Our Lady of Peace 2013 BBQ

Since first coming to our area in 1953, the beautiful Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows at Our Lady of Peace Retreat center have served our community.  As the sisters say on their webpage,  "It was no mere accident, but rather one of those fine threads in the web of the Divine Plan that brought to fruition another project of importance to the spiritual life in this area.".   And so, for over 60 years, countless retreats have enriched the spiritual lives of many in our local Catholic community.  Our Lady of Peace has also been the site for our annual St. Juan Diego RCIA Palm Sunday retreats, and for many Knights of Columbus events such as our recent officers installation dinner. 

The sisters rely on help and support of benefactors.  There are many ways to support the sisters.  You can make a donation, go on a retreat, or visit the wonderful retreat house gift store to purchase great books, rosaries, and first communion gifts.

Another big fundraiser for the sisters is their annual mid-summer Our Lady of Peace Retreat BBQ. This event features great food, raffle prizes, games, and live entertainment.  Of course, the miniature ponies are a big hit with the kids.

This year's event was held on Sunday Aug 4th.  The menu featured pulled pork, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, corn on the cob, coleslaw, baked beans, and watermelon.  Each year local Knights of Columbus councils work together to make the event a big success for the sisters.  This year, thanks be to God, St. Juan Diego Council 15729 was able to join in for the first time and work along with brothers from many other local councils.

Hopefully, this event will become a fun annual service event for our council.  By doing so we can have fun, enjoy some good food, and  help to ensure that the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows can continue to live out their vocations and provide retreats at Our Lady of Peace for many decades to come.

Let us be "one of those fine threads in the web of the Divine Plan" that help to make this happen.

First Service Event

On June 15th, members from our council served at the 6th annual Catholic Men's Conference along side brothers from the Hillsboro Knights of Columbus Council 1634.  The conference was held for the first time this year at neighboring St. Pius X parish.

Catering for the event was coordinated by our district deputy and members of the Hillsboro, St. Juan Diego, and St. Pius X councils.  Our new council participated in this event in order to learn what it takes to coordinate and execute an event, and to help raise the initial funds our council needs to get started.

So what did we do? We cracked, scrambled, cooked and served about 7 gallons of eggs.  We cooked and served about 40 pounds of sausage, and numerous gallons of gravy for biscuits and gravy. We cut melons, tomatoes, lettuce and served sandwiches with about 40 pounds of lunch meat.  We brewed 10s of gallons of coffee and lemonade. We learned about proper kitchen hygiene from one who knows well.  We cooked, cleaned, ate and had a good time working together preparing food for about 220 men seeking to grow in their faith.  Leftover food was donated to St. Mary's Home for Boys.

Between cooking and serving meals, we were able to sit in the conference and listen to Tim Staples, Director of Apologetics and Evangelization at Catholic Answers, Vernon Robertson who recently was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pope) Cross by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for his work and leadership in the New Evangelization, and Portland's own Bill Diss who is on the front lines of living the gospel of Life.


It was a great day, and it helped establish our council by raising the funds we need for initial start up costs.  And as you can see, St. Pius X parish has an amazing kitchen and facilities.

Formation of the Council

Who are the Knights of Columbus? 

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. It was founded by the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882, and named in honor of the navigator Christopher Columbus. Originally serving as a mutual benefit society to low-income immigrant Catholics, it developed into a fraternal service organization dedicated to providing charitable services, promoting Catholic education and actively defending Catholicism in various nations. (http://www.kofc.org/en/about/history/)

Did you know?

Did you know that St Juan Diego has had a 'roundtable' associated with the St. Pius X Knights of Columbus council almost since the formation of our parish?  Now that we have a building and a growing parish, it is time for the SJD roundtable to become what it formed to be; that is, a dedicated Knights of Columbus council for St. Juan Diego Parish.  Our council will exist first and foremost to serve our priest, our parish, and our local community; as well as to encourage each other in living out our Catholic faith.

How will our SJD council serve our parish?

As a founding member, your vision and input will greatly help to shape and define what we become, but fundamentally we will exist to serve our parish in whatever capacity is needed.  Many of us already serve in different ministries.  The formation of a council does not compete with these, but rather strengthens them and provides new opportunities to serve.  It  will encourage other men to become involved.  What we need from you, is your 'yes', your willingness to join and help build this council.

How will our SJD council serve our community?

Knights of Columbus councils exist not only for a parish, but also to serve the community.  Many charitable activities fall outside the immediate realm of the parish's mission. The following are some examples from local councils:

• Our steel handrail was funded and installed by the St. Pius Knights of Columbus council.  They held a special fundraiser for this.  How might we be able to help another parish in the future? 
• Some councils support a seminarian. Might we be able to help the next Fr. Jeff Eirvin?
• St. Pius X and the SJD roundtable provide annual scholarships for 2 SJD or SPX 8th graders that are entering a Catholic High School.
• The St. Pius council held fundraiser and book drive effort which delivered 80,000 lbs of books to students in Tanzania.
• Many special parish projects have been funded and built by Knights, such as a prayer garden at Holy Trinity parish, or the brick and granite entrance monument at St. Pius X.
• Knights have worked to purchase ultrasound machines for Pregnancy Resource Centers. 
• St. Pius X council has birthday parties each month for residents at St. Mary's Home for Boys. 
• Many councils work with Habitat for Humanity.

It is envisioned that our council will also have periodic fundraisers and projects. Opportunities to serve will range from planning, leading, coordinating, accounting, cooking, set up, tear down, or washing dishes. Whatever you gifts and free time allow, there will be opportunities to plug in and serve. The following are some examples of fundraising events other councils have held, but again, the vision and ideas of all the founding members (you) will contribute to shaping and defining what projects we take on as a council:

• Crab feeds
• Pancake breakfasts
• Italian dinners
• Food booths at Ocktoberfest in Mt Angel
• What new events might we do?

What does it take to form a council?

We need a minimum of 20 men to form a council.  Most of the existing members of the St. Pius X / SJD roundtable will be transferring into the new council, but we will also need new members.  The state Knights of Columbus leadership, as well as members from other councils, are assisting us in the formation of our council and they will continue to help us as we get started.

Please prayerfully consider joining the SJD Knights of Columbus council and helping to shape and define how we can together serve our parish and community, and grow in our faith.

Our Knights of Columbus District deputy, who is assisting in the formation of the council, recently said the following to council formation team..

"You, as charter members, are the pioneers on the forefront of starting a holy powerhouse for the parish. The Knights of Columbus council at St. Juan Diego (Lord willing) will very likely be in existence 100 years from now. Thousands of people will be blessed and thousands of men will be given the opportunity to serve and grow holy with their brothers as we all journey to heaven with our families. Wherever there is a Knights of Columbus council, great things happen, all glory to God." 

For more information:  sjd.knights@gmail.com