Local Knights of Columbus Council Receives Second Consecutive Highest Award

HIGHLANDS/ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS — The Reverend Joseph J. Donnelly Knights of Columbus Council No. 11660, serving Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Saint Agnes Catholic Parish, is pleased to announce that it has received a second consecutive “Star Council” award, the international organization’s highest honor for local councils.

The Star Council Award recognizes overall excellence in growing membership, promoting Knights of Columbus insurance benefits, sponsoring Catholic faith education programs, and volunteering through service-oriented activities consisting of 16 programs divided evenly among the four categories of Faith, Family, Community and Life.

This year the Council of the Reverend Joseph J. Donnelly has reached its full membership with the addition of five newly installed Knight Brothers.

“We are truly blessed to serve such a vibrant parish, filled with so supportive, committed and faithful parishioners and ministries. We are also continually blessed by the encouragement of our pastor, Father Jarlath Quinn, who is also one of our own Brother Sir Knights and who also serves as our Council Chaplain,” said 2022-2024 Grand Knight Mike Napolitano, who learned of the award from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. “And I continue to be personally blessed to serve with and learn from the wonderful and growing number of Catholic gentlemen who comprise this Council of Brothers, along with our Sisters in the Columbiettes Auxiliary.”

Council #11660 earned its second consecutive “Star Council” award by continuing with a mix of tried-and-true parish favorites such as hosting a weekly Rosary Hour, a free monthly themed pancake breakfast, the annual Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner as a fundraising event (now coupled with the annual Columbiettes Charity Gift Auction), donating to local food banks, donating to local seminarians, sponsoring an annual Blue Mass & Dinner for First Responders, donating to Deborah Hospital, donating to local pregnancy centers along with newer initiatives such as creating a multi-council special needs Bowl-A-Thon, sponsoring a Special Olympics Polar Plunge team, a May Crowning Mass & Initiation Sacraments Breakfast, a Catholic Education Fair, the 9/11 Remembrance and Veterans Appreciation Breakfasts plus the annual Oktoberfest and Sinatra Night Dinner fundraising events – just to name a few.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age and older who are practical (i.e. practicing) Catholics connected to the Holy See.

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For information about joining the Knights of Columbus Council No. 11660, please contact Membership Director Dave Convery via email at (email protected) or call the new Grand Knight Ian McGinniss at 732-500-6706.

To learn more about the Knights of Columbus, visit their website. You can also join the organization for free here.

About the Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is one of the world’s leading fraternal and service organizations with 2 million members in more than 16,000 parish-based councils. In the past year, Knights worldwide provided more than 47 million service hours and donated $153 million to charities in their communities. The organization also provides comprehensive life insurance services to members and their families, resulting in more than $116 billion in life insurance. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors offers investment services to individuals and
institutions consistent with Catholic social teaching and manages more than $27 billion in assets.

From helping children in need, providing wheelchairs for the disabled, stocking food banks, offering quality, affordable insurance products to its members, and creating a legacy of giving, the Knights of Columbus has been supporting families and communities for more than 140 years.