KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS JAMAICA COUNCIL 337
WHEN I JOINED THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney. The Headquarters of the K of C is in New Haven, Connecticut. The highest ranking is the Supreme Knight, who has an office in New Haven. The office is the Supreme Council. Next to Supreme Council is the State Council of the different States. The highest ranking in State Council is the State Deputy. Next to State Deputy are the Conferences, Chapters, District Deputies and so on. The lowest office is the Council. The highest ranking at the council is the Grand Knight. In the Philippines, there are three State Deputies. The State Councils in the Philippines are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
My father was a member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 40 years in the Philippines. When he died on May 24, 1992, the K of C performed a serviced for my father’s funeral and it happens that I am already a member of the Knights of Columbus here in New York State. I met them all at the funeral of my father. The council of my father is 3695 but I forgot the name of his council.
Our Council, the Jamaica Council 337 was founded on May 1, 1898 in Queens, New York. The council has their own council house but was sold in the late 1980s because they can no longer maintain it and besides they were losing members. There were few or maybe five Filipinos who were members in the 80s. The council was almost dead when they sold the council house. After they sell the council house, they moved at St. Gerard Majella Church.
In September 1990, I was talking to Efren Madrinan, a Filipino and a member of the Jamaica Council. I told him, I wanted to join the K of C because my father is a member of the Knights in the Philippines. So, he gave me an application to join the Knights. On October 1, 1990, I joined them and took the First Degree. It was 15 days before my Birthday which is October 16. I also took my Second Degree on that month. On November 16, 1990, I took up my Third Degree. I was joined by two Filipinos who also took up their Third Degrees. They were Daniel de Castro and Amado Galvez. We were the First Filipinos who joined the Jamaica Council in the 1990s when the Council was losing members and about to die. After we joined the Knights there were more Filipinos joined the council. Now the council is alive with more Filipino members. I sponsored some Filipino members to our council. Since then, Filipinos are joining our council. Filipinos are the majority members who attend meetings and social activities in our council. There will come a time that the Filipinos will become the majority members of the Jamaica Council. Now, our council is alive and is now at St. Gerard Majella Roman Catholic Church, Queens, New York.
In 1994, I joined the 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus. The 4th Degree is called the Assembly. The name of our Assembly is John Barry Assembly 712. I was joined by Paul Herrera, Ariel de Guzman, Franklin Estrada and Inocencio Canuto. We were the first Filipinos from Jamaica Council who joined the 4th Degree.
Our council doesn’t have a member who becomes State Deputy, the highest ranking in New York State Council but we have a member who became Governor of New York. Mario Coumo is our Honorary Life Member. He was the Governor of New York.
MY COUNCIL MESSAGE
I am very greatful to all my Brother Knights at Jamaica Council who always gather for our meetings, church participations and social activities. I really appreciate your determination, motivation and sacrifices you are giving to our council today. You have demonstrated beyond doubt of caring as we gather together as Brother Knights.
When I joined the Knights of Columbus, I took my First Degree at St. Anne Council, Queens, New York. The people who were on my first degree where different from today’s congregation but joy is the same, the care is the same, and friendship is equally the same. As a member of the Jamaica Council I feel at home wherever my Brother Knights are present.
Many things happened since I joined the Knights in 1990 for which I have to thank my Brother Knights today. There are times of great confidence and trust, as well as low moments of doubt and insecurity. But through all these changing experiences, I find I have been carried onward, for it is only through the grace of God, that we are not lost in the zero gravity space of our council happiness and joys, nor crushed by the burdens of our fears and adversities.
Therefore the grace of God is made concrete in your support which I have received unconditionally from our great council, my brother knights and my family. I thank everyone from my heart. Thank all those who are working so hard to our council. May God bless us all.
Fraternally yours,
Ray “Boy” Duque Jr. III
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