Baskets will be located at both Sacred Heart and St. John’s church for food collection. Food donations will be collected and delivered to The Open Door Pantry for those in need on Cape Ann.
Past Grand Knight Tom Finn presented the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council Certificate to Arthur Sheehan.
Hugh Gaffney’s Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Builds Way of the Cross for Saints Academy
Stations Formerly Housed in St. Alphonsus, Beverly Repurposed for Outdoor Prayer and Meditation
Beverly Farms Life Scout Hugh Gaffney, Jr., son of Karen and Hugh Gaffney, Sr. chose an ambitious Eagle Scout project that will benefit his school, the new Saints Academy, his hometown faith community of the Beverly Catholic Collaborative and his neighbors who were formerly parishioners of Saint Alphonsus, Elliot St. Beverly, a Catholic church closed more than 12 years ago.
Life Scout Gaffney initially conceived of the project after former Beverly Catholic Collaborative pastor Mark Mahoney mentioned that the new Saints Academy lacked a Way of the Cross for students’ prayer and contemplation and thought an outdoor Stations of the Cross with the images visible and protected from the elements of the weather would be ideal for the school. Father Mahoney told Hugh that a set of Stations were available that had special significance for Beverly residents. For more than 35 years they adorned the walls of the former St. Alphonsus Church. Inquiries within the Beverly Collaborative indicated the beautiful bas relief Stations could be used for Hugh’s Eagle service project with Father Mahoney’s blessing.
To get the project from the idea stage to construction required planning, fundraising, and the assistance of several partners including Monsignor Deegan Council 75, Knights of Columbus Beverly and Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus Manchester-by the Sea. Gaffney knew that to adequately display the fourteen Stations, he needed fourteen wooden stanchions taller than seven feet with covered platforms to house the Stations, preservative stain to protect the Stations from the elements, funds to secure those materials and help to build the project. Necessary building materials and guidance for the project were secured from Moynihan Lumber, Beverly, Benevento Sand and Gravel, Beverly, and Waters and Brown Paint and Decorating, Beverly.
During the spring 2017 Life Scout Gaffney spoke to a number of community groups to inform them of the project and raise funds for its construction. Among those groups was Knights of Columbus Masconomo Council 1232 whose Past Grand Knight Tom Finn agreed to support the project financially and with the labor of the Council’s Brother Knights led by Doug Greenfield. Beverly Collaborative parishioners Jim Noonan, Donald Wood and Liam Wood also lent much needed assistance.
Tom Finn said, “This project was a natural for the Knights. It exemplifies the motto over the entrance to the former St Margaret’s School, Beverly Farms-“For God and Country”. Hugh’s project dusts off and resurrects to worship use, the Stations of the Cross familiar to St. Alphonsus parishioners. How could our Council not help Hugh?”
Current pastor of the Beverly Catholic Collaborative and superintendent of Saints Academy Father Karlo Horcurscak said, “Hugh Gaffney’s Eagle Scout project is a beautiful and fitting enhancement to the new Saints Academy campus adjacent to the Mary grotto. For all of his efforts to restore the Stations of the Cross to use, we are most grateful to Hugh, his fellow scouts and their families, as well as Hugh’s entire family.”
Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus 2017 scholarship recipients and their parents are shown with enlarged bank checks. Council Chaplain Father Paul Flammia and Grand Knight Tom Finn at St John the Evangelist Church Essex. Recipients with enlarged checks are (shown left to right): Jack Colpoy MERHS; Maddy Conway MERHS; Antonio Gillespie MERHS; Niamh Dalton, MERHS and Andrew McNamee, Landmark. Not shown is Spencer Feuerbach , who was participating in Pete’s Ride, the bike ride named for his dad, the late Peter Feuerbach.
Spencer Feuerbach is shown accepting his Father Jack Gentleman Scholarship award from Sacred Heart pastor Father Paul Flammia Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Tom Finn.
The Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus will build and sell an 8 X 12 shed. 100% of the proceeds will be used for humanitarian relief for Christian refugees.
Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus Receives Star Council Award for 2017
For the second consecutive year Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus Manchester by the-Sea, received the prestigious Star Council Award that recognizes outstanding achievement in church and community service programs and a vital membership enrollment program. It was awarded the coveted designation by the international Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, based in Washington DC. Only five percent of Massachusetts’ 280 Councils were so honored for their comprehensive program planning, participation and charitable giving.
The renewed vigor and spirit of Masconomo Council 1232 was recognized as a Star Council by the national Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus for its major step up in new membership recruiting year over year and its outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and service program activities. To be eligible to earn the Star Council Award, a council must qualify for the national Father McGivney, Founder’s, and Columbian awards.
Commenting on his council’s selection to receive the Star Council Award again, Grand Knight Tom Finn said, “ For more than 109 years brother Knights of Masconomo Council have exemplified the highest ideals of the founding principles of the Knights of Columbus: charity, fraternity, unity and patriotism. They have shown the way in advocating their Christian faith, supporting the Catholic Church, and improving their Cape Ann communities. On their behalf, it is a privilege to accept this award as it recognizes the Council as an active hub of charity, as well as church and community service.”
