Knight reflects on marking Council 1136's centennial

Editor’s note: The following reflection was compiled by L. Wilson Thomas, a member of Knights of Columbus Council #1136 on the observance of that council’s 100th anniversary.

by L. Wilson Thomas

PROVO — When the Knights of Columbus Eureka Council #1136 was relocated from Eureka to Provo in 1950, St. Francis of Assisi Parish covered all of Utah County. The parish and the Council were growing rapidly as a result of the increased number of Catholics associated with Geneva Steel. It was decided to rename the Council Escalante Council #1136, honoring the priest leading the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition of 1776.

The Council immediately adopted a vigorous program of faith, fraternity, and service, establishing, sponsoring, and administering long-running programs such as the Parish Blood Bank (40 years), a Boy Scout Troop (45 years), a parish Communion Breakfast for all men of the parish (20 years), a parish picnic (25 years), and more.

St. Francis of Assisi School provided opportunities for service by the knights and they in turn established scholarship awards, provided service in coaching athletics and debate, maintenance, and a knight was named general contractor for the new high school wing. Use of the volunteer skills of knights and parishioners to complete the construction job kept the whole project under budget.

In the 1970s, an educational fund was established through the generosity of a member knight to assist post-high school students of the parish with financial grants to continue their educations. The number one priority of that fund was the education of students pursuing a religious vocation. The Council-administered fund to date has paid out more than $50,000.

The bi-centennial of the United States provided Escalante Council the opportunity to enter into the formal recognition of the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition that arrived in Utah Valley in 1776. The Catholic priests, Franciscan Fathers Silvestre de Escalante and Atanazio Dominguez, represented the first presence of Catholics in what is now Utah. The Council entered actively into the various events of the bicentennial celebration including the erection of a heroic sized statue of the two priests in Spanish Fork City Park. The Council not only made a significant contribution to the monument, but also led in the solicitation of funds throughout the county and the diocese for the $50,000 statue. It was dedicated Sept. 23, 1976, by the provincial of the Santa Barbara Province of the Franciscans, arranged for by the Council.

This event was followed five years later by the construction of a cross on Dominguez Hill, at the point from which Frs. Dominguez and Escalante first viewed Utah Valley. The cross project required extensive coordination by the Council of the many agencies of government and private business. It is regarded as an outstanding monument to our Catholic faith and a veritable landmark. Six years later, a roadside marker was erected by the Council to permit travelers to read the story of the expedition and see the cross through special viewers.

A statue of St. Francis of Assisi erected in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church, along with a monument to victims of abortion in the Provo City Cemetery concluded the Council’s monument projects.

When the decision was made to move St. Francis of Assisi Church from Provo to Orem, a formal building fund drive was conducted by the parish. Escalante Council #1136 contributed $20,000 to that fund. After construction of the activity center was completed, the council provided the paint and painted the entire basement of that facility, including 18 rooms and a large hallway.

The 100th anniversary celebration of Council #1136 was marked by reviewing the highlights of the Council’s achievements as they supported the Catholic Church in Utah and St. Francis of Assisi Parish, their faith, and each other. As the centennial celebration ended, it was announced that to commemorate the occasion, the Council was contributing $15,000 to the Parish Building Fund for a new church.

Knights of Columbus Escalante Council #1136 believes their record for the last 55 years fulfills its original goals of faith, fraternity, and service.