After 100 years of charity work and fellowship in the Shenango Valley, members of the Knights of Columbus Sharon Council 684 is preparing for another successful century and promoting understanding of their organization.

Pat Reda, grand knight, and his son, Phil Reda, deputy grand knight, said they want the public to understand the function of the Knights of Columbus. Knights of Columbus are not a social organization, the Redas said.

The Knights of Columbus was formed as an organization in 1882 but the Sharon council formed in June 1902. The organization was formed to protect the wives of fallen members who died in war, because of famine or for other reasons, Phil Reda said. He said the Knights of Columbus hold certain ideals such as spirituality and service to the church and the community. "Our core motto is charity," he said.

As a charity organization, the Knights of Columbus sponsors scholarships, helps local families in need, sponsors sporting events and buys Christmas gifts for needy families, Reda said. He said activities concerned with the welfare of youth are very important to the organization.

"Most of the work we do we do anonymously. We don't seek to promote our cause. We work to promote charity," Reda said.

Knights of Columbus has sponsored a north Sharon Little League team since the first year the area had a team, Rosie Bianco, a 30-year member, said. "We're proud of that."

Bianco said most people don't know about the charitable activities done by the Knights of Columbus which is part of the reason why the community doesn't understand what the organization is about.

Members of the Knights of Columbus must be Catholic, men and at least 18-years-old. The Sharon council is trying to recruit more young men into the organization.

"Our goal, as a Sharon council, is to really secure a strong place in the community for another 100 years," Reda said.

"Because of the dedication of our oldest members we have been able to survive (as an organization)," Pat Reda said.

Bianco said it's harder to get young men involved because many families now have both parents working and family takes up a lot of time.

Larry Schweiss, a 40-year member of the organization, agreed with Bianco that people have more things to take up their time now than in the past.

"There are so many things to do today that the need isn't really there for the people to have something to do. They've got hundreds of things to do now that we didn't have 30 or 40 years ago," Schweiss said.

He emphasized that members of the Knights of Columbus must be willing to participate and be supportive of activities. "You have to really want to join. To get something out of it you have to put something into it," he said.

Several years ago the organization moved their headquarters from State Street to Division Street because of the declining membership, Reda said.

"I think it's great that we've existed for that long," Larry Schweiss said. Schweiss said he's been a member of the Knights of Columbus for about 40 years and has seen ups and downs in the membership.

Schweiss said he joined the Knights of Columbus because his father was a member and the community oriented agenda appealed to him. "We're the right arm of the Church," he said.

A special mass that is open to the public will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Church, 40 S. Irvine Ave., Sharon, to commemorate the anniversary of the Knights of Columbus.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com