Knights of Columbus Fr. Ryan Council 2737 in Daphne was awarded the distinction of Star Council, the international organization’s top honor for local councils.

The Star Council Award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of growing membership, promoting Knights of Columbus insurance benefits, sponsoring Catholic faith formation programs, and volunteering time through service-oriented activities.

The Knights of Columbus Programs include Faith, Family, Community and Life. Locally, in the past year, Council 2737 has donated both financially, and through service hours, to their Parish and community.

One of the Council's strong suits is feeding the hungry, from hundreds of hours volunteered at the Prodisee Pantry in Spanish Fort to cooking and serving the community with fish fry’s, chicken BBQs, monthly breakfast after the Sunday Masses, Thanksgiving meal to intellectually challenged individuals, and our now famous Jambalaya. They have also donated funds for two Ultrasound machines within the State, one of which is being used in Baldwin County to introduce women with unplanned pregnancies to their pre-born infants. Contributions to our Faith community include hundreds of hours as Guardians in the Parish’s Perpetual Adoration Chapel, serving as lectors, readers, and Eucharistic Ministers at masses, leading the Rosary before Sunday Masses, and Council members praying the rosary together prior to our monthly meetings.

In the past few years, the Council has also become actively engaged with students at Christ the King Catholic School, which included sponsoring monthly Students of the Month Awards, organizing a KOC Free Throw Contest and Soccer Challenge, as well as chaperoning “Guys Night” for the Life Teen Group.

Past Grand Knight Marty Felsman attributes the success of the Council to the participation and willingness of “these Catholic men we call Knights” to give of their time and talents, just as Jesus said to “love one another as I have loved you.”

Felsman says, “Our Council has been active at Christ the King Parish for almost 90 years. During that time, we have seen a lot of good men come and go, which is why our Recruiting Program is so important. We need more young men to consider joining the Order to continue our good works. The caveat to that is that a man’s family always comes first; therefore, we will take whatever time a member can spare after that. Being a Brother Knight is something you will not regret and always cherish.”