KNIGHT OF THE MONTH
GERALD OZOTA
by: Ricardo Teano - Membership Committee
Gerald Ozota
May I introduce you to Gerald who is my finest recruited knight. When I saw him volunteer because there was no other altar server at an early 7AM Sunday Mass, I knew I found my finest recruit of the year
He is a PHD student studying here so I don’t want to make any changes to his write up at all. It’s perfect. ( A big note: I am here in the Philippine Sea renamed by China as South China Sea, doing this write up as requested by GK Mike yesterday, in this contested territory between China and the Philippines, snorkeling.)
I have been a Third-Degree Knight of Columbus for about ten months. I joined the Knights because of the strong spirit of service the organization offers to the Church and the genuine brotherly love I witnessed among the Knights. From the beginning, that sense of fraternity gave me a feeling of belonging and encouraged me to become more actively involved in parish life.
I am a cradle Catholic, born and raised in the eastern part of Nigeria, where my faith was shaped through family life and active participation in the Church. I moved to the United States in August 2024 and have been a parishioner of Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church for over one year. Being part of this parish has been an exciting and faith-strengthening journey for me.
Within Santiago Church, I try to serve wherever I can. I currently altar serve at the 7:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, which has been a meaningful way for me to grow spiritually and contribute to the liturgy. I am also a member of the Men’s Renewal Group, where prayer, fellowship, and reflection continue to strengthen my faith. In addition, I assist with post-Mass sales and parish support activities, often helping alongside fellow parishioners, including Ricardo, whenever help is needed.
Outside of church activities, I am a PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant at Chapman University, where I pursue my academic work while striving to live out my faith through service, discipline, and community involvement.
My experience with the Knights of Columbus has been deeply enriching. One of my most memorable moments was participating in the Knights’ car-related service activity, where seeing everyone serving at different points reminded me of how united we are as the Body of Christ, each person contributing their part. Participating in the Garden of Innocence was also a very touching experience that reinforced for me the many ways we can offer our service to God.
Through Council 9487, I have been grateful for the opportunity to support my fellow brother Knights and assist in various council activities whenever possible. I truly admire the dedication, unity, and generosity I see among the Knights and the church ministries, and I am thankful to be part of a community that continually inspires me to grow in faith and service.
