The Christian 49'ers

Let the amazing story be told!

In the early months of 1981, Council 7449 of the Germantown Knights Columbus held a membership drive at OLPH chapel. After the 9:00AM mass one Sunday, Paul Cardelli, P.G.K., was standing in the back handing out info about the Knights of Columbus. A parishioner by the name of Mrs. Frulla, approached Brother Cardelli and gave him a check for $75.00 in honor of her deceased husband and said that more donations would be coming. The $75.00 was used to purchase a crucifix which adorns a wall in the Council chamber; however, Mr. Cardelli and the Council 7449 members were unsure if the Council could or should accept monetary donations or even own property.

Brother Cardelli inquired to the Supreme Council and was informed that Council 7449 could NOT own property, but could form a separate corporation affiliated with Council 7449 which could then own property. He then discussed the idea with Father Elliot, OLPH Pastor and Council 7449 Chaplain, who gave his approval. An Officer's Meeting was held to discuss the matter, where the motion to form an affiliate corporation for Council 7449 was approved pending further approval by the Council at large. This motion was ultimately approved by the Council body, with the by-laws later approved on January 18, 1981. The new corporation, called "Germantown Knights of Columbus Christian 49'ers", was officially incorporated in the state of Tennessee on May 5, 1981 as a 501,c,(3) tax-exempt organization allowed to solicit the public for donor tax deductible donations. The name was given by Fr. Elliot, inspired by the Council number 7449 and envisioning that the Council would pioneer Catholic Faith in their community just as the 49'ers of old pioneered gold in the fields of California.