The Christmas button distributed by North Bay Knights of Columbus. Photo by Donald Halsall

North Bay Knights show that Jesus is the reason for the season

By 
  • December 20, 2011

North Bay’s Knights of Columbus are distributing 1,200 pins to parishioners this Advent to make sure they remember the reason for the season.

“They’re about an inch-and-a-half in diameter and it has ‘Christmas’ at the top and ‘birth of Christ’ at the bottom and a picture of the Holy Family,” said Donald Halsall, financial secretary of the North Bay Council 1007, which was chartered in 1905.

“It’s to remind our Christians what the real meaning of Christmas is. We get wrapped up in gifts… but we should be remembering the purpose of Christmas is the birth of Christ,” said Halsall.

The pins will be distributed at the three parishes in which the council is involved. St. Alphonsus of Liguori in Callander, Ont., and St. Peter the Apostle and the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay.

“This is the first year that we’ve started the buttons,” said Halsall. “It was an idea of one of the members. The deputy grand knight (Fred Bukowski) saw them back in July and presented (the idea) to the council.” Halsall said a Knights of Columbus council in Brampton is supplying the pins. That council is also distributing them in their area.

So far, parishioner reaction to the pins — distributed on Nov. 27, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 — has been quite positive, said Halsall.

“They want more,” he said. “We don’t have enough.”

Halsall hopes the pins reinforce the idea that we celebrate Christ’s birthday on Dec. 25.

“In the spirit of giving, the Knights distribute the button at no fee to the parishioners,” said Halsall.

“And with all the distractions at this time, it’s just a reminder to bring us back to our faith.”

The North Bay Knights will be celebrating with a Christmas dinner at the Pro-Cathedral Dec. 22 prepared by the local Catholic Women’s League.

And yes, they’ll be wearing the pins.

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