Local Knights of Peter Claver Units Host Northern District Conference

By E. Martin Labat
Special to the New Journal and Guide

HAMPTON ROADS

The Knights of Peter Claver is an international Catholic organization that includes the entire family, composed of Knights, Ladies, Junior Knights and Junior Daughters.

The order was founded November 7, 1909, by four Josephite priests and three laymen as a Catholic fraternal and benevolent organization. At the time, African-American men were not permitted to join the Knights of Columbus.

The order is comprised of the following districts: Central States, Gulf Coast, Northern States, Texas, Louisiana and Western States, with the headquarters located in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. Northern States District held their 85th Annual Conference in the Mermaid City of Norfolk, Virginia, April 18 -21, 2024, to conduct the business of their Noble Order in addition to enjoying what Norfolk and the local area had to offer.

The Sheraton Norfolk Waterside was the host hotel. The Barrett~Newell Council & Court #279 (Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception) and Fr. Lloyd F. Stephenson~St. Vincent de Paul Council #362 (St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Newport News) served as the local host units. The last time the conference was held in Hampton Roads was April 2009 and the local council was thrilled for the conference presence in Norfolk.

Locally, the Barrett~Newell Council & Court #279 was established in 1986 at the then, St. Mary Catholic Church. All councils, courts and junior divisions are attached to a Catholic church. Council & Court #279 are involved in all aspects of the parish and community life such as the Basilica of St. Mary Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen, Annual Walk for Sickle Cell Hampton Roads, Norfolk State University Homecoming Parade and Keep Norfolk Beautiful, to name a few.    

The conference had 275 registered Knights and Ladies who traveled from 15 states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland and Virginia) and the District of Columbia.

National officers attending the conference included Dr. Christopher Pichon, Supreme Knight; Micaela LeBlanc, Supreme Lady; Stephanie Inis, National Ladies Secretary; Marie Johnson, Vice Supreme Lady; Alexander Taylor, National Knights Secretary, and Esohe Asemota, National Ladies Lay Board Member. Northern States District officers attending Marvin Bardo, District Deputy; Kim Proctor, Ladies District Deputy; Daryl Anderson, Knights District President and Shaniqua Wilson, Ladies District President. The Honorable Kenneth C. Alexander, Ph.D., mayor of Norfolk, addressed the Friday morning Joint Session to extend a warm welcome to the conference attendees to Norfolk.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the conference mass held at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, April 20, 2024, 5 p.m. Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop, Diocese of Richmond, was the main celebrant for the mass and Reverend Anthony M. Bozeman, SSJ was the homilist. Our theme for this year’s conference is “Fellowship Ultimately Creates Community,” centered on 1 John 1:3, “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

Additional clergy present to celebrate the mass included Monsignor Walter Barrett, retired; Fr. Tochi Iwuji, Pastor, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Richmond; Fr. Peter Creed, retired; Deacon Calvin Bailey, Deacon Mike Brown, Deacon Al Anderson; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Alexandria, VA; Deacon Chris Finnochio, Bishop Knestout Assistant.  The conference mass can be viewed at www.basilicaofsaintmary.org “Knights of Peter Claver Northern States District Conference Mass.”

In June 2024, the Northern States District Junior Knights and Daughters will assemble in the Mermaid City for their conference, hosted by Barrett~Newell Council, Court & Junior Divisions.

For more information about the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. visit www.kofpc.org

For more information about the Barrett~Newell Council #279, contact kpcbn279@gmail.com