Happy New Year! Did you know that our Knights of Columbus Council will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year since it was founded? Although we no longer have any of the original members in our council, we have several Brothers who have been members for over 50 years. Paul Monahan has 68 years of service, Elmer Marry (68 years), John Marry (59 years), Charlie Veneros (59 years), William Marry (57 years), Duane Marry (55 years), Joe Kimling (54 years), and Jim Friedrich (54 years). Currently, our council has 83 total members. The official name of our council is the “Bishop Henry E. Donnelly Council
No. 3221.” I did a little Google search to find out more about who Bishop Donnelly was and why our council is named after him. It didn’t take long to find something.
First of all, this is his picture taken about 1955. Bishop Donnelly was born in Hudson in 1904 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on August 17, 1930. The information I found implies that he was ordained in our very own Sacred Heart Church. On September 6, 1954 Pope Pius XII appointed him as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Detroit. That was before the Diocese of Lansing was founded, so Sacred Heart was part of the Diocese of Detroit. He was consecrated a bishop by Cardinal Edward Mooney on October 26, 1954. Detroit auxiliary bishop Alexander M. Zaleski is listed as a co-
consecrator. Bishop Zaleski eventually became the Bishop of the Lansing Diocese in 1965 until his death in 1975. Bishop Donnelly continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop of Detroit until his death on November 4, 1967 at the age of 63. I’m still searching for his cause of death. Bishop Donnelly is buried at the Dominican Sisters Cemetery in Adrian.
After Christmas, I will research (with Tammy’s help) for the Baptismal record of Bishop Donnelly at Sacred Heart. There is a very good chance we have a forgotten piece of history to add to the list of priests and sisters who grew up and worshiped in our church.
Kimberly and I wish all of you a very Blessed and Happy New Year!
Deacon John