By Suzanne Weiss | For On Mission
KAUKAUNA — One recent Sunday morning, this downtown Kaukauna church cafeteria was filled with the sounds of happy banter and the scent of homemade buttermilk pancakes, freshly scrambled eggs and sizzling sausages.
Then there was the sight of tempting sweets — from doughnuts to slices of pie — all artfully arranged on long tables, along with hot coffee and other beverages.
The occasion was the free monthly Pancake & Porkie Breakfast Experience hosted by the Kaukauna Knights of Columbus at St. Katharine Drexel Parish-St. Mary.
“The Knights and their leader, Ed (Van Dehy), have done a remarkable job helping us grow our parish,” said Fr. Luke Ferris, pastor of Kaukauna Catholic Parishes. “I’ve never seen a parish where the Knights are so connected to parish activities.”
Van Dehy, grand knight of Council 1033, joined the Knights six years ago when he saw an opportunity to encourage cooperation between the two parishes and three worship sites belonging to the Kaukauna Catholic Parishes.
He summarizes the group’s approach to inspiring others in faith this way: “It’s all about belonging,” meaning if people feel like they belong, they become more open to receiving God’s word.
The recent breakfast, one example of how the organization gives people a sense of belonging, served 280 people. One breakfast last year attracted as many as 360, Van Dehy said.
High school students sometimes help by serving food and bussing tables. But that’s not the only way the organization involves young people in their faith.
Two years ago, Knights members funded the startup of a Little Flowers Girls’ Club chapter at Kaukauna Catholic Parishes, a Catholic version of scouting for school-aged girls, which is based on the 1906 Catholic classic The Catholic Girls’ Guide by Fr. F.X. Lasance, and the spirituality of St. Thérése, the Little Flower of Liseux.
This is another example of giving girls and the moms who help a sense of belonging, Van Dehy said.
“Little Flowers is important because it shows girls from a young age that they are surrounded by people who can lift them up in prayer,” said Allison Ellis, lead teacher for the group, which has about 50 members. “It’s all about bringing glory to God in our own little way. It will bring us closer to him and to one another.”
The Knights’ generosity enabled the club to purchase uniforms, patches and books for the girls. With funding from the Knights, and from service opportunities, girls can join the club for free, Ellis said.
“Last fall, the Little Flowers Girls group collaborated with the Knights and other families from around Kaukauna to make our first Baby Bottle Drive for VIDA a huge success,” Van Dehy said.
Participants handed out 500 packets to collect donations for the Appleton pro-life organization VIDA, a nonprofit based in Appleton, which provides free services to those facing an unplanned pregnancy or are parenting an infant or small children under challenging circumstances.
“Director for Sanctity of Life Issues Rick Vanden Boogart and I speculated we would raise about $1,500 in the effort,” Van Dehy said. “Instead, we were blessed with receipts of $6,600 due, in no small part, to the fantastic help we had from the Little Flowers and our big-hearted saintly supporters.”
The Knights are now in the process of funding the establishment of a boys’ chapter in Kaukauna of the Catholic organization Troops of St. George, led by organizers Joe Bolle and Zach Hill.
“We anticipate working with them in fundraisers to assist adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as financially assisting seminarians and retired religious,” Van Dehy said.
“Another great example of collaboration is our annual celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe every Dec. 12,” he said.
The observance, aimed at attracting more Latino churchgoers, includes a bilingual Mass with a traditional Procession of Roses and prayers for the unborn and for the nation.
Knights members, who help the parish as well as the citizens of Kaukauna, collaborate with the local Community Christian Thrift Shop and the Kaukauna Social Concerns Committee, in addition to Fr. Ferris as well as Fr. Mark Rydell, parochial vicar, and the discipleship team.
Current objectives include assisting families, welcoming Latino neighbors, and updating the group’s social media presence to reach more people.
“The success of our council is rooted in our mission statement that includes ‘Making a difference in the faith, family engagement, community outcomes, and sanctity of life protections,’” Van Dehy said.
Anyone interested in joining or supporting the Kaukauna Knights can contact Van Dehy at eddundas@aol.com