05/11/2026
Last week, we held our monthly Council meeting, which featured several award presentations, a heartfelt address from one of the six seminarians we supported this year through the RSVP Program, and the election of a full slate of officers for Monsignor John F. Callahan Council 3600.
The meeting began with the presentation of the “Michael A. DeConti Council Leadership Award” which was established in May 2019. We were honored to have the three previous award recipients in attendance: Past Grand Knight Jeff Case, Brother Knight Matt Bintz, and Brother Knight Tony Sisti. Each joined me at the front of the room as Grand Knight Frank Frisoli conducted the presentation.
Past Grand Knight Jeff Case served as Grand Knight from 2013 through 2018, holding the record for the most consecutive terms as Grand Knight in our Council’s history. During his leadership, he introduced our Council to the sandwich-making program for the House of Bread, a ministry that continues today. Under his direction, the Council set a record by making and donating 1,600 sandwiches in a single day to shelters throughout Hartford. Jeff also brought Anthony Sullo of Joey’s Pizza into partnership with the Council to support the Reverend Arthur J. Murphy Seminarian Dinner. Throughout his tenure, Jeff played a major role in strengthening Council membership and expanding community outreach efforts.
Brother Knight Matt Bintz, an engineer by profession, developed an innovative solution to a long-standing issue in the church — the loud noise caused when kneelers were lowered during quiet moments of the Mass. Matt designed a mechanical modification to soften and quiet the movement of the kneelers. He personally designed and manufactured the necessary parts and led a Council-wide effort to remove, refurbish, and reinstall every kneeler in the church. The project took several months to complete and saved the parish an estimated $50,000 to $80,000. The effort also inspired several parishioners to volunteer alongside the Knights, many of whom later joined our Council.
Prior to COVID, Brother Knight Tony Sisti established a successful partnership with Big Y to support our sandwich-making ministry by providing excess bread and baked goods for local charitable organizations, including Fern Street Church, the St. Thomas the Apostle Food Bank, the Chrysalis Center in Hartford, the House of Bread, and South Park Inn. For more than ten years, Tony personally handled many of the deliveries to these organizations. During the COVID pandemic, he also coordinated and led Council efforts to provide lunches, sandwiches, and treats to several medical units at UConn Medical Center in appreciation of the healthcare workers serving on the front lines.
Grand Knight Frank Frisoli then invited Brother Knight and Past Grand Knight Victor Naleski to join us at the front of the room and shared the reasons for Victor receiving this year’s Council Leadership Award.
Victor was recognized for his outstanding dedication and service to Monsignor John F. Callahan Council 3600. He faithfully served as Grand Knight from 2021 through 2024, providing strong leadership and guidance during those years. He continues to serve with distinction as our Membership Director, successfully recruiting many new members into the Order positioning the Council to receive the Star Council Award.
Victor has also generously volunteered his time and talents to organize and lead the monthly Divine Mercy Holy Hour at Saint Thomas Church. In addition, he faithfully serves as a member of the Honor Guard, helps coordinate the Monday evening Penance Service, and serves as a Eucharistic Minister.
His unwavering commitment, leadership, and willingness to assist his Brother Knights truly exemplify the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism.
Following the presentation, several photos were taken.
