Knights honor deceased priests with cemetery project

Bob Honzik, parishioner in Hot Springs Village, spearheaded Priests' Circle beautification

Published: November 2, 2018

Aprille Hanson

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor reads from Scripture during the blessing of Priests’ Circle at Calvary Cemetery on Oct. 23. Michael Kerwin (left of bishop), Bob Honzik, who spearheaded the effort to beautify the circle, and Msgr. Francis Malone, pastor at Christ the King Church in Little Rock, assisted with the blessing.

Aprille Hanson

Amid fresh sod, flowers and benches, priests, seminarians and lay people gathered Oct. 23 as Bishop Anthony B. Taylor blessed the updated Priests’ Circle at Calvary Cemetery, praying for the 49 priests and all people buried in the diocesan-owned Little Rock cemetery.

In July 2017, Bob Honzik, parishioner at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village, served as a pallbearer at his longtime friend Msgr. Bernard Malone’s funeral. Concerned by the condition that time had left on Priests’ Circle, which was established in 1933, his Knights of Columbus Council 10208 took on efforts for Mike Cagle, cemetery superintendent, to beautify it, including having the grave markers moved to form a perfect circle, adding a sprinkler system, planting flowers, adding sod and four concrete benches.

Thanks to 11 donors from the council and an additional $1,000 from the state Knights of Columbus Council, $7,800 total was donated.

Honzik, who recently authorized another $200 toward more sod, said seeing it beautified was emotional.

“I got a little choked up frankly and I just couldn’t get Msgr. Bernard Malone out of my mind while I was at the Priests’ Circle with the bishop and later that evening; he was with me … it was pretty emotional,” Honzik said.

Honzik hosted a reception dinner after the dedication for all attendees, which included many priests who were in Little Rock for their fall continuing education.

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Video credit: This initiative was spearheaded by knight Bob Honzik and produced by knights Ed Voss and Jim Anderson. Knights of Columbus Council 10208 was the major fundraiser.