Connecting in Stewardship and Fellowship: The Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfasts

You don’t have to attend a parish for long before you start to recognize the people who sit near you during Sunday Mass. However, too often, in the midst of our busy schedules, we don’t get to know the people with whom we worship. Here at St. Francis Xavier, we hope our parishioners will take time to slow down, enjoy breakfast with our community, and chat with their brothers and sisters in Christ — sharing in more than just a wave or smile on the way out of church.

Every second Sunday of the month, our Knights of Columbus host a pancake breakfast — complete with sausage, hash browns, scrambled eggs, waffles, and of course, the best pancakes in town — for our parish community. The breakfast is served in the parish hall, in between Sunday morning Masses, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“Life gets so busy for every one of us,” says Walter Howell, who currently serves as the council’s Grand Knight. “We’re always thinking of the next thing we’ve got to do, but if you quit worrying about that other stuff you think is pressing, and spend time serving and getting to know other people, a lot of the things you’re stressed about are going to fall into place because you’ll have more peace.”

Longtime Knight Steve Raine serves as the Chair of the Breakfast Committee and works hard each month to ensure that the morning is an enjoyable event for all. He is joined by a number of other Knights — as well as some of their family members — who serve in a variety of different ways, from setup and cooking, to serving and cleaning up afterwards.

I truly think this is for everyone. For folks who are newer or maybe don’t know as many people, it’s a great opportunity for them. It’s a great opportunity for the regulars to reach out to those folks, who, they’ve seen their face, but maybe they don’t really know them. It’s an opportunity to strike up a conversation, to meet people, to smile and laugh. It’s a good thing.

— Walter Howell, Grand Knight

“I’ve met a lot of parishioners because of this and I have a better relationship with a lot of the parishioners, because they come up and talk, and you’re serving them and you get to know them,” Steve says. “Being around your fellow Knights and being around the parishioners, it’s a great feeling.”

The profits from the breakfasts go towards a number of different local charities, including the Center of Family Love, Mission of Hope, the Mother Teresa Fund, a local foodbank and our seminarians.

“The money being donated to a great cause strengthens that feeling to do it every month, because you know it’s going to help someone,” Steve says.

However, no less important than the charitable donations that the breakfast raises, the event is an opportunity for members of our parish to come together for a time of fellowship, while enjoying a delicious meal.

“The fellowship aspect is very important and that’s right up there with the charitable contribution,” Walter says. “That’s the main service we’re providing — an opportunity for parishioners to stick around and visit. People will come and eat and drink coffee and stay at church for an hour or so after Mass, instead of just going on with their busy lives.”

For the Knights of Columbus, three of whose principles are charity, unity and fraternity, the Pancake Breakfasts are a chance to fulfill their mission.

“I really feel like our Pancake Breakfast really fits right in there with the major aspects of being a Knight – supporting charity, unity as we’re working together in the kitchen serving others, and fraternity — time together as brother Knights, and also helping to provide a platform for the whole parish to come together and have some fraternity,” Walter says. “Those are neat aspects of what we’re able to offer.”

The Knights encourages parishioners to come and enjoy the Pancake Breakfasts, especially if they’re new to our community.

“I truly think this is for everyone,” Walter says. “For folks who are newer or maybe don’t know as many people, it’s a great opportunity for them. It’s a great opportunity for the regulars to reach out to those folks, who, they’ve seen their face, but maybe they don’t really know them. It’s an opportunity to strike up a conversation, to meet people, to smile and laugh. It’s a good thing.”

“We’re all busy, but if you want to get to know who’s sitting next to you at Mass, this is one of the best ways you can accomplish that,” Steve adds. “This makes Church mean more to you and it strengthens your faith.”

If you would like to become involved with serving at our Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfasts, or would like more information on joining the Knights of Columbus at St. Francis Xavier, please contact Grand Knight Walter Howell at 405-338-1039 or wrhowell4@gmail.com.