History
Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity. St. Louis de Montfort Council 11137 is based at St. Louis de Montfort Church in Santa Maria, CA and works to incorporate these guiding principles into everything that we do to help benefit our council, parish, and community.
All the good works we do are informed by our four core principles:
Charity – Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, by volunteering at Special Olympics, and by supporting, both spiritually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies. Knights recognize that our mission, and our faith in God, compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compassion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day.
Unity – None of us is as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that – together – we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. So we stick together…we support one another. That doesn’t mean that we always agree or that there is never a difference of opinion. It does mean that – as a Knight of Columbus – you can count on the support and encouragement of your brother Knights as you work to make life better in your parish and community.
Fraternity – The Venerable Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to provide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely. The Order’s top-rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do individual Knights, who last year gave more than 10 million hours of their time to assist sick and/or disabled members and their families. In the Knights of Columbus, we watch out for and take care of one another.
Patriotism – Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens.
Click here to learn more about the Knights of Columbus.
History of St. Louis de Montfort Council 11137
The Knights of Columbus Council # 11137 at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church in Orcutt was established on June 17, 1993. The Council was formed when the pastor asked twenty of his parishioners to organize a men’s group. The original charter contained 67 members and the first Council Chaplain was Reverend Ed Jalbert, C.J.
During their first ten years the Council donated over $15,000 to the local parish grade school. The Council has been very active with their support of the Parish and its community, and it has received numerous awards from the State of California and the Supreme Council, whose International Headquarters is located in New Havens, Connecticut.
Council 11137 has achieved the Star Council Award several times, as well as the Double–Star Award in 2010. Some of the Knights Programs include Church, Community, Council, Family, Youth and Pro Life Activities, which have also received the highest honors from the Supreme Council in New Haven, Connecticut, where the Fraternal Organization was founded in 1882 by a young priest, the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney.
Our Knight’s goals are very similar to our Parish Mission Statement, Becoming one Family in Christ. Our Order’s core principles are Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism and are rooted is Gospel values and Catholic Church teachings. A first degree ceremony, through which a man joins the Order, involves a lesson on the virtue of charity. He is then said to be a member of the Knights of Columbus in the First Degree; after participating in the subsequent degrees; second, third and fourth, each of which focuses on another virtue, he rises to that status. Upon reaching the Third Degree, a Knight is considered a “full member”.
The first ritual handbook was printed in 1885, and contained only sections teaching Charity and Unity. The third section, expounding Fraternity, was officially adopted in 1891. The fourth degree is a separate honor that was made available to third degree Knights in New York, New York in the year 1900. The fourth degree members, called Sir Knights, are the most visible as they participate in Patriotic activities in their communities such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day as well as many of our Church programs that include Confirmations and other special events. These Sir Knights are recognized by their Chapeaus, Capes and Swords.
All men, 18 years and older, who are actively participating in their Catholic faith, are encouraged to join the Knights of Columbus and becoming a contributing participant in our Church and Community through whatever way his time and talents may allow. God bless you and your Family.
Grand Knights
Fred Simpson
John Tyo +
Jim Rigali
James Mills
John Lamons +
Ronnie Escarzaga
Ronnie Escarzaga
Wayne Pianfetti
Kevin Willis
Gil Pena
Bill Veroski
George Fisher
Bill Veroski
Stephen De Marco
Stephen De Marco
Trent Benedetti
Trent Benedetti
James B. Jepsen
James B. Jepsen
Jesse Ponce
LeRoy Cordero
LeRoy Cordero
Joseph Ponce
Thomas Tighe
Thomas Tighe
+ Deceased Brother Knight
Year
1993-1994
1994-1995
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
2017-2018
Chaplain
Rev. Ed Jalbert, C.J.
Rev. Ed Jalbert, C.J.
Rev. Ed Jalbert, C.J.
Rev. Ed Jalbert, C.J.
Rev. Ed Jalbert, C.J.
Rev. Anthony Runtz, C.J. +
Rev. John Mayhew, C.J
Rev. John Mayhew, C.J
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. John Mayhew, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Rev. Charles Hofschulte, C.J.
Knights of Columbus Council 11137
Established June 17, 1993
Charter Members(67)
Bill Betten II
Dan Bissonnette
William Brown
Ralph Cahill +
Albert Ceglia
Albert Ceglia, Jr.
Dean Chabot +
Claude Chouinard
Anthony Ciavarelli +
Lewis Claus +
George Coanda
John Coelho +
Terrence Cooney
Ralph Coppola +
Rev. Ludo DeClippel, CJ
Kevin Derr
Robert Dougherty
Ben Dupere +
Dan Feller
Robert Forecki
Ralph Frick
Frederick Fulmer +
William Gabriel +
Salvador Gomez
Bill Hamblin
Jack Harp
Charles Hazard
William Herrera +
Lionel Hossein +
Rev. Ed Jalbert, CJ
Victor Jonas +
Robert Karstens
George Kennard +
Kenneth Kleinsmith
Timothy Kleinsmith
George Kuhlenkamp +
Neal LeMaire
Lawrence Los
John Lumbrazo +
Nick Makar
Jack McKean +
David Morgan +
Gary Morgan
Dr. Daniel Murphy
Ralph Musalo
Joseph Nunez
William O’Carroll +
William Orvis +
Anthony Pianfetti
Edwin Plunkett
Herman Poltl +
James Rigali
Stephen Robel +
Joseph Rosso +
James Runtz +
William Ryan +
Edward Senger
Fred Simpson
James Speer
Henry Tafoya +
Bruno Tassoni +
Keith Tompkins
John Tyo +
Julius Welker
Joseph Weigand +
John Wightman
Roland Woisard +