Diocesan Knights councils win top awards at convention

By Bob Condron

Pictured are (left to right) Knight of the Year Al Batey, Frank Castellano, Javan Ridge, Grand Knight Bob Condron, and Mike Wolfe.  The five represented Mount St. Francis Council 12228 as it was awarded the Top Knights of Columbus Council in the State of Colorado for 2022 at the state convention April 28-30. (Photo courtesy of Bob Condron)

COLORADO SPRINGS. Four Knights of Columbus Councils from the Diocese of Colorado Springs were recently honored at the Colorado State Knights of Columbus Annual Convention in Aurora, as one of the Top 10 local councils in the state for 2022.

From 153 councils in Colorado, Mount St. Francis Council 12228 was ranked the top council in the state, a first-time honor in the state rankings for the church in far northwest Colorado Springs. Also announced by the state organization, Saints Gabriel and John Vianney Council 12335 ranked seventh, St. Patrick Council 9993 ranked eighth, and St. Francis of Assisi, Council 8909 in Castle Rock was number 10.

The awards for the top councils were based on administrative points, quality and number of programs undertaken by the councils, form submissions and membership growth in 2022.

In addition to the council honors, Al Batey from Mount St. Francis was named the 2022 Knight of the Year out of a pool of 18,000 Knights in Colorado for his volunteer work in council 12228 and as District Deputy for five councils in the Pikes Peak region.

In the six divisions of Knights’ councils in Colorado, going from the smallest to the largest are Red, White, Purple, Green, Blue, and Gold.  Three councils from the Colorado Springs diocese won top honors in their council designations.  The Father H. Timothy Vakoc Council 15269 in Fort Carson was the top honoree in the Red Division.  St. Benedict Council 14785 in Falcon won the Purple Division honors, and Mount St. Francis Council 12228 won the Blue Division for the second straight year.

The national Supreme Council Life Award went to the Ave Maria Council 7880 in Parker for its Tootsie Roll drive, which raised over $8,000 for people with intellectual differences in their community and drew three new members to the council during the event.

The Colorado Knights of Columbus also awarded honors in the Life Service Awards.  The winning council was Saints Gabriel and John Vianney Council 12235 for its golf tournament that helped support Special Olympics, mothers in need and veterans.

The St. Joseph Award is a national award based on Fraternal Benefits, the Membership Program, and completing various events and activities throughout the year.  The council must experience positive membership growth to be eligible for the award.

The councils who were awarded this honor from the Colorado Springs diocese were:  Council 7880, Ave Maria in Parker; Council 8909, St. Francis of Assisi in Castle Rock; Council 9993, St. Patrick; Council 11634, St. Paul; Council 11730, Our Lady of the Pines in Black Forest; Council 11918, Our Lady of the Visitation in Kiowa; Council 12228, Mount St. Francis; Council 12335, Saints Gabriel and John Vianney; Council 14338, Holy Apostles; Council 14785, St. Benedict in Falcon; and Council 14806, St. Mary’s Cathedral.

(Bob Condron is Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council No. 12228 at Mount St. Francis and a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs.)