Knights of Columbus honored a family for their devoted and dedicated service to community

Friday, May. 16, 2014

KEARNS — V.J. and Lori Simonelli were honored as the  2014 Utah Knights of Columbus Family of the Year at the state convention on May 3.

The couple, parishioners of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kearns, belong to the Bishop Hunt Council of the Knights of Columbus. 

V.J. has served in the Knights of Columbus in Florida and Rhode Island as well as in Utah; he currently is a District State Deputy, Membership chairman and Vocations chairperson.

“He also heads up the fundraiser that we have at St. Francis Xavier, is a member of the Holiday Gift Basket Committee, and the Faithful Navigator of 1144,” said Bob Masse Jr., State Deputy of the Utah  Knights of Columbus, who is also a fellow parishioner of the Simonellis. “They are just a model family; they are just an example of what being Catholic is.”

V.J. Simonelli’s slogan is “The Knights of Columbus is more than friends, it’s a family,” Masse said. 

“This Brother Knight and Sir Knight, who has proven himself to be a devoted, dedicated supporter of the Knights of Columbus along with his wife, are family role models to our Council members and to the members of St. Francis Xavier Parish,” said Jerry W. Angus, the Bishop Hunt Council  Grand Knight.

Among other ministries, the Simonellis serve with the parish’s Bereavement Ministry.

“They coordinate the reception/banquet in the parish gym for the grieving family, friends and neighbors after the graveyard service. … Their efforts in preparing the banquet table and making sure all is ready for the family is done with the utmost respect for the family’s loss,” Angus said, adding that the Simonellis also are immersed in the stewardship program.

In addition, the Simonellis are certified extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.

“Their dedication to this ministry is performed with the utmost respect and reverence for giving the Body of Christ to the homebound,” said Angus as he described how the couple sits with each individual they visit and talk about how they are doing. “The discussion with the individual or couple receiving the Holy Communion can take an hour or more.”

“V.J. and Lori perform many other duties in their Council and for our parish community,” said Masse. “They never look for credit. They both work hard for our Council and parish and they do it all with a smile. They are a truly dedicated family with three sons, their families and nine grandchildren. I cannot say enough about this fine couple; they are of sterling character and their moral fiber is without a question.”

“Once in a lifetime you will be lucky to have someone like V.J. and Lori come into your life,” said Angus.

V.J. Simonelli said he was honored, humbled and grateful for the recognition, but that the work that he and his wife do for the Knights and their parish “is a calling from God.”

The Family of the Year nominees from the various councils were judged according to their present and past involvement in activities at their parishes and with the Knights, Masse said; the Simonellis were chosen based on these criteria.

“Now they are competing at the International level, in which they will be judged with all other members. … We are hoping  that they will be right there, too, since they stand out among all other families,” said Masse.

Last year, the 2013 Utah Family of the Year, the Dan and Diane Montague family of Saint Thomas More Parish, won fourth place in the International Family of the Year competition.