Columbia Archive - April 2003

and family members volunteer at seven sports venues, and 18 Virginia councils are involved directly in staging the event. At the opening ceremonies, some 50 Fourth Degree Knights serve as a color guard, and an honor guard assists at the torch lighting ceremony, he said.

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR BISHOP
Knights in the Pittsburgh Diocese have raised some $4 million in the past 40 years for the Bishop’s Project. Bishop Donald Wuerl is scheduled to accept this year’s contribution of $170,000 at a ceremony this month. Funds go to McGuire Memorial Home in New Brighton for persons with developmental disabilities, and St. Anthony School Programs, which provides children with learning disabilities the resources and training they need to attend regular Catholic schools.

Councils raise money through the distribution of Christmas seals in parishes, and through candy drives and penny collections.

Thomas P. O’Toole, executive director of St. Anthony School Programs and a member of

Penn-Allegheny Council 4242 in Verona, called the Knights’ support indispensable.

“They are the cornerstone of the program. They help us provide the educational, moral and spiritual programs that make a real difference in people’s

lives,” O’Toole said. “We had parents recently who were overjoyed when their child made the Sign of the Cross for the first time. We couldn’t do it without the Knights.” Brian Caulfield is managing editor of Columbia.

A SPECIAL DEGREE It was a First Degree like no other for Father James Reid Council 2194 in Rochester, Pa. Eleven young men with developmental disabilities became Knights during a First Degree at McGuire Memorial Home in New Brighton. Also joining the Knights were three Capuchin priests who care for the men’s spiritual welfare.

“It was a wonderful celebration. More than 50 Knights turned out and the young men did well in answering questions and giving consent,” said Capuchin Father William Gillum, who received his First Degree.

“To have these young men join the Knights is part of the movement toward inclusion of persons with disabilities in Church and community life,” Father Gillum added. “When they got their certificates and pins, they were really excited,” he said.

To help the young men become active Knights, the council plans to conduct meetings periodically at the New Brighton facility.

“These young men are full members of our council,” said Past Grand Knight Peter J. Mike. “We don’t want to make this just a show. We want them to take part to the best of their abilities.”

When Joseph P. Beichner, the father of one of the young men, and a Knight himself, asked if his son Roy could join, council officers began to explore the possibility.

Roy Beichner, 25, has cerebral palsy, is confined to a wheelchair and is fed through a tube, said his mother, Beverly.

“It just seemed that my son is as close to God as anyone I know, and that’s what the Knights are about, being close to God. Why shouldn’t he be a member?” said Beichner, who belongs to Msgr. Theabold of St. Michael’s Parish Council 11387 in Fryburg. “I’m so proud of my son, as I always am.”

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