Each year, our Council 12698 Wilton Knights of Columbus host a “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster competition. The “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster competition is an annual program run by the Knights of Columbus for youth (typically grades K-8) to creatively express the religious meaning of Christmas through art, focusing on Jesus’s birth rather than secular holiday commercialism. Participants create 11″x17″ posters with original slogans and images, with winners advancing through local, district, state, and even international levels, with prizes awarded at various stages.
This year, the competition in Our Lady of Fatima was managed by Knights Peter Rubsam and Brad Wolf who worked with the Parish and CCD Parents to distribute the initiative to all the children. As a result, there was a lot of entries and competition to win the 1st prize for each grade was highly competitive.
Congratulations to Ella Trojek Grade 2, Isabella Ciano Grade 3 and Aurora Dusi Grade 6.
The 3 winners posters will now be sent onwards to compete against winners from other Councils in our District, so please wish them the best of luck going forwards!
Thanks to everyone who took part and helped with the competition.
On Sunday, December 21st, the Knights of Columbus Council 12698 presented a cheque of $500 to Fr. Hrebenko to go towards the renovation of the Faith Formation Classrooms at the back of the School. Faith Formation classes are religious education programs that teach the Parish children about God, Jesus, Church Teachings, and the sacraments, complementing what they learn at home, with goals to deepen faith, build community, and prepare for First Communion/Confirmation, using Bible stories, prayers, and lessons on living a Christian life. Providing good quality classrooms is essential for learning, and we are delighted to be able to help this initiative.
Paul Niche, Bob Lenihan, Fr. Hrebenko, Mike Healy and John Nieznanski are seen in the picture above.
On a cold Saturday morning, on November 29th, a group of hardy young Knights of Columbus men gathered for the annual procedure to put together the Church Creche in the Wilton Town Center. There was a lot of energy and laughter provided by all who turned out and, thanks to Louis Furlo, everyone followed the instructions resulting in the quickest time ever!
It reminded me of the joke – It only takes one man to put something together, but it takes many to read the directions: one to read them aloud, and the other to say, “I told you so!”
Thanks to Rich Cunningham for providing the van to move the Creche from the Church to the town center, and to everyone who volunteered and turned out to make it an occasion to remember! On to 2026!
OLF Wilton Knights of Columbus are inviting all boys and girls in Grades 1 to 8 to participate in a “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest.
A workshop for the kids to get started will be held Sunday December 7th after 9:30am mass (10:30am) in the parish center. All supplies will be provided by the OLF Knights of Columbus. Hot cocoa (for the kids), tea and coffee ((for parents) will be available.
Winners in each grade category (1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th) will receive a $25 gift card.
The rules are:
Poster must reflect the theme of Keep Christ in Christmas
Each poster should be the original work of a single person
Poster should be approximately 11″ x 17″ in size in color or black and white
Name and grade of artist should be included on back of the poster
Submit posters at the OLF parish office by Friday 12/19
Winners will be selected by 12/31 and have an opportunity to advance to the district, state and national contest levels
Please contact Peter Rubsam at 203-984-5909 with any questions.
Come join us on Monday evening, December 15th, at 8pm for a discussion with Joseph Boscia, an experienced field agent of the Knights of Columbus, to help you answer questions about life insurance and retirement solutions. Find out how Faith and Charity can be still the center of your retirement and life insurance decisions while providing you with a trusted solution.
The Event starts at 8pm and is open to everyone, not just KOC members, and will be held at the Parish Center of Our Lady of Fatima which is connected to the Church. It will also be a great way for you to socialise with your Parish neighbors.
Mark your calendars! The traditional Our Lady of Fatima Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will be held on December 6th after the 4:30pm mass. This traditionally is a very festive event led by the Knights and Columbiettes with a very tasty free dinner provided in the Parish Center after the tree lighting. Everyone is asked to bring their own beverages (BYOB) and registration is not required. Volunteers will be needed to set up in advance – please email wiltonknightsofcolumbus@gmail.com.
Come join us to truly kick off the Christmas Season!
NORWALK – On Saturday, November 1, more than 1,100 brand new coats, gloves, and hand-knit winter hats were distributed to clients of Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) by the greater Norwalk area Knights of Columbus Councils as part of the Order’s Coats for Kids Initiative. Sizes from toddler and children’s to men’s and women’s were organized and distributed. Since the initiative launched in 2009, more than 1 million coats have been distributed in 49 states and all 10 Canadian provinces to keep kids warm through the winter.
When the doors opened at 10 a.m., the line stretched around the building at FCA’s Ben Franklin location, showcasing the need in our community. Knights of Columbus Councils from Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Westport, and Wilton worked together to purchase the brand-new coats through various fundraisers throughout the year. In addition to the new coats, handmade winter hats were donated through the Hearts & Crafts Ministry led by Karen Delvecchio and Terri Sargent at St. Matthew Church for the seventh year in a row. Employees from FactSet also volunteered their time to help families find their coats.
“We have been doing our Coats for Kids initiative with FCA since 2019 and each year we are able to increase the number of coats we can provide by sharing the impact that FCA makes for so many families. We look forward to this every year and hope that we can continue our partnership as long as it is needed,” said Project Chairman George Ribellino.
“We are deeply grateful for the continued partnership with the Knights of Columbus,” said Robert F. Cashel, President & CEO of FCA. “This event demonstrates what is possible when neighbors come together to care for one another, and I am grateful to everyone who helped make this generous act of kindness a reality for hundreds of families.”
Local participating councils: Bishop Fenwick Assembly 100 4th Degree Church of the Assumption Council #3688-Westport Father John Stapleton Council #2287-New Canaan Msgr. Thomas J Finn Council #46-Norwalk Our Lady of Fatima Council #12698-Wilton South Norwalk Council #1253 St Matthew Council #14360-Norwalk Reverend James J McGuane Council #4460
Feedback from George Ribellino – Assembly 100 Coats for Kids Team Leader
“I want to thank all of the councils helping make the coats for kids distribution on Saturday, November 1st a great success. The program directly embodies the Knights’ founding mission of serving families through acts of charity. By providing coats, the Knights help ease the financial pressure on low-income families, allowing parents to focus on other essentials. The distribution events serve as a way to connect with and support the local community, bringing together volunteers, children, and families. This event has been a passion of mine since 2014. The best part of it is seeing brother Knights from local councils coming together to make a difference in the local community.”
Feedback from Lisa Habasinski – Community Engagement Coordinator at Family & Children’s Agency in Norwalk
I would like to thank you all on behalf of Family & Children’s Agency for this amazing donation of winter coats. Because of your efforts, we are able to help keep 1,100 individuals warm this winter season. Your compassion and kindness shines through with this incredible donation. For those of you who were fortunate enough to be at the agency on Saturday and help our clients try on coats and pick out what they need for their loved ones, you have made a huge impact on their lives. You are all so wonderful and caring. Just an amazing group men!!
A fantastic party atmosphere was present on Saturday October 18th as the annual Oktoberfest event kicked off at the School Gym of Our Lady of Fatima. A large crowd turned out to experience excellent food provided by the Columbiettes with the Knights assisting when needed. Great traditional German folk music featuring polka and oompah music was provided by the Austrian Boys Band who dressed to fit the occasion. More to come.
The Wilton Knights of Columbus Council 12698 held their Annual Officer’s outing once again at Norwalk Yacht Club on a beautiful afternoon on Sunday September 21st. While some officers were unable to make it due to other conflicts, a large contingent turned out with their wives and had a fantastic time. Brian Rafferty and Jamie McDowell were in charge of the BBQ and cooked some great burgers and sausages for all. There was a huge selection of starters, salads and desserts for afters, with the food provided by everyone.
Once everyone had their fill, the brave ones took to the water in the boat aptly named “The Luck of the Irish” for a quick spin on the Sound. “Luckily”, all returned save to shore!
Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make this a great afternoon – its a great way to thank all the Officers for their contributions and volunteer hours during the year, and to also get to know their wives and build better bonds. We hope to continue this event for many years in the future.
On Thursday morning at 9am, a group of Knights of Columbus gathered at the Our Lady of Fatima 911 memorial to memorialize all the victims of the tragedy on September 11th 2001 but, in particular, the 5 members of our Wilton Community who were also parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima.
It is now 24 years since that tragic day – to help keep their memories fresh in everyone’s memory, we have gathered some past write ups below and also added this prayer.
We pause to remember the great losses and courageous acts of September 11th. We lift up those who are still affected — families of the victims, police officers, firemen, first responders, and all who were involved. We pray for the light of Christ to flood the hearts of people everywhere. We believe You desire to redeem Your creation, and we trust that beauty will continue to come from the ashes of those dark days. Surround us with Your mighty angels of protection, give us compassion for one another in all of life’s circumstances, and instill in us the courage to answer Your call. Amen.
Edward Fergus
Edward T. Fergus Jr. was born on May 11, 1961 to Dorothy and Edward Fergus in Queens, NY, He had three sisters, Maureen, Annemarie, and Alison. He lived in Wilton, CT. Edward met his sweetheart, Linda Fergus, in 1979, when they were attending the same college, St. Michael’s in Winooski, VT. They fell in love, got married, and had two children together, Shannon, age 11, and Tom, age 10 (at the time of Edward’s passing). Edward loved spending time with his family, and he especially enjoyed taking the children fishing on Long Island Sound and having boat picnics with Linda and the children. He loved the mountains and always went skiing and snowboarding in the winter, usually in Vermont. Edward remained close with his sisters, and took them and their children to the annual Oyster Festival in South Norwalk, CT, every year. He would also organize annual seaside vacations for their families. Edward participated in volunteer work in his spare time, and attended church weekly. He was described by his friends and family as fun-loving, generous, hard-working, and energetic. Edward worked as a partner for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. He was very dedicated to his job and was well-liked by his co-workers and colleagues. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Edward was working at his office when Flight 11 struck the North Tower, leaving all of Cantor Fitzgerald’s floors above its impassable impact zone. Sadly, none of Cantor’s attending employees survived, including Edward. His life was unfairly cut short on September 11th, but Edward’s energetic spirit and shining legacy live on forever. His life, love, accomplishments, and memories will never be forgotten.
Peter Fry
Peter Christian Fry was on the 84th floor of the World Trade Center tower hit by the second plane on Sept. 11. His father, Charles Fry, was at his home in Kingwood at the time. Charles retired to the Kingwood community while his son and his family remained in Connecticut. When a friend called from California to alert Charles to the attack, he instantly knew that his son was in one of those towers. “He was always on time,” said Charles, knowing how responsible Peter had always been to his commitments. Fry was a vice president at Institutional Money Markets at Euro Brokers Incorporated, a global securities firm located a Two World Trade Center. There were 210 people on the 84th floor before the attack, 60 of them didn’t make it out, including Peter. “Knowing Peter, he would have been trying to help somebody,” said Charles easily visualizing his son helping get everyone to the tower exits. A memorial service was held for Peter on Sept. 29 in Wilton, Connecticut. Attendees of the ceremony received a program that had a unique picture of Peter on the front of it. He is fly fishing in his wedding tuxedo in the picture. The back of the program had the words to the Grateful Dead’s song “Box of Rain.” Peter was an avid athlete, having played lacrosse in both college (he was an All-American lacrosse player at Curry College in Massachusetts) and in the Fairfield County Lacrosse League. Peter was 36.
John Iskyan
John F. Iskyan was born on April 11, 1960 to Carol and John Iskyan in Manhasset, NY. He lived in Wilton, CT. John attended and graduated from Saint Michael’s College in 1982. He met his sweetheart, Margaret Iskyan, during the first week of Margaret’s freshman year at Saint Michael’s College. They started dating on Valentine’s Day of 1980 and were married in early September of 1985. They had two children together, Peter, age 12, and Carolyn, age 10 (at the time of John’s passing). John cared a lot about his family, and they were the most important thing in his life to him. In his free time, John loved spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, boating, and especially skiing. He also enjoyed golfing, vacations, and attending New York Giants games. John was described by his friends and family as loyal, dedicated, devoted, and helpful. John worked as a first vice president in liquidity products for Cantor Fitzgerald on the upper floors of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. He joined Cantor in 1982, two weeks after he graduated college. On the morning of September 11, 2001, John was working at Cantor Fitzgerald when Flight 11 struck the North Tower, leaving all of Cantor’s floors above the impassable impact zone. Sadly, none of the firm’s attending employees survived the attack, including John. Though his life was unfairly taken, John’s loving spirit lives on forever in the hearts and memories of his loved ones and through all who continue to remember him. He will never be forgotten.
Edward York
Ed York worked for many years at several firms including MA Hanna and Daymond and Associates before moving on to Cantor Fitzgerald, where he was the Vice President and Director of Human Resources. Stories and admiration abound for Ed, things like “he always brought a smile to everyone’s face” and ‘he had an unconventional way of bringing people together” and “his family was the center of this universe”.
John Henwood
John Christopher Henwood was born on February 15, 1966 to Mary and David Henwood. He had three sisters, Mary, Catherine, and Tara, and a brother, David. He grew up in Wilton, CT, and lived in Manhattan, NY, in adulthood. John attended and graduated from Wilton High School and Northeastern University. In college, he was president of his school’s chapter of the Phi Gamma Pi fraternity. John met his sweetheart, Concha Munoz, in Spain while he was visiting Madrid working for I.B.M. John and Concha fell in love, were married on September 10, 1992, and had two children together, Alejandro, age 5, and Claudia, age 2 (at the time of John’s passing). John loved visiting Spain and planned to soon move his family there. John’s good friend, David Keefe, remembered, “Every year they’d go to Spain for four weeks, and those were probably the best days of John’s life. I think the most important thing I could say about John is that he was the guy you looked forward to being with. When we were in Boston and right out of college, working three or four different jobs, no matter how tedious something might be, if John was there, it was fun.” John was also described by his friends and family as loyal, playful, gentle, and easygoing. On September 10th, John had celebrated his ninth wedding anniversary. The next morning, he got ready for another day of work at the World Trade Center. John worked as a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. On the morning of September 11, 2001, John was working on the 105th floor when Flight 11 struck the North Tower, leaving his floor and all of Cantor’s offices above the impassable impact zone. None of the firm’s attending employees survived the attack, including John. Though his life was unfairly taken on September 11th, John’s vibrant spirit lives on forever in love, memory, and legacy. He will never be forgotten