Knights of Columbus Honored

A surprise October snowstorm couldn’t stop the Knights of Columbus from gathering at the Department for Persons with Disabilities’ (DPD) Wiegand Farm in Oak Ridge on Oct. 30.  The Knights came from throughout the Diocese of Paterson to enjoy a buffet dinner around the indoor swimming pool, catered by Portofino Italian Family Restaurant.  Representatives of the 50-plus Knights of Columbus councils were recognized for supporting the DPD throughout the past 46 years. 

Since the DPD’s inception the Knights of Columbus in the Paterson Diocese and throughout the state of New Jersey, have stood by the DPD and have helped the agency grow and flourish.  Throughout this time, the Knights of Columbus have raised over $2,000,000 for the DPD through their Disability Drives and other fundraising endeavors.  The Knights of Columbus have also remained active in volunteering for the DPD in various capacities.  Numerous members of the DPD family are Knights of Columbus, including Executive Director Scott Milliken, and residents Frank, Anthony and Jack.  Past State Deputies Dominick Calabrese, Don Ryan and Tom Ciborski have all donated their time as members of the DPD’s Board of Trustees and current State Treasurer Bruce De Molli is the newest member of the DPD’s Board.  

The Knights of Columbus appreciation event included a ceremony by the Knight’s Color Corps; tours of the Columbus House Group Home and achievement awards given to four residents of DPD: Frank , Kelly and Jack of the Wallace House and Anthony of the Alexander House. 

Remarks were offered by Executive Director Scott Milliken and Monsignor John Fitzpatrick of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oak Ridge. The pastor blessed a memorial statue of Father Michael McGivney, who founded the Knights of Columbus as a Catholic fraternal benefit society. The statue also honors all members of the organization who have supported the DPD, and is situated in a courtyard garden area that will be paved with engraved bricks.

The event also commemorated the 10 year anniversary of the “Dominick’s Dream” fundraiser and introduced a new fundraiser to the Knights of Columbus. 

Fifteen years ago, Past State Deputy Dominick Calabrese proposed and introduced a fundraising effort for the DPD, which was a great success. Through Calabrese’s efforts over $130,000 were raised for the DPD, which helped the agency pay off all outstanding debts.  Calabrese had a heart attack and passed away at the kickoff event for this fundraiser.  After his passing this effort was named “Dominick’s Dream.”  Dominick's Dream shattered all set goals and helped the DPD advance and serve more people.

State Treasurer Bruce De Molli addressed the Knights in attendance and asked that each council raise funds to “relive” Dominick’s Dream.  The DPD will be offering custom engraved bricks to place around the Father McGivney statue.  If each Knights of Columbus Council participates in the Diocese of Paterson the DPD could raise over $40,000.  The DPD purchased the first two bricks around the Father McGivney statue, the first in memory of Dominick Calabrese and the second in honor of Frederick Conforti.  Conforti helped the DPD’s founder, Monsignor John Wehrlen, reach out to and introduce his cause to the Knights of Columbus over 40 years ago.  Conforti was unable to attend the event but later said, “This honor means so much to me and is a great surprise.  I just helped Father Wehrlen out because I felt that it was the right thing to do.  I am very proud of what the agency has become and the impact that the Knights have had on people with disabilities.”

“The staff members of the DPD, live by the philosophy that the moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. At the Department for Persons with Disabilities, this philosophy is clearly lived out in the warm, clean, and welcoming group homes” said Milliken.  “It was a pleasure for us to honor the Knights of Columbus who have been the DPD’s most dedicated supporters throughout our 45 year history.  The Knights have truly helped us grow and flourish”, he added.

The Department for Persons with Disabilities was established by Catholic Charities in 1965 to provide residential, vocational, spiritual, and social services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Nine group homes and two supervised apartment facilities currently house about 75 residents in northern New Jersey. Three of the homes are located at the DPD complex at Wiegand Farm on Weldon Road in Oak Ridge, and one of them is called Columbus House in honor of the ongoing support of the Knights of Columbus.

The DPD seeks to expand its services to additional residents. For information on becoming involved with volunteering, donating, or the DPD’s various fundraisers, contact Chris Brancato, Director of Development and Public Relations, at 973-406-1104 or chrisb@dpd.org. For more information about the Department for Persons with Disabilities, visit www.dpd.org.