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Celebrating a Century of Service
Faith & Fraternity
Naperville
Council
1369
“The
first 100 years”
On
January 17, 1908
the Supreme Council of the Knights of
Columbus
authorized the charter of
Naperville
Council 1369.
Naperville
was a very small town in 1908. The
1900 census recorded the population to be 2,629, and the 1910 census pegged it
at 3,449, so in 1908 it was somewhere in between.
But, it was growing. In 1906
Edward Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Edward “San,” opened its doors for the first
time to patients from all over the
US
. It would eventually become
Edward
Hospital
the largest employer in
Naperville
.
North
Western
College
(
North
Central
College
) had three new buildings including a library donated by Andrew Carnegie under
construction. The new council had 99
charter members. Valentine Dieter was its first Grand Knight, and Father August
Wenker, the pastor at SS Peter & Paul parish, its first Chaplain.
The membership was made up of Catholic men 18 years of age and older from
all walks of life. Many were
farmers, since
Naperville
was still very much a farming community. The
men bonded together into a fraternal brotherhood fostering the virtues set forth
by Father Michael McGivney, the K of C’s founder, of charity, unity,
fraternity, and patriotism. As
Naperville
grew the council would eventually be made up of members from SS Peter &
Paul, St. Raphael, and
St. Thomas
parishes.
The pace of life was much slower
during the early years of the twentieth century.
There were fewer demands and recreational opportunities taking up big
blocks of family’s time, so council 1369 quickly became the center of its
member’s social life. Card
parties, dances, picnics, holiday celebrations, men’s nights out, support to
member’s families in distress, Communion breakfasts and other religious
functions, and two business meetings
per month kept Knights and their families busy.
The council always worked hard to serve its parishes’ needs.
When SS Peter & Paul burnt down in 1922 and was rebuilt in 1927, the
Knights donated one of the six large stained glass windows in the Nave of the
church. The council has always supported its parish schools with scholarships,
the donation of supplies such as athletic equipment, and most recently the
donation of a sign for All Saints Academy.
In 1958 a Kaycee Club was
incorporated in
Naperville
,
Illinois
for the purpose of securing, purchasing, and holding land and real estate.
The Club was made up of members “in good standing” of K of C council
1369. On
March 20, 1959
the Club purchased the building at the NE corner of Van Buren and
Main St.
to be used as a club building. Bonds
were sold to council members to pay off the temporary loan at the bank, buy bar
room and kitchen equipment, and remodel the building.
In August of 1960 the Club bought a lighted sign for the front of the
building that bore the colored K of C emblem, and the Club was open for
business. Although the building was
in constant need of repair and upkeep, it served the council well until the late
‘80’s when it was sold to a developer who eventually sold it to the city,
and it became a municipal parking lot. The
K of C’s floated around for several years holding meetings in SS Peter &
Paul’s school buildings until
April 15, 1994
when the Kaycee Club purchased the present building at
615 E. Ogden Ave.
In the
fall of 1970,
Illinois
’ State Council of the K of C’s announced the beginning of
an annual statewide “
Tootsie Roll Drive
” to benefit mentally and physically challenged children.
Knights are perhaps best recognized standing on a street corner in their
red aprons selling Tootsie Rolls, or marching in their regalia in one of
Naperville
’s big parades. Proceeds from the
Tootsie Roll drive are donated to Little Friends, Misericordia, SS Peter &
Paul’s and St. Raphael’s REACH programs, and the Western DuPage Special
Recreation Foundation to name a few. Knights
also put on an annual “Breakfast with Santa” the proceeds of which go to
Naperville
’s Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
Council
1369 has always been a strong supporter of its clergy.
During recent years the Knights have hosted a Clergy Appreciation Dinner
every other year. It has also made
numerous donations in support of our seminarians, and annual contributions to
the Bishop’s Burse to be used to foster vocations.
Knights have stood strongly in favor of the Pro-Life movement, and shown
their support with monetary donations as well as donations of their time and
energy. They have made a big
investment in our youth by sponsoring Easter egg hunts, an annual Soccer
Challenge, Free Throw Contest, and Drug Abuse Poster Contest.
And, Council 1369 has given the “gift of life” by donating many pints
of blood by hosting and participating in its parish sponsored blood drives.
In 1989 a
group of Knights from St. Elizabeth Seton parish formed their own council, and
in 2006 a group from St. Raphael left 1369 to form their own.
So,
Naperville
now has three councils. Today, 1369
has 253 members. Jack Guasta is the
current and 50th Knight to serve as Grand Knight.
Father Thomas Milota, the pastor of SS Peter & Paul parish, is the
current Chaplain.
The first 100 years of
Naperville Council 1369 have witnessed many accomplishments made possible by the
devotion, commitment, and service of its many members. What lies ahead
depends on the continued service of “these men
called Knights”.
------------------------------------------------
Updated - Wednesday, March 05, 2008
------------------------------------------------
This page and others will be updated for the Century
Celebration year.
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