Past Grand Knight Looking Forward
Mike Napolitano of Highlands might be stepping down after his two-year term as Grand Knight of the Reverend Joseph Donelly Knights of Columbus. But he’s not stepping away. Instead, he is eagerly looking forward to joining all the other Knights assisting his successor, Ian McGinnis and carrying on the important business the Knights do.
Napolitano, who with his wife Lili moved to Highlands from Bloomfield in March of 2020, has been an enthusiastic and hard-working Grand Knight of the men’s catholic organization that meets at both Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Agnes churches since he moved to the Bayshore. The fact is, since he first joined the Knights long before moving to the Bayshore, Mike has always been active, energetic, and creative in ways to reach out to people in need, then finding ways to help them achieve.
He is an achiever himself. Not only did Napolitano achieve all three degrees of the international organization in his first year after joining, but he also went on to achieve the Fourth Degree as well, the highest degree in the Knights and the foundation organization for even more work, philanthropy, and religious support.
At the same time as he was earning each of the degrees, the new Knight also served his council as Warden, then Deputy Grand Knight and Program chairman, then Program Chairman followed by the next two years as Grand Knight and Raffle Chairman. Stepping down at the end of his term as the head of the council, he is now in a three-year Trustee term, as well as continuing as Program Chairman and Raffle Chairman.
All this in his spare time. Mike is a public entities Compliance Liaison for a development company in Bloomfield.
As hard as he works, and as much as he accomplishes, Mike always strives for a bit more., He said the hard part of being the Grand Knight was “completing a productive meeting in a one-hour window.” The other Knights will say he accomplished that as well.
It’s his own generous nature that draws Mike Napolitano to being a Knight. He looked at the Council and all its activities as a means of making a meaningful difference for those with whom he interacts. For the Knights that means parishioners, ministries in the church, as well as “the surrounding community.”
That’s probably what makes this resolute Knight the happiest.
In addition to supporting the pastor and every priest at the church, Mike likes to highlight the service and accomplishments of his Brother Knights, local veterans, scouts, first responders, Uniformed Services and basically organization or individuals who have helped the Knights accomplish their goals of helping others.
Having a vibrant council like the Reverend Joseph Donnelly Council has made all of that happen, Mike says happily.
Looking back at some of his accomplishments over the past two years, he likes to highlight the fact meeting attendance has tripled, because more men are joining the organization, more are happy to be of assistance to others,more like the activities that have now become annual events, as well as all the fundraising events and religious programs within the parish.
The Knights now have a monthly breakfast at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish hall, not to raise funds but simply to provide an opportunity for friends and neighbors to spend some time together.
Their Italian comedy and music nights complete with an Italian dinner quickly became an annual highlight, and their assistance in every local event that helps others is simply routine now.
The Knights help plan, organize and participate in numerous religious activities including a May crowning, initiation sacraments, and an active parish religious education program.
For that, Mike is quick to point out, he is especially grateful to a generous member of the parish who pledged monthly donations to recognize, reward and underwrite the charitable efforts of the Council. Mike is proud of the Catholic Education Memorial Scholarship named in honor of the late Frank Rahm and the council’s work in sponsoring students in need.
While the monthly Sunday breakfast has gotten to be a popular event that draws many local residents who come to sample their outstanding cooking, then come back for more every month because of the camaraderie, Mike also is proud that during his tenure as Grand Knight, he was able to coordinate and finance the timely emergency repairs to the OLPH sound system.
He has also made others know the excellence of the local council through their reception of Winning Spirit Awards for attracting a younger demographic, and back-to-back Star Council awards for encouraging a “Winning Spirit” of Charity, Unity Fraternity & Patriotism for the first time.
“While strengthening our Council, we also took the opportunity to support and cooperate with our cherished Parish Ministries in a much more familiar and ultimately effective way,” he explained when asked how his accomplishments have helped others.
So now as a past Grand Knight, what is Sir Knight Napolitano looking forward to for the Council? “ More of what we started,” he smiles without hesitation.
But he’s quick to add, confidently, “ There is always so much more to be done, but Ian and Kevin (McKenna, the deputy Grand Knight) have pledged themselves to the continuity of our initiatives while making their own additional inroads and innovations. I know that’s going to happen.”
