Four generations of the Butler Family who have been part of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help St Agnes Parish for nearly a quarter of a century, were honored as the Family of the Month by the Knights of Columbus, Rev. Joseph A. Donnelly council 11660 at ceremonies Sunday at the OLPH gym.
Grand Knight Kevin McKenna and Knights Council Family Director Michael Burke presented the matriarch of the family, Jean Butler with a gift during the ceremonies which followed the 9:30 mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.
The Butler family was established in the parish in 1959 when Jean and the late John Burke were married at St. Agnes Church. The couple were married for 59 years until John’s death in 2018, but the family has carried on the traditions and lessons both parents taught them throughout their lives.
The Butlers had eight children, five daughters and three sons, all of whom attended St. Agnes School and all received their early sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation in St. Agnes.
Later in life, all five daughters followed their mother’s pattern and taught CCD in the parish, with Katherine also becoming a Eucharistic minister like her mother.
For 20 years, Jean’s husband John was also groundskeeper at both St. Agnes Church and St. Agnes school and with his wife was also engaged in several other ministries in the parish.
The family is well known throughout the parish and the community for their dedication to their religion, as well as their tireless efforts to help anyone in need.
In addition to the numerous acts of charity each of the family members has done throughout the years, and passing the need to help others on to each generation, family members recall their parents were involved in numerous community and parish activities, from PTA and Rosary Altar Society to Renew and Marriage Encounter for married couples, including Jean singing in the church choir for more than 60 years.
Daughter Eileen Bolognese continues to teach arts and crafts to parish children as well as hand making rosary beads which are always given to anyone requesting them and were distributed by the Knights at the recent St. Patrick’s Day parade in Highlands. Her sister, the late Jeanie Butler Corey and her husband, Vince raised their two sons in the parish community, where she also taught CCD, coached basketball at the parochial school and volunteered for the highly successful parish picnic every summer.
The family continues to grow and carry on the Butler family traditions, with Jean now grandmother to 20 and great grandmother to three.
In making the presentations with Grand Knight McKenna, Burke pointed out the Knights, as an international organization, have always been dedicated to the development of strong vibrant families. It is in support of this mission as well as to create an even greater awareness of the many outstanding families within the Diocese as well as the parish, the Supreme Council instituted the Family of the Month Program in 1978.
“ The Reverend Joseph J. Donnelly Council recognizes families who outwardly exhibit strong ties of love and faith, exemplifying Catholic family values by attending mass each week throughout the year, while making contributions to their parish and surrounding community.,” Burke noted. Each month a parish family is cited as the Family of the Month and the certificate acknowledging the honor is presented at the monthly breakfast the knights also host and offer to everyone in the community.
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“ The Reverend Joseph J. Donnelly Council recognizes families who outwardly exhibit strong ties of love and faith, exemplifying Catholic family values by attending mass each week throughout the year, while making contributions to their parish and surrounding community.,” Burke noted. Each month a parish family is cited as the Family of the Month and the certificate acknowledging the honor is presented at the monthly breakfast the knights also host and offer to everyone in the community.“ The Reverend Joseph J. Donnelly Council recognizes families who outwardly exhibit strong ties of love and faith, exemplifying Catholic family values by attending mass each week throughout the year, while making contributions to their parish and surrounding community.,” Burke noted. Each month a parish family is cited as the Family of the Month and the certificate acknowledging the honor is presented at the monthly breakfast the knights also host and offer to everyone in the community.
