Knights of Columbus Council 14360 is proud to announce that its 6th annual St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser Dinner will be held this year on Saturday evening, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Great Room of St. Matthew Church (216 Scribner Avenue, Norwalk). The St. Patrick’s Day dinner, the council’s oldest tradition, began with a modest 81 attendees in 2010, but has since grown to become an annual tradition at St. Matthew Parish that many parishioners and friends look forward to each year. Last year, an all-time record of 227 guests came for the delicious food and fun.

This year’s dinner, like the previous five, will enable Council 14360 to continue its support of a number of local charitable organizations. The success of the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner generated over $4,000 towards Council 14360’s charitable fund, which covers many groups around Norwalk. Everyone’s generosity enabled the council to subsequently donate funds to worthy organizations such as Al’s Angels, the Notre Dame Convalescent Home, and St. Matthew Church itself.

For this year’s dinner, the adult menu will once again include traditional St. Patrick’s Day favorites such as succulent corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, in addition to sourdough bread, soda and water. A cash bar (beer and wine) will also be offered. Kids will enjoy “Irish” chicken tenders as well as macaroni and cheese, and all attendees will enjoy a delicious dessert.
Many exciting raffle prizes will be once again be offered at this year’s dinner. In years past, items such as New York Yankees tickets, Brooklyn Nets basketball tickets, and other sought-after selections have made the raffle very popular, and this year is sure to be no exception.

Last year’s Corned Beef Dinner was a lot of fun and also a complete sellout, and space is limited, so be sure to make your reservations soon. Cost is $18 for adults and $7 for children aged 10 and under (there is no charge who children ages three and under).
To print out a reservation form, simply click on the link below:

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Reservation Form

In honor of Veterans Day, Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council 14360 and Fox Run School recently did a collection of goods for veterans at the Homes for The Brave in Bridgeport. Homes for The Brave is a facility in Bridgeport that takes care of veterans who are trying to get back to regular life after serving our armed forces. The massive donation drive of goods for the soldiers for the Veterans was very much appreciated by the residents. “Between the Knights and Fox Run we filled our closets, pantries and then some,” said Olivia Ellwanger, Development Associate for the HFTB.

Also at Fox Run School, teachers Mary Jo Pecora-Runkle, Jane Jawlik and the Fox Run Student Council organized a collection after Knights of Columbus Council 14360 member Joe Giandurco and his wife Alice (a retired Fox Run teacher) approached the school about organizing a collection for the second straight year. Joe was a Marine who served in Vietnam. “Homes for the Brave is a top notch organization. It is my pleasure and honor to help my fellow Veterans in any way I can”, said Giandurco.

Grand Knight George Ribellino said  “The compassion and drive that our members have for the military is without boundaries. I am also thankful to the students, teachers and administration at Fox Run School for their generosity and support.

The Knights council and the Catholic Daughters Court St. Matthew also sponsored Thanksgiving dinner for the residents for the second straight year on November 27th.

Since opening its doors in 2002, ABRI/Homes for the Brave has provided safe housing, vocational training and job placement, mental health and addiction services, and life skills coaching to help individuals, especially Veterans, leave homelessness behind. To date, the organization has worked with more than 800 individuals.

Knights of Columbus Saint Matthew Norwalk Council #14360 was founded in 2007 and currently does many fundraising and community outreach events throughout the year, including its annual Macaroni and St. Patrick Day Dinners. The council also lends its assistance to Notre Dame Convalescent Home (Norwalk, CT), Family & Children’s Agency of Norwalk, All Saints Catholic School, Malta House and Fisher House

For more information, go to saintmatthewknights.com and http://www.homesforthebrave.org.

In a celebration of the true meaning of the Christmas season, nearly 500 students from All Saints Catholic School in Norwalk recently submitted entries in the Knights of Columbus’ annual Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest.

According to the rules of the contest, posters were required to be the original work of the student and to somehow reflect the theme of Keep Christ in Christmas.

“It was extremely difficult for us to single out individual students for their work,” commented Council 14360’s Grand Knight George Ribellino, Jr. “All of the students put so much thought and creativity into their posters, and we thoroughly enjoyed judging them.” After much debate, the following students (one per grade level) were honored for their posters by the judging committee:

Each winner received a special certificate, a hand-painted K of C Nativity ornament, and a coupon for a free frozen yogurt, courtesy of Peachwave of Norwalk.  The winning entries (see below) will also be forwarded for judging at the District level of the contest.

“We would like to thank Mrs. Linda Dunn, All Saints’ principal, and all of the students who submitted entries in this year’s contest,” Ribellino added. “Once again, they reminded us of what Christmas is truly about.”