Saturday evening June 29th was filled with prayer, ceremony, awards and food. It all started about 4:50pm as Knights and their families gathered in the church Narthex and processed as a group into a reserved section of the church to attend the 5pm Mass as a group. This is called Corporate Communion and our Council does this quarterly. After Mass , most everyone moved to the dining room of the Community Center where friendships were renewed, new acquaintance were made and in general just a time to say “hello” to everyone and enjoy an adult beverage if it so pleased you.. Around 7pm the process of installing the new Officers for fraternal year 2024-2025 began with an invocation from our Chaplain Fr. Uche and then orchestrated by our District Deputy Keban Alexander.
Our own Jorge Ruiz acted as Warden for the event making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time. Each Officer was presented –usually by their wife – with a colored lanyard ribbon and medal signifying their respective office. Grand Knight – Mike Fitzgerald (Susan)
Deputy Grand Knight – Marc Evans (Gilda)
Chancellor – Paul Ryan (Colleen)
Treasurer – James Smith (Judy), (Jorge Ruiz substitutes)
Recorder – Dr. Robert Nieto (Gloria)
Financial Secretary, Peter Perta (Bimbo) (Jorge Ruiz substitutes)
Warden – Adan Luna (Norma)
, Advocate- Russell Gully (Patricia) (Jorge Ruiz substitutes)
Lecturer – Jim Russell (Mary)
Outside Guard – Gamaliel Hernandez (Mayra), Inside Guard – Russell LeRoy (Therese)
Trustees Dan Murphy (Pat), Jorge Ruiz (Cathy) and Jim Russell (Still Mary).
The ceremony was very formal and well scripted and the script followed exactly. Each Officer was dressed for the occasion. After the installation of Officers, Fr, Uche again led us in a prayer of thanksgiving for the dinner we were about to eat – and then the eating began. Mike Fitzgerald prepared delicious smoked chicken accompanied by mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, beans, salad, rolls and drinks, and, of course, a cake for dessert. There was lots of conversation and mingling after dinner and then Mike Fitzgerald introduced the recipients of this years’ scholarships. Those receiving $1,000 scholarships were: Sandra Echeveste – daughter of Jorge Echeveste
, Keddie Ramsden – grandson of Jack Ramsden
Jose Hernandez – son of Gamaliel Hernandez
Rylee Via – granddaughter of Dan Murphy
and Jagger Kubin – daughter of Chris Kubin.
Shortly thereafter Efrain Ochoa – last years’ recipient of the Knight of the Year award – summarized this years’ recipients’ accomplishments and deeds that earned him this honor. He also congratulated the three finalist for this award – Gamaliel Hernandez, David Ybarra, and Adan Luna. There was a thunderous ovation when Efrain announced David Ybarra as this years’ Knight of the Year. Wow!! A complete evening enjoyed by all.
Council Meeting Schedule
