Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus was founded by an Irish-American Catholic priest, The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. He gathered a group of men from St. Mary’s parish for an organizational meeting on October 2, 1881 and the Order was incorporated under the laws of the U.S. state of Connecticut on March 29, 1882. Though the first councils were all in that state, the Order spread throughout New England and the United States in subsequent years.

The primary motivation for the Order was to be a mutual benefit society. As a parish priest in an immigrant community, McGivney saw what could happen to a family when the breadwinner died and wanted to provide insurance to care for the widows and orphans left behind. He himself had to temporarily leave his seminary studies to care for his family when his father died. In the late 19th century, Catholics were regularly excluded from labor unions and other organizations that provided social services.
In addition, Catholics were either barred from many of the popular fraternal organizations, or, as in the case of Freemasonry, forbidden from joining by the Catholic Church itself. McGivney wished to provide them an alternative. He also believed that Catholicism and fraternalism were not incompatible and wished to found a society that would encourage men to be proud of their American-Catholic heritage.

McGivney traveled to Boston to examine the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters and to Brooklyn to learn about the recently established Catholic Benevolent League, both of which offered insurance benefits. He found the latter to be lacking the excitement he thought was needed if his organization were to compete with the secret societies of the day. He expressed an interest in establishing a New Haven Court of the Foresters, but the charter of Massachusetts Foresters prevented them from operating outside their Commonwealth. The committee of St. Mary’s parishioners McGivney had assembled then decided to form a club that was entirely original.

McGivney had originally conceived of the name “Sons of Columbus” but James T. Mullen, who would become the first Supreme Knight, successfully suggested that “Knights of Columbus” would better capture the ritualistic nature of the new organization. The Order was founded 10 years before the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival in the New World and in a time of renewed interest in him. Columbus was a hero to many American Catholics, and the naming him as patron was partly an attempt to bridge the division between the Irish-Catholic founders of the Order and Catholic immigrants of other nationalities living in Connecticut.

Fiscal year July 1st to June 30

• William Murphy (2007-2008)
• William Murphy (2008-2009)
• Douglas Traverson (2009-2010)
• Leslie Johnson (2010-2011)
• Frank Frangella (2011-2012)
• James Kelly (2012-2013)
• Robert Vince (2013-2014)
• Robert Vince (2014-2015)
• Robert Vince (2015-2016)
• William Mattingly (2016-2017)
• William Mattingly (2017-2018)
• John O’Connor (2018-2019)
• Mike Rastovski (2019-2020)
• William Mattingly (2020-2021)
• William Mattingly (2021-2022)

Nora Ridolfi came to St. Faustina in 2014 from Ft. Lauderdale where she served in her parish for 20 years. She continued that service at St. Faustina when our church was located in Glenbrook Commons. She began her St. Faustina journey as an usher for the 11:30 am Sunday Mass.  However, in the past 10 years, her services as a volunteer have expanded.

She is currently a member of the St. Faustina parish council and very active member in the Art And Environment, EMHC, Sacristan, Reader, Hospitality, Caring Crafters, Grandparents, and Holy Dusters ministries. Nora makes sure that the altar plants are watered and the alter candle holders are clean. She has also volunteered for the last three with our parish’s annual Christmas party. Nora also serves as an usher, sacristan, and reader at the Queen of the Universe Shrine in Orlando.

With all that she is, and has been involved with to serve our Lord and His children, it is indeed a testament that service is in Nora’s DNA.  (submitted by Ed Rabelas)      In the photo starting from left, GK Ed Rabelas, Fr. John McNalis, Nora Ridolfi, Bro. Michael Muller, Bro. William Donnelly and Brother Francisco Bulfango Jr.

Our St. Faustina Knights of Columbus have named Israel and Gilda Santiago as their February “Family of the Month.”

Israel and Gilda started attending masses at St. Faustina when masses were held at the Westgate Hotel in 2006. Israel started teaching confirmation class at the BBQ place and his confirmation class was the first one to celebrate confirmation at St. Faustina. He also is on the count team since they started at St. Faustina. He is an altar server and held various positions. Israel and Gilda have been at St. Faustina at five different locations as well as with the five different pastors assigned at St. Faustina.

Israel is still teaching OCIA classes and helps the parish with various projects. Israel and Gilda served as the Altar Server and Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) respectively at the yearly Simbang Gabi (Misa de Gallo) nine-day Novena masses before Christmas Day, which was sponsored by the Filipino parishioners. Israel has been a Brother Knight at Knights of Columbus Council 13116 for more than 17 years, and held many positions as a Knight. Israel is also the Vice Chairman of St. Faustina Parish Council.

(In the photo are: Gilda and Israel Santiago, Fr. Carlos, Grand Knight Ed Rabelas and Brother Knight Mike Muller)

Carmelita C. Flores has been a registered St Faustina Church parishioner since 2015. She has served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) since 2016 and is a Sacristan and Mass Captain as well as a member of the St. Faustina Parish Council.

She is the head of the following Ministries: Art and Environment Ministry which is responsible for the church decorations for Lent, Easter, Advent and Christmas and takes care of the plants and flowers in the sanctuary, Altar Society, which is responsible for the preparation of the altar for liturgy with the proper vestment color (white, green, purple or rose) and also washing and/or laundry of the altar and priest vestments, corporals, purificator and towels. Carmelita also makes sure that the albs of the Altar Servers are sent to the cleaners on a regular basis and she is a member of the Holy Duster, the ministry that cleans the church every Friday.

Carmelita is an active member of the Hospitality Ministry, which serves donuts and cookies every first weekend of the month and was chairman of the St. Faustina Christmas parties for the previous three years. She helps in organizing the Simbang Gabi novena Masses and was the former Secretary of the St. Faustina Legion of Mary.

(In the picture left to right) Grand Knight Ed Rabelas, Fr. John McNalis, Carmelita Flores, Deputy Grand Knight Robert Crais, son Rene Crais and William Donnelly

Long-time parishioners, Don and Trish Villeneuve, members of St. Faustina since the parish started in 2006, have been named the Knights of Columbus, “Family of the Month” for December.

Don was construction supervisor for more than 20 years while Trish was a social worker for more than a decade in the 1970’s and 80’s. Upon retiring, they moved to Florida in 1990. Parishioners at Blessed Sacrament, Holy Redeemer, St. Mary’s in Haines City, and the Shrine, the couple began their St. Faustina parish journey in early October of 2006 when they saw our “Catholic Mass” sign (which had an arrow to point the way) outside the doors of Westgate Inn, which was located on Route 192.  While not at the very first Mass on September 30, their signatures are among those that grace the historic white boards that commemorate the original parishioners.

Don and Trish were among the many parishioners who helped with the move from Westgate Inn to the former “Homer’s BBQ” restaurant, which allowed the parish to have its first Mass at that Route 27 location on December 24, 2006.  Don was also among those who renovated the flooring and did the painting at the rectory.  He is a long-standing Knight.

Once the parish was established at, what Father Steve affectionately called, “The Parish of Holy Smokes”, and our parishioners called … and many of those who have taken the 17-year journey still do … “St. Homer’s”, Don and Trish joined the very first building committee after a joint announcement, at Mass, from then-Bishop Wenske and Father Steve, that a church was going to be built at 15551, N. Boggy Marsh Road, just three miles north of “St. Homer’s”.  While at “St. Homer’s,” Don was head of the building and maintenance ministry and was responsible for the daily upkeep of the church. He was among those who designed and placed our first sign (which was white with big red letters) on our property, which read, “Future Home of St. Faustina Roman Catholic Church.”

Trish, whose husband, son, and stepdaughter died in a boating accident on August 21, 1987, is currently a member of the parish’s Bereavement and Consolation Ministry, helping in the role of “grief support.” She is an original member of this important ministry.

“We are finally home,” said Trish. “And Father Steve and all those who have gone back to the Lord are smiling down upon us,” Don concluded.

(photo caption: Don and Trish Villeneuve along with Knights (left to right) Luis Montango, Mike Mueller, Grand Knight Ed Rabales, Knights’ Chaplin, Father John, and presenter, Sam Jones).

The Lopez/Martinez family is our Knights of Columbus Family of the Month of November. They demonstrate one of the principals of our religion, teaching Catholic values to our children. They are proud parents of seven children. They participate in celebrating the Mass together as a family. Three of the children are altar servers and the other two are lecturers.

Loretta and Kathy Murphy, sisters-in law, and spouses to the late Jack and Bill Murphy, respectively, were presented the Family of the Month award by the Knights of Columbus at the 9:00 am Mass on Sunday, October 29.

Jack Murphy was a Knight for more than 50 years. He served in all capacities from Outside Guard to Grand Knight to Faithful Navigator to District Deputy in South Carolina.  Jack did them all well and Loretta was right there with him. He received many awards through the years. Some of the best times were in South Carolina where he was responsible for starting a new Council in Our Lady Star of the Sea along with forming the 4th Degree Assembly at OLSS in North Myrtle Beach. Jack was responsible for starting the tootsie roll drive and getting permission from Supreme to change the fund raiser to summer, which was the tourist time of the year. The best part was he enlisted their three granddaughters to hustle after the masses, which became a tradition for the girl; with lots of laughs for all. The first year the Council collected $150 and then could not find any schools that had programs for handicapped children. But someone told someone etc. and a special education teacher from NMB primary school got in touch with him and alas, the money was given to the teacher to use for the children and not given to the school to use as they pleased. This was the start of Council 7122 getting involved with the handicapped.

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Bill Murphy did not join the Knights of Columbus until 2006. Bill and Kathy were at Corpus Christi Parish and they were asking for one more man to sign up in order to start their own Council. Bill spoke with Fr. Gregory Parks wanting to know if at the age of 69 was he too old to become a Knight. Fr. Parks answered Bill telling him, “you are never too old to be a Knight! Sign up Bill”, thus the Corpus Christy Council started. Bill and Kathy became parishioners of St. Faustina parish in September of 2006. Fr. Stephen Phillips told Bill he wanted to have a Knights of Columbus Council installed. Bill was named the First Grand Knight of St. Faustina Council 14217. Bill’s older brother, Jack, having been in the Knights for many years and having served in most positions, offered to help Bill acclimate himself to the duties and responsibilities that awaited him. Bill was grateful for his brother’s help. While Bill was the Grand Knight, the council received the Star Council Award in 2007-2008 Fraternal year for Membership Growth. Under his leadership, the Knights hosted The First Holy Communion Breakfasts for the Communicants and their immediate families. They also started the Tootsie Roll drive, giving money to various organizations to help handicapped young people. St. Faustina’s council has donated $1,000 to Bishop Grady Villas each of the last two years. Bill also became a Fourth Degree Knight and belonged to this Council in Corpus Christi.

Kathy watched her husband Bill immerse himself in this new phase of life. She observed Bill as his faith deepened. Normally quiet and even shy, she would see him engage in a private conversation with a fellow Knight. She believed this transformation in him took place because at 69 years old, he had the courage to ask, “Am I too old to become a Knight?” The remainder of his 11 years in the Knights became his legacy.

Loretta and Kathy worked together on the archives of our church. They are working behind the scenes.

Odila and Jose Cordeiro were recognized as the Knights of Columbus June Family of the Month prior to the 5 pm Mass on July 30.

The couple has been at St. Faustina since 2006 and attended the parish’s first Mass with Father Steve at Westgate. They helped with the first Mass in Spanish, which was celebrated by Father. Fernando Gil.

The Cordeiros were involved in several talent shows as well as the Walkathon with Fr. Jean. Every Sunday, for 13 years they had sales of empanadas, Rosarios and many raffles.

Jose and Odila helped with our four moves, in 2006, 2010, 2015 as well as the one this year.  Odila coordinated the 2015 Christmas Party with Fr. Dave, and in February 2023, she coordinated the Valentine’s Day dance. She is a member of the Legion of Mary and is a Eucharistic Minister of the sick.

Odila spent eight years on the parish council with Fr. Jean, Fr. Dave, and with Fr. Ramon. She is a  Catechism teacher of Confirmation for adults and youth.  Founder of the youth group and of Friday’s Adoration and praise.

Jose has been the coordinator of the Mass in Spanish for 11 years and is also a Eucharistic Minister, an usher,  a Sacristan, a reader, and a Mass Captain.  He has been in charge of the  50/50 Raffle and is a member of the St. Faustina Knights of Columbus, Council 14217.  (photo — left to right —  Jose, Odila, Father David, Ed Rabelas, Grand Knight)

The San Filippo Family was recently named our Knights of Columbus, “Family of the Month” for May. Maggie is on the Pastoral Council and teaches Religious Education for the eighth graders. David does so much for the family and travels for work. Robert, William and Thomas are Altar Servers at the 4 pm Saturday Mass. They are one of the families who are instrumental in starting the Youth Group in our parish. (submitted by Ed Rabelas, Grand Knight)

{Left to Right) Thomas, Robert, William, Anthony, Samuel,  Matthew and Philomena, David and Maggie San Filippo, Bishop Noonan, and Father Ramon)

Tom and Nancy Madden Residents of Clermont for 30 years, Tom and Nancy Madden joined St. Faustina Parish in October 2012, having previously been members of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

Tom volunteered as a Lector for Sunday Mass and Nancy became active in Respect for Life. In 2013 Father Dave Gillis asked Nancy to join the Parish Council; she served for seven years. Tom became part of the Finance Council and in January 2015 Father Dave appointed Tom as Finance Council Chairman, a position which he held until this spring. Both Tom and Nancy have served as Mass Captains and ushers. Tom also worked with the architects and contractors on the St. Faustina Building Committee and worked to coordinate the moves of our Parish into the Glenwood Commons building in 2015 and then into our new Church building in February.

Until recently Nancy has led the Respect Life Ministry, providing educational materials, and serving as liaison with the South Lake Pregnancy and Family Care Center. They continue to work on Pro-Life projects in the community. Nancy has assisted with Parish Bake Sales as well as Raffles and other parish events. Also, of note, Tom and Nancy helped to organize and host the annual St. Faustina Christmas Party for several years.

They have six children and 14 grandchildren scattered across the country.

Dave and Judy Gutowski were named the Knights of Columbus March “Family of the Month” prior to the 4 pm Mass on April 30.

Both long-time parishioners, Dave was a member of the Fund-Raising Committee back when the parish was in the plaza on Route 192 and served two terms on the Parish Council while we were in Glenbrook Plaza.  He has also participated in Father Dave Gillis’ 50/50 raffle, the parish picnic basket raffle, the Friday Lenten Soup Supper, the bake sale, and the clean-up crew when we moved from the plaza on 192 to the plaza on Route 27.  Dave is also responsible for the daily spiritual postings on our parish Facebook page.

Judy started and ran the Welcoming Committee when the parish was in 192 plaza and served on the parish’s first Building Committee with Father Steve.  She has been a Eucharistic Minister and has worked in the gift shop.  Judy helped get the Marian Fathers to our 192 location for a Parish Mission on St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy.

Mike, Tina, Ella and Grace Pingalore are the February Family of the Month.

Mike is co-chairman of the Fundraising Committee  and was the emcee at our parish Christmas party the last two years. He is also an usher at the 11:30 Mass. Tina is the head sacristan, an usher at the 11:30 Mass and is also a  Religious Education teacher.  She has been teaching for three years and this year has the seventh-graders.

In first row are Mike, Tina, daughters Ella & Grace, and Fr. Ramon. The back row consists of Knights, Bob, Ed, John & Michael

Parishioners Frank and Diane Maglione earned the St. Faustina Knights of Columbus first “Family of the Month” award and were recognized prior to the February 25, 2023 4 pm Mass.  The award recognizes parish families whose daily lives exhibit the Spirit of Columbianism.

Frank and Diane attended St. Faustina’s first Christmas mass in the Glenbrook property back in 2015. They registered and became permanent parishioners in July 2017.

Frank served on the following committees: Hospitality Sunday, Frank and Diane coordinated the wrap and pack team during the move here at our new church. Frank currently serves as the Chairman of the Parish Council. He is an altar server, reader, usher and continues to serve wherever he is needed.

Diane served on the following committees: Hospitality Sunday, money counter, sat on the liturgy committee. She currently serves as a reader, EMHC (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion), sits on the finance committee and started the Bereavement/Consolation ministry here at St. Faustina, where she served as the coordinator up until this year, but still remains as part of team.  She continues to serve wherever she is needed.