Years of Service recognized. L to R - Leigh Blonde, Clarence Faubert, G.K. Carl Sterling, Paul Martin, Francis Denomy, Joe Johns.

The Knights of Columbus have served Chatham-Kent for a century and it can all be traced back to the original council 1412.

A special 100th anniversary celebration is planned for this weekend to honour the K of C Council 1412, of Blessed Sacrament Church. It is the 160^th Council founded in Ontario and the first council west of London, when it was chartered on May 5, 1909.

Diocese of London Bishop Ronald Fabbro will be the celebrant of a mass being held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church.

Michael Murphy, who has done extensive research on council 1412, said it was originally part of St. Joseph’s parish because that was the only Catholic church in Chatham at the time.

However, Council 1412 was transferred to Blessed Sacrament parish in 1922 when St. Joseph’s started another K of C council.

Murphy said council 1412 helped launch councils in Wallaceburg, Tilbury, Thamesville, Blenheim and Dresden, as well as numerous parish K of C councils around Chatham-Kent.

The K of C, which boasts approximately 1.7 million members worldwide, began in New Haven, Conn, on March 29, 1882.

Glenn Peltier, who joined the K of C in 1962, said one reason the organization began was to help widows if their husband, who was a member, died at a young age.

Peltier said the assistance was provided quietly. “If you were a widow and you needed help, the whole council didn’t know about it,” he said.

Murphy said the K of C was also there to help fund Catholic high school education years ago when public funding was only available for Catholic schools up to Grade 10.

“That’s how the Knights of Columbus got involved in selling Nevada tickets,” he said, noting the funds helped support students who needed help paying tuition to attend Grades 11-13 at Ursuline College Chatham, as well as purchasing educational supplies.

There has been a lot of fun to be had through the K of C over the years. Peltier said, “it was the social side of the Knights of Columbus that got me involved.” He recalls there were dance and card parties every Saturday night.

“Your life literally revolved around the Knights of Columbus,” Peltier said. “It was fun. You worked hard, but you had fun.”

Carl Sterling, who serves as the current Grand Knight of Council 1412, said he joined in 1996 after being asked by his good friend, the late Leo Myers.

“I could see the work of the Knights of Columbus in the church and I thought it would be a good organization for myself and my family to be involved with,” he said.

Sterling enjoys being part of the K of C because how the organization helps different people in the community and the parish. He added it also nice “to be working with this great group of men.”

Steve Brent, who joined 10 years ago, said, “being a Knight is just a further experience of my Catholic faith.”

He wanted to focus his retirement on “living my Catholic faith and doing charitable works.” He added being part of the work done by the K of C “brings me great joy in serving the Lord.”