Knight Digest
Council #4504
1034 Jeanette Avenue
Union, New Jersey 07083
(908-686-4504
It is with great regret to inform all the passing of Sir Knight Frank Santanglo. Frank retired from the New York District of the Army Corp of Engineers, was K of C Council #4504 Former Finance Secretary, former Kitchen Manager, former Bar Manager. Frank created the latest Council Perpetual Memorial Board and helped build the large manger display that we assemble at townhall each Christmas season. For many years Frank A. Santangelo cooked the food at the yearly Knights of Columbus Convention in Wildwood. He also prepared the meals for the Thursday Dinner with the Columbiettes 4504, many Past Grand Knights Dinners and other events. Our thoughts and prayers to Frank and his family. Frank it was a honor to know you. Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord and let Perpetual Light shine upon him.
Exemplification of Patriotism and Military Ball
First New Jersey District
Exemplification of Patriotism & Military Ball
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Exemplification Ceremony
Location: St. Gerard’s R.C. Church Address: 501 W Broadway, Paterson, NJ Time: 1:00 PM
The First New Jersey District invites all eligible Knights to participate in the Exemplification of Patriotism, the ceremonial step to becoming a Fourth Degree Sir Knight.
Military Ball
Location: New La Neves Banquet Hall Address: 276 Belmont Avenue, Haledon, NJ Time: Immediately following the Exemplification.
Join us for an evening of fellowship, celebration, and patriotic pride as we honor the principles of the Fourth Degree.
Interested in Becoming a Sir Knight?
If you are a 3rd Degree Knight in good standing and wish to advance to the 4th Degree, please contact any JFK Assembly Officer to express your interest. We will gladly arrange an interview and guide you through the process.
Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming new Sir Knights into our Assembly.
Sir Knight Raymond Gora, PFN
Recipient of The Chapel of Four Chaplains Award
On February 1st, Sir Knight Raymond Gora, PFN was honored with The Chapel of Four Chaplains Award, presented in recognition of extraordinary service to community, country, and faith. He was nominated by the Vietnam Veterans Association for his lifelong commitment to helping others.
Military Service
Ray served in the United States Marine Corps (1967–1969), including 16 months in Da Nang, Vietnam. His distinguished service earned him numerous honors:
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Nomination for Marine of the Month
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Combat Action Ribbon
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Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V”
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Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
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National Defense Service Medal
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Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1969 device
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Meritorious promotion to Sergeant
He later received the State of New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal and the Vietnam 25th Anniversary Commemorative Medal.
From 1968–1975, Ray sponsored an orphan, Nguyen thi Cong, at the China Beach Orphanage—an enduring act of compassion that reflects his character.
Faith & Ministry
Ray has been a lecturer at St. Adalbert Church in Elizabeth since 1984. He taught catechism for 10 years, preparing students for Confirmation.
He has also served as a substitute chaplain at:
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Martland Medical Center (now UMDNJ)
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Presbyterian Hospital, Newark
Whenever the full‑time chaplain was unavailable, Ray stepped in to provide spiritual care and comfort.
Humanitarian & Community Service
Ray’s service extends far beyond his parish:
International Mission Work
He volunteered in Bolivia (13,000 ft elevation), providing medical care with supplies from the Catholic Medical Mission Board. His work included treating:
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Wounds and infections
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Intestinal worms
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Tuberculosis
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Yellow fever
Hospice & Local Aid
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Served 15 years on the Board of Trustees of Hudson Hospice, Inc.
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Helped distribute 7.5 million pounds of food to 53,785 households across multiple New Jersey communities
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Supported events offering free COVID‑19 testing and vaccinations
Public Service
From 2008–2023, Ray served as Senior Program Development Specialist for Union County’s Department of Human Services, managing $65 million in HUD grants to support homeless disabled individuals, families, and veterans.
Knights of Columbus
Following in the footsteps of his father, Thaddeus, Ray joined the Union Council:
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3rd Degree – 11/24/1976
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4th Degree – 4/22/2012
He immediately joined the Color Corps, faithfully attending wakes, Masses, and parades.
His dedication has earned him:
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Knight of the Year (Council level)
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Senior Citizen of the Year (State level)
As Faithful Navigator (2024–2025), Ray introduced Adoration before each meeting, strengthening the spiritual life of the assembly. He continues to support the assembly generously, including providing dinner after meetings.
A Life of Service
Ray’s life reflects the very ideals honored by the Chapel of Four Chaplains—selflessness, courage, and unwavering devotion to others.
A heartfelt thank‑you to his wife Lilliama and his family for sharing Ray with the community, the Church, and our country.
Congratulations, Sir Knight Raymond Gora, PFN. Your example inspires us all.
Honorary & Honorary Life Memberships
The Supreme Council recognizes Brother Knights who have reached 25 and 50 years of continuous service by granting Honorary and Honorary Life status. Eligible members receive special membership cards acknowledging their dedication to the Order.
Honorary Membership
Brother Knights are designated Honorary Members when they meet the following criteria:
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Age: 65 years or older
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Membership: 25 consecutive years in the Order
Honorary Members are exempt from general fund charges, except for State and Supreme Council per capita assessments.
To cover the New Jersey State Per Capita charge, Honorary Members are assessed $10.00 per year in dues.
Honorary Membership cards are mailed each December to qualifying members along with their annual dues notice.
Honorary Life Membership
A Brother Knight is designated an Honorary Life Member when he meets either of the following:
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Age 70 with 25 consecutive years of membership
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50 consecutive years of membership, regardless of age
Honorary Life Members are fully exempt from:
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Council dues
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State and Supreme Council per capita charges
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All assessments
Additionally, all priests and members of religious communities automatically receive Honorary Life status upon taking their First Degree and are permanently exempt from dues and assessments.
Honorary Life Membership cards are mailed to each member as soon as they are received by the Financial Secretary.
Intellectual Disabilities Drive
The Union Knights have begun this year’s Intellectual Disabilities Drive, and we are grateful for the generosity shown by our parish communities. To date, we have held three drives—one at St. Michael’s and two at Holy Spirit—collecting a total of $2,000.00.
Our Goal
We aim to donate $1,000 each to the following four Union County charities:
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Community Access Unlimited
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ARC of Union County
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Camp Fatima
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Crossroads of Opportunities
These organizations provide essential support and opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Supporting Special Olympics
To fully meet our goal, we must collect an additional 10% beyond the $4,000 total. This extra amount will help support the New Jersey State Knights of Columbus Special Olympics Program.
Across the state, Knights volunteer as:
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Coaches
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Timekeepers
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Trainers
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Cooks and servers during events
Every council in New Jersey participates in this effort, and your support strengthens these statewide initiatives.
More Drives Coming This Spring
We will continue our fundraising efforts with additional drives in the spring. Your participation—whether through volunteering or donating—helps us reach more families and expand our charitable impact.
How to Donate
If you would like to contribute to the Intellectual Disabilities Drive, donations may be sent to:
Knights of Columbus (Include your council name in the memo line)
Your generosity directly supports individuals and families in our community.
1034 Jeanette Ave
Union NJ 07083
C/O IDD Chairman
P.S. On memo line please put Intellectual Disabilities
Food Drive & Roses for Baptisms
Food Drive Ministry
Our council supports a year‑round food drive to assist needy parishioners at St. Michael’s Church and Holy Spirit Church. This ongoing effort also benefits senior citizens in Union, as well as the St. Michael’s (Union) and St. Joseph’s (Elizabeth) Food Pantries.
Your generosity helps ensure that families and seniors in our community never go without essential food items.
How to Help
If you would like to donate non‑perishable food or volunteer in this ministry, please contact:
Chuck Cababe 📱 908‑868‑8114 (call or text)
Roses for Baptisms
Our council celebrates the gift of life by presenting roses to the newly baptized and their families at St. Michael’s Church and Holy Spirit Church. This joyful outreach takes place on the second Sunday of each month, and occasionally on additional Saturdays and Sundays as needed.
This simple gesture brings warmth, welcome, and encouragement to families beginning their child’s journey of faith.
How to Serve
If you would like to participate in this beautiful ministry, please contact:
Chuck Cababe 📱 908‑868‑8114 (call or text)
Our council has a food drive throughout the year for needy parishioners at St. Michaels Church and Holy Spirit Church. It also benefits senior citizens in Union and St. Michael's (Union) and St. Joseph's (Elizabeth) Food Pantries.
If you would like to donate non-perishable food or serve in this ministry, please text or call Chuck Cababe at 908-868-8114.
Knights of Columbus / 4th Degree Apparel...........
If any one is interested in purchasing Knights of Columbus or 4th Degree Apparel, please contact Michael Peter at dd18kofcmwp@gmail.com .
The store will open for the Knights of Columbus merchandise on the second week of February until the final week of February. The store will open for the 4th Degree items to be processed at the end of February to have at our meeting in March. If there are any questions, please contact the above information.
Coats for Kids Program
Through a special program offered by the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, our council is able to purchase brand‑new winter coats for children in need within Holy Spirit Parish and St. Michael’s Parish. These coats are distributed directly to families who need help keeping their children warm during the winter season.
How You Can Help
A box of 12 new coats costs $285, which is less than $25 per coat. Your support—whether large or small—helps ensure that every child has a warm coat this winter.
We gratefully accept donations of any amount, but we encourage those who are able to consider donating $25 or more to cover the cost of one brand‑new coat.
How to Donate
By Mail
Send monetary donations to:
Union Knights of Columbus
134 Jeanette Ave
Union, NJ 07083 Attn: Steve Nagy, PGK
Please make checks payable to: Union Knights of Columbus Write “Coats for Kids” on the memo line.
In Person
Cash donations may be given to Steve Nagy, PGK at the Council meetings.
Parish Designation
If you would like your donation to support a specific parish, please indicate:
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Holy Spirit Parish, or
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St. Michael’s Parish
If no parish is specified, your donation will be split evenly between both.
More Information
For questions or additional details, please contact:
Steve Nagy, PGK 📞 (908) 967‑9060 📧 toys4504@aol.com
Help Us Make a Difference
Your generosity helps us provide the gift of warmth to children who need it most. Thank you for helping us make a meaningful impact this winter.
JFK Fourth Degree Assembly # 0666
Greetings to readers of this publication.
I have been invited by the publisher to report on News of the JFK assembly 0666. I am Andrew WNUKOWSKI, (Hard to pronounce), Six time Grand Knight of the Hillside JFK council , and currently the Faithful Navigator, (CEO, to those uninitiated) of our assembly, which encompasses, the councils of Union, Springfield, and Hillside. Our Officer staff is composed of Sir Knights belonging to Hillside and Union councils. We hope to include some from Springfield in the future.
The mission of the 4th Degree is support of patriotism and the military and veterans.
Examples of our activities include:
Ceremonial presentations of American flags, as replacements for those worn out or damaged, to Catholic schools and other entities, participation in religious ceremonies of note, in ceremonies celebrating Veterans, deceased and living, seeking funding for and implementing placement of wreaths and flags on veteran’s graves, funding for unidentified and unclaimed deceased veterans, and on and in.
We are pleased for this opportunity to submit our cause to this publication.
May You all have a Blessed, safe and Wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
Officer Installation
Congratulations to the newly installed Officers of Knights of Columbus Council 4504!
On November 16th, at St. Michael’s Church, our council came together for the Installation of Officers ceremony. Surrounded by family, friends, and brother Knights, each officer proudly accepted the responsibility of serving our parish, community, and council with faith, unity, and commitment.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this meaningful event.
JFK Fourth Degree Assembly Flag Presentation
On Friday November 7th, Sir Knights of the JFK Assembly held a Flag replacement ceremony at St. Michael School in Union to retire it's worn Flag. Sir Knights and community members gathered together at 9am. Our Faithful Friar Fr. John Gordon blessed the new flag with the following groups present. The JFK Assembly Color Corp with acting commander SK Raymond PFN and SK Ralph Genova. The Union Fire Department. They were happy to assist in dislodging the old Flag last month, so we were able to replace. Thanks to Filomena Zalewski the School Secretary for organizing the school children to be present and part of the ceremony. Thanks to SK Steve Nagy PGK PFN for organizing this event and for the photos. The old Flag will be properly retired by the VFW Kelly Post Union NJ. God Bless America.
