Mary Star of the Sea

Knights of Columbus Virginia State Council
 

This Knight is a committed and practicing Catholic who serves as an altar server, lector, and usher for the church. As an example of his selfless service, he was part of a two-man crew that spent over 720 man-hours, painting the inside of the fourteen (14) room church rectory which had not been painted in over 20 years. Before the painting, he prepped walls, caulking, sanding, and painting the ceiling and walls of the rectory. The crew worked around the priests living in the rectory by only being able to paint one or two rooms at a time and then moving furniture to start again. The nominee and his cohort also contributed over 50-man hours assisting in revitalizing the back deck (porch), repairing wood, pressure washing, and staining the area.

This Knight also was part of a crew that used wood pews from an old Catholic church to design, construct, stain, and install three cabinets for the church vestry. Using his woodworking skills, he detailed these cabinets to hold the priests' wardrobes. And,along with family members who are also Knights, repaired and remade crosses for the unborn. These crosses were then displayed on the church grounds.

He and his wife have been married over forty (40) years and are the ideal couple representing the Catholic faith, supporting each other in their Catholic faith, and are an example to others with God as center in their lives. They have raised their four children within the church. During their children's formative years, he was a religious life educator. Because of his example, the nominee is now helping raise his grandchildren in the Catholic faith.

He participates in Defend Life Day in Richmond. He participated in positive meetings with state delegates to discuss the proposed legislation that would negatively oppose the Catholic teachings.

He participated in the 40 DAYS FOR LIFE Vigil, at the local Medical Center for Women, where he has prayed the Rosary, distributed literature, and helped educate uninformed mothers-to-be about different options available in times of unwanted pregnancies.

He is his Council's Program Director, Fundraising Committee Chairman and the point of contact for organizations outside of the Council. He has chaired the Rosary Program, Spiritual Reflection, Holy Hour, Consecration to the Holy Family, March for Life, Pregnancy Center Support, and Novena for Life. In all programs, not just the ones he chairs, his advanced planning, follow through, and organizational skills have ensured that the programs ran smoothly.

This Knight has spent his life volunteering for community activities in his own and surrounding communities as a "cheerleader".  As he says, "there are so many great things going on in communities that people don't know about.”

It is our great pleasure to recognize the Knight of the Year for the Virginia State Council – Neal A. Lineberry, Jr., nominated by Mary Star of the Sea Council 511, Hampton, Grand Knight James R. Crocker.

KNIGHT OF THE YEAR  2022
NEAL LINEBERRY
Mary Star of the Sea Council 511