By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
August 14, 2003

CARROLL - The Knights of Columbus Charles Carroll Council #780 will celebrate their 100th anniversary with a celebration on Aug. 16.

Aug. 16, 1903 was the date that the council began in Carroll. The parishes that combined into Holy Spirit started when the Knights council in the Carroll area. Several ethnic churches came together to become one.

The anniversary festivities will begin at Holy Spirit Church with Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo celebrating Mass at 4:30 p.m. The fourth degree Knights have been asked to attend the gathering in their full regalia.

Following Mass, the Knights will sponsor "Fun for the Family" for all those in attendance. There will be grilled hamburgers and brats, pie and ice cream, a beer garden, silent auction, quilt raffle and numerous games for children, including BINGO.

The event will take place in the parish parking lot adjacent to the church. People are invited to celebrate 100 years of faith, family and fraternity with the Knights.

"It has been the active and generous support of the members of the council," said the immediate Grand Knight Pat Eich about why the council has been in existence for 100 years. "The active support of the Catholic schools in the community has been a unifying force. The blessings of God would be the first one."

Over the years, the Knights have done many things for their parishes, schools and communities. The Carroll Council is made up of several different towns and parishes including: St. Lawrence and Holy Spirit in Carroll, St. Mary's in Willey, Holy Angels in Rosell, St. Augustine in Halbur, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Mount Carmel, St. John's in Arcadia, St. Francis in Maple River and St. Bernard's in Breda.

Council #780 supports several different causes, fundraisers and groups including: donating money to Birthright, participating in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk, providing breakfasts and fundraisers for Kuemper Catholic Schools, helping with sand box day (providing sand for sand boxes around the community), raising funds for a scholarship program, participating in a phone-a-thon raising funds for handicapped people, having a spelling bee and free throw contest for children in the communities, preparing omelet breakfasts as fundraisers, and starting the Rosary Foundation.

"We try to do work for the disadvantaged," said Eich. "Another part of what we do is educating youth and seminarians."

The funds that are raised through different things that the Knights plan and prepare is donated to Birthright, Kuemper Catholic Schools, New Hope Village, Camp Sunnyside and the Special Olympics.

The Knights Council in Carroll provides many services in their community and surrounding communities. The celebration on Aug. 16 will give people a chance to join together with the Knights to commemorate 100 years of being a helping and giving organization.