We are proud to announce the winners of the 2023-2024 Knights of Columbus Council #9708 Scholarships! Through the generosity of James and Elizabeth Witten family, K of C Council #9708 Brothers Tony Ogden and his son Carl Ogden, and K of C Council #9708, we were able to award 6 one-year scholarships.
This year’s scholarships awards total $10,500!
Congratulations to all of our Scholarship Winners. May God bless you and guide you – and all our graduating St. Clare seniors – in your academic endeavors!
Scholarship Winners & Supporters of the Knights Scholarship Program
Grand Knight Luis Zepeda awarding this year’s 6 Scholarships
The St. Clare Knights of Columbus donated $5,000 to the St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School Tuition Assistance Program. Grand Knight Luis Zepeda presented the check to Father Vincent and Principal Martin Flaherty on Sunday, September 18 after mass.
The Knights and St. Clare Parish had a great turnout at the Houston Food Bank on Saturday, August 20. Our group of 18 volunteers packaged 13,000 pounds of citrus with several other organizations during the morning shift. Thanks to our Knights, their families, and St. Clare Parishioners for coming together to help those in need.
Congratulations to the St. Clare Knights of Columbus who were recently named the Winner of the 2022 International Life Award! The award was based on the Council’s work in expanding the Loving Choice Pregnancy Center by 50% in Spring, TX and Parish wide baby shower drives.
The award was presented to the Council at the 140th Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention (Aug 1-4, 2022) at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. Countries attending included the US (all states), Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Guam, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and Ukraine. The Knights thank the entire Parish for their continued support!
Pictured Left to Right: Past State Deputy Alfredo Vela and wife Rosa, Current State Deputy Terry Fruge’ and wife Beth, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and wife Vanessa, Past Grand Knight Bill Hoff and wife Mabel.
Pictured Left to Right: Grand Knight Luis Zepeda, Life Director John Soisson, and Past Grand Knight Bill Hoff
Council 9708 provided labor and supplies to help a Catholic pregnancy resource center expand its space by 50%, allowing the staff to accommodate more clients and provide parenting classes and an area for baby supplies and other items. The Council replaced and upgraded electrical outlets; painted rooms, a hallway and doors; and built custom cabinets. A member also donated his company’s crew for 2.5 weeks to install flooring, baseboards and extend a wall. Seminarians also stopped by during the project to assist and offer support. Along with their work, the Knights donated $2,500 in baby items collected from their parish, and a check for $6,500. In total, the Knights gave more than $10,000 in donations, materials and labor.
Congratulations to Bill Hoff – Grand Knight of the Year! Bill was honored as the “Grand Knight of the Year” at the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese Training Conference on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
During Bill’s 2 year term as Grand Knight, the Council won the International Life Award, achieved Star Council twice, and the Texas Lone Star Award with Distinction twice. The Council also received state awards for the Faith in Action Programs including 1st for Family, 1st and 2nd for Life, and 1st for Faith. Congratulations Bill.
District Deputy Joe Kramer (right), presents the Award to Past Grand Knight Bill Hoff
We are proud to announce the winners of the 2022-2023 Knights of Columbus Council #9708 Scholarship! Through the generosity of K of C Council 9708 Brothers Tony Ogden and his son Carl Ogden, we have added 3 new scholarships to those that were available to this year’s applicants. Seven scholarships were awarded altogether, totaling $12,500 (nearly double last year’s total!). This year’s scholarships were funded by the James and Elizabeth Witten family, the Ogden family, and our Council. Congratulations to all of our Scholarship Winners. May God bless you and guide you – and all of our graduating St. Clare seniors – in your academic endeavors!
The St. Clare Knights of Columbus donated a digital print of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Casa Juan Diego on July 18,2022. The Council received the print with their donation to the American Wheelchair Association, an organization the Knights have supported for many years.
These archival prints are donated by a Knight of Columbus who owns the largest gift shop at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City specifically to raise funds for wheelchairs. They have been blessed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This beautiful framed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a digital scan of the tilma of St. Juan Diego, first revealed to the world on December 12, 1531. Cardinal Norberto Rivera of Mexico City authorized the tilma to be removed from the display vault at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and digitally scanned. These scans are then sent to another Knight in California who donates and frames all of the prints. Pictured below on the left Louise Zwick and two volunteers; in the center Gordon Ducote, St. Clare Knights of Columbus.
On Saturday, June 18, 2022, the Knights presented Fr. Vincent with a check for $4,500 to provide a new AV laser projector for St. Clare of Assisi Church facilities.
After a very successful 2022 St. Clare Golf Tournament, representatives from the Knights and the School present Fr. Vincent with a check for $12,000 for the St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School.
On Saturday, May 28, 2022, the St. Clare Knights Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity at a home in La Porte, TX. This service day was focused on painting the home and storage shed . Council volunteers pre-washed, taped, and painted mostly exterior surfaces on this beautiful new home. Great weather, fun, and joy were experienced by all!