Bishop Flanagan 12710

Who We Are …

A History of the Knights

Founded by the Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney on Feb. 6, 1882 with a mission of charity; the Knights of Columbus are Catholic men who lead, serve, protect and defend. We share a desire to be better husbands, fathers, sons, neighbors and role models and to put charity and community first. Each Knights of Columbus Council tailors its charitable services around its local community needs. Local Council programs include Church, Community, Family, Youth, Culture-Of-Life Activities and Council Service Specific Activities. In addition, local Knights Councils support Supreme Council and Massachusetts State Council charitable endeavors.

History of Bishop Flanagan #12710 Council:

In 1999 members of the Oxford council, who lived in Sutton and surrounding areas, felt the need to do their work closer to their parishes and community. Tom Hanford, Al Weldon and other members of the Oxford council petitioned the Supreme Council. May 17^th 2000 we received our Charter from Supreme and officially became Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan Council #12710. Tom Hanford was elected our first Grand Knight. In 2004 Steve Hanna headed our first Annual Golf Tournament at Clearview GC in Millbury. 2001, a desire to offer Scholarships directed towards students who attend Catholic Schools and Colleges was started. In 2005 we started our first Drive by Fish Fry. In 2007 it was brought to our attention, by a brother Knight, the need to help fill the Food Bank at the Senior Center in Sutton. So began our relationship with the Food Bank. In 2020 the Bishop Flanagan council in the midts of the COVID pandemic quietly celebrated 20 years of its inception continuing to focus on its main mission; the continued charity and support of our local Catholic parishes and the surrounding communities of Sutton and Millbury.

Most Reverend Bernard J. Flanagan

The Most Rev. Bernard J. Flanagan, D.D., the second and longest-serving Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Worcester was born in Proctor, Vt. Following his graduation from Holy Cross in 1928, he completed his seminary studies at the North American College in Rome. He was ordained on Dec. 8, 1931 and received his doctorate in Canon Law from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., in 1943. Known as a modern bishop, Bishop Flanagan positioned the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester for changes that will continue into the new millennium including opening new relationships with Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Churches in Central Massachusetts. "His long service as bishop of Worcester was marked by his deep commitment to peace, social justice, and ecumenism. Bishop Flanagan was also recognized, in the years following the Second Vatican Council as one of the most conscientious bishops in the nation in implementing the teachings of the Council."

Rev. Gerard Reedy, S.J.,

Twenty-sixth President of Holy Cross

College of Holy Cross.(1998). In Memoriam. https://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/hcmam98/in_memoriam/mem-apm98-flanagan.html