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D ECEMBER 2013
COLUMBIA
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DECEMBER 2013 ♦ VOLUME 93 ♦ NUMBER 12
COLUMBIA
F E AT U R E S
8 The Father Dowling Mystery After a Missouri priest stopped to pray with a crash victim, the world wondered if he was an angel of mercy sent by God. BY JEANNETTE COOPERMAN
11 Hope for Syrian Christians Toronto-area Knights rally support for Syrian refugees at home and abroad through creative initiatives. BY MIKE MASTROMATTEO
15 A Sign of Solidarity Pope Francis praises the integrity and loyalty of the Knights of Columbus. BY COLUMBIA STAFF
18 Unveiling the Beauty of Our Lady of Help The Knights of Columbus helps to restore the ancient Madonna del Soccorso, the most revered Marian image in St. Peter’s Basilica. BY PIETRO ZANDER
22 The Indispensable Gifts of Women Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic letter on the dignity of women, after 25 years, continues to inspire a new feminism. BY CARLA GALDO
24 Younger Than Sin The Immaculate Conception of Mary helps us to see how God’s grace is revealed in childlike humility. BY FATHER FREDERICK L. MILLER
A sculpture showing an expectant Mary with Joseph en route to Bethlehem is seen in a church during the season of Advent, the time of anticipation and hope before Christmas.
D E PA RT M E N T S
Ad design by Justin Perillo — CNS photo/Lisa A. Johnston
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Building a better world The words of Pope Francis to the Knights reinforce Blessed John Paul II’s challenge to Catholic laity. BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON
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Learning the faith, living the faith St. Joseph’s quiet strength, integrity and fidelity unlock the meaning of man’s Christian mission in the world.
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Knights of Columbus News A Coats for Kids Touchdown • Notre Dame Knights Support Stand with Boston Program • Order-Produced Documentary on Pope Francis Now Available • Knights Aid Typhoon, Earthquake Victims in the Philippines • Monument Honoring Past Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart Rededicated
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Reflection One year after the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn., the community continues its path of grief and healing. BY MSGR. ROBERT WEISS
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Knights in Action
BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI
PLUS: Catholic Man of the Month
DECEMBER 2013
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The Virtues of Men and Women THE PERENNIAL questions about what it means to be a man or a woman and about how the sexes relate to one another are of crucial concern to the Catholic Church. After all, human identity is grounded in the truth that “God created man in his image … male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27). This is reflected often in the teachings of recent pontiffs, such as in Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women) (see page 22). Pope Francis, too, has frequently made references to spiritual fatherhood and motherhood, and when he recently addressed the Knights of Columbus, he called them to cultivate the “manly virtues” modeled by St. Joseph (see pages 3, 4, 16). John Paul II received some criticism for writing a document about the dignity of women but not a corresponding document addressing men. He may not have written a document about masculinity per se, but he did publish the definitive magisterial document on St. Joseph in 1989 — exactly one year after Mulieris Dignitatem. In Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer), the virtues of authentic masculinity shine through, together with the theme of fatherhood. St. Joseph’s vocation as a protector and servant is made evident by his immediate response to God’s commands through the angel of the Lord (cf. Mt 1:24, 2:14). Moreover, there was good reason for John Paul II to highlight what he called the “genius of women.” Much of the confusion and antagonism in
contemporary society stems from a lack of appreciation of “feminine” values. A one-sided emphasis on stereotypically masculine qualities disparages characteristics like receptivity, compassion and obedience, casting them aside as forms of weakness and passivity. The Church has sought to correct this error. In 2004, for example, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, led by thenCardinal Joseph Ratzinger, issued a letter “on the collaboration of men and women.” Echoing John Paul II, the letter noted that while women may be “more immediately attuned to” and live as “the privileged sign” of certain values, “that which is called ‘femininity’ is more than simply an attribute of the female sex. The word designates indeed the fundamental human capacity to live for the other and because of the other” (14). When the Blessed Virgin Mary declared her fiat — her full and free consent to the Incarnation — she did so as an icon of the whole Church. In answering his vocation, St. Joseph demonstrated a similar “readiness of will” to respond to God and give his life in service to love (cf. Redemptoris Custos, 3). Seeking to become mature and loving Christian men and women, Knights and their family members are invited to contemplate and imitate the virtues of the Holy Family as we look forward with joy to the Nativity of the Lord.♦ ALTON J. PELOWSKI EDITOR
Celebrate the Christmas Posada THE POSADA is a traditional Advent celebration brought to the New World by 16th-century missionaries. It is a prayer, play and party all in one that reenacts Joseph and Mary’s search for an “inn” or “shelter” (Spanish: “posada”). The Knights of Columbus has prepared a booklet on how to host a Posada. Download The Posada: An Advent & Christmas Celebration (#9898-E,S) at kofc.org/posada or request the booklet by mail through the Order’s Supply Department. 2 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
DECEMBER 2013
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 Charles E. Maurer Jr. SUPREME SECRETARY Logan T. Ludwig SUPREME TREASURER John A. Marrella SUPREME ADVOCATE ________ EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski EDITOR Andrew J. Matt MANAGING EDITOR Patrick Scalisi SENIOR EDITOR Krista Tullock COPY EDITOR ________
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 ADDRESS CHANGES 203-752-4580 OTHER INQUIRIES 203-752-4398 FAX 203-752-4109 CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-380-9995 E-MAIL columbia@kofc.org INTERNET kofc.org/columbia ________ 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.
________ Copyright © 2013 All rights reserved ________ ON THE COVER The beloved fresco titled Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help) in St. Peter’s Basilica was recently restored with support from the Knights of Columbus.
COVER: Photo by M. Falcioni, Fabbrica di San Pietro
E D I TO R I A L
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD
Strength, Integrity, Fidelity The words of Pope Francis to the Knights reinforce Blessed John Paul II’s challenge to Catholic laity by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
On Oct. 10, our supreme directors were Ecclesia in America, when he wrote: privileged to be received by Pope Francis “The renewal of the Church in America in a private audience. On this occasion, will not be possible without the active ness and what John Paul II called “transhe expressed his gratitude to our Order presence of the laity. Therefore, they are parency of heart.” These are the evangelfor our “unfailing support” of the Holy largely responsible for the future of the ical values that thousands of brother See, and he especially thanked us for Church” (44). Knights live out every day through so “the daily prayers, sacrifices and aposThis statement should give all of us many works of charity. tolic works of so many Knights in their great pause. Are we doing enough as inEcclesia in America further challenged local councils, their parishes and their dividuals, as councils and as an Order in the laity in two other ways that have specommunities.” cial importance for the Knights of regard to this great responsibility? Then, the Holy Father made an exJohn Paul II went on to describe the Columbus. First, the document stated, traordinary statement. He praised us for witness needed from lay Catholics today: “What is expected from the laity is a great the “virtues of quiet strength, increative effort in activities and tegrity and fidelity which the works demonstrating a life in Knights of Columbus are comharmony with the Gospel.” Throughout his priestly ministry, mitted to preserving, cultivating And second, “America needs Pope Francis has lived the and passing on to future generlay Christians able to assume ations of Catholic men.” of leadership in society.” challenge of the Church in America roles The full text of Pope Francis’ Here we see the special geaddress is reprinted on page 16 nius of Venerable Michael Mcand has seen others live it as well. of this issue of Columbia, and I Givney, who anticipated the urge every brother Knight to vision of Ecclesia in America by read and reflect upon it. Meditate espe- “On a continent marked by competition nearly a century when he founded the cially on the pope’s observation that and aggressiveness, unbridled con- Knights of Columbus. “quiet strength, integrity and fidelity” are sumerism and corruption, lay people are Each year, thousands of our local hallmarks of the Knights of Columbus. called to embody deeply evangelical val- councils exemplify “a great creative efEach of us should ask how well our ues such as mercy, forgiveness, honesty, fort” in responding to the needs of their councils and our own lives reflect these transparency of heart, and patience in communities. In doing so, they provide virtues of a manly Catholic life. Strength, difficult situations” (Ecclesia in America, countless opportunities for brother integrity, fidelity: new watchwords for 44). This great pope had traveled tire- Knights “to assume roles of leadership.” the Order given to us by our pope. The recent words of Pope Francis need lessly throughout the Western HemiPope Francis also commended our sphere and knew as few others did the to become embedded in the life of the Order to the intercession of St. Joseph, sacrifice and courage required for a new Knights of Columbus. We must see in them a new call to work to realize the who is an exemplar without equal of evangelization of America. “quiet strength, integrity and fidelity.” Our new pope is from this hemi- message of Ecclesia in America. And we The attention that Pope Francis has sphere. Throughout his priestly ministry, must do so with that “transparency of shown us in the first year of his pontif- he has lived the challenge of the Church heart” which we see so brightly in the life icate expresses in a remarkable way in America and has seen others live it as of our first pope from America and what Blessed John Paul II observed in well. He has demonstrated in numerous which will truly make of our good works his 1999 apostolic exhortation on the ways that he knows the people of God “a charity that evangelizes.” Church in the Western Hemisphere, are called to a witness of mercy, forgiveVivat Jesus!
DECEMBER 2013
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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH
Three Keys to Manhood St. Joseph’s quiet strength, integrity and fidelity unlock the meaning of man’s Christian mission in the world by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part two in a special series by Archbishop Lori on men’s spirituality.
birth of Jesus unfolds, Joseph remains a tower of stability. After the Annunciation, when Mary discovered that she was with child through the Holy Spirit, Joseph experienced inner turmoil. As Blessed John Paul II observed, “[Joseph] did not know how to deal with Mary’s ‘astonishing’ pregnancy” (Redemptoris Custos, 3). After an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream (as related in Mt
Mary and the Child Jesus into Egypt to escape the bloody clutches of Herod THIS MONTH, we turn the subject (cf. Mt 2:13-14). Again, no words, just of this column to St. Joseph, the husquiet strength. band of Mary and the foster father of In our noisy world where people Jesus. Joseph’s life and example hold constantly tout themselves, their opinspecial meaning for every husband and ions and their products, strength is father seeking to be true to his vocation; often equated with getting people’s atfor every priest who wants to be a good tention, winning their approval and pastor to his parish family; and getting ahead, even to the point for every deacon who wants to of conquering others. St. Joseph was faithful not only serve the Church in humble But think about the really charity. Indeed, St. Joseph is a strong people you know. Often, in the crucial events surrounding model for every Knight of they speak few words; they have Columbus who seeks to grow no need to boast about their acJesus’ birth, but also in the in the likeness of Christ and complishments because their everyday demands of home and convictions and their deeds speak live the principles of the Order. When Pope Francis greeted for themselves. These are people work in Nazareth. Fidelity is members of the Order’s board who know how to face life’s probof directors and their families faith in action in all the events of lems and tragedies with the this past October, he referred strength that comes from faith in daily life, big and small. to St. Joseph as “an admirable God. They are secure in an insemodel of those many virtues of cure world. quiet strength, integrity and fidelity 1:20-21), Joseph immediately obeyed which the Knights of Columbus are the angel’s command to take Mary INTEGRITY AND FIDELITY committed to preserving, cultivating into his home, demonstrating his faith A second virtue of St. Joseph is inand passing on to future generations and readiness to cooperate with the tegrity. Integrity does not mean being of Catholic men.” In doing so, the plan of God. stubborn or inflexible, but rather pope outlined the essential qualities The story of how Mary and Joseph whole or complete. At one level, it has that marked the life of St. Joseph — journeyed to Bethlehem to comply to do with soundness in mind and the same virtues that should be evident with the census of Caesar Augustus is body. But it also has to do with consisin our lives. well-known. Joseph searched for shelter tently adhering to sound principles for mother and child, and though only and becoming the person that God has STRENGTH THAT LISTENS a stable could be found, he remained intended you to be. St. Joseph was certainly a man of utterly attentive to the needs of Mary St. Joseph demonstrated each of “quiet strength.” In fact, Scripture at- and the newborn Savior. these traits. Tradition tells us that he tributes no words to St. Joseph at all. When an angel again instructed him was a hard worker and a good But as the story of the Incarnation and in a dream, St. Joseph swiftly ushered provider for the Holy Family. Scrip4 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH
ture depicts a man who was steadfast in his faith and resolute in purpose, even as he faced situations that he never could have imagined. Joseph was ultimately a man of integrity because of his unstinting cooperation with God’s saving plan. Integrity is often in short supply today, and it is easy to go along with the crowd. Lacking a sound faith in God and firm principles, many accept as true whatever the prevailing trend happens to be. As a result, right and wrong, truth and error become relative. Virtue is passé. Mere appearance is seen as more compelling than who a person really is.
HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS
POPE FRANCIS: CNS photo/Paul Haring — FATHER CORBY: CNS photo/University of Notre Dame Archives/Library of Congress
Offered in Solidarity with Pope Francis GENERAL: That children who are victims of abandonment or violence may find the love and protection they need. MISSION: That Christians, enlightened by the Word incarnate, may prepare humanity for the Savior's coming.
By contrast, integrity includes taking care of ourselves physically, psychologically and spiritually. It involves asking for the grace of a firm faith and the sound moral principles that light our path. This means having the virtue to withstand temptation, upholding human dignity and doing the right thing for the right reason, even when such decisions aren’t popular. Finally, Pope Francis pointed to St. Joseph’s fidelity. Joseph remained faithful to the end — to Mary, to Jesus and to the mystery of salvation that had been entrusted to him. He was faithful not only in the crucial events surrounding Jesus’ birth, but also in the everyday de-
mands of home and work in Nazareth. Fidelity is faith in action in all the events of daily life, big and small. For husbands, it means loving one’s spouse and family to the end. For priests, it means staying true to the priesthood and all it requires. For everyone, it means service given without notice or reward. When Venerable Michael McGivney founded the Knight of Columbus, he envisioned men of quiet strength, integrity and fidelity. In these days when we celebrate the Lord’s Incarnation and birth, let us ask St. Joseph for the grace to grow in these virtues and for the wisdom to pass them along to a new generation of Knights.♦
C AT H O L I C M A N O F T H E M O N T H
Father William Corby, C.S.C. (1833-1897) William Corby was born in Detroit in 1833, the son of an Irish father and a Canadian mother. At age 16, he left school to work for his father’s real estate business. Four years later, he began studies at Notre Dame, a fledgling university in South Bend, Ind., founded by French priests from the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Corby joined the order several years later and was ordained to the priesthood in 1860. Though Father Corby later served two terms as president of Notre Dame, and would come to be called the school’s “second founder,” he is better remembered for his priestly service and valor during the Civil War. When the war began in 1861, Father Corby gave up his teaching duties and became a chaplain for the Union Army’s Irish Brigade, a regiment composed mainly of Irish Catholics. Corby served near the front lines for three years, bringing comfort to the wounded and absolution to the dying. On July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Father Corby heroically climbed atop a
boulder and proposed to give absolution to the men. After urging them to bravery and patriotism, he bid each one make an act of contrition, and every soldier dropped to his knees. At the end of the day, nearly 200 of the men whom he had blessed had died in battle. Father Corby later wrote, “That general absolution was intended for all, North or South, who were susceptible to it and who were about to appear before their Judge.” Father Corby died in 1897 and was given full military honors at his funeral. In 1910, a statue of him was dedicated in Gettysburg, on what is believed to be the same boulder where he offered his famous absolution.♦
DECEMBER 2013
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS
A Coats for Kids Touchdown THE KNIGHTS of Columbus teamed up with the Denver Broncos at a Coats for Kids distribution Oct. 15 to provide winter coats for students of an inner-city school. Members of the Broncos family joined State Deputy Charles K. Page and K of C volunteers to help children select coats. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and his wife, Linda, helped organize the event through their collaboration with Catholic Athletes for Christ. Among those present were Broncos center Steve Vallos and his wife, Lindsay, and Robin Fox, the wife of head coach John Fox. “This is a great project, especially for Denver,” said Linda Del Rio. “We got the first real snow today, so it’s kind of like providence that we’re giving out coats.” Jack Del Rio also praised the Coats for Kids program and the Order’s charitable work. “It’s nice to be able to take a break from the normal grind of coaching football and join up here with the Knights of Columbus,” he said. “[The Knights] do a wonderful job of giving.” Since 2009, the Coats for Kids program has given away more than 125,000 coats to children in cold-weather cities. Last year, nearly 1,000 councils participated in the program in the United States and Canada.♦
Jack Del Rio, defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, distributes coats to students from Annunciation Catholic School in Denver. Behind him is Kathy Hatch, assistant to John Elway, executive vice president of the Broncos. K-8 students received new winter coats and autographed Nerf footballs.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME Council 1477 in South Bend, Ind., came to the aid of survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing through the college council’s legendary pregame football steak sales. A portion of the proceeds from sales at Notre Dame’s home game Oct. 19 against the University of Southern California went to the Knights of Columbus Stand With Boston Program. The initiative is designed to provide additional prosthetic treatment to people who lost limbs in last April’s attack, beyond that covered by insurance or other programs. This includes items such as prosthetics designed for running and other physical activity. “The effort in Boston is designed to help people recover their love for sports, competition and exercise, which is akin to the original idea for the steak sales at Notre Dame,” said Grand Knight Jeffrey Gerlomes. “The 6 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
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Members of Notre Dame Council 1477 stand in front of their council hall on campus. steak sales combine the joy of sports and outdoor activity with raising funds for worthy causes.” Founded in 1910, Council 1477 sells some 3,000 steak sandwiches each
home football weekend, raising about $10,000 per game for various charities. Since its inception in 1968, the program has donated more than $1 million to charity.♦
DENVER: Photo by Tom Serafin — NOTRE DAME: Photo by Westley Jerdon
Notre Dame Knights Support Stand with Boston Program
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS
POPE FRANCIS: CNS photo/Paul Haring — PHILIPPINES: CNS photo/Erik De Castro, Reuters — MEMORIAL: Photo by Sid Hastings
Order-Produced Documentary on Pope Francis Now Available A NEW documentary produced by the Knights of Columbus delves into the life and thinking of Pope Francis. Francis: The Pope From the New World traces the remarkable rise of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope and the first to take the name Francis. The hour-long program features interviews with close friends, fellow priests, co-workers, the pope’s biographer and the poor of Buenos Aires. Much of the film was shot on location in Argentina. “This documentary arrives as the world realizes that a very special man has assumed the leadership of the Catholic Church,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. “Still, what remains largely unknown to the public are many details of Pope Francis’ life, the work he has done, and the ways in which he has defended the voiceless and Catholic principles.” The documentary begins with the electrifying moment when the new pope stood before the crowd in St. Peter’s Square March 13, the day of his election. It then recounts both the ordinary and climactic events of his life, from family dynamics, to his call to the priesthood, to his care for those in the slums of Buenos Aires, to his support for the San Lorenzo soccer team. The DVD is now available for purchase through Amazon.com.♦
Knights Aid Typhoon, Earthquake Victims in the Philippines
Residents walk on a road littered with debris Nov. 10 after Super Typhoon Haiyan battered Tacloban, Philippines. THE SUPREME COUNCIL pledged $250,000 in aid to the Philippines after the country suffered one of the strongest storms in recorded history in Typhoon Haiyan. As 195-mph winds bore down on the island nation and made landfall Nov. 8, taking thousands of lives and causing catastrophic destruction, the Knights of Columbus collected donations for humanitarian relief online at kofc.org/disaster. In October, $50,000 in immediate aid was also expedited to the Philippines after that country suffered a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake Oct. 15. The allocation from the Supreme Council, along with future contributions, will be used to help those who have been left homeless by the typhoon and earthquake and to augment outreach efforts conducted by other governmental and Catholic agencies.♦
Monument Honoring Past Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart Rededicated The Order honored the late Past Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart (1880-1964) in a rededication ceremony of his burial monument in St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 21. The monument was recently refurbished and the stone updated to include honors that Hart earned during his life. Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Rice of St. Louis presided at the service, with a brief address by Past Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant. An honor guard of more than 60 Fourth Degree Knights was also present. Hart was elected to the K of C Board of Directors in 1918 and served as supreme knight from 1953 until his death in 1964. Under his leadership, the Knights successfully petitioned the U.S. Congress to add the words “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.
DECEMBER 2013
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The Father Dowling Mystery After a Missouri priest stopped to pray with a crash victim, the world wondered if he was an angel of mercy sent by God by Jeannette Cooperman
ather Patrick Dowling was on his way back from offering Lentz gathered with her parents before leaving on a 125-mile Mass in Ewing, Mo., when traffic on Highway 19 ground journey from Quincy, Ill., to Jefferson City, Mo. A public to a halt. Police officers were sending cars back in the opposite health major at Tulane University, Lentz had just finished a direction, but Father Dowling waited. When the road was summer internship in Jefferson City and had made good clear he pulled his white Toyota off to the side, got out and friends at the First Assembly of God church there. She wanted walked 150 yards to the site of a traffic accident. to join them one last time at their 11 a.m. service. The scene was frightening. A little before 9 a.m., Deputy Sheriff Adair received a call On a stretch of farmland highway, about three miles outside from 911 dispatch, reporting a traffic crash with critical inof Center, Mo., a mangled, juries. A driver — subsequently dark green 1989 Mercedes was charged with driving while inflipped up and resting on the toxicated — had crossed the driver’s side. Firefighters, police center line and hit Lentz head and emergency service personon. Adair arrived to find the tonel were everywhere. By this taled Mercedes. All he could time, the roof of the car had see of the young driver was the been pried off and Air Evac top of her head, blonde hair Lifeteam medics were attendshining, and her right hand. ing to the injured young She was trapped inside the woman inside. The Jaws of Life wreck, almost upside down, equipment used to cut away with the steering column the roof lay still on the side of pushed into her abdomen. He the road, too dull to pierce the crouched down, told her who heavy metal skin of the Merhe was and promised to get her cedes that still gripped the out. With startling calm, Lentz driver. asked Adair if he would call her First responders attend to Katie Lentz in her totaled car after she While making a circuit of the mother. endured a head-on collision Aug. 4. accident site, Richard Adair, a Before long, firefighters from deputy sheriff in Ralls County, Center and the neighboring Mo., and the first to arrive on the scene, spotted a silver- town of Perry streamed in. “We’re going to get you out,” Adair haired priest coming his way. Adair, a lifelong Catholic and a said again. In his gut, though, he was worried. The wreck was member of Our Lady of the Rosary Council 2572, listened as so bad that he could hardly believe Lentz had survived. Father Dowling, also a Knight, asked in a soft brogue if he Firefighters draped Lentz’s head with a blue blanket and could bless the woman in the car. warned her about the impending noise before prying the roof Adair stepped away to confer with the pilot from Air Evac. off the car. The Lifeteam medics were then able to get inside They were both afraid that the crash victim might think they and monitor her vital signs. had given up on her if she saw a priest. Adair went back to With the fire personnel waiting for new Jaws of Life tools offer a polite no. from the department in Hannibal, Adair let Father Dowling “I just want to bless her,” the priest repeated with quiet ur- approach the car. The priest immediately went to Lentz, abgency. Adair found himself nodding permission. solved her of her sins and anointed her. Then he stepped back, not wanting to get in the way. But Katie called for him PRAYER AMID PAIN again. She wanted him to pray that her leg, which had a comKatie Lentz and her family always prayed together before leav- pound fracture, wouldn’t hurt so much. He went back, ing on a trip. “Lord, we pray that angels surround Katie as prayed aloud with her, then stood about 12 feet away, silently she travels.” Around 8 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4, 19-year-old praying the rosary. 8 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
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Photo courtesy of Ralls County Sherriff’s Office
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Father Patrick Dowling, a member of Holy Rosary Council 1165 in Monroe City, Mo., is pictured standing beside a country road.
Photo by Sid Hastings
About 10 minutes later, a medic announced that Lentz’s blood pressure and heart rate had dropped. She was still conscious, but she was fading. A DRAMATIC RESCUE The first responders kept Lentz talking — about her dog, her college, her little brother and sister. Raymond Reed, chief of New London’s department at the time, asked if Lentz could withstand the change in pressure if they tried to set the car down on its wheels. Adair caught his breath. They had all been trained never to move a vehicle with someone still trapped inside. But the medics thought Lentz could tolerate the move, and it looked like the only answer. Reed and his men made the decision to right the car. “Climb in and hold her head,” Reed told Shawn McCourt, a New London firefighter and a member of Good Shepherd Council 907 in Hannibal. McCourt wedged himself behind Lentz, made sure her cervical collar was in place and hoped she couldn’t feel him trembling. So many hands held the car that one could barely see metal. As they lowered the Mercedes, the tow-truck driver said it was like watching a piece of paper drift to the ground. But at the
first tilt, gasoline began gushing out of the tank. Since a single spark from their tools could set it aflame, the Perry firefighters quickly blanketed the fuel with foam. By now the Hannibal Fire Department had arrived, and firefighter/EMT Zach Steffen was able to cut into the vehicle. The firefighters used rams to lift the steering column away from Lentz’s broken ribs, allowing her to breath easier, and soon the medics slid her free. McCourt got her set for the helicopter ride and beckoned to Father Dowling. The priest came forward, saw with relief that Katie was all in one piece and walked back to his car as the pilot lifted off. Moments later, Adair turned to look for Father Dowling, but he was gone. THE MYSTERY PRIEST As the adrenaline drained away, fire, police and medical personnel compared notes. Reed and another firefighter recalled hearing a voice say that their tools would work and that they would get Lentz out of the car. Later, they checked the 63 photos taken at the scene, but Father Dowling wasn’t in any of them. Adair remembered the priest appearing from nowhere and vanishing just as fast. As the story of the mystery priest went viral, picked up by DECEMBER 2013
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Photo courtesy of Carla Churchill Lentz
news outlets and social media all over the world, Father Dowl- be able to return to Tulane University in January. ing went about his work, oblivious. He rarely watches TV or A local news station filmed part of their meeting, and surfs the Internet. He is too busy crisscrossing north central Katie’s mother quoted Psalm 37:23 to the reporter: “The steps Missouri, saying Mass in his rough but earnest Spanish or vis- of the righteous man are ordered by the Lord.” Father Dowliting inmates at maximum-security and psychiatric facilities. ing wasn’t even supposed to be on Highway 19 that day, she Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, Father Dowling worked at a pointed out — he was filling in for a priest who was ill. God parish when he first came to the United States more than 30 had put him there. years ago. That’s when he joined the Knights of Columbus Father Dowling didn’t contradict her, but noted that his with Holy Rosary Council 1165 in Monroe City. He said he presence was not, strictly speaking, a miracle, but rather a sign recognized Knights as “ordinary Catholics who deep down of God’s providence. were faithful to God. You could be sure of authentic Catholi“I have no doubt there were angels present,” the priest later cism among the Knights.” remarked. He went on to define an angel as “an invisible Now serving prisoners and Spanish-speaking parishioners friend, a friend you don’t see, who cares for you in times of in the Diocese of Jefferson City, Father Dowling has few ad- desperate need.” ministrative chores. His priesthood is stripped to its essence: By that definition, Lentz, trapped and unable to see her res“You go from door to door cuers, was indeed surrounded with empty hands,” he said. by angels. “You have nothing to offer But what about the words them except the love of God.” Reed heard? “He did not say It wasn’t until the Friday folthe words were pronounced in lowing the crash, while chatan Irish accent,” Father Dowlting with a fellow priest, that ing noted with a twinkle in his Father Dowling mentioned eyes. “I’m sure I asked God to anointing a young woman. send Katie peace, but I cer“Everybody’s looking for you!” tainly didn’t speak any the priest told him. Father prophetic words. I didn’t know Dowling went online, searched they would get Katie out of out the Lentz family and gave that car. I didn’t even know the them his matter-of-fact explaJaws of Life weren’t working.” nation. The next day, he went He added, “Those people to see Katie at the hospital. were praying. I have no doubt Lentz looked up, recognized that God sends angels at a time the lilt of his voice, and began like that.” to cry. He thought perhaps she In the end, though, it was Father Dowling visits Katie Lentz on her 20th birthday, Sept. was disappointed that he wasn’t Dowling’s earthbound humility 20, at her family’s home in Quincy, Ill. an angel. “No, no,” she said, — the way he stayed back to “just thankful.” Surviving a lacavoid getting in the way, then erated liver and spleen, bruised lungs, and 15 broken bones, quietly left once Lentz was safe — that turned him into the including two compound fractures and a fracture in her left “mystery priest,” the alleged angel whose presence sent her wrist, was enough of a miracle for her. story around the world. In the month after the accident, emergency responders One evening in late October, after the media fuss had crowded the hospital room. Adair, a police officer for 27 years, faded, Father Dowling was driving home from Fulton and saw had tears in his eyes the first time he saw Katie able to stand two police cars pulled over. He feared inserting himself into and, using a walker, make her way to the bathroom. Reed another crisis, where he might be rejected or snubbed, or went to see her nearly every week. McCourt waited until right worse, lack the courage to be a priest in a hostile environment. before her discharge, feeling shy about not being a family It would be so easy, he thought, to just keep driving. But he member. She lit up when he explained who he was; this was knew he had to step forward. the first time they had seen each other face to face. “You mustn’t be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ,” he told himself briskly. “You have something to offer. You have to be PROVIDENCE AT PLAY available.” On Sept. 20, Katie’s 20th birthday, the Lentz family invited He remembers saying those very words to himself on Aug. Father Dowling to their home. Soon, Katie’s dog, a little 4. “And it’s very surprising, then, to see that the whole world black-and-white Havanese named Hana, was on his lap, and is glad you stopped.”♦ they were all reliving the story with light hearts. Katie was through with her surgeries. Her autumn had been a grueling JEANNETTE COOPERMAN is staff writer for St. Louis regimen of physical and occupational therapy, but she would Magazine and the author of several books.
Hope for Syrian Christians Toronto-area Knights rally support for Syrian refugees at home and abroad through creative initiatives by Mike Mastromatteo
The Armenian Cathedral of the 40 Martyrs in Aleppo, Syria, is pictured in 2009. The country’s largest city, Aleppo has been the site of much of the conflict in Syria’s civil war.
Photo by Michele Falzone/JAI/Corbis
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s Syrian Christians wait with grim determination for the return of peace and stability after two years of civil war, a Knights of Columbus council half a world away is working steadily on their behalf. Rami Kaai, financial secretary of Jesus the King Arab Christian Council 15045 in Thornhill, Ontario, is a native of Homs, Syria, one of the hardest-hit areas in the war. Kaai arrived in the Toronto area with his wife and two children in 2006. He is now a member of a newly formed Syrian-Canadian coalition dedicated to supporting Syrian Christians who are struggling for survival. In addition to standing with Kaai and the coalition’s efforts to raise awareness of the turmoil in Syria, Knights at Jesus the King Melkite Catholic Church are engaged in several handson projects. Under the leadership of Grand Knight Hikmat Dandan, the recently launched “Food for Syria” program supports displaced and hungry Syrians, while the award-winning
“Jerusalem Students” project and the “Churches for Jesus” rebuilding initiative continue to lay foundations for future generations of Christians in the Middle East. Such projects offer concrete ways for the larger Christian community in the West to reach out and help their Eastern brothers and sisters in need. THE SUFFERING IN SYRIA Christians have long been an important minority in Syria, composing roughly 10 percent of the country’s 22.5 million people. Since the civil war began in March 2012, more than 2 million Syrians — among them some 500,000 Christians — have fled to Lebanon and elsewhere. Kaai and his family immigrated to Canada six years before the violence started. Their relatives and millions of others haven’t been as fortunate. Kaai’s parents and two of his brothers are now in Lebanon, where Syrian refugees account for roughly a quarter of that country’s population.
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heralded as a bold push for democratic reform and openness, but for many Christians in Syria and elsewhere, it has only led to strife and suffering. Like their brothers and sisters in Iraq, Syrian Christians have struggled for survival while enduring separated families, destroyed churches and holy places, and the harassment, arrest and kidnapping of clergy. It is especially significant that Syrian Christians now face such adversity. According to the Syrian-Canadian coalition, Syria was long considered a refuge for Christians fleeing persecution in other parts of the Middle East, since the Christian population there enjoyed more rights and freedom of religion than many other countries in the region. With the onset of the civil war, however, Christians were pressured by both government forces and rebels to take sides in the conflict. Their unwillingness to do so has led to increased attacks on Christian communities and churches by Islamist elements in the rebel alliance. Syrian Christians have remained neutral throughout the struggle, Kaai explained. “The people there are basically innocent bystanders caught up in the crossfire.”
CNS photo/Yazen Homsy, Reuters
Kaai recounts harrowing tales of violence, gunfire, ruined churches and abandoned neighborhoods in Homs, which he visited just over three years ago. Although the war had not yet begun, the country was in a state of unrest. Kaai witnessed row upon row of abandoned streets and houses. “Even the church where my wife and I were married is now practically ruined,” he said. Kaai’s wife, Hiyam Kholi, also related how, shortly after they emigrated to Canada, she discovered that her parents had been turned out of their home. “I happened to telephone my parents’ house in Homs, and instead of getting my mother or father on the line, there was some stranger who told me my parents didn’t live there anymore,” Kholi said. She later learned that her parents had made it to a refugee settlement in Lebanon, where they await word on whether they can return to Syria or perhaps obtain a visa for resettlement in Ontario. Such wrenching experiences are typical of the general hardship confronting Syrians and other Christian communities in the Middle East. The “Arab Spring” movement of 2011 was
Above: Rami Kaai, a member of Jesus the King Arab Christian Council 15045 in Thornhill, Ontario, sits with his wife, Hiyam Kholi, and children, Jad and Naya, inside Jesus the King Melkite Catholic Church. • Opposite page: Debris is seen on the floor of Saydet Al-salam (Our Lady of Peace) Church in Homs, Syria, which was damaged during clashes between Syrian rebels and the Syrian regime in 2012. The Melkite Catholic church is where Rami Kaai and his wife were married and where their two children were baptized.
Photo by Nadia Molinari
In addition to the 2 million who have fled the country, the United Nations estimates that 6.5 million Syrian nationals remain either internally displaced or virtually under siege in their own communities. As rebels, the Syrian army and assorted militias battle for control, U.N. sources report that at least 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict. ARAB COUNCIL OUTREACH While the international community monitors the situation and weighs its level of involvement, K of C Council 15045 is quietly lending its own brand of assistance. Established in May 2010, the 60-member council seeks opportunities to raise awareness of the plight of Syrian Christians, to provide assistance to refugees, and to fortify the Church in and around the Holy Land. Dandan and Kaai are among those who actively support the Syrian-Canadian coalition, which has been advocating for easier immigration for Syrian refugees to Canada since last March. As part of his involvement, Kaai works with the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office of Refugees to lobby the Canadian govern-
ment to expedite visas for up to 1,300 Syrian refugees. Kaai and his coalition colleagues arranged a meeting in March 2012 with Jason Kenney, Canada’s federal immigration minister and a member of St. Albert the Great Council 12446 in Calgary, Alberta, to present their concerns. In response, the Canadian government agreed to the creation of a program for Syrian refugees, similar to an existing initiative for Iraqi refugees. Dr. Martin Mark, director of the archdiocese’s refugee office, recently presented a seminar at Jesus the King Parish to outline the latest developments. He explained the benefits of the “Private Sponsorship of Refugee” program, which allows parishes, religious orders and other groups in the archdiocese to provide assistance. So far, there are at least 166 parishes, 10 religious orders and five other Catholic groups participating in the program. Mark praised the work of Council 15045: “The Knights’ work assisting refugees shows the strength of brotherhood and the fantastic charity of the Church, which saves lives.” Grand Knight Dandan has long been concerned about the threats to Christians and places of worship in the Holy Land. DECEMBER 2013
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He is deeply troubled by the diminishing Christian population though many of them have been there since the beginning, cenin Syria and elsewhere. He fears the Holy Land will become “a turies before Islam,,” said Father Farah. museum of Christianity.” Father Simon Faddoul, president of Caritas Lebanon, ob“The situation is by no means a recent concern,” Dandan served that the struggles of Christian communities are not limsaid. “We’re especially worried that without support from the ited to Syria. outside world, we might soon end up with a Holy Land that “Christians continue to flee countries like Iraq, Egypt, the has no Christians living in it.” Holy Land, Lebanon and Syria, driven by wars, conflicts, perWell before the Syrian civil war and the Arab Spring brought secution and the dream of a better world and times for their additional unrest, the Middle East saw an exodus of Christians families,” Father Faddoul explained via email. “The numbers as they fled instability, violence and occasional intimidation by are becoming scary. The Holy Land has only about 50,000 reIslamist groups. Now, in addition to a shrinking Christian pop- maining Christians. Lebanon continues to bleed, although it’s ulation, many of the most precious church buildings and arti- the only country in the area where Christians have full freedom facts face the threat of ruin or desecration, said Dandan. Even and have a say in the political fate of the country, and where the ancient language Aramaic, spoken by Christ during his time the president is Christian.” on earth and still spoken today in the Syrian village of Maaloula, Father Faddoul added that Christians throughout the world is in danger of extinction as local people look to escape. have a stake in preserving a Christian presence in the Middle In 2010, Council 15045 established its “Jerusalem Students” East, citing Pope Benedict XVI’s 2012 apostolic exhortation project — JerusalemStudents.org — to support education and Ecclesia in Medio Oriente. community development in a small town near Bethlehem. “Pope Benedict XVI pinpointed the fact that the area’s ChrisThrough individual and shared student sponsorships, K of C tians go back to Christ himself and his Apostles,” Father Fadcouncils are invited to help Christian doul said. “As such, they are called to live students in the Holy Land continue out their faith freely and truthfully. Howtheir education in the hope that they ever, this has not been possible in the light will become future leaders in their of the consecutive wars and persecutions HE KNIGHTS’ communities. The program earned they have been subjected to in recent WORK ASSISTING REFUGEES Council 15045 the International decades, especially after the 2003 Iraq inYouth Service Award at the 131st vasion and now with the so-called Arab SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF Supreme Convention this past AuSpring, which has turned out to be a gust. In tandem with its support for ‘stormy winter’ for the whole region and BROTHERHOOD AND THE Syrian refugees, the council also inits inhabitants.” tends to take up church reconstrucTo offer further assistance, Council FANTASTIC CHARITY OF tion efforts once the crisis improves. 15045 has also established a new initiaTHE CHURCH, WHICH Dandan launched the project — tive, “Food for Syria,” aimed at raising ChurchesforJesus.org — in 2000, funds to provide basic food staples to SAVES LIVES.” when he was a member of North York Christians in Syria and in refugee camps. Council 4393, in order to help reDandan stated that while the council is build a church in Lebanon. dedicated to rebuilding ruined churches once stability returns to Syria, there are CRADLE OF CHRISTIANITY pressing needs that must be addressed right now. “We have to Melkite priest Father Georges Farah, pastor of Jesus the King take care of human beings first, the stones later,” he said. Melkite Catholic Church and a charter member of Council Dandan urged the creation of a Food for Syria program 15045, is in a unique position to appreciate the threats to and its accompanying website — FoodforSyria.org — which churches and holy sites in the Middle East. As an authority on the council is preparing to launch. The goal is to encourage the history of Christian Arabs in Syria, Father Farah sees the people throughout the world to make small donations, current situation as part of a long struggle for survival. which will be used to help feed hungry, displaced Syrian According to Father Farah, the majority of the rebel forces Christians. now fighting in Syria are from other countries, and in effect However the present struggle plays out, Kaai and Dandan are carrying out their jihad, or holy war, in Syria. It is ironic, will remain resolute in their charitable work, reaching out to he added, that Syrian Christians should be under such pres- those in need in a spirit of solidarity and hope. sure, considering that the city of Antioch, one of the four “The whole purpose of our outreach efforts is to enlighten cities of the Syrian tetrapolis, is regarded as the cradle of brother Knights and others about the suffering of Christians in Christianity. Syria,” Dandan said. “Our aim is charity, not politics. The ul“Christians there have always been peaceful, living in har- timate objective is to lessen the suffering.”♦ mony with the Syrian Muslims of all factions, but whenever there was an imbalance or period of unrest, the leaders took it MIKE MASTROMATTEO, a member of Blessed Trinity Council out on the Christian groups, describing them as invaders, even 11681, writes from Toronto.
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A Sign of Solidarity Pope Francis praises the integrity and loyalty of the Knights of Columbus
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reeting members of the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors and their wives at an audience in the Vatican Oct. 20, Pope Francis thanked the Order for its “unfailing support” of the Holy See. He expressed his gratitude not only for the Knights’ financial assistance, but also for its spiritual support of prayer, sacrifice and acts of charity.
The meeting took place after Pope Francis received Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson in a private audience. The supreme knight presented the Holy Father with a $1.6 million donation representing the annual proceeds from the Order’s Vicarius Christi Fund, which was established in 1981 to support the pope’s personal charities and causes.
Greeting of Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson to Pope Francis
L’Osservatore Romano
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oly Father, during this Year of Faith, the officers and directors of the Knights of Columbus express our deep gratitude for the privilege of this audience. As an organization established on the principles of charity, unity and fraternal brotherhood, we have been challenged by your call for a Church capable of accompanying people on their journey, unafraid of going into the night and with the strength to do this without being overcome by the darkness — a Church capable of “healing wounds and warming hearts.” In your words we recall those of Pope Paul VI, who spoke after the Second Vatican Council of a Church of the Good Samaritan that did not come to condemn but to bind up wounds, of a Church that lives from its heart Our Lord’s teaching that love for our brother is the “distinctive mark of His disciples.” Our more than 1.85 million members in North America, Asia and Europe come from all walks of life. Each year,
through their millions of hours of volunteer service to the poor and suffering, they build bonds of solidarity every day by making a sincere gift of self to their neighbors in need. Today, we assure you that we will continue to build up that Church which opens “a horizon of hope” and practices “a charity that evangelizes.” We thank you for your words of encouragement during our recent international convention, especially in regard to our defense of marriage, religious liberty and human life before birth. Holy Father, on this occasion the Knights of Columbus pledges our prayers, our fidelity and our service to you and to your ministry on behalf of the universal Church. We ask for your blessing that we may continue a witness of charity with courage and humility, advancing the Gospel of Life and building a true civilization of love so that many more around the world will say, “We want to come with you.”♦
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Pope Francis speaks to the Knights of Columbus
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ear Friends, I am pleased to welcome the Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus on the occasion of your meeting in Rome. I thank you once again for the prayers which you, and all the Knights and their families, have offered for my intentions and the needs of the Church throughout the world since my election as Bishop of Rome. On this occasion I also wish to express my gratitude for the unfailing support which your Order has always given to the works of the Holy See. This support finds particular expression in the Vicarius Christi Fund, which is an eloquent sign of your solidarity with the Successor of Peter in his concern for the universal Church, but it is also seen in the daily prayers, sacrifices and apostolic works of so many Knights in their local councils, their parishes and their communities. May prayer, 16 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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witness to the faith and concern for our brothers and sisters in need always be the pillars supporting your work both individually and corporately. In fidelity to the vision of the Venerable Father Michael McGivney, may you continue to seek new ways of being a leaven of the Gospel and a force for the spiritual renewal of society. As the present Year of Faith draws to its close, I commend all of you in a special way to the intercession of St. Joseph, the protector of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who is an admirable model of those manly virtues of quiet strength, integrity and fidelity which the Knights of Columbus is committed to preserving, cultivating and passing on to future generations of Catholic men. Asking a remembrance in your prayers, and with great affection in the Lord, I now willingly impart to you, and to all the Knights and their families, my apostolic blessing.♦
L’Osservatore Romano
Pope Francis meets with the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors and guests Oct. 20 during an audience in the Sala Clementina of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. • Below: Pope Francis exchanges greetings with Supreme Knight Anderson during the audience.
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Unveiling the Beauty of
Our Lady of Help The Knights of Columbus helps to restore the ancient Madonna del Soccorso, the most revered Marian image in St. Peter’s Basilica by Pietro Zander
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Photos by M. Falcioni, Fabbrica di San Pietro
uring the Year of Faith, following the February restoration of the Vatican’s Madonna of the Column, the Knights of Columbus was proud to support a sister initiative to refurbish the most important and beloved image of Mary in St. Peter’s Basilica. Situated above the altar of the Gregorian Chapel, the freshly unveiled Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help) now greets pilgrims and visitors in all the splendor of her original likeness. The much-needed work of restoring the tarnished and timeworn fresco was accomplished by Lorenza D’Alessandro and Giorgio Capriotti under the technical direction of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the administration charged with maintaining the basilica. The painstaking project involved extensive preliminary research and testing, including infrared, fluorescent and ultraviolet photography. Such preparation allowed the restorers to reconstruct for the first time with scientific precision the centuries-long history of this poignant image, which has always been considered the basilica’s preeminent icon of Our Lady. A PRIVILEGED PLACE During the Middle Ages, this image of the Madonna and Child was venerated in the southern transept of Old Saint Peter’s, the fourth-century basilica built by the Emperor Constantine, where it was set in a niche above the altar of St. Leo the Great (440-461). Having deteriorated over time, the painting was replaced in the second half of the 15th century by a fresco that was created by a talented artist and based on the earlier Marian image. In 1543, in the process of razing the old basilica to make way for the present-day structure, Pope Paul III transferred the fresco of Our Lady. Unpublished archival letters and long-forgotten literary sources document the removal of the fresco from its original location, a task that required cutting it away from a wall and then repainting lower portions of the image and background. For more than 50 years, the fresco remained exposed above an altar next to the bronze statue of St. Peter, within a section of the fourth-century basilica that was spared demolition. It was Pope Gregory XIII (1572-1585) who decided to move the fresco again, transferring Our Lady of Help into the Renaissance basilica still under construction. He did so in order to accommodate the ancient yet ever-growing devotion to this image “full of grace.” Thus, on Feb. 12, 1578, the first Sunday of Lent, the Marian icon was borne in solemn procession to the Gregorian Chapel, adorned by the pope with colored marble, precious stones and resplendent mosaics. This marked the first time that a sacred image had been exposed for veneration in the new basilica. To serve as background for the fresco, set like a gem within a frame of green quartz, a star-studded sky was added, surrounded in turn by eight magnificent gilded bronze cherubs. In 1580, the relics of St. Gregory of Nazianzus (330-390), a father and doctor of the Church, were housed beneath the altar. Shortly thereafter, a wooden tabernacle for the Blessed
Sacrament was installed. The altar of the Gregorian Chapel thus became the first of the basilica’s seven privileged altars attached with particular indulgences. On Nov. 17, 1643, the Madonna del Soccorso was ceremonially crowned by the Vatican Chapter, an administrative entity founded in the 11th century. The original golden crowns, however, were lost during the Napoleonic confiscations of 1798; the current ones date from the second half of the 19th century. Four years later, in tandem with the removal of the tabernacle from the 16th-century altar, the fresco of Virgin and Child was detached as well. Since the lower part of the painting had suffered irreparable damage, it was reduced in size. Moreover, smoke from candles and lamps had so besmirched the image that it was nearly unrecognizable. An anonymous painter attempted to rejuvenate the faces with flesh-colored pigments while maintaining maximum respect for the underlying features. This retouched Marian image was then inserted within a smaller niche. Under the direction of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, master masons Balsimello Balsimelli and Giovanni Maria Fracchi created an elegant tableau of inlaid colored marble beneath the fresco depicting an alabaster vase with roses and white lilies, symbols of charity and purity. RENEWED DEVOTION The anonymous artist who painted the Madonna del Soccorso employed key Christian symbols from medieval iconography. The blue mantle Mary wears over her red tunic points to the divine favor that embraces her. Similarly, the red garment draping the Christ Child’s shoulder points to his true human nature.
Lorenza D’Alessandro, the principal restorer of the Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help), examines the more than 500-year-old image. • Opposite page: The revered fresco, considered the preeminent Marian icon in St. Peter’s Basilica, is pictured before and after the restoration. The orb surmounted by a cross symbolizes Christ’s divine authority as both Pantocrator (ruler of all) and Salvator mundi (savior of the world). Finally, in a gesture of blessing, the Christ Child signals his divine and human natures with his right index and middle fingers, while his two other fingers and hidden thumb indicate the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. DECEMBER 2013
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In recent centuries, Our Lady of Help — also called the Gregorian Madonna, after both the Nazianzen saint and the Italian pope — has continued to receive the prayers of countless pilgrims and faithful seeking comfort and aid. In this regard, it is significant that a moment of prayer before the Virgin of Help forms part of the protocol of official visits to the basilica by Catholic ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. It is also worthy of note that, in 2009, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in answer to a request from the Vatican Chapter, gladly approved the celebration of the liturgical memorial of the Madonna del Soccorso for the Vatican basilica on May 24. This is an act of worship and devotion in continuity with the centuries-long tradition of the basilica. The team of experts that completed the restoration was fully aware that what had been entrusted into their hands was not only of extraordinary artistic value, but also of ancient, living and uninterrupted devotion. Lorenza D’Alessandro, the principal restorer of Our Lady of Help, had already refurbished St. Peter’s Madonna of the Column (Mother of the Church) earlier this year with K of C support. Guided by similar archival research and imaging techniques, she was again able to carefully remove layer upon layer of paint that had been applied over the centuries to the fresco. This task was long and laborious, executed by hand with patience and precision, and with the aid of lenses and microscopes. Day after day, the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child revealed itself — like a marvelous apparition — before the restorers’ eyes in all of its unexpected and un20 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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altered glory. Through iconographic comparisons and technological tests, this exquisite fresco can be traced back to the artistic circle of Pietro Perugino, who worked in St. Peter’s and the Vatican during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484). After verifying that an ornamental brooch had originally embellished the front of the Virgin’s tunic, the Fabbrica di San Pietro wanted to offer a special gem to Our Lady in its place. Thus, a jewel inspired by 14th-century designs was crafted: an oval of blue agate, which is mounted in a golden frame inscribed with the Marian invocation MARIA SUCCURRE NOS (Mary, help us) and the name of Pope Francis. In sum, the new brooch is intended as a gift to our heavenly Mother, an offering of renewed devotion to Our Lady of Help and a remembrance of the first restoration carried out under Pope Francis in the Vatican basilica. Pope Paul VI’s pronouncement on March 25, 1973, at the completion of the restoration of Michelangelo’s Pietà, is equally fitting with regard to this important work: “It is our hope that this restoration will restore within the souls of the men and women today the figure of Mary — she who is the masterpiece of God’s grace precisely because she is the Immaculate Mother of Christ in the flesh, and thus Mother of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.”♦ DR. PIETRO ZANDER is the chief archaeologist of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the 500-year-old pontifical organization that oversees the preservation of St. Peter’s Basilica, including, since 1950, the Vatican Necropolis.
Photo by M. Falcioni, Fabbrica di San Pietro
Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson visits with Dr. D’Alessandro during the restoration process. Financed by the Knights of Columbus, the recently completed project was the first restoration in St. Peter’s carried out during the pontificate of Pope Francis.
REFLECTION
God is Ever Present One year after the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn., the community continues its path of grief and healing by Msgr. Robert Weiss
CNS photo/Joshua Lott, Reuters
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robably the most frequent question for me these days through one day and look forward to the next. is: “How is the Newtown community doing?” My anIndeed, faith has been an integral part of this commuswer is simple: We are on a journey to healing, but we are nity since the moment we were faced with this tragedy, all on different paths. Some are still frozen in time from and many people have renewed their faith because of it. the tragic events of that day last year; some have begun to Our religious services are well attended, and families are take baby steps in dealing with their grief or anger; and coming together in prayer. There is a sense of gratitude some have made great among us for each strides by doing positive other’s presence. actions for others and Our community’s rehonoring the victims. ligious leaders have met The community is often to pray and to lead stressed and grieved. others in prayer. We There are those children have made ourselves who still jump at the available for any resound of a door being quest: to bless a playslammed; there are ground in honor of one many who have trouble of the victims, to host sleeping and other events of remembrance, health issues; there are to pray over a school some who cannot help being demolished that but cry. But through it once held the joy of all, the one constant has happier days, and simbeen faith. ply to let the families I still recall that, even know that we are here A rosary hangs over a memorial for the victims of the Sandy Hook after hours at Sandy for them. Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012. Hook Elementary We are experiencing The tragedy resulted in 28 deaths, including 20 school children. School, no one ever all the stages of grief: the asked why God allowed denial, the bargaining, this to happen. It was clear from the beginning that this the anger. As people of faith, we are also experiencing the was an act of evil and that darkness had covered us. But it hope that one day there will be peace, that violence will was also clear that the light of faith and the strength of a disappear and that the Beatitudes will be the authentic community rooted in faith would not allow the darkness guide for our lives. We live in the hope that after great sufto continue. Good conquered evil; light overcame dark- fering comes great consolation. We pray that every human ness. And so it is to this day. being will be respected and revered, and that we will emWe know the horrible story of Dec. 14, 2012, and we brace life as the precious gift that God created it to be. We know that people around the world came together to pray live as people of faith in a hope that is unbounded. We for and bring hope to a broken community. I remember know that healing will be ours because we trust in the receiving an email message from a parish in Ireland that source of healing, forgiveness and peace: our God, ever simply read: “While you are sleeping, we are praying. Be present to us, even in our darkest moments.♦ at peace. You are in the hands of God.” We all quickly realized that if there was to be peace, it MSGR. ROBERT WEISS is the pastor of St. Rose of Lima could only come from God. If unsettled hearts and dis- Church in Newtown, Conn., and a member of St. Virgilius rupted lives were to be healed, it had to come from the Council 185. He is also the first recipient of the Order’s Caritas hand of God. If we were to have any hope for tomorrow, Award, which was presented at the 131st Supreme Convention it would be only if our God gave us the grace to get in August.
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The Indispensable Gifts of Women Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic letter on the dignity of women, after 25 years, continues to inspire a new feminism by Carla Galdo
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t is not unusual today for women to feel ensnared in a neverending cycle of second-guessing themselves, their priorities and their value. Whereas career women frequently wonder whether their time away from home and children is worth their family’s second income, homemakers often long for the public recognition of professional careers. Meanwhile, the pervasive poison of pornography deadens society’s reverence for human dignity and beauty; women are urged to turn to contraception and abortion in the name of protection and “choice”; and the voices of radical feminism rise together with the outcries for same-sex “marriage” in a denial of what is uniquely feminine. Through it all, however, millions of women’s hearts whisper as one in the opposite direction: “There must be some particular gift that only I, precisely as woman, can offer the world.” Amid such personal and societal confusion, the teachings of Blessed John Paul II remain a shining beacon to which an authentic feminism can turn for powerful insight and inspiration. The late pope’s apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem (On The Dignity and Vocation of Women) celebrated its 25th anniversary of publication this year, and with the ongoing expansion of women’s contributions to almost all spheres of society, the document continues to be a groundbreaking source of wisdom. The Pontifical Council for the Laity invited a renewed, indepth study of Mulieris Dignitatem and the particular light it has shed on women’s gifts at its recent conference held in Rome Oct. 10-11. Titled “God Entrusts the Human Being to the Woman,” the K of C-supported conference was guided by John Paul II’s affirmation that “the moral and spiritual strength of the woman is joined to her awareness that God entrusts the human being to her in a special way” (MD, 30). According to John Paul II, if women’s gifts are misunderstood, humanity as a whole loses its moorings. An international assembly of 105 speakers and guests from 24 countries, with representatives from a wide array of professions and positions within the Church, gathered to reflect upon Mulieris Dignitatem in the context of the contemporary challenges facing women. Cardinal Stanislaw Ryłko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, exhorted participants in his opening homily to “rediscover and proclaim the beauty of the original plan of God the Creator in creating man male and female” (Gen 1:27). 22 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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UNITY AND DIFFERENCE Msgr. Livio Melina, president of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, delivered the opening keynote address and stated that “the question of woman is … the central question for the destiny of humanity, for it affects the totality of humanity’s relationship with the world, with other human beings, and ultimately with God.” A society without women who know, live and share what John Paul II called their “feminine genius” — their ability to protect and nurture authentic human values — becomes less human, Melina said. It becomes a society in which power, utility and unbridled technology are of preeminent value, rather than the dignity of the human person. Unfortunately, we are currently living in just such a culture, Melina observed. The distinction between man and woman is often viewed as a mere social construct, and the body itself is treated as mere matter to be manipulated at will. Biotechnology routinely enables abuse of human life during its most vulnerable stages; sexuality is trivialized and reduced to recreation, personal gain or power; and the loss of the sacred sense of the body distorts our understanding of creation itself. The only way to address these crises is to recover a sense of what is properly feminine and masculine. Vicki Thorn, a U.S. representative at the conference and the founder of Project Rachel, emphasized the importance of a “science-based approach” in teaching the truth about men and women and sexuality to young people. With biologybased facts, Thorn explained, young people are prepared to enter into dialogue with a world prone to reject anything offered from religious sources. She said, in conclusion, “We must be willing to be informed and courageous enough to speak the truth with love, modeling a life where our sexuality is seen as gift from God and our fertility is seen as a blessing.” Another American presenter, Helen Alvaré, a professor of law at George Mason University and a former advisor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, highlighted the revolutionary nature of John Paul II’s letter: “Mulieris Dignitatem’s meditations ... have the effect of a tunnel dug underneath the entire edifice composed of the historical rankings of claimed differences between men and women.” The purpose of acknowledging men and women’s differences, explained Alvaré,
Participants of a conference on women organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity gather in Rome. • Prof. Helen Alvaré, one of the conference speakers, fields questions from the audience.
Photos by Santiago Pérez de Camino/Pontifical Council for the Laity
should not be to stake them against one another, but rather for the purpose of mutual enrichment. Alvaré’s reflections drew upon one of John Paul II’s key insights: “The fact that man ‘created as man and woman’ is the image of God means not only that each of them individually is like God, as a rational and free being. It also means that man and woman, created as a ‘unity of the two’ in their common humanity, are called to live in a communion of love, and in this way to mirror to the world the communion of love that is in God …” (MD, 7). In other words, the mutual self-giving between man and woman — which, in the spousal relationship, bears fruit in the child — is an echo and an image of the self-giving that is eternally present between the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. This relationship of man and woman, from the beginning, was not intended to be a contractual relationship of two independent and autonomous creatures. Rather, it is called to be an embodied gift of one to the other. SAYING “YES” TO GOD In reflecting on the vocation of women, John Paul II did not fail to recognize that women have suffered throughout history from a lack of respect and sacrificial love from men, often falling victim to domination and discrimination. Highlighting the seriousness of such masculine transgressions, he noted that “whenever man is responsible for offending a woman’s personal dignity and vocation, he acts contrary to his own personal dignity and his own vocation” (MD, 10). Late 20th-century feminists often reacted to male dominance in society with a call for women to discard traditional feminine social roles and become more like men. In contrast, John Paul II pointed out that an effort to “masculinize” women — hyper-focusing on man’s power, rather than his call to servant leadership — devalued the richness of women’s vocation. Dr. Jocelyne Khoueiry of the John Paul II Centre of Social and Cultural Services in Jounieh, Lebanon, spoke to conference participants about women’s gift for attending to the most
vulnerable in society: “Woman, in her particular way of imaging God, is she who does not forget her child, whether he is big or small, strong or weak, in good health or handicapped, intelligent or not, beautiful or ugly.” In his opening address, Msgr. Melina had observed, “Feminine receptivity expresses the proper character of the creature as such before our Creator: accepting the love bestowed upon us by God, we become a witness and guardian, in an attitude of gratitude and praise.” Similarly, Dr. Khoueiry stressed that women are in a privileged position to remind all humanity of its essential relationship to God. She noted that the figure of Mary, virgin and mother, stands at the center of salvation history. Only a fundamentally Marian attitude “which says ‘yes’ to God and to his plan for humanity [and which] recognizes with humility that we are created beings” can serve as a proper point of departure not only for self-understanding but for living a life of gratitude and praise before God. Even when the vocation of women is clarified in the light of Mulieris Dignitatem, questions, challenges and struggles remain. For this reason, continuing engagement, reflection and dialogue are essential. In her remarks, Alvaré noted that Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, like John Paul II, have signaled the need for a new Christian feminism, void of “domination” or “machismo.” She further suggested, “A successful new feminism … would cause the world to take seriously the notion that progress and freedom and dignity are achieved when persons and institutions operate according to the rule of losing oneself in the service of God and one another.” Women, with their particular gift of openness and care toward others, are in a key position to draw cultures closer to this vision.♦ CARLA GALDO, a wife and mother of four, holds a master’s of theological studies degree from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C. She writes from her home in Lovettsville, Va.
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Younger Than Sin The Immaculate Conception of Mary helps us to see how God’s grace is revealed in childlike humility by Father Frederick L. Miller
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uring Advent each year, on Dec. 8, Holy Mother Church invites us to reflect on the meaning of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God. Some of the faithful incorrectly think that the Immaculate Conception refers to the virginal conception of Christ in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead, this dogma refers to Mary’s conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. Mary’s conception was a wonderful moment originally known only to God and deeply enfolded into the matrix of divine revelation. It took the Church nearly two millennia to find the exact words to describe the mystery of Mary’s graced beginning. Pope Pius IX solemnly proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. Incidentally, St. John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia, held the book for Pius IX as he read the text. Bishop Neumann was chosen because he was the shortest bishop present in St. Peter’s Basilica that day. This is worth keeping in mind, because the Immaculate Conception, as we shall see, is all about littleness — not of stature, but of spirit. A FLOOD OF MERCY The words of the definition given in 1854 are simple and direct: “We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all of the faithful” (Ineffabilis Deus). This definition of faith declares that God intervened at the moment of Mary’s conception, just as he intervenes in every human conception. He breathed the breath of life into Mary as she was conceived in the act of marital union of her parents, St. Anne and St. Joachim. At that moment, God created Mary’s immortal soul. The uniqueness of the Immaculate Conception is this: When God created Mary’s soul, he filled her, in the very act of her creation, with the Holy Spirit and his grace. In human conception, the flood of original sin cascades 24 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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from Adam, the father of our human family, and prevents us from receiving the indwelling grace of the Trinity. We are conceived and born stripped of the greatest gift that God had given to Adam, a gift that God intended to give to each of us: sanctifying grace. In the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, a flood of mercy flowing from the pierced heart of the Savior intervened and stopped the flood of sin and death flowing from Adam in its tracks. The Immaculate Conception means that Mary was created in the grace of Christ through the Father’s sovereign foreknowledge of his Son’s sacrifice. God, after all, is not bound by time. As Blessed John Paul II wrote, Jesus Christ stands at “the center of the universe and of history” (Redemptor Hominis, 1). At the moment of Mary’s conception, God took the side of the human family against Satan. In a sense, he crushed the head of the serpent as promised in Genesis 3:15. He declared war on sin and death and, in reality, proclaimed victory. At that moment, God initiated the new creation of grace. He made Mary as much like heaven as heaven itself, creating her to be a fit dwelling place for his Son and preparing her to be our Mother in the order of grace. He created in Mary an immaculate Church, the Bride of his Son-made-man; a Church that has the power to obliterate sin by the grace of Christ until the end of time. POVERTY AND GRACE What was the effect of this grace in Mary’s spiritual life? Unlike all of us, who tend by our fallen human nature to depend on self and feel sovereignly independent and self-sufficient, Mary was always aware of her littleness and her need to depend on God for everything. She experienced her Immaculate Conception precisely in her dependence on grace. Reflecting on the Magnificat, the canticle of Mary recorded by St. Luke (1:46-55), John Paul II once said, “The grander the work to be accomplished, the poorer are the instruments chosen to collaborate in the divine plan. As it is true that the power of God’s arm is emphasized by the weakness of the means employed, so too, the smaller the human persons who are invited to serve, the greater the things that the Almighty, through us, is disposed to accomplish.” The Immaculate Conception is all about grace and the spir-
itual littleness that is the first effect of grace. God was able to accomplish the salvation of the world through Mary’s “yes” because, created in grace, she was able to say with perfect sincerity: “All generations will call me blessed, for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:48-49). John Paul II observed that Mary “is fully aware of the greatness of her mission. However, at the same time, seeing herself and remaining a ‘lowly handmaid,’ she attributes all credit for it to God the Savior.” On our own strength it is impossible to remain faithful; grace alone makes us capable of fidelity and fruitfulness. God fills us with his grace in baptism, and Mary, conceived without sin, helps us to cooperate with grace as she did. She teaches us true poverty of spirit, true spiritual littleness; she teaches us to rejoice in poverty of spirit so that God can do his mighty works in us; she teaches us to become like little children in Christ (cf. Mt 18:3). In his Diary of a Country Priest, George Bernanos offers words of fitting praise for the Blessed Mother on this mysterious festival of the Immaculate Conception: “The eyes of Our Lady are the only real childeyes that have ever been raised to our shame and sorrow. ... they are not indulgent — for there is no indulgence without something of bitter experience — they are eyes of gentle pity, wondering sadness, and with something more in them, never yet known or expressed, something that makes her younger than sin, younger than the race from which she sprang, and though a mother, by grace, Mother of all graces, our little youngest sister.”♦ FATHER FREDERICK L. MILLER, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., and a member of Father Thomas F. Canty Council 3197 in Hillside, is a professor of systematic theology at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md.
MARIAN PRAYER PROGRAM LAUNCHED AT the 131st Supreme Convention, the latest Knights of Columbus Marian Prayer Program is currently underway. For the next two years, blessed images of the Immaculate Conception will travel throughout K of C jurisdictions, where they will be the centerpieces of prayer programs, rosary recitations and holy hours. The Marian image (pictured at right) is a reproduction of a painting from 1925 that hangs above the main altar in the BasilicaCathedral of Notre-Dame de Québec.
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KNIGHTS IN ACTION
REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES
SHOW OF UNITY
DONATION AND SERVICE
Santa Maria Goretti Council 12836 in Edmonton, Alberta, visited the Marian Center in Edmonton to present a $300 donation. The facility, which is part of the
Madonna House Apostolate, serves as a hospice for the homeless. In addition to the donation, Knights also stayed to serve lunch to the center’s clients.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Council 13209 in Spring Hill, Fla., purchased an antique monstrance from the Diocese of Pittsburg to donate to Notre Dame School after learning that the school had to borrow a monstrance each month for exposition of the Eucharist.
SCHOOL MATCHING FUNDS
MCDONALD HOUSE DINNERS
The New York State Council has launched an initiative called the “Catholic School Support Program” that supplements the efforts of local councils. The state council set aside $50,000 to match any donations made by local councils to Catholic schools. Fortythree councils participated, distributing $100,000 to support Catholic education.
St. Robert Bellarmine Council 8964 in Oakland Gardens, N.Y., teamed with the eighthgrade cooking class at St. Robert Bellarmine School to prepare and serve dinner at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde. Knights and students served 75 people whose children are receiving treatment at local hospitals. Meanwhile, St. Helena Council 14210 in Blue Bell, Pa., traveled to the Ronald McDonald House affiliated with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to feed 120 patients and their parents.
‘ART-A-RAMA’ Tom Healy of Immaculate Heart of Mary Council 4238 in Deerfield, Ill., tosses a bocce ball during a councilsponsored bocce tournament. Knights hosted the tournament for council members, families and friends, and the event raised $500 for Special Olympics. 26 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
MONSTRANCE DONATED
Our Lady of the Prairie Council 5264 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, hosted a charity art exhibit and sale called “Art-aRama” that featured two galleries of work by 45 invited artists. Offering framed and unframed art for sale, the event also included an art raffle and a café, and raised $6,700 for local charities.
DECEMBER 2013
‘ST. ANTHONY PROJECT’
Father Joseph O’Connell Council 3481 in Oceanside, N.Y., hosted a banquet dinner to raise money for the
On Father Emil J. Kapaun Day in Pilsen, Kan., Major Gen. Donald Rutherford (left), chief of chaplains for the U.S. Army, presents Father John Hotze, episcopal delegate of the cause for canonization of Father Kapaun, with a U.S. flag that flew over the Pentagon April 11, the day that President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to Father Kapaun’s family. Fourth Degree Knights from throughout Kansas provided an honor guard for the Mass and presentation ceremony.
“St. Anthony Project” at St. Anthony Church. The event, which included a dinner, giveaways and a 50-50 raffle, raised $9,645 to help the church install its first-ever air conditioning unit and make other repairs. CHARITY BALL
The Knights of Columbus Long Island Chapter held its annual charity ball at a local catering facility to raise money for Faith in the Future and Mercy Homes. Faith in the Future provides assistance to low-income families who otherwise could not afford to send their children to Catholic schools, while Mercy Homes provides housing to children and young adults with mental and emotional issues. The ball raised $7,500 for each organization.
TOP LEFT: Maria Pouchnikova/Northeast Times
Gerald Kean of Mary, Queen of Angels Council 12384 in Philadelphia stands with Cub Scouts and some of the military care packages that they assembled for U.S. troops serving overseas. With support from Council 12384 and other local businesses and civic groups — like the Cub Scouts — Kean has shipped more than 35 tons of nonperishable snacks and household goods to troops over the past 10 years.
K of C councils from throughout Ontario’s Niagara Region attended a special Mass at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church in a show of unity between Latinand Eastern-Rite Catholics. Knights and their wives gathered to celebrate the Divine Liturgy before convening for a buffet dinner. They also discussed the similarities and differences between the two rites.
KNIGHTS IN ACTION
Meanwhile, Holy Family Council 11227 in Hicksville, N.Y., hosted a similar event that raised $500 to purchase grocery gift cards for those in need and $500 to provide scholarships to seminarians. ROSARIES FOR COMMUNICANTS
Members of Sum-Ag Circle 4651 in Bacolod City, Visayas, paint window grilles at Bacolod City National High School as part of Brigada Escuela, a city initiative to clean and refurbish schools before the start of the academic year. Squires volunteered to clean and beautify school classrooms by painting, dusting and removing trash.
MCGIVNEY BREAKFAST
St. Malachy Council 13355 in Tamarac, Fla., and Edward A. O’Neil Assembly in Pompano Beach co-sponsored a corporate Communion and breakfast in honor of the Order’s founder, Venerable Michael McGivney. At the event, Knights presented four seminarians with scholarships of $500 each. ‘KNIGHT AT THE RACES’
New York District #8 hosted a “Knight at the Races” at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Deer Park to benefit the Mercy Inn soup kitchen in Wyandanch. By rolling dice in a cage, Knights determine how wooden “horses” advance along a racetrack with the audience placing bets on the winner. The evening also included 50-50 raffles and a lottery, all of which raised $12,000 for the soup kitchen.
St. Francis of Assisi Council 9496 in Lincoln, New Brunswick, donated rosary beads to each of the 16 children at St. Francis of Assisi Church who made their first Communion. Father Monte Peters, pastor, blessed the beads after they were distributed. DINNER WITH SINATRA
Our Lady of the Pines Council 9852 in Whiting, N.J., hosted a dinner-dance that included a Frank Sinatra impersonator performing the singer’s most famous songs. The event was held to raise money for the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal. HOUSE OF MERCY
St. Joseph Council 15471 in Penfield, N.Y., donated nearly $300 worth of food to House of Mercy, a homeless shelter in Rochester. Knights provide ongoing support to the shelter, often donating extra food from council events to feed the homeless. Knights also send clothes and toiletries to the facility on a regular basis. CHILI FEED
Bishop Patrick A. McGovern Council 801 in Cheyenne, Wyo., hosted a chili feed fundraiser to benefit a village in India that was destroyed by a cyclone. When Knights learned from their pastor, Father George Innya, that his mother’s village was devastated, council members stepped in to organize a ben-
Members of Father Pierre E. Bovin Council 5041 in Morrisville, Vt., install cedar siding on a new addition at Bishop John A. Marshall School. Following the expansion, the school did not have enough money left over to install exterior siding and trim. Knights came to the rescue and volunteered 150 hours to get the job done.
efit night that netted $3,770 for recovery efforts. Father Innya was so touched by the council’s generosity that he became a Knight the following week. CLOTHES, RAZORS FOR VETERANS
Juan Pablo II Assembly in Miami donated $5,000 worth of new clothes and shaving razors to patients at the Miami VA Hospital. Funds for the donation were raised through a councilsponsored garage sale.
classrooms, a thrift store, and a large central hall and kitchen. HOME CARE
St. Matthew Council 14360 in Norwalk, Conn., spent a day landscaping Notre Dame Convalescent Home, which is run by the Sisters of St. Thomas of Villanova. Knights planted flowers and weeded, spread new mulch and power-washed the building’s exterior. Council members also had an opportunity to visit with some of the home’s residents.
PLEDGE FULFILLED
At a recent corporate Communion sponsored by Mother Cabrini Council 12155 in Parrish, Fla., the council presented Father Jay Jancarz, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church, with a check for $3,000. This donation was the final payment on a pledge made five years ago in the amount of $30,000 to help pay for the construction of the parish’s Cabrini Center, a building that houses parish offices,
‘PENNIES FOR KIDS’
Cape Canaveral Council 4826 in Cocoa Beach, Fla., sponsors an ongoing “Pennies for Kids” program that benefits the Kids Wish Network. Knights solicit donations for the program at the parishes they serve and at several local businesses. So far, the council has contributed more than $8,000 to the charity, which fulfills the wishes of children with terminal cancer.
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KNIGHTS IN ACTION HUNTING & FISHING
who has had physical disabilities for 10 years following an accident.
Burgettstown (Pa.) Council 3440 co-hosted a chicken roast with several local veterans organizations to benefit Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Inc. This organization provides outdoor hunting and fishing opportunities to veterans with disabilities on the group’s property in Eighty Four, Pa. The event raised $6,400.
North Olmsted (Ohio) Council 4731 came to the aid of the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries to help refurbish an old rectory in Cleveland. In making the building habitable for 4-5 missionary priests on a permanent basis, council members moved doorways, renovated a bathroom, made plumbing and electrical improvements, and relocated and expanded closets. Knights secured donations for 70 percent of the
Members of Loras College Council 9224 in Dubuque, Iowa, display some of the crazy hair and beard styles that they sported to raise money for the Vitae Family Health Clinic in Des Moines. Knights asked for donations to help create a fund for pregnant women at the clinic by having donors vote on the hairstyle that each Knight should have for a week. Council members collected more than $1,500. Pictured are: Chuck Warren, John Paul Sevcik, Lucas Evett, Tony Gates and Colin Priest. 28 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
Father Lawrence Sullivan, pastor of St. Christina Church and a member of Perez Council 1444 in Chicago, blesses motorcycles at the church during a council-sponsored bike blessing. Father Sullivan blessed 25 bikes at the event and presented each rider with a guardian bell and a patch.
materials needed and plan to do additional work to the building in the future. ENCOUNTERING MARY
Fort Myers Beach (Fla.) Council 10318 launched a program to deepen members’ relationship with the Blessed Mother. Activities include attending Mass on all Marian feasts, daily rosary prayers, inviting friends and family members to participate in the rosary, and active support of the Marian Movement of Priests.
cil’s charitable fund. Over the past 10 years, the sale has generated more than $33,000 for charity.
LET THERE BE LIGHT WHEELCHAIR FOR A BROTHER
Sibonga Council 4611 in Cebu, Visayas, helped facilitate the donation of a wheelchair from the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development for council member Rodulfo Ordineza,
EXPOSITION TABERNACLE
St. Monica Council 14725 in Methuen, Mass., donated an exposition tabernacle in honor of the council’s founder, Father Patrick S. Armano, to the perpetual adoration chapel at St. Monica Church. Knights raised money for the tabernacle over four years at the council’s annual Irish celebration.
WELCOMING FIREFIGHTERS
When a new firehouse opened several blocks from St. Leo Council 1294 in Philadelphia, council members greeted their new neighbors at Engine 38 with coffee and donuts. ANNUAL YARD SALE
Gorman-Brown Council 7086 in Paris, Tenn., hosted its annual indoor “yard sale” at Holy Cross Church. Knights offered various household goods for sale, raising $3,000 for the coun-
DECEMBER 2013
Several years ago, Salt Lake City Council 602 sold its council hall and established a foundation to fund charitable initiatives. Most recently, the council donated $10,000 from the foundation to improve the lighting system at Cathedral of the Madeleine.
Members of Shawnee (Okla.) Council 1018 consult a building diagram while constructing a playground at St. Benedict Church. Nineteen members volunteered eight hours to build the playground for religious education students.
SOCK HOP
Westminster (Md.) Council 1393 hosted a sock hop to benefit the music ministry at St. John Church. The event’s DJ played music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, and the sock hop raised more than $1,000.
BOTTOM LEFT: Photo by Katherine M. Edwards
RECTORY RENOVATED
CHALICE PROGRAM
Father Michael J. McGivney Assembly in Le Mars, Iowa, donated a new chalice to Father Kevin Richter in memory of Sir Knight Steven Shea, who passed away in March 2013. Father Richter, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Le Mars, was selected as the recipient after Shea’s widow learned that the priest’s chalice was worn after many years of use. The assembly has a chalice created and engraved whenever a member passes away. The families of the late Sir Knights are encouraged to donate the chalices to newly ordained priests, priests in need or missionary priests.
KNIGHTS IN ACTION CRISIS MINISTRY
BREAKFAST FOR VESTMENTS
Father Paul of Graymoor Assembly in Cary, N.C., donated $500 to Western Wake Crisis Ministry, which provides assistance to residents in western Wake County who experience emergency situations related to food, shelter and other basic needs.
Perham (Minn.) Council 1773 held a pancake breakfast at Sacred Heart Church in Dent to benefit council member Mark Stenger, who recently became a deacon. The breakfast raised more than $1,200 to help Stenger purchase his first set of liturgical vestments.
MARY’S MEALS
Father John F. O’Neill Council 10722 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, hosted a spaghetti dinner that raised $800 for Mary’s Meals, an organization that provides meals to children at schools in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and South America. Coupled with a $1,000 donation from the council, Knights gave $1,800 to Mary’s Meals to build a new kitchen in Malawi, Africa. SIGN REPLACED
The Father Michael Kelly Round Table in ColumbusAbsarokee, Mont., which is sponsored by Father Shevlin Council 6455 in Laurel, re-
State Deputy James W. Collins (far left) looks on as Bishop Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont, Texas, and Mary Milligan, director of the Hope Women’s Resource Clinic, cut the ribbon on a new ultrasound machine that was donated through the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative. Knights from throughout the Diocese of Beaumont raised $25,000 to purchase the machine. Also pictured are Thomas L. Wright and Philip J. Chauvin.
A PROMISE GIVEN
placed the sign at St. Mary Church in Columbus after discovering that the original had been vandalized. Knights purchased a new sign for the parish’s 100th anniversary and cleared an area in front of the church that was overgrown. Knights and the church groundskeeper then installed the sign and landscaped the area around it.
TOP: Jeff Dixon/Diocese of Beaumont, Texas
ORPHANAGE SUPPORT
Joe Huber of VFW Post #5920 and Father Sourd Council 2423 in Fayetteville, Ohio, along with fellow council members Eric Brown and Jay Holden, level a new flagpole that was installed by the Knights and the VFW at St. Patrick Cemetery. The two organizations jointly funded the installation of a flagpole, concrete base, plaque and solar lighting at the cemetery in honor of the veterans who are buried there.
FAÇADE RESTORED
San Leandro (Calif.) Council 3637 restored the façade of St. Leander School. Knights washed the walls and floor, painted the brickwork and a statue of the Virgin Mary, and planted new flowers.
St. Mark Council 13045 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., worked with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from Broward County to undertake renovations at His House Children’s Home, an orphanage in Miami Gardens. Knights installed an entertainment center and rewired some lighting and electrical circuits. Later, Knights donated $5,000 to the facility at its annual gala. SISTERS IN TOKYO
St. Francis Xavier Council 14821 at the U.S. Army base in Zama, Japan, and its round table, St. Michael the Archangel Round Table at Yokota Air Force Base, spearheaded a fund drive to sup-
port the Poor Clare Monastery near Tokyo. With only 12 sisters living at the sprawling facility, there was a dire need for grounds maintenance — specifically, the removal of an old tree that was encroaching on local homes and businesses. Knights partnered with area groups to raise $10,000 to have the tree removed and to avoid legal action against the nuns.
Father Les Costello Council 2403 in Timmins, Ontario, completed a $10,000 pledge to St. Anthony Padua Cathedral to help undertake a $1 million restoration project at the church. Knights delivered their pledge two years early by selling charity cash calendars, and the funds will be used to repoint all of the mortar at the stone cathedral.
CONFIRMATION GIFTS
Fitzgerald Council 459 in Alexandria, Va., provides inspirational booklets annually to confirmants at St. Mary Church and St. Joseph Church. Knights routinely distribute more than 100 booklets each year.
CORRECTION In the August 2013 issue of Columbia, the caption for the “Charity” photo on page 32 incorrectly states that Council 1475 is located in Washington. The council is located in Wisconsin.
PARISH BARBECUE
St. Catherine Labouré Council 11827 in Chino Valley, Ariz., hosted a barbecue at its parish hall. Three council members spent 36 hours smoking, cooking, cooling and pulling pork, while other members prepared chicken and side dishes. The event raised more than $1,600 for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
kofc.org exclusive See more “Knights in Action” reports and photos at www.kofc.org/ knightsinaction
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KNIGHTS IN ACTION
CHRISTMAS CHARITY AROUND THE WORLD
Picton, Ontario • • South Burlington, Vt. • East Hanover, N.J.
Matamoros, Mexico •
• North Port, Fla.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
POINSETTIA PARADE
North Port (Fla.) Council 7997 and San Pedro Assembly participated in the North Port Poinsettia Parade. Members of the color guard marched while other council members rode in a trolley decorated with the council flag and numerous “Keep Christ in Christmas” posters. Knights also sold “Keep Christ in Christmas” magnets to parade spectators.
St. John Vianney Council 7525 in South Burlington, Vt., volunteered at a “Breakfast with Santa” fundraiser for Joseph’s House, an organization that offers support to needy members of the community. With help from the Knights, the breakfast drew more than 200 families and raised $10,000 to support the group’s outreach work.
San Mateo, Luzon •
CHARITY RAFFLE
Father Murtaugh Lalor Council 10308 in Picton, Ontario, held a charity raffle to support the Prince Edward County Children’s Aid Society Angel Tree Program and the Ontario Provincial Police Adopt-A-Child Snowsuit Fund. The event featured an abundance of prizes and raised enough money to donate $500 each to the Snowsuit Fund, which provides snowsuits to needy children, and the Angel Tree Program, which gives Christmas presents to lowincome families. CHRISTMAS OUTREACH
Local children display their presents after visiting with Santa Claus during a tree-lighting ceremony at town hall hosted by East Hanover (N.J.) Council 6504. Knights co-sponsored the event for local families with the East Hanover Fire, Police and Recreation Departments. 30 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
DECEMBER 2013
• Inabanga, Visayas
St. Paul Council 10775 in Inabanga, Visayas, hosted a feeding program at a local village. As part of a Christmas outreach program, the feeding program was followed by the distribution of candy, rice, canned goods, noodles and used clothing for needy families. IN LIEU OF DINNER...
Santo Niño Modesta Council 15370 and Santo Niño Mod-
A boy accepts toys and snacks from members of San Pedro and San Pablo Council 15218 in Matamoros, Mexico Northeast, during a councilsponsored Christmas posada. Knights hosted about 60 needy children at the event, which included a retelling of the Christmas story, snacks and a traditional piñata.
esta Circle 5560, both in San Mateo, Luzon, purchased food for 50 needy families instead of hosting a council Christmas party. Local businesses and residents also donated foot to supplement the Knights’ outreach.
KNIGHTS IN ACTION
Putting Out Into the Deep A K of C-sponsored submarine competed in the 12th International Submarine Races by Paola Addamiano-Carts
Dave McGee
A
group of Catholic students in southern Maryland came up with a novel idea to demonstrate their faith in the public square, and a local Knights of Columbus council helped to make their project possible. With sponsorship from John Fitzgerald Kennedy Council 5482 in Accokeek, students designed and built a humanpowered submarine to race in the 12th International Submarine Races, held June 24-28 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, in Bethesda. The biennial event drew 22 submarines representing 19 teams from seven countries. The idea to enter the competition came about when Sam Carts, then 15, attended a daylong marine forensics conference. The last presentation of the day was about the Submarine Races. Carts was intrigued, since the race required that sub operators be scuba certified and that the subs be driven with bicycle-like propulsion systems. Soon, a group of young people from different educational backgrounds had come together to form a team they called Il Calamaro (the squid). Since all but one of the team members were Catholic, the group decided to build Il Calamaro on a foundation of faith. Meetings started with prayer; science was approached with appreciation for God’s creation; and charity and joyful gratitude were the stated goals of the project. With the team in place, members began seeking out sponsors. Council 5482 serves two parishes: St. Mary’s of Piscataway in Clinton and St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Indian Head. Since the students on Il Calamaro represented both parishes, and since three of their fathers belong to the council, the team approached the Knights for sponsorship. The council agreed to donate $1,000 for the project, and one Knight facilitated a donation of some building materials for the submarine’s hull. Over the next several months, students worked to construct the fiberglass vessel. The propulsion system came together with help from a local bike shop and welding services from a parishioner. Acrylic windows were formed in the Carts
family kitchen, and safety systems — an emergency buoy, strobe light and hatch release — were all designed and built, or purchased. Once assembled, the sub was tested in local swimming pools. Finally it was time to paint the submarine: white and yellow in honor of the papal flag with a large emblem of the Order on the side. Submarine setup began on the Sunday of race week. Il Calamaro arrived on scene in the early afternoon and was blessed by Father Daniel Gallaugher, associate pastor at St. Martin of Tours Church in Gaithersburg, and a member of Mount St. Mary's College Council 1965 in Emmitsburg. Races took place in the 3,200-foot-long David Taylor Model Basin, where the U.S. Navy tests its models. The 100-meter racecourse was marked with underwater rope lights, and Navy divers patrolled the course to rescue any submarine pilot in distress. Many runs ended prematurely, but the whole basin would resound with cheers when a submarine successfully crossed the finish line. Il Calamaro got off to a rough start as issues with buoyancy and steering caused several failed runs. The team, though, was excited when the submarine passed through a pair of mid-course timing gates and its speed was posted on the official score board. When a subsequent attempt got the submarine to the finish line, a wild cacophony ensued. The week ended with an awards ceremony. Il Calamaro garnered top honors for speed in its category, but the team was most proud of receiving the “Spirit of the Races” award — a true testament to their faith. Back at home, the submarine has been on tour and continues to be a vehicle for bringing goodwill and kindness to others. In sum, the project was a ripe opportunity for the students to live out the joy of their Catholic faith in an unexpected way.♦ PAOLA ADDAMIANO-CARTS is a catechist for the Archdiocese of Washington and is active in youth ministry. She is the mother of Il Calamaro racer Sam Carts and writes from Accokeek, Md.
DECEMBER 2013
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RIDING & RECOVERY
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 IN CANADA ROGER SAUVÉ INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-266-1211 • www.roger-sauve.com
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OFFICIAL DEC. 1, 2013: To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Laws of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the policy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MATTER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: COLUMBIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. REJECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PURCHASED MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS BY WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SUBSCRIPTION RATES — IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CURRENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901.
COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326. PHONE: 203-752-4000, www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2013 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. CANADIAN POSTMASTER — PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 1473549. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 50 MACINTOSH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, ONTARIO L4K 4P3 PHILIPPINES — FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAIL AT THE MANILA CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURN COPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1511, MANILA.
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DECEMBER 2013
Roberto Jimenez, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Staff Sgt. Joseph F. Fuerst III Assembly in Tampa, Fla., displays the Fourth Degree emblem that he carried while riding part of the Tour de France route in France and Italy. Jimenez spent more than 12 years in the service and deployed to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Though he was injured several times in the line of duty, he is now honoring his fellow wounded warriors by participating in bike rides with other veterans. Jimenez’s cycling challenges have included parts of the Tour de France, a 65-mile honor ride in Tampa, and a six-day riding challenge from New Orleans to Tallahassee, Fla.
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Act of August 1, 1970: Section 3685, title 39, U.S. code) 1. Publication Title: Columbia 2. Publication No.: 12-3740 3. Date of filing: September 2013 4. Frequency of issue: Monthly 5. No. of issues published annually: 12 6. Annual subscription price: $6 7. Location of office of publication: 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 8. Location of publisher’s headquarters: 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 9. Names and address of publisher, editor and managing editor. Publisher: Carl A. Anderson, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 Editor: Alton J. Pelowski, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 10. Owner: Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326. 11. Known bond holders: none. 12. For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at special rates. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt
status for federal income tax purposes: (Check one) ( ) Has changed (x) Has not during the changed during preceding the preceding 12 months. 12 months. (If changed, publisher must submit explanation of change with this statement.) 13. Publication name: Columbia. 14. Issue date for circulation data below: October 2013 15. Extent and nature of circulation # copies of sinAv. # copies gle issue pubeach issue durlished nearest ing preceding to filing date 12 months A. Total no. copies (net press run) 1,633,225 1,637,865 B. Paid and/or requested circulation 1. Outside-county mail subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 306,450 303,237 2. Paid in-county subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 0 0 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non-USPS distribution: 1,000 1,000 4. Other classes mailed through the USPS. 1,381,837 1,319,118 C. Total paid and/or requested circulation:
1,626,287 1,623,335 D. Free distribution by mail (samples, complimentary and other): 1. Outside-county as stated on Form 3541: 0 0 2. In-county as stated on Form 3541: 0 0 3. Other classes mailed through the USPS: 3,000 3,000 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution outside the mail (carriers or other): 0 0 E. Total Free or Nominal Rate distribution (Sum of (15d, (1), (2), (3) and (4): 3,000 3,00 0 F. Total distribution (sum of 15c and 15e): 1,629,287 1,626,355 G. Copies not distributed: 300 300 H. Total (sum of 15f and 15g): 1,629,587 1,626,655 I. Percent paid and/or requested circulation (15c / 15f x 100): 99.8% 99.8% I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. ALTON J. PELOWSKI Editor 09/23/2013
KNIGH T S O F C O LU M B U S
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.
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C OLUMBIA , 1 C OLUMBUS P LAZA , N EW
Members of St. Francis of Assisi Council 13456 in Henderson, Nev., transport construction materials at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Las Vegas. ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement outlet run by Habitat that sells new, used and donated furniture, appliances and building materials, with proceeds used to fund Habitat building projects. Knights volunteered at the store to paint the walls and haul and sort products.
“K NIGHTS IN A CTION ” H AVEN , CT 06510-3326
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DECEMBER 2013
♦ C O L U M B I A ♦ 33
PLEASE, DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PRIESTLY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
KEEP T H E F A I T H A L I V E
‘I WANTED TO TRUST GOD – NOT JUST IN WORD, BUT WITH MY LIFE.’
SISTER RACHAEL GLEASON Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart Big Bear Lake, Calif.
Photo by Christine Bartolucci
When I was 8, the first religious sisters I had ever met came to my family’s parish for a funfilled summer day camp. Their happiness in speaking of God as a friend made me want to love him more. As a child, I never thought of becoming a sister; I simply loved being with them. Later, when I was in high school, I heard an unmistakable call from God in my heart. Still, I had my own plans, including a full scholarship to a Catholic university. It took several months of internal struggle to realize that I wanted to trust God — not just in word, but with my life. I followed his call and not my scholarship. There were so many people who supported me on my journey, particularly my family and two K of C councils. The greatest rewards of my life are the privilege of being with the one I love each day and knowing that my heart and life are in his hands. My community of sisters is a tremendous blessing to me as we grow together in our love for God.