Peter Leitermann
Peter's involvement in the Knights of Columbus started some time ago--his father was a Knight in Appleton.  St. Pius Parish in that city also had an active men's club, but he did not get involved with the Knights until he was working in Oconto about two and a half years ago.  He thought the Knights might be a good group to be a part of.  So, he became a part of a Council at Holy Trinity Parish in Oconto.  Asked about involvement in Council activities he immediately thought of "Tootsie Rolls."  He also remembers having some affiliation with other Youth programs running in the Council, especially Punt, Pass & Kick Competition and Free Throw Contests. 

His involvement in Council 10243 is quite recent.  Peter has lived for a couple on months in Freedom and has been working at St. Bernard Parish here in Green Bay.  He came to know John Murphy through John's involvement in the youth programs of the parish.  He also helped recently when food needed to be moved to the food pantry and that's when he asked GK Grant Turner about transferring to our Council. 

In the time he has been at St. Bernard he has been involved in High School Religious Education and Youth Ministry, and admits that there is no such thing as an average day for him.  He might be handling anything from developing new programs and refining existing ones, trying to collect fees from students, dealing with matters relating to the Confirmation program and preparing for meetings.  On the day of this interview he was getting ready for a meeting that was supposed to begin around 5:30 PM and he expected it to go to 10:00 or 11:00.  He deals with High School Freshmen and sophomores and is also involved in a Work Camp through St., Agnes Parish.  That camp coordinated a group who find projects to help people during the day and also have an evening program in which they reflect on their activities, explore their faith, celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation or spend time in adoration.  It helps young people explore their call to serve.  There's also some time for fun. 

Right now, when he's not tied up with work-related projects, his favorite activity is spending time with his family.  His parents have been married about thirty years now and are living in Appleton.  Most of the rest of the family are still living in the area as well.   Peter and his wife, Tara, were married about a year and a half ago and have a daughter named Rose.  Though he notes that no one ever told him how much sleep one doesn't get with a baby, he has found fatherhood very rewarding.  In the time when he's not trying to 'baby-proof' the home, he loves watching his child grow, calling it "a really awesome experience."  Now that he's a family man he's allowed some of his other hobbies to die out, although he is thinking of getting back into soccer.  He played for eighteen years and is looking at some adult leagues in which he could get involved. 

February 2004