The Knights of Columbus recently reported that they helped to keep an Arizona priests' retreat open in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tuscon was required to cancel events from April through June and will likely be inactive throughout the majority of July as well. Fortunately, the Knights from Our Lady of the Desert Council 15704 helped to raise nearly $50,000 to keep the center open. 

Fr. Ed Vella, who is a knight and rector at Our Lady of the Desert Conventual Church, said that the center has been a blessing to many priests who are in need of rest and reflection. While the center did get some help from the Paycheck Protection Program, it was not enough to keep all of their employees on the payroll. A number of employees who were able to stay with the center donated their salaries to help keep the center running.  

Knights of Columbus' Our Lady of the Desert Council Treasurer Ray Obral (from left); Chaplain Fr. Ed Vella; and Grand Knight George Horton display a donation. | KofC.org

The Knights of Columbus’ council treasurer, Ray Obral, explained that they felt compelled to do something to help the center stay open. Basically draining their bank account, the Knights gave the center a check for $3,200 and immediately started to ask for donations.  

Through their first round of donations, they were able to raise $14,700 in just days and a matching donor gave another $3,200, later donating again in the balance of $25,000.  

“It’s true, they saw a need and they jumped,” Vella said in an article on the Knights of Columbus website. “Without them, I really don’t know what would have happened here. But they took ownership of this renewal center and they are part of the Redemptorist family. I’m very proud to be acting as the council chaplain.”