Each year, members of the Knights of Columbus conduct a program called Faith in Action with pro-life efforts as a part of the program.
With January as pro-life month, the Knights of Columbus Council #5168 joined with parishioners at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Marlow and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Duncan to promote the right to life.
“We wanted to do something for our community. We chose Charis Center in Duncan,” explained Michael Heim, grand knight of council #5168. “Charis is more than just a pregnancy center. It is a ministry. Their mission is to glorify God by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and upholding the sanctity of human life. 85 percent of women considering abortion have a change of heart when they see the ultrasound of their unborn child.”
Kimberla Treat, executive director for the Charis Center, said the center offers pregnancy testing, options counseling, ultrasound, prenatal and parenting classes, a baby boutique for baby items, abortion recovery and classes for dads.
“We are so thankful for Michael and the local Knights of Columbus. The money raised will go toward the purchase of a new ultrasound,” Treat said.
The council and parishioners used baby bottles to fill with loose change.
“We collected $2,000 to assist in the upgrading of the ultrasound machine, which the Knights donated to Charis a few years ago,” Heim said. “Our council and our parishioners are praying for an end to abortion with our pastor Father Peter Jandaczek.”
Jolene Schonchin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.