On Sunday 4 May 2025, Fr. Brad Pelzel, pastor of Mater Dei Catholic Parish, presided at the Knights of the Altar promotion ceremony and promoted Conan Kirkpatrick from the rank of Knight to the rank of Knight Commander and then to the rank of Master Knight during the 7:00 pm Mass.

KoA Directors, Father Mark Stoll and Jeff Zyzda, stated Conan has served the Church with devotion, attention, and perfection as Conan has exhibited exceptional dedication and competence, trained youth at all levels, and sacrificed personal interest to fulfill those responsibilities. Conan was presented with the Master Knight Red/Gold Ribbon with a Red/Gold Crucifix that he will be able to wear whenever he serves at Mass.

A MASTER KNIGHT, the highest rank in the Knights of the Altar, may be given to a Knight Commander who has performed service with devotion, attention, and perfection; and has performed rubrics with ease, precision, and devotion. Some of the Master Knight’s duties include: to be called on for any service at any time, to be willing to volunteer services where needed without being told or assigned, to be willing to give the extra time and attention to fulfill those responsibilities even at the sacrifice of personal interests, and to be willing to train all levels of serving with the approval by the Knights of the Altar Director.

Conan will graduate from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School this month and plans to major in nursing at the University of Mary in Bismark, North Dakota. And his aspirations include to travel the world as a missionary priest and provide medical assistance.

On Sunday 11 May 2025 at the 10:30 am Mass Conan and two other graduating high school seniors will be recognized for their long service as Altar Servers as they will be designated as Knights of Honor in the Knights of the Altar program. These three graduates will be presented with a Blue Ribbon with an Altar Server Medallion that they will be able to wear at their commencement ceremony as well as when they serve at Mass.

Please stay tuned from an updated handbook to be published describing these new ranks.