The Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council 11660 of the Knights of Columbus that is sponsoring the daylong celebration of the borough and the pledge of allegiance on October 12, was founded in Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in 1995.
The pastor at the time, the Rev. John Dobrosky, approached local resident James E. Smith, asking him to help organize a council of the catholic men’s organization which was founded in Connecticut in 1882.
Smith, who was a Knight in the Vincent Lombardi Council that met at Croydon Hall in Middletown, sought assistance from that council and worked with Dobrosky to organize men in the Bayshore to start the new council.
The new Council had 20 members for its first corporate communion mass in 1995, and Father John led prayers that the council would continue to grow and be active in assisting the parish community and the area.
The new council was named after the late pastor, Father Joseph Donnelly, who had been pastor of OLPH from 1947 until his death in 1961.
Father Donnelly was responsible for starting a catholic elementary school in the parish, with classes first held in the basement of the church in 1951. And included two teachers and two grades.
The school continued to grow, and Father Donnelly continued to set aside funds for the construction of the present building, which was constructed and opened for its first classes in September 1963, two years after his death.
The Knights Council also continued to grow, with Grand Knights following Smith that included George Fisher, Peter Viscomi, Frank Rahm, Robert Dahl, Gabe Tauro, and John Tlerico. Current Grand Knights is Kevin McKenna.
Though no longer open for elementary school education, the school is used by numerous groups, including both the Knights of Columbus and the Highlands Historical Society, as well as meetings and social functions.
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