2023 archive

The officers elected for the 2023-2024 Fraternal Year were installed on Saturday, June 17. The positions are effective July 1.

Incoming Grand Knight Pete Falcone gave special recognition to the inaugural Knights who started our Council seven years ago. He also praised the former Grand Knights, especially the phenomenal work Grand Knight Ken Gault has done over the past two years.

“With the rapid growth of our parish, Brother Ken was faced with the daunting task of accelerated Council growth, so much so, that we just received first place at the state convention for the second year in a row,” GK-Elect Pete said.

“But with that growth, now comes the responsibility of developing the delicate balancing act of getting all these new members involved and keeping older members active. We’re at a new, transitional stage, but we can’t forget what got us here. When you think that we’ve only been in existence for 7 years, it is amazing how much we have accomplished, how much money we are able to raise, and how many organizations and individuals we help each year, and what we can do in the future.”

Knights presented $35,000 from our Golf Tournament proceeds for SJPII Capital Campaign.

On Monday February 20, 2023 Grand Knight Ken presented a $4,000.00 check to Father Pagano for our annual in budget General Purpose Fund Contribution.

Brother Knights Joe Cruz, left, and Mark Van Engelen, right, presented roses and rosaries to the mothers
and fathers at the Feb. 19 Baptisms.
Council 16492 continues to take part in this meaningful and emotional tribute to Mothers and their
babies. At each Baptism, we present white roses to the mothers indicating purity, and rosaries,
purchased from the SJPII Rosary Ministry, to the fathers stressing the importance of everyday prayers in
their families’ lives. We also assist the SJPII Moms’ Ministry by handing out gifts from them to the
mothers. Baptisms will resume after Easter and anyone who would like to help can contact Deputy
Grand Knight Pete Falcone.

The Council 16492’s $3,000 check to Ascension St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Unit will support health and lifestyle improvements for those in need throughout northern St. Johns and southern Duvall counties.

From left to right are: Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation’s Jennifer Stockman, Development Director; Pete Falcone, Deputy Grand Knight; Mary Anne Thomas, Development Director: Cory Darling, Ascension St. Vincent’s South Hospital Administrator; Mobile Health Unit Staff/drivers Bill Remley and Kim Forth; and Sir Knight Mike Spigelmire.

The Catholic Charities Food Pantry received a $3,000 check to support their program to help Senior Citizens in need of food and care. In conjunction with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the program is aimed at making sure no needy senior citizens are left unattended or go without a meal.

Tara Provini, Regional Director of the St. Augustine Regional Office, accepts the check from Deputy Grand Knight Pete Falcone

A check for $3,000 was presented to Judith Dembowski, Executive Director of Port in the Storm by Joe Pitisci, Council 16492’s Community Faith in Action programs director, right, and Pete Falcone, Deputy Grand Knight. The supplemental funding will add to the Port in the Storm’s mission of assuring homeless young people in St. John’s County have a place to stay and are provided with skills to improve their lives.

Habitat for Humanity donation of $3000 was presented in person to Malinda Everson, Executive Director, on Jan 27th.

We also visited one of the developments that is nearing completion. Habitat for Humanity is formed in a community as a Christian ministry that not only builds homes for those in need, but also transforms communities.