It was the “men in blue shirts” that first got Kevin McKenna interested in the Knights of Columbus.
McKenna, a Highlands resident who grew up in Middletown, was looking to improve his own outlook on life and wanted to be in a position to help others and encourage further spiritual growth in himself.
A parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. Agnes Parish, McKenna noticed that men in blue shirts who did not appear to have any connection with each other in either age or employment, but were also the smiling, helpful me in church, the ones who were being helpful and responding to other churchgoers.
McKenna admits he felt “stagnated” in his own spiritual life and felt a need to grow past just attending mass, praying and listening. He began reaching out to the “blue shirts” and noticed men like Ron Angelo, Mike Napolitano, Ian McGinniss and more . He liked the idea when he began learning from them about the Knights of Columbus and how all the members of this men’s group were doing things to help out the parish.
So he joined.
That was in June of 2023 and Kevin liked the Knights of Columbus from the start and enjoyed helping out with the many events and activities the Knights sponsored or in which they were involved. So he went even further and pursued becoming a Fourth degree Knight. That is the degree Knights pursue to specifically foster a spirit of patriotism and encourage a more active Catholic citizenship. So McKenna became a Fourth Degree Knight a year after joining the Knights of Columbus.
Today, McKenna is Deputy Grand Knight of the Knights Council he joined at Our Lady of Perpetual Help/St. Agnes parish, the Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council 11660 a council in the largest catholic fraternal service order in the world and founded by a Connecticut priest, the Rev. Michael J. McGivney in 1882.
Now McKenna plays an active role in all the Knights’ activities. He praises all its members for their cooperative spirit and volunteerism for all causes that help others, from the annual Blue Mass that honors all emergency volunteers and police at a major event in October, family dinners for the parish that range from Comedy Nights to October Fests and the popular monthly breakfast held at the OLPH church hall that can be as fanciful as chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate mousse cake for Valentine’s Day but always includes pancakes, pastries, French toast and so much more for residents who simply want to enjoy a hearty Sunday morning breakfast.
It is also the ‘little things,’ McKenna likes about the work the men in blue shirts do. He likes how the Knights are there to help a parishioner hang a mirror in her house, or move a piece of furniture from her apartment, or, as McKenna says, “ being a part of Council, rooted in Christ, with men striving to become better Catholics has been amazing. It’s pretty cool just helping folks for the sake of doing it.”
The Deputy Grand Knight said his goals now are simply to continue on this new journey he has found, surrounded by faith, inspired by men like McGinniss, the Grand Knight who he terms “an exceptional leader” and whose wisdom has been helpful to him throughout the few years they have now known each other. He knows McGinness’s leadership and inspiration will continue to grow the Council which will continue to provide so much assistance to the parish and its two churches. He encourages other Catholic men to look into becoming members of the knights and learn as he did how much more value it instills in their own lives.
McKenna now says he does not feel stagnate any longer. His advice to others?
“ If there are a few guys like I was, sitting in Mass and they feel they need something more… look for the men in The Blue Shirts!
The Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council 11660 meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 in the Knights room at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School on Miller St. Persons interested in further information on the council can contact Grand Knight Ian McGinniss at 732-500-6706
