MADISON — Knights of Columbus Council 4527 has donated its building located at 5256 Verona Rd. in Fitchburg to Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison to enhance the ministry of the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC).
The Diocese of Madison has approved the transfer of the building.
The satellite location, to be known as the Catholic Multicultural Center West, will house the CMC’s expanding Culinary Creations Catering job training social enterprise. The satellite will also serve as a means for other CMC services to reach the neighborhoods around the building.
The Knights’ donation is actually following the advice of Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who last November delivered a call for “cultural change” within the order. He asked Knights to work more closely with local parishes and encouraged them to gift buildings like clubhouses to parishes.
“We are very grateful to the Knights of Columbus for their generous gift of their clubhouse to the ministry of the Catholic Multicultural Center under the umbrella of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish,” said Msgr. Ken Fiedler, pastor.
“The Knights of Columbus has always had a ministry to help those most in need. What a wonderful gift in this Year of Mercy.”
Monsignor Fiedler thanked the Knights, CMC Director Andy Russell, the attorneys involved with the transfer, as well as the staff of the diocese and Bishop Robert C. Morlino.
Grateful to Knights
“This gift has been more then a year in the making, and we are so grateful to the Knights of Columbus for their generosity,” said CMC Director Andy Russell.
“We are ready to begin expanding job training to people who have barriers to employment, to give them real job experience through catering in the large kitchen, and to offer other support to our brothers and sisters in need.”
Through the agreement, the Knights of Columbus will continue to meet at the CMC West.
“We are pleased to have this building, which was used for decades by our council, in such capable hands as the CMC and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, and to know the use will be for the benefit of those preparing to find new employment, as well as others in need,” said KC Council 4527 member and Our Lady Queen of Peace parishioner Joe Daniels.
Helping neighbors in need
“A mere seven years after our doors were closed, then reopened by Queen of Peace Parish, we now have more doors to open to the public to serve neighbors in need,” said CMC Assistant Director Steve Maurice.
Since 1946, the CMC has been dedicated to assisting people in need by serving the whole person. To fulfill this mission, the CMC offers a variety of programs and services, such as a daily hot meal, personal essentials pantry, food pantry, employment search assistance, public computer lab, English as a Second Language classes, and much more.
Kitchen renovations at the CMC West for the Culinary Creations program are set to begin shortly. A generous grant from the Goodman Foundation will help fund the renovations.
Culinary Creations offers meaningful employment to individuals who have experienced significant barriers to working, providing experience and development needed to advance culinary careers.
Since emerging as a grassroots enterprise in 2012, Culinary Creations has touched the lives of participants, from offering a path out of homelessness to serving as an employment stepping stone to offering a sense of belonging and purpose.
Donations to the Catholic Multicultural Center are welcome. For more information, go to https://cmcmadison.org