BLOOMINGTON — The newest Knights of Columbus council in the Diocese of Peoria received its charter Saturday night and officers were installed during ceremonies at St. Patrick’s Church of Merna here.

There are 49 charter members in the Father Joseph Boylan Jr. Council No. 15175, based at the parish on Bloomington’s growing east side, and membership has already grown to 56, according to John Fruin, grand knight.

Following months of organizational efforts, the charter was presented and first officers installed after the 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Church of Merna. A dinner followed the ceremonies at the parish’s Shamrock Hall.

Presiding at the charter ceremonies were Michael Tellman, district deputy, and Donald “Skip” Kinyon, state treasurer.

“It has been a dream of mine this parish would have a Knights of Columbus Council,” said Msgr. Gerald Ward, pastor, after imparting a blessing on the new officers. Msgr. Ward, who will serve as council chaplain, said he looks forward to seeing the benefits to the parish and community as the Knights “do the work of God.”

He told The Catholic Post he is pleased the council has been named for Father Boylan, a former pastor who served St. Patrick’s Parish from 1979 to 1982 when it was based in nearby Merna. Father Boylan, who died in 1989 at the age of 45, had been a Knights of Columbus chaplain as well as a chaplain for the Illinois State Police. He served on the faculty of both Schlarman High School in Danville and Marquette High School, Ottawa, and was the founding pastor of St. Luke’s Parish, Eureka.

“I love the Knights as it presents an opportunity to become more involved in my faith, participate in volunteer efforts for the parish and the community, and build fellowship among the members of the parish,” said Fruin, who has previous experience as a grand knight. He formerly guided Father Thomas Carmody Council 6498 in Normal.

The first event for Council 15175 will be a pancake and sausage breakfast on March 6 in the parish hall.