The Knights of Columbus Bishop Rice Council #4822 was recently awarded the distinction of Star Council, the international organization’s top honor for local councils. Bishop Rice Council #4822 serves Ashland and Hopkinton.

The Star Council Award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of growing membership, promoting Knights of Columbus insurance benefits, sponsoring Catholic faith formation programs, and volunteering time through service-oriented activities, according to a press release. Only 12 percent of the 16,000+ worldwide Knights of Columbus councils earn this award for their service.

In these challenging times of COVID19, the Bishop Rice Council was able to strengthen their brotherhood with the addition of many new Knights all who practice Faith in Action. During this pandemic, the Bishop Rice Council organized and executed a number of programs that aided Ashland, Hopkinton and surrounding towns. These programs include:

• COVID19 Helping Hands: The Ashland/Hopkinton Knights organized a network of volunteers (Knights and non-Knights) to assist those most affected by COVID19 and needing assistance, including grocery shopping, delivery of prescription medications, rides to medical appointments and more.

• Virtual Food for Families Drive: The Knights hosted a “virtual” food drive and were able to collect over $1,500 in donations that were presented to Project Just Because.

• Milford Daily Bread Food Pantry Helping Hands: The Knights provided a steady stream of volunteers loading and unloading between 6,000 and 9,000 pounds of food for the Milford Daily Bread Food Pantry.

• Virtual Spiritual Reflection: The Knights organized a weekly virtual prayer service allowing participants to reflect on the scriptures as well as their own personal beliefs and concerns.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practicing Catholics in union with the Holy See.