Although Joe had been a member of the Knights of Columbus for years, his involvement with his local council was minimal — until a fellow Knight urged him to attend a meeting.
That meeting opened Joe’s eyes.
“When I saw the good work the council was accomplishing, I knew I wanted to increase my involvement,” he said.
Five years later, Joe serves as his council’s recorder. He notes that being an active participant has helped him personally. “Seeing the good the Knights accomplish, not just for the parish, but for the community and beyond, and being a part of that work, strengthens my faith,” he explained. In addition, he feels that the Knights’ good example has made an impression on his family. “I do believe that my involvement in the church and with the Knights has influenced my children, making them more generous and more aware of the needs of others.”
To date, one of the most impactful events Joe has been a part of was a food packing event in collaboration with Cross Catholic Outreach.
“I have been so impressed with the number of people donating their time and talents to make food packing events and the Box of Joy® ministry successful. The generosity of my Brother Knights and parishioners, as well as those from other churches in my community, has been overwhelming. They are truly the hands of Christ serving our brothers and sisters,” he said. “The participants ranged from children to senior citizens and came from various churches throughout the community. We all worked hard together, but spirits were high, and we met our goal. The joy felt at knowing we were helping our neighbors in the region, as well as those less fortunate in other countries, is indescribable.”
While Joe acknowledges that the need worldwide is great, he has a word of advice to share with his fellow Knights: “Never underestimate the amount of good even a small group of individuals can accomplish when following Christ’s command to love your neighbor.”
Box of Joy is a ministry of Cross Catholic Outreach.
Originally published June 2026.
