Knights of Columbus form first Polish council in Canada
B.C. council 1 of 4 in North America

The close-knit Polish community of St. Casimir's Parish in Vancouver has a great love for Polish Pope John Paul II, so naming their new Knights of Columbus Council 14459 after him came naturally.

Special to The B.C. Catholic Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, addresses St. Casimir's parishioners.

Pope John Paul II Council is the first Polish council of the Knights in Canada, one of only four Polish councils in North America, and the only one named after the great Pope, who died April 2, 2005.

From the start of the papacy of John Paul II, the Knights organization worked closely with the Pope. He invited the Knights to start forming councils in Poland.

Guest of Honour at the Charter Presentation of the new council March 15 was Coadjutor Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, of Vancouver. About 150 people attended. He offered the Palm Sunday Mass with four other priests concelebrating. It was the first time the archbishop had visited St. Casimir's Parish.

Archbishop Miller's keynote address was about the life of Pope John Paul, and enlivened by his own experience of the Pope while he was working in Rome before being appointed to Vancouver.

State Deputy Dan O'Hara also gave a speech to the charter members and their families on the urgency of taking a strong stand against proposed brothels in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

St. Casimir's pastor, Father Jacek Nosowicz, OMI, was instrumental in forming the new council. Most of the parishioners had previously had no idea about the works and mission of the Knights of Columbus.

Before becoming a Charter Grand Knight, Wojtek Szuminski had approached District 3 Deputy Charles Paqueo about starting a Knights of Columbus council in his parish. After about two months an intensive recruitment drive started, with talks from the pulpit and talks by the District Deputy and the Membership Director.

The new members were extremely committed, wanting to advance to the Second and Third Degree before even receiving their charter.