Council Christmas Party

Saturday, December 13, following the 5:00 p.m. Mass
St. Carlo Acutis Hall (formerly the Upper Hall), Sacred Heart Parish

On Saturday, December 13, following the 5:00 p.m. Mass, Monsignor Doyle Council 1186 gathered in St. Carlo Acutis Hall for our Council Christmas Party. With about 50 people in attendance, it was a joyful evening of fraternity, gratitude, and celebration in the heart of the Christmas season. We were also grateful that our great friend of the Knights, Mr. Paul Freeze, was able to join us for part of the evening.

We were also grateful that SK John Bothwell ensured Br. Len Maxwell could attend by providing him a ride to and from the party. Br. Len served as Sacred Heart’s maintenance man for decades, and it was a pleasure to welcome him.

We were also pleased to have Mrs. Joyce Huber in attendance with her son, Glenn. It is always meaningful to extend an invitation to the widows of our departed Brother Knights. Br. George Huber, a past Grand Knight of our council, passed away in November 2019, and we were grateful to welcome his family.

What made the evening special was not only the meal and fellowship, but the shared spirit of the season. In the simple act of gathering after Mass, we were reminded that our council is at its best when we are present to one another, grateful for our priests, attentive to the families of our departed brothers, and intentional about strengthening the bonds of fraternity that carry us into the new year. It was also great to see many of our newer and younger members turn out. These men represent the future of Council 1186, and their turnout gives us confidence that our council will continue forward into the future with energy, commitment, and service to parish and community.

Hospitality and meal

A sincere word of thanks to Br. Lorne Gartner, recent recipient of the Heart of the Council Award, who prepared a beautiful Christmas ham and scalloped potatoes for the evening. We are also grateful to Br. Sijo Abraham and Br. Robin Joseph, who prepared desserts, fruit, and snacks in advance, helping ensure the evening was welcoming and well provided for.

• We also extend our sincere thanks to Br. Leslie Trainor and SK Wayne Gerylo for setting up the venue and handling the behind-the-scenes logistics that made the evening run smoothly.
• We are also grateful to Br. Lorne Gartner, Br. John Leahy and his wife Inge, SK Wayne Gerylo, and Br. Leslie Trainor for staying through cleanup to the very end. Their follow-through ensured the hall was fully reset and ready, with final cleanup completed at about 10:30 p.m.
  
• We also thank SK Stephen Sheridan for contacting the widows of our departed Brother Knights and extending invitations to the Christmas Party.
• We also thank Br. Rob Perrin for phoning Brother Knights and encouraging them to attend the Christmas Party.

Clergy present

We were blessed to have the presence of:

• Fr. Terry Connolly
  
• Fr. Brian Hubka
  
• Fr. Arjay 
  
• Fr. Mario Basque

We also thank Fr. Arjay for welcoming the Knights of Columbus into St. Carlo Acutis Hall and making the venue available for our Christmas Party.

Dignitaries and visiting brothers

We were also pleased to welcome dignitaries and guests, including State Treasurer SK Ian Clark (St. Bonaventure Parish, Council 7432) and District Deputy SK Noble Augustine.

The evening was further enriched by brother Knights visiting from other councils, including SK Dave Onysyk (Holy Spirit Parish, Father Joe Toole Council 8471), Br. Tony Uliani (Holy Name Catholic Church, Calgary, Council 7138), and SK Daryl McLeod (St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary, Alberta, Council 14096).

Door prizes

Three door prizes were drawn during the evening:

• Fr. Terry Connolly was the lucky winner of a lovely, colorful wall hanging.
• Br. Dave Onysyk was the lucky winner of a beautiful framed embroidery piece.
• Br. Daryl McLeod was the winner of a Japanese collectible plate.

Photo gallery

Photos from the evening are included below to capture the warmth of the night and the fellowship shared among brother Knights, clergy, and guests.

Photo credits: Photographs from the evening were captured by our Council Chronicler, SK Roland “Rollie” Reeves