Author: Greg Searle

Parish Priest’s Appreciation Dinner

About forty Knights and their ladies joined together last night, September 5th, to honor our parish priest, Fr. John Durbin, at the La Residence in Chapel Hill. After an open bar cocktail social gathering, everyone moved to the outdoor patio for dinner under the stars. The meal was served family style and included four courses. […]

About forty Knights and their ladies joined together last night, September 5th, to honor our parish priest, Fr. John Durbin, at the La Residence in Chapel Hill.

After an open bar cocktail social gathering, everyone moved to the outdoor patio for dinner under the stars. The meal was served family style and included four courses. There were heavy hors’deuves at the bar and again on the patio. This was followed by a salad buffet. Then, to the delight and surprise of all, we were presented with the main course. Splendid, elegant, beyond expectation, all hint at the beautiful presentation of our main course.

There was a huge selection. Each dish drew “Oohs” and “Ahhs” from the ladies. There was something sure to delight everyone. There was prime rib, trout with red potatoes and corn sauce, lamb with Southern grits, salmon with Peruvian potato salad, and roasted pork chops sliced thick and served with creamed potatoes. There was a nice selection of steamed vegetables, too.

Dinner was followed by coffee and sweet treats of strawberries, puffed pastries with filling and chocolate, and dainty morsels of pecan pie squares.

It was one of those meals that is sure to be described over and over. (If you missed the event, well… there is always a next time. )

District Deputy (9) Haddon Ware and his wife also joined us as guests.

Many thanks to Grand Knight Gil Montoya for arranging for this event, and to Deputy Grand Knight Gene Keeling and his lovely wife, Lisa, for hosting it. “I was worried about the attendance,” Gene said, “but at the last minute it all came together and we have a great showing.”

Fr. Durbin was much appreciative of the display of support by his Knights and their families. He commended the knights not just for their work in the parish, but for their extended service to the local community through projects to help the handicapped, feed the poor, and to serve their neighbors. “These are the kinds of things that really make a difference,” he said.

We are all humbled and proud to be of service to the community, but our work is just a flicker of light when compared to the sacrifices and service to our parish and church by our Fr. John Durbin.

We look forward to making this an annual event. Won’t you join us next time?

The restaurant La Residence is owned and operated by parishioners. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to dine there. It will be an evening to remember.

Oktoberfest Coming September 21st

John Felten is heading up our first annual Oktoberfest. The Little German Band and Dancers are joining us and is providing the music and show. This group has been performing since 1971 and has toured in several European countries and has performed at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, in September 1996. Our meal is catered […]


John Felten is heading up our first annual Oktoberfest.

The Little German Band and Dancers are joining us and is providing the music and show. This group has been performing since 1971 and has toured in several European countries and has performed at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, in September 1996.

Our meal is catered by the Guglhupf Bakery & Patisserie of Durham. “It’s in the bread…”

Between the band, beer, and bread you are sure to find the evening to be enjoyable and memorable.

The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. One price fits all. Everything is included. That is food and beer (two glasses included with meal).

What’s on the menu? Brats, potato salad, sauerkraut, rolls and beer. We will have Black Forest Cake, tea, coffee, pretzels and potato chips for snacks.

Our host servers are the St. Thomas More Men’s Club. Dessert, snacks and coffee are presented by various church ministries.

The keeper of the tickets is Brother Knight Gene Keeling, but many of our knights will have a few to sell you. The price is $25 per person. Tickets are required to enter and are limited as this is a catered affair.

This event is open to all members of the parish and to our neighbors as well.

If you like this event, watch for upcoming ethnic events. Be it Polish, Italian, Mexican, English, or Irish, where there are Catholics there you will find celebrations with good food, good friends, and the common bond of family and church. We are building Family in the Knights of Columbus.

Council Newsletter – Where did it go?

Your council newsletter has been published just twice so far this council year. There are plenty of stories out there, but none are arriving at the editor’s desk. Your reporter needs stories to publish. The next edition will be a photo collage of council events so far this year. We’ll take a look at what […]

Your council newsletter has been published just twice so far this council year. There are plenty of stories out there, but none are arriving at the editor’s desk.

Your reporter needs stories to publish.

The next edition will be a photo collage of council events so far this year. We’ll take a look at what we have been doing. You may be amazed, for we have been a very active council.

Watch for it to hit your email inbox soon.

First Monday Meeting Change – Jan 8th

Just in case you forgot, the first Monday of the Month is our dinner meeting night. This coming meeting falls on New Year’s day. Gene has rescheduled the meeting for January to January 8th. Same time, same place. See you there.

Just in case you forgot, the first Monday of the Month is our dinner meeting night. This coming meeting falls on New Year’s day.

Gene has rescheduled the meeting for January to January 8th. Same time, same place. See you there.

New Assembly for Chapel Hill – Durham

The Chapel Hill Knights of the Fourth Degree will hold a formation meeting for a Chapel Hill Assembly on Thursday, August 17th. The formation meeting will be held in at St. Thomas More church at 7:30 p.m. When would the Assembly take form? This is up to the charter knights. However, since the October Exemplification […]

The Chapel Hill Knights of the Fourth Degree will hold a formation meeting for a Chapel Hill Assembly on Thursday, August 17th. The formation meeting will be held in at St. Thomas More church at 7:30 p.m.

When would the Assembly take form? This is up to the charter knights. However, since the October Exemplification will include several Chapel Hill and Durham knights, it may be best to form in November. This will permit each of the newest Sir Knights to be part of the formation. It is an honor to be a Charter Member of a Fourth Degree Assembly.

Who should attend? All members of the Fourth Degree. This meeting is also open to any Third Degree knight preparing for the October Exemplification. Each is eligible to hold an office in the new Assembly.

Location of the Assembly. Although the Assembly has its roots in Chapel Hill, it is for all members of the Fourth Degree in the Chapel Hill – Durham areas. Therefore, we should not think of it as an Assembly “just for Chapel Hill.” The Chapel Hill Council’s roots and historical ties are to our brother Knights in Durham. The Durham Council was once the “Durham-Chapel Hill Council“ and provided a home council for the few knights then residing in Chapel Hill.

Assembly Meeting Locations. Meetings can be held both in Durham and Chapel Hill. Our third meeting is traditionally a social event with spouses. The social events are held in local restaurants selected by the members.

What is the purpose of this particular meeting? We have finished the Assembly exploratory phase. We know that there is a desire and need for a Chapel Hill Assembly. This meeting is where we enter the “commitment” phase. We will now

  • Confirm our desire to start an Assembly,
  • Select our Charter officers,
  • Select a name for the Assembly,
  • Decide on a regularly scheduled meeting night and location,
  • and approve our Assembly by-laws.
Do we have enough members? Thirty members are required to form a new Assembly. We have over thirty members of the Fourth Degree in the Chapel Hill council. Additionally, we have in hand two requests for transfer to the new assembly from members outside of the council.

Assembly Officers needed. Officer positions parallel those of a council; only the names are slightly different. Officers are drawn from the charter members. They can be from Chapel Hill or a Durham council. The critical positions (those needing men with a strong commitment to nurture and grow the Assembly) are:

  • Faithful Navigator
  • Faithful Captain
  • Faithful Pilot
  • Faithful Comptroller –Financial Secretary equivalent
  • Faithful Purser – Treasurer equivalent
  • Faithful Scribe

What is expected of meeting attendees? Come to the meeting prepared to help make the tough decisions needed to form an Assembly. Bring your thoughts on who should fill these positions. You should consider your fellow Sir Knights as candidates.


Who would you like to see fill the core positions? Encourage them to consider accepting the position, if elected. You can even nominate yourself. But, unlike a council, it is not unusual to have the Faithful Comptroller, Purser and Recorder serve for many years. These three positions require more work of the men who take on the responsibility, but each position is key to the success of an Assembly. No one should accept a nomination to them without considering fully the responsibilities they are accepting.


A time for inner reflection and prayer. If you are not sure if you want to hold a position that you know you are qualified for, consider a mini-retreat in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. Remembering the words of a hymn, “Whom shall I send?” Ask yourself, “Is it I Lord?”

Next Fish Fry is April 7th

We just closed the doors after serving over 220 dinners! That is 100 more than our first fish fry. We started with 100 lbs of fish and had to go and get another 20 pounds. We were running out as early as 6 p.m. and people patiently waited in line for more fish to arrive. […]

We just closed the doors after serving over 220 dinners! That is 100 more than our first fish fry.
We started with 100 lbs of fish and had to go and get another 20 pounds.

We were running out as early as 6 p.m. and people patiently waited in line for more fish to arrive.

Everything worked out well. We cooked the extra 20 pounds and served everyone. We sold out again.

Get ready for the next one and come early! The food is great and there is plenty on your plate. Remember that we cook it just as you arrive. It is a restaurant quality meal, served piping hot!

Proceeds benefit the parish and will go to paying off the mortgage.

Fish Fry March 24th

Here we go again! Our second fish fry is going to be an even greater success than the last one. How big a success was it? Well, we SOLD OUT! Sold 130 meals and we could have sold more. It will be in the school gym. Time is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Be on […]


Here we go again! Our second fish fry is going to be an even greater success than the last one. How big a success was it? Well, we SOLD OUT! Sold 130 meals and we could have sold more.

It will be in the school gym. Time is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Be on time and you are sure to get your share. We only charge $7 per plate. Have kids? We will give you a spare plate to share. The plate has two large pieces of whitefish from the cool oceans off Argentina. That is why it tasted so good and we sold out.

Now that everyone has tasted the fish and know how great it is, we are expecting a large crowd.

Profits go to the church mortgage retirement.

Annual Free Throw Competition this Month

Richard Honey is again leading the Annual Chapel Hill Knights of Columbus Free Throw Competition. Set your calendars for Saturday, January 21st, at the St. Thomas More School Gym. Last year we had several regional and one State-wide champion. Watch this site for more details.

Richard Honey is again leading the Annual Chapel Hill Knights of Columbus Free Throw Competition. Set your calendars for Saturday, January 21st, at the St. Thomas More School Gym.

Last year we had several regional and one State-wide champion.
Watch this site for more details.

Christmas Party December 16th

PGK Tom Chegash has reserved Captain John’s Dockside Seafood Restaurant for a Council Christmas Party on December 16th. Time is 6 p.m., sit down at 6:30. The dinner is open to Knights and their families. Interested candidates are also invited to attend. You can order off the menu. Meals are about $8.99, with senior plates […]

PGK Tom Chegash has reserved Captain John’s Dockside Seafood Restaurant for a Council Christmas Party on December 16th. Time is 6 p.m., sit down at 6:30. The dinner is open to Knights and their families. Interested candidates are also invited to attend.

You can order off the menu. Meals are about $8.99, with senior plates for about $5.99.

Everyone is encouraged to bring a gag gift with a value of about $5.00. Mark the gift as to recipient (man or women). One gift should be brought by each attendee.

The restaurant is on US 15-501 at Cole Park Plaza. The highway is now completed and it is four lanes of good road from Chapel Hill.

R.S.V.P. Required

Memorial Mass – November 5th

Our annual Council Memorial Mass is set for Saturday, November 5th. This is for the 5:15 p.m. mass. This mass is to remember all council knights who have passed on while a member of our council. Sir Knight Terry Tinker is chairman and you can contact him for additional details. Are you a Eucharistic minister? […]

Our annual Council Memorial Mass is set for Saturday, November 5th. This is for the 5:15 p.m. mass.

This mass is to remember all council knights who have passed on while a member of our council. Sir Knight Terry Tinker is chairman and you can contact him for additional details.

Are you a Eucharistic minister? Terry needs you to serve. Sign up now.

This is a tuxedo affair for all Fourth Degree Knights. Third Degree Knights wear a suit or sport jacket and tie. Fourth Degree Knights will serve as an honor guard.

All knights should attend and bring their ladies.

Terry is working on an after the mass dinner in a local restaurant.

Please note that this is the first Saturday of the month. There is a small after the mass reception for all attendees. Wine is served.