The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, St. Peter Claver, Tampa Court #379 presented the 2012 SFC Wilbert Davis Memorial Scholarship and the 2012 Mother Henriette DeLille Scholarship on Sunday, September 9, 2012, during Mass at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church.  Ms. Jasmin Folks (center left) and Ms. Saika Viard (center right) both of Riverview, Florida were this year recipients.  The scholarships were presented by Grand Lady Yvonne Nellum (second from left), Scholarship Chair Lady Giselle Johnson (right) and Scholarship Committee Member Lady Harriett Harris (left).

Six-year old Shanaya Thomas daughter of Phyllis Thomas received one of the National Knights of Peter Claver 2012 Sickle Cell Grants on Sunday, September 23, 2012.  The check in the amount of $631.00 was presented to Shanaya by the members of St. Aubry Ladies Auxiliary Court No. 119 in Maringouin.

The National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) held an award ceremony at Congress XI, Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana to give The Servant of Christ Award to black catholic leaders throughout the country for their outstanding leadership in the Church.

The Servant of Christ Award is a new award developed by the leadership of the NBCC, which includes bishops, priests, religious and lay men and women, representing a broad spectrum of both clerical and lay leadership and service in the Church.

The committee  requested of the Diocesan Bishop of every diocese in the United States to kindly submit the name of an African American Catholic in their diocese who best personifies Christian servant- leadership in the African American community. A servant- leadership which is creative and heroic, self sacrificing and self giving and exercised in the Name of Christ, who came, "not to be served, but to serve…".  Louise Theresa Hollins of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Maringouin, Louisiana was selected to represent the Diocese of Baton Rouge and received the Servant of Christ Award.

Theresa Hollins has served her parish as first communion minister (25 years), CCD religious education teacher (20 years), and parish school of religion educational coordinator (14 years). Additionally, Theresa serves as a Lector and Sacristan for weekday and Sunday Masses. She also serves as a Lector and greeter for diocesan-wide Masses. She is president of her parish council and has served in this capacity since the year 2005. Theresa is an active member of the Church Altar Society, rosary leader for prayer and wake services, member of the steering committee for her parish family festival, member of the social responsibility committee, tri-parish cluster mission committee and member of the parish planning committee for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. Theresa has been an active member of St. Aubry Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court No. 119 for over 50 years, and served as local Grand Lady for 26 years and District board member for six years. Theresa is a nursing education teacher by profession and is a mentor to young people. She inspires her students to volunteer in the community and gives students encouragement to pursue their careers goals.

The KPC National Headquarters is open for business and normal operations have resumed.  While the storm has passed and the KPC facilities were spared, there have been reports of Claver members in south Louisiana and Mississippi who were impacted by the storm.  Some members experienced flooding in their homes and have not yet had power restored.

Grand Knights, Grand Ladies, and Faithful Navigators in the affected areas are asked to check on your members to determine who was impacted and if assistance is needed.  You are asked to notify the National Office staff of any sustained impact on members affected by the storm.  Let us continue to pray for everyone who was affected by the storm’s wrath.

Fraternally,
KPC Web Team