St. Pius Council #3848 was brought into existance largely through the efforts of two individuals; Brother Knight Joe DeMuch and Father Frank Walsh, Pastor of St. Anne Parish.
These two men, along with District Deputy Edwin Theut, a Warren businessman, were the driving force behind the formation of our Council. Joe and Father Walsh were men of vision and ambition. They had the foresight to realize that the city of Warren would be expanding enormously over the next ten to twenty years, and that there would be a need for more than one council in this area.
Sheer determination, burning enthusiasm and hours of painstaking thought and legwork on the part of these men finally overcame any and all obstacles.
The property and building, which originally housed the first St. Annes was procured in 1953. Our charter was received on May 9, 1954 with a charter class numbering 60 men.
As fate would have it, while Joe DeMuch was in Mackinac attending our annual convention, the building which housed our council was completely demolished by fire, leaving the newly elected Grand Knight with the formidable task of rebuilding and holding together its membership.
Through the efforts of many men, we were able to build our present hall which was dedicated in 1958. We are justifiably proud of the many civic, social, fraternal and religious activities which our council has sponsored over the past years.
GRAND KNIGHT - Sam Buscemi
CHAPLAIN - Rev. Fr. Roman Pasiecnzny
DEPUTY GRAND KNIGHT - John Croud
Chancellor - Gary Marx
LECTURER - Anthony Herman
WARDEN - Dick Alexander
INSIDE GUARD - Leon Serowik
TRUSTEE 1 YEAR - Jerry Sharafinski
TRUSTEE 2 YEARS - Vic Rapa
Appointed Officers
PROGRAM DIRECTOR - John Croud
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR - Louis Searles
CATHOLIC ACTIVITIES - Juan Lozano P.F.N.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES - Vacant
PRO-LIFE - Otto Nagl
HEALTH SERVICES - Tony Szporka
VOCATIONS - Anthony Herman
BOYSVILLE - Joe Schwartz P.G.K.
BOYSVILLE - Don Derda P.G.K.
ADMISSION DEGREE MASTER - Ray Yahner P.G.K.
ADMISSION DEGREE MASTER EMERITUS - Cass Dobek (D)
ROSARY BRIGADE - Don Derda P.G.K.
ROSARY BRIGADE - Joe Schwartz
P.G.K.
ROSARY BRIGADE - Ray Yahner
P.G.K.
SICK & WELFARE - Juan Lozano P.F.N. FRATERNAL ACTIVITIES - Don Derda P.G.K. MEMBERSHIP RETENTION - Joe Schwartz P.G.K. GAMES OF CHANCE - Dave Serowik MENTAL RETARDATION - Vacant BUILDING ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President - Greg Childs Vice President - Treasurer - Secretary - Auditor - Terry Gilsenan Communications Director - Dave Serowik Assistant Communications Director - Matt Burgess Board Members Richard A. Bolli PAST GRAND KNIGHTS * = deceased Joseph J. DeMuch - 1954
* Anthony Banas - 1955/56
* Kenneth LaClair -
1957/58 Chester Lewandowski - 1959/60
* John Gawlik - 1961 * Daniel N. Forthoffer F.D.D. -
1962/63 * Rev. Frank J. Walsh - Chaplain
Emeritus * George T. Dravecky F.D.D.
1964/65 * William J. Rogers -
1966/67 Donald A. Derda -
1968/69 Joseph C. Figurski -
1970/71 Kenneth G. Melke -
1972/73 Robert Peters - 1974
* Edward Carson - 1975/76
* Donald F. Kruszewski -
1977/78 Raymond L. Yahner -
1979/80 David Newcombe F.D.D. -
1981/82 Harry Brazen -
1983/84 Edwin Finn - 1985/86
* Kenneth Curthoys -
1987/88 Ronald Knoff -
1989/90 Joseph F. Schwartz -
1991/92 Ron Gush - 1993 Jerome J. Peyok - 1994/95
* Kenneth Wrobel -
1996/2001 WHEN WE MEET WHO ARE THE KNIGHTS? WHO CAN BECOME A
KNIGHT
Our Council meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month
in the council chambers. Meetings begin promptly at 8:00 p.m. and generally
last for about an hour.
Our Council has a Certified Admissions Degree Staff. The following brother knights have been certified to perform the Admissions Degree in accordance with Supreme By-Laws:
The Knights of Columbus is a lay Catholic family fraternal service
organization. Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to all practical
Catholic men, age eighteen and above. The term practical Catholic implies that
a person embraces the precepts of the Catholic Church.
On October 2, 1881, Father Michael J. Mcgivney, 29 year old
assistant pastor of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut, brought
together a group of laymen with whom he discussed his dream for a Catholic
fraternal benefit society. It not only would assist widows and orphans of
deceased members through its life insurance program, but also boost members'
sense of pride in their Catholic religion, then frequently challanged in the
anti-Catholic climate of the 19th century America. Father McGivney and his
associates met serveral more times over the next months to continue planning,
and the new organization - the Knights of Columbus-was formally launched in
early February, 1882.
The officers of the new Catholic organization chose the name
Knights of Columbus to honor Christopher Columbus, the Catholic discoverer of
America. The word knights is also signifant. We are ever mindful of the
knightly qualities of spirituality and service to church that is embodied in
the Knights of Columbus. The Order has evolved into a service organization
with a strong family orientation.
By the end of 1897 the Order was thoroughly rooted in New England,
along the upper Atlantic seaboard and into Canada. Withinn the next eight
years it branched out from Quebec to California and from Florida to
Washington.
The Knights of Columbus remains headquartered in New Haven, but is
now present with nearly 12,000 Councils in the United States, Canada, the
Philippines, Mexico and several other countries.
The Knights of Columbus promotes family values by providing
numerous activities throughout the year that the entire family can participate
in. Additionaly, the organization provides an opportunity to ensure that a
knight's family is provided for in the event of his death.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practical
Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who shall not be less than 18 years
of age on their last birthday. A practical Catholic is one who lives up to the
Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. Application blanks are
available from any member of the Knights of Columbus. Every knight is happy to
propose eligible Catholic men for consideration as members.
Acceptance of the applicant depends upon a vote of the members of
the subordinate council in which he is making application.
All priests and religious brothers having duly made application
for membership and participated in the ceremonials become honorary life
members of the Order and are exempt from payment of dues.
Application for membership must be made through the council in the
community nearest the applicant's place of residence. Interested prospects
without a permanent domicile, such as men temporarily away from home through
duty in the armed forces, may make application through their hometown council
or at the nearest council on or near a military base.
If favorably voted upon, the applicant becomes a member by
intiation known as the First Degree. He subsequently is advanced through the
Second Degree and the Third Degree.
There are modest initiation fees and dues set by subordinate
councils under regulations established by the Supreme Council. The insurance
privileges are available to all members who can qualify, which represents an
important advantage of membership. For men in every walk of life the name
Knights of Columbus engenders the image of a united organization, efficiently
going about its tasks of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism and defense of
the priesthood. It is composed of men who are giving unselfishly of their time
and talents in service to God and country.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus provides opportunity for
wholesome association with congenial companions who are, first of all,
practical Catholic gentlemen. If offers the opportunity for fellowship with
those who are of the same belief, who recognize the same duty to God, to
family and to neighbor who stand side by side in defense of those beliefs.
Programs are so organized as to appeal to the individual interest of the
members. Through many constructive activities of Christian fraternity, members
are enabled to render service to their Church, their country and their
felloman. Through membership they develop a consciousness of their ability to
lead and assist.
Organized Columbianism, united hehind the individual Knight of
Columbus, provides the power of an intelligent, alert body of Catholic men-a
strength which the individual by himself cannot achieve.
Knights of Columbus has a proud heritage. The qualified Catholic
man can share in that heritage and build an even greater future by affiliating
himself with this forceful, effective body.
