[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DAMIEN COUNCIL CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
House of Representatives to the good works of the Knights of Columbus 
Damien Council No. 598 in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. On Aug. 18, 
2001, the members will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the council's 
founding.
  The council is one of the oldest in the Knights of Columbus, being 
the 598th founded out of the nearly 13,000 in existence today. Under 
the direction of Father James C. McConnon, a group of 47 men from the 
small town of Mauch Chunk, now known as Jim Thorpe, chose the name of 
their council to honor Father Damien de Veuster. Now designated as 
Blessed Damien following his 1995 beatification by Pope John Paul 11, 
Father de Veuster is remembered for his selfless and courageous efforts 
to care for the nearly 1,000 lepers abandoned on Molokai Island in 
Hawaii. Father de Veuster himself died of leprosy in 1889.
  Since its founding, Damien Council has served Mauch Chunk, later 
known as Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Nesquehoning and the surrounding 
communities. Among its many accomplishments, the council arranged to 
televise Advent and Lenten Masses for shut-ins on Blue Ridge Cable TV-
13 in the 1970s and 1980s, well before the Catholic cable channel EWTN 
became available nationwide. The council also broadcast the recitation 
of the Rosary on WYNS Radio and the Stations of the Cross on WLSH 
Radio. Damien Council has also provided food baskets for families in 
need and has honored 39 priests from the area on the occasion of their 
ordination into the priesthood.
  Damien Council continues to aid the church, local communities, 
families and young people through its various programs. Annual 
activities include celebrating a Memorial Mass for its deceased 
members, sponsoring Family Hour of Prayer services, participating in 
the ``Adopt-A-Seminarian'' program, jointly sponsoring the Pro-Life 
Essay Contest with the other councils in the Diocese of Allentown and 
coordinating the program for Carbon County, promoting the ``Keep Christ 
in Christmas'' program, sponsoring the Knights of Columbus Free Throw 
Championship and hosting the District 29 competition, raising funds for 
ARC, honoring the members' spouses with Ladies' Appreciation 
``Knight,'' celebrating the family by naming a ``Family of the Month'' 
and ``Family of the Year'' and presenting awards and altar server 
certificates to graduating eighth-grade students.
  Damien Council has seen two of its members rise to statewide 
leadership over the years. Both Thomas P. (Patsy) Milan and William F. 
(Bill) Carroll served as state treasurers. Damien Council is currently 
led by Grand Knight Michael A. Heery.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives the good works of the Knights of Columbus Damien 
Council No. 598 on the occasion of their 100th anniversary, and I wish 
them all the best.

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