Knights of Columbus make charitable donations

A number of presentations were made to Bishop Larry J. Kulick Tuesday by the Knights of Columbus.

A donation of $3,980 was made on behalf of the Greensburg Diocesan Chapter of the Knights of Columbus to the Seminarian Education Endowment Fund – which is the selected charity of Bishop Kulick.

“It’s a collection from some of the councils and private donors,” said Michael Morris, president of the Greensburg Diocesan Chapter of the Knights of Columbus.

The Pennsylvania Council of the Knights of Columbus presented the Bishop with a $1,000 check to be used for his personal charities.

“This is something we do for every new Bishop throughout the Commonwealth,” explained Kenneth Grugel, state deputy. “One of our missions is to support the church. Many Popes have said, the Knights of Columbus are the right arm of the church.”

Another presentation that was a surprise to Bishop Kulick was that of a chalice used at Knights of Columbus ceremonies.

“We have a ceremony where we knight people on the shoulders,” said William Hilderhoff, secretary of the Greensburg Chapter. “At the end of the ceremony, we uncover the chalice. We illuminate it in a dark room and it’s a beautiful sight. The importance of the chalice is the Eucharist in our lives.”

The Bishop also was presented a medallion with the chalice embossed on the front and on the back is 10 embossments representing the decades of the rosary.

Bishop Kulick was very grateful for all of the presentations from the Knights of Columbus.

 “It’s really amazing when you have an organization that has done such a great job of defining its mission that when you think of that organization there are terms that synonymously come along with it. I think with the Knights of Columbus a couple of those things are: pro-life and vocations. You can’t separate the two.”

Finally, Msgr. Raymond E. Riffle, Vicar General, made a presentation to Bishop Kulick of a gift made by the clergy of the Diocese at his ordination.