Top photo caption: Bishop David O’Connell meets with attendees at the Pride in our Priests dinner. Mike Ehrmann photo
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Nearly 400 members of Knights of Columbus councils from throughout the Diocese of Trenton, along with their wives, and five officers of the New Jersey State Council gathered for the annual Pride in Our Priests Dinner Sept. 29 to honor and celebrate their honored guests: Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and priests of the Diocese of Trenton.
Held in the South Gate Manor in Freehold, the event drew several dozen priests who serve parish communities across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. It has provided an opportunity for the Knights to thank the priests for all that they do in their ministry.
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Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., expressed his gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for their continued support of the priests and ministries of the Diocese throughout the year.
“On behalf of the priests of the Diocese, I would like to express our profound gratitude for hosting this dinner each year,” Bishop O’Connell said. “The presence of the Knights of Columbus in the parishes of the Diocese of Trenton enables us to serve the faithful more effectively. Thank you for all you do for the Church in our four counties. Our grateful prayers and support are with you.”
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of a $10,000 gift to Bishop O’Connell for the Holy Innocents Society, a diocesan outreach that assists parishes in providing religious education and support to people with special needs.
“The annual support of the Knights of Columbus for the Holy Innocents Society and for our seminarians is an incredible gift to our special needs communities annually and to our young men studying for the priesthood on so many occasions throughout the year,” Bishop O’Connell said. “As Bishop, I thank all our Knights councils.”
“Our priests certainly deserve to know of our appreciation, support and love for them,” said Edward Michalak, state advocate for the New Jersey State Council and a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown.
In addition to the annual dinner, Michalak noted that the Knights of Columbus support vocations in a number of ways. Councils help fund seminarians’ personal expenses and assist priests in their evangelization mission.
“Knights do what they can to put their faith into action,” Michalak said.