Knights of Columbus Coral Gables Council # 3274 - CORAL GABLES KNIGHTS RAISE MORE THAN $5,000 FOR RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY

Luncheon draws Knights of Columbus leaders from State and Supreme offices and more than 100 attendees to hear from local Respect Life leaders and show continued support.

Coral Gables, FL – August 17, 2009 – Referring to discontinued Archdiocesan support for the Respect Life Office as an “opportunity to get out and educate others about the work we do,” Joan Crown who had been employed by the Archdiocese of Miami for the past 25 years and served as Respect Life Director for the past four, delivered a heart felt message about the wide range of life saving work that the ministry performs; from counseling pregnant teens and adults haunted by past abortions, and infirmed elderly and their families, “we deal with all the life issues.” She was followed by Kathy Weissinger, Program Coordinator for the Sunset Respect Life Ministry for the past seven years. Both spoke of the need for additional volunteers, in-kind donations of baby supplies, and monetary support. “We recently had a sonogram machine and an examination table donated, but we need a privacy screen, a large flat screen computer monitor and ultrasound techs that will volunteer their time,” explained Ms Weissinger, “I have never been comfortable speaking to large groups, but each time I have, the response has been beyond my expectations, so with the Lord’s help I have learned to overcome my fears.”

Ms Crown added, “As others learn of the work we are doing they have responded according to their means. The last few months have been an emotional roller coaster, but so many have responded with support; both South Floridians and Catholics from as far away as Pennsylvania. This experience has caused me to have an even deeper trust in the Lord and appreciation for the generosity of others…and I can’t say enough about the support we have gotten from the Knights of Columbus.” Kathy Weissinger remarked, “This [Knights of Columbus] Council has been so helpful, not only with monetary donations, but also by helping us build donated cribs and other items to make sure we had all the parts and then packaging everything so that we could give them to needy new mothers knowing that nothing was missing.” Event Chairmen, Waldo Toyos and Daniel Biggs, pointed out that the Coral Gables Council had been supportive of the Respect Life ministry for most of the past decade, “but our involvement went to another level when Kathy visited us and asked for our help. A number of our members and their wives have attending training programs and others are making monthly contributions through our Council to the local Respect Life Ministry.” Reverend Jordi Rivero, Spiritual Director of the Respect Life Ministry in the Archdiocese of Miami and the newly assigned pastor of St. Timothy Catholic Church, was also in attendance and during his remarks thanked the Knights for their service, asked for continued blessings on the Order and its members “and continued growth of their ranks.” Those wishing to make contributions in support of the Respect Life Ministries may do so by mailing a check made payable to “Knights of Columbus” with “Respect Life” in the memo line and mailing it to Knights of Columbus, 270 Catalonia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134. To view photos taken at the event by Phil Roche Photography please click here.