Through Fr. Michael J. McGivney and his parishioners efforts, the Connecticut state legislature officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society on March 29, 1882. The Order continues to be true to its founding principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. At right is a picture of our founder, Fr. Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven Connecticut. He has recently been elevated to the status of 'Venerable' by his holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

The Knights of Columbus has grown from a few dedicated members in one council to over 1.7 million members and more than 14,000 councils throughout Canada, the United States, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.

Our latest Fraternal Survey report of more than $151 million donated to charity and more than 69 million volunteer hours demonstrates better than any words ever could that "The Knights of Columbus do things".

About our Council

Fr. Charles Meyer's Council 7160 meets at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church situated at 749 Russell St., Kincardine, Ontario, Canada.  You can contact us by mail through Canada Post at PO Box 207, Kincardine, Ontario, Canada, N2Z-2Y7, or by email Council 7160. This email address can be used to submit your questions, obtain information, or make suggestions.

The council was founded on July 18th, 1978 through the efforts of the first grand knight, Claude Paquin, our priest Rev. M. Grogan, and a host of other parish men. The council is named after Fr. Charles Meyer's, who was the first Roman Catholic Priest to serve the Kincardine area when it was still a mission.

Fr. Charles Meyer's was ordained by the most Reverend Bishop J. T. McNally on May 30th, 1935.  Fr. Meyer's first served as assistant priest at Immaculate Conception Parish, Formosa, from 1935 to 1938, then at St. Mary's Parish, Chepstow, from 1938 to 1942.  He then went back to Immaculate Conception Parish, Formosa, from 1942 to 1945 after which he was at Sacred Heart Parish, Walkerton from 1945 to 1948.  In 1948-1949 Fr. Meyer's was the assistant Priest at St. Joseph's parish in Kitchener.  From 1949 to 1954, he served as Pastor for the Riversdale, Holyrood and Kincardine area.  He then went on to serve in Deemerton (1954-1960) and Scotland (1960 1963) and finally returned to Formosa in 1963.  It is during these  times that Kincardine was still a mission and Riversdale was holding the position of being the main church. Today, the roles have reversed and Kincardine is home to our pastor, Reverend Don B. Wilhelm, and Riversdale is the mission.

Our council is one of three councils in district 55 within100 districts in Ontario under the Ontario State Council.  State councils themselves are overseen by the Supreme Council which is located in New Haven, Connecticut. This is the home of the Knights of Columbus organization. Our Grand Knight for 2009-2010 is Mike Powers.  

You can visit each of these web sites by clicking on the highlighted addresses above. These sites will help you get a better understanding of the organization, it's purpose, and it's activities.

Our council works closely with St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Kincardine, providing assistance and funds for the Church, the parish, and many other local charities and projects. The members of the council are active participants in the parish and the community at large through their support of parish and local events.

The regular council business meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm in the basement of the St. Anthony of Padua parish Church immediately after the celebration of the 7 pm Mass.  

Grand Knight's Message

Special thanks is due to all HDC. volunteers for the great effort put forth thus far in our Council's Charity fundraising project. We are doing good and are well accepted in the community. Our next big event is the Ripley mush ball tournament July 16 -17-18th. All help is strictly volunteer so please check the schedule as to when you are to work.

A special day has been established for Council 7160, the Knights of Columbus Family Picnic to be held July 25th at Peter and Grace Morris's house.... 423 Park St. Kincardine. Details have already been e-mailed by Brother Chuck. This is a great opportunity to share our fellowship and meet family members of Brother Knights.

The bursaries sponsored by our Council have had no responds from any applicants. It was discussed to donate the bursaries to a seminarian or donate to a family member of the Council (son or daughter) or a grandchild. Please give this some thought as we will decide this at the next meeting. Brother John Gamble has come through his surgery well and is back in action.

VIVAT JESUS

Mike Powers GK, Council 7160

Our Church

If only Rev. St. Aubin, St. Anthony of Padua Mission's first pastor, could see his mission church now, he would marvel at its growth from a few families in 1862 to over 650 families now. St. Anthony's parish emerged in the thick of a staunchly Scottish settlement with the few Catholic families that were among the first settlers along the Penetangore River. On May 18, 1858, a parcel of land was purchased, on what is now Princes Street South and in 1862 the first St. Anthony of Padua mission church was erected.

The St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church can be contacted through its own web site at  St. Anthony-of-Padua or by email stanthony@bmts.com, telephone 519-396-2505, or fax them at 519-396-5419. The Very Reverend D. B. Wilhelm, VF, PP is our parish priest.

From the desk of the Chaplain

What makes a house a home?

Because of the housing shortage near the military base where he was stationed, a young doctor and his wife and three children had to live in cramped quarters in a hotel. A friend said to the doctor’s six-year-old daughter “Isn’t it too bad that you don’t have a home?” To which the philosophic young one replied, “Oh, we have a home, we just don’t have a house to put it in.”

Out of the mouths of youth comes wisdom. Unfortunately many people fail to see that a house is just a building unless there is a caring, nurturing family within its walls. It is not a thing (or things) that make a home, but rather it is those who live inside. Yet even this is not necessarily a home unless there is the security, peace, love, understanding and unity among its occupants that makes for a caring and nurturing environment suitable for family life. Many people live in a house, not a home. Relationships among the adults within the walls of the house are often questionable, with communication and nurturing a minimum if not self-focused. Children often have no other association with some or all members of the house except one roof. With no security, peace, love, understanding or unity the children will tell you that they have no home, only a house to go to. Expressions like “I have to go to my dad’s house for the weekend” or “I have to mind the house tonight while mom goes to work” are heard way too often. When did we lose family values?

This, the diocesan Year of the Family, is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the values we place on relationships, especially when it comes to family life. Perhaps we can see where as parents or even grandparents we can improve or instil in the youth the importance of family life by creating a caring, nurturing, secure, loving and open environment for the benefit of ourselves and the less fortunate not to have a home of their own.

Fr. Don B. Wilhelm, VF, PP  Chaplain council 7160

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