April 26, 2009
Congratulations go to John Zimmerman and his family who are the recipients of the Knights of Columbus - Indiana State Council Family of the Year For 2008-2009.

John and Tina Zimmerman are the parents of six children, John, Katie, Michael, Mary, Sarah and Joseph. They reside in Fishers and are members of St. Louis de Montfort (SLDM) parish. John is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #6923.

John coordinated the efforts to help a fellow parishioner whose home was close to being condemned. The parishioner and his disabled wife, issued an SOS to the Knights and John took the lead, in October, leading 12 other brother Knights on a four day project that included siding removal and replacing, painting, gutter repair and trash disposal. John's family members also provided help on the cleanup. The total project took 50 man hours.

John joined the efforts to assist flood victims in Franklin, Indiana during the fall of 2008, and organized lawn care in the summer of 2008 for a parishioner who was in need and unable to care for their property.

John is part of the SLDM Brazil Mission team and has been for the past three years. This past summer, John and four of his children (ages 16 to 23) visited the SLDM Mission parish in Imbau, Brazil. John's oldest daughter Katie, age 22, spent the summer working with Brazilian children. (See below)

John has been a high school catechist at St. Louis de Montfort for the past eight years. He continues to be a confirmation catechist helping the sophomores in their faith journey to full participation in the church.

John has been a CYO coach this year and has been for the past eleven years. Sports include basketball (boys and girls), football and volleyball.

In the fall of 2008, and for the second year, John joined a group of St. Louis de Montfort Parishioners, Father Donald Eder and others on a service trip to Mexico for several days. The group provided home improvements/remodeling to poverty stricken people in Mexico.

Tina Zimmerman, also a Brazil mission traveler in the past, serves on the SLDM mission committee, is a Eucharistic Adoration chapel coordinator and a member of the Worship Committee. She coordinates the Friday (weekly) Rosary prayer at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic school. Mrs. Zimmerman is also a home bound Eucharistic minister and takes the Eucharist each Friday to an elderly parishioner. She is also active in two Bible studies and is a daily Mass attendee at SLDM.

John, the oldest Zimmerman son, participated in fund raising activities for the Brazil mission and has been active in "Christmas on Campus" ----a project designed to give Christmas joy to poor and needy children at the University of Dayton.

Katie, the oldest daughter started "Project Discovery" - an educational and recreational program for 60 impoverished children in very poor area of Brazil. Katie has been to Brazil 4 times, including the summer of 2008, and plans to return in May and stay for one year if possible. She was awarded two grants from the University of Dayton for her Brazil project. She is active in Make A Wish foundation at University of Dayton.

Michael received the Bishop Chatard High School (BCHS) Medal of Honor, which is the school's highest honor and is given to the senior who exemplifies all that BCHS stands for in integrity and honor. He was a Mentor in "Promise to Keep" at BCHS in 2008 and is also a member of SERV (students encouraging religious vocations). He is active in the Make A Wish foundation at University of Dayton, was winner of the Fr. Higgins award in 2008 for outstanding sportsmanship and leadership and was senior retreat team Leader at BCHS.

Mary is a committee member for the Riley Hospital Dance Marathon at BCHS. She is a Mentor in the "Promise to Keep" at BCHS ---"Promise to Keep" is a program that encourages chastity until marriage, and she is a member of SERV at BCHS. She is active in weekly fundraising activities for the Brazil mission and was winner of St. Francis award in 2008 for service to the community.

The entire family worked together on several activities in 2008-09:

• Foster family for interim infant care. They cared for 4 babies and one toddler at various times throughout 2008.
• Volunteered at the Food Pantry in Indianapolis
• Are "Church Greeters" as a family at St. Louis de Montfort.
• They organized a Christmas Carol party at a retirement home on Dec. 23, 2008.