There was plenty to celebrate the night of Friday, Feb. 21, at Church of the Resurrection, Portsmouth.
It was the 125th anniversary celebration of the Knights of Columbus Council #418, called St. Paul’s Council but now affiliated with all the Portsmouth and Chesapeake Cluster Parishes, including Church of the Resurrection, Portsmouth; Holy Angels, Portsmouth; St. Mary, Chesapeake; and St. Paul, Portsmouth. On the same occasion, the Knights celebrated the 125th anniversary of Assembly #1166.
Traditionally, the Knights of Columbus are called to exemplify three virtues: charity, unity, and fraternity. Each represents a “degree” of membership. The “fourth degree,” patriotism, was added in 1900; Assembly #1166 is a “fourth degree” assembly associated with Council #418. Special duties may include service at patriotic events, such as when Assembly #1166 helped lay wreaths on veterans’ graves on Wreaths Across America Day this past Dec. 14, 2024.
Council #418 is also involved in many community charities, including Oasis Food Ministry, Holiday House of Portsmouth, Help and Emergency Response, Inc. (H.E.R. Shelter), and Virginia Hope 4 Life.
Former Council #418 Grand Knight Denis Garrett was emcee of the event; Garrett also recently served as the Faithful Navigator, or leader, of Assembly #1166.
“In 1958, on Mother’s Day, I received my first Holy Communion. At the time, the center aisle went all the way back to the Communion rail. The fourth degree Knights of Columbus were there in their regalia, their plumed hats, with their swords,” recalled Garrett. “That made an impression on me. When I got home, I asked my mother, ‘Who were those people with hats and swords?’”
“She said, those were the Knights of Columbus. That first put the seed in my mind, and ultimately, I became part of something good,” said Garrett.
For Garrett, knighthood is now a family affair – his son Kyle, a parishioner at St. Benedict, Chesapeake, is a member, too. As his grandchildren near school-age, the council’s close relationship with Portsmouth Catholic Regional School (PCRS) hits close to home. His oldest grandson will be in pre-kindergarten at the school next year.
“Our biggest charitable group that we support, and we’re going to support more in the future, is PCRS,” said Garrett. “We work very closely with principal Donna Henry, and we have our meetings at the elementary school.”
Dan Foster said that he has been with Council #418 for roughly the same number of years as Garrett. He recalled old times fundraising with his friends and fellow knights.
“Council #418 members managed the ‘Chesapeake Sausage’ stand at Harbor Park during the Norfolk Tides games for close to ten years in the 2000s, along with assisting at concerts at the [Atlantic Union Bank] Pavilion in downtown Portsmouth,” said Foster. “Those were fun and busy times.”
The future continues to be bright at Council #418, said Garrett. In early February, the Knights jumped into the freezing Atlantic Ocean at the Polar Plunge in Virginia Beach to raise money for the Special Olympics.
“It was cold,” said Garrett with a laugh. “But we raised quite a bit of money – one anonymous donor gave $5,000.”
Looking forward to Lent, said Garrett, “The fish fry is our big moneymaker. Each week, the money is earmarked for a certain activity.”
“One thing about this group: It’s very focused on service,” he added.