At this year’s Knights of Columbus Colorado State Convention, more than 350 Knights, family members, clergy and guests gathered for a weekend of fellowship, faith and service. Along with the meetings and celebrations, something else was happening—something more revealing.
Throughout the weekend, attendees didn’t just hear about the work of Catholic Charities and Marisol Services. They encountered it. And for many, that encounter left a lasting impression.
Stepping Inside the Mission
Just outside the convention, the Marisol Health Mobile Clinic quietly drew people in.
At first, it was curiosity. But stepping inside changed things.
It’s one thing to hear about services like pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and compassionate care. It’s another to stand in the very space where women are met in vulnerable moments and offered support, dignity and hope. Nearly half of the convention attendees toured the clinic, along with all 40 members of the Knights Ladies Auxiliary—many experiencing a mobile clinic for the first time.
The clinic itself is a fully equipped medical unit on wheels, bringing essential care directly to women who might not otherwise have access. That reality is made possible in large part because of the Knights of Columbus, whose generosity has helped fund the clinic and provide the ultrasound technology inside.
That partnership came into even clearer focus during the conference banquet, when a newly completed national video highlighted the collaboration between Marisol Health and the Knights. It wasn’t just a presentation—it gave attendees a glimpse into lives being changed.
Two Vehicles, One Mission
Just steps away, the Marisol Health Mobile Clinic and the Marisol Family “Miles” truck stood side by side for the first time at a public event. Together, they told a fuller story of care.
If the mobile clinic represents the first moment of support, the Miles truck represents what comes next—delivering diapers, clothing and essential baby items directly to families in need. It’s a continuation of care that extends far beyond a single appointment.
Both outreach efforts exist because of the same shared commitment, and both have been made possible through the partnership and generosity of the Knights of Columbus.
Throughout the weekend, the two vehicles became a natural gathering point. They sparked conversations, welcomed visitors and even served as the backdrop for photos with Knights of Columbus Colorado State Officers. More importantly, they made the mission visible in a way words alone never could.
From Awareness to Action
Inside the convention hall, that sense of mission turned into something tangible.
A diaper drive organized ahead of the event grew into a striking display behind the Marisol Services table. Piles of donations quickly stacked up, offering a visible sign of support for the mothers, babies and families served by Marisol Family, the Catholic Charities ministry that supports young families with material and educational support. By the end of the weekend, those diapers were already on their way to families who need them.
But the generosity didn’t stop with donations. Attendees stepped in to serve in hands-on ways, assembling comfort bags for women who have just received a positive pregnancy test. Filled with simple items like cozy socks, tea and self-care essentials, the bags offer a small but meaningful reminder that no one is alone in that moment.
Others helped prepare baby layette items, ensuring that families approaching delivery will have what they need to welcome their children with dignity. What unfolded over the course of the weekend wasn’t just awareness—it was participation.
A Recognition That Pointed Beyond Itself
Amid the activity, one moment drew particular attention.
Tom and Sandy Wanzeck were named the Knights of Columbus Colorado Pro-Life Couple of the Year, an honor presented by state leadership and witnessed by Archbishop Golka, Bishop Rodriguez and the Sisters of Life. For those familiar with Tom’s work for many years at Catholic Charities of Denver—where he has helped spearhead pro-life initiatives including the development and building of Marisol Health Northern Colorado—the recognition felt fitting.
But for Tom and Sandy, the moment was less about recognition and more about opportunity. It was a chance to point back to Marisol. To highlight the mission. To invite others into the work of supporting women and families.
In many ways, their response reflected the spirit of the entire weekend.
More Than a Convention
From a $40,000 ultrasound machine made possible through Knights support to hands-on service and shared moments of witness, the impact of the partnership was clear at every turn.
But what stayed with people wasn’t just what they learned—it was what they experienced.
Over the course of a single weekend, the mission of Marisol Services was not simply explained. It was seen in action, encountered up close and carried forward through the hands of those who chose to be part of it.
And through that shared effort, awareness grew, connections deepened and hope continued to take root.