By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

Knights of Columbus members from throughout the Diocese of Trenton gathered Nov. 17 to express their admiration and appreciation for their spiritual shepherd at the biennial Bishop’s Appreciation Dinner. Held in St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, the event was hosted by the fraternal organization’s Trenton Federation and attended by more than 230 Knights, clergy and guests.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., himself a member of the Knights, praised the group for all they have done to serve God’s people.

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“Yours is, many times, a hidden ministry with the things that you do and many will never know,” he said to the Knights, “but your fingerprints are on so many things here in the Diocese.”

Knights of Columbus member John Brandon, Trenton Diocesan federation president, explained the purpose of the gathering, the eighth in recent times.

"He’s the head shepherd of our Diocese,” said Brandon of Bishop O’Connell. “People tend to take for granted the great things he does, and he does them with a smile. We want to give back to him.”

The Bishop acknowledged the generosity of the Knights’ donations to his numerous charities, and continued, “I always find this a very humbling occasion. People always come to me in need, so [the donations] will help me help others I would not otherwise be able to help.”

He said, “The thing that inspires me is the people of this Diocese and the faith that we all share. It is the most important thing in my life, and it is the thing that I can share with you and through you to all the people.”