Submitted by Herman Millet, Westborough Knights of Columbus 125th Committee
Westborough – John Boyle O’Reilly Knights of Columbus Council 85 was chartered by the Supreme Council in New Haven Connecticut on Jan. 7, 1894. The members have been observing this 125th anniversary with events throughout the year. Members are proud to be among the first 100 councils formed during the earliest days of the order.
The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic men’s fraternal organization with nearly 2 million members worldwide. It was founded in 1882 by the Venerable Father Michael McGivney, an Irish-American Catholic priest assigned to a New Haven, Conn. parish. He first met with a group of men from St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven on Oct. 2, 1881. Shortly thereafter, on March 29, 1882, the Knights of Columbus was incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut. Although the first councils were all located in Connecticut, the order spread throughout New England, the United States, and now the world.
The John Boyle O’Reilly Council was the 85th council founded. We are proud of our volunteer work and we are proud to be associated with St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Westborough, Mass.
A Social and Celebration Dinner will be held at the John Boyle O’Reilly Hall, 17 Willow St., Westborough, on Sat. Oct. 12. This event will be a celebration of the years of promoting charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism in our community and beyond. The Council is proud that they have served St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church which had been in Westborough for almost 25 years itself at the time the council began. Current Grand Knight Andrew Whamond will preside over the evening which will celebrate and recall some of the successes and also recognize some of our oldest members.
Appetizers will be served at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Contact Herman Millet 508-735-8465 or Guido Lonardo 978-457-6253 for tickets ($25 per person). For more information visit www.kofc85.org.