Dedication of Ten Commandments Monument Assembly 3439 & Council 8521 St Joseph Honey Creek

On 28 January, the Knights of Assembly 3439 and Council 8521 gathered with parishioners outside of St Joseph Honey Creek church, and dedicated a Ten Commandments Monument, ending a year-long effort by a committee of Knights to fulfill a request of a fellow Knight. The blessing of the monument was conducted by Father Mike English, Pastor and fellow Knight, assisted by Msgr Peter Flood, Friar and Chaplin for Assembly and Council, Father Abraham Pendlikatla, associate pastor, and several of our deacons. During the dedication, the Knights expressed their gratitude to all those that helped to support the project, to all those that donated to its cause, and to all who are seeking to live by its message.

The concept of having a Ten Commandments monument on the parish grounds started in early 2021 with fellow Knight Skip White and Steve Hanan. After an aggressive start, progress slowed due to the escalating cost of the project and health issues by one of the members. In Oct 2022, a committee of Knights (Dave Fletcher, Dick Stuart, Jeff Oliver, Jack Robolledo, Ron Janak) volunteered to take over the project, and devote their time and effort to completing the project. Through numerous zoom calls, countless meetings, and endless phone calls, the committee studied and viewed different layouts at different parishes, looking at wordings, granite versus limestone, locations, sizes, slanted versus straight, font and size, etc. Based on their research, the committee developed a scope of work and general drawings of what they believed was the best concept, and submitted to numerous monument contractors in the area for bid. Proposals were narrowed down to 2, with the best value contractor selected; Texas Gravestone Care, from Porter, TX. The final design was agreed upon and approved by the diocese, along with the best location on the parish grounds, working with the master planner & parish architect, Mark Morkovsky, and the parish Facility Manager Carl Johnson. The committee contracted with the company, and after 2 months of work by the monument contractor, the monument was erected in late Dec 2023. Final landscaping and lighting were performed by several Knights, completing the turn key project. The total project was funded by the Assembly and Council.

We believe this monument is the best example around of any 10 Commandments monument, and the best replica of the 10 commandments written by God, on stone tablets, and given to Moses on Mt Sinai.

It is the Assembly and Council’s hope and prayer that all who see this monument as they pass by it will learn the commandments, and seek to be doers of the word of God, putting in to practice the command to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.