Utah Knights of Columbus honor Family of the Year
HOLLADAY — At the 112th annual Utah Knights of Columbus State Convention awards banquet dinner on May 4, the Derrick family received the 2019 Family of the Year Award.
Every year for the awards banquet, Knights councils from around Utah nominate outstanding members and activities. Winners are chosen from among the nominees.
The Family of the Year award is a highlight of the ceremony, said Greg Keller, Utah Knights of Columbus State Deputy.
“Every submission in the category of Family of the Year was for a very deserving family. As state deputy, I am proud to be associated with all our Knights and their families,” Keller said.
Michael and Sofie Derrick, their children and grandchildren are part of Knights Council 13297 at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Holladay.
“The Derricks contribute to the wellbeing of our individual councils and their communities. … It is by their actions they have demonstrated the Order is indeed a ‘Catholic, Family, Fraternal, Service Organization,’” Keller said.
Michael Derrick joined the Utah Knights of Columbus as a founding member of Council 13297 in 2003 and continuously has held increasing leadership roles.
“However, most remarkable, is the fact he rarely has done any of his council service alone,” Keller said, explaining that Sofie Derrick and the couple’s sons very actively assist him in the council’s activities and programs.
Sofie Derrick also is president of the parish’s Council of Catholic Women.
“Along with the grandchildren, the family has amassed an army of love and service to all those within the parish and Catholic communities. Every hour this Knight donates is another five or six hours of service given to the council by his family,” Keller said.
It is estimated that the Derricks contribute, on average, 75 hours per month to parish-sponsored activities and programs, Keller said. “Nearly the time it takes to work a full-time job is donated toward the benefits of others each month. Week after week, month after month, year after year, this family always finds a way to give back to others,” Keller said.
Among the activities and programs that the Derrick family coordinates for Council 13297 are clothing drives, the Backpack Bonanza, weekly socials after Sunday Mass, the annual parish summer picnic and Green St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, fish frys and Stations of the Cross at Lent, and the annual council family BBQ.
A former Grand Knight of his council, Michael Derrick has also served as chairman of at least four dozen programs and activities for the Utah Knights of Columbus.
The Derricks volunteer significant time, effort and energy in service each and every day, said Tim L. Soran Jr., the council’s Grand Knight.
“In the last 15 years, I have never seen Sophie or Michael’s faith or spirits quiver, nor have I ever heard them say anything negative about any of their fellow parishioners,” said Soran, adding that, despite the challenges that the Derricks have faced, “this family truly embraces Jesus’ Golden Rule. And believe me, if they had more gold, they would surely give it to someone else in need.”
For a variety of reasons, the Derricks’ three adult children live with their parents; the family also includes three grandchildren. In 2014 they were forced to move out of their home on short notice and had to settle into one hotel room.
“With no place for all their belongings, they had very limited personal items and personal space was non-existent,” but that didn’t stop them from continuing to serve at their parish, Soran said.
“Eventually, after months of saying ‘no, thank you,’ the Derrick family allowed our council to help them out,” Soran said.
With help from the Knights, the family was able to rent a four-bedroom house.
“For a family that pours out so much compassion to others in need, it seemed difficult for them to accept anyone else’s help in return,” Soran said.
Michael Derrick is retired because of health reasons, and in the hotel room Sofie Derrick had no kitchen to provide hot meals for her family. “Incredible, how this family survived like this for an entire year,” Soran said. “How did they do it? The answer is simple, and it is their mantra – love, compassion, grace and faith.”
Belief in God is integral to Michael Derrick, a convert to the faith.
“The good Lord seems to put people that I need … into my life,” he said, adding that he enjoys responding to Christ’s call to love for his neighbor. “I absolutely adore working with the Church.”
He gets a lot of pleasure from the service projects of the Catholic fraternal organization, especially the annual Coats for Kids drive, he said. He tells stories of how the children at the drives respond, and “It’s magic, I guess. Whatever you want to call it, but every time I talk about it, I get choked up. … That’s what the Church is about, that’s what Christ is about. … I get that from working with the Knights, I get that from doing the ministries in the Church. … I do what I do because of my love for the Church and love of Christ, what he is and everything that’s there. Sometimes it’s not easy. Sometimes it’s really hard, but I bear it because … Christ told us that he will only put what we can handle on us; he won’t give us any more.”
Marie Mischel contributed to this article.
© Copyright 2024 The Diocese of Salt Lake City. All rights reserved.
Stay Connected With Us