Columbia February 2009

Columbia K NIGHTS

IN SERVICE TO ONE. IN SERVICE TO ALL.

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C OLUMBUS

FEBRUARY 2009

In these troubled times, turn to the Knights of Columbus.

Seems like almost every day, another economic ‘crisis’ appears. We could be tempted just to lock the door and put our money under the mattress.

But there is good news. There is a place where strength, security and ethics still rule the day. Where your needs, and your protection, come first. Where, despite the madness, the ship still sails on calmly: the Knights of Columbus.

Your agent wants to help. He’s been trained to help. He is a professional who deals with Catholic families like yours every day, and who can offer guidance and suggestions in these troubled times. Calm in the eye of the storm.

A brother Knight—working full-time for you.

You lose nothing from a visit with a brother Knight who can help you see ways to help yourself and your loved ones.

Click “Find an Agent” at kofc.org or call 800-345-5632.

Come on home. We’re there for you.

A BENEFIT OF BROTHERHOOD

LIFE INSURANCE

LONG-TERM CARE

ANNUITIES

COLUMBIA

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FEBRUARY 2009

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VOLUME 89

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NUMBER 2

IN THIS ISSUE BUILDING A BETTER WORLD 3 In the face of difficult circumstances, Knights respond with charitable work.

BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH 4 The season of Lent leads us to repent and encounter the kingdom of God.

BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN BISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI

PLUS Catholic Man of the Month, the Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions, Your Spiritual Action Plan and more

CHECKUP 7 How to Guarantee a Lifetime Income

FATHERS FOR GOOD 11 To Love and to Lead: The Role of the Husband

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Created Equal

In the early 20th century, the Knights of Columbus took the lead in promoting racial equality.

BY ANDREW WALTHER

BY JOSEPH MCINERNEY

COLUMBIA CONVERSATION 13 Jesuit Father James Kubicki, national director of the Apostleship of Prayer talks with Columbia.

COLUMBIA STAFF REPORT

The Secret to Holiness

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Four-hundred years since its publication, Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales still inspires readers today.

BY FATHER LEWIS S. FIORELLI

REFLECTION 19 By their wisdom and witness of Christian charity, the elderly often act as spokespersons for God.

BY CAMILLIAN FATHER CARLOS NOTARO

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Making Mercy Known

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The message of God’s mercy is carried to America and throughout the world.

BY MARY ZUROLO WALSH

Supporting the Troop

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Knights, Scouts celebrate a long history of collaboration.

BY MIKE LATONA

24 The Flowers of Our Lady

BY MSGR. EDUARDO CHÁVEZ SÁNCHEZ

KNIGHTS

COLUMBUS NEWS Knights Help Families 6 in Tough Times • OF

Remembering Our Troops at Christmas • Order Supports Initiatives of Canadian Bishops

An Oasis of Faith

KNIGHTS

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25 REPORTS FROM COUNCILS,

Celebrating 80 years, St. John’s Catholic Newman Center provides spiritual support at a secular university.

BY NATE BROWN

IN

ACTION

ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES

32 COLUMBIANISM BY DEGREES

OPENING ODE

What is the Devout Life? ow does one define the word “devout?” What characteristics does a person who is holy and devout possess? In the opening paragraphs of Introduction to the Devout Life, a spiritual classic that was first published in 1609 and has never gone out of print (see article on page 12), St. Francis de Sales warns his readers not to confuse “false and empty” concepts of devotion with the real thing.

He writes, “Many persons clothe themselves with certain outward actions connected with holy devotion and the world believes that they are truly devout and spiritual whereas they are in fact nothing but copies and phantoms of devotion.”

What, then, is true devotion?

Francis defines it as “that spiritual agility by which charity works in us or by aid of which we work quickly and lovingly.” In short, the devout life is a life motivated by “eminent charity.”

According to this definition, the man who recites numerous prayers and who fasts and gives to the poor, but who nonetheless treats his neighbor with a lack of kindness, forgiveness and love, cannot properly be called devout. As St. Paul wrote, “If I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor 13:2).

Throughout the rest of the Introduction, St. Francis de Sales provides valuable advice about the practice of virtue, prayer and participation in the sacramental life of the Church, all of which are necessary if one seeks to become holy. After all, the theological virtue of charity, like faith and hope, is ultimately a gift, and true devotion is impossible without grace. In this light, perhaps a key to resolving the perpetual debate about the relationship between faith and works, is the recognition that

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all truly “good works” are accomplished in and through the presence of divine life and love in our souls.

The spiritual insights of St. Francis de Sales are also reflected in those of our founder, the Venerable Servant of God Father Michael J. McGivney. Both men anticipated the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the vocation to holiness is universal. Everyone, without exception, is called to the “devout life.”

Likewise, in describing what such a life looks like, both St. Francis de Sales and Father McGivney placed primary emphasis on the virtue of charity.

In his column on page 3, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson reflects on the essential role that authentic charity — works motivated by love of God and neighbor — continues to play in the Order today. In a word, Knights have a particular responsibility to pursue and practice authentic devotion.

Jesuit Father James Kubicki, national director of the Apostleship of Prayer, describes the life of charity as “eucharistic,” because we live in Christ and join our gift of self to his (see page 13).

Others explain it in terms of living and participating in “divine mercy” (see page 16). However it is expressed, the central point is the same. As holy men and women such as St. Thérèse of Lisieux and Pope John Paul II have affirmed, every person has been created with a vocation to love. It is in this that the “devout life” consists.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells us that the Father will give us the Holy Spirit if only we ask (see Lk 11:13). As we approach the observance of Lent, let us ask for God’s mercy and grace, resolve to make a good confession, and renew our efforts to practice charity in all of our words and actions.

Publisher

Supreme Officers Carl A. Anderson Supreme Knight

Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. Supreme Chaplain

Dennis A. Savoie Deputy Supreme Knight

Donald R. Kehoe Supreme Secretary

John “Jack” W. O’Reilly Jr. Supreme Treasurer

Paul R. Devin Supreme Advocate

Editorial Alton J. Pelowski, Managing Editor 203-752-4562 alton.pelowski@kofc.org Patrick Scalisi, Associate Editor 203-752-4485 patrick.scalisi@kofc.org

Graphics Arthur F. Hinckley Jr. Art Director

Richard J. Cesare Senior Designer

Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney (1852-90) — Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Intercede for Us.

How to Reach Us MAIL: Columbia, 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510-3326 PHONE: 203-752-4398 FAX: 203-752-4109 E-MAIL: columbia@kofc.org INTERNET: www.kofc.org CUSTOMER SERVICE: 1-800-380-9995 MOVING? Notify your local council. Send your new address and mailing label to: Knights of Columbus, Membership Records PO Box 1670, New Haven, CT 06507-0901

— Alton J. Pelowski, managing editor

Supreme Knight’s Book Club - Feb. 25 Join Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Father Lewis S. Fiorelli, O.S.F.S., online at www.kofc.org for a discussion of Introduction to the Devout Life

by St. Francis de Sales. Though written 400 years ago, the book's message is as important to the modern reader as it was to St. Francis de Sales’ contemporaries (see article on page 12). All of us, whatever our vocation, are called to sanctity. This book will provide much to meditate on as we prepare for the season of Lent. Submit your questions online and take part in the discussion Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. (ET).

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Knights of Columbus

COLUMBIA COVER: CAUFIELD AND SHOOK COLLECTION, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES

On the Cover A K of C-sponsored African American baseball team poses outside of K of C Army Hut building no. 2 at Camp Zachary Taylor in Kentucky, circa World War I.

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD

BY CARL A. ANDERSON, SUPREME KNIGHT

Our Remarkable Strength In the face of difficult circumstances, Knights respond with charitable work

AS I WRITE THESE WORDS, a Knights and their families should popular investment magazine has continue to have every confidence released the results of a survey of in our financial stability. finance executives responding to Equally important, though, is the question: “How long will it that every brother Knight should take for the finance sector to have confidence in the strength return to strength?” More than of our Order as a force helping 50 percent of those surveyed the world find a way out of its responded that it will take three present crisis. We all take justifito five years, and an additional able pride in our record work for 20 percent said it would take six charity — including $145 million or more years. Already, many in contributions and 69 million hours of volunteer service during people have lost their savings and the last fraternal year alone, as pensions; others have lost jobs well as our tremendous service in and homes; and still others have the aftermath of the Sept. 11 seen health care and educational attacks and hurricanes Katrina opportunities disappear. If the and Rita. financial experts are correct, these The remarkable painful circumstances strength of the will linger for a long We have faced Knights of Columbus time as we work to find a way out of this many unexpected lies not only in our ability to give money, deepening global challenges and but also in our ability recession. to do things for As if these we have always people in need. Our problems were not responded with effective grassroots enough, we see structure consists of almost every day new determination thousands of active signs of uncertainty, and creativity. councils, all of which pessimism and even are motivated by the fear. At a time when Christian principles of charity, charities are hoping to do more, unity and fraternity. many are reporting a dramatic This is the real “secret” of the downturn in contributions.

Order’s charitable work. As Pope What about the Knights of Benedict XVI wrote in Deus Columbus?

Caritas Est, “My deep personal First, let me report that while sharing in the needs and sufferwe have not been unaffected by ings of others becomes a sharing this financial crisis, we remain extraordinarily strong. Our of my very self with them. ... I financial strength relative to the must give to others not only industry as a whole has greatly something that is my own, but improved — it is even better today my very self; I must be personally than it was one year ago. Brother present in my gift” (34).

But if the pope has highlighted the path for us to take, he has also emphasized the challenge before us: “The Church is God’s family in the world. In this family no one ought to go without the necessities of life” (25). Of course, this family cannot stand idly by while its neighbors are suffering.

Although this may not be a time in which many of us can make dramatic increases in cash contributions to charity, we can all afford to give something extra of our time — which is to say, give something extra of ourselves.

If every member of the Knights of Columbus were to contribute just one additional hour of volunteer service each week — less than 10 minutes a day — the dollar value of that effort alone would surpass $1.7 billion this year.

During the Great Depression, people would often hear passersby ask, “Buddy, can you spare a dime?” Today, my question is: “Brother, can you spare 10 minutes?” If enough of us do, we can change the world — if not for everyone, then at least for many who depend on the Knights of Columbus for help.

Throughout our long history we have faced many unexpected challenges and we have always responded with determination and creativity. I have every confidence that we will do so this time as well.

Vivat Jesus!

columbia /february 2009

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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

Christ Gave Himself for Us The season of Lent leads us to repent and encounter the kingdom of God

BY BISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI, SUPREME CHAPLAIN

be attentive to the Scriptures prohere is no better time than Lent to meditate daily on the redemp- claimed during the Sunday Liturgy, tion that the Lord won for us by for they echo Jesus’ preaching of the his suffering, death and resurrection. kingdom of God. Lent is a time of renewal, during which we ask for the grace to VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION strengthen our prayer life, to practice The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent tells of the temptafasting and mortification, and to give generously of The 12th installment tions of Jesus in the desert ourselves to those in need. of Supreme Chaplain (see Mt 4:1-11; Mk 11:2-15; Bishop William E. Lk 4:1-13). Here, we sense It is not a mere selfimprovement program, but Lori’s faith formation Christ’s solidarity with us, program addresses since we face temptations a time-tested way of parquestions 106 – 112 ticipating more deeply in of the Compendium every day. If we look deeper, we also sense Jesus’ amazChrist’s sacrifice of love. of the Catechism of Throughout the season the Catholic Church. ing holiness. The Letter to of Lent, the Church offers Archived articles are the Hebrews puts it this at www.kofc.org. way: “For we do not have a us encouragement to high priest who is unable to undergo a profound consympathize with our weaknesses, version from sin, which involves but one who has similarly been testhumbly and prayerfully coming to ed in every way, yet without sin” terms with our sinfulness and seek(Heb 4:15). If we take yet a step furing forgiveness in sacramental conther, we see the temptations of Jesus fession. In the joy of forgiveness, we from the breathtaking panorama of are invited to share more deeply in salvation history. Christ’s encounter the Father’s merciful love. with Satan in the desert sums up On Ash Wednesday, we hear “the temptation of Adam in paradise again the invitation to repent, to believe in the Gospel and to become and the temptation of Israel in the desert” (106). Adam gave in to a part of the kingdom of God. Even Satan’s promptings, and the people the worst sinner is called to converof Israel succumbed to the lure of sion (Compendium, 107).

Christianity is replete with stories of worshipping idols. In doing so, both hardened sinners who heard the disobeyed God. Lord’s call and reformed their lives.

In the Gospel accounts, we find During Lent, we should reflect on Jesus in the desert, a place of desolawhat areas of our lives are not under tion where the battle between God the merciful dominion of the Savior. and Satan is set in sharp relief. Here, In what specific ways do we need to Satan tries to deter Christ with lures repent? that are familiar to us: self-indulFor some, Lent is a time of gence, wealth and power. Jesus intense final preparation for recepresists Satan and thus foreshadows tion into the Church at the Easter the victory he will win for us.

Vigil. For most, though, it is about In Christ’s victory over temptarecovering one’s baptismal innotion, the light of hope is rekindled in cence and hearing anew Christ’s call our hearts. If we are one with him, to holiness. In either case, we must can we not also live in such a way

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that the glory of God shines in our words and deeds, and from the depths of our hearts? In this light, the Second Sunday of Lent is devoted each year to the Transfiguration.

Jesus takes Peter, James and John to the top of Mt. Tabor where he is transfigured as he speaks with Moses and Elijah (see Mt 17:1-9; Mk 9:2-10; Lk 9:28-36). Jesus fulfills in himself the law and the prophets (thus the presence of Moses and Elijah), and reveals that his glory will be revealed definitively by his cross and Resurrection.

How amazed Peter, James, and John must have been to see their Lord and Master transfigured before their eyes! And how encouraged we should be! The Church presents this mystery to open our eyes to the Lord’s goodness and glory, which we are destined to share fully when Christ will “change our lowly body to be like his glorious body” (Phil 3:21; Compendium, 110).

SIGNS AND WONDERS During the remaining Sundays of Lent, the Church continues to present Jesus’ preaching together with his miracles. On the Third Sunday of Lent (Cycle A), we meet the Samaritan woman at the well whose heart is opened as Jesus invites her “to worship in spirit and truth” (see Jn 4:5-42). The following Sunday, we encounter the man born blind, a powerful symbol of our enlightenment in Christ. On the fifth Sunday of Lent, we witness how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. During other years, the cycle of readings for the Lenten liturgies brings us Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, the story of the woman caught in adultery and the story of the clandestine follower w w w. ko f c .o r g

of Christ, Nicodemus, who discusses with Jesus the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Jesus did not accompany his preaching with signs and wonders to amuse or amaze his audiences.

Rather, his miracles were themselves announcements of the Good News (see Compendium, 108). They did not portend an easy, pain-free life, but served as indicators that Jesus came to unleash into the world a love stronger than sin, a love that will ultimately conquer “Satan and all his works.”

Throughout the liturgical year,

Catholic Man of the Month St. Paul Miki (1562-1597) Feast Day: Feb. 6

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n 16th century Nagasaki, Japan, St. Paul Miki and his 25 companions gave their lives in witness to the Gospel of Christ when they were crucified on a hill overlooking the city.

These 26 religious and laymen, from as far away as Portugal and Spain, were killed in an effort by Emperor Taicosama (Toyotomi Hideyoshi) to eradicate foreign influences from newly unified Japan.

we will meet the disciples of Jesus again and again, and observe the ongoing formation of the Apostles.

Gradually, they will begin to share both in Christ’s mission and in his authority to teach, forgive sins, and build up and guide the Church. In particular, Peter will confess Christ “as the Son of the living God.” In spite of his weaknesses, Peter will come to embrace his mission, thus strengthening his brother Apostles in their role of handing on the faith (see Compendium, 109).

As Holy Week begins, we celebrate each year the triumphal entry

St. Paul Miki was born in Japan to a wealthy military family and joined the Jesuits in 1580. On the day of his martyrdom in 1597, while suspended from the cross awaiting the thrust of the executioner’s lance, he preached his last sermon:“The sentence of judgment says ‘These men came to Japan from the Philippines,’ but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. ... I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe

of Jesus into Jerusalem (Compendium, 110). The liturgy presents for us the Messiah-King’s arrival as he embraces his mission in loving obedience to the Father’s saving will. Like the crowds in Jerusalem, we wave palm branches and proclaim him as our king: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” We sit at table with the Lord who gives himself as our food; we stand beneath the Cross with Mary and John; and we stand watch at the tomb on the Easter Vigil as the light of Christ dawns upon us more brightly. ■

that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ.

After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

When missionary priests returned to Nagasaki more than 250 years later, they

Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions Offered in solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI ➢➢ General — That the Pastors of the Church may always be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in their teaching and in their service to God's people. ➢➢ Mission — That the Church in Africa may find adequate ways and means to promote reconciliation, justice and peace efficaciously, according to the indications of the Synod of Bishops’ Special Assembly for Africa.

YOUR SPIRITUAL ACTION PLAN Convert the Sinner

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ach of us is obliged to witness to the truth of our Catholic faith. Such witnessing includes directly and respectfully drawing attention to wrongdoing when we encounter it. The Letter of James reminds us that to call one back from error benefits both the one corrected and the one who is instrumental in the sinner’s conversion. St. Thomas Aquinas taught in his Summa Theologiae that “the reproof of a sinner… [which intends to] free a man from the evil of sin…is an act of mercy and loving kindness.” Prayerfully consider James 5:19-20, John 8:10-11 and Luke 15:1-10.

POPE: CNS PHOTO/TONY GENTILE, REUTERS ST. PAUL MIKI: TWENTY-SIX MARTYRS MUSEUM, NAGASAKI

found thousands of lay Christians who had secretly preserved the Catholic faith that was first handed down to them by Paul Miki and his companions. St. Paul Miki is an example for Knights of faithful perseverance under grave hardship and the forgiveness of one’s persecutors.

Grow In Your Faith

Reconciliation. Penance.

Confession. The sacrament of the forgiveness of sins is known by many names.

Unfortunately, it is also misunderstood or avoided by many. The booklet Penance, part of the Luke E. Hart Series, provides a simple explanation of this important sacrament. To download and print a free copy or listen to the booklet in MP3 audio format, visit the Catholic Information Service Web site, www.kofc.org/cis. For more information, write: CIS, PO Box 1971, New Haven, CT 06521-1971

or cis@kofc.org.

columbia /february 2009 5

KNIGHTS Knights Help Families in Tough Times hrough the “Knights of Columbus Help a Child in Need” campaign, councils have been helping to obtain supplies for families, pregnancy resource centers and shelters for women and children.

In most cases, this involves organizing events outside local supermarkets and department stores. With a child’s crib to serve as a collection bin, Knights hand out flyers to shoppers as they enter the stores, soliciting donations of items such as baby or maternity clothing, diapers and formula.

Other councils have sponsored events at parish and community centers, asking people to bring items the following weekend. For more programming ideas, visit www.kofc.org/prolife and select “Pro-Life Council Activities.”

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COLUMBUS NEWS

Remembering Our Troops at Christmas hile Knights provide support to our men and women in uniform year-round, the Order’s commitment to the armed forces was especially evident this past Christmas. Knights at the grassroots level have reported sending thousands of care packages to troops stationed abroad.

One of the largest collections took place in Chicago, where Knights have worked with the Chicago Fire Department since 2006 to ship care packages to troops stationed in Iraq. The collection was spearheaded by Cardinal Samuel Stritch Assembly and involves cooperation with Chicago Firefighters Union Local #2 and St. Florian Council 12911, a K of C unit comprised entirely of firefighters. Chicago Fire Commissioner John Brooks (pictured) announced that Knights and firefighters had collected approximately 1,000 boxes

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Order Supports Initiatives of Canadian Bishops rchbishop V. James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, Man., president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), celebrated Mass at the Supreme Council’s Holy Family Chapel on Dec. 9, 2008. Msgr. Mario Paquette, general secretary of the CCCB and a

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that contained items like deodorant, snacks, books and board games.

Some Knights also made an effort to remember their veterans at home. In addition to shipping Christmas care packages overseas, Father Robert W. MacDonald Council 395 in Richmond, Va., collected care items for soldiers recovering at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center.

For more information about the Order’s support for the military, and to subscribe to a free e-newsletter, visit www.kofc.org/military. ■

priest of the Archdiocese of Montreal, concelebrated.

The Mass followed meetings with Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Deputy Supreme Knight Dennis A. Savoie regarding the Order’s support for various initiatives of the Canadian bishops, including the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), Reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples, and Pro-Life Activities.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINES Maryland State Program Director Dan Ward (left) and Grand Knight Mike Koon of Father Rosensteel Council 2169 in Silver Spring, Md., help collect donations of baby and maternity items outside a local grocery store. The activity was part of the “Knights of Columbus Help a Child in Need” campaign.

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Applications for the undergraduate Fourth Degree Pro Deo and Pro Patria scholarships, as well as the John W. McDevitt Scholarship, are due in the United States on March 1. Applications for the undergraduate Fourth Degree Pro Deo and Pro Patria scholarships in Canada are due on May 1. Applications for the Bishop Charles P. Greco Graduate Fellowship are also due in the United States on May 1.

For more information about the Order’s scholarship program, call 203-752-4332. w w w. ko f c .o r g

CHECKUP How to Guarantee a Lifetime Income

BY JOHN R. INGRISANO, CLU

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enerally speaking, there are two ways to get a guaranteed lifetime income when you retire: one is from Social Security, and the other is from an annuity.

Combined, the two can work together to help provide financial security for you and your spouse during your retirement years.

If current statistics are any indication, you should plan for a long retirement. In 1920, the life expectancy for a 60year-old was 15.25 years, to age 75. Today, it has increased to 24.1 years, or to age 84.

The challenge is how to maintain financial security and independence, even for as long as three or four decades. In short, you may need an income that will last nearly a lifetime.

To this end, be skeptical of stocks and mutual funds. If we learned anything in 2008, it was that these types of investments are unreliable. Certificates of deposit, money market accounts and even U.S. Savings Bonds also cannot provide a guaranteed lifetime income.

While these types of

investments can offer security, they also have a limited shelf life. When that money is gone, it’s gone.

One option is Social Security. This government program is a political football that can be changed and adjusted by a simple act of Congress, which has raised the retirement age several times in the past. Yes, benefits will last a lifetime, but there are no guarantees when they will begin or how much money you will receive.

Furthermore, statistics from the U.S. Social Security Administration are not encouraging: • Retired workers in 2009 will receive an average of $1,153 in monthly benefits, or less than $14,000 per year.

• Social Security is the major source of income for most of the elderly, representing, on average, 41 percent of their income.

• Among Social Security beneficiaries, 54 percent of married couples and 74 percent of unmarried persons receive 50 percent or more of their income from Social Security.

Social Security can provide a solid baseline or safety net, but it was never intended to provide a secure retirement all by itself.

An annuity is perhaps the best option to assure you a lifetime income that you cannot outlive.

Coupled with Social Security, an annuity can deliver long-term retire-

YO U R H E A LT H , YO U R FINANCES, YOUR LIFE

ment security. Among the benefits of an annuity are tax-deferred accumulation, fixed return rates and distribution options. Earnings are not taxable as income until they are withdrawn, and there are no legal contribution restrictions (unlike retirement plans, which the IRS limits to maximum contributions each year). There are also several settlement options that range from a single lump sum at maturity to a lifelong annuity benefit.

The best benefit is the option for lifetime income. You can arrange to have benefits continue for as long as you live.

There are no excuses and no exceptions. If you are set to receive a guaranteed monthly benefit of $2,000, you will receive that benefit each and every month, even if you live to 100, 110, or longer.

A good example is the Knights of Columbus Flexible Premium Annuity, which grows at a fixed rate that is guaranteed for up to one year. Renewal rates are

reset each year and are guaranteed to always be at least 3 percent. You can start a Flexible Premium Annuity with a deposit of as little as $300. Rollovers, transfers, or deposits in the amount of at least $25,000 also have the flexibility of funding a VANTAGE Annuity.

VANTAGE Annuities grow at a guaranteed fixed interest rate for five years and offer a fixed minimum guaranteed lifetime interest rate.

With a Knights of Columbus annuity, there are several other features and benefits as well. For more information, contact your professionally trained Knights of Columbus agent. Your agent can review your needs and situation, and the options that may serve you best. There is no cost or obligation for this service. ■ John R. Ingrisano is a financial writer and business consultant specializing in money management, insurance and retirement planning. He can be reached at john@thefreestyleentrepreneur. com.

DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF INSURANCE YOU NEED USING THE LIFE INSURANCE CALCULATOR AT KOFC.ORG columbia /february 2009 7

JUPITERIMAGES UNLIMITED

Created Equal In the early 20th century, the Knights of Columbus took the lead in promoting racial equality

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B Y A N D R E W WA LT H E R

In 1924, Jim Crow laws were still enforced in many parts of the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. was not yet born, and the height of the civil rights movement would not come for another 40 years. Nonetheless, it was at this time that the Knights of Columbus commissioned and published The Gift of Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making of America by famous civil rights proponent W.E.B. DuBois.

In light of the 85th anniversary of the book’s publication and the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which counts DuBois among its founding members, a new edition of the book will be released this month. The Gift of Black Folk presents the varied contributions of Black Americans from the earliest colonial settlements through World

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War I and the early 1920s. A valuable resource to all who are interested in black history, the book is filled with touching stories and anecdotes.

The new edition (SquareOne, New York) features an introduction by Carl A. Anderson, who, prior to becoming supreme knight, spent nearly a decade working on issues of racial equality as a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

A GROUNDBREAKING BOOK When The Gift of Black Folk was first published in 1924, many in the United States had not yet embraced the notion that people of every race had helped to establish and strengthen their nation. The ideal “that all men are created equal” was more a philosophical statement than a practical reality for millions — especially those of African descent.

The book was groundbreaking and was seen as an important contribution to black history and racial tolerance. The Oakland Tribune’s review of the book, published Aug. 31, 1924, stated: “The book is one of the most valuable contributions to American literature published in a decade, the result of which should w w w. ko f c .o r g

create a better understanding among the races. It proves that Negroes (sic) have the right to be considered and treated as American citizens.”

This last sentence seems obvious today, but the American social climate was very different in 1924. At the time, Alfred E. Smith, a Catholic and a Knight, met with staunch opposition when he ran for president in the Democratic primary. After Smith became the Democratic nominee four years later, he was greeted by the burning crosses of the Ku Klux Klan — who targeted Catholics, in addition to blacks, Jews and other minorities — when his train entered Oklahoma City.

Against the backdrop of widespread bigotry, the 1921 Supreme Convention adopted a resolution, initially put forward by Fourth Degree Master John Reddin, to establish the Knights of Columbus Historical Commission. The purpose of the commission was to combat the revisionist history of the time, which tended to exclude minority groups from the record of historical achievement. The project was overseen by Edward McSweeney, who served as assistant U.S. Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island from 1893-1902.

In addition to The Gift of Black Folk, other books were published as part of the Knights’ racial contribution series. Since anti-Semitism was prevalent in the United States in the early 20th century, and since German-Americans found themselves distrusted following World War I, the Order also published The Jews in the Making of America by George Cohen and the The Germans in the Making of America by Frederick Schrader. Even prior to the book series, though, the Knights had long been active in developing positive race relations.

History of the Knights of Columbus, published in 1897 by William O’Neill, recounted the creation of Philip Sheridan Council 119 in Southboro, Mass. Before joining the Knights and forming a council, the men of Southboro had belonged to the John Boyle O’Reilly literary society, which had elected a black man as its president. O’Neill noted this and wrote that the men of

(Above:) A meeting of the LaFarge Institute in New York City. The institute, which focused on civil rights, was supported by the Knights of Columbus. • (Below:) The Knights of Columbus Historical Commission, established in 1921, published three books, which outlined the contributions of blacks, Germans and Jews in American society. This month, the Order is republishing The Gift of Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making of America (SquareOne). First published in 1924, the book was written by W.E.B. DuBois, the first black man to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

TOP LEFT: CAUFIELD AND SHOOK COLLECTION, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES DUBOIS: CORNELIUS M. BATTEY VIA THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION

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A Knights of Columbus War Activities School in Memphis, Tenn., served as a free evening school for demobilized veterans, ca. 1919.

Southboro were “in this act reflecting the principles of the Catholic church, which recognizes all colors and races as the children of God.” Two decades later, during World War I, the Knights pioneered the “Army Hut” program, a forerunner of the United Service Organizations (USO). Knights provided for the care and comfort of the troops on military bases in the United States and France, regardless of race, creed or religion.

The book The American Negro in the Great War, published in 1919, had special praise for the manner in which the Knights dealt with racial issues. Its author, Emmet J. Scott, was an African-American who served as special adjutant to the U.S. Secretary of War. He wrote of the Knights: “Another organization was of much service in making Negro soldiers comfortable at the front. This was the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic society, which has to its credit that, unlike the other social welfare organizations operating in the war, it never drew the color line.”

FIGHTING INJUSTICE After World War I, the Order continued to assist the troops by organizing job vocational classes for returning veterans, regardless of their race.

And when the Knights commissioned and published The Gift of Black Folk five years later, the

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Order’s work for racial equality was far from over.

Stories abound of individual councils and members, such as Father William Ryan, who worked in the black community. Father Ryan, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, not only ministered to black Americans in the South, but also marched side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Order’s work in the area of racial tolerance was groundbreaking.

John W. McDevitt, who served as the Order’s 11th supreme knight from 1964-1977, also did much to advance the cause of racial equality. When it became apparent that some local councils were hesitant to include black members, McDevitt amended the Order’s bylaws to prevent any local council from restricting membership on the basis of race.

In 1964, McDevitt was informed that the Supreme Convention’s host hotel in New Orleans did not allow African Americans. He immediately threatened to move the event to another venue if the convention hotel did not integrate. The hotel did so, and McDevitt seated a black priest on the dais at the States Dinner as a sign

of his — and the Knights’ — commitment to racial equality.

As the civil rights movement advanced, Knights took justifiable pride in the Order’s groundbreaking work in the area of racial tolerance.

Speaking in 1970 — just six years after the Civil Rights Act was passed in the United States — Archbishop Paul F. Leibold of Cincinnati told St. Martin de Porres Council 5624 that the national organization of the Knights of Columbus “never subscribed to the evil of racism.” Citing The Gift of Black Folk, the archbishop pointed out that the book had been published “decades before it was so popular to jump on the [civil rights] bandwagon.”

The Order’s commitment to racial equality continues today, and African Americans and other minorities hold leadership positions throughout the organization.

The new commemorative edition of The Gift of Black Folk, with its many little-known stories of black Americans who contributed to the greatness of the United States, serves as an excellent reminder of what the Knights of Columbus stands for, as well as of one of the finest and most visionary moments in the history of the Order. ■ Andrew Walther is director of media relations for the Knights of Columbus and a member of Holy Family Council 8882 in New Haven.

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FATHERS FOR GOOD

To Love and to Lead The Role of the Husband

By Joseph McInerney

n the feast of the Holy Family (Cycle A), we hear the words of St. Paul telling us that wives should be submissive to their husbands (see Eph 5:22).

There are generally two reactions to St. Paul’s message. For some guys, this is the reading they look forward to all year. For others, it seems strange, even shocking, that there is an institution (i.e., the Church) that still espouses such an idea in our modern society. The reading is a little embarrassing, and we often hope that the lector will read the “short form” that spares us the discomfort of hearing Scripture’s outdated views on family life.

Ironically, both reactions, different as they may be, make the same mistakes when trying to understand St. Paul’s teaching. First, they neglect the context of love in which Paul makes his assertions. Secondly, they think of leadership in terms of power or manipulation, rather than in terms of service.

To understand the seemingly polarizing teaching of the husband as leader of his family, we have to take a look at these realities from the perspective of Scripture rather than that of modern society.

For more, visit In his letter to the www.fathersforgood.org Ephesians, St. Paul speaks — an initiative of the very directly: “For the husKnights of Columbus band is head of his wife just providing resources for as Christ is head of the men and their families.

Church” (Eph 5:23). Thankfully, Paul doesn’t just “drop the bomb” on us without any explanation. Rather, he immediately points out that the husband must love his wife. It may seem that Paul is letting the husband off easy here. The wife has to submit to her husband’s authority, and all the husband has to do in return is love his wife. If we think of love as our culture typically does, as a pleasant feeling that satisfies our desires, the husband is definitely getting the better deal.

However, St. Paul sees love in the context of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Understanding love as the free and unreserved gift of oneself in service to another, Paul places the idea of the husband as leader next to the idea of husband as lover because the two concepts are inextricably linked. The foundation of a husband’s authority is his commitment to love and serve his wife, even to the point of death (see Eph 5:25).

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We need look no further than to Jesus to find the most compelling demonstration of these principles. The Lord tells us, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). He then willingly faces death on the cross, not only for his friends, but also for his enemies and everyone else in between. It is this type of love — an utterly self-sacrificial concern for the other — to which husbands are called.

Even the most independent-minded of us might acknowledge that the understanding of love as self-sacrificing service is beautiful and enriching. Yet, Jesus still has much to teach us about the nature of leadership. We like to focus on the laurels of leadership, the power and prestige associated with being in charge.

We thus tend to neglect the fact that a leader’s power is based on his willingness to serve those whom he leads.

This mistake about leadership is by no means restricted to modern times. Jesus addresses the issue when the Apostles James and John ask Christ to place them at his right and left hand when he establishes God’s kingdom. Jesus tells them, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:25-28).

If you want to be a true leader, you must be willing to sacrifice yourself for the people you lead.

If husbands are to fulfill their role as lovers and leaders, they must follow Christ’s lead and walk in his footsteps. Jesus is the leader par excellence because he loved us perfectly and demonstrated the perfection of that love by giving himself for us on the cross. In a particular way, the husband is called to the same task. It is in the unconditional gift of himself in service to his wife (and children) that a husband most closely follows in the footsteps of Christ and leads his family to union with God in heaven. It is his greatest challenge, his greatest joy, and his greatest fulfillment. ■ Joseph McInerney, a graduate of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family,lives in Springfield,Va.,with his wife and five children. He is a member of Springfield Council 6153.

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The Secret to Holiness Four-hundred years since its publication, Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales still inspires readers today B Y FAT H E R L E W I S S . F I O R E L L I

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This year marks the fourth centenary of the publication of Introduction to the Devout Life, the spiritual classic on Christian holiness written by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622). In that time, it has never gone out of print and continues to provide practical spiritual guidance to countless laypeople.

The purpose of the Introduction is simple: to show anyone who wants to become holy how to realize this goal in the nooks and crannies of everyday life. Thus, it is really what today would be called a “how-to” book. In it, Francis teaches Philothea (Greek for “one who loves God”) how to transform her simple desire for holiness into a strong and vibrant resolution to embrace all the means necessary to achieve it. Sensitive to the busy lives of his readers, the majority of whom are laypeople, Francis keeps the chapters brief, clear and conversational in tone. He addresses his audience as individuals, while using many helpful images to gain their attention and win their hearts.

A SAINTLY TEACHER In order to see how such a valuable spiritual guide came about, let us first recall the life of its author.

St. Francis de Sales was the eldest child of a noble family from Savoy. Francis’ father planned a brilliant legal career for his son and sent him to study in the great university cities of Paris and Padua. Although he was heir to the family title and

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fortune, Francis felt called to the priesthood and therefore pursued studies in theology and canon law while earning a doctorate in civil law. In time, he was ordained a priest with his father’s permission on Dec. 18, 1593.

Shortly after his ordination, Francis volunteered for challenging missionary work in the Chablais region, a Calvinist stronghold bordering the southern shores of Lake Geneva. Warned by the Calvinist ministers not to listen to Francis, the people refused to leave their homes. Undaunted, Francis wrote brief tracts on disputed articles of faith, had them printed and then slipped them under the doors of people’s homes. After four long years of lonely struggle and many dangers, including an attempt on his life, his efforts produced the desired fruit: the entire region returned to the Catholic faith. Francis’ creative approach in reaching out to people through the printed word later earned him the title as patron saint of the Catholic press and of journalists.

Owing largely to his missionary success, as well as his growing reputation as a gifted preacher, spiritual

St. Francis de Sales recognized the call to holiness as God’s invitation to all Christians, regardless of one’s state in life. guide and holy man, Francis was chosen as coadjutor Bishop of Geneva in 1602. While preaching the 1604 Lenten sermons in Dijon, he met Jane Frances de Chantal, a future saint who had recently been widowed and was the young mother of four children. In response to Jane’s desire for holiness, Francis agreed to become her spiritual guide. Theirs is one of the most celw w w. ko f c .o r g

ebrated spiritual friendships in all of Church history. While assisting one another to the heights of sanctity, they left behind what became known as Salesian spirituality. In 1610, they also founded together the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, which today has monasteries throughout the world.

Utterly spent by his many duties and heavy responsibilities, Francis died in Lyons on Dec. 28, 1622, at the early age of 55. He was canonized in 1655 and declared a doctor of the Church in 1877. His celebrated spiritual masterpiece, Treatise on the Love of God, earned him the title Doctor of Divine Love.

LIVING GOSPEL VALUES How did Francis come to write Introduction to the Devout Life?

The many demands on his limited time prompted him to introduce to his practice of spiritual direction a

similar approach to the one he used to reach the people of Chablais. In his letters, he would often include a short reflection on some issue cen-

St. Francis de Sales teaches his readers that a generous fidelity to the expectations, demands and responsibilities of their vocation in life is the secret to Christian holiness. tral to spiritual life. He would then ask his correspondents to share what he had sent them. One recipient, Francis’ young married cousin, eventually showed these reflections to a Jesuit friend who urged Francis to have them published so that others, particularly the laity, might benefit

from reading them. Francis agreed, and Introduction to the Devout Life was first printed in 1609.

The first three parts of the Introduction are devoted to clear teachings on prayer, sacraments and the practice of virtue. Francis begins by warning against false understandings of the “devout life,” and explains that true devotion consists in the perfection of love. He recognizes the call to holiness as God’s invitation to all Christians, regardless of one’s state in life or natural temperament. Since the call to holiness is universal, he reasons, the means to its attainment must be readily available to all. These avenues to holiness include prayer, especially mental prayer or meditation; the sacraments, especially holy Communion; and the frequent practice of Christian virtue, especially those “little virtues” that characterize a believer’s daily relationships.

COLUMBIA CONVERSATION

The Apostleship of Prayer An interview with Jesuit Father James Kubicki B Y C O L U M B I A S TA F F

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ince 1844, the Apostleship of Prayer has helped Christians live out their desire to serve God with their whole lives. The apostleship encourages the faithful to make a daily offering of themselves to the Lord for the coming of God’s kingdom and for the pope’s monthly intentions, which are also published in every issue of Columbia.

Father James Kubicki, S.J., serves as the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer, a position he has held since 2003. He is chaplain of Marquette University Council 6883 in Milwaukee, Wis. For more information about the Apostleship of Prayer and its resources, which are available free of charge, visit www.apostleshipof prayer.org. The international Web site is www.apostleshipofprayer.net.

SAINT FRANCIS OF SALES: BRENET, NICOLAS (1728-1792); RÉUNION DES MUSÉES NATIONAUX / ART RESOURCE, NY FATHER KUBICKI: COURTESY APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER

Columbia: What role do you think the apostleship can play in the lives of Knights, their families and their councils?

Father Kubicki: When I became national director in 2003, my predecessor, who was a Knight, received Columbia magazine. He didn’t change the address, so it kept coming to our office, and I began reading it.Two things impressed me:One was the works of the Knights; I didn’t realize all the works that Knights are doing. Second, the Holy Father’s intentions were there. At that point, I decided I wanted to join, and this past April I was exemplified into the Fourth Degree.

Since the intentions are already published in Columbia magazine, it is easy for Knights to go a step further in terms of praying for the pope’s intentions and helping others to do so.

Whether it was the International

Eucharistic Congress in Quebec or the pope’s visit to Australia for World Youth Day, the Knights are there, supporting the Church any way we can. Praying these intentions is a simple way to support the Holy Father.

Plus, it’s a way that we can grow in our faith. The Apostleship of Prayer spirituality helps us to live the Mass and the Eucharist in our daily lives.

The beauty of it is that it’s very practical and simple, and it’s really for everyone.

But I think it’s appealing to men in particular, because we tend to be very practical, and we want simple, concrete ways of living out a spiritual life.

Can you tell us a little about the Apostleship of Prayer’s founding in 1844 and how it has developed since then?

In 1844, a group of seminarians had received letters from other Jesuits who were missionaries in India. The letters c o l u m b i a / f e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 13

Francis teaches Philothea the value of prayer and urges her to meditate on the life, teachings and example of Jesus and to learn directly from Christ how to lead the devout life. “By keeping close to our Savior and by observing his words, actions and affections,” Francis writes, “one will soon learn how to speak, act and will like him.” Thus, the spirituality of Introduction to the Devout Life is decidedly Christcentered. Through meditation, we learn how to “live Jesus,” especially by imitating his example of unfailing dedication to God’s will.

Through participation in the sacramental life of the Church, we are gradually transformed into what St. Paul calls “another Christ” — Jesus is manifested in all our dealings with others, large and small.

It is particularly in his teaching on the “little virtues” that Francis reveals the balance, depth and wis-

COLUMBIA CONVERSATION excited and inspired them, but also frustrated them because the seminarians were studying subjects that they thought had very little to do with spreading the Gospel. When they began grumbling about not being out in the mission field, their spiritual director brought them together on the feast of St. Francis Xavier in 1844. He explained, “Any good that’s accomplished in the missions is the result of spiritual works.

Spiritual fruit requires spiritual works, and you have those works at your disposal right now. Offer your prayers, sacrifices and frustrations. Don’t wait to be an apostle. Be an apostle right now — be an apostle of prayer.”

The idea caught on among the seminarians, and quickly became a lay movement, which spread throughout France and then throughout the world. By the 1880s, Pope Leo XIII formally recognized that this was a good work and began giving a monthly personal intention to the world through the apostleship. In 1928, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, the missionary arm of the Church, asked Pope Pius XI to add a missionary intention in addition to his general intention. To this day, the Holy Father provides both intentions each month. While a lot of people will

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In 1967, Pope Paul VI wrote that no doctor of the Church had more perfectly anticipated the spirit and teaching of the Second Vatican Council than Francis de Sales.

pray for the pope’s intentions generally, they’re not aware that there are two specific intentions.

One of the earliest members of the apostleship was St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who joined in 1885 at age 12. It was only about six years ago that we discovered her enrollment form, which she had with her when she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux. I think that the spirituality of her “little way,” in part, grew out of the spirituality of the Apostleship of Prayer.

At any given moment, we can unite ourselves spiritually to the Mass and offer our day to the Lord.

If someone wants to have a deeper prayer life but doesn’t know where to start, what advice would you give them?

In terms of prayer, I always recommend that people begin small and be faithful to what they commit themselves to. In the Apostleship of Prayer, what we recommend is that you make a prayer of offering soon after you awake.

dom of his pastor’s heart. He encourages Philothea to practice virtues such as patience, gentleness, humility and tenderness. In contrast to such virtues as “fortitude, magnanimity and great generosity” that one rarely has the opportunity to practice, the little virtues can be practiced frequently every day and in all states and stages of life. He teaches his readers that a generous fidelity to the expectations, demands and responsibilities of their vocation in life is the secret to Christian holiness. Thus, a mother’s tender care for her rambunctious toddler is just as pleasing to God as a wealthy man’s generous gift to the poor; a spouse’s fidelity to the daily demands of a job or profession is just as pleasing to God as the many hours that a monk spends in contemplative prayer. Jesus — poor, chaste and obedient — is the model for every Christian. Francis therefore makes a

Look over the day and anticipate: What are the joys I’m going to have today?

What are the sufferings? What are the works I’m going to do? What other prayers will I pray during this day? Offer it all to the Lord and renew that offering throughout the day. The idea of the morning offering is to take your day and unite it to Jesus’ perfect offering in the Mass, and in that way your day has eternal significance.

Then,it’s helpful at the end of the day to look back and say: What exactly did I offer God this day? What am I pleased with? How did Jesus and I work together to help people come to know his love?

What did I do that I’m sorry for now? If you do that, I think it’s a good basis for making your whole day a prayer. Building on that, you can add spiritual and Scriptural reading, daily Mass and perhaps a time of eucharistic adoration.

You mentioned a connection between the morning offering and the Mass.

Please elaborate.

After the Year of the Eucharist and synod of bishops in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI issued a document titled Sacramentum Caritatis (The Sacrament of Charity), which is divided into three parts.The Holy Father said the Eucharist is a mystery to be believed, a mystery to be celebrated w w w. ko f c .o r g

great effort to show how the laity can practice the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience in ways that are appropriate to their particular state in life.

In the fourth part of the Introduction, Francis provides Philothea with practical advice on how to live in a world that is sometimes hostile and often indifferent to a layperson’s pursuit of holiness. He advises readers to associate with other like-minded Christians who share their desire to live Gospel values and to become holy while living in the world. His advice regarding spiritual friendships, even between spouses, is particularly insightful.

The fifth, and final, part of the Introduction deals extensively with the value and content of the annual retreat, which, during Francis’ life, had only recently been reintroduced into the Church by the Society of Jesus.

JESUS LIVES! Ever since his untimely death in 1622, St. Francis de Sales has been admired by saints, popes and the Christian faithful. St. Jane Frances de Chantal worked hard to initiate the process for his canonization and participated in it fully. St. Vincent de Paul, a contemporary and friend of both Francis and Jane, testified that he had never known anyone who was a more perfect image of the son of God than Francis de Sales.

While still a young seminarian, Pope John XXIII prophetically wrote in his diary that if he could one day learn to imitate the priestly life and zeal of Francis de Sales he would not mind even if he were elected pope!

And in his apostolic letter commemorating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Francis in 1967, Pope Paul VI wrote that no doctor of the Church had more perfectly anticipated the spirit and teaching of the

Second Vatican Council than Francis de Sales.

Indeed, St. Francis de Sales taught about the universal call to holiness and the central role of the laity in the Church, proclaiming “Vive Jesus!” as a motto for all. In the same way, Knights of Columbus proclaim “Vivat Jesus!” and want to see Jesus live in their hearts, becoming ever more manifested in all their actions and relationships. To this end, Knights would do well to read and study the spiritual teachings contained within Introduction to the Devout Life, which are as helpful today as they were when St. Francis de Sales first penned them 400 years ago. ■ Father Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS, is general coordinator of formation and past superior general of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. He also serves as the auxiliary religious assistant to the U.S. federations of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary and as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Vienna, Va.

Traditional Daily Offering of the Apostleship of Prayer O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. and a mystery to be lived.The third part is where the spirituality of the morning offering comes in. It’s living a eucharistic life by taking your life and uniting it to the Mass. In the morning offering prayer, we say we offer “our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.” At any given moment, a Mass is being offered somewhere in the world, and we can unite ourselves spiritually to that Mass and offer our day to the Lord. A person may not be able to go to Mass every day, but he can still live a life united with the Eucharist.

Other than Columbia, what are some ways the pope’s monthly intentions are made known today?

The apostleship is international, so every country has a national office that TOP LEFT: CNS PHOTO/JESUITS ABOVE: CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ, LONG ISLAND CATHOLIC

promotes awareness of the intentions.

Traditionally, that was done through leaflets, which we continue to publish.

But we have also moved into the 21st century by having a Web site that offers prayer resources to help people understand why the Holy Father is asking us to pray for particular things each month.

On the Web site there are monthly and daily reflections, as well as audio and YouTube videos. We are also involved in getting the word out through radio.

What other resources does the Apostleship of Prayer offer?

We send out two mailings a year: one in the fall with the pope’s intentions for the year and another in the spring to help people prepare for the feast of the Sacred Heart. We also have a monthly leaflet, which is on our Web site, to help

people understand what the pope is asking us to pray for.

In addition to the leaflets that have the pope’s intentions, we strive to have a variety of other materials to help people, such as a recent leaflet titled The True Value of Suffering and a prayer for priests based on one of the 12 promises that Jesus gave to St. Margaret Mary.

In the various countries where we have members, we do not produce all of the same leaflets. In Canada, for example, the apostleship produces a magazine, The Messenger of the Sacred Heart.

Mexico has the Mensajero del Sagrado Corazon. In Poland and the Philippines, the Apostleship of Prayer is very active as well. The apostleship is universal. We often get requests from around the world, and our materials are also available in Spanish. ■ c o l u m b i a / f e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 15

Making Mercy Known

The faithful hold a giant image of Divine Mercy as they gather for a solemn Mass April 3, 2005, in St. Peter’s Square in memory of Pope John Paul II.

The message of God’s mercy is carried to America and throughout the world

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B Y M A RY Z U R O LO WA L S H

With its sponsorship of the first-ever World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) in Rome last April, the Knights of Columbus has helped ignite a movement that organizers hope will spark reflection on God’s mercy throughout North America.

The North American Congress on Mercy (NACOM), a follow-up to the world congress, is scheduled to take place the weekend of Nov. 14-15, 2009, in Washington, D.C. “We are trying to bring a spark of the message of mercy from Rome across the Atlantic Ocean to North America,” said Father Matthew Mauriello, a member of St. Augustine Council 41 in Stamford, Conn. Father Mauriello served as U.S. director of the congress in Rome and is also organizing the North American congress, with assistance from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in Stockbridge, Mass.

The aim is to make “the message…of the bountiful mercy of the Lord more universally known,” Father Mauriello said. “The more

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that we learn of the Lord and his attributes, the more we can be transformed.”

‘GOD’S MERCY IS FOR EVERYBODY’ The five-day world congress, which was financially supported by the Supreme Council, began April 2, 2008 — the third anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s death. Pope Benedict XVI, who celebrated the opening Mass in St. Peter’s Square, was supportive of the WACOM and its mission from the beginning.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna first approached the pope

with the idea for the congress in 2005, after leading an international Divine Mercy retreat in Lagiewniki, Poland. Special themes and workshops in various languages were then developed for each day, and several cardinals were numbered among the speakers. The program also included daily Mass, eucharistic adoration, the sacrament of penance, candlelight processions and recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet.

The North American Congress on Mercy will follow a similar format as the world congress, though on a smaller scale. is invited to “Everyone NACOM,” said Father Mauriello, who is hoping for about 4,000 attendees — enough to fill the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where it will be held.

The event will be organized as a one-day pilgrimage to enable visitors to the national shrine to participate w w w. ko f c .o r g

in the whole congress, without having to incur hotel expenses, explained Father Mauriello.

The theme planned for the national congress — “Mercy Our Hope: Learn it and Live It” — was inspired

by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 encyclical Spe Salvi (On Christian Hope).

Throughout the first day of the congress, speakers will explore various aspects of God’s mercy. The main event will be the celebration of Mass, tentatively planned for Saturday evening to accommodate U.S. bishops who will be in town for their annual fall meeting.

Eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of penance will also be offered.

“The world congress was not supposed to be an end. It was supposed to be a beginning,” explained Dan Valenti, senior writer and editor for Marian Services.

Valenti attended the world congress in Rome and is serving as a member of the national executive board for NACOM. “God’s mercy is for everybody,” Valenti said, adding that this truth was evident to him as he spoke with representatives of various faiths during the congress in Rome.

“They all had a common element when it came to the mercy of God,” Valenti said. “They all understood it. They all had their own vernacular for it, but it was not a foreign concept to them.”

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Both Valenti and Father Mauriello emphasize that the aim of the congress is to proclaim the important message of God’s mercy to the world. It is a purpose that goes beyond simply focusing on the devotion to Jesus as the Divine Mercy, which began in the late 1930s with St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-38).

A member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland, St. Faustina recorded private revelations she received about God’s mercy in a diary.

TOP LEFT: CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS ABOVE: CNS FILE PHOTO/MARY ANN WYAND, THE CRITERION

‘The world congress was not supposed to be an end. It was supposed to be a beginning.’

the booster is jettisoned,” he said. “Other things have to keep it going higher, and that’s what the intention is here.”

“Mercy is at a crucial moment,” Valenti said. “The moment is now to take mercy and let it move more into the universal Church.”

Jose Agapito Gamez, a member of Palm City Council 8298 in McAllen, Texas, hopes to do just that. He is helping to organize an international celebration of the feast of Divine Mercy, which will take place April 18-19 at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine.

Located in San Juan, Texas, the basilica is visited by approximately 20,000 pilgrims each weekend, according to Gamez, who is also the shrine’s bookstore director. San Juan is located near the U.S. border with Mexico, and visitors to the shrine come from both countries.

“This event is occurring in a place between two great nations,” said Gamez, who hopes pilgrims understand that God’s mercy is more than merely a private devotion. Instead, he said, “It’s a change of lifestyle.”

In addition to the celebration of Mass, eucharistic adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation and continual recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet, organizers are also planning to unveil a 40-foot vinyl image of the Divine Mercy — perhaps the largest in the world.

Quotes from St. Faustina’s diary will also be displayed throughout the grounds.

“That [devotion] is a wonderful expression of God’s mercy, but we don’t want to limit it,” Father Mauriello said, adding that efforts such as WACOM and NACOM are trying to make God’s mercy more universal.

For Valenti, the Divine Mercy devotion might be compared to the launching of a rocket. “A rocket has a booster stage where the booster takes it to a certain height and then

‘A STRONG RESPONSIBILITY’ In the months preceding the North American Congress in Washington, local gatherings on divine mercy are scheduled to take place in various cities, including San Diego, the Bronx, N.Y., Stockbridge, Mass., and Los Angeles. Regional gatherings are also being planned in the Northeast, West, Midwest, Southeast and Desert Southwest. According to Valenti, planning is also under way for several continental congresses in

The writings of this humble nun, whom Pope John Paul II canonized in April 2000, focus on the message that God loves us no matter how great our sins. The phrase “Jesus, I Trust in You” is central to the devotion and is featured on the Divine Mercy image — a painting of the risen Jesus with rays of white and red light streaming from his heart.

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Europe, the Philippines, Africa and possibly India.

Members of the Knights of Columbus are involved in planning many of the upcoming congresses on the grassroots level. For example, Dr. Bryan Thatcher, a member of Incarnation Council 8612 in Tampa, Fla., is helping to organize two large conferences — one in Tampa in 2010 and one in Minneapolis in June 2009.

‘The Knights carry a strong responsibility to share and defend the faith. God’s greatest gift is mercy and we have to share it.’

Thatcher is founder of Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy, an apostolate that formed out of a parish prayer group in 1995.

It has since grown to several thousand “cenacle prayer groups” throughout the world. According to Thatcher, K of C councils often sponsor speakers from the aposto-

Religious sisters attend the opening Mass of the first ever World Apostolic Congress on Mercy, which was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the opening Mass in St. Peter’s Square on April 2, 2008.

late, so as to help spread the message of divine mercy.

“This is a message that needs to be lived,” said Thatcher, who believes the message of mercy complements the mission of the Knights.

Divine Mercy Events — 2009 Feb. 14 — Mother of Mercy Messengers (MOMM) workshop, McAllen, Texas Feb. 20-21 — Divine Mercy Conference in San Diego, Calif.

March 7-9 — Divine Mercy Conference, Oakland, Calif.

March 7 — Divine Mercy Conference, Brooklyn, N.Y. March 14 — Day of Reflection, Coral Springs, Fla. April 18-19 — Divine Mercy Weekend, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, Mass.

April 19 — MOMM and Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy (EADM) International Celebration of Mercy Sunday, San Juan, Texas April 28-29 — Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy Conference, Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass.

June 27 — Divine Mercy Conference, Minneapolis, Minn.

July 3-9 — John Paul II Institute, Summer Divine Mercy Institute, Washington, D.C. Sept. 12 — EADM Day of Reflection, Vancouver, B.C. Nov. 14-15 — North American Congress on Mercy, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. The above schedule is tentative and subject to change. MOMM, EADM, Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy, and the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy are official Apostolates of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

For more information, visit www.thedivinemercy.org or call 877-380-0727.

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“We need to get back to the basics of the faith: the Eucharist and reconciliation, respect for the gift of human life, and the need to live mercy in families and the workplace through forgiveness and trust in God.” Thatcher encourages Knights to participate in the congresses.

“It will give them a deeper appreciation of the gift of their faith and will serve as a call to spiritual arms to help them deal with these difficult times that we live in,” he said.

“The Knights carry a strong responsibility to share and defend the faith. God’s greatest gift is mercy and we have to share it.”

Gamez echoes this sentiment.

“We live in very challenging times and more than ever all Catholics must imitate the life of Christ,” he said. “As Knights our responsibility lies in defending and supporting the Catholic Church at all levels.”

Again, Father Mauriello emphasizes that a proper understanding of God’s mercy can change lives.

“You get inspired by learning about more insights into the mercy of God. We can try to be more Christlike by living mercy,” he said. ■ Mary Zurolo Walsh writes for the Catholic press from her home in Hamden, Conn.

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PROPHETS AMONG US By their wisdom and witness of Christian charity, the elderly often act as spokespersons for God by camillian father carlo notaro

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. (Lk 2:25-26)

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imeon was an elderly prophet, and as this passtruggles with the conflict between good and evil. sage from Luke states, “the Holy Spirit was Just as “the Holy Spirit was upon” the prophet upon him.” How many elderly Simeon, we too must pray to be tempeople realize that they too, in their ples of the Holy Spirit. We can do this own way, are prophets led by the in our daily prayer life, and especially Spirit? The primary meaning of the through the Mass and the sacraments. word “prophet” is a spokesperson for We should also cultivate a devotion to God. An older person often has the Mary, the Mother of God, to St. wisdom and experience that allows Joseph, the chaste and just protector of them to proclaim God’s word in a the Holy Family, and to other saints powerful way to others. who have touched our lives.

Older people might say to themThe Spirit not only leads us in selves, “How can I possibly be a prayer, but also gives us the grace to prophet?” Yet, as the angel said to believe and profess our faith. Our faith Mary at the Annunciation, “With is reinforced when we pray the Nicene God, nothing is impossible” (see Lk Creed on Sundays and when we pray 1:37). In his Letter to the Elderly the Apostle’s Creed before the rosary.

(1999), Pope John Paul II declared that A good way to grow in understanding the elderly “are the guardians of our about the faith is by reading the collective memory, and thus the priviCatechism of the Catholic Church at leged interpreters of that body of ideals The presentation of Jesus at the temple one’s own pace. Likewise, it is very and common values which support is depicted in stained-glass window at important to spend time reading the and guide life in society.” In this way, St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto. The Bible. Other spiritual reading can help an older person is a link to different feast of the Presentation of the Lord is us grow in faith as well. generations and might be considered a celebrated Feb. 2.

Nevertheless, even though prayer “seer.” This reflects another aspect of and belief are so very important, St. the word “prophet” in Sacred Scripture — one who James writes, “Faith without works is dead” (James has a particular insight into the future.

2:26). In other words, our faith must be nurtured by There are three major ways that the elderly can hope and fulfilled in love. The virtue of love, or be prophets, guided by the Holy Spirit. First, they Christian charity, is the cornerstone for those of any may act as an example in words and deeds toward age. An older person is called in a particular way to their families. This is true especially in how they express their love of God, of others, and finally of relate to the youngest members of their families, themselves. Pope John Paul II exclaimed, “How who are the future “prophets.” many people find understanding and comfort from Next, they can proclaim words of truth to the elderly people who may be lonely or ill and yet are Church, especially in the parishes to which they able to instill courage by their loving advice, their belong. It is through the Church, where one is noursilent prayers, or their witness of suffering borne ished by the body and blood of Christ in the with patient acceptance!”

Eucharist, that the inspiration to follow one’s Indeed, the greatest witness an older prophet may Christian calling is received and strengthened. As give is being truly filled with the grace of love, one grows older, a person can often have a keener expressed by the Holy Spirit in one’s heart. In the vision of God on earth, anticipating his presence in end, as St. John of the Cross stated, “In the sunset of heaven with the “eyes of faith.” life we will be judged on love.” ■ Finally, the elderly can be a witness to the world.

Father Carlo Notaro, O.S. Cam, S.T.D., is a priest in the Order of St. Camillus Jesus spoke of being “in the world but not of the (www.camillians.org) and has worked with the elderly for 30 years. He world” (see Jn 17:14-15). Our faith is not reserved wrote his doctoral dissertation on spirituality of the mature years. only for us, but must be as yeast in a world that TOP LEFT: DAN VALENTI ABOVE: CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC

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Supporting

the Troop Knights, Scouts celebrate a long history of collaboration Boy Scouts from Troop 175 in Niles, Ill., participate in a flag retirement ceremony.

The troop is sponsored by North American Martyrs Council 4338.

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The hall of Holy Trinity Council 3413 in Glen Burnie, Md., represents a sacred space for Matthew McClain. Without that building and its Knights of Columbus, he may not have made the astounding achievements that have resulted in 35 Boy Scout merit badges, many good friendships and an immeasurable amount of self-confidence.

“We do a lot of good things there. We talk about Scouting spirit,” said McClain, 41, who has Down syndrome.

The K of C building is home to Boy Scout Troop 216, a Scouting unit created nearly 30 years ago for Baltimore-area men with intellectual disabilities. McClain recently showed his appreciation for the Knights’ support by leaving his personal mark on the facility: His Eagle Scout project involved a substantial renovation to the hall’s exterior and grounds.

McClain received Scouting’s highest honor during a Court of Honor ceremony held Oct. 19, 2008.

Nearly all his fellow members of Troop 216 — to which Matthew has belonged for 23 years — were on hand to share in the proud moment.

In addition, many Knights were among the gathering of more than 150 people, showing their typical loyalty to the troop.

Clif McClain, Matthew’s father, said the Knights “bent over backwards to start the program and continue with it. We use their building twice a month for meetings, and they’ve paid for a lot of different fundraisers.

They’re very, very generous, and we

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couldn’t have kept going like this without them.”

As the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in February 2010, the Knights of Columbus will share in the celebration based on their support of BSA from its infancy.

A SPECIAL BOND McClain’s success story is among the many examples of Knights assisting Scouts in such areas as financial aid, use of facilities and collaboration on fundraising and other projects. Yet, few associations are more heartwarming than that between Troop 216 and Council 3413. The Knights provide meeting and storage space for the special-needs troop; financial help from such efforts as Tootsie Roll sales; and “a very good amount of moral support,” said Mike Conlon, advancement chairman for Troop 216 and a member of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Troop 216 consists of 15 Scouts ranging from age 21 to 71. Conlon said that most have Down syndrome, though there is also a member who has autism and another who is blind.

Although many of the 27 adult leaders have developmental disabilities as well, Conlon said the troop strives to take part in regular Scouting jamborees, camps and religious retreats.

“For the most part, we do as much as any Scout troop does. We try to hit all the events we can,” said Conlon, who, along with Scoutmaster Jim Dunne, is a member of Father

Bob Connelly, a member of Bishop Dunne Council 2813 in Fort Worth, Texas, with more than 70 years of Scouting experience, joins a Cub Scout in saluting the U.S. flag at a 2007 Catholic Boy Scout retreat.

McGivney Council 7025.

Troop 216 was founded in January 1980, after a local Scout with a disability was unable to complete his Eagle Scout requirement by the standard age of 18. Matthew McClain, on the other hand, was given as long as needed to achieve this rank. Conlon said that the Knights recognize the importance of making opportunities available to this special coalition of Scouts.

“There aren’t a lot of activities that people with these disabilities can get into. It’s not like you and me getting in a car and driving to an activity,” he explained. w w w. ko f c .o r g

And yet, as McClain has illustrated so well, the troop’s contributions can be considerable. McClain oversaw upgrades to the Columbian center that included refurbishing walkways, planting bushes, trees and grass, painting, power washing and removing debris. The work was done with the assistance of McClain’s fellow troop members and other local Scouting troops.

McClain acknowledged that “it took time” to earn his Eagle award, but was pleased with the project’s success.

SERVING THE COMMON GOOD New to the K of C-Scouting collaboration is St. Aloysius Council 14094 in Shandon, Ohio. The Cincinnati-area council served as the primary organizer of a combined spaghetti dinner fundraiser with Boy Scout Troop 935 in July 2008. The Knights prepared and cooked the meal, while Scouts served food and drinks, and cleaned up. The dinner raised nearly $1,000, which was split equally between the two groups, marking a successful firsttime venture.

Sam Carnley (left) of Prince of Peace Council 11537 in Hoover, Ala., Perhaps more imporpresents Brody Allison with a certificate in recognition of his tantly, though, is the attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Also pictured is Brody’s father, Knights’ positive influence Sam, both of whom are active members of Council 11537.

MANY CHANNELS OF SUPPORT on Scouts’ personal growth.

According to Ed Gargiulo, “Everybody said it was a “I’ve always been a believer that if good experience for them,” explained past national chair of NCCS, approximately 800 K of C councils have a boy wants to go somewhere, he Ted Hoerstmann of Council 14094. “I served as charter partners for some should not be held back by money,” think the Knights are just good mentors for the Scouts.”

1,400 Scout units. As of 2007, these said Ryan.

Similarly, Santa Maria Council Ryan believes that the Knights units represent about 35,000 Scouts and 15,700 adult leaders. The two 4999 in North Palm Beach, Fla., spon- and Scouts naturally complement organizations also joined forces for an sors a “No Scout Left Behind” pro- each other, based on their devotion to initiative beginning in 2006 to pro- gram. The initiative assists Cub Scout developing leadership skills.

“I’ve heard people tell me, and I’ve mote formation of new Scouting units families from Pack 712 who struggle to afford supplies and fees. seen this myself, that you get a lot across the United States.

“If you’re an active pack like we more training in management and Among these associations are more than 150 units with K of C rela- are, we’re doing things three week- leadership in Scouts than you do in tionships dating back 50 years or ends out of the month — and these the corporate world,” Ryan said. He more. A sterling example of that things cost money,” explained added that the faith-based setting has longevity exists in Keller, Texas, Michael Redavid, who is a member of had significant long-term effects as 4999 and assistant well. Five priests and religious have where Msgr. Robert M. Nolan Council Council 759 was instrumental in Cubmaster for Pack 712. “In order to emerged from Troop 32, and nine developing the first Catholic-spon- get promoted to the next rank, there young men affiliated with the troop have gone on to serve their councils as sored BSA units in the Fort Worth are certain activities you must do.” grand knights. area in the late 1920s. Carrying forth from those early years is the council’s And yet, Knights do not view ‘I’ve seen this myself: ongoing sponsorship of Boy Scout Scouting as an exclusive club limited Troop 32 — which, according to to Catholics. Rather, all young men You get a lot more Assistant Scoutmaster John Ryan, are encouraged to join, regardless of training in management their physical or mental ability, ethnumbers some 160 boys and 120 adults today. nic background, financial status or and leadership in Ryan, who is also a member of religious affiliation.

Council 759 and serves as the NCCS “This council [is] just out there Scouts than you do in membership chairman for the trying to get the youth of the commuDiocese of Fort Worth, orchestrated a nity and their families together doing the corporate world.’ fundraising effort so boys with finansomething,” said Redavid. “All the shapes and sizes and colors — all the cial needs could take a one-week pilRedavid added that these life expe- kids are equal.” ■ grimage to local religious sites and earn their Ad Altare Dei (“To the riences can result in immensely posiMike Latona is a staff writer for the Catholic Altar of God”) religious emblems. tive paybacks for the Scouts. “You Courier, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Ryan raised more than $1,000 by con- can’t measure it in dollars and cents,” Rochester, and a member of Our Lady of the Cenacle Council 3892 in Greece, N.Y. tacting current and former council he explained. members. c o l u m b i a / f e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 21

An Oasis

of Faith Celebrating 80 years, St. John’s Catholic Newman Center provides spiritual support at a secular university

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It is the largest Newman Center in the United States, and it would never have existed without help from the Knights of Columbus.

St. John’s Catholic Newman Center (SJCNC) in Champaign, Ill., is home to thousands of Catholic students at the University of Illinois.

Celebrating its 80th year, the center — located prominently on the Big Ten university’s campus — has been praised by students, staff and clergy alike for the refuge it provides. Many, like Tristen Pisarczyk, immediately credit the Knights for their help in making it a reality.

“Our start at the Newman Center was because of the Knights,” said Pisarczyk, who serves as director of operations at Newman Hall. “They gave $50,000 in the early 1900s to serve the Catholic students at U of I. In 1924, they bought the property with $200,000 and helped fund the original complex we have here now.”

PAYING STRONG DIVIDENDS The Knights’ initial investment grew beyond expectations. St. John’s holds an honored place among Newman Centers and offers a wealth of options for eager students seeking to enhance their spirituality. There are hundreds of public colleges and universities in the United States, but St. John’s is the only Newman Center that offers residential housing.

Last September, the SJCNC community celebrated the dedication of a $40 million expansion, which included an additional residential facility featuring a dining area, space for

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study and socializing, and a fitness center. Extensive remodeling and an expanded library were also among the center’s enhancements.

“We have a unique opportunity to have dorms where 600 students live,” Pisarczyk explained. Although St. John’s is among other private certified housing on campus, its population outnumbers all of the other faithbased living arrangements combined.

Fifty percent of the students living at Newman Hall are freshman.

Retention rates are higher than anywhere else on campus. Many upperclassmen continue to board for the duration of their college stay, leaving some students on a waiting list.

“People want to stay here and be a part of this,” Pisarczyk said.

The wealth of resources now available to students is staggering, thanks to a vision that was launched

by Msgr. Stuart Swetland when he began his ministry as director of St. John’s in 1997.

The Knights are ‘willing to do what is necessary at St. John’s and, without a doubt, are among the most important parishioners.’

“We are there, as Catholics, so we can help students make important life decisions,” he explained. “We found that if we keep students during their college years, they’re more like-

The Mass of Dedication of Blessing in St. John's Catholic Chapel at the University of Illinois Sept. 8, 2008

ly to remain involved in the Church once they graduate. If we lose them in college, there’s no doubt we can lose them forever.”

Using traditional means, St. John’s responds to the spiritual needs of students in an extraordinary way.

“We reach out to 10,000 students on campus,” Pisarczyk said. “We offer daily Mass, six Sunday Masses and adoration. The interest is certainly there, and for our students staying in the residence halls, the chapel is open 24/7. It’s so popular that it’s very rare to go into the chapel at any time and not see someone taking advantage of it.”

FORMED, DEDICATED, PRESENT At SJCNC, there are also a number of student groups, among which Illini Council 2782 remains a strong presence. The Knights of Columbus continues to be an example at the Newman Center both in the public eye and behind the scenes.

“St. John’s has a long connection with the Knights,” Pisarczyk explained. “In 1937, we formed the first college council at a public university and we still have a very active council.”

According to Msgr. Swetland, Knights were not only responsible for the foundation of the university’s Newman Center, but they have also contributed to its “ongoing spiritual need.” The Order gave the university its first official chaplain, Father John O’Brien, in 1915, and has been involved in the Catholic community there ever since. w w w. ko f c .o r g

The formal ribbon cutting following renovations at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center: (from left) SJCNC Trustees Bill and Jo Ellen Zerrusen, University of Illinois President B. Joseph White, SJCNC Director Father Greg Ketcham, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria, Chaplain Emeritus Msgr. Edward Duncan, SJCNC Alumnus Joe Kaiser, and student Sara Maletta.

“The Knights were always well formed, dedicated and present,” said Msgr. Swetland. “They’re willing to do what is necessary to help the mission at St. John’s and, without a doubt, are among the most important parishioners.”

Each year, approximately 20 new recruits join Council 2782, which counts both Pisarczyk and Msgr.

Swetland among its members. The University of Illinois Knights were even named Outstanding College Council at the 2004 College Council Conference.

Another critical success on the campus is the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).

Founded in 1998, FOCUS is a national outreach to both secular and Catholic universities. At St. John’s, there are eight FOCUS missionaries who lead Bible studies and mentor young Catholics looking to grow in their faith.

Brendan Heffron, a University of Illinois alumnus and a member of Naperville Council 1369, credits his spiritual growth largely to his experience at St. John’s.

“Bible studies and fellowship strengthened me, especially through the further instruction of the Bible,” Heffron explained. “The existence of a young, dynamic program such as FOCUS is encouraging.”

Meanwhile, involvement in the Knights allows students to actively witness to their faith in the greater community. “Their biggest push is evangelization, and they achieve this PHOTOS: COURTESY ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER

by working with local groups and servicing soup kitchens,” recalled Heffron. Also among the council’s activities is an annual fund drive held outside Memorial Stadium to benefit people with intellectual disabilities.

While the college Knights donate money, they focus more on donating time, Heffron said. “That makes a more resounding impact than just giving a check and ending it there.”

‘Our mission statement talked about radiating Jesus Christ in word and sacrament.’

Adding to the Newman Center’s wealth are spiritual retreats and lectures by distinguished speakers. The most prominent retreat program, Koinonia, has four retreats each school year and will host its 100th retreat this month.

RADIATING CHRIST Before leaving SJCNC in 2006 to serve at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., Msgr. Swetland developed the center’s focus on faith formation in many ways. This included educational and social programs, the reverent celebration of the Mass, and efforts to live one’s faith with clarity and joy. “Our mission statement talked about radiating Jesus Christ in word and sacrament,” he said. “Christ is the ultimate example.”

By all accounts, this mission is bearing fruit. In the last 11 years alone, approximately 90 graduates of the University of Illinois have gone on to enter seminary or religious life.

According to Heffron, the very presence of “good, strong, intelligent Catholic men” like Msgr. Swetland and other dynamic priests at SJCNC is enough to strengthen students’ faith.

As such, the work of the new evangelization demands an unending commitment to the spiritual welfare of both current students and those who have yet to take their first step on campus. This fact is underscored

by Pisarczyk’s recruitment visits to Catholic high schools.

“Our job on these trips is to raise awareness and, of course, to see students become part of the U of I Catholic community,” Pisarczyk said. “We are the largest Newman Center in the country. We will give them the resources to pursue their spiritual quest.”

Indeed, the resources at St. John’s continue to expand. Since 2001, the center has been home to the Institute of Catholic Thought, a Catholic academic program that offers students the opportunity to enroll in credit and non-credit courses. Providing Catholic education in a secular environment, the institute joined Newman Hall and St. John’s Catholic Chapel to become one of the three pillars of SJCNC. According to Msgr. Swetland, young people are attracted to the St. John’s Center because they have a thirst for more, and they respond to the authentic proclamation of the Gospel.

“People in this generation are looking for the truth,” he said. “Very few people have been willing to stand up and say, ‘Here’s the truth that will give you joy and peace.’ We try to unapologetically give them the truth.

They’re not finding it in other sources because it’s not there. It is found in Jesus Christ.”

For more information about St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, visit www.sjcnc.org. ■ Nate Brown is a freelance writer from Aurora, Ill., where he is a member of Robert H. Weaver Council 12005.

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REFLECTION

THE FLOWERS OF OUR LADY The golden flowers in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe point toward a civilization of love, founded in Jesus Christ

BY MSGR. EDUARDO CHÁVEZ SÁNCHEZ

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the second of a series of articles by Father Eduardo Chávez in anticipation of the Knights’ first ever international Marian Congress.The congress, devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe, will take place Aug. 6-8 following the 127th Supreme Convention in Phoenix. For more information, visit www.guadalupefestival.org.

symbols — the heart and blood — represent life, which belongs to and has its origin in God. Thus, this image of the flower-hill-temple and stem-river is, at the same time, communicates a message about life, a life connected vitally to God. If we further observe the interior of this image, we discover a face, complete with eyes, nose and n the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on St. Juan mouth. An indigenous concept of the “wise man” Diego’s tilma, nine golden flowers can be seen on was one who was capable of putting a Our Lady’s mantle. First, one human face in the heart of another should bear in mind that the indigeperson. In other words, the wise man nous people of Mexico held a special is capable of humanizing the heart of reverence for flowers, because a beauhis fellow man — giving him a heart tiful flower signified the continuation that knows how to love. of life. If we carefully examine one of This brings to mind what sacred these flowers, we see that there is a Scripture tells us about God’s capacity small series of blooms that encircle it. to convert a stony heart into a heart of Since the indigenous people expressed flesh. The prophet Ezekiel, for “truth” as “flower and song,” this instance, writes: “I will give them a image on Our Lady’s mantle would be new heart and put a new spirit within perceived as a symbol of pure truth. If them; I will remove the stony heart we take yet a closer look, we can trace from their bodies, and replace it with a the stem of the flower’s root to Our natural heart, so that they will live Lady’s mantle full of stars. This means according to my statutes, and observe that this beautiful flower represents a and carry out my ordinances; thus truth of celestial origins. they shall be my people and I will be When comparing this flower with their God” (Ezekiel 11:19-20). the pictographic writing, or glyphs, in The “golden flowers” in the image of We can now assemble the differindigenous codices, we can better Our Lady of Guadalupe signified many understand the message. The part that levels of meaning to the indigenous ent aspects of this drawing and come a bit closer to its fuller significance in would properly be the blossom is people of Mexico. the Christian context. In this gift of drawn in the form of the glyph for Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image, her “hill,” and the stem part is presented son Jesus Christ is presented in her immaculate like the glyph for “river.” This combination, “hillwomb surrounded by symbols of a new civilization water,” for the indigenous people represented the of love. This civilization consists of a people who are concept of civilization. full of God’s truth and full of life, rooted in heaven.

Likewise, this “hill” calls to mind a temple, repAs a “people with a mission,” we become aware of resenting the highest point of encounter between our true vocation, our calling from God, to build God and man. For the indigenous people, a temple through Christ and for Christ a culture of life and a was considered a “sacred hill,” which took the form civilization of love. ■ of a pyramid.

There is yet more to be discovered from this goldMonsignor Eduardo Chávez Sánchez is postulator for the cause of en flower. It addition to its three-fold meaning as St. Juan Diego. He is the author of Our Lady of Guadalupe and flower, hill and temple, it also takes the form of a St. Juan Diego: The Historical Evidence (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006) and a member of Council 14138 at the Basilica of Our Lady of heart when the glyph is viewed upside down. And Guadalupe in Mexico City. the stem, or river, takes the form of arteries. These

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KNIGHTS

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ACTION

Reports from Councils, Assemblies and Columbian Squires Circles

Soldier Support Our Lady of the Hills Council 5959 in Martinsville, N.J., regularly sends care packages to U.S. troops serving overseas. Knights have solicited donations from several corporations and shipped hundreds of packages over the past several years.

Prayer Cards La Crosse (Wis.) Council 839 designed prayer cards to encourage nonpracticing Catholics to return to the Church. The council has distributed more than 7,000 cards to date.

Visiting Elders

Members of the Knights of Columbus Philadelphia Chapter stand with a restored bronze plaque that was placed outside St. Joseph Church. The original plaque was dedicated on Oct. 4, 1908, in the presence of Archbishop Diomede A. Falconio, then-apostolic delegate to the United States. Over the years, though, the plaque became dirty and weathered.

Knights helped restore and rededicate the plaque for its 100th anniversary.

Wheelchair Sunday

School Landscaping

Msgr. Corr Council 3571 in Pasadena, Calif., hosted “Wheelchair Sunday” at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church to benefit the Wheelchair Foundation.

Knights and parishioners collected nearly $22,000 — enough for approximately 290 wheelchairs.

Through its partnership with the Knights, the Wheelchair Foundation has distributed or committed more than 710,000 wheelchairs to needy recipients worldwide.

Members of Fray Francisco Garces Council 3855 in Glendale, Ariz., landscaped the garden at the Children’s Center for Neurodevelopmental Studies. Knights filled 40 trash bags with harmful weeds and redesigned the entire garden. The center uses the outdoor space for therapy sessions.

Members of San Pablo Apostol Council 3723 in Monclova, Mexico Northeast, volunteered at a local retirement home, where they visited patients and helped distribute the afternoon meal. Knights also cleaned the facility in advance of Grandparents Day (El Festejo del Dìa del Abuelo).

Sanding Done Members of Our Lady of Grace Council 13243 in Palm Bay, Fla., sanded the overhead wooden walkways and entryway to their parish, preparing the areas for professional staining. Knights also painted the interior of the parish activity center.

Christian Ed Center Santa Maria Council 4999 in North Palm Beach, Fla., donated $2,000 to the R. J. Hendley Christian Education Center. Past Grand Knight Christy Gurto, who also sits on the school’s board of directors, donated an additional $1,500 for new carpeting and paint.

A Moving Memorial

Members of Dallas Council 799 and their wives prepare dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

Knights regularly provide volunteer manpower for the organization and its programs.

Valencia Council 80 in Milford, Mass., raised $5,000 to purchase a new stained glass window at St. Mary of the Assumption Church. The window is dedicated to deceased Knights. Bishop Daniel P. Riley of Worcester, who also serves as the Massachusetts state chaplain, blessed the window at the dedication ceremony.

Ray Dion of Immaculate Heart of Mary Council 9968 in Lexington Park, Md., leads a living rosary along with his grandchildren, Tyler and Kasey. Knights sponsored a living rosary for each of three local religious education classes.

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ON-TARGET RECRUITING

T

Members of St. John’s Holy Family Council 10335 in Minden, Neb., erect a new sign for their parish. Knights and parishioners placed several new signs around the community that list the church location and Mass times.

Adopt-A-Highway Members of Bishop Eldon B. Schuster Council 1493 in Great Falls, Mont., and their families cleaned their stretch of the council’s adopted highway. Knights oversee a two-mile stretch of I-15 that they clean three times each year.

Center Donation Father John J. O’Leary Council 8224 in Dallas, Pa., donated $3,000 to St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton. The center provides residential, community and home-based services to people with intellectual disabilities.

Helping Nigeria Kingston (N.Y.) Council 275 responded to a plea for medical equipment for Nigeria made by Father Joseph Mali of St. Mary’s Church. Knights helped obtain tools from several local hospitals, including X-ray equipment, walkers and hospital beds. The council also donated $500 to the Wurogayandi Water Project, which funded a well for another Nigerian community.

Exercise for Therapy Mother of Good Counsel Council 1078 in Andover, Mass., donated $48,300 to the Professional Center for Child Development (PCCD).

The money was raised during the council’s annual fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities and will fund a therapeutic exercise area for students.

26

he tremendous charitable work the Order conducts annually is a by-product of continual membership growth. Members raise funds for the needy, volunteer their time and support a wide range of programs. This section of “Knights in Action” highlights those members who have made a concerted effort to grow the Order.

St. Stephen Council 12458 in Bentonville, Ark., was chartered in 1999 with 39 members but had only grown to a roster of 59 by June 2006. When Godwal “Ed” Viera was elected grand knight, he stated his intention to double council membership within two years. His idea was met with skepticism. Viera, however, was not deterred, and by April 2008, the council had exceeded 120 members.

To help reach this goal, Viera and his Knights began hosting a bi-monthly “Men’s Night Out” at local restaurants. These social events gave prospective candidates and Knights the opportunity to meet and interact outside of a parish setting.

“Take the initiative to speak to the new men in the parish, especially the young fathers,” said Viera. “Do not get discouraged if people say they do not want to join.

The same person may want to join later, so say hello every time you see him.”

Once he has the prospect’s attention, Viera likes “to emphasize the importance of being a good role model to their [children]” and that membership “offers men the opportunity to serve the parish, the Church and the entire community....”

Viera, who is credited with proposing 51 new members himself, stresses the need to attract younger members to the Order.

“We have a very active youth program and we invite its members to join once they turn 18,” he explained. “Another aspect that our council has implemented is that as long as a Knight is a full-time student, he does not pay membership dues.

This is also done for Knights who are on active duty with the military.”

It is also important for the community and the parish to know that the council is active, according to Viera.

“Try to put something in the bulletin every week,” he added. “Try to have a wide variety of activities for the entire parish.”

Currently, Viera and a few other Hispanic Knights in northwest Arkansas are holding exemplifications in Spanish and establishing new councils.

“Look at recent arrivals to the United States the same as the Irish immigrants who arrived 125 years ago, who struggled to make ends meet, who had to take the worst jobs with minimal pay, who looked to the Catholic Church as their only stability,” said Viera. “They needed someone’s assistance and that someone was Father Michael J. McGivney.”

Mercy Home

Classic Roadster

St. Anastasia Council 5911 in Douglaston, N.Y., donated $2,000 to the Sisters of Mercy, who run a retirement home in Dallas, Pa., for retired religious.

Pope John Paul I Council 9222 in St. Catharine’s, Ont., sold raffle tickets for a 1967 Chevrolet El Camino to benefit the Stabler Residential Hospice Centre. Sales exceeded $9,900.

Church Cleaning St. Vincent Sambag Council 7204 in Cebu City, Visayas, cleaned its parish in preparation for a novena in honor of St. Francis Assisi.

Knights dusted the pews and ceiling of the church.

Dinner-Dance Church of the Visitation Council 13902 in Lott, Texas, held a dinnerdance and silent auction that raised more than $7,000 for the council’s charitable fund.

Field of Dreams Villa Marie Council 6342 in Pomona, N.J., provides financial aid and volunteer manpower to Field of Dreams, a baseball program for people with intellectual disabilities.

Swing Away!

Immaculate Conception Council 3491 in Groves, Texas, hosted a golf tournament that raised $8,000 for ARC. w w w. ko f c .o r g

TOP LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA REGISTER, DIOCESE OF LINCOLN

S P OT L I G H T O N . . .

CHURCH

A

n occasional series about Knights and Squires working tirelessly toward the same noble goals. This month we spotlight Church activities.

• St. Peter’s Council 10351 in Honey Brook, Pa., donated $10,000 to its parish building fund and purchased a Ten Commandments monument for the church grounds.

• St. John Francis Regis Council 13793 in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., sponsored a parish picnic that raised more than $2,920 for charity.

• Members of St. Isidore Council 10970 in Ilolio, Visayas, landscaped their parish grounds and erected a sign with a K of C emblem in front of the church.

• Rev. John A. Fleming Council 2533 in Glastonbury, Conn., donated a new ciborium to Blessed Sacrament Church.

• Ascension Council 10932 in Overland Park, Kan., donated $30,000 to Church of the Ascension for use in expanding the church kitchen.

• Joseph J. Gorman Council 5091 in Syosset, N.Y., hosted a parish festival that raised more than $25,000 for St. Edward the Confessor Church.

• Uvalde (Texas) Council 3245 awarded scholarships to four local seminarians.

• St. Joseph Council 12941 in Biddeford, Maine, repaired the kneelers at their parish, providing all materials and volunteer manpower for the project.

• Thomas Dongan Council 1251 in Brooklyn, N.Y., held a golf tournament to benefit Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhust.

The event raised nearly $6,200.

Members of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Council 2952 in Hammond, La., along with volunteers from Women’s Life Ministries, prepare for a pro-life rally in their community.

Council 2952 sponsored the event, which included a free breakfast for all attendees. Knights also donated the pictured cross (far left), which Women’s Life Ministries use for their work.

Medical Benefit

Clergy Appreciation

St. Javier Council 9828 in Weedon, Que., held a pig roast to benefit the Livernoche family. Eric Livernoche has muscular dystrophy, and his wife, Marjolaine, has cancer. The event raised $5,000 to offset the family’s medical expenses.

Cardinal John Dearden Council 744 in Mount Clemens, Mich., held its annual clergy appreciation dinner. More than 60 guests, including seven active and retired priests, attended the event.

A Desert Haven St. Leonard Murialdo Council 10667 in Quartz Hill, Calif., donated $2,475 to Desert Haven Enterprises, an organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities find employment through vocational training, job placement and supportive services.

Serving Soup Members of Light of Christ Council 8726 in Sinking Spring, Pa., volunteered at the Kennedy House Soup Kitchen. Knights served more than 250 meals to needy members of the community.

ARC Support St. Sylvester’s Council 13277 in Navarre, Fla., donated more than $2,700 each to ARC of Santa Rosa and to Sacred Heart Cathedral School. Both organizations provide educational training and aid to people with intellectual disabilities.

Benignit Sales St. Augustin Council 14288 in Panabo City, Mindanao, sold benignit (a dish of steamed fruits and vegetables) to benefit its parish.

Bucks for Bytes Clonmel-Schulte (Kan.) Council 3114 donated $1,000 to theology student Daniel Duling for the purchase of a new laptop computer.

Duling is a student as Mount St. Mary Seminary in Maryland.

Seminarian Fund Hail, Holy Mary Assembly in Kokomo, Ind., sponsored a talk and fundraiser to benefit the Diocese of Lafayette vocations fund. Father Ronald Reider delivered a lecture on Father Solanus Casey, and the event raised $350.

Father Miguel Ceja and Daniel Hernandez of Rev. Herbert Joseph Cook Council 9497 in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., inspect the facer boards for an eight-room education center at St. Elizabeth Church. The council contributed $18,000 toward the project, in addition to volunteer manpower. Knights added new flooring, plumbing, paint and a roof to the center, which will serve the parish’s religious education classes.

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Mission Stole Santa Maria Council 553 in South Bend, Ind., donated a new stole to Father Ray Likupe, an African priest who returned to his native Malawi after serving in South Bend for nine years. The stole was made in Guadalupe, Mexico, and features an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Members of Blessed Pope John XXIII Council 13624 in Fort Myers, Fla., unload care packages for patients at the Bay Pines Veterans Hospital. Knights collected care items and toiletries at their parish, and delivered three truckloads of materials to the hospital.

Project Homefront Staten Island (N.Y.) Council 1662 hosted a fundraiser to benefit Project Homefront, a volunteer group that sends care packages to U.S. soldiers serving in the Middle East. The event raised $9,400.

Riders prepare for the annual Wednesday’s Child Motorcycle Ride hosted by Msgr. Newman Council 4665 in Shivley, Ky. More than 70 bikers raised approximately $1,900 for Wednesday’s Child, which helps facilitate the adoption of children with intellectual disabilities.

Caribbean Home

University Cleaning

Fund Drive

St. John’s Council 775 in McAlester, Okla., donated $2,600 to Food for the Poor Inc., which will used the funds to build a home for a needy family in the Caribbean. Knights raised the funds at a council-sponsored dinner dance.

St. Michael Council 7861 in Tolosa, Visayas, participated in a cleanliness drive at Visayas State University. Knights cleaned rubbish from the roof of the building complex, removed excess plants and even eliminated dangerous snakes that were nesting in the area.

Father Dick Allen Council 10926 in New Lenox, N.J., held its annual fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities. The event raised more than $18,500.

Grotto Dedication

Beefsteak Dinner

Father Pierre Richard Assembly in Kelowna, B.C., provided an honor guard for Bishop Eugene J. Cooney of Nelson when he dedicated a Guadalupe grotto at St. Charles Garnier Church. The grotto was built by Knight Gino Servedio, a member of St. Charles Garnier Council 9845. Bishop Cooney is a member of Nelson Council 1560.

St. Luke’s Council 5257 in Waldwick, N.J., held its annual beefsteak dinner at The Brownstone Restaurant in Paterson. More than 90 people attended the event, with proceeds going toward juvenile diabetes research.

Military Museum Houma (La.) Council 1317 donated $200 to the Houma Regional Military Museum.

Wellspring of Aid Knights in Ontario District 43 cosponsored a golf tournament to benefit the Chinguacousey WellSpring Foundation. The event raised $12,500 for the organization, which serves as a cancer resource center for the Peel region.

Golf Tournament Father Michael J. McGivney Assembly in Marieville, Que., held a golf tournament that raised more than $12,800 for Fabrique de Marieville, a local nonprofit organization.

On Par Holy Family Council 6099 in Chattanooga, Tenn., held its annual golf tournament, which raised $10,065 for the council’s scholarship fund.

Horseshoe Tournament Harry L. Harper Council 6606 in Broken Arrow, Okla., held its annual horseshoe tournament.

More than 72 teams participated, and the event raised about $4,200 for local seminarians and charitable organizations.

Statue Restoration Robert Vogel and Patrick Sweeny of Mary, Gate of Heaven Council 10194 in Myerstown, Pa., pack boxes that were shipped to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Knights collected 50 boxes full of snacks and personal care items for the troops.

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Marlette (Mich.) Council 7337 restored a statue of St. Vincent de Paul that resides at St. Elizabeth Church. Knights built a new base for the statue, which is more than 100 years old, and added a plaque that describes the life and works of St. Vincent.

Members of Kingston (N.Y.) Council 275 install a new door at the home of a soldier deployed in Iraq. Council 275 adopted the soldier’s household and perform repairs and maintenance there while he is away. Pictured (from left) are: John Weber, Attilio Contini, Dick Veeh and John Sullivan.

w w w. k o f c .o r g BOTTOM LEFT: JIM ZENGERIE/LEBANON DAILY NEWS

New Sign Infant Mary Council 4964 in Citrus Heights, Calif., donated $5,000 toward the purchase of a new lighted sign at Holy Family Church. The sign features Mass times and other parish information.

Flag Presentation Members of St. Vincent Council 7204 in Cebu City, Visayas, lead parishioners in a living rosary at their parish. Blue and white balloons representing rosary beads were released into the air when the event was over.

Jason Hurt, a member of Father Paul Sutter Council 4858 in Sullivan, Mo., presented his council with a U.S. flag upon his return from Iraq. Hurt served overseas for one year, and the flag was used on his patrol boat, which was stationed in the Gulf of Oman.

Give Me Light

Helping a Brother

Assumption Council 10545 in Keyser, W.Va., purchased 12 streetlights that the city had retired and placed them in St. Thomas Cemetery. Knights refurbished the lights and built a base for each one.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus Council 13548 in Antipolo City, Luzon, hosted a medical mission prior to its annual parish festival.

More than 140 patients received complimentary health screenings from volunteer doctors.

The Good Shepherd Council 10816 in Stephenville, Texas, came to the aid of a brother Knight who had his leg amputated due to complications from muscular degeneration. John Webb hadn’t yet been discharged from the hospital when the council began plans to add a handicapaccessible bathroom and wheelchair ramp to Webb’s home.

Knights raised $4,600 for the project and collected an additional $4,600 from the community. Knights also provided more than 300 volunteer hours to finish the job.

Charitable Activities

Lunch Time!

Chartiers Council 875 in Crafton, Pa., raised more than $1,400 during its annual fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities. The council also held a golf tournament that raised an additional $2,800 for charity.

Mother Teresa Council 12696 in Tucson, Ariz., donated $500 to St. Augustine High School for the purchase of new tables and chairs for the school cafeteria.

Medical Mission

NET Worth Wright-Hennepin Council 4174 in St. Michael, Minn., hosted a tractor raffle and German festival dinner to raise money for NET Ministries, an international youth evangelization program. Both events raised more than $4,500 for the St. Michael NET team.

Father Kevin Johnson, a member of St. Louis the Crusader Council 12929 in Tallahassee, Fla., operates the backhoe during a groundbreaking ceremony at St. Louis the Crusader Church. Council 12929 provided food for the event, which celebrated the construction of a new parish hall.

Parish Festival More than 100 members of Scott A. MacDonald Council 8512 in North Richland Hills, Texas, volunteered at a parish festival hosted by St. John the Apostle Church. Knights set up, cleaned and cooked for the event.

Statue Dedication Father Peter Whelan Assembly in Albany, Ga., provided an honor guard when a new statue of the Virgin Mary was erected at its parish. The statue was purchased

by Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke Council 3607 and its ladies’ auxiliary. Local Girl Scouts landscaped the area around the statue.

Pig Roast Members of Mark G. Thompson Assembly in Vallejo, Calif., look on as Father Leon Juchniewicz blesses the new “Garden of the Innocent” at St. Basil the Great Church. The assembly, along with St. Basil the Great Council 13271, provided partial funding for the garden, which is dedicated to children who died in infancy or childbirth.

Blessed Trinity Council 12274 and Blessed Trinity Circle 5146, both in Greer, S.C., co-hosted their annual pig roast at Blessed Trinity Church.

Hole in One Chesapeake (Va.) Council 8240 hosted a golf tournament to benefit KOVAR, an organization that provides job training for people with intellectual disabilities.

Forest Gager and Mike Ruzanka of Bishop Kenny Council 1951 in Jacksonville, Fla., stand with the new bookcases they built for Sister Beverly and Sister Diane of Holy Rosary School. Knights built nine new bookcases to replace ones that were either too small or had fallen into disrepair.

Members of North Jacksonville Council 5407 also contributed to the project.

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Expanding Care Saint Teresa Council 9425 in Winnipeg, Man., donated $20,000 to Seven Oaks General Hospital.

The funds are earmarked for the expansion of the hospital’s emergency department.

Rising Stars

Parishioners and locals shop for mums during a sale hosted by Our Lady of Fatima Council 4122 in Rockville, Conn. Knights sponsor the sale each year, funds from which are used to support the council’s Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) scholarship fund.

Ministry Gala

Fund Drive

Norman (Okla.) Council 8523 sponsored a table at the St. Thomas More University Campus Ministry Gala. Knights also helped plan the event, which raised $38,000 for the school’s campus ministry program.

St. Padre Pio Circle 4992 in Henderson, Nev., aided St. Francis of Assisi Council 13456 during the Knights’ annual fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities.

Seven Squires collected $370 during their shift.

Chili Cook Off Hanford (Calif.) Council 2343 participated in the Kings County Special Olympics Chili Cook-Off. Knights raised $400 for Special Olympics.

Blood Drive Cardinal John Dearden Council 744 in Mount Clemens, Mich., hosted a Red Cross blood drive that netted 88 units of viable blood.

Living Rosary Thomas D. Reilly Sr. Council 10668 in Hilton Head Island, S.C., hosted a living rosary for students at St. Francis School.

Adopted Roads Credit Valley Council 8661 in Streetsville, Ont., adopted two major roads in its community.

Knights maintain both areas and remove trash there several times each year.

Having A Ball!

The Knights of Columbus Bishop Brzana Chapter in Ogdensburg, N.Y., donated $900 to the Carthage Augustinian Academy. Money for the donation was raised at the chapter’s annual Fourth Degree Ball.

New Flag Pole Tecumseh (Mich.) Council 9937 purchased a new flagpole for the St. Elizabeth Church parish center.

In addition, Knights landscaped the area around the pole. Local veterans from the American Legion and the VFW attended the pole’s dedication ceremony.

Members of Mattoon (Ill.) Assembly stand with a Marian Shrine that was erected at the Newman Center at Eastern Illinois University. Eastern Illinois University Council 8713 in Charleston helped clear space for the shrine, which is open to both students and members of the surrounding community.

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Mortgage Burning Father Jeremiah Murphy Council 6435 in House Springs, Mo., donated $36,000 to Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church. The funds were presented at a mortgage-burning ceremony to celebrate the church becoming debt-free.

Porter Robinson Council 9787 in Lebanon, Tenn., donated $1,000 to Southern STARRS (Special Therapeutic Recreational Riding Students), a horseback riding program for people with intellectual disabilities. Knights also volunteer with STARRS, helping to maintain the organization’s barn and arena.

New Vestments St. Basil Council 13800 in Kimberton, Pa., donated $4,317 to purchase new vestments at its parish. The vestments were made by the Orthodox Sisters of the Convent of St. Elizabeth in Etna, Calif.

Scouts Event Christopher Council 3182 in Claymont, Del., hosted a religious afternoon for Cub Scout Pack 61 and their families. Attendees enjoyed food, crafts and a talk about the Ten Commandments.

Scouts were also presented with the religious emblems that they’ve earned so far.

Deaf Ministry The Texas State Council donated $67,710 to the Archdiocese of San Antonio for its deaf and hard-ofhearing ministry.

Drug Awareness Seminar Jesus, Lord of Divine Mercy Council 12757 in Sañta Cruz, Luzon, co-hosted a drug awareness seminar for young people with the Philippine National Police Crime Squad. Knights, parishioners and their families were all invited to attend the event.

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

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✃ c o l u m b i a / f e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 31

COLUMBIANISM BY DEGREES C HARITY [Left] Members of South Plainfield (N.J.) Council 6203 and their families stand ready to serve diners at the council’s “Don’t Cook on Friday” Italian Dinner.

Proceeds from the event were added to the council’s charitable fund. • St. Martin Council 7194 in Jefferson City, Mo., completed its pledge to St. Martin School with a donation of $50,000 to the school’s renovation and expansion fund. St. Martin School is undergoing a $3.5 million refurbishment, and school administrators asked the Knights to help meet their financial goal.

U NITY [Right] Members of St. Francis Xavier Council 10500 in Vancouver, B.C., unload new soil during a landscaping project at St. Francis Xavier School. Knights removed a layer of soil and dead vegetation, and installed a new irrigation system to support the project. Council members then planted new shrubs and flowers. • University of Eastern Philippines Council 5744 in Catarman, Visayas, led three groups of college students in a coastal cleanup activity. Knights and their peers collected trash from along the coastal boundary between Catarman and Mondragon.

F RATERNITY [Left] Joseph Sposito (left) and John McKenna of Msgr. John F. Callahan Council 3600 in West Hartford, Conn., along with their children, collect donations outside a local supermarket during the council’s annual fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities. Five councils from West Hartford joined forces to host their annual fund drive, which raised $1,100. • Members of St. John’s Council 1345 in Bergenfield, N.J., attended their annual spiritual retreat at the San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch. Knights were joined by Father John F. Murray, council chaplain and state father prior for the Columbian Squires.

P ATRIOTISM [Right] Members of Abram J. Ryan Assembly in Dallas, accept a framed print from the 345th Psychological Operations Company of the U.S. Army. The picture was presented in honor of the Knights’ ongoing assistance to the company during its deployment and return. • Lehigh Valley Assembly in Bethlehem, Pa., shipped 100 copies of Wartime Prayer Book to U.S. soldiers serving overseas. The book is published by the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation.

32

w w w. ko f c .o r g

THE KNIGHTS

OF COLUMBUS In service to One. In service to all.

Children at Casa de Cuna Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, wave flags in greeting as their new van arrives. St. Charles Council 7903 in Imperial Beach, Calif., donated the used van to the nuns who run the orphanage after discovering that the facility had no permanent means of transportation.

Building a better world one council at a time.

Every day, Knights all over the world are given opportunities to make a difference. Whether it’s through community service, raising money for their parish or prayer. We celebrate each and every Knight for his strength, his compassion and his dedication to building a better world.

To be featured here, send your council’s “Knights in Action” photo as well as its description to: Columbia, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 or e-mail: columbia@kofc.org.

‘I WANTED THE STRENGTH TO BE WHOEVER GOD MADE ME TO BE AND TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS OF ME’

The possibility that I might have a vocation to the priesthood

priest, I will seek to serve the Body of Christ sacramentally; I

was brought to my attention soon after high school. Thankfully,

will strive to build up an active community; and I will try to be

my parents, family, friends and classmates were supportive and

a faithful witness to the truth of Jesus Christ.

encouraging. But I still had doubts, worrying that I was being prideful in thinking that I might be called to be a priest. In

One of the things that sustained me in my early days of

prayer and with the counsel of others, however, I realized

vocational discernment was contact with my local church. It is

several things about myself: First, I wanted the strength to be

vital that we maintain unity in the faith. This is accomplished

whoever God made me to be and to do whatever He wants of

through active participation at Mass and other times of

me. Secondly, I realized that to be who God wants me to be

communal prayer, through involvement in the life of our

requires that I be in service to others. This was welcomed and

parish communities, and by belonging to fraternal Christian

comforting to me, because I had grown up in a family and a

organizations such as the Knights of Columbus. I recall my

community for which service to others was very important.

father’s great pride the night my brothers and I became Knights.

In our commitment to charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism

It is with the hope that I will serve the community of the faith-

in the Order, the life of the Church continues to be built up and

ful, the Church, that I pursue my vocation to the priesthood. As a

the Gospel proclaimed.

DAN QUINN St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore Holy Trinity Parish Diocese of Albany, New York

Keep the Faith Alive www.kofc.org

Please, do all you can to encourage priestly and religious vocations.

Your prayers and support make a difference.