Knights of Columbus, Council 11716
Family of the Year 2021-2022, SK John & Christiana Stich
Background:
Members of Prince of Peace Catholic Community for 20-plus years.
John was asked to serve the Government of Japan (volunteer position) as the “Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Dallas” effective March 2004 until February 2020 (16 years). Part of this selection process was Christiana, since it was made clear that both had to be acceptable to the Government of Japan.
Top priority was to serve the people of Japan.
Examples: lost passports, deaths, police issues, stranded.
Host visitors from the Japanese Embassy and senior officials from Japan.
Answer visa questions, but not responsible to issue visas.
Help Japanese companies interested to do business in this area.
Participate in cultural events involving Japan, sometimes giving comments/speeches.
Both participated in CRHP. John, CRHP-2; Christiana, CRHP-4.
John had served on the Pastoral Council for three years.
Christiana taught yoga at PoP from 2001 to 2019 with the blessing of Fr. Jim and of Fr. Tom.
John participated on the Sister Parish Steering Committee for close to 20 years.
John visited El Progresso/Las Mercedes in 2004 to fix the visa problem with the US government so that visitors Las Mercedes/El Progresso could visit PoP in Plano.
Both visited El Progresso to honor Fr. Ramon’s anniversary of joining the Jesuits.
John joined the Knights of Columbus more than 10 years ago, and achieved the 4th Degree.
Established a Knights presence in the PoP weekly Bulletin and made Knights announcements every week for over four years.
Started discussions to establish a Knights presence on the PoP website.
Update:
Knights Activities:
Serve Assembly 3642 as Two-Year Trustee.
At the monthly Knights Breakfast, set up the waffle and pancake stations, including the pancake and waffle batters. Christiana and John support other jobs at the breakfast, as needed.
Recommend, prepare, and issue monthly awards for the Knight of the Month and the Knight Family of the Month. Have been doing the Knight Award since 2015 and the Knight Family Award since 2018. This includes uploading the Awards onto the Knights website.
Organized, planned, and disposed of the Knights Awards on the Awards Wall, keeping records of each award and its distribution. Will propose the new Awards Wall when it becomes available.
Assist and support fund raising activities:
American Wheelchair Mission.
Right to Life and Walk.
Tamale sales
Bingo
Visited Pueblo, Mexico to distribute wheelchairs to needy children through the CRIT.
Helped to unload the wheelchairs from the truck, both times, in the PoP parking lot.
Helped at the Free Throw Contest to select representatives from PoP School.
Other PoP Activities:
Both are involved members of Honor Our Heroes.
Both serve as Eucharistic Ministers.
Both are active in Empty Nesters.
Dallas Diocese/UTD:
John has been a Member of the UTD Executive Board for the past 2+ years.
The Diocese has recently established the “University Catholic Center” adjacent to the university (address is 2105 Waterview). Deacon John O’Leary and Fr. Stephen Ingram have been involved with this project. Fr. Tymo (resident at PoP) is now the Chaplain at this Center.
The Diocese has established a fundraising committee and I have joined it to help guide this process to raise the $4,000,000 required to buy the building, to modify it and to support the initial start-up costs.
John received an Imperial Decoration, The Order of the Rising Sun with Gold Rays and Neck Ribbon, in September 2021, in recognition of his years of service to enhance relationships between the people of the United States and of Japan at many different levels.
Please join me in congratulating and celebrating the service of SK John & Christiana Stich, the 2021-2022 Family of the Year.