On July 9, 2021, Past State Deputy, David Peters, was honoured for the opportunity to present to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur and Josefina Cruz the Family of the Year Award. He did so, on behalf of the Ontario State Council of the Knights of Columbus. Present in the pictures are the Cruz family, Grand Knight of Council 15922, Oscar Aran and Immediate Past State Deputy, David Peters.
Brother Arthur has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus and has served the order for 22-years. The couple celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary March of this year and are blessed with two lovely daughters, Maricel and Maribel.
Arthur and Josefina have always been avid supporters of Council 9553, and now Council 15922 churches and community events (either contributing services, money or food) – Church Coffee Sundays, selling Council’s lottery tickets for fundraising, Car Raffles, family picnics, Christmas Party, Life Chain, 5th Sunday Rosary Program, Rosary Rally, Birthright, Neighbor to Neighbor, St. Vincent de Paul, Rose Sunday, Development & Peace, and also encouraging parishioners and others to join the Knights of Columbus.
The family is tightly knit. Even though one of the daughters lives and works in the United States they visit each other alternately as much as they can whether there is a special occasion or not. The other daughter and her family visit the sister with them if possible.
The family attends weekly mass together and any other holy days of obligation. They pray the Rosary together, even involving their grandchildren with the Mysteries. Arthur and Josie attend Mass almost every day at churches that offer them. More often than not, their TV viewing times are focused on EWTN and other religious programs.
Aside from their involvement with the order, both couples have served at the Jail Ministry in Hamilton since 1992 with Arthur driving the Legion of Mary volunteers. They are involved with the School Apostolate at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Elementary School, where twice monthly they teach JK, SK, Grade One & Two how to pray the Rosary, Catechism for Children, and the importance of church attendance and proper behaviour. They are also long-time members of the Legion of Mary and serve as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, involved in baptismal and confirmation preparations, bringing communion to the sick, not to mention that they were now “assigned” to do some laundering of sacramental linens including fine church linens, communion veils, altar cloths, purificators, baptism towels, linens for the mass and more. Their contributions to the parish and church community are not just spiritual but also financial in addition to countless volunteer hours.