TAYLORS—A new Columbian Squires circle offers young Catholic men in the Upstate a way to nurture their faith, learn leadership skills and make new friends in the process.
Holy Trinity 5578 Squires Circle started in the spring and is based at Prince of Peace Church in Taylors. It’s supervised by the Knights of Columbus Council 9184.
The Squires, open to Catholic boys and young men ages 10-18, were established by Christian Brother Barnabas McDonald and Supreme Director Daniel A. Tobin in Connecticut in August 1925. Brother Barnabas originally said the supreme purpose of the organization was to build character, and that is still one of its main goals. The Squires’ motto is Esto Dignus which means Be Worthy.
Bill Larkin, Supreme Knight of Council 9184, led the effort to start the local council. The group was active in the New Jersey parish where he became a Knight in the ’80s, he said. He thought young men could benefit from the mix of spiritual, social and community service activities.
“It’s an opportunity for kids from public schools to meet with others who go to Catholic schools, to get to know each other and do things together,” Larkin said.
Meetings are held monthly.
Jordan Edenfield, 16, holds one of the leadership positions.
“I like it because I can get more involved in the church, and it’s one more thing that can help me be active in my faith,” he said. “I also really like doing community service.”
Edenfield said the Squires are organizing their first big community service project, a competitive community food drive set for July 28. Four neighborhoods around Greenville will compete to see who can collect the most canned goods for the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s food pantry at Prince of Peace.
Jim Conway, chief counselor for the circle, said they hope to recruit more members and help create other circles around the diocese. The only other established Squires’ circle is in Greer, with fledgling groups in Columbia and Charleston.
“We’d love to see more circles around the state because this organization really teaches the kids leadership,” Conway said. “The young people elect their own officers, run their meetings and decide the kind of projects they want to work on.”
Read more in the July 26 edition of The Miscellany