This story appeared in the Thursday, January 12, 2017, issue of The News Examiner-Enterprise.
After he graduated high school in May of 1953, Gerard Hymel looked for a way to leave a fine legacy. However, few opportunities existed for young people, with limited sports teams and clubs; so, he looked to the Knights of Columbus. The group fascinated Hymel with their vast community projects, all in the name of God. That December, they initiated him to knighthood, an honor normally given to men well into their adult years. He immediately committed himself to projects and meetings, revealing his passion. Sixty- three years as a member has granted Mr. Gerard more wisdom than anyone might ever ask for, and he remains an integral part of both the knights and community.
The way of life in the 1950s progressed much differently than the shift- workers and busy schedules of today. The “slower-paced, simpler time” allowed men to undertake local projects and get together for the common good. Mr. Gerard became more fastidious with the group after starting his family, when he led the Knights’ youth group, the Columbian Squires. This fulfilled his desire to guide the youth to lead Godly lives. One of the early achievements of his tenure, the knights conceived an annual dinner in 1962 to raise money for the local ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens). The inaugural fundraiser tested their resiliency, as they had to barbecue chickens because of no other way to cook them. They succeed- ed immediately and sold 350 dinners. Now a fixture of the community, the Super Bowl Sunday dinner of baked chicken and dirty rice aids the people of Vacherie battling mental issues. After twenty years in the KC’s, Hymel climbed the ranks of the club to attain Grand Knight 1972, the highest honor and authority. At the thought of this success, he explained, “The thing to do is commit yourself.” He committed himself fully, and his triumph justified his work. Even with the hustle and bustle today, he still finds time for what he loves.
However, working with the organization offers an occasional challenge. One of his most memorable experiences with the Knights of Columbus, Hymel attend- ed a retreat in Alexandria early in his KC career. A two-day event, the weather presented a formidable eight-degree temperature. The attendees slept in old army barracks at night- time with no shower, water, or plumbing. Most of this owed to the freeze- over. At first miserable, he recalls a fellow knight telling him, “Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it seems.” He then realized that the knighthood dealt more reward than hardship. So he continued to develop and spread his outreach, working with and donating to St. Vincent de Paul, the Catholic organization for the poor. He once again served as Grand Knight from 1991 to 1993 and recalls, “It’s an experience like no other.” He had reached the peak of a North Vacherie KC member; therefore, the time came to explore in new ways.
In the 1990s South Vacherie sprouted. With an emergent Catholic Church of its own and a large population of adult men, the time seemed right to branch off its own Knights of Columbus Council. Guidelines required a minimum of thirty people to attend the inaugural meeting for the group to form. Thirty-two appeared, and in 1996, the new council commenced. Now in its twentieth year, the South Vacherie Knights of Columbus has exploded to a present 122 members. Hymel confronts his emotions at the time of the commencement. “Don’t ever be afraid to ask. No matter if you did it wrong, you did it to the best of your ability. They know you tried.” Try he did, and he never looked back.
In Mr. Gerard’s mind, the values of the Knights of Columbus not only encourage people, but they challenge the virtues of society. The world changed immensely in his sixty-three years with the KCs, but the fate of the group never laid in jeopardy. Although he experienced an eight-year period when work impeded on his participation, Hymel never considered leaving. His wonderful experiences remain too numerous to name. Often he comes across other men he met through the council, and they stop to converse. “KC friends last forever,” Hymel said. Membership influences even the smallest things in life. A cop once decided not to hand him a speeding ticket when he saw the “KC” decal on the back window of his pickup truck. “Just be careful,” the cop retorted, and Mr. Gerard appreciated the gesture. Never refusing to lend a hand, the knights contributed many things for the church in the most recent years. The pulpit, gold gospel cover, and handrails within the church owe their existence to the guild. Recently, the knights worked with St. Vincent de Paul for outreach to flood victims and they continue to host the Tootsie Roll Drive for the ARC one Saturday each month. They never ask for publicity but instead, follow Jesus’ humble footsteps. Mr. Gerard comments, “We do a lot of things behind the scenes.” Sometimes the greatest deeds happen unseen, even when they challenge the ways of the world.
An avid Catholic all his years with the knights, Hymel became a role model for his fellow parishioners. A life of service requires dedicating one’s life, something he knows quite a lot about. The Knights of Columbus, perhaps, will never know another man who works so adamantly for the organization to thrive. He helps others selflessly, providing a powerful mantra for younger generations.