WV Knights of Columbus "Keep Christ in Christmas"

08/20/2025

It is time to order your 2025 Christmas cards from Keep Christ in Christmas, LLC. September 25, 2025 is the deadline to order your case of cards at a discounted price. Refer to the 2025 order blank and brochures to start your order. Contact Stan Taylor @ [email protected] for more information.

08/20/2025

Dear Worthy Brother Knights,
I have three points to make in this email. First, let this serve as a reminder that the deadline to order cases of Christmas cards from Keep Christ in Christmas, LLC at a discounted price is September 25. I must have your order by September 25th for you to receive the discount.
Secondly, I am writing to remind you of the need for more councils and parishes to participate in the Boxes of Joy gift program. Follow the link provided to learn more about the Boxes of Joy program coordinated by Cross Country Outreach. https://crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy/ The program provides Christmas gifts to children in third world countries who may never receive a Christmas gift. I talked with Dr. Bryan Kozik, Grand Knight of Elkins Council 603 to learn more about a successful Box of Joy program in West Virginia. The points he made are as follows;
• It is not too late to register with Cross Country Outreach. The contact person is Dawn
Kaszubowski.
• The timeline for the program is fixed. Register over the summer, distribute the boxes in September/October and collect the boxes in November. Box of Joy drop off centers usually collect boxes in mid-November and prepare the boxes for shipping to Cross Country Outreach.
• St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Elkins and St. Vincent de Paul in Berkeley Springs, WV serve as a drop off centers for West Virginia. However, we not only need more councils and parishes to participate in the program, but we also need more drop off centers in the state. Follow the link I have provided to register as a drop off center. https://crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy/drop-off-centers/
• Dr. Kozik recommends 4-6 volunteers to distribute and collect the boxes. They will also pack and prepare them for shipping. One person needs to be present for the box pick up.
• Dr. Kozik recommends that you recruit as many brothers as possible. Allow them to take ownership of the program. Duties can range from distributing and collecting the boxes, advertising the program, making announcements, and publishing the program in your church bulletin.
Last but not least, Ashley Stinnett, Deputy Grand Knight of the Hurricane, WV council serves as the national engagement officer with Cross Catholic Outreach in West Virginia. He can be reached at [email protected].
I strongly encourage your parish and council to participate in this program. Proverbs 19:17 states “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord.”
Need more convincing??? Watch the following video.
https://youtu.be/TIc43JV0qo4

Vivat Jesus,
Stan Taylor, Chairman
Keep Christ in Christmas

Box of Joy is a ministry of Cross Catholic Outreach. Learn more at www.boxofjoy.org.Cross Catholic Outreach, a 501(c)(3), is an official Catholic ministry th...

08/12/2025

Please help the WV Knights of Columbus spread the news about the Box of Joy program. It is not too late to Sign up today through the Cross Country Catholic Outreach web site.
Delivering food, shelter and hope to the poorest of the poor.

Box of Joy provides teachers, parish leaders and other Catholic groups a unique opportunity for students, parishioners and group members to participate in a ...

08/12/2025

Dear Brothers in Christ,
The Cross Country Catholic Outreach program delivers food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor.
I am writing to you today to bring your attention to the Box of Joy Christmas program because every child deserves a Christmas Gift. Box of Joy ® gifts are Christmas gifts sent to children in developing countries like Haiti, Malawi and the Dominican Republic. Filled with toys, clothing, school supplies, a rosary and The Story of Jesus, these gifts represent Christ’s love. Your donation will demonstrate Christ’s compassion to a child who may have never received a Christmas gift. Help the Cross Country Catholic Outreach team of joy-makers reach more children and families more than ever before by participating in the Box of Joy program. Your parish’s or councils’ participation will have a lasting impact because it addresses critical needs in Christ’s name. Take a few minutes and watch the YouTube video to learn more about the Box of Joy program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j5XBiPnSmM
If you copy and paste the following link in your browser it will take you to the Box of Joy web page. From there you can begin the process of joining the program. The WV Council of the Knights of Columbus encourages every parish or council to participate in the vital outreach program. https://crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy/ Your participation will strengthen the Cross Country Catholic Outreach program and its ability to impact the lives of needy children around the world. Once you register a Project Leader Kit will be shipped to you. In the kit you will find empty shoeboxes and all the information you need to conduct a successful program.
I will be forwarding more information to encourage you to participate in the coming weeks. The critical first step is for you to register at Cross Country Catholic Outreach and begin the process. The page provides you with a step-by-step guide to help you have a successful program. Don’t delay, sign up today.
Vivat Jesus,
Stan Taylor, Chairman
Keep Christ in Christmas
WV Knights of Columbus

04/02/2025

Please make note: All posters submitted to the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council become property of the Supreme Council, and will not be returned. It is stated clearly on the entry blank.

12/29/2024

Announcing the 2024 winners of the West Virginia Knights of Columbus Council's Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest. Congratulations to all the winners and participants.

08/24/2024

Announcing the 2024 “Keep Christ in Christmas” card ordering information. Each council in West Virginia has been sent order blanks and publicity flyers so they can order Christmas cards during the 2024 campaign. Cards are available in English as well as ethnic languages. The deadline to order cases of cards at a discounted rate is September 25, 2024.

08/24/2024

Announcing the Knights of Columbus 2024 “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest. All councils in the state have been forwarded the entry form, rules, eligibility guidelines and directions for submitting the posters for judging. All posters must be submitted by Dec. 3, 2024 in order to be considered for judging.

01/09/2024

Knights of Columbus West Virginia State Council
“Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest winners and participants 2023

The following children and councils are being recognized for their achievement in the 2023 “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest. The age groups ranged from 5 to 14, and the contest was open to children who are members of a parish in West Virginia. Children were judged on how well they portrayed the slogan “Keep Christ In Christmas,” artistic merit and the overall impact of the poster. Congratulations to all the winners and other children who participated. A big thank you is extended to the parents and council leaders for encouraging their children to participate in the contest. In addition to winning an achievement certificate and monetary award, the first and second place winning posters will advance to the national competition. Councils that submitted posters are Elkins Council #603, Weston Council #1415 and Martinsburg Msgr. Council #1169.
Child’s name Placement Council #
Grades 1-2
Audrey Pickens 1st place 1415
Amelia Travis 2nd place 603
Felicity LaMora Participant 603
Emmy Impellizzserl Participant 1169

Grades 3-4
Grant Morgan 1st Place 603
Alexandra Kithcart 2nd Place 1169
Reagan Murphy Participant 1415
Gates Tenney Participant 603
Eva Collier Participant 603

Grades 7-8
Ella Minnich 1st place 1415
Karina Vasyliuk 2nd place 1169
Kolt Crosston Participant 603

12/16/2023

The results are in for the “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest for Knights of Columbus Council #603. Entries were received from St. Patrick’s, St. Brendan’s and Holy Rosary Parishes. The winners and participants were introduced in church this past weekend and the names of the winners and participants are in this coming weekend's bulletin. There were 3 different age groups, and the winning posters advance to the district/regional and possibly to state competition, then finally to the international level. First and second place winners received a monetary award and certificate of achievement, and all participants received a participation certificate. Not all participants and winners are pictured. Thank you to all who took part and those who helped make the contest possible.

11/22/2023

Visit the West Virginia Knights of Columbus Council at
https://www.wvkofc.org/t