Home of the Knights of Columbus #11730

Worthy Grand Knight Pierre Gaudreault and wife Michelle, joined Financial Secretary John O’Rourke and OLP’s Respect Life Coordinator Melia Dunbaugh for the annual Walk For Life event at Memorial Park on Saturday, 7 March. It was a beautiful day to join thousands of walkers, runners, and volunteers. Melia relayed that their efforts support “Life Network, with 4 pregnancy centers, provides services to thousands of women and men facing a crisis pregnancy and reach 6,500 students in their sex-respect/education for a lifetime and suicide prevention program in 31 local schools… (now) more at-risk women in our community will receive life-revealing ultrasounds than ever this year.”

For the first time ever, Council 11730 offered and awarded scholarships. This year’s winners are Rachel Limb ($1000) and Lauren Anderson ($500).
Rachel is graduating from St Mary’s High School where she has attained a perfect 4.0 GPA (unweighted) and a 4.7 GPA (weighted) highlighted by 45 A+ grades and 18 Advanced Placement classes! She is at the top of her class. In our parish, she actively serves with audio-visual services, as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and as a Hospitality Minister. In the community, she works at the Marian House, helps with food banks, volunteers at school as a mentor and tutor, and participates in the planning and execution of many other events. She lives her faith at school, home, and in the community with both Catholic and non-Catholics. She encourages prayer as a multi-sport athlete and in all occasions. Rachel is planning to attend the University of Notre Dame to pursue a degree in Chemistry. Subsequently, she plans to attend medical school to focus on either anesthesiology or endocrinology. Her passion is to change lives! Please congratulate Rachel for her past successes and wish her the best for a bright future!

Lauren is graduating from Pine Creek High School where she has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA (unweighted) and a 4.6 GPA (weighted) including 34 A+ grades and 36 Advanced Placement or Honors Classes! She ranks in the top 3% of her class. In our parish, she serves either as a Proclaimer and Hospitality Minister nearly every weekend. Her love for sharing her faith was most evident while in the “Lighthouse” and “Called” youth groups. Her inspirational leadership was instrumental in establishing the “Youth Choir” composed of all teenagers. In the community, she helps families in Academy District 20 as a lead in the “Shop with an Eagle” for those in financial need and hardship. She has seen the pain and tribulations experience by divorce and separation in other military families and is motivated to ultimately become a family lawyer after completing her bachelor’s degree at University of Chicago. Please congratulate Lauren for her impressive achievements and the promise for more amazing successes!

Knight of the Month Bryan Kantack is a Worthy Brother for our council. During the recent Lenten Fish Fries, he was a chief cook as well as doing a tremendous amount of work in setting up and cleaning up the fish frying equipment and outdoor work space. He also participates in the breakfast burrito fundraiser, adding vital support during cooking assembling and sales. He can fill any role. He led the burrito team one time last fall, and last month, he filled the role as mixer AKA “Pig-Pen” when the usual mixer couldn’t help out due to a death of a friend. Bryan’s participation extends beyond the Knights. He helps the parish as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and as a helper with the High School Called program. Bryan is a regular platelet donor, which helps cancer patients and others. He coaches for his kids teams when necessary, and if his neighbors need assistance, he lends them a helping hand, too.

Family of the Month for April is the Wilson Family, which consists of Dave & Maggie and their three children Lannie, Mara and Quinn. The Wilson family is familiar to many at Our Lady of the Pines. They have been with the parish for fifteen years, and they have had many years of involvement with the Music Ministry. This involvement includes working with the youth choir that sings at the 5:30 PM Mass on Called nights. The family also provided music for the Our Lady of the Pines Christmas Pageant, the Living Stations of the Cross and the Good Friday Stations of the Cross. Many in the parish additionally know Dave from the “Doug and Dave Show”, where Dave performs a variety show with Doug Brummel, sneakily teaching the Catholic Faith as they entertain. This year alone, they have performed at least 12 Catholic parishes nationwide. They also perform at conventions. Both Maggie and Dave work with the high school “Called” program, which is religious formation for 9th thru 12th graders that brings to life the beauty of our Catholic Faith and empowers our young to follow God’s call in their lives. Maggie also works with the middle school formation program. They have two daughters Lannie and Mara, and a son Quinn. Lannie helps run the high school formation social media account, and she was a young adult leader for the group that went to NCYC last summer. Mara has been a longtime Vacation Bible School Volunteer. Quinn plays sports, and he is excited to get more involved with the church as he grows older.

On May 3rd, five brothers participated in the 125th anniversary of the Fourth Degree. The exemplification was held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Northglenn Colorado. Two of our brothers from our council became 4th Degree Sir Knights. They are pictured below: Logan Crain (second from left) and Ernesto (Ernie) Garcia (far right). Joining in the celebration were Deputy Grand Knight, Jim Appleyard; Financial Secretary, John O’Rourke; and Grand Knight, Pierre Gaudreault. Congratulations to our new Sir Knights Logan and Ernie!

Council 11730’s Knight of the Month for March is Matt Weir. Matt is the Worthy Chancellor for our council, where he assists the Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight in leading the council. Another duty of the Chancellor is to take lead roles on committees. Matt has done this recently by leading the Lenten Fish Fries that our council puts on for the parish. He also has taken ownership of the Oktoberfest our council puts on in the Fall. Matt gives many hours of his time during breakfast burrito fundraisers by precooking sausage and potatoes at home, by folding burritos on the assembly line, and by selling burritos after Masses. He even took the lead role in operating the Square credit card reader during burrito sales. This important fundraiser usually nets our council over $1000 during sales weekends. Lastly, Matt volunteered to be one of our council’s two delegates to the Colorado State Convention at the end of April.

The Family of the Month for March is the Hund Family ! The Hund family has been members of our parish for several years, and Andy is a knight in another council. Andy is a leader in Called, which is religious formation for 9th thru 12th graders that brings to life the beauty of our Catholic Faith and empowers our young to follow God’s call in their lives. Anne is a leader in middle school confirmation, helping to guided our young in attaining this very important sacrament leading to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They have four boy, Charley, Henry, Finn and Nolan. Anne and Henry are proclaimers at Mass, and Andy, Finn and Nolan are hospitality ministers. Anne works in the Social Justice Ministry. The family serves the broader community by volunteering at the Marion House, which serves meals to the less fortunate in the city of Colorado Springs. Andy also serves as a coach for various sports, and Anne works with the Scouts as a merit badge counselor.