open Letter to St. Basil Parishioners

7 January, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

The St. Basil Council of the Knights of Columbus, #13271, urgently needs your help. Our council was established with the noble objective of serving our church through various programs that benefit our priests. parishioners, and students. Over the years, we have organized fundraising events to support seminarians, the intellectually disabled, provide wheelchairs, scholarships, and even offer free accidental insurance for our members and their spouses.

Our latest initiative, the COR program, focuses on prayer, formation, and fraternity, and is open to all men of the parish, not just our members.

Despite having over sixty members, our council is struggling. According to the Supreme Council, a member in good standing pays membership dues, attends meetings, and participates in council events. While most members pay their dues, attendance at meetings is alarmingly low, with fewer than ten members regularly participating. This is far below the requirement set by the Supreme Council.

We are at a critical juncture and need your assistance to prevent the dissolution of our St. Basil the Great Knights of Columbus council. We need men to actively participate in council meetings, accept leadership roles, volunteer for committee assignments, and carry on the legacy of our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney. Together, we can be the "strong right arm of the church.”

We welcome men of all ages and backgrounds to join us in our mission. Whether you are a lifelong parishioner or new to our community, we would love to have you as part of our team.

For more information or to join, please contact:

Financial Secretary Raymond Hart, 720-548-7148, [email protected] 

or District Deputy Robert Martinez, 707-731-9535, [email protected].

Join us and be a part of something greater!

Sincerely,

St. Basil Knights of Columbus Council #13271

The Knights of Columbus was formed in 1882, by the venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut, was and still is today a fraternal organization that takes care of its members through their own insurance program (which has received the highest insurance ratings in the industry for years on end). 

It is the largest lay Catholic organization in the world. From that small group that first formed in 1882, to the present day, there are over 1.8 million Catholic men who still carry on the basic principle of our order, Charity. 
 
At St Basil Church, the Knights of Columbus have established Council 13271 with over a hundred members. Our Council conducts several parish activities, such as Tootsie Roll Campaign, Free Throw Contest, and Essay Contest to help our church and our parishioners.
We can often be seen changing light bulbs, cooking for school and parish events, serving at Catholic Daughters tea parties, and awarding scholarships and grants to SBS.
 

The time commitment is minimal. The rewards are many. We have one meeting per month, commencing at 7:30 pm, which lasts approximately 1 hour. The Knights of Columbus is always looking for new members who will actively contribute to its principles and the Church.

Please support our GoFundMe fundraising drive to assist people with intellectual disabilities.