Date: Fri 20-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Knights-of-Columbus-Dennen

Full Text:

Grand Knight Of The Year: Mark Dennen

Mark Dennen of Sandy Hook has been selected by the 28,000-member Connecticut

State Knights of Columbus for the honor of "Grand Knight of the Year."

Mr Dennen is the grand knight of Virgilius Council No 185 at St Rose of Lima,

one of 150 councils in the state. Elected annually for a term of one year, the

grand knight is the highest ranking officer at the local level of the Catholic

men's organization. Mr Dennen has served as grand knight for two years.

Under his leadership, Council 185 experienced unprecedented growth in

membership and activities. Membership, which had been level for the past six

years, suddenly grew by 25 people in just six months. From 85 members last

July, the council now has more than 110 members.

During the past two years the council installed a monument to the unborn at

the church, erected a large wooden cross behind the school field, participated

in a free throw championship and a vocations poster contest, ran a successful

candy sale to benefit the retarded, sponsored a seminarian and sponsored a

charity basketball game between the Knights and the St Rose Home and School

Association which had a profit of $4,100.

Under Mr Dennen's leadership, the council also established a community support

program called "...at our Gate" which takes on projects that serve people of

all faiths throughout the community. On any weekend, Knights can be found

doing a myriad of tasks ranging from cutting and stacking firewood to

insulating the home of a senior citizen.

Mr Dennen is the national sales manager and corporate director for JSR

Microelectronics. He lives on Old Green Road with his wife, Susan, and their

children, Patrick, 16, and Erin, 12.