Annual dinner expresses 'Pride in our Priests'
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer
Laughter, camaraderie and mutual respect were all on the menu in Doolan’s Shore Club April 10 during the Pride in our Priests Dinner. Sponsored by the Trenton Federation of the N.J. Knights of Columbus, the annual event in the Spring Lake Heights hall offered priests, Knights and their guests the chance to relax, socialize and express appreciation for each other’s many gifts and good works within the Diocese of Trenton.
Click here to see photo gallery on this event.
Active and retired priests circulated balancing plates of hors d’oeuvres hour as they chatted with current and former parishioners. A capacity crowd of about 475 people, 131 of them priests from all around the Diocese, snapped cellphone pictures and exchanged hugs as old friends were reunited and new friendships were forged at the event celebrated for the past 20 years.
Knights of Columbus State Deputy Andy Lipenta noted the event was held in each diocese of the state to honor its clergy. Lipenta, a parishioner in the Camden Diocese’s St. Peter Parish, Merchantville, stated, “We are here to honor all priests on this wonderful evening. There are so many knights here, and local priests, I wish we could do it more often. His wife Maria continued, “It’s an opportunity to thank our priests and show our support for our priests.”
Joseph Spinelli, a Knight from St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, noted this was his first such event in his two-and-a-half years as a member of the Knights. “I feel in these times we need to support [the priests],” Spinelli stated, then beckoned for his parish’s parochial vicar to join the conversation.
Father Fernando Lopez added, “This is my third time at this event. I appreciate the opportunity to be with the Knights and the priests and to show appreciation to the Knights. The Knights help every parish.”
Jim Stoever, State Warden for the Knights, has attended the dinner for the past 14 years. Stoever, a member of Epiphany Parish, Brick, explained, “We get to show our appreciation to the priests for all they do and sacrifices they make. We want to show them ‘we’ve got your backs.’ This is also one of the few times the priests can see each other at the same time.”
Father Angelo Amaral, parochial vicar in St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, agreed. The native of Brazil has attended the event each year over the last decade, and said, “I like to share this time with my brothers and sisters, and give support to the Knights of Columbus. What they do is so pastoral.”
Father Tim Hirten, chaplain to the military at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a member of the Knights council at the military installation. “It’s nice to go to this Trenton gathering to see all the support for us,” the chaplain noted, “and for me to meet my brother priests and brother Knights.”
Six-time attendee Father Evarist Kabagambe of Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, had words of praise for the fraternal organization of Catholic men as well. “The Knights of Columbus put this together to show their appreciation, and it is fitting to honor them as they honor us too.”
K of C fourth degree member Father Gene Daguplo, parochial vicar of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Trenton, echoed, “I appreciate their efforts to honor the priests, and they, too, deserve to be respected.”
Following the dinner, Stoever addressed the room filled with clergy, saying, “Thank you for all you do for the Church. You sacrifice a lot, and we appreciate it. We know that, at any time day or night, we can pick up the phone and you will be there. Who else can we say that about?”
Stoever read the poem “The Beautiful Hands of a Priest” which extols the works of clergy during life’s milestones, then presented a $10,000 donation from the Knights’ Trenton Federation to the diocesan Holy Innocents Society. Accepting the check on behalf of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was Msgr. James Innocenzi, pastor of St. George Parish, Titusville, and associate judicial vicar. The monsignor, who also serves as chaplain to the Knights, expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you for all you do for our priests, our Diocese and our special children.”
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By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer
Laughter, camaraderie and mutual respect were all on the menu in Doolan’s Shore Club April 10 during the Pride in our Priests Dinner. Sponsored by the Trenton Federation of the N.J. Knights of Columbus, the annual event in the Spring Lake Heights hall offered priests, Knights and their guests the chance to relax, socialize and express appreciation for each other’s many gifts and good works within the Diocese of Trenton.
Click here to see photo gallery on this event.
Active and retired priests circulated balancing plates of hors d’oeuvres hour as they chatted with current and former parishioners. A capacity crowd of about 475 people, 131 of them priests from all around the Diocese, snapped cellphone pictures and exchanged hugs as old friends were reunited and new friendships were forged at the event celebrated for the past 20 years.
Knights of Columbus State Deputy Andy Lipenta noted the event was held in each diocese of the state to honor its clergy. Lipenta, a parishioner in the Camden Diocese’s St. Peter Parish, Merchantville, stated, “We are here to honor all priests on this wonderful evening. There are so many knights here, and local priests, I wish we could do it more often. His wife Maria continued, “It’s an opportunity to thank our priests and show our support for our priests.”
Joseph Spinelli, a Knight from St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, noted this was his first such event in his two-and-a-half years as a member of the Knights. “I feel in these times we need to support [the priests],” Spinelli stated, then beckoned for his parish’s parochial vicar to join the conversation.
Father Fernando Lopez added, “This is my third time at this event. I appreciate the opportunity to be with the Knights and the priests and to show appreciation to the Knights. The Knights help every parish.”
Jim Stoever, State Warden for the Knights, has attended the dinner for the past 14 years. Stoever, a member of Epiphany Parish, Brick, explained, “We get to show our appreciation to the priests for all they do and sacrifices they make. We want to show them ‘we’ve got your backs.’ This is also one of the few times the priests can see each other at the same time.”
Father Angelo Amaral, parochial vicar in St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, agreed. The native of Brazil has attended the event each year over the last decade, and said, “I like to share this time with my brothers and sisters, and give support to the Knights of Columbus. What they do is so pastoral.”
Father Tim Hirten, chaplain to the military at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a member of the Knights council at the military installation. “It’s nice to go to this Trenton gathering to see all the support for us,” the chaplain noted, “and for me to meet my brother priests and brother Knights.”
Six-time attendee Father Evarist Kabagambe of Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, had words of praise for the fraternal organization of Catholic men as well. “The Knights of Columbus put this together to show their appreciation, and it is fitting to honor them as they honor us too.”
K of C fourth degree member Father Gene Daguplo, parochial vicar of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Trenton, echoed, “I appreciate their efforts to honor the priests, and they, too, deserve to be respected.”
Following the dinner, Stoever addressed the room filled with clergy, saying, “Thank you for all you do for the Church. You sacrifice a lot, and we appreciate it. We know that, at any time day or night, we can pick up the phone and you will be there. Who else can we say that about?”
Stoever read the poem “The Beautiful Hands of a Priest” which extols the works of clergy during life’s milestones, then presented a $10,000 donation from the Knights’ Trenton Federation to the diocesan Holy Innocents Society. Accepting the check on behalf of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was Msgr. James Innocenzi, pastor of St. George Parish, Titusville, and associate judicial vicar. The monsignor, who also serves as chaplain to the Knights, expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you for all you do for our priests, our Diocese and our special children.”
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