Utah Knights of Columbus councils make history by winning international awards in two categories

Andy Airriess

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From left: State Deputy Bob Masse, Dan Montague, Diane Montague, Maggie Montague and Daniel Montague accept the fourth-place Knights of Columbus International Family of the Year award at Saint Thomas More Parish in Sandy. Courtesy photo/Andy Airriess

SALT LAKE CITY — The Knights of Columbus national fraternal organization headquartered in New Haven, Conn., selected the Saint Thomas More Knights of Columbus Family of the Year as the fourth place International Family of the Year for 2013, while the Knights of Columbus stained glass window of Father Michael J. McGivney at Holy Family Parish in Ogden received the fifth place international Church Project award.

Fr. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Conn. in 1882.

The awards were presented to the Grand Knights of St. Thomas More and Holy Family parishes in October, who then presented them to the recipients.

"This is the first time that the Utah Knights of Columbus have been recognized with an international award," said Robert Masse, Knights of Columbus state deputy. "It is really exciting that we are getting international recognition and we will really make a big deal of it in January at our mid-year meeting."

This is the first time in the history of the international Knights of Columbus that a fourth place international family award was given and a fifth place international award was given for a church project entry, said Masse.

"Out of 73 jurisdictions worldwide, Daniel and Maggie Montague were selected as the fourth place international family; they also received $500 in their name for St. Thomas More Parish," he said.

The Family of the Year award is based on all members of the family participating in and contributing to various charitable activities and in being a strong Catholic family, said John Wainscott, past international supreme director.

The Montagues were humbled to receive recognition as the state Family of the Year, they said.

"We felt pretty much the same way when we were named the International Family of the Year – not worthy and very humbled," said Daniel Montague. "There are so many Knights who do so much."

Daniel Montague teaches Sunday school and he also has taught the Cub Scouts for three years. He always volunteers for projects and is a "first-to-show-up and the-last-to-leave type of guy," said St. Thomas More Grand Knight Kevin MacGilvery.

Maggie Montague is a lector, and together they almost single-handedly planned a Mardi Gras celebration as heads of the parish social committee, said MacGilvery. "They have chaired the St. Thomas More Newcomers committee, and are always willing to step up for something. When Daniel was Grand Knight, he would send out personal letters to everyone trying to get more involvement."

The Holy Family Parish Michael J. McGivney window was the work of Father Patrick Elliott, pastor, and Joe Hudak, Knights of Columbus district deputy for Ogden.

"This international award came as quite a surprise to us," said Hudak. "This is the highest accolade our council could win. We won the state award at our state convention. Our parishioners were delighted because they funded this project by coming to our breakfasts, patronizing our fish frys, our bingos and other fundraisers."

The catalyst for the window was Fr. Elliott, a Fourth Degree Knight. The Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal Council 14399 received a Double Star award in 2010 from Ray Lopez, Knights of Columbus State Deputy. At that time, Fr. Elliott told Lopez of his idea, and Lopez challenged Fr. Elliott and "our men approved the project and we paid for that window," said Hudak.

What was thought to be a two-year project was paid off in a year, when parishioner Alvin Jellema, who was 92, donated $1,000 to help complete the project.

"He died before the window arrived; it was one of those ironies," said Hudak. "He was such a dedicated Knight. We had a plaque made that sits in the window seal that gives credit to the parishioners of Holy Family for supporting the fund raising."

Hudak and the council are hoping the window will encourage young men to join their organization by asking what Fr. McGivney has done for the Catholic Church.

The Knights of Columbus as a worldwide organization is expanding, and it also is growing in Utah.

"There are 3,300 Knights in Utah," said Masse.

The stained glass window on the south side of Holy Family Church depicts Fr. McGivney standing in a cassock, with the Knights of Columbus crest above his head. The window is by Rambusch Company, which is based in New York City with a design studio in New Jersey.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, blessed the Fr. Michael J. McGivney window on Aug. 18, and at the time said "it was a wonderful tribute to the Knights of Columbus," an organization that "serves the Church in more ways than one can count."