Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knights of Columbus Father Joseph D. Gallagher Council #3673 began planning to help continue the vital operations of Holy Trinity Parish. The council created a Contactless Collection program where Brother Knights would stand guard for the Exposition of the Holy Eucharist during open Church hours when no public Masses were permitted to take place in Pennsylvania. Included in the Contactless Collection program, Brother Knights prayed during open Church hours, collected canned goods and non-perishable food items to support the Holy Trinity Food Pantry, and solicited donations to continue the vital operations of Holy Trinity Parish. Additionally, the Knights of Columbus live-streamed a Holy Hour on Facebook live where Parishioners and friends were invited to say a rosary to support life activities. For 11 weeks, from March through May, the Knights of Columbus were a weekly fixture helping to lead the Parish through these uncharted times.

In late May, the State of Pennsylvania announced that Bucks County would move into the yellow phase, allowing for the resumption of in-person Masses. The Council immediately helped plan for the Parish reopening. The Council, in consultation with the Parish Pastor and Council Chaplain Monsignor John C. Eckert, began to review the Archdiocese of Philadelphia guidelines for the safe reopening of Parishes for in-person Masses. The Council prepared a set of guidelines consistent with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, and provided the guidelines to Parishioners through the Parish email system and social media. The council created a set of Frequently Asked Questions to better assist Parishioners in preparation for returning to in-person Masse Knights with Bishop McIntyre.

In addition to helping to create the guidelines, the Knights of Columbus were charged with implementing the guidelines at all Masses. Brother Knights have volunteered their time since the first weekend in June, at all four (4) weekend Masses offered by the Parish to greet Parishioners, provide a headcount as to not exceed capacity, to ensure appropriate social distancing within all of the pews, to facilitate the lines to receive Holy Communion, and to usher Parishioners to use appropriate exits while maintaining safe social distancing. Once the Church is empty following Mass, the Knights of Columbus sanitize the Church.

In mid-June, the State of Pennsylvania moved Bucks County into the green phase, which modified some of the State implemented restrictions, while at the same time Monsignor Eckert had successful knee replacement surgery. The Knights of Columbus participated in Archdiocesan conference calls to review the guidelines for in-person Masses during the green phase in Pennsylvania. While visiting priests filled in for a recovering Monsignor Eckert, including Bishop John J. McIntyre, the Knights of Columbus continue to stand guard and implement the Parish guidelines to ensure a safe in-person Mass.

During these times of great uncertainty, the one constant through the Parish has been the presence of the Knights of Columbus. Through mid-July, Council #3673 has volunteered in excess of 250 hours standing guard in Church during the Contactless Collection program and for the resumption of in-person Masses. Through the assistance of the Knights of Columbus, there has been a steady increase in Parishioner attendance over the weeks during the resumption of in-person Masses.

The Knights of Columbus stand symbolically during Mass as a beacon of light to guide the Parish through the dark times our world currently faces. The Knights of Columbus continue to review and implement the Parish guidelines to ensure all Parishioners are safe during the celebration of in-person Mass. Council #3673 will continue to be present during Masses and ensure all Parishioners and visitors are safe at Holy Trinity Parish.

The Knights of Columbus Father Joseph D. Gallagher Council #3673 continues to provide support to Holy Trinity Parish during the COVID-19 pandemic. The council has continued to serve as greeters, ushers, and sanitizers of the Church during Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses. In addition to these Masses, the Knights of Columbus have also served this role for Parish Sacramentals. The Knights were on hand to greet, usher, and sanitize the Church for the PREP and Holy Trinity School students receiving their First Holy Communion in October. The Knights also facilitated family pictures in front of the altar, allowing families to have a memory of the day with their children in a safe and socially distant manner. 

Fr. Joseph D. Gallagher Council #3673 Raises Awareness of the Sacrament of Reconciliation During Lent 

The Knights of Columbus, Father Joseph D. Gallagher Council #3673, of Holy Trinity Parish in Morrisville sought to raise awareness of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this Lenten season. In coordination with Parish Pastor and Council Chaplain, Monsignor John C. Eckert, the Council formed a committee to identify the best ways to raise awareness of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  

The Council co-chairs, Brothers Thomas Wallin and Bradley Stanton worked with Grand Knight Joseph Pargola and Deputy Grand Knight James King to execute an awareness campaign on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The committee provided a letter to the Parishioners, which was inserted into the Mass bulletins the weekend prior to Ash Wednesday and were distributed to the families of Holy Trinity School. The letter informed Parishioners of their obligation to engage in the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once per year and encourage Parishioners during this Season of Lent to bring themselves closer to God and to clean their mind, heart, and soul. 

Also included in the letter were Frequently Asked Questions about the Sacrament and a copy of the Ten Commandments to help Parishioners make a better Examination of Conscience. Parishioners were also provided a listing of local parishes within the Diocese of Philadelphia and the neighboring Diocese of Trenton. The listing included contact information and the times Confessions were available in that Parish.  

Finally, the committee members delivered brief remarks at the end of all the weekend Masses prior to Ash Wednesday. Brother Knights were also stationed at the exits of church handing out the Knights of Columbus Guide to Confession Devotional Booklet (PDF  HTML) as a resource for Parishioners to use during Confession. 

This information and resources were also provided on the Council’s Facebook page so Parishioners are able to conveniently access the information. The Brothers of Council #3673 took a multi-faceted approach to address a need in both the Parish and greater Church community. It is the Council’s goal that during this Lenten Season, the Knights of Columbus demonstrate Faith in Action by providing needed resources and information to the Parish to help all Parishioners prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for Jesus’ Resurrection at Easter.
 

Knights of Columbus Guide to Confession