“We design them here and we send them to be made from the Holy Land’s olive trees and then they’ll be sold in Canada,” he said. “And the money will go to help the people and the churches of the Holy Land — Bethlehem in particular.”

Marrow said that while the Knights are worried about Christians in the Holy Land and the entire Middle East, the conflict facing Christians was not why the council was created. But they are involved with helping them, he said, through the Iraqi sponsorship program run by the archdiocese of Toronto.  

“We’re still working on getting refugees here, but we’re helping with their papers at this point and translation and making sure (the applications) go to the proper people.”

The council also offers year-long, free Arabic classes for students at their parish and runs a “computers-for-kids” program, where used computers are collected for new refugees.

“Once the new refugees arrive, we want them to feel welcome, not just comfortable.”

The council also takes part in a three-day long summer festival, run through Jesus Melkite Catholic Church, to help the community get to know each other, he said.

And all funds raised through the council are split, said Marrow.

“Our community here needs it, our church needs it and the churches in the Middle East need it.”

Arthur Peters, Ontario state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, said that Catholics of all nationalities are encouraged to join the Knights of Columbus.

“We are working to grow the order in Ontario and this is just another example that as an organization we are open to all cultures within the Catholic faith and want to encourage them to be part of our ranks.”

For information on the project to rebuild churches in the Holy Land, see www.churchesforjesus.org.