Knights of Columbus make generous donation to seminarian mission fund

Thanks to a generous $20,000 donation from the Knights of Columbus Louisiana State Council, Saint Joseph Seminary College’s mission immersion program, which brings seminarians to live and work alongside an underprivileged community in Guatemala, has received the support that will continue to make these trips possible for years to come.

Each year, during their Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mardi Gras breaks, a group of seminarians from Saint Joseph travel to Esquipulas in eastern Guatemala to participate in a mission immersion program. During these trips, seminarians work with locals to build a community garden, work with the children in promoting education and religion, and engage with families by participating in home visits. The trips also help the seminarians get out of their comfort zone, expand horizons and develop and broaden leadership skills through experience.

“This donation is a testament to the impact our students are having not only locally, but across the globe. We are extremely grateful for the contributions from the Knights of Columbus councils all over the state. Our hope is that this gift will ensure that this will continue to be the highlight of the seminarians’ experience before graduating,” said Fr. Gregory Boquet, O.S.B., president-rector of the Seminary College, who also travels with the seminarians for each trip.

Earlier this year, the Knights of Columbus Louisiana State Council resumed a statewide raffle, where they reached out to local Knights of Columbus councils across the state to institute their own raffles to raise money for the program. Prizes for the raffle consisted of cash prizes, including $5,000 for first place. Some state Knights of Columbus councils even conducted other types of fundraisers and donated their proceeds to this fund as well.

“Our Louisiana State Council feels this program provides us just the opportunity to help support seminarians and help foster vocations. Even though our fundraiser was very successful this year, we are always looking for ways we could be even more successful next year,” said Seminarian Mission Fund Chairman Delmas Forbes Jr.

The Knights of Columbus was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

For more information, contact James Shields at jshields@sjasc.edu.