Supporting the Church, School and Family Events Is the Mission of the Corpus Christi Knights Council

Supporting the church, its school and promoting events geared towards families all define the mission of the Knights of Columbus council of .

Warren Stroedecke, who has served as deputy grand knight of the council for several years, says it’s a very active group with more than 100 members, around 30 who are largely active, who gather for regular meetings and volunteer with the council’s various fundraisers and events in support of the Corpus Christi community. The Grand Knight is Michael Marella and the Knights council chambers are located in the lower level of the Early Childhood Center across the street from Corpus Christi Church.

Two main fundraisers are held each year and the council is currently gearing up for its big St. Patrick’s Day dinner fundraiser which will take place Sunday, March 13 at the Corpus Christi School cafeteria from 5 to 7:30 p.m. In the fall the Knights host their annual Columbus Day dinner fundraiser event.

Stroedecke said their events are always organized with families in mind, so the children can be included therefore the council is sure to have activities geared towards kids. He refers to the fundraisers as “fun-raisers” and the annual St. Patty’s event will once again feature corned beef for dinner and hot dogs as an alternative which are especially a treat for the youngsters. Stroedecke said his wife is once again hard at work organizing the tricky tray for the event and the Knights also host a 50/50 raffle.

Some of the tricky tray items at their events are specifically geared towards the children such as gift basket of coloring books or toys that way kids also have a chance to win, he said.

Recent examples of the Knights efforts are the new entryway to the parish center and the Corpus Christi School’s science room which is now equipped with new tables. The Knights are always on hand to help with any events the priests may need help with, Stroedecke said.

Sometimes help is given in the good old fashioned way of rolling up their sleeves and doing the work themselves. When the parish pews needed new finishing, that is exactly what members of the Knights council did, he explained.

Stroedecke said the Knights also support young men that wish to enter the priesthood and currently they have helped a Corpus Christi School graduate attend seminar school through their RSVP Program funded by voluntary donations. Also the Knights participate in the Adopt a Sister Program where the group supports an elderly nun with donations. She sends them cards and tells them she is praying for them.

The Knights council was named after the founding pastor of the parish Monsignor Robert Fitzpatrick in 1978, Stroedecke said. Over the years membership has gone up and down but more recently over the past eight years or so it has grown substantially. After a group known as the Father’s Guild disbanded many of those members joined the Knights. Corpus Christi also has does a lot with its sister church Assumption Church of Wood-Ridge where members also hail.  They have many longtime members some who are now district deputies who assist with other Knights councils in the area.

All one has to do to become a member is say so and show interest to the group. The only requirements are that one is over 18, male and is a good practicing Catholic – the definition of the latter is to anyone’s interpretation, Stroedecke said.

Stroedecke said that many people have a misconception that the Knights are some kind of secret society and that comes from the fact that members do participate in degree ceremonies of which the details are kept under wraps. The reason for that is so the members themselves can get the most of the religious lesson that lies in the degree ceremonies, he explained.

“If the ceremonies were public knowledge then they would not be able to learn the lesson. There is nothing nasty or any kind of fraternity hazing going on. The member is just learning a good Catholic lesson and if he were to know ahead of time it would ruin the experience,” said Stroedecke.

The four degrees are defined as 1: charity; 2: unity; 3: fraternity and 4: patriotism. The three degrees are done within one’s own council. The fourth degree is the highest these Knights participate in more ceremonial activity.