a very successful and active Men’s Club. In fact, many of the Knights are members of both organizations. The Men’s Club was already responsible for many parish events that a typical Knights council would handle, such as the Lenten fish fries and the parish casino night fund raising event.

Good Shepherd Pastor Father Michael Higgins, TOR encouraged the Knights to assist the parish school in any way possible. This year the Council found another avenue to focus its faith-in-action energies. Good Shepherd parish is one of three parishes that support Holy Trinity Catholic School in Grapevine, TX. This school year the Council has made supporting Holy Trinity Catholic School, PK – 8^th grade school its major focus.From the first meeting with the new principal, Mrs. Ullman, in September, the Council pledged to be there for anything the school needed. The council appointed a Knight, who has worked as a substitute teacher at the school for several years, to be the liaison to the school creating a constant council presence for the school staff and students.

In September, the Grand Knight and liaison met with Mrs. Ullman and discussed the many Knights of Columbus programs that were available to the school and asked what else the council could do to help the school. From that meeting, the council got to work.

Working with the Mrs. Steining, the middle school language arts teacher, the 8^th grade students participated in the Knights of Columbus Catholic Essay Contest, with two of the essays moving on from the diocesan competition on to the state level.

Transitioning to the athletic field in early fall the Knights of Columbus offered the soccer goal kicking challenge. When no one came to the first scheduled Saturday competition the council regrouped. When asked to cook and serve hamburgers and hot dogs for the school’s pumpkin patch festival, soccer goals were set up and students obtained parent permission forms immediately. The Soccer Challenge was held that evening. Eventually the Knights of Columbus Texas state champion for 12-year-old boys came from this event.

Back to the classroom again in late fall and working with teachers and staff, the Council received entries from every grade in the school for the “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest. While there were three official age categories that went on to diocesan competition, the council awarded certificates for winners of each of grades for boys and girls in the school. One of these posters eventually won third place in the state for the 5 – 7 age group. The Christmas spirit was further enhanced when the Knights from the Council put up the Christmas lights in front of the school. The building was shining brightly throughout the Christmas season and for the school’s living nativity.

Indoors this time for athletics the Council coordinated with Coach Patke to hold the Knights of Columbus Free Throw contest. Coach taught the techniques in PE classes to and allowed students to learn by doing. In February, Knights were in the school for a full week, running the free throw competition for each PE class.

In March volunteers from the council helped Mrs. Cummings, the middle school religion teacher, run a homeless simulation for the 7^th grade students. This one-day exercise, conducted on the grounds of Good Shepherd provided the students with a glimpse of the challenges and obstacles the homeless face over three simulated days.

A brother Knight in the council, donated a sound system to the school and installed it. This system greatly enhanced the school’s weekly Mass and school assemblies. The Council expanded its existing High Scholarship program, adding a second scholarship for a graduating Holy Trinity eight grader, who will be attending a Catholic High School. This scholarship will provide the winning student with $1000 toward school tuition.

A major part of the relationship with the school was the opportunity to recognize the student’s accomplishments in front of their peers. For every event, the Grand Knight and the liaison were invited to present the students with their awards, either after the weekly Mass or in their classrooms. What a joy to see the faces of the students when they were called up to receive their awards while their friends and teachers cheered for them.

In April the Knights set up the Good Shepherd Parish Hall cooking and serving for the school’s athletic awards banquet. More awards in May were presented after the school’s weekly Mass to include the Knights of Columbus State soccer championship trophy and third place plaque for the Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest won by Holy Trinity students. The Council announced the winner of the first annual scholarship award of $1000.00 to a Holy Trinity 8th grader rising to 9^th grade at a Catholic High School. Thanks to an anonymous donation, the council was also able to present Mrs. Ullman with a check for the school’s tuition assistance fund for $8000.

The Council’s only missed objective this school year was leading the school in a Patriotic Rosary. The event was scheduled twice but, on both days, school was canceled due to ice storms. The Council is scheduled to lead a Patriotic Rosary to kick off the school year in September.

Seeing the excited smiles of the students, teachers and staff at the school and knowing that they see the Knights of Columbus Good Shepherd Catholic Community as a source of support, as an asset to draw on, and yes, even sometimes as a teacher; has made this mission a wonderful success for the council, the school, and most importantly the students at Holy Trinity Catholic School.