NORWALK—When Sister Lucie Monast at Notre Dame needs help she knows who to call. Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council 14360 got the lawn mowers, rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows and went to work. On Saturday, May 30, the “Council 14360 Landscaping Service” cut the grass, mulched, and trimmed hedges on the expansive five acre property.
“I check in with Sister Lucie once a week and she asked if we could help with cutting the lawn and sprucing up the property due to her maintenance staff working long hours due to the COVID pandemic,” said Past Grand Knight and project chairman George Ribellino.
Over the last nine years, the council assisted grounds keeping work which included adding fresh mulch to shrub areas on the outside grounds, power-washing statues and garages, washing of the center’s windows, cleaning of basement and painting.
“Whenever Sister Lucie and Sister Frances need our help, our Brothers are ready to help especially during these challenging times” Grand Knight Anthony Armentano. Armentano went on to say, “We are so glad to help so Sister Lucie and he staff focus on treating the patients.”
Council member and owner of AJ’s Landscaping donated the equipment and mulch to help the council do the job. “A big thanks to Brother AJ for his generosity in donating his equipment and mulch,” said Ribellino. “This helped us finish the job in a timely manner.”
In addition, the council has donated masks for the staff, sent food to the staff to thank them for their service and presented a check for $1,200 to the center to help with PPE for the staff. The funds donated were raised from the council’s Sword & Shield Charity Golf Classic last year.
“I am so proud of our council. Our wonderful men always step up when our community needs us. Sister Lucie has always been supportive of us and it is an honor return the favor,” said Grand Knight Anthony Armentano
Notre Dame Health and Rehabilitation Center is a 60-bed residence, including six private rooms, and located on five landscaped acres in Norwalk is operated under the loving sponsorship of The Sisters of Saint Thomas of Villanova. Their goal is to optimize the quality of life for the chronically ill and convalescent elderly. Notre Dame offers services skilled nursing, rehabilitation, dementia and memory care, post-acute care, recreation therapy, hospice care and discharge planning. Notre Dame has been awarded five stars, the highest ranking from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It has been named by US News & World Report as one of the Best Nursing Homes in CT. For more information go to ndhrehab.org.
The goals of Council #14360 are to perform acts of charity. Providing those in need with a range of support from financial to tactical help in dealing with a wide variety of challenges. Council members work together to foster the founding principles of our order; Charity, Unity, Fraternity & Patriotism. Our goal as a council is to continue to identify specific needs in our community and muster support and help to alleviate these challenges and hardships to the best of our abilities and resources. For more information go to saintmatthewknights.com.
