Knights of Columbus Holy Spirit Council 11548    6200 N. Meridian Road   •    Meridian, ID. 83642   • (208) 888-1182
	COUNCIL INFORMATION The Holy Spirit Council is located in Meridian, ID. The council chamber is located in room 102 of Holy Apostles Catholic Church located at 6300 N. Meridian Rd., at the corner of Chinden Blvd. For more information, Please email Grand Knight Paul D’Alessio at dalessio1@cableone.net COUNCIL MEETINGS The council holds it’s monthly business meeting on the first Monday of each month. A social meeting is held on the third Monday of each month. ABOUT THE KNIGHTS AND OUR COUNCIL On Oct. 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut. Called together by their 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society that would one day become the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of purpose and devotion to a holy cause: they vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith. These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New World. Their efforts came to fruition with the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882. They were Knights of Columbus. The Order has been called "the strong right arm of the Church," and has been praised by popes, presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need. Father McGivney's founding vision for the Order also included a life insurance program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased members. The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Knights of Columbus and is responsible for the development of the organization as a whole. Supreme Council duties include establishing the Order in new regions and setting up regional authorities, defining and advancing its values and goals, undertaking organization-wide initiatives, promoting awareness of the Knights' mission worldwide, and protecting the families of members through its extensive insurance program. Members working in local, or subordinate councils, however, carry on the majority of the Knights' beneficial work. Holy Spirit Council 11548 was chartered on April 24, 1995. The council originated from a Round Table under the auspice of Nampa Council 2014. Through the efforts of Joe Boos, Keith Burns and many others, the required number of practical catholic men was recruited to form a charter. Thirty new brother knights were initiated into the first degree of our order at the annual state convention. Past State Deputy, the late Ray Sabrowsky, presided over the exemplification. In the year 2000, Holy Spirit Parish in Meridian and St. Matthews Parish in Eagle combined parishes. The Knights of Columbus also merged. Council 113?? Joined council 11548 to form one of the largest and most active council’s in the state of Idaho. Past Grand Knights include: Joe Boos 1995 Keith Burns 1996-97 Roy Turner 1997-1998 Curtis Guiles 1998-1999 Brian Simer 1999-2001 Ron Katko 2001-2002 Ray Bell 2002-2003 FOURTH DEGREE On February 22, 1900, the first Fourth Degree exemplification or degree ceremony was held in New York City. The Fourth Degree imparts a lesson on the virtue of patriotism. The primary purpose of this degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism in members and the community at large and encourage active Catholic citizenship. Today there are some 300,000 Fourth Degree Knights out of the total 1.6 million member Knights of Columbus. Local units, called assemblies, draw their members from Knights of Columbus councils. The qualifications for membership in the Fourth Degree are: membership in the Knights for at least one year and being a Third Degree Knight. A Fourth Degree Knight may become part of the assembly's color corps. Their distinctive attire recognizes these members widely. Tuxedo, feathered hat (chapeau), cape and sword are the most recognizable items associated with the 4th degree. These members regularly take part in civic events such as parades and wreath-laying ceremonies, and at ecclesial functions at Catholic churches. The various colored capes and chapeau feathers denote different officer positions within the Fourth Degree.
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