A Grand Night for Valley Council Knights

By Mary McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/17/02)

WINCHESTER — As members of the Knights of Columbus around the world celebrated the 120^th anniversary of the fraternity this Columbus Day weekend, the members of Council No. 3572 in Winchester had a celebration of their own.

On Dec. 12, 1952, the charter was issued for the Valley Council of the Knights of Columbus. The council was formed with the help of the Edward Douglass White Council Number 2473 in Arlington.

The Valley Council celebrated their 50^th year at their annual Gala Dinner Dance at the Lee-Jackson in Winchester on Oct. 12.

Grand Knight Louis J. Moshetto began the night by reminding those present that it was, "A time for memories, a time to celebrate the past and the future."

Three of the four living original members, Chester A. Hobert, Edward D. Whittle and Charles Lillis, attended the celebration. James J. Webber, the fourth living original member, was unable to attend.

Hobert, at age 99, is the oldest Knight in Virginia. He was grand knight of the council in 1953, was elected state treasurer in 1958 and state secretary in 1959. Whittle also served as grand knight.

For the last 50 years, the Valley Council has served their church and community in many ways. Jack Michalski, the current state deputy, referred to the Valley Council as "a pillar of Catholicity."

In 1953, the council sponsored its first American Red Cross Bloodmobile blood drive, and began its effort to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop. The Knights still sponsor both of these programs.

The members serve the parish as ushers, lectors and greeters. They have helped with the landscaping at the church. They also organized teams of counters to help the priests with counting the Sunday and Holy Day collections. Father Stanley J. Krempa, pastor, and Father Michael C. Kelly, parochial vicar, were both present at the gala to thank the Knights for their hard work and dedication.

The Knights community projects include the Christmas Outreach Tree where each year during Advent, the Knights place a tree in the narthex of Sacred Heart Church, with decorations that describe a gift needed by someone who has been identified through numerous community programs. The "Knights Kitchen" serves soup to the needy every Wednesday, and partners with C-CAP to deliver food to the homebound.

The Knights participate in KOVAR — Knights of Virginia Assisting the Retarded —by selling Tootsie Rolls after Masses one weekend each year and using the money to help the mentally handicapped. Two local programs that have benefited from the program are the Northwestern Workshop and Grafton School.

In the 1980s, the Valley Council helped form new councils in Front Royal, Woodstock and Harrisonburg.

The members of the Knights of Columbus are just as active individually as they are as a group.

Hobert has been the driving force behind the St. Bridget Mission, and is credited with arranging the locations for Mass to be celebrated in Berryville. When Mass was offered at the Opera House, Hobert would set up the altar and clean up afterward. He has been a member of every committee to raise funds to build St. Bridget Chapel in the Field. Because of his dedication at providing a place for worship for the Catholics in Clarke County, the church hall will be named in honor of Chester Hobert.

Edward L. Christianson, grand knight from 1978-79, took a leave of absence so that he could enter the diaconate program, and he has served Sacred Heart Parish as a permanent deacon since.

There are many Knights who are members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Sons of Italy and the Christian Family Movement. Many of them also have signed up to spend an hour in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

Andy Blom, a second degree Knight who joined in September, is a convert to the faith. He was the keynote speaker at the gala, and he spoke on his experiences as an atheist and about his conversion. Having moved into the area a few years ago, Blom reminded those present how lucky they are to live in an area where the Catholic Church is truly "Catholic." Blom moved here from an area in Hawaii where, he said, those who called themselves "Catholic" did not always follow the laws of the church. He was instrumental in bringing the Pro-life message to Hawaii.

Blom met Peter Buchbauer, past grand knight, through the Christian Family Movement, and learned more about the Knights from him. Blom said, "Everything about Knighthood implies your willingness to go out and fight the good fight for the Lord." 

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