Knights name Kleckers Family of the Year
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The Knights of Columbus Father Werner Council 7057 recently named Tom and Meg Klecker as Family of the Year. The Kleckers exemplify service to the church and community and are loved and respected by many. The Klecker family teaches us the value of responsible Christian living. They generously serve each other and others with love that extends out to their church and the community. Tom has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 32 years. Tom and Meg have been married for 44 years. They are the proud parents of two children, Thomas and Shannon. They have five delightful grandchildren.
In the greater community is where Tom and Meg serve with passion and a caring attitude for all they encounter. They work with Hospice programs, both Tom and Meg working with the Heartland group and Tom serving both for the St. Cloud Hospital and the Quiet Oaks Care Facility. Tom and Meg spearheaded an annual Food Shelf Drive in St. Joseph which has greatly provided food items for the needy of the St. Joseph Area. Tom and Meg support prolife in a variety of ways. They most recently participated in the prayer vigil in front of the St. Cloud Planned Parenthood Office in support of the 40 days of Life program. Tom and Meg also recently hosted a gathering at the American Legion showing the DVD from the National Geographic titled “In the Womb,” the beautiful journey of a child from the moment of conception to birth using revolutionary 3-D and 4-D ultrasound imagery. Tom is and has been for several years a member of the Diocesan Clergy Abuse Victims Advocate program. He is also a member of the Men of Birthline and served on the Birthline Board of Directors for six years. In addition, at the diocesan level, Tom and Meg have worked for passage of the marriage amendment. Tom contributed to the making of a film for engaged couples. He also helped design an inventory for the “Fully Engaged” program that the Office of Marriage and Family designed and implemented in the diocese to help engaged couples prepare for their sacramental union. Tom is a member of the Knights of the Breakfast Table, a men’s group dedicated to reading spiritual books and prayer. In all respects they are stellar community servants. Tom and Meg effectively reach out to other faith communities to coordinate activities that support values of life and love of neighbor.
Tom and Meg are active in the Knights of Columbus. You usually see them working as a team. Tom supports the mission and ideals of the Knights by distributing “Roses for Life” helping the council raise money for pro life causes. He volunteers time at our fundraiser, the hamburger stand, helping to raise money for our charitable giving. Tom also distributes Tootsie Rolls to raise funds in support of the mentally disadvantaged.
In our church, Tom and Meg serve tirelessly. For the Parish 4th of July Festival, Tom and Meg served as general chairs and have for years volunteered at various stands and activities. They serve together with the parish’s Befrienders Program. Tom serves on the CAB – Pastoral Ministries Committee, and was on the adhoc committee to review the church’s constitution. Tom and Meg are part of the group of couples that minister to engaged couples of the parish with the sponsor couple program. Meg is the coordinator for eucharistic ministers for the parish and both Tom and Meg are eucharistic ministers. Tom and Meg generously support Christ the King Retreat Center by both being captains to encourage members of the parish to attend a silent retreat. Tom and Meg are part of a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Community serving as community leaders for years. Tom is on the parish cemetery board. Tom and Meg sing regularly with the Resurrection Choir.
The Kleckers richly deserve the distinction of Family of the Year because of their selfless generosity and service to others. This honor is bestowed on them because of the manner they support church beliefs as well as showing others the value of stewardship of their time, talent and treasure. Tom and Meg stand firm in support of the unborn and respect of the aged. We as a council applaud their strong and unwavering support of Catholic values and the Knights of Columbus tenets of unity, charity and fraternity.
Meg and Tom Klecker were recently named Family of the Year by the St. Joseph Knights of Columbus Father Warner Council 7057.
Meghan Murphy, daughter of Brian and Robbin Murphy of St. Joseph, will participate as a St. Cloud State University student in the Herberger Business School’s education abroad program in Australia during May. Participating students examine economic globalization issues in a range of business and social settings. Students will gain historical and contemporary perspectives on life in Australia while they make normal progress toward the completion of their degrees. Student coursework includes the Australia Educational Tour, which is made up of on-site business visits, economic and cultural briefings, and lectures by subject-matter experts.
David Flynn, a freshman from St. Joseph, was among a contingent of University of Dallas students and campus ministers that traveled to Kansas City, Mo. in March for this year’s Alternative Spring Break. While there, the group volunteered with A Simple House, an organization that serves, according to their mission statement, “the poorest of the poor,” helping prepare and deliver meals to homeless people and to repair the house that serves as a base for the group’s ministry. During ASB, students participate in service-oriented activities that meet spiritual needs and provide personal enrichment. Preparation for ASB takes place in various ways, including an application and interview process. Once selected, the group of students goes through a faith formation process and learns the organization’s pillars – service, prayer, simplicity and community. The students also raise funds to cover the trip expenses, and attend a day-long retreat before they leave for their assigned location.
Jazmin Brattensborg, a junior at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and daughter of Jackie and Paul Brattensborg of St. Joseph, was awarded a certificate of achievement for the best performance in the subject of marketing from Bond University, Gold Coast Queensland, Australia, where she studied for the 2012 fall semester. She achieved the highest overall grade in her class. Students must achieve a “High Distinction” (85 percent or above) to be eligible for this award.
