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Local Knights raise $196K for diocesan<br />
programs, seminarians<br />
by Donna Ryckaert<br />
Correspondent<br />
It was evident that charity<br />
is the first principal<br />
of their order, as the<br />
Fort Worth Knights<br />
of Columbus presented<br />
Bishop Olson with a check<br />
for $196,097 at the 20th<br />
Annual Priest and Religious<br />
Appreciation Dinner.<br />
Held at St. Bartholomew Parish<br />
in Fort Worth, the dinner was<br />
attended by over 400 supporters,<br />
including more than 100 priests,<br />
sisters, deacons, and seminarians.<br />
“The purpose of this event is<br />
to show our appreciation for clergy<br />
and religious, and to present our<br />
donation to the bishop,” said Pat<br />
Henz, diocesan deputy for the<br />
Knights of Columbus. Over the last<br />
20 years the Knights have met their<br />
annual fundraising goals and have<br />
contributed more than $2.8 million<br />
to the diocese, which goes to support<br />
Deaf Ministry and Vocations.<br />
All 55 councils in Fort Worth<br />
participate, which equates to 8,666<br />
Knights. Throughout the year the<br />
councils also collected spare change<br />
in jars at their various events for<br />
the “Pennies for Seminarians”<br />
program. Checks were presented to<br />
Father James Wilcox, the director of<br />
vocations.<br />
The night’s festivities included<br />
an introduction by Fr. Wilcox of<br />
the 34 diocesan seminarians and a<br />
special recognition of the anniversary<br />
milestones of priests and sisters.<br />
Clergy and religious who passed<br />
away last year were honored with a<br />
moment of silence. There were live<br />
and silent auctions to raise addition-<br />
Kevin Hathaway (center) and Linh Nguyen (right), seminarians for<br />
the Diocese of Fort Worth, applaud as they are introduced to the<br />
audience of Knights and clergy. (Photo by Donna Ryckaert / NTC)<br />
al funds toward next year’s goal.<br />
Connie Martin, director of<br />
Deaf Ministry, and 15 members<br />
of the deaf community attended<br />
the event. Members of the sign<br />
language choir performed the song<br />
“I Can Only Imagine,” led by choir<br />
director Ann Rodenburg.<br />
After Bishop Olson thanked<br />
the Knights for his check he joked,<br />
in his closing remarks, about how<br />
difficult it was going to be to deposit<br />
the “large” check at the ATM<br />
on the way home.<br />
Page 9 North Texas Catholic September / oCtober 2015
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