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| History of Council 5468 | Officers | Activities | Meetings | Why Join? | How to Join |
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History
Bishop Hill Council (5468) received its charter in November 1963 with the Blessing of the Parish Priest, Father Donal Lehane, and has been serving the community ever since. On a Sunday in January 1963 Catholic men from St. Patrick's Parish gathered to hear about the benefits of having a Knights of Columbus Council in the parish. Applications were signed to signal the beginning of Bishop Hill Council 5468. Members from North Vancouver Island parishes were also included. The council was named after the late Bishop James Michael Hill, Diocese of Victoria.
Brother Ed Schmidt was elected to be the first Grand Knight.
At present the council has 141 members and serves Campbell River, Gold River, Tahsis, Sayward, Port McNeil, Port Hardy and Port Alice. Members are ready and willing to be "the right arm of the Church". We always welcome new members into our council so that we may be better able to be "In Service To One, In Service To All".
The efforts of the council are community based providing scholarships to high school graduates, sponsoring sports teams, welcoming new Canadians and assisting the disadvantaged. Our largest enterprise is the Community Christmas Hamper Fund that annually delivers nearly 1200 hampers containing food and toys to the needy in our community.
The Bishop Hill Council solicits your support of our fund raising programs so that we may continue to be of service to the community.
On November 2, 2013 the Fiftieth Anniversary of the existence of Council 5468 was celebrated. Bishop Richard J. Gagnon attended and addressed all who had gathered at the evening dinner for the celebration. To view a slideshow of the events of the evening, please click HERE.
Officers
OFFICERS
Activities
Over the course of the year the Council organizes many events and activities.
One event that spans the entire twelve months is the Sunday Morning Pancake Breakfast. The breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, coffee and toast is held every few months immediately after the two Sunday morning Masses. On Mother's Day all Moms are treated to a free breakfast, strawberries and cream, and a flower.
March sees the organization of a St. Patrick's Dinner & Dance with all profits going to the Campbell River Perinatal Society. There is also a "Silent Auction" at this event.
In April the Knights hold a Garage Sale in the large Hall of the Church. The items on sale are donated by the parishioners and it is the usual "one man's garbage is another man's treasure".
The Special Olympics take front and center stage in May as the Knights organize a Fund Raising Walkathon to support the Special Olympians. The walk is held on the Rotary Seawalk and is well sponsored.
The ever-popular Lobster Dinner is in June and is always a sellout with diners coming from as far as Ladysmith for the evening. In addition to Lobster there are mussels, roast beef, salads, potatoes, salmon and desserts. The "Silent Auction" at this dinner is quite large thanks to the hard work of the Knights in soliciting items and the generosity of the merchants of Campbell River.
It is also in June that the Knights award graduating students at our local high schools, Carihi and Timberline, with bursaries. The Doug Flynn Memorial Trophy is also awarded to a deserving student at this time. Doug had been a teacher in the Campbell River area for many years and was much-loved and respected. The Knights attend the respective graduating ceremonies in order to make the presentations.
In July the Knights host an "Appreciation Night" dinner to thank all the volunteers, both Knights and not, for their hard work and dedication through the year for the various fund raising activities.
September witnesses the beginning of our Community Christmas Hamper Fund. Letters are sent to all the organizations in town and the hunt is on for a depot to house our groceries. This is perhaps our biggest event from a community perspective as at least one hundred citizens of Campbell River show up on the delivery day to assemble the hampers and then to make the deliveries. It is truly a community event. There are approximately 1120 hampers delivered to the less fortunate and seniors in Campbell River and environs. To get an idea of the magnitude of the project please click HERE.
Our International Dinner is held in November. It is a potluck affair where members of the parish bring dishes that are peculiar to the country from which they or their family left to come to Canada. If a diner does not bring a dish of food to be shared then there is an entry fee.
From November through January the Knights sell the Charity Appeal Tickets where the prizes are cars etc...
Many of the Knights in the Council have acquired their "Serving It Right" certification offered by the province of British Columbia. This permits the Knights to offer Bar Service to any group that wishes to have alcohol at their event. In some instances the Knights are paid an hourly wage for serving what the host of the event has purchased. More often the Knights secure the product to be served at the event and the profits made come from the sale of the refreshments. All profits, from any event, are placed in the fund that allows us to help our community and organizations that seek our support. Any Knight who wishes to obtain "Serving It Right" certification, the cost of which is refundable from Council, pick up the hard copy SIR Program Manual (which includes the Registration Form and Open Book Exam) from a Government Liquor store or complete certification online at http://www.servingitright.com/
Meetings
Council 5468 meets on the first tuesday of each month in the small hall of the church. The meeting is preceded by the recitation of the Rosary in the Church at 7:00 pm. The meeting itself starts at 7:30 pm. After the meeting there are refreshments and a light snack that provide the Knights an opportunity to chat about whatever they have on their minds. It is also a more informal time to see how the planning for our upcoming events is progressing.
Why Join the Knights of Columbus?
Imagine being part of an organization that fills your heart and your mind with the joy of giving to others and the feeling that comes with making a difference.
Knights are Catholic men, 18 years of age and older, who are committed to making their community a better place, while supporting their Church. Being a Knight is more than camaraderie; it is being involved with your community; it is supporting your local Catholic Church, while enhancing your own faith; it is about protecting and enhancing your family life. Come see just what we are all about and take the first steps to enhance your personal life.
Our eight-page Overview Booklet (pdf, 415k) gives additional information about what it means to be a member of the Knights of Columbus.
How to Join the Knights of Columbus
If you are a practical Catholic man, age 18 or older, we welcome you to join the leading organization of Catholic laymen.
Being a Knight is more than camaraderie; it is being involved with your community; it is supporting your local Catholic Church, while enhancing your own faith; it is about protecting and enhancing your family life.
Come see just what we are all about and take the first steps to enhance your personal life by contacting the Parish Office or by asking a friend who is already a Knight for help. He can give you more details about Bishop Hill Council and its many endeavors.