The newly elected Executive of both Archbishop Carney Assembly as well as Pope John Paul II Assemblies was installed at St. Patrick’s church in Maple Ridge on Saturday, June 15, 2013 by the Master of the 4th degree, Sir Knight Tony Pimentel.
The dinner and awards Banquet followed. Pictures can be viewed here under Knights in Action.
Appended below is the list of all the Knights who won, including the full Awards script that was read before they were presented with their awards. The scripts for Sir Knights, Larry Forseille, Zeus Custodio and Mark Edward Custodio have not been inserted yet as these Sir Knights could not make it for the Awards Banquet. As such, their awards will only be presented at the next meeting in September, whereupon their scripts will then be published herein.
The Merit Award, is presented in grateful recognition and and appreciation of faithful and exceptional services to the Fourth Degree.
In recognition of the work this Sir Knight does in handling the administration and storage of the Assembly’s flagship…the Santa Maria float. You were instrumental in keeping track of and reporting on the status of the float during its extensive refurbishment. Even whilst juggling your growing business, you were still able to get the float ready to go at a moment’s notice. You had your challenges attending meetings, but you usually let me know when you couldn’t make it. Sir Knight Rick MacArthur, I call you now to receive recognition for the work you do for the Assembly!
This Sir Knight is is probably one of the most experienced on my team. Literally a treasure trove of information, he is also one of those who, one would describe as the person who keeps meticulous records. How many Knights do you know who has personal records going back a few years of every single meeting he’s attended? Here is a man who is serious about his meetings, as we all should be! A man who takes great pride in procedure and form, in decorum as well as detail. He has to drive pretty far to get to the meeting, but I have never heard him complain about that. In fact, at the last Executive Meeting, he complained that I was CANCELLING the regular meeting! I proudly award this Merit Award to Sir Knight Martin Polz!
Which Faithful Navigator doesn’t appreciate the man who doesn’t miss a meeting and is never late? This Sir Knight is always on time, and his magnanimous nature sees him always helping those who are less fortunate than him. He braves the dangerous stairs of St. Joseph’s on Titanium Knees. He complains about them of course, but he’s always there and until his surgeries, I could always count on him to serve as Honour Guard. Sir Knight Jack Harrison, in grateful recognition of your service to the Assembly, please step forward to be recognized!
This Sir Knight became a Knight in 2009, in March of 2010 he became a 3rd degree member and in October of the same year, a 4th degree member! He attends meetings regularly, and in quick succession, took to being an Honour Guard member as well! And now he’s the latest member of our Assembly’s Executive. All this, from a spry young man who was born before the war! I would like to thank Sir Knight John Suter for his service and dedication to the Assembly.
The quiet one who does everything. Every Assembly needs one. He is there to serve and he never fails to pick up the slack. When we lost our Purser suddenly, he stepped up to the plate instantly. He attends every meeting possible, and he gladly opens his home to the Executive meetings too. He does not serve in Regalia, but he is a Sir Knight who serves in the background, to ensure things run smoothly. He is our newly minted Navigator. Sir Knight Bob Jones, I am very pleased to recognize your contributions to the Assembly.
Sir Knight of the Year.
Who is a Sir Knight? Its no accident that the Baptism in the Jordan was the first Luminous Mystery. The Luminous Mysteries were all about Jesus’s life in the public eye. In his groundbreaking document on the Rosary, Pope John Paul II was careful to remind us, “The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christ-centered prayer.” The pope also points out, “The whole mystery of Christ is a mystery of light. He is the ‘light of the world’ (John 8:12)….This truth emerges in a special way during the years of his public life….”
As a 4th degree Knight, we’re called to public life. We’re called to be out there showing ourselves as the face of religion, of Catholicity, of charity, unity, fraternity and of course, patriotism. We dress up in our best, tuxedos, not for ourselves, but to be at ONE with the others of our order. When we don our capes and chapeaus, it is not for self-glorification, but, as the the Colour Corps Drill Manual states: the colourful capes and chapeaus add dignity and a pride of church and country to any event.
So who amongst us today, would be the Sir Knight of the year?
Well, I have known this Sir Knight for quite a number of years. I have observed him as my mentor, my friend and I am proud to call him a fellow Knight of Columbus. He can be depended upon to be there at just about any regalia event, and as a 3rd degree Knight, he seemed to be always at the beck and call of his pastor…living the life of Columbianism.
The odd meeting that he has missed…actually I would be hard-pressed to find even one, he called me up personally to offer his regrets and offer up a solid excuse as to why he could not make it. This is the 2nd Luminous mystery come to life! The Baptism at the Jordan is about humility. Even though he was much older than I, much more experienced, and definitely more knowledgeable, this man would call me to express his extreme regret that he could not attend a meeting. It goes without saying that he was humbler still in other dealings with his Navigator.
He used to say: If the Archbishop is there…I MUST be there. Implying of course, that so should I. He never missed an opportunity to serve. And he always seemed to be there when I needed him. There are few Knights that I would trust my life to, and actually have, than this Sir Knight. He is a credit to our Assembly, to his council, to his pastor and of course, to his family.
Judy, you must be very proud of your husband. Sir Knights I present to you, Sir Knight of the Year: Elemer Lazar.
And finally, last but definitely not least…
A Capable Wife, who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life…Give her a share in the fruits of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
Wow! Obviously, those are NOT my words. Not surprisingly, I could never write as powerfully as the writers who wrote this. Proverbs, Chapter 31.
A Faithful Navigator’s task, is to steer his assembly upon the right path. But who steers the Faithful Navigator? Well, the obvious answer would be…the Good Lord Himself. But oftentimes I wonder if he’s working through my dear wife.
When I told Jessica that I was about to become the FN of this assembly, she said: Mark, Mark, what have you gotten me into. You see, she’s already involved in the Executive in CWL, is in the school education committee, does children’s liturgy and is the mother of three young and demanding children. She also pointed out that with the meetings now in St. Joseph’s Port Moody, we’d be going the 15k journey from Pitt Meadows 4 times on every 2nd Sunday…a total of 60 km of driving. Always the voice of reason.
Still, when it became apparent that it was inevitable, she took to the Ladies’ Programme with gusto! I hear that the wives that do attend are very pleased and enjoy their Sunday afternoons very much! I would like to recognize my wife Jessica for her contribution to the Ladies’ programme!
Past Faithful Navigator, SK Mark Pan
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