SO AS NOT TO OMIT ANYONE
by Joe Adoue

In the early 1970's my three daughters were attending St. Dominic School. I met Oliver Long at most of the functions and we talked about the Men's Club summer softball league where two of my girls were playing and the other one was coaching. Oliver thought that I should also be coaching, and with his persuasion I became a coach. After coaching for a couple of memorable years one night during the off season I received a visit from Fr. Conley and Bud Corcoran who wanted me to run the Men's Club summer league the next year. If you know Fr. Conley you know no one tells him NO!

At the end of the league we always had a coaches' appreciation party. Marcel Farnet was one of the league coaches and he asked that we have the party at the St. Dominic Knights of Columbus Hall, and of course a call from A.J. Occhipinti, the Grand Knight offering the use of the home at no cost clinched the deal. At the party most of the KC members in attendance had "form 100's" and told those of us not Knights that the benefits and camaraderie were outstanding. That night I decided to become a Knight, the next week went through the First Degree at Charles Carroll council, and the following week the Third Degree at the De La Salle council.

At the first meeting I was assigned to the Church Activity Director and started working in the kitchen on the breakfast committee. The next year Marcel Farnet became Grand Knight and asked me to become his Church Activity Director. We finished first in the state in church activities, received a little trophy and I was hooked on the Knights.

Three years later, after serving on numerous committees, as the Chancellor and as Deputy Grand Knight, I was elected Grand Knight. It was the year of our 25^th anniversary and we dedicated the year to celebrating. We started the year by borrowing $2000 from KNOCO. (As you know most of the council dues are paid in January and spent prior to the July installation of new officers.)

Our first party was the Installation with our own District Deputy Carol Poche administering the Installation Oath. Past State Deputy Billy Guste was the Guest Speaker. Our Silver Anniversary Dance was held at the Heritage with a breakfast following. All Past Grand Knights and charter members in attendance were introduced during the intermission. Because it was our 25th anniversary at one of our regular meetings we had a surprise visit from our State Deputy, Robert Gremillion.

The 96th Supreme convention was held in New Orleans with many of our council members in attendance. We held our 25th anniversary Memorial Mass and communion and full breakfast ending with a group picture in front of our council home. Also, we celebrated with a cocktail party with many PGK's and charter members present.

Another one of our big activities was the bus trip to the state convention where the council received perfect scores in membership and council and church activities. Following my year as Grand Knight, the next 3 years I served as District Deputy with the state officers installations, meetings and assisting the 3 councils with their service programs. I attended the meetings and functions of all three councils. It was time- consuming but worth it when at the state convention banquets my wife and I were introduced and stepped out seeing 40 or 50 St. Dominic members and wives sitting together applauding. Our council always had the most representation at the convention with socializing in the hospitality room lasting well into the night.  

Now, after more years than I want to count, I find I am an Honorary Life Member celebrating 50 years of council activities.

I purposely omitted mentioning names of the many great people that contributed to my years as a Knight so as not to omit anyone. P.S. We repaid KNOCO their $2000 loan.

Like Family
by John Donahue

I can't miss a meeting. Missing a meeting would be like not seeing my own family. I am so glad Richie Schaefer brought me in almost twenty years ago now. There is no place I would really rather be. In my opinion, it's one of the great things about living in Lakeview, St. Dominic Council #3729.

A WONDERFUL AND HEARTWARMING FEELING
by Jeanne Barré

I am writing this in memory of my husband PGK Paul B. Barré. Paul joined the Knights of Columbus in 1942 when he was 18 years old. He joined St. Anthony Council in Bunkie, Louisiana, where he was raised. In 1965 after the war and many moves we moved back home (my home), New Orleans, and Paul transferred to St. Dominic Council and I transferred to the Auxiliary from Our Lady of Fatima Council and Auxiliary, where I was a charter member since 1962, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Paul was Grand Knight of St. Dominic Council in 1976-77.

I was Auxiliary President 1974-76, 1978-80, 1986-88, 1990-92, and 1994-95.
Paul became editor of The Challenger during Linden Hebert's term as GK in 1983-84
and I was his typist and assistant. We did The Challenger every year until Paul's death in 1991 and I have been doing it since then. During our years with St. Dominic Council and Auxiliary we have gone by the bus loads to the state conventions where we had a hospitality room every year. We have had womanless weddings, a womanless ball, Mardi Gras dances, New Year's Eve celebrations, Valentine celebrations where we crowned a king and queen of hearts, weekly bingos, bunco parties, Christmas parties, retreats, monthly Masses, days of recollections during Lent, and many other functions. We have made many dear and lasting friendships and basked in the family atmosphere of St. Dominic members all these years.

Being a widow it has been a great comfort to be aided and supported by the members of St. Dominic Council and the Knights of Columbus. It is a very wonderful and heartwarming feeling to know that even though my husband is no longer alive, I am still welcome and embraced into the family. Many are the times the Knights have been my salvation and from the bottom of my heart I thank God for them and their compassion.
 

Twice Grand Night
by Dan Barrett~Charter Member

Shortly after graduating from Loyola University in 1938 I was inducted into the Knights of Columbus in Archbishop Blenk Council # 1904 and received all three degrees the same day. I held several offices in that council and in 1942 became a 4th degree member. After World War II and having moved to Lakeview I transferred to St. Dominic Council as a charter member.  When my children were in school, I withdrew. But since I was reinstated, I have held several offices including Grand Knight twice.  Every Catholic man over eighteen years of age should join the Knights.  Its religious and social activities provide education and fun for the whole family.  Join and be active.

All The Time
by Joe Breaux

I'm here all the time.  I dance, I cook. I never want t o leave.  I have mad good friends here over the past twenty or so years.  I love it, the Knights of Columbus.

My One Great Recollection
by George C . Connolly, Jr.

My one great recollection of our council was my sponsorship into the council by our dear friend Carrol Van Geffen, PGK , and his contribution and leadership in the establishment of our council home and KNOCO, Inc.

Meeting Dozens of People
by Anthony V. Cuccia

My experiences with the Knights of Columbus have been very positive over the past 19 years.

I was asked to join by the late Richard Schaefer one day while walking in to St. Dominic Church in early 1984.  I went through my first, second and third degrees all in 1984 at St. Dominic Council home and have had the privilege of serving in various capacities at both the council and state levels.

Being a part of the K of C has given me the opportunity to meet dozens of people from all walks of life and has broadened my understanding of the world around me.  It has given me opportunities for service that I normally would have missed had I not joined and has given me the chance to make friendships that I would otherwise have missed out on.

I hope to continue being able to be a part of Council 3729 for many years into the future and contribute to the experience we call Columbianism.  If I have on regret it is that I did not join sooner.  And if I'm still around in 2053 I hope to be a part of our 100th anniversary celebration!

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  The Flag Pole
by Marcel Farnet 

One of my favorite memories that our Council has accomplished was the flag pole project. In the meeting of August 1980, it was suggested that our council, since we are a patriotic organization, needs a flag pole on our building to display our American flag.

Brother Ellis Laborde volunteered to get information and find a suitable location for a flag pole. Brother Ellis Laborde had served as general manager of City Park from 1950 until 1979, almost 30 years, and was glad to take on this project. At the next meeting he described the present location on the Harrison Avenue neutral ground as an ideal spot.

The concrete pedestal, the 65 foot aluminum pole it is set into was built by
Brother Freddie Yoder who supervised the digging of the 6 foot hole for an 8 foot square slab the pedestal is sitting upon. A dedication ceremony was held August 28,1982. The Grand Knight was Raoul Potier and the president of Knoco was Coral Poche. The financing for this undertaking was done by our council, ladies auxiliary and led by Brother Laborde, by the community. The total raised was almost $15,000.00. The work of installation was done by the membership with the help of a 75 foot crane.

Most of the flags have been donated in memory of a loved one. A new flag is hoisted every 6 months. This has always been a great experience for me to work with such a good group of Catholic men, my brother Knights.

From my perspective, some high spots in the life of our council were the following:

...and so many more.
 

Good Times and Good Work
by Mrs. William H. Dooley, Sr. (Camille)

I am happy to write a piece about the Knights and Ladies of the St. Dominic Council and Auxiliary. It is always so pleasant to recall happy times with good people. My husband, William H. Dooley, Sr. joined the Council in the early 1970's. I believe Paul Barre' was then Grand Knight. They formed a wonderful friendship, and Bill enjoyed his friendship with many Knights, and later became Grand Knight.

I joined the Ladies' Auxiliary. I realized he was having such good times that I wanted to be included in the good work of the Auxiliary and the many activities. I have such great memories of dinners, bus trips to the conventions, installations, and of just enjoying the company of Ladies and Knights over the years. I am now serving as President of the Auxiliary for the third time.

This has only been possible because there was always great assistance from the Ladies and Knights and warm friendship. I commend the Grand Knights for their dedication to making the Council such a good Catholic organization. I pray that God will bless those Knights and Ladies who have gone to God and those who are with us doing His work.  Love & Prayers.

"Those Damn Catholics"
by Ann and Jim Farrelly

The Knights of Columbus was a wonderful part of our lives before any church or
social group we may have belonged to. Our five children (now allover 40) will attest to the fact that this was a memorable time in our lives. With daddy in the Knights of Columbus we would go on "road trips" to watch the champion softball team play and literally fill the hotel swimming pool with kids. Someone referred to us as "those damn Catholics". Well, I am proud to say we were one of the "those damn Catholics" and we are grateful to the Knights of Columbus for such fun memories.

 

You Bet I Am. 100% !
by  P. Linden Hebert

Congratulations on our 50th Anniversary of St. Dominic Council #3729.
I've been a KC member since June 20,1951...53 years! I am now an Honorary Member. Installed in Marquette Council # 1417 and transferred to St. Dominic Council on May 21,1958 when I moved to Lakeview. I was installed as Grand Knight on July 14, 1983. During my year as Grand Knight we won 4 out of 5 State Awards! I had a "great team" with members such as John Pippenger, Joe Giarrusso, Richard Schafer. We had twenty-two members installed in ONE ceremony. Wade Wright (PGK) was my Deputy Grand Knight, and many others helped me.
Some benefits I received.. .most importantly an increase in my Catholic Faith, e.g. 30 years at Manresa; friends I've made.. .loyal, helpful, just GOOD Catholic men and their wives; best life insurance in the U.S., and so many other benefits... too many to list here.

Am I glad I joined the KC's? You bet I am. 100%!

A Profound Impact on Religious Fervor 
by Marion B. Legett (Mrs. Jack Leggett)

Jack was the youngest of nine children and the product of a highly moral, good Christian family; however, there was no money for Catholic education even though it was relatively inexpensive back then.

Jack and I met at LSU and in 1942 were married at St. Leo the Great Church. I hope that through my Catholicity Jack gleaned a good bit about the Faith.
He also learned a lot from some of his Catholic men friends, in particular Carroll Van Geffen. It was he who got Jack interested in and encouraged him to join the KC's. Jack was inducted as Grand Knight in 1958.

Being a member of the Knights of Columbus certainly enhanced his knowledge of and practice of his Catholic Faith. Through his KC membership he became close friends of many of the Dominican priests who were assigned here at St. Dominic Parish during those years.

Jack's awareness of his KC duties and responsibilities certainly heightened and increased his Catholic involvement. In my opinion, his being a Knight of Columbus had a profound impact on his religious fervor.
 

Pro-Life Statue
by Harold J. Lamy
 

For over ten years St. Dominic Council studied and debated the erection of a pro- life monument. Funds were collected over time-in a modest fashion. Fellow knight, Chester Reith, now deceased, was the prime mover of keeping the project alive. Several diagrams and in one case an architectural drawing, were studied. The location of the monument was a hotly discussed topic. Should it be erected in front of the Christopher Room, in front of the church, on the boulevard?

All of these sites presented problems. The location in front of the KC hall would not be visible enough. The pastor did not want to use the small vacant land in front of the church for the monument especially if the design was to be a tomb marker. Use of the median area of the boulevard required a permit and had political considerations. Finally, PGK Joe Nesser suggested a look be taken at the pro-life statue erected by the De La Salle Council in front of St. Stephen Church.

PGK Donald Sauviac designated PGK Harold Lamy to investigate. A picture of the statue was taken and shown to St. Dominic pastor, Fr. Neal McDermott. He heartily approved of the design. The supplier of the statue was found in Houston, Texas. Funds were raised to reach the $3,500 price. The statue is a white, endearing fiberglass figure of our Blessed Mother holding a small child. It symbolizes Our Lady of Good Counsel but perfectly fit our pro-life theme. Don Sauviac and Harold Lamy purchased a marble base for the statue from council funds. A walled garden site in the school yard was selected and approved by the pastor.

St. Dominic Parish paid for the erection. PGK Rolla Schwartz suggested the name for the statue; "Our Lady of Life". The approval was unanimous. A worker from Lake Lawn Cemeteries erected a commemorative marble plaque on the brick wall of the garden which reads: "Our Lady of Life 2001 Anno Domini St. Dominic Council Knights of Columbus." The pro-life monument was formally dedicated at long last on May 5, 2001. The monument is viewed daily by school children and parents, by the public at church and school functions and fairs, and by a steady flow of visitors. St. Dominic students affectionately refer to the statue as "Mother Mary". May crownings, special prayer services, and daily devotions found Our Lady's head affectionately adorned with festive flowers.
 

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What Really Matters
by Vincent B. Liberto

Since the earliest days of my childhood I have seen the Knights of Columbus insignia and always wondered about it. My father was a Past Grand Knight of Ludovicum Council #4663 and he believed in, loved, and lived out everything for which our order stands. If you came to my home and you were a Knight, that was it. You were part of the family.

"Family" is a word that is a fine starting point for writing a few lines about St. Dominic Council #3729 in particular. If one comes within our council chamber for even a short time, it is not difficult to pick up on a certain and definite familial atmosphere. There is something special going on here.

When I was a single man I moved out to Lakeview and I had the best neighbor I ever had, probably the best neighbor I ever will have, in Gus Manthey. One day he was outside working on his lawn and sporting his KC cap with the insignia.

I asked Gus about the Knights because I knew and considered myself a longtime friend of Paul Van Geffen and I knew Paul was a member. Before I knew it Gus became my proposer and I took my First Degree alongside of Fr. Mark Raphael who at that time was a seminarian at Notre Dame Seminary.

Since my entrance day there have been times when I have been more active than others in the life of the council. But what I have learned about one of the great benefits of membership in the Knights of Columbus is that what really matters is not how much you do-how many projects you take on or whatever. What does matter is who you are, that you ARE a Knight, and that in your daily life wherever you are, you adhere to the principles of a Catholic-Christian man in service to others, for the greater glory of God.

Nowhere else can a man and his family find the type of bond found within the ranks of our order. Nowhere else but in the Knights of Columbus, because of its wide variety of activities, can a man and his family live out more fully Christ's command to - serve others, to pray and to be intimate with God.

We are Knights of Columbus and our families are Columbian families. We are committed to the same principles and right away we can meet a brother Knight from the other side of the world and we know that we share a bond, regardless of any other differences.

I am blessed to have had the father and family I had. I am blessed to have had Gus Manthey and his family as my neighbor, and I am blessed that I am a member of this council, St. Dominic #3729.

What a family!


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Activity in (and out of) New Orleans
by Gus Manthey

In 1974, A.J. Occhipinti, PGK, sponsored my membership in our Council #3729. and was primarily responsible for the council winning a tie for first place in Louisiana along with the Patterson Council. A bus load of members and wives traveled to Patterson to conce1ebrate this achievement and a good time was enjoyed by all.

During another year, another bus load of members and wives traveled to Shreveport to participate in the annual state convention. Along with several activities, some of us attended Mass held in the motel room.

Including other candidates I attended Mass at St. Anthony Church in Gretna and then marched on Franklin Street to the KC council home for second and third degrees. This initiation was very impressive and made me proud to be a member of the Knights of Columbus.

In another state-wide function our son and a members of our council, Martin Manthey, entered the tennis tournament and won the singles championship in Morgan City. Later, Martin also won the championship in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. This was a highlight in the Manthey family.

Peter Compagno, PGK, organized the Champagne Brunch in order to raise funds to finance the Christmas dinner at the Ozanam Inn. On Christmas Day Peter would have as many as twenty members and Wives meet at the council home, travel to Ozanam Inn and assist in serving meal to approximately 300 homeless men and women. Since Peter's death, this program of having an annual brunch and Christmas dinner has continued each year until present.

Another worthwhile activity, "Shaking the Can", formerly at the intersection of Veterans Boulevard and West End Boulevard, and lately at Dorignac's and Lakeview Fine Food Stores is to raise money for the benefit of special children. In turn, a substantial check is given to St. Michael Special School each year.

Finally, while attending a party at our council home, we were celebrating my birthday, and it happened to be the same birthday, same year, August 15, 1918 (Feast of the Assumption) in New Orleans, as Joe Williams, another member. We subsequently became good friends hosting our birthdays together the following years.

Last year, my Wife Jeanne and I stopped at LaGrange, Georgia for dinner unwittingly leaving the car headlights on. While in the restaurant the management called out that a C. V. Ford With a Louisiana Knights of Columbus license plate had lights on. When I went out to turn off the lights a man mentioned to me that he was a KC member and he felt obliged to return to the restaurant to report the burning lights.