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K N I G H T S O F C O LU M BU S

august 2010 ♦ Volume 90 ♦ Number 8

COLUMBIA F E AT U R E S

10 Knights of Charity: Then and Now For 128 years, the Knights of Columbus has embraced the virtue of charity above all. BY COLUMBIA STAFF

18 Civic Contributions A brief history of the Knights’ contributions to U.S. society and beyond.

20 Building Homes, Building Lives Knights in the Philippines construct houses and provide for the needs of poor villagers. BY ROY LAGARDE

22 Quenching Our Neighbors’ Thirst Wells of Hope brings the gift of clean water to Guatemala. BY MIKE MASTROMATTEO

An injured Haitian boy sits in a new wheelchair donated by the Knights of Columbus. Through its partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission, the Order assisted victims of the nation’s January 2010 earthquake.

D E PA RT M E N T S 3

Building a better world In service to God and neighbor, Knights have a long tradition of practicing charity, in a spirit of unity. BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

Learning the faith, living the faith

Knights of Columbus News Order sets charitable giving records in 2009 • Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best renew top ratings for Knights of Columbus • Chaplains visit Rome, celebrate Year for Priests • City of Rome honors special relationship with Order

Fathers for Good The value of price-less gifts. BY WILLIAM ATHANASIDY

Knights in Action

Columbianism by Degrees

The moral law is fulfilled in our life with Christ. BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN BISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI

PLUS Catholic Man of the Month

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E D I TO R I A L

We Are Made for Gift LOOKING AT THE WORLD, it can sometimes seem that modern culture is based on opposition and contention — not communion. In the 17th century, the English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote that in its natural state, human life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” Hobbes rejected the idea that man naturally finds himself in community. In his view, man gives up something of his personal freedom and individuality to enter a social contract for the sake of self-preservation. In more recent times, some influential thinkers have made it their goal to rid the world of charity altogether. Rather than acknowledging that every person receives his being from, with and for others, the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche saw man as inescapably alone. He vehemently opposed Christian values such as generosity and mercy, attributing them to a slave morality that espoused weakness and rejected power. He likewise denied that loving relationships are fundamental to human nature. Rather, he said, the most basic relationships are those of competition. In his book On the Genealogy of Morality (1887), Nietzsche wrote that “the oldest and most primitive personal relationship” is “the relationship of buyer and seller, creditor and debtor: here person met person for the first time, and measured himself person against person.” Ayn Rand, the 20th-century novelist, was one of the heirs of Nietzsche’s ideas. In her most notable work, Atlas Shrugged (1957), the protagonist sum-

marizes the author’s philosophy with these words: “I swear — by my life and my love of it — that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” From the perspective of the Catholic Church, however, the lack of communion we observe around us is a sign that the world is in need of redemption. A one-sided emphasis on individual rights and identity, over and against communal duties, worsens rather than answers this crisis. In his encyclical Caritas in Veritate (2009), Pope Benedict XVI explained simply, “The human being is made for gift,” adding that the tendency of modern man to believe that he is radically independent from others “follows from being selfishly closed in upon himself, and it is a consequence — to express it in faith terms — of original sin” (34). As Catholics, we know that sin does not have the last word. And in the face of a world too often marked by antagonism and division, the Knights of Columbus has exemplified the principles of charity, unity and fraternity since its beginning. In this issue of Columbia, we look at some of the ways — past and present — that the Order has practiced Christian charity. Indeed, through countless acts of service, Knights have helped to recover an understanding of human nature based on gift and have worked to build a true civilization of love.♦ ALTON J. PELOWSKI MANAGING EDITOR

Knights of Columbus Book Club — August 2010 In his new book, American Cicero: The Life of Charles Carroll (ISI, 2010), Bradley J. Birzer, associate professor of history at Hillsdale College, recalls the legacy of the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence. As one of the Founding Fathers, Charles Carroll overcame intense religious prejudice and was an intellectual force in the creation of the American Republic. Submit your questions and join the author for an online discussion in late August. Visit kofc.org/bookclub for more information. 2 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦

AUGUST 2010

COLUMBIA PUBLISHER Knights of Columbus ________ SUPREME OFFICERS Carl A. Anderson SUPREME KNIGHT Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. SUPREME CHAPLAIN Dennis A. Savoie DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT Donald R. Kehoe SUPREME SECRETARY Emilio B. Moure SUPREME TREASURER John A. Marrella SUPREME ADVOCATE ________ EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski alton.pelowski@kofc.org MANAGING EDITOR Patrick Scalisi patrick.scalisi@kofc.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR Brian Dowling brian.dowling@kofc.org CREATIVE & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ________ GRAPHICS Lee Rader DESIGN

Venerable Michael McGivney (1852-90) Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Intercede for Us. ________ HOW TO REACH US MAIL COLUMBIA 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510-3326 PHONE 203-752-4398 FAX 203-752-4109 E-MAIL columbia@kofc.org INTERNET kofc.org/columbia CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-380-9995 ________ Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. This means that an applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church.

BU I L D I N G A B E T T E R WO R L D

In Service to One, in Service to All Knights have a long tradition of practicing charity in a spirit of unity by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson THE PHRASE “In service to one, in For 128 years, the Order has been led service to all” has long been a motto of by its first principle, charity. Every day, the Knights of Columbus. It simply people witness the work undertaken by means that Knights take seriously the two Knights as members work in thousands great commandments of Jesus Christ: to of communities around the world. Comlove God with our entire being, and to bined with unity — with our Church love our neighbor as ourselves (cf. Mt and with our neighbor — charity pro- providing necessities to the American 22:37-40). A good explanation of why vides us with the means to fulfill Christ’s troops in World War I regardless of their this motto reflects the Order’s purpose great commandments. This is what it race or religion; publishing books on the comes from the Second Vatican Council means to be “in service to one, in service contributions of African-, Jewish- and document Lumen Gentium, which truly to all.” Lives filled with charity, motivated German-American citizens four decades by faith and hope, are what will make before the civil rights movement; workserves as our mission statement: ing in support of Catholics in Mexico “The laity, by their very vocation, Christ known to others. Reflecting on the Gospel story of the when the government there persecuted seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering Good Samaritan, Pope Benedict XVI the Church in the 1920s; protecting parents’ rights to send their chilthem according to the plan of dren to Catholic schools; God. They live in the world, helping the hungry in the city that is, in each and in all of the Our first principle, charity, of Rome during and after secular professions and occuWorld War II; adding the pations. They live in the ordicombined with unity, provides words “under God” to the U.S. nary circumstances of family us with the means to fulfill Pledge of Allegiance; pioneerand social life, from which the ing nationwide blood drives; very web of their existence is the two great commandments promoting the dignity of peowoven. They are called there ple with intellectual disabilities by God that by exercising of Jesus Christ. through Special Olympics and their proper function and led other programs; supporting by the spirit of the Gospel they may work for the sanctification of said in his July 11 Angelus address that mothers and their unborn children the world from within as a leaven” (31). the parable “must make us change our through our work with pregnancy reThe idea of working in this world attitude following the logic of Christ, source centers and our Ultrasound Ini“as a leaven” is not a new concept for which is the logic of charity: God is tiative; giving winter coats to poor the Knights. We know that we are love, and worshipping him means serv- children; providing mobility to people called to be witnesses to Christ in our ing our brothers with sincere and gen- with physical disabilities through wheelfamilies, in our jobs and in our service erous love.” He added that this passage chair distributions; providing food for to society. We know God’s plan and “offers the ‘standard,’ which is the ‘uni- families in need; and in general, being a will for us through an informed con- versal love toward the needy we en- force of love for our neighbors, wherever science, and cultivate such a con- counter by chance, whoever they may and whenever a need arises. In practicing charity, in a spirit of science by being faithful to the be’” (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 25). Church’s teachings. This requires soliIt is this spirit of the Good Samaritan unity, we lead by our witness, and we darity with our bishops and priests, that has always propelled the Knights of bring to life Christ’s words in the Gospel, something we have been committed to Columbus. This is the reason why our that all will know we are his disciples by since our founding by Venerable history is one of service: helping the wid- the way we love one another. Vivat Jesus! Michael McGivney. ows and orphans of the late 19th century;

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L E A R N I N G T H E FA I T H , L I V I N G T H E FA I T H

God’s Salvation: Law and Grace The moral law, rooted in divine wisdom and written on the human heart, is fulfilled in our life with Christ by Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori WHEN PUBLIC FIGURES defend a moral truth, they are likely to be accused of imposing their religious beliefs on others — as, for example, when a politician defends unborn human life from the evil of abortion. It is true that religious faith may clarify moral teachings and allow us to see their importance in this life and in the life to come. Nonetheless, many — if not most — moral teachings are accessible to human reason. How can this be? The answer lies in a correct understanding of the moral law. As the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, the moral law is not simply a set of human rules but “a work of divine Wisdom” that shows the way to true happiness and teaches us to shun those things that lead us away from God (415). St. Paul teaches that the demands of the moral law are written on the human heart by the Creator (see Rom 2:15). This share in God’s wisdom is called “natural law,” which gives us an inherent sense of right and wrong and forms the basis for the rights and duties of individuals and communities (416). The 29th installment of Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori’s faith formation program addresses questions 415-433 of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Archived articles are at kofc.org.

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THE OLD AND NEW LAW Because of sin, not everyone clearly perceives the natural law (417). For this reason, St. Augustine said, God “wrote on the tables of the law what men did not read in their hearts.” The Ten Commandments summarize the moral teaching of the Old Testament, also known as “the Old Law.” In this context, “old” does not mean outmoded, useless, or no longer true. Rather, it means that the moral teaching of the Old Testament was the first stage of the revealed law, which in turn was com-

Beatitudes, was both proclaimed and fulfilled by Christ (420-421). Here the word “new” does not indicate a rupture with the Old Law. Jesus said, “Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but fulfill” (Mt 5:17). The Gospel is new because it originated in the person of Christ, the incarnate Son of God, whose teaching, death and resurrection fully revealed the Father’s love. Through the Holy Spirit, believers share in Christ’s risen life, are drawn into intimacy with the We can come to see Father and are enabled to love others as they are loved by morality not as a grim duty, Christ (420). Indeed, Christ came to but as a response of praise “justify” us in the power of to the God of love the Holy Spirit. Justification is God’s mercy at work to make us holy by granting us pleted and fulfilled by the Gospel. remission of our sins and a share in The Ten Commandments express his goodness. We are justified by the moral truths known naturally by rea- grace of the Holy Spirit, which Christ son, thus verifying the natural law. In won for us by his death and resurreclaying the foundations for the human tion. God freely gives us grace, a share vocation to love God and neighbor, in his divine life that enables us to rethey are “a privileged expression of the spond to his love and to live in his natural law” (Catechism, 2070; Com- friendship. This is called “sanctifying” pendium, 418). In teaching unchanging or “deifying” grace because it makes moral truth, they are also a “tutor” that us participants in the life of the Trinprepared the way for the Gospel. The ity. This gift is supernatural because it Old Law, however, remains imperfect. cannot be learned or earned; it can While it teaches moral truth, it does only be received from God. Sanctifynot provide the strength of the Holy ing grace is “habitual” because we are Spirit (419). to remain in the state of grace “The New Law,” which can be found throughout our lives (423). in the New Testament, especially in the In addition, there are “actual” graces

L E A R N I N G T H E FA I T H , L I V I N G T H E FA I T H

that help us do God’s will in the various circumstances of our lives. Each sacrament also confers a special grace on us (424). Ultimately, God’s grace does not infringe on our human freedom but frees us to fulfill our deepest yearnings to share his life and love (425).

PHOTOGRAPH OF POPE: CNS Photo/Paul Haring — LAWRENCE: Saint Lawrence Distributing the Treasures of the Church by Fra Angelico (1387-1455) — Alinari / Art Resource, NY

CALLED TO HOLINESS Although we cannot earn or merit eternal life, we can lead virtuous lives through God’s grace. In other words, once we are in the state of grace, God freely grants us his reward for a life of virtue. We are to strive for virtue not only for ourselves, but to strengthen the entire Church (426-427). All the bap-

H O LY FAT H E R ’ S P R AY E R I N T E N T I O N S

Offered in solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI GENERAL: That those who are without work or homes or who are otherwise in serious need may find understanding and welcome, as well as concrete help in overcoming their difficulties. MISSION: That the Church may be a “home” for all people, ready to open its doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries.

tized are called to holiness, that is, the fullness of love brought about through intimacy with Christ (428). The Church helps us attain holiness by teaching the truth of Christ and leading us to share in his saving love through the sacraments. Filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, we can come to see morality not as a grim duty, but as a response of praise to the God of love. Among the Church’s teachings are precepts that help us understand what it means to be a practicing Catholic. These include: attending Mass on Sunday and holy days of obligation, as well as refraining from work or other activities that might prevent us from wor-

shipping on those days; confessing one’s sins and receiving the sacrament of penance at least once each year; receiving holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season; observing the Church’s discipline with regard to fasting and abstinence; and helping to provide for the material needs of the Church according to one’s abilities (430-432). When our lives reflect the truth, goodness and beauty of Christ’s love, people around us are drawn to the Gospel and to the person of Christ (433). Indeed, all of us are called both to holiness and to the work of evangelization.♦

C AT H O L I C M A N O F T H E M O N T H

Saint Lawrence (d. 258) Feast day: Aug. 10 ST. LAWRENCE, originally from the city of Huesca in northeast Spain, travelled to Rome in 257 to serve under Pope Sixtus II. As one of the seven deacons of Rome, he was in charge of the Church’s material goods and had the responsibility of distributing alms to the sick and needy. On Aug. 6, 258, Lawrence witnessed the Emperor Valerian order the death of Pope Sixtus II when the pope refused to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. After the pope was beheaded, a Roman prefect ordered Lawrence to hand over the riches of the Church. In response, Lawrence requested three days to gather the Church’s treasures. As promised, he returned three days later and invited the prefect to walk with him into the anteroom where the “precious treasure” should have awaited. Seeing the city’s poor, sick and crippled, the prefect was enraged at Lawrence’s audacity and disobedience. In response, Lawrence reportedly told the prefect that these were the true treasures of the Church. Lawrence was sentenced to death and was grilled alive on a gridiron. Ac-

cording to tradition, he told his torturers, “This side’s done. Turn me over and have a bite.” He later became the patron of the poor, comedians, chefs and the city of Rome. Fifty years after Lawrence died, the Emperor Constantine built a small church on the site of the saint’s execution. Major additions occurred in the sixth and thirteenth centuries, and today St. Lawrence Outside the Walls is one of the seven pilgrim churches of Rome. Like St. Lawrence, we are each called in our own unique way to dedicate ourselves to Christian charity and witness to the truth of the Gospel. AUGUST 2010

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K N I G H T S O F C O LU M BU S N E W S

Charitable Giving At All Time High EVEN IN A continuing economic crisis, members of the Knights of Columbus embraced the Order’s first principle of charity by once again setting new records for charitable donations and volunteer service hours in 2009. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson presented the results of the annual Survey of Fraternal Activity during his keynote address to the annual meeting of state deputies and members of the board of directors in New Haven, Conn., on June 4. “We have kept Father McGivney’s promise,” Anderson said, adding that the Knights who gathered in St. Mary’s Church in 1882 could hardly have imagined that the Order would grow to 1.8 million men, and provide more than $150 million to charity in a single year. “If we were an army, we would be one of the largest in the world. In fact, we are an army: an

CONTRIBUTIONS 2009 $151 million 2008 $150 million

2006 $144 million

2007 $145 million

VOLUNTEER HOURS 2009 69.3 million

2007 68.7 million

2008 68.8 million

2006 68.3 million

army for charity, an army for service, an army for good,” he said. The results of the Knights’ fraternal survey for the year ending Dec. 31, 2009, indicate that total charitable contributions reached $151,105,867 — exceeding the previous year’s total by more than $1 million. This figure includes $34,627,896 donated by the Supreme Council and $116,477,971 in contributions from the organization’s state and local affiliates. The survey also indicated that volunteer service hours by Knights to charitable causes grew to 69,251,926 — an increase of 468,291 hours compared to the 2008 total. Cumulative figures show that during the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated more than $1.367 billion to charity, and provided nearly 640 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable initiatives.♦

Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best Renew Top Ratings for Knights of Columbus IN JUNE, two of the largest rating agencies, Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best, reaffirmed their top financial strength ratings for the Knights of Columbus. The Insurance Marketplace Standards Association (IMSA) likewise renewed its certification of the Knights of Columbus Insurance Program as adhering to a strict code of ethical market conduct. Standard & Poor’s, which reaffirmed its top rating of AAA (Extremely Strong), said that its rating of the financial strength of the Knights of Columbus is “based on its extremely strong capital, very strong competitive position because of its unique strategic advantage in the Catholic market, historically strong profitability, and extremely strong liquidity.” The agency called Knights of Columbus operating performance “very strong,” reflecting “an asset portfolio that consists primarily of high-quality, investment-

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grade bonds.” S&P also said that the Knights of Columbus “is achieving its primary objective of providing members and their families with high-quality, lowcost insurance products.” A.M. Best reaffirmed its top rating of A++ (Superior) and said, “The ratings of the Order reflect its strong fraternal and insurance presence within the Catholic communities in the United States and Canada, its superior risk-adjusted capitalization as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio and the Order’s consistently positive operating results.” The agency also declared that the Knights of Columbus “has a strong affinity with its large membership base through its charitable programs and competitive portfolio of life insurance and annuity products.” Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson welcomed the announcements, saying that they represent “a clear vote of confi-

dence in our combination of a very strong sales and marketing team with exceptionally skillful management of our investments. The fact that we’ve earned these ratings for 18 consecutive years and 35 consecutive years, respectively, through good times and bad, demonstrates a clear recognition of our success in managing our assets for the benefit of all the Knights and their families who rely on Knights of Columbus life insurance to help secure their financial futures.” Regarding the IMSA certification, the supreme knight said that it “confirms our complete commitment to maintaining the highest standards in our everyday business practices.” In addition to being the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world, the Knights of Columbus ranks among Fortune magazine’s Top 1000 Companies in America.♦

K N I G H T S O F C O LU M BU S N E W S

Chaplains Visit Rome, Celebrate Close of Year for Priests

MORE THAN 65 priests and several bishops joined Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and other Supreme Officers in Rome to celebrate the conclusion of the Year for Priests. The priests and bishops, who serve as state chaplains for Knights of Columbus jurisdictions worldwide, embarked June 6 on a one-week pilgrimage that featured major Vatican events and visits to numerous holy sites. The purpose of the pilgrimage was to honor priests who give themselves in service to the Order and to provide them with the opportunity to attend the closing ceremonies of the Year for Priests with Pope Benedict XVI. After arriving in Rome June 7, the state chaplains had the special honor of concelebrating Mass at the altar of the chair in the upper church of St. Peter’s Basilica. In his homily, Bishop Lori said, “We come to Rome with a goal, a purpose: to become holier priests, to become more effective instruments in the hand of God through a deeper fidelity to prayer, to lives of holiness, to the truth of the faith.” The following morning, the chaplains concelebrated Mass at the altar of the confession in the Vatican Grottoes — located in front of St. Peter’s tomb beneath the high altar of the basilica. The priests also participated in tours of St. Peter’s and the Scavi, or excavations beneath the basilica, and visited two of the city’s other major basilicas — St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major. On June 9, the chaplains participated in the international convention of priests, which took place at St. Paul Outside-

Bishop William E. Lori and the K of C state chaplains are pictured following Mass June 7 in front of Bernini’s iconic baldacchino of the papal altar, located over the tomb of St. Peter. the-Walls Basilica. The program, sponsored by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, included Mass, eucharistic adoration and reflections. The international convention of priests reconvened June 10 and included a reflection by Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, primate of Canada, and Mass celebrated by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. In the evening, the state chaplains gathered with thousands in St. Peter’s Square for an evening of prayer, testimonies and dialogue with Pope Benedict. On June 11, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the pope celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Square. The K of C delegation joined approximately 15,000 priests, as well as 80 cardinals and 350 archbishops and bishops, who concelebrated the Mass. In his homily, Pope Benedict declared that the priesthood is “not simply ‘office’ but sacrament: God makes use of us poor men in order to be, through us, present to all men and women, and to act on their behalf. This audacity of God who entrusts himself to human beings,” he added, “is the true grandeur concealed in the word ‘priesthood.’” The priests renewed their ordination vows following the homily, and at the end of Mass, the pope led the them in prayer, entrusting themselves to Mary’s “maternal heart in order to carry out faithfully the Father’s will.”♦

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K N I G H T S O F C O LU M BU S N E W S

City of Rome Honors Special Relationship with Order

ROMANS MAY KNOW the Knights of Columbus best for its sports fields around the city, but there is much more to the history of the Knights in Rome. This relationship that transcends the Atlantic Ocean is the subject of the museum exhibit Everybody Welcome, Everything Free: The Knights of Columbus and Rome, Celebrating 90 Years of Friendship, which will run until Oct. 31, 2010, at the Musei Capitolini at the Campidoglio. The exhibit features the Knights’ role in constructing and operating playgrounds for the city’s children, facilitating restoration and communication projects, and being a quiet diplomatic channel between the United States and the Vatican — prior to the formal diplomatic recognition of the Vatican by United States in the 1980s. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson joined Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno, and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Jim Nicholson, among others, June 9 for the exhibit’s opening. “The story of the Knights of Columbus in Rome is a story of the power of faith and friendship that can overcome

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During the official opening of the exhibit June 9, the supreme knight speaks at the Palazzo Dei Conservatori, part of the Musei Capitolini, a group of the oldest publicly owned museums in the world. any adversity,” said Anderson. “Invited by Pope Benedict XV to establish an enduring presence in the city in 1920, we are pleased that for 90 years, despite a turbulent 20th century, the Knights has become an established fixture in the Eternal City.” The Knights assisted with some of the Vatican’s most important restorations, including numerous projects at St. Peter’s Basilica. In addition, since the mid-1970s, the Knights have funded the cost of satellite broadcasts for various papal ceremonies, such as the Vatican’s annual Christmas liturgy. Though not widely known, the Knights served as an unofficial diplomatic channel between the United States and the Holy See when the two states did not have diplomatic relations. Count Enrico Galeazzi, the Knights’ director in Rome, was sent by Pope Pius XII to the United States to seek from President Roosevelt a cessation of Allied bombings in Rome in 1943. And the foundation for Vatican diplomatic relations with the United States was laid almost 40 years later, in

1982, at the Knights’ international convention. After World War II began, the Knights continued to operate the Roman playgrounds, at a time when — in addition to the United States and Italy being at war — the fascist government had abolished Catholic youth activities. One of the playgrounds, St. Peter’s Oratory, served as the headquarters for the Vatican’s food distribution program. During the opening of the exhibit, Cardinal Bertone reflected on the Order’s “fruitful permanence” in Rome. He said that Knights “witness the love of Christ and his Church for the weak and defenseless and are for the entire Christian community a meaningful expression of the evangelical requisite of charity.” Mayor Alemanno also praised the Knights for their “special relationship” with the city, adding, “The Knights of Columbus are rightfully part of the Rome of the third millennium, which we want to build together without detaching ourselves from our true cultural and spiritual roots.”♦

FAT H E R S F O R G O O D

Home Economics The Value of Price-less Gifts

PHOTO: Thinkstock

by William Athanasidy THE DOWNSWING IN THE ECONOMY has affected us all, whether in terms of job loss, delayed raises or reduced financial options. Living with my family in Westchester County, N.Y., which has the highest median property taxes in America, I am well aware of the uncertainty of these times and have seen some of the negative fallout in our area, which is usually considered the “affluent” suburbs of New York City. Endless fretting about finances, however, can rob us of peace of mind and spirit. There are many things of value that do not cost much — or anything at all. We just need to remember where to find them. As the father of three young children, I have learned certain priorities in life. With the birth of my first child, I learned that my main job was to be a father. As a young, single man, my job was quite simply my job; my work was my identity. When I met my future wife, my job description changed — first to confidant, then to husband and finally to father. Even though money is still a primary concern, my professional job description has sunk lower and lower on the totem of self-image. As a senior teacher in a large public school district, I am fairly secure in my job. My wife is a freelance writer, and due to a recent illness and the economic downturn, we readjusted our lifestyle in proportion to a drop in income. We chose to take on some debt with the full knowledge that we will simply have to make adjustments to pay it back when our income stream improves. At the same time, we made sure we did not get in over our heads and put ourselves in a situation that could not be managed. Being a father, of course, is more than simply making sure a household budget is manageable or that the children are well-fed. I am primarily a dad, and I am fortunate enough, with my teacher’s schedule, to have time to be around my children. Playing with the kids, gently cajoling them about their homework, asking them about their school day — these are at the forefront of my daily routine. Note that these activities do not involve spending or making money. Indeed, the in-

vestment of personal time and attention cannot be measured monetarily, but the payoff can be a treasury of memories. Think back to your fondest memories. I would guess that they do not involve the exchange of money. A few of my favorite recollections from childhood are playing cards with my grandfather, picking dandelions for my mom and learning how to fish with my dad in the Bronx River with a plastic fishing pole. You don’t need to live in a high-cost area to enjoy simple pleasures. In fact, concerns about money can blind us to the joys of daily family life. Watching my two daughters act out a scene from a musical or my son perform mind-boggling feats on his video game beats taking them to a movie — which, with the price of tickets, popcorn and soda, is not a cheap family outing anymore. This year, we are more mindful of the needs of struggling friends and acquaintances. While we don’t have much, we remember to make charitable contributions to those who are even less fortunate, and we find ways to make non-cash donations. For instance, when we receive a free or discounted toy with the purchase of another, we donate the second to Toys for Tots. We also learned that we could give our hotel points to the Red Cross to aid disaster relief or the homeless. Finally, I notice an extra sparkle in the eyes of my youngest child when we buy food coupons for the needy at the supermarket instead of that little treat she sees by the checkout. My children, I have happily discovered, have gained a spiritual depth and empathy that it took me many more years to develop. That is something I could never buy for them, and it reminds me that I am responsible for something more important than a paycheck.♦ WILLIAM ATHANASIDY teaches earth science in the Yonkers, N.Y., public school system. He and his family are members of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Shrub Oak.

FIND ADDITIONAL ARTICLES AND RESOURCES FOR CATHOLIC MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES AT WWW. FATHERSFORGOOD. ORG .

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Knights of

Charity THEN AND NOW

or the past 128 years, the Knights of Columbus has exemplified, as its first and founding principle, the virtue of charity. In this time, Knights have discovered innumerable ways to show love and support to their neighbors in need. The Knights’ annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending Dec. 31, 2009, indicated that total charitable contributions surpassed $151 million, and the number of volunteer service hours to charitable causes by Knights grew to more than 69 million (see story on page 6). But the numbers tell only part of the story. They simply represent the tangible support that Knights give to families and children, people with intellectual or physical disabilities, military personnel and veterans, and many others in need — just as they did in past generations. What follows are just a few images and examples of the ways that Knights continue this tradition of service.

During World War II, parts of St. Peter’s Oratory, one of the Knights of Columbus playgrounds in Rome, served as the headquarters for the Vatican’s food distribution program for the Roman people. Up to 400,000 people were served daily by this program.

From Top: Soldiers gather at the Knights of Columbus Club in Adernach, Germany, c. 1918. Upon the United States’ entry into World War I, the Knights of Columbus stepped forward to support the troops by establishing a series of K of C huts that welcomed soldiers of every race and creed, offering them a place for rest, social activities and prayer. • 1st Lt. Gary Velasquez of St. Andrew’s Council 11874 in Rock Falls, Ill., distributes toys and school supplies to Afghan children in 2008. • In December 2009, Connecticut Knights contributed $90,000 to purchase a handicapped-accessible van for the VA medical center in West Haven. 12 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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PREVIOUS SPREAD: Courtesy United Nations Archives and Record Management Service

The Order’s support of men and women in the armed forces is legendary — from the Army Hut programs during World War I and World War II to the countless K of C units today that send care packages to soldiers stationed around the world. The Knights of Columbus helps to meet the spiritual needs of military personnel as well. There are currently more than 60 active military councils on bases worldwide. Copies of the Knights’ military prayer book, titled Armed with the Faith, have surpassed 500,000 in print. And since 2009, the Order has provided a bilingual Catholic handbook for Canadian military personnel as well. Knights have also tackled the needs of veterans on several fronts, beginning with the “Serving Those Who Served” program. In cooperation with the U.S. Government’s Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) program, the Order has representatives at VA medical centers and many clinics throughout the United States. Knights regularly visit veterans at their homes and at medical care facilities, work to ensure that veterans are able to visit national memorial sites and help veterans with disabilities to obtain wheelchairs.

In 1938, after conducting successful blood drives on the local level for almost a decade, the Knights of Columbus established what many regard as the first blood donor program sponsored by a national organization. Hundreds of councils began blood donor groups, and the program soon became international in scope. Today, 80 percent of Red Cross blood drives occur in partnership with high schools, businesses, places of worship and community organizations like the Knights of Columbus. This year alone, Knights-organized blood drives obtained nearly 414,000 donations.

BOTTOM: Mark May Photography

Left: Hibbing (Minn.) Council 1649 held a “Blood Donor’s Nite” event May 21, 1941. • Below: Charles Thramer of St. John Vianney Council 7740 in Omaha, Neb., donates blood at a K of C-sponsored drive June 26.

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Top: San Francisco is pictured following the earthquake and fire that destroyed much of the city in 1906. In support of the victims, the Order collected more than $100,000. • Left: An injured Haitian woman thanks Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson after receiving one of 1,000 new wheelchairs that Knights of Columbus distributed to victims of the country’s earthquake. • Above: A little girl pictured in Marikina City, Philippines, was one of thousands to receive relief from the Knights of Columbus after Tropical Storm Ketsana hit in September 2009. • Right: A priest standing with laborers and emergency workers Oct. 4, 2001, blesses a 20-foot tall cross of steel beams that had been recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York two days after the towers fell Sept. 11. 14 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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SAN FRANCISCO: Getty Images/ Hulton Archive — WTC CROSS: CNS photo from Reuters

As an international charitable organization, the Knights of Columbus is often quick to respond to natural disasters and other scenes of human tragedy. Over the past century, Knights have promptly responded to dozens of calamities and have remained a strong force for charity worldwide. There are numerous examples of K of C support over the past decade alone, from providing aid to flood victims in Mexico and the Philippines to the establishment of a $1 million Heroes Fund for the families of law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. In the months following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Order’s Gulf States Disaster Relief Fund reached more than $10 million and Knights donated more than 100,000 hours of volunteer work to rebuild homes. Following the devastating Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Supreme Council sent $50,000 within days to Catholic Relief Services in order to aid the Haitian people. By April, Knights of Columbus gave $576,000 to recovery efforts for Haiti, and later that month distributed 1,000 wheelchairs at the University of Miami/Medishare Hospital in Port-au-Prince. AUGUST 2010

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PHOTO: Jonathan Tramontana

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TOP: Jackie Mercandetti Photography

Through countless initiatives and charitable activities, the Knights of Columbus has from its beginning come to the aid of children and families. Last winter, with the number at risk of hunger far higher than usual and the number of those planning to give to charity lower than usual, the Order committed $1 million and legions of active volunteers to its “Food for Families” program to collect food and financially support food banks in the United States and Canada. Food for Families is one of the many projects in the Knights of Columbus “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” initiative, which began at a summit on volunteerism that the Knights organized in New York City in February 2009. Meanwhile, various programs make up the Order’s “Help a Child in Need” campaign, which began in 2006 with a na-

tionwide television appeal for donations to charities that support the needs of children. Last winter, through the K of C Coats for Kids program, approximately 10,000 winter coats were distributed in 20 cold-weather cities throughout North America.

Facing Page: A girl tries on her new coat during a Coats for Kids distribution at St. Joseph Parish in Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 21, 2009. • Top: Since opening the Father McGivney Food Bank in March 2010, Robert Valera and fellow Knights from Our Lady of Guadalupe Council 14101 in Queen Creek, Ariz., have served more than 2,500 local residents. • Bottom: On June 12, 1940, for the 17th consecutive year, approximately 3,000 orphaned children enjoyed a meal prepared by Knights of Columbus in Woodside Park, Philadelphia. AUGUST 2010

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Clockwise from above: Young athletes race in a track event during the first Special Olympics games, hosted in Chicago in 1968. • Eunice Kennedy Shriver (19212009), who founded Special Olympics in 1968, stands with her husband, Sargent Shriver, a member of the Knights who served as the first director of the Peace Corps. • A Knight assists a Special Olympics athlete in the recreation area of the Connecticut Summer Games June 12, 2010. • A Knight visits with a Special Olympics athlete June 25, 2010, during the Ohio Summer Games. • Andy Ancel, a member of St. Malachy Council 12540 in Brownsburg, Ind., and his children participate in a fund drive for people with disabilities. • Marvin J. DeSchryver, past state deputy of Saskatchewan, and California State Chaplain Msgr. Nestor Rebong help an injured girl into her new wheelchair in Haiti April 28, 2010. • A woman is pictured in one of 2,000 new wheelchairs the Knights of Columbus distributed in Afghanistan to people with disabilities in 2003.

TOP CENTER: James D. Camp, Ohio Photojournalist BOTTOM SPECIAL OLYMPICS PHOTOS: Courtesy of Special Olympics

Over the past four decades, the Knights of Columbus has raised and donated more than $382 million and tens of thousands of volunteer hours to programs for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. In 2005, the Knights began a four-year partnership that committed $250,000 annually to grow Special Olympics in North America and other parts of the world, while pledging even more volunteers for state and local games. In 2009, the K of C Board of Directors voted to renew the Order’s partnership for another four years. In 2003, the Order also began participating in the Global Wheelchair Mission, which provides durable, low-cost wheelchairs to those in need. Knights in the United States and Canada have sponsored the distribution of some 20,000 wheelchairs in nearly 20 countries.

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CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS

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A brief history of the Knights’ contributions to U.S. society and beyond

IN ADDITION to the everyday charitable activities of Knights of Columbus, the Order has undertaken numerous initiatives that have significantly impacted society for the better. From the promotion of religious and racial tolerance to the support of education, the Knights have demonstrated a deep concern for the world around them. Here are just a few examples of that work. 1898: Knights purchase war bonds to support the Spanish-American War; soldiers and sailors are not disqualified from becoming insurance members. 1904: The Order donates more than $55,000 to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to establish of a K of C chair of American history. From 1909 to 1913, Knights raise $500,000 to establish a permanent endowment for the university. 1914-17: The Order’s Commission on Religious Prejudice fights to expose anti-Catholic publications. The num20 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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ber of these periodicals drops from 60 to fewer than five. 1916: Knights from New Mexico, Arizona and Texas aid the troops sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent Mexican Gen. Francisco “Pancho” Villa from raiding towns in the United States. 1917: The Order establishes service centers known as “Huts.” These were homes away from home to support troops near the front lines and at training centers during World War I. More than one observer noted that the Knights, in welcoming everyone, did not draw the “color line” as other organizations did at the time. 1919: The Order begins educational, vocational and employment programs for veterans. More than 50,000 students enroll in evening school programs across the United States and Canada. 1923-25: The Order works to overturn a Ku Klux Klan-sponsored law in Oregon that prohibits children under 16 from attending private schools. In 1925, the U.S. Supreme

Court unanimously declares the Oregon law unconstitutional. 1924-27: In response to a request from Pope Benedict XV, the Knights opens five K of C recreation centers for youth in Rome. 1924: The K of C Historical Commission publishes the Knights of Columbus Racial Contributions Series dealing with the positive contributions of African-, Jewish- and GermanAmericans to U.S. society. 1926: Supreme Officers meet with President Calvin Coolidge to express concern about the persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico. The Order then launches a $1 million campaign to educate the public about the issue. 1930: The Order responds to U.S. President Herbert Hoover’s call for an emergency committee for employment, promising the cooperation of local councils in forming jobs boards for the unemployed. Within its first 18 months, the Knights’ Bureau of

PHOTO: Michael Kreiser Photography

Last year, Knights volunteered 227,900 hours with Habitat for Humanity, assisting with everything from pouring foundations and framing walls to painting and landscaping. Councils frequently undertake other construction projects as well, such as refurbishing church property and building wheelchair ramps for people with limited mobility. Meanwhile, the Order’s tireless dedication to building a culture of life is seen, in part, in its support of pregnancy resource centers. Popular programs like Knights of Columbus Pro-Life Baby Showers and baby bottle drives help to provide women and children with the resources they need. And since it launched in 2009, the Order’s Ultrasound Initiative has obtained nearly 50 ultrasound machines for medically certified pro-life centers throughout North America. Of course, the Knights’ service to others is not limited to these examples. Throughout the Order’s history, Knights have responded to neighbors in need. As these needs change and new partnerships emerge, one thing will remain the same: Knights will practice charity above all.♦

Left: Knights from Holy Cross Council 8493 in The Colony, Texas, come to the assistance of a legally blind widow who was about to lose her home to foreclosure. Knights spent a day replacing the roof, which was required before the home could be refinanced. • Right: Rachel Owens (left), executive director of Choices Medical Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa, and a young woman are pictured with an ultrasound machine that was purchased for the clinic through the Order’s Ultrasound Initiative.

Employment oversees more than 1,000 local jobs committees and helps nearly 100,000 workers find jobs. 1939-41: Canadian Knights establish a welfare program for soldiers serving in World War II. When the United States enters the war in 1941, the Order reaches out to soldiers via the National Catholic Community Service, a member agency of the USO. 1945: The Order creates a $1 million trust fund for the education of children of members who died in World War II. June 14, 1954: After successful lobbying from the K of C, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill into law that adds the words “under God” to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. 1967: Canadian Knights erect a Peace Memorial in Windsor, Ontario, during Canada’s centennial. 1969: The Order contributes $75,000 to the U.S. Catholic Conference’s Task Force on Urban Problems to help address poverty and discrimination.

On Columbus Day 1961, President John F. Kennedy, a Knight of Columbus, receives a plaque commemorating the addition of the words “under God” to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance from Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart. 1981: The Order establishes the Vicarius Christi Fund, with annual earnings used for the pope’s personal charities. The first check for $1.2 million is presented at the 1982 Supreme Convention. Sept. 12, 2001: In response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the

Order establishes its $1 million Heroes Fund. 2002: The Order establishes a $2 million Pacem in Terris fund to promote peace and education initiatives in the Holy Land. 2003: The Order begins its partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission, which provides wheelchairs to those who lack mobility. 2004: Fourth Degree assemblies raise and donate $520,000 toward the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. 2005-6: In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the U.S. Gulf, Knights donate close to $10 million toward relief efforts. 2009-Present: The Order develops initiatives under the banner of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, such as Coats for Kids and Food for Families, to ensure that needy members of the community receive essential support services during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.♦ AUGUST 2010

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Building Homes, Building Lives Knights in the Philippines construct houses and provide for the needs of poor villagers by Roy Lagarde n a secluded village about 17 miles north of Manila, Knights of Columbus have assisted in building scores of new, colorful houses along the rugged hills. Many of the residents were formerly homeless, but now they and their children have a new start in life and hope for the future. Their houses comprise the Knights of Columbus Village, a building project funded by the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI), the insurance arm of the Order in the Philippines. Located in the city of San Jose del Monte of Bulacan, the village is part of a larger housing development sponsored by Gawad Kalinga,

a faith-based organization whose name in Filipino means â&#x20AC;&#x153;giving care.â&#x20AC;? This past April, five new units in the complex were dedicated and named in honor of Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. This made a total of 22 houses and one chapel built at the site by the KC Philippines Foundation with support from KCFAPI. Knights and community members work at the K of C Village site. The Gawad Kalinga project has provided numerous houses for villagers in the Philippines and seeks to build a community that is vibrant and sustainable.

PHOTO: Roy Lagarde

Jocelyn Tusi, a mother of four children, said that coming to the village was an answer to her prayers. She and her husband helped to build their house and also took lessons from Gawad Kalinga instructors on building a better a life. “We live under one roof that we can now call our own,” she said. “It seems that our confidence, dignity and hopes were restored with our new home. They brightened up our lives with goodness.” The houses are simple, yet durable: concrete, steel-framed units that are brightly painted and measure about 76 square feet each. Room is limited, especially for larger families, but there are outdoor common areas where families can gather and children can play. For the time being, residents use a deep-well pump for drinking and washing until the government extends water lines into the hills. Akin to the worldwide Habitat for Humanity program, residents provide “sweat equity” by joining hundreds of other skilled and unskilled volunteers in the construction process. Monetary donations to Gawad Kalinga provide the remaining construction funds. Knights in the Philippines have been major donors and volunteers since 2008. In addition, volunteers from KCFAPI have staffed a mission to monitor the health of village residents and to ensure that they understand the basics of nutrition and hygiene. The Gawad Kalinga project includes dozens of homes in addition to the K of C Village and seeks to build a community that is vibrant and sustainable, despite being isolated

from the surrounding villages. It has a school program that provides children with a pre-school, primary school and vocational education, and a livelihood program that develops farmland for the benefit of the whole community. The spiritual needs of the residents are met by Couples for Christ, a Catholic organization that provides Christian mentoring, prayer meetings and Mass, as well as catechetical programs for children. In addition, the Knights of Columbus constructed a chapel named for Father George Willmann, a Jesuit missionary priest who is known as the “Father McGivney of the Philippines” for his work with the Order for 40 years until his death in 1977. Justice Jose Reyes Jr., a federal judge and the chairman of the KC Philippines Foundation Inc., said that the new homes are just the beginning of an ongoing effort to house the area’s poor, who live in cardboard or scrap metal shacks along the highways and dirt roads of the country. “The Knights of Columbus has long been helping the poor,” he said. “We really wanted to help this project … an honest to goodness help to the poor. This is now a realization.” According to Reyes, Knights maintain a close relationship with village residents and provide ongoing faith formation to help build a small Christian community among the people.♦ ROY LAGARDE is a staff writer and photojournalist in the media office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and a member of Manila Council 1000.

Quenching Our Neighbors’

THIRST Wells of Hope brings the gift of clean water to Guatemala by Mike Mastromatteo

n July 2010, Ted van der Zalm left his home in St. Catharines, Ontario, to prepare for a new round of water well drilling operations in a rural area of Guatemala. The founder of Wells of Hope, an ambitious endeavour that provides fresh drinking water to the citizens of this developing nation, van der Zalm carried with him the support from fellow members of St. Catherines Council 1394. According to a 2010 World Health Organization-UNICEF study, 884 million people get their drinking water from unprotected wells, water carts and potentially contaminated lakes, streams or irrigation canals. Van der Zalm, a former lay missionary and high school religion teacher, takes these numbers seriously. He is also mindful of the Gospel imperative to bring water to the thirsty, food to the hungry and a sense of hope to desperate, vulnerable people.

Wells of Hope seeks to provide clean, safe water to Guatemalan villagers, such as those pictured here washing clothes with water that flows from the mountainside into a hole. Without a well, the contaminated water is also their only source of drinking water. 24 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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A UNITING FORCE K of C councils near and far remain committed to the cause. In January 2009, the Supreme Council issued a $100,000 grant to Wells of Hope in support of an overall fundraising target of just over $1 million to purchase new drilling equipment for an arid region of Guatemala. This grant complemented smaller fundraising activities undertaken by Council 1394 and nearby councils in southern Ontario. John Currey of Council 1394 said that Wells of Hope inspired the entire community in St. Catharines and the Niagara Peninsula. “We’ve contributed to Wells of Hope personally as members, and we have contributed as a council to Ted and his work,” Currey said. State Deputy Arthur L. Peters has also paid keen attention to van der Zalm and Wells of Hope. “There are many Knights of Columbus doing outstanding work in their local communities,” Peters said, “but the van der Zalm family embodies the principles of the Order, uniting members of their council and the greater community in charity to assist our brothers and sisters in need.”

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Ted van der Zalm, founder of Wells of Hope, is pictured drilling a well in Laguna Itzacoba, Guatemala. While this original rig had the capacity to drill 200 feet into the hard volcanic rock at a rate of only four inches per day, new drilling equipment will allow wells to be dug deeper and more quickly. Although van der Zalm is used to travelling to Guatemala by the slow overland route, his most recent trip was by plane, to tend to Wells of Hope’s latest initiative. The first priority of his two-week journey was to retrieve new drilling equipment that had finally been released by the country’s customs authority. He also arrived in time to receive a container of relief goods sent from the Niagara region. Eager as he is to get to work, van der Zalm also must relent to some of nature’s constraints. “Due to the rainy season,” he explained, “it is difficult to get much work done right away, so our drilling will commence after the rains have subsided in September or October.” But as work begins, van der Zalm will no doubt be mindful of Council 1394 and other Knights who have not flagged in their support. For more information, visit wellsofhope.com.♦ MIKE MASTROMATTEO writes from Toronto, where he is a member of Blessed Trinity Council 11681.

Photos courtesy of Wells of Hope

A CALL TO SERVE Van der Zalm developed a keen appreciation for clean, safe drinking water as a volunteer missionary in Tanzania, where he learned the basics of drilling wells and laying irrigation systems. He was further challenged by reports from the United Nations that showed the staggering disease and mortality rates in Third World nations due to unsafe or unavailable drinking water. It was a watershed moment for a young man already familiar with the call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. After all, these were ideals imparted in van der Zalm by his father, a Knight who encouraged his family to do whatever they could to ease the suffering of others. “As Jesus calls us to service through his example of washing his disciples’ feet, the Knights of Columbus and Wells of Hope are committed to serving the needs of our less fortunate sisters and bothers,” said van der Zalm. In the years since its founding, Wells of Hope has drawn the attention of fellow Knights, who have been ardent supporters of the project since 2004. At that time, councils in southern Ontario and throughout the United States, as well as the Ontario State Council, supported a Wells of Hope motorized caravan as it made its way from St. Catharines to Guatemala for the initial drilling operation. In addition to providing overnight rest stops for van der Zalm, his family and volunteers, Knights also provided funding to help pay for the caravan’s next round of travelling and living expenses. Although his family was honored by the Ontario State Council as Family of the Year in 2004, van der Zalm is not concerned about seeking recognition for his work, which he simply sees as his Christian duty. “Wells of Hope is a front lines group of volunteers, actively responding to Christ’s call to love our neighbor as ourselves,” he said.

KNIGHTS IN ACTION

REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES

hours they worked, Squires raised $1,000 for the school, which provides outreach to approximately 3,000 people with intellectual disabilities throughout Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. NIGHT FOR PRIESTS

Volunteers cut and measure new floor tiles for the dining area at St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home. Ambrose “Sam” Szalwinski of St. Mark the Evangelist Council 7613 in San Antonio coordinated the effort and solicited $1,600 in donated materials to complete the project. Knights from throughout the Archdiocese of San Antonio spent two weekends installing the new floor, which saved the facility approximately $6,000.

INCREASED SECURITY

UPPER LEFT: Jordan McMorrough/Today’s Catholic, Archdiocese of San Antonio

After several break-ins occurred at Holy Family Church in Artesia, Calif., John F. Kennedy Council 6004 installed a security system on the premises to prevent future intrusions. Knights also help to monitor the security cameras.

BREAKFAST TIME

Our Lady of Fatima Council 9742 in Ottawa, Ontario, hosts a full-course breakfast at its parish three times each year. Proceeds from the events are added to the council’s charitable fund. KITCHEN HELP

St. Augustine Council 9714 in South San Francisco, Calif., serves food to approximately 150 homeless people each month at a soup kitchen operated by the Missionaries of Charity.

MARY’S HEALING

Van Nuys (Calif.) Council 3148 donated a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the spiritual care department of Northridge Hospital. The statue, which is mounted on an enclosure handcrafted by Knight Bernie Moore, was dedicated at a special ceremony honoring Our Lady. GIFT FROM HEAVEN

TELETHON AID

During its annual clergy appreciation dinner, Bishop Eugene J. McGuiness Council 4721 in Tulsa, Okla., presented the proceeds from the state’s “Pennies from Heaven” drive to Bishop Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa. Funds from the drive assist men in the diocese who are studying for the priesthood. Bishop Slattery is a member of Holy Family Council 10388.

Father Leo Anctil Circle 5211 in Coventry, R.I., volunteered at the annual telethon hosted by Meeting Street School. During the

Our Lady of Fatima Council 10953 in Iloilo, Visayas, received permission to desig-

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Members of Sañto Rosario Council 3888 in Orani, Luzon, till a vegetable garden on the grounds of their council hall. Knights planted the garden to help promote a healthy diet rich in vegetables among local members of the community.

The Knights of Columbus Galveston-Houston (Texas) Chapter hosted its annual clergy appreciation night at the Stafford Convention Center. More than 1,500 people attended the event, including Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, who is a member of Father Vincent Joseph Guinan Council 13940 at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Proceeds from the event were donated to various charitable causes.

Members of Bishop Olwell Circle 3290 in South Cotabato, Mindanao, conduct several outreach activities in their community, among them prayer vigils, tree plantings and church visitations.

COUNCIL MARKER

Members of God’s Divine Mercy Council 14463 in Yorkville, Ill., repair a home in Pass Christian, Miss. Six Knights and eight additional volunteers traveled to the Gulf Coast to aid with ongoing reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Knights helped construct two homes on ninefoot stilts to replace those destroyed by floodwater.

nate a large, roadside boulder as its council marker. The stone, which is roughly 12 feet tall, is marked with the council’s name and number and is repainted several times each year to reflect different initiatives or themes. BILLBOARD FOR ALL SEASONS

Father Anthony Ravalli Council 6130 in Hamilton, Mont., constructed a permanent billboard on a parcel of land owned by Dick Green, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church. The vinyl signs on the billboard are changed several times throughout the year to include seasonal and pro-life messages. APPRECIATION BREAKFAST

Msgr. Frank Howard Council 6648 in Havelock, N.C., cooked a volunteer appreciation breakfast for about 80 parishioners who assist at the parish school and with other activities.

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K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N

munity. Volunteer doctors and dentists provided free consultations, distributed medicine and offered minor procedures at no cost. PLACE OF SANCTUARY

St. Pius X Council 11101 in Greensboro, N.C., donated $1,500 to Sanctuary House, a facility that provides rehabilitation, training and support to people with mental illnesses, namely schizophrenia, depression and bi-polar disorder.

NEW HEIGHTS

THROUGH A GLASS

Manordale Valley Council 4226 in Murrysville, Pa., donated $4,000 to Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children, which provides spiritual, educational, vocational and residential programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

Holy Redeemer Council 9544 in Ottawa, Ontario, donated $5,000 toward a new stainedglass window at its parish. The new window depicts the Resurrection of Christ. FUND DRIVE

Limoilou (Quebec) Council 4494 conducted a fund drive at area supermarkets and restaurants that raised $43,500 for three area charities. HONORING PASTORS

Bishop Joseph R. Cistone of Saginaw, Mich., delivers the keynote address at a clergy appreciation night hosted by Father Nouvel Council 4232 in Saginaw. Bishop Cistone, who is a member of Father Thomas J. Doyle Council 13565 in Philadelphia, thanked the Knights for their support of the clergy and urged them to continue to support vocations.

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Father Philip G. Theriault Council 11522 in Sudbury, Ontario, hosted a special Mass at St. Patrick Church to honor 10 area priests who, at one time or another, served or aided the parish. State Chaplain Noël Simard, auxiliary bishop of Sault Sainte Marie, celebrated the Mass, which was followed by a chicken dinner for all those in attendance. MEDICAL/DENTAL MISSION

Cabanatuan City (Luzon) Council 3692 hosted a medical and dental mission for needy members of the com-

NEW CARPETING

Rev. Père Donat LeBlanc Council 7334 in Shediac, New Brunswick, helped replace the 25-year-old carpet at its parish. The council contributed $15,000 toward the project’s total cost and volunteered to remove church seating until the new carpet was installed. BIRTHRIGHT DONATION

Holy Trinity III Council 13729 in Johnstown, Colo., donated $200 to Birthright in Loveland, a facility that provides pregnancy tests, prenatal medical services, housing referrals and baby supplies to women in crisis pregnancies.

tine Church. At the event, Knights presented Father Peter Gorey with an award of merit. The dinner raised $1,000, which was donated to the St. Augustine Church building fund. PARISH PAINTING

Members of San Antonio de Padua Council 7686 in Cavite, Luzon, repainted their parish hall. District Deputy Amado Sanglay donated paint for the project under an initiative to beautify all of the churches in Cavite City.

STUDENT BREAKFAST

San Juan Bautista Council 1543 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, hosted a breakfast at Instituto Loaiza Cordero, a school for children with visual impairments. Knights served breakfast to all those in attendance and stayed to enjoy fellowship with the students. APPRECIATION DINNER

Mother of Good Counsel Council 1078 in Andover, Mass., held an appreciation dinner in honor of the Augustinian Friars of St. Augus-

VETERANS HONORED

In honor of the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II, Union (N.J.) Council 4504 arranged to have a U.S. flag flown over the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The flag was then transported to New Jersey, where it was presented to council veterans at a special ceremony. Twenty-one World War II veterans and their families attended the event, in addition to local resident Thomas Mahoney, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

UPPER RIGHT: Malin Jordan/The B.C Catholic, Archdiocese of Vancouver

Members of Father Patrick J. Ryan Assembly in Chattanooga, Tenn., stand with students from Notre Dame High School and the coats that were collected by Knights in districts #12 and #13. The drive, co-sponsored by the United Way and the local ABC television affiliate, collected more than 1,600 coats for needy members of the community.

Allan Whyte (right) of Star of the Sea Council 7015 in White Rock, British Columbia, and Carolyn Wharton of Star of the Sea Parish hold the bottom half of a “Comfort Coat,” while Whyte wears the jacket section. Council 7015 donated $2,600 to Wharton’s volunteer group to help make 144 of the coats, which are a combination coat and sleeping bag for the homeless.

K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N ONGOING AID

South Texas Catholics and other Christians of all ages march for life during the annual rosary procession led by Father William A. Caldwell Council 3493. The march, which takes place through the streets of San Benito, has been held every year since the early-1990s and is dedicated to the memory of unborn children killed by abortion.

BUILDING THE FUTURE

Luke Killoran Council 4510 in Wainwright, Alberta, donated $5,000 to the building fund at Blessed Sacrament Church. Over the past five years, Knights have donated $100,000 to help build a parish hall at the existing church. FILL THOSE BOTTLES

St. Bonaventure Council 10049 in Manomet, Mass., held a pro-life baby shower to support the Archdiocese of

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Council 7648 in Jersey City, N.J., donated $1,000 to aid continuing relief efforts in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy, which struck the islands in 2009. Meanwhile, St. Ferdinand College Council 8508 in Isabela, Luzon, prepared relief goods for people in Manila who were impacted by the storm. MEET THE BISHOP

Boston’s pregnancy resource center. The drive collected $2,900 in cash donations and approximately $1,000 in new baby items.

Msgr. Don H. Hughes Assembly in Tucson, Ariz., held its annual “Meet the Bishop” dinner fundraiser. Proceeds from the event — which topped nearly $50,000 — were donated to the Tucson Benedictine Monastery and to the diocese’s clergy retirement fund.

HOSPITAL ROSARIES

THE GIFT OF LIFE

Father William J. Donnelly Council 8831 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, donated 100 finger rosaries to the Catholic chaplain at Dartmouth General Hospital. Each rosary came in a package that contained a step-by-step guide on how to pray the rosary, a prayer for the sick and a getwell card.

Jamaica Council 337 in Hollis, N.Y., sponsored a community blood drive that netted more than 100 pints of viable blood for New York Blood Services. Donors were also screened as potential blood marrow donors. WEEKLY FOOD DRIVE

St. Nicholas Council 10590 in Laguna Hills, Calif., hosts a weekly food drive at its parish to benefit a local outreach organization. The drive averages about 500 pounds of food per week. PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Members of Montrose (Colo.) Council 1188 construct a new deck at the home of Father Mark Bettinger, pastor of St. Mary’s Church. When Knights determined that Father Bettinger’s existing deck was unsafe, they tore it down and volunteered to build a new one. In addition to providing volunteer labor for the project, the council also donated nearly $3,000 worth of materials.

Millstone Valley Council 11415 in Somerset, N.J., held a pancake breakfast that raised $900 for its parish youth ministry and $500 for its parish religious education program. A NEW HORIZON

Msgr. Joseph Fitzgerald Council 14014 in Hunting-

Andrew Mendoza of Santo Niño Council 9462 in Baltimore selects a pair of eyeglasses for a needy woman in New Washington, Visayas. Council 9462 — whose membership is comprised mostly of Filipinos — hosts an ongoing collection for used eyeglasses that members bring to the Philippines when they return home. On his latest visit, Mendoza brought several boxes of glasses that were distributed to the needy.

ton, Conn., donated $500 to Health Horizons International, a medical mission to the Dominican Republic that provides medical care for Haitian refugees and needy Dominicans living in rural communities. SPEAKING FOR LIFE

Geauga Council 3304 in Chardon, Ohio, hosted a prolife dinner with guest speaker Jason Jones, producer of the films Bella and The Stoning of Soraya M. Jones is a Catholic convert and a Third Degree Knight. The event raised $2,500, which was donated to two seminarians and to a local pro-life group.

kofc.org exclusive See more “Knights in Action” reports and photos at www.kofc.org/ knightsinaction

AUGUST 2010

♦ C O L U M B I A ♦ 29

K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N

IN SERVICE TO ONE, IN SERVICE TO ALL

Rogers, Arkansas •

Guatemala •

• Jamaica

Laos • Ghana •

SCHOOL FURNISHINGS

El Camino Real Assembly in Santa Ana, Calif., donated 50 student desks and chairs, one teacher’s desk and chair, four lights, two fans, and a chalkboard to help furnish a school in Ghana that is run by the Patrician Brothers. SCHOOL FOR KIDS

St. Norbert (Manitoba) Council 8557 raised $1,000 for School for Kids in Laos

Inc. (SKL), an organization that is building schools for underprivileged children in the Asian country of Laos. Since 2007, SKL has helped construct two schools. A PLAYHOUSE FOR A REAL HOUSE

With help from the students at Sprott-Shaw Community College, Corpus Christi Council 7871 in Calgary, Al-

Bacolod City, Philippines •

berta, built and raffled a custom playhouse to benefit the Diocese of Virac, Philippines. Knights sold about $8,500 in raffle tickets for the house, which had a retail value of approximately $4,000. Proceeds from the raffle were donated to the Diocese of Virac’s Social Action Foundation, which partners with local, national and international institutions to provide disaster relief and rehabilitation. One of the foundation’s initiatives is the Shelter Rehab Project, whose mission is to construct concrete, typhoon-proof homes in the Philippines. The amount raised in the raffle will aid the construction of three or four homes. SPREADING DIVINE MERCY

Parishioners, along with members of St. John Nepomucene Council 12075 and Sum-Ag Circle 4651, both in Bacolod City, Visayas, work to complete the parish offices at St. John Nepomucene Church. Knights donated five truckloads of sand and gravel for the project, along with paint, thinners and other materials.

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AUGUST 2010

St. Paul of Tarsus Council 11689 in Clinton Township, Mich., donated images of the Divine Mercy to two newly constructed mission churches in Jamaica. After several years of celebrating Mass in school classrooms, the citizens of Grange Hill and Little London finally have their own respective churches. To help

• Virac, Philippines

furnish each facility, Knights packaged and shipped the Divine Mercy portraits to Father Joseph Hund, a council member and missionary priest in Jamaica. SPANISH MASS

Los Martires Mexicanos Council 14609 in Rogers, Ark., staffs a special weekly Mass at Saint Vincent de Paul Church that is celebrated entirely in Spanish. The Mass, which is held at 7:30 pm on Sundays, gives the predominantly Spanishspeaking parish the opportunity to attend more than just one service in their native language. NUTRITION CENTER

Tawas (Mich.) Council 2709 hosted a charity dinner to benefit a nutrition center in Guatemala. The event which featured entertainment, a 5050 raffle and a silent auction, raised $3,755 for the center, which serves poor children on the brink of starvation or devastating illness.

P RO M OT I O NA L & G I F T I T E M S

K OF C ITEMS OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS IN THE UNITED STATES THE ENGLISH COMPANY INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment 1-800-444-5632 • www.kofcsupplies.com LYNCH AND KELLY INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-548-3890 • www.lynchkelly.com

CHILBERT & CO. Approved Fourth Degree Tuxedos 1-800-289-2889 • www.chilbert.com IN CANADA ROGER SAUVÉ INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-266-1211 • www.roger-sauve.com

B. OFFICIAL AUGUST 1, 2010:

A. Pinnacle Gold LS Golf Balls. MD90 Lithium Surlyn cut proof cover. Imprinted with the emblem of the Order in blue. Sold in dozens. PG-424 — $14 per dozen B. NEW! Divot Tool Gift Set. Ahead Golf ™ solid brass divot tool in antique bronze finish with magnetic ball marker holder and brass ball markers. Includes divot and three diecast markers. Your choice of markers engraved with the emblem of the Order (PG- 483) or with the Fourth Degree emblem (PG-484) — $20 each C. Golf Tournament Gift Set. A place for everything while you’re out on the course. This insulated can cooler in black comes with three Top-Flite XL golf balls imprinted with full-color emblem of the Order and 10 tees imprinted with “Knights of Columbus.” Can cooler is screenprinted with emblem of the Order on top. Carabiner clip included for easy attachment to golf bag. PG-486 — $12

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AUGUST 2010

♦ C O L U M B I A ♦ 31

C O LU M B I A N I S M B Y D E G R E E S

Fraternity MEMBERS OF Holy Trinity Council 11055 in Zamboanga City, Mindanao, renovate the home of council member Juanito Hipolito. Knights provided materials and volunteered to make the necessary repairs to the house. Hipolito, 78, is a charter member of the council and is currently unemployed. • Westminster (Md.) Council 1393 hosted a parish breakfast to benefit the daughter of a council member who has been diagnosed with cancer. The event raised more than $2,100 to help offset the family’s medical expenses.

Charity

Unity

Patriotism

FATHER DENNIS MILLER (left) and Bob Conzemius of Msgr. James A. Supple Council 13160 in Ames, Iowa, examine a newly placed educational plaque at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Knights funded a project at the church to decorate a bare 62-foot wall with a series of 22 educational markers. The plaques are located in the church’s lower lounge, where many parish events are held. • North Ridgeville (Ohio) Council 7970 came to the aid of a family that needed a new refrigerator but couldn’t afford to buy one. Knights took up a collection that raised $800 — enough to purchase a new fridge plus food to fill it.

BISHOP ROBERT H. BROM (second from left) of San Diego looks on while Father Michel Froidurot breaks ground near the cornerstone of the future St. Gabriel Church. Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Council 6031 in Poway was instrumental in raising funds for the construction of the new church and served refreshments at the groundbreaking ceremony. About 200 people attended the event, which also included the burial of a time capsule. Bishop Brom is a member of Cabrillo Council 2891.

MASTER SGT. Patrick Narango (left) of the Kandahar Airfield Round Table in Afghanistan passes a new notebook to an Afghan youth. Knights of the newly formed round table, which is sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul Council 12191 in Berkeley Springs, W. Va., ventured into a local bazaar to distribute school supplies to Afghan children. • Michigan Fourth Degree District #2 began a program called “Operation: Patriotism” to help remodel rooms at area VA facilities. Knights made an initial donation of $7,000 to remodel a room at the VA facility in Ann Arbor with new wallpaper, window dressings, a television and furniture.

32 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

AUGUST 2010

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K NI G HT S O F C O LUM BUS

Building a better world one council at a time Every day, Knights all over the world are given opportunities to make a difference — whether through community service, raising money or prayer. We celebrate each and every Knight for his strength, his compassion and his dedication to building a better world.

BE FEATURED HERE , SEND YOUR COUNCIL’ S

Knights Joseph Vrazel, Robert Masse Jr. and Frederick Montoya of Utah District #7 carry a stove that will be donated to a needy family. When Knights learned that about 300 parishioners from San Felipe Church in Wendover had been laid off last year, they stepped in to provide aid to families in need. Knights from throughout the district work with stores to get clothing and non-perishable food at discount prices, and collect used furniture and appliances. Volunteers then make a monthly trip to Wendover to distribute the items throughout the community.

“K NIGHTS IN A CTION ” C OLUMBIA , 1 C OLUMBUS P LAZA , N EW H AVEN , CT 06510-3326

PHOTO AS WELL AS ITS DESCRIPTION TO : OR E - MAIL : COLUMBIA @ KOFC . ORG .

AUGUST 2010

♦ C O L U M B I A ♦ 33

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PLEASE, DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PRIESTLY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

K E E P T HE FA I T H A L I VE

‘I HAVE FOUND JESUS CHRIST PRESENT IN MY DAILY ACTIVITIES AS A PARISH PRIEST.’ It is amazing to consider that many years before my ordination to the priesthood in 2009, my brother Knights of Columbus throughout the world were keeping my vocation close to their hearts and in their daily prayers. That type of encouragement is difficult to come by in today’s world, yet the Order has championed religious vocations for more than 128 years. Without the Knights’ prayers and support, I firmly believe that my vocational journey may have directed me elsewhere. Serving the faithful of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has provided me with opportunities to incorporate the Columbian virtues — charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism — into my everyday priestly ministry. In these four principles, I have found Jesus Christ present in our world and in my daily activities as a parish priest. My vocation requires that I continue to seek out ways to energize, deepen and strengthen people’s faith. My membership in the Knights of Columbus supplies me with immeasurable resources to bring the Gospel of Christ to all the faithful I serve. FATHER SEAN T. O’CONNELL St. Dominic Parish Brookfield, Wisconsin