Knights of Columbus Council 3498, Burlington, NC

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1997 - Today: The Council Continues to Grow to 100 Members and looks to the future

1997:
Father Alvin Somerville is appointed Pastor.

1998:
The council erects a memorial to the unborn outside the Koury Center as part of the Right-To-Life Program. Father Giles Van Wormer is invited to make the dedication. This year, the family parish picnic is held to coincide with the end of the parish summer Christian Fun Week for the youth. The council helps with re-lamping the church and agrees to help with this on a yearly basis.

1999:
Father Briant Cullinane is now the Pastor. The council participates in the North Carolina Special Olympics. The council is asked to coordinate the torch run through Burlington. A member of the council has entered St. Mary's Seminary in Maryland. He makes the council aware of some needs of his fellow seminarians. The council holds several raffles to raise additional funds and collects bed and bath linens to send to those in need at St. Mary's. The celebration Singers perform at the council Christmas Dinner and Social.

2000:
50 members bus to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Jubilee Pilgrimage at the Basilica of Our Lady. The council hosts the State Free Throw contest at Elon College. Members help to clean up and landscape the grounds at the new Friary in Gibsonville. The council organizes and coordinates the repainting of the Church floor. Members, at the request of the Director of the Good Shepherd Kitchen, assist with the noon meal several times a year.

2001:
The council goes high-tech establishing a webpage on the internet. A member of the council and his daughter die in an automobile accident. The council provides assistance and hosts a fish fry to help with the expenses. At the request of the parish council, the Knights agree to spearhead distribution of the welcome information packets to new members of the parish. The parish youth choir, under the Direction of Brother David Tamayo, entertain at the Christmas Dinner. The council receives the coveted State Deputy award for Division III at the State Convention.

2002:
The highlight for this year is the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Pius X Council 3498 in Burnlington, NC. Without the initiative of the charter members, the fortitude, perseverence, and sacrifice of all those that have served through the years, this evening would not have been possible. To them we owe a great debt of gratitude, as we look back on a Council's Knight to Remember.

The Future:
The council has had a stable membership of between 115 and 130 members over the past several years. Problems with recruitment and retention will always present a challenge. However, the council now has solid and proven activities in each of the five program areas. Social activities are varied and change according to the response of the members. As with all councils, there are those ever-present little problems but there is now a sound foundation and the future looks bright for another 50 years.

Vivat Jesus!

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Highlights by Year

1954 - 1964: Activities and the struggle to maintain membership
1970 - 1974: A new Council, a New Church, and a Tootsie Roll Drive
1975 - 1985: Activities expand through three Pastors
1986 - 1996: Expanding activities to the Community and the Purchase of Hillcrest School
1997 - Today: Council grows to 100 members and looks to the future