Knights of Columbus donate winter coats to kids
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Children in the Spanish-speaking community at St. Hedwig Catholic Church received new winter coats from the Knights of Columbus Manitoba, on Sunday afternoon.
The donation also marked the formation of a new Spanish Knights of Columbus council at the parish.
About 25 to 30 children attending catechism classes at the church received brand-new winter jackets, Pastor Philip Malayil told the Sun during the donation.
Cleo Castillo of Knights of Columbus Manitoba and St. Hedwig Catholic Church Pastor Philip Malayil join Mario Zelaya, who got a new winter coat, and his father, Mario, during the coat donation at St. Hedwig Catholic Church on Sunday afternoon. Children in the Spanish-speaking community at St. Hedwig Catholic Church received new winter coats from the Knights of Columbus Manitoba. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
He said the coat distribution reflects the charitable mission of the Knights of Columbus and comes at a meaningful moment for the parish.
“The coat donation is one example of how the organization lives out that mission locally,” he said.
“The group do charity like this, helping kids in the parish with winter jackets and other charitable works. All the children here today will be getting one jacket.”
Malayil said the parish started its new Spanish Knights of Columbus council over the weekend.
“For many of the Hispanic people, it is something new, because it’s not there in their country. After coming here, they learned about this movement in the Catholic Church and decided to become members.”
The coat donation aligns closely with the Knights’ founding mission of charity, Cleo Castillo of Knights of Columbus Manitoba told the Sun.
“We have around 45 to 50 jackets to give them,” he said. “It’s been a mission for the Knights of Columbus ever since Father McGivney was our founder. It’s just a new expression of how our mission is applied today.”
Many of the children receiving coats are newcomers to Canada, and Castillo said the initiative is also about welcoming families with dignity and compassion.
“They are very excited — not only the kids, even the parents,” he said. “We welcome them with dignity and compassion.”
Parish member Alberto Godoy, who helped push for the creation of the Spanish council, said the event represents both charity and community-building.
“The motive is basically charity,” Godoy said. “The Knights of Columbus is about giving to the community and protecting children. This is just the first activity — there will be more focused on our community.”
The Knights of Columbus, founded by Father Michael McGivney in the United States, focuses on strengthening Catholic faith, supporting families and serving communities through charitable works.
The visit from Knights of Columbus members from Winnipeg also included initiation ceremonies for new members joining the Spanish council, a development that holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for many in the Hispanic community.
Castillo said efforts to establish a Spanish-speaking council at St. Hedwig had been in progress for several years.
“We found out that there’s a lot of Spanish Catholics here, and we thought about forming a Spanish council so they can be in one place and help each other,” Castillo said. “Finally, it’s here.”
Approximately 25 to 30 men joined the organization during the ceremony, with families invited to take part in the celebration.
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