2024-25 KofC Basketball Free Throw District Competition
2024 Canada Day Parking Control
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ST. BERNADETTE’S KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FREE THROW COMPETITION
St. Bernadette’s council conducted a basket free throw competition. Nine St. James students moved on to the District finals, and one made it all the way to the Regional finals! Below are pictures from the Regional finals held at St. Brother André Catholic High School in Markham on March 1st 2025.
Our councils had eight finalists at the District Free Throw Competition this year. A St. James Catholic School boy (age 10) was one of the finalists going to the Regional Championships on March 1st in Markham. Below is a photo of Brother Knights and District Deputy Sir Alex who made this event possible.
Once again, the Knights volunteered at the Paris’s All Saints Party for Parish kids, visitors, and parents. A good number of Knights helped with supervising and assisting with the various games and helped with the take down after the party.
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Brother Ray Hickey of our Council, and his son John and daughter Tina, went up to deliver a couple of donated medical assistance mobility chairs, a set of crutches, and some gardening equipment. Brother Ray, and his family, have been joyfully doing this act of charity for Madonna House over many decades, bringing new and used articles and equipment. Madonna House is a retirement community that many elderly retired clerical residents now call home.
In Centre, Brother Sir Ray wearing the Blue Sweater and White Ball Cap, on the Right, is daughter Tina in the Pink Sun Hat. Greeting them are Jean, a Manager/Supervisor overseeing many of the Staff at Madonna House and behind Ray and to the left are two staff workers.
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2024 Canada Day Parking Control
Once again, thank you for helping out with this year’s parking event. Your precious time, efforts and organizational skills are most appreciated! Great teamwork by all involved! (yes, I stole that phrase from you Brother Shawn, but it certainly applies).
A special shoutout to…
- Our new Council Brother Knights who joined us on July 1st to help: Brother Knights Dax, Russell, Tony & Alban.
- To those Knights who did multiple shifts (either parking setup and/or July 1st parking duties and/or parking teardown): Brother Knights Bob, Joe, Ives, Mike (Davies) and Emilio
- To our past Grand Knight Sir John, who despite driving long hours back from the States on July 1st (arriving in the afternoon) came out to help with the evening shift despite not being on the schedule, and then again today to tear down!!
- You all have my deepest thanks & gratitude.
Brother Knight Ron, (Past) Community DirectorSt. Bernadette’s Council 10236
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2024 Madonna House
On Monday, February 26, 2024, our Council sprang into action to assist Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario. Madonna House, situated near Barry’s Bay in northern Ontario, approximately a three-hour drive north of St. Bernadette Parish, provides care and residence for retired clergy.
Our Parish recently acquired new folding chairs and a storage rack system. We were looking at selling the chairs to a local recycler but when Brother Knight Sir Ray Hickey learned of our plan, he suggested donating them to Madonna House instead.
Brother Knight Sir Ray is 91 years young and is a dedicated member who actively participates in Council meetings. Originally from the area, he has quietly supported Madonna House for 57 years, starting with providing an Ice Cream maker for children in Granada in the 1960s. Over the years, Brother Knight Sir Ray has generously contributed gardening and cleaning equipment, as well as medical assistance devices such as crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, ramps, and commodes to Madonna House. Accompanied by his son John, Brother Sir Knight Ray delivered these items to Madonna House.
He felt that Madonna House could utilize some of these chairs and potentially sell the rest at their gift shops to support their activities and mission. So he suggested that we donate the chairs to Madonna House instead of selling them. Father Chris Lemieux, Pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Ajax, approved the donation, and plans were swiftly put into action to deliver the chairs to Madonna House.
On February 26, Brother Ives Mazzarolo generously donated his time, covered all fuel expenses and rental fees for an enclosed trailer, and used his new truck to transport the chairs to Madonna House. He was accompanied by Brother Sir Knight Ray Hickey, who helped, Brother Sir Knight Joe Hovorka II, and parishioner Don Beatty. Laden with 120 stacking chairs, we departed from St. Bernadette Parish at 9:30 in the morning for a three-hour journey to Combermere in Northern Ontario.
Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and thanked profusely for our efforts in delivering the chairs. The attached photo depicts “The Crew” flanked by Madonna House staff members.
Photo credit: Loretta Fritz, Combermere, Ontario 2024
From left to right: Resident & Volunteer/Staff Member Patrick McConville, Ajax St. Bernadette Parishioner Don Beatty, Sir Knight Ray Hickey, Brother Knight Ives Mazzarolo (Life Director), Sir Knight Joe Hovorka II (D.G.K. & Program Director), and Staff Member Nancy Topping.
It was an honor and privilege for all of us Knights of Council 10236 to embark on this journey and meet the kind and generous individuals at Madonna House, who selflessly serve those in their sunset years after dedicating their lives to serving God’s people.
Submitted by:
Sir Knight Joe Hovorka II
A Proud 4th Degree Member of The Knights of Columbus
DGK Council #10236
Based at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Ajax, Ontario