When a volunteer, philanthropic ministry affiliated with four diocesan churches itself grows to the size of a small parish, it must be doing something right.
Knights of Columbus Arlington Council 2473 marks a century of service this year. In honor of the anniversary, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated Mass May 13, followed by a banquet attended by approximately 150 people at the Columbus Club in Arlington.
Grand Knight Charles Feghali, a native of Lebanon and a parishioner of St. John the Beloved Church in McLean and Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church in Washington, joined the council 10 years ago. He was motivated to give back to the community and he finds great satisfaction in helping others while in the fraternity of other Knights, many of whom he said joined for the same reason.
“We, as Catholics, take pride in the teachings of Christ to give back and help (our) fellow neighbor,” Feghali said.
The 1,300-member council has 50 new members so far this year, many of them young men, Feghali said. While the council draws parishioners from St. Agnes, St. Ann and St. Charles Borromeo Churches in Arlington and St. James Church in Falls Church, it also attracts men from other parishes drawn to the philanthropic and fraternal impact of such a large council.
During his homily, Bishop Burbidge invoked the theme of the second preparatory year for the 2024 Diocesan Golden Jubilee, “Rejoice,” as he expressed appreciation for the Knights’ work in support of life at every stage, patriotism, defense of religious liberty and tireless charitable work.
“You are such a gift to the bishops of this country, to me and the priests of this diocese,” he said.
“To you, dear Knights and your wives, I ask that you remain courageous. Be steadfast,” Bishop Burbidge said. “We need you. The church needs you more than ever. And help others to find the joy that is theirs when we follow the ways of the Lord.”
With the support of its ladies’ auxiliary, Ladies U-Knighted, virtually every holiday or event becomes a charitable fundraiser. A Kentucky Derby-themed party May 6 generated more than $20,000 for Tracy’s Kids, a charity that uses art therapy to help pediatric cancer patients and their families cope with the disease and its treatment. In September, Kate Gilchrist McMorrow and her husband Myles McMorrow begin preparations for the council’s annual Thanksgiving dinner drive, which produces approximately 3,000 fully cooked holiday meals for those in need and delivered by volunteers on Thanksgiving Day.
Past Grand Knight Thom Galvin, a parishioner of St. Agnes, joined the council in 2001 and, with his wife’s help, organized the Thanksgiving dinner drive for nearly 20 years. He credits the organization for revitalizing his Catholicism. “The Knights brought me back to my faith.”
Galvin is now a district deputy with the state Knights and works with other councils. He said the magnitude of Arlington council’s charitable impact, fueled by its large ranks and leveraging its campus facilities, is what sets it apart from others.
According to council legend, in the early 1950s several Knights and their families mortgaged their homes to facilitate the purchase of Saegmuller Mansion, a large home and 10 acres of surrounding land at 5115 Little Falls Rd. in Arlington. The campus is known today as the Columbus Club and includes ballrooms and other meeting spaces, swimming pools and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts all administered by the Knights’ sister organization of the same name. A new barbecue pavilion opened this year to host birthday parties and other outdoor celebrations. In front of the mansion sits a statue of the Virgin Mary, where Past Grand Knight Kenny Goss has led a rosary for more than 1,100 consecutive days.
At Columbus Club events, meals are served and tables bused entirely by Knight volunteers, known as Red Coats, who long ago replaced waiters hired from Washington. One captain leads each of the five Red Coat teams. In 2007, the council estimated $300,000 in avoided labor costs per year, a figure that has only increased. In recent years, bright red vests have replaced the coats, although the moniker, white shirts and black bowties stayed. Many guests are surprised to learn the staff are all volunteers, who donate any tips they receive to charity. A recent public school fundraiser netted $600 in tips. Bob Muschamp organizes the Red Coats and estimates that the tips generate more than $5,000 annually in donations to causes such as Catholic Charities’ St. Lucy Project and the retirement expenses of diocesan priests.
Past Grand Knight Steve McTeague is a second-generation Knight who grew up swimming in the Columbus Club pool and attending council events regularly. Now he is captain of the same Red Coat team his late father, Steve, served on and wears his dad’s old name badge. “I am impressed and humbled by the charitable works done by our council and our individual members,” he said.
Jim Saenz joined the Knights while on active duty in Germany with the U.S. Army. After relocating to Arlington, he joined the council in 2014 and said it helped him find and get involved with several ministries at his parish, St. Ann. A past grand knight, he said providing food, clothing and school supplies to those in need, supporting people with intellectual disabilities, and sponsoring diocesan seminarians are hallmarks of the council’s charitable work.
Knights of Columbus State Deputy Patrick Rowland and District Deputy John Rovinski Jr. presented Feghali with a certificate in honor of the centennial anniversary. Rowland presented Bishop Burbidge with checks for $2,000 to help women in crisis pregnancies and another $15,000 to support diocesan vocations.
Alex Alveario joined the Knights nearly two years ago and is already a Red Coat captain. He led the team that served the anniversary banquet.
“I really just enjoyed doing the redcoating,” he said. “It’s a humbling experience to go out and do this. I love the camaraderie and the feeling of having done something bigger than me.”
Schweers can be reached at [email protected].
