4 minute read
Meet Our Knights of Columbus: Putting Stewardship Into Action by Serving Others Generously
When it comes to a living example of stewardship in action in our parish, look no further than the members of our Knights of Columbus council.
Serving God and their local community side-byside, our Knights from St. John Neumann Council 10713 here at St. Michael Catholic Church set the bar high at our parish when it comes to sharing their time, talent, and treasure in our community.
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“I believe the main question God will ask us at the end of this earthly life is, ‘What did you do for the least of my brothers?’” says parishioner Joe Jurisa, a member of our Knights of Columbus council. “God gave everyone some type of talent, and I believe that we should use all of our skills to help those who are less fortunate.”
The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in Connecticut to bring together men with a shared Catholic faith to assist the many families left fatherless by the dangerous working conditions in local mines and factories. To this day, charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism remain the four central principles of the organization.
Joe and many of his fellow Knights put the Word of God into action through various charitable endeavors in our community, including regular service at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen on Main Street in Greenfield.
Joe joined the Knights of Columbus in 1989, chasing his desire to help people and make a difference. The Knights are a national organization dedicated to assisting those who are sick, disabled, and less fortunate through financial aid and acts of service.
The local Council that Joe is a part of supports numerous programs such as the Gabriel Project, which aids women and families facing crises. They are strong supporters of the pro-life cause and raise funds to buy and donate ultrasound machines to prolife pregnancy centers. Recently, the national Knights of Columbus organization partnered with their counterparts in Poland and donated $2 million to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees.
But for Joe, and the Knights from our local council, their work with the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen is near and dear to their hearts.
When Joe and his family moved to the Greenfield area in 2015, the soup kitchen was in the midst of its annual winter coat drive. Since he was new to the area, he had to use his GPS to figure out how to get to the kitchen to drop off his coats. From his initial visit, Joe knew that he wanted to get involved.
“I don’t even know how to cook, but I recognized the need that the soup kitchen addressed within our community, and I went back to serve as soon as I could,” says Joe. “I mainly wash dishes and clean. From time to time I will chop veggies and serve our customers when the need is there.”
Joe’s ability to serve the community drastically increased once his children graduated from college. Since then, he has volunteered at the soup kitchen each week. His consistent service allows him to meet amazing, holy people seeking to do the Lord’s work.
Serving at the soup kitchen has had a particular impact on Joe. He has recognized that these experiences of giving back to God by offering his time and talent have shaped him into a better person. In all his work he aims to grow in the love of God.
“I’m surrounded by Christians who go out of their way to serve Christ,” Joe says. “I was a part of one service group that wore t-shirts that said, ‘Serving God by serving people.’ I believe that.”
Chris Seifert assembles meals for guests at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.
Joe Jurisa helps with dishes and other areas at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.
Joe Jurisa helps with dishes and other areas at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.
Joe Jurisa helps with dishes and other areas at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.
