Knights of Columbus Scholarships

 Jesus the Divine Word Council 14775 offers two (2) scholarships each year to eligible graduating high school seniors who will be attending a college or university in the fall.  They are the Chaplain's Scholarship and the Rob Sullivan Memorial Scholarship.

               

Chaplain's Scholarship                            
 This scholarship of $1500 is in honor of Council 14775's Chaplain, who is also the current pastor of Jesus the Divine Word Parish.
 
Rob Sullivan Memorial Scholarship                
 This scholarship of $1500 is in honor of SK Rob Sullivan, one of the founding members of Jesus the Divine Word Parish and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
  
Additional Information
 If you are a high school senior and interested in one of these scholarships, you can download a scholarship application by clicking here.  Additional questions may be directed to the Grand Knight at GK14775@gmail.com.  Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m., Friday, May 20th and both scholarships will be awarded at the Knights of Columbus Social Meeting in Doran Hall in June.
  
Who are the Knights of Columbus?
 If you're interested in helping those in need, serving your parish, growing in your faith, or having exclusive access to top-rated insurance protection for your family, the Knights of Columbus is the organization for you.  Becoming a Knight can transform your life.
 
The four principles of the Knights of Columbus are Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, with the primary principle being Charity.  All of our activities are based on these principles, as well as the desire to strengthen our faith.
 
The Knights of Columbus is not just a social club.  Joining the Knights brings you into a family of Catholic men committed to serving God and the community, primarily through charitable outreach and community service.  And as a Knight with our council, you can volunteer when you want for the activities in which you are interested.
 
Here are just a few of the activities in which we have participated over the past year:

• Community Breakfast - Each month, the council cooks and serves a hot delicious breakfast for the parish, bringing our parish community closer together.
• Parish Picnic - Each year, our council cooks hamburgers and hot dogs for the parish picnic.
• Family Rosary Program - On every 5th Sunday, we remain after Mass to pray the Rosary.
• American Red Cross Blood Drive - Each unit collected by the Red Cross can save up to three lives.  We also serve our famous BBQ to donors upon completion.
• Soccer Challenge - As part of our Family Program, we host a soccer challenge for youth in our parish.  Winners of each age category wins a medal and certificate and can advance to a regional soccer challenge.
• Chili Cook-Off - Come taste the best chili around
• Adopt-a-Road Program - Help us beautify a one-mile stretch of Plum Point Road three to four times a year.
• Restaurant Knight - Enjoy good food with friends and family at local restaurants and help raise money for scholarships.
• Clothing Donation Shed - Donations of bags of clothing, shoes, etc.
• Pro-Life Mass - Each year, the council hosts a pro-life Mass.
• Pimlico Weekend - Volunteered at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore moving trams across the track, allowing patrons to cross
• All-Night Adoration - Did you know that the Knights of Columbus started this tradition here at Jesus the Divine Word?

  
Many of these activities are also fundraisers, the proceeds of which are used to donate to many local charities.  Here are some of the charities to which the council donated:
 

• Sponsor a Seminarian - Each year, our council provides modest financial support for a seminarian preparing for the priesthood.
• Five Calvert County organizations helping individuals with intellectual disabilities
• Each year, the half of the proceeds from the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper are donated to the parish's Youth Ministry to help in their activities.
• Support of First Responders, including awards to the Huntingtown VFDRS Firefighter and EMS Technician of the year
• Maryland Special Olympics - We jumped into the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay to raise money for this great organization supporting those with intellectual disabilities
• In 2018, the council purchased a new freezer in the kitchen for use in parish activities
• In 2019, the council donated $500 to a regional Knights of Columbus fundraiser to purchase an ultra-sound machine for a pro-life organization.
• Run for Vocations - from Spaghetti Dinner proceeds
• Two annual $1,000 scholarships to Jesus the Divine Word parishioners

 Faith in Action
 In the opening lines of Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), His Holiness Pope Francis invited Christians everywhere to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ.  The Faith in Action program model extends that same invitation to Knights of Columbus members and their families.  It is a renewed personal invitation to live out the calling of their faith and the call to service of their neighbor.  The Faith in Action program aims to help us strengthen our faith and provide service to our parish and community.
 
The Faith in Action Program consists of four categories:  Faith, Community, Family, and Life.  Each category provides specific (but not all-encompassing) activities allowing us to inspire our council and parish to put our faith into action.  Some examples of these programs include:
 
Faith
Spiritual Reflection
Building the Domestic Church Kiosk (outside Doran Hall)
Family Rosary Program
Holy Hour
 
Community
Soccer Challenge
Helping Hands (service activities)
Habitat for Humanity
Global Wheelchair Mission
 
Family
Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest
Consecration to the Holy Family
Family Prayer Night
Family of the Month
 
Life
March for Life in Washington, D.C.
Special Olympics
Christian Refugee Relief
Novena for Life
 
As you can see, your local Knights of Columbus council provides an ambitious program for our parish and community, with activities that strengthen our faith and provides service to our community. 
 
Wouldn't this be something you would like to be a part of?
 Our council is always looking for practical Catholic gentlemen at least 18 years old to join the Knights of Columbus.  But we want you to join only if you want to join.  We are not here to convince you to become a member if you don't wish to do so, but just taking a look at the activities should inspire you to join the finest organization in the country.  And if you're not sure if you have time, participate in or volunteer for only those activities for which you do have time.
 
How to Become a Knight of Columbus
 If you are interested, please contact the Grand Knight at GK14775@gmail.com.   
 OR
 To join online, go to KofC.org/JoinUs.  When asked if you would prefer to join a specific council (hopefully at Jesus the Divine Word), enter "14775."