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COUNCIL #12159
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MEETING SCHEDULE & LOCATION
Council Business Meeting: Third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm
Council Officers Meeting: Second Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm
Meeting Location: Ryan Hall at Holy Family Catholic Church
For more information, visit our website.
Council Officers Meeting: Second Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm
Meeting Location: Ryan Hall at Holy Family Catholic Church
For more information, visit our website.
LEARN ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
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Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.
The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works. |
The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.
The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 15,100 councils and 1.9 million members throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Guatemala, Panama, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Guam, Saipan, the Philippines, and South Korea.
The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 15,100 councils and 1.9 million members throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Guatemala, Panama, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Guam, Saipan, the Philippines, and South Korea.
ABOUT OUR COUNCIL
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COUNCIL #12159 FR. OMER H. BRAUNER
A new council of the Knights of Columbus was formed at Holy Family Catholic Church in Port St Lucie, Florida, during February of 1998. Council #12159 was named in memory of Father Omer H. Brauner who was born in the mid-west on October 23, 1918, and was ordained to the priesthood on September 18, 1943, in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri. His ordination was rushed a little due to World War II and the great need for priests to fill in for the many chaplains who had left to be with the Armed Forces. Fr. Brauner's older brother Justin was also ordained to the priesthood. |
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Fr. Brauner was an Associate Priest for only three years when he was made the founding pastor of a new parish. Eventually, he started several mission parishes in various parts of southeast Missouri and in rural and suburban areas near St. Louis. He had to have a true pioneer spirit in those days as he traveled 150 miles round trip, getting up at five in the morning, celebrating Masses in four locations for small congregations. In those days one had to fast from midnight and could not even have a glass of water before celebrating Mass.
Fr. Brauner met his Bishop after several years of doing this, and the Bishop took compassion because of his long journeys and difficult fasts, and mentioned to him that he was going to give him a special dispensation: from now on he could have a cup of coffee before he set out on these long trips. Fr. Brauner expressed profound gratitude to the Bishop and said to him, “Thank you, Bishop, but I am two years ahead of you on that!”
He also encountered quite a bit of anti-Catholic bigotry in those early days. He ministered in small towns in the Bible-belt prairie country where Catholic families were in the minority and the Catholic faith was not always understood. He told a story of going into the town-square in the town where he was assigned and seeing a group of men playing a game of checkers; he went over to them to make conversation and they all got up and left. However, he gradually won them over with kindness and courtesy, and before he left town they were all playing “BINGO”.
Fr. Brauner was known as a man who showed great hospitality to priests who were going through transitions and difficulties. In a 15 year period he had over fifty priests passing through his rectory recovering from illness and taking sabbatical leave. We have all heard of the TV show, “Little House on the Prairie”; because of Father’s hospitality it can be said that he ran the “Big House on the Prairie”.
After almost 40 years of service to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Fr. Brauner retired to Port St. Lucie in 1984. After a period of time at St. Martin de Porres in Jensen Beach, he started to assist the newly formed parish of Holy Family since his home was within its boundaries.
Holy Family Parish was fortunate to have Fr. Brauner to share his ministry with them. In a very human way he was a real, kind, and considerate person who took the time to care about people. Parishioners enjoyed his funny stories, his wit, and great sense of humor, which he managed to keep all through the years.
He celebrated his Jubilee as a priest in September of 1993 and passed to his eternal reward with Christ on February 2, 1996, at 77 years of age.
Fr. Brauner met his Bishop after several years of doing this, and the Bishop took compassion because of his long journeys and difficult fasts, and mentioned to him that he was going to give him a special dispensation: from now on he could have a cup of coffee before he set out on these long trips. Fr. Brauner expressed profound gratitude to the Bishop and said to him, “Thank you, Bishop, but I am two years ahead of you on that!”
He also encountered quite a bit of anti-Catholic bigotry in those early days. He ministered in small towns in the Bible-belt prairie country where Catholic families were in the minority and the Catholic faith was not always understood. He told a story of going into the town-square in the town where he was assigned and seeing a group of men playing a game of checkers; he went over to them to make conversation and they all got up and left. However, he gradually won them over with kindness and courtesy, and before he left town they were all playing “BINGO”.
Fr. Brauner was known as a man who showed great hospitality to priests who were going through transitions and difficulties. In a 15 year period he had over fifty priests passing through his rectory recovering from illness and taking sabbatical leave. We have all heard of the TV show, “Little House on the Prairie”; because of Father’s hospitality it can be said that he ran the “Big House on the Prairie”.
After almost 40 years of service to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Fr. Brauner retired to Port St. Lucie in 1984. After a period of time at St. Martin de Porres in Jensen Beach, he started to assist the newly formed parish of Holy Family since his home was within its boundaries.
Holy Family Parish was fortunate to have Fr. Brauner to share his ministry with them. In a very human way he was a real, kind, and considerate person who took the time to care about people. Parishioners enjoyed his funny stories, his wit, and great sense of humor, which he managed to keep all through the years.
He celebrated his Jubilee as a priest in September of 1993 and passed to his eternal reward with Christ on February 2, 1996, at 77 years of age.
