Knights of Columbus hosts installation ceremonies
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The men of Knights of Columbus Council 10208 hosted the First, Second and Third Degree levels of membership within a Council Sept. 22 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.
Each Degree has its own installation ceremony at which the core principle of the Degree is conferred upon the candidate seeking advancement, a news release said.
The First Degree is the Exemplification and the core principle is Charity. The Second Degree is the Admission and the core principle is Unity. The Third Degree is the Formation and the core principle is Fraternity.
A total of 20 men from Little Rock, Monticello, Charleston, Marche, Hot Springs and Hot Springs Village completed these milestones, including six from the host Council.
“Of special note, and a first for the state of Arkansas, 10 of the 20 men completing these milestones were Seminarians from the House of Formation in Little Rock. Each of these men is at varying stages on their long path to reaching their goal of becoming a Catholic Priest and serving the laity in Arkansas,” the release said.
Six men went through the First Degree Exemplification. These were Quinn Thomas, Blessed Sacrament Jonesboro; Hong Nguyen, St. Andrew Cathedral Church; Duwan Booker, St. Joseph Church, Conway; Joel Brackett, Rogers, St. Vincent de Paul; Samuel Stengel, St. Joseph Paris; and Jonathan Semmler, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.
They then joined their 10 brother Knights to complete and celebrate the Second Degree Admission and Third Degree Formation. These were Pablo Qunitana, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Magnolia; Cody Eveid, Sacred Heart, Charlesk; Joseph Jones, Cathedral of St. Andrew, Conway; Tuan Khac Anh Do, Saint Patrick Parish; Jack Wilson, Council 10208; John D. Weidert, Council 10208; Gilbert Duran, Council 10208; Fred Gemme, Council 10208; Greg Hilbert, Council 10208; John Sagan, Council 10208; Ron King, Hot Springs; Ron Reed, Hot Springs; Ray Ruble, Monticello; and Benjamin Bapts, Monticello.
In 2018, the men of Hot Springs Village Council 10208 contributed over 40,000 volunteer hours and raised over $159,595 to support local charities and organizations.