Knights of Columbus
Monsignor Charles A. Kelly, Jr. Council #14129
Webpage: http://saintmarysknights.org/
General Information
Knights of Columbus Council #14129 "Monsignor Charles A. Kelly, Jr." meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at St. Mary's Church. All degrees are welcome.
Family of the Month
The Knights of Columbus Family of the Month for December 2023 is the St. Mary’s Culinary Team.
This group of individuals work tirelessly for the Council each month so we have funds to support the Councils Charities. During this past month, this group of men had endless hours preparing for our Italian Night. Within a week that team created another Italian meal for St. Michaels Knights 30thAnniversary. Followed during that same week preparing the Soup to-Go for the Council. At Thanksgiving, they did dinners for St. Mary’s Woods residence. They also help with tonight’s Christmas Social. There efforts are not done for the year as we have three more Breakfast Sandwich events, the Polish Night, the Irish Night and final the first ever French Night in honor of Chef Paul and Marie Elbling. We are all very grateful to this group of men as for their efforts putting their Faith into Action for the Council. The Knights of Columbus Family of the Month for December 2023 is the St. Mary’s Culinary Team
Knight of the Month
The Knight of the Month for December 2023 is Joe Colosi
This Knight has but his faith in action this month heading up two programs for the Council. Like last year Joe organized the coats for Adults and Kids with the Human Concern team. The coats went to Coal Pit Learning Center for kids and to Sacred Heart Center for Adults.His second project was to run the Soup To-Go sale. During this project, he not only sold soup but Italian sauces that the Culinary team as part of the Italian events as well as a 50 /50 raffle. In total this event netted the Council over $4,000. Thank this Knight for putting his Faith into Action. The Knight of the Month for December 2023 is Joe Colosi
About Monsignor Charles A. Kelly, Jr.
Monsignor Charles A. Kelly, Jr. was born in Richmond, Virginia on July 2, 1942. He was the son of Charles A. Kelly, Sr. and Grace Elizabeth Beckett Kelly.
Msgr. Kelly attended Cathedral Elementary School in Richmond, VA and graduated from Benedictine High School in Richmond in June, 1960. He began his studies for the priesthood at Saint Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. In 1964, he was assigned to the North American College in Rome, Italy to complete his studies. On December 21, 1967, Msgr. Kelly was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He received a Licentiate Degree in Sacred Theology from the North American College in June, 1968.
Msgr. Kelly began his ministry serving as Secretary to the Bishop and in the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal in July, 1968. He was appointed to serve as Vice-Chancellor for the diocese in June, 1969 and also served as an associate pastor at Sacred Heart parish from June, 1970 to July, 1971.
In July, 1971, Msgr. Kelly returned to the North American College for graduate studies. He joined the faculty of the North American College in September, 1972 and became its Vice-Rector in December, 1974.
In August, 1979, Msgr. Kelly returned to the United States and became the Pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Richmond.
Msgr. Kelly's first homily to St. Mary's is a reflection of his vision and his desire to work for the Lord. He stated that he was sent to St. Mary's by the Lord and the Church to live, to work, to pray, and give thanks with the parish as its Pastor.
He reflected on the core of St. Mary's parish identity as:
- Freedom to believe in a God who cares, forgives and unites
- Freedom to trust in and share the gifts of mind and heart in all and each other
- Freedom to grow in a communion o of life and love with God and one another
He pledged to the parish to do his best to:
- Call us to prayer - personal and shared prayer at liturgy - deepening our relationship with the Lord
- To make St. Mary's always hospitable to the Word and Spirit of God
- To proclaim God's word clearly and meaningfully. he stated that he would put forth his best effort to share parishioners' lives, to be accessible and to be open to the parishioners' experience of life.
He encouraged the parishioners to share their gifts for the service to all, that together, we may be something beautiful for God and share his glory through service to the Church and to the world. He asked the parishioners to ground their lives, their insights, and their decisions in prayer.