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K N I G H T S O F C O L U M BU S
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COLUMBIA
Vocations Agent Ad Revised.qxp_Layout 1 1/15/16 10:35 AM Page 1
‘WORKING FOR THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE MY VOCATION OF SERVICE.’ WHEN MY FATHER passed away in 2004, I lost not only my friend but also my guide. I had just graduated from college and was newly married. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Shortly after, I met my general agent, George Spinelli, and things just clicked. I knew I was meant to be a field agent. My time in the Marine Corps had taught me to take care of those around me, and working for the Knights of Columbus allowed me to continue my vocation of service. My father’s memory stays with me and impacts my work. Whenever I meet with a widow of a brother Knight, I see my mother. And whenever I meet with someone who has lost a parent, I see myself, and I am better equipped to help, because I have experienced that same loss. That is what our job boils down to: taking care of those who have lost loved ones. I often tell people that I went from one fraternity in the Marine Corps to another in the Knights of Columbus. Though very different, they both teach us to take care of your fellow man, and it’s an incredible honor for me to be a part of both. Darin Reed Knights of Columbus Field Agent • Ellis, Kan.
For more information, visit kofc.org/careers or call 1-800-345-5632.
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS fEBRuARy 2016 ♦ VOluME 96 ♦ NuMBER 2
COLUMBIA
F E AT U R E S
The Origins of K of C Insurance
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Insuring Catholic families was at the heart of Venerable Michael McGivney’s founding vision. BY KEVIN COYNE
14 Strength in Numbers Brother Knights can be proud of the impressive record of the Order’s insurance program. BY THOMAS P. SMITH JR.
16 The $100 Billion Family The recent K of C Insurance milestone is about safeguarding the future of Catholic families. BY PATTI MAGUIRE ARMSTRONG
20 The Catholic Difference An interview with Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson about the distinctive mission of Knights of Columbus Insurance. BY COLUMBIA STAFF
24 A Passion for Service Top-performing insurance agents share how their faith inspires them to help brother Knights and their families.
ABOVE RIGHT: Knights of Columbus Multimedia Archives — OPPOSITE PAGE: Photo by Rose Wheat Photography
BY MARÍA DE LOURDES RUIZ SCAPERLANDA
In this Feb. 8, 1968, photo, the construction of the current Knights of Columbus Supreme Council headquarters is seen from the site of the previous headquarters in New Haven, Conn.
D E PA RT M E N T S 3
Building a better world
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The Order is expanding efforts to strengthen the domestic church and our parishes. BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON
Learning the faith, living the faith
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Pope Francis Meets With Supreme Knight, Supreme Chaplain • Majority of Americans Say Christians Face Genocide in Middle East
Our observance of Lent during the Year of Mercy can bring reconciliation and joy to our families. BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI
PLUS: Catholic Man of the Month
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Knights of Columbus News
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Knights in Action
Knights of Columbus News Supreme Knight, Church Leaders Call for U.S. to Name Christians as Victims of Genocide
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E D I TO R I A L
Our Founder’s Favors MORE THAN a century had passed since the death of Father Michael J. McGivney when, in 1997, the Archdiocese of Hartford formally opened his cause for canonization. Over the years, devotion to this humble parish priest grew along with admiration of his life. Of course, Father McGivney had always been celebrated as the founder of the Knights of Columbus, but until the canonization process began, many details about his life had been forgotten or left hidden in archives. The cause made a significant step forward in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree of heroic virtue that bestowed on Father McGivney the title Venerable Servant of God. Devotion to the Order’s founder has continued to increase, with thousands of favors attributed to his intercession. One purpose of reporting such favors is to help identify a verifiable miracle, which is required for beatification. Yet the majority of favors reported to the Father Michael J. McGivney Guild are not strictly of the “miracle” variety. Rather, they consist of graces received by people who have simply sought Father McGivney’s help amid everyday trials. Not surprisingly, many of the reported favors are connected to Father McGivney’s reputation as a diligent student, his ministry to the imprisoned and to those struggling with substance abuse, or his efforts to build up the faith in Catholic families. Most frequent, however, are reports from people who turned to Father McGivney while struggling to find employment, more
meaningful work or the means to pay their family’s expenses. And in many cases, their prayers were answered so clearly as to leave them no doubt of Father McGivney’s assistance. When his intercession is sought, it is little wonder that Venerable Michael McGivney should continue to assist families in this way. Shortly after the official founding of the Knights of Columbus, he wrote a letter stating that one of the principal purposes of the Order was “to unite men of our Faith ... that we may thereby gain strength to aid each other in time of sickness; to provide for decent burial, and to render pecuniary assistance to the families of deceased members.” Recognizing both the spiritual and material needs of families in his community, Father McGivney established the Knights of Columbus as a Catholic fraternal benefit society. For him, helping to meet these two needs went hand in hand, just as he practiced both the spiritual and corporal works of mercy in his ministry. The death benefit program for widows and orphans, so central to the Order’s mission from the beginning, has since developed into the Knights’ top-rated life insurance program. And the success of this enterprise, which has helped countless K of C families, bears the unmistakable imprint of Father McGivney’s assistance. This special issue of Columbia is dedicated to sharing that story.♦ ALTON J. PELOWSKI EDITOR
Featured Documentary: Father Michael McGivney Through archival footage and dramatic recreations, Father Michael McGivney chronicles the life and times of the young parish priest who founded the Knights of Columbus. Learn about how Father McGivney’s fervent faith, practical spirituality and innovative vision have touched the lives of millions throughout the world. The hour-long docudrama, which aired nationwide on public television, is now available on DVD for purchase at amazon.com. 2 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
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COLUMBIA PUBLISHER Knights of Columbus ________ SUPREME OFFICERS Carl A. Anderson SUPREME KNIGHT Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. SUPREME CHAPLAIN Logan T. Ludwig DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT Charles E. Maurer Jr. SUPREME SECRETARY Michael J. O’Connor SUPREME TREASURER John A. Marrella SUPREME ADVOCATE ________ EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski EDITOR Andrew J. Matt MANAGING EDITOR ________
Venerable Michael McGivney (1852-90) Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Intercede for Us. ________ HOW TO REACH US MAIL COLUMBIA 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510-3326 ADDRESS CHANGES 203-752-4210, option #3 PRAYER CARDS & SUPPLIES 203-752-4214 COLUMBIA INQUIRIES 203-752-4398 FAX 203-752-4109 K OF C CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-380-9995 E-MAIL columbia@kofc.org INTERNET kofc.org/columbia ________ Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. This means that an applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church.
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Copyright © 2016 All rights reserved ________ ON THE COVER A 1989 portrait of Venerable Michael McGivney, by American artist Richard W. Whitney, is shown adjacent to an image of St. Mary’s Church, the birthplace of the Knights of Columbus.
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BUILDING A BETTER WORLD
Families: Essential Agents of Evangelization The Order is expanding efforts to strengthen the domestic church and our parishes by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson ON DEC. 17, 2015, the supreme chaplain and I had the privilege of being received by Pope Francis in a private audience. Our meeting was an opportunity to discuss with the Holy Father many Knights of Columbus initiatives, including our new Building the Domestic Church While Strengthening Our Parish initiative. Pope Francis has frequently spoken about the role of the Christian family as a domestic church, and he expressed special interest in this initiative. In an address last summer he said, “Families are the domestic church, where Jesus grows; he grows in the love of spouses, he grows in the lives of children.” We could not find a better mission statement for our new initiative than these words. Our initiative also seeks to further goals set by the Synod of Bishops on the Family last October. The synod’s final document highlighted key elements of the Church’s ministry to families. First, the document stated that “the family needs to be rediscovered as the essential agent in the work of evangelization.” Second, it emphasized the need for “a thorough renewal of the Church’s pastoral practice in light of the Gospel of the Family and for replacing its current emphasis on individuals.” Third, it called for greater “pastoral accompaniment” to promote growth in the “spiritual life and solidarity” of families — through devotional practices, greater attention to Scripture, and the Eucharist celebrated for families. In other words, the synod called for precisely the type of pastoral programs
proposed by our Building the Domestic Church While Strengthening Our Parish initiative, which seeks to foster a new evangelization of the family and through the family. Last month in my column, I discussed how this initiative would provide a new emphasis on youth ministry within the parish as the key to our Order’s youth activities. This month, I take this opportunity to announce two practical programs within
These very practical, parish-based programs can help build a new pastoral accompaniment for families. our new initiative. I have asked our state deputies and state chaplains to implement the following: First, to incorporate into the opening Mass of every state convention held this fraternal year a simple prayer of family consecration to the Holy Family. Our goal will be to offer every Knights of Columbus family the opportunity for this consecration. As part of this program, we will ask every parish with an active Knights of Columbus presence to offer this prayer of family consecration during Masses celebrated on the first Sunday after Christmas, usually celebrated as the feast of the Holy Family. Second, to sponsor corporate communions for Knights of Columbus families on Father’s Day, and that as part of
the eucharistic celebration there be an opportunity for all married couples to affirm their wedding vows. Our hope is that these Knights of Columbus-sponsored programs of family consecration to the Holy Family and Father’s Day affirmation of wedding vows will become annual liturgical events throughout all the countries in which the Order is active. These two very practical, parish-based programs can help build a new pastoral accompaniment for families. The witness of millions of families consecrated to the Holy Family and millions of Catholic couples affirming their marriages under the leadership of Catholic husbands and fathers could truly be the beginning of a new evangelization of family life. In addition, councils should continue to sponsor our parish-based Holy Family Prayer program as well as our Building the Domestic Church: The Family Fully Alive monthly family devotional program. Both of these programs offer valuable resources for husbands and fathers seeking to assume greater responsibility in building the domestic church in their own homes. In the days ahead, more aspects of our initiative will be announced as we lead new efforts to strengthen and preserve our families and our parishes. Vivat Jesus!
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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH
Giving and Forgiving Our observance of Lent during the Year of Mercy can bring reconciliation and joy to our families by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori
LENT, IT SEEMS, has been given a bad friend. Perhaps you have neglected or in name. For example, following a friend’s some way offended him. Deep down, two-year recovery from a serious surgery, you are unhappy about this state of afhe said to me, “This whole thing has fairs but don’t quite know what to do been a long Lent.” about it. Then one day your friend shows There’s no doubt about it; Lent has up at your door, and once inside, without somber overtones. It is, after all, a period embarrassing or demeaning you, he of penitence, a time for coming to terms speaks words of friendship and forgivewith our sins. This is not easy, especially ness. Think of the gratitude you would since we tend to avoid thinking about feel from this encounter. our sins, or try to hide them, or make exTo a much greater degree, we squancuses for them. dered God’s friendship by sin and indifThrough this Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has given us all an opportunity to rehabilitate Lent. As the season of Lent begins He’s helping us think about it during this Year of Mercy, not as a time of misery but as a time of mercy. God does not devote some serious thought play our game of sanitizing or making excuses for our sins but and prayer to your family. comes to meet us with his merciful love. “When faced with the gravity of sin, ference, yet he did not turn away from God responds with the fullness of his us. Instead, he came “in person” by sendmercy,” writes Pope Francis (Misericor- ing his eternal Son into the world to bediae Vultus, 3). “Mercy will always be come one of us. In Jesus, God’s mercy greater than any sin, and no one can became visible, audible and tangible. In place limits on the love of God who is preaching the Good News, in healing the ever ready to forgive.” sick, and above all, in dying and rising to save us from our sins, Jesus opened the AN ENCOUNTER WITH MERCY door for us to the power and beauty of Lent is not a time for unhappiness but the Father’s mercy. It is a mercy that does rather a time for us to experience a new not confirm us in our sinfulness but springtime in our relationship with rather rescues us. In restoring our friendGod and others. In fact, the word ship with God and others, our dignity is “Lent” comes from an Old English also restored. Thus, Pope Francis deword for “spring.” scribed mercy as “the bridge that conWhat does Lent look like when seen nects God and man, opening our hearts through the lens of mercy? Suppose you to the hope of being loved forever despite find yourself on the outs with an old our sinfulness” (MV, 2). 4 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
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God’s mercy is indeed the very foundation of the Church’s life. We encounter his love as we listen to his Word and participate in the sacraments, including reconciliation, which is often called “the sacrament of mercy.” Yet receiving and giving God’s mercy is not something we do apart from our daily lives, in some secret recess of our hearts. God’s mercy is not to be compartmentalized; it must shape every relationship, especially with those who are nearest and dearest. Thus, the mercy we encounter in the life of the Church must also be experienced in what we call the “domestic church” — that is, the family. FAMILY RESOLUTIONS In a November 2015 general audience, Pope Francis described the family as “a great training ground for the mutual giving and forgiving without which no love can last for long.” He went on to remind us of the words we pray in the Our Father: “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Experience teaches that a family cannot long endure the trials and challenges of life absent a shared love that is generous, sacrificial and forgiving. In a word, our families need to receive the mercy of God, but they also must be where young people learn how to give and receive mercy. As the season of Lent begins during this Year of Mercy, devote some serious
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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH
thought and prayer to your family. In the rough and tumble of daily life, how easy it is to get on one another’s nerves. How easy it is to irritate one’s spouse and children with annoying habits. Sometimes, tempers are short. Relationships can quickly grow cold, even icy. Lent provides an opportunity to gather your family to talk things over, to resolve first to seek God’s mercy, and to practice mercy within the family and beyond. Accordingly, here are a few suggested Lenten resolutions for families: Forgive promptly. We are all frail and sinful. We readily offend and hurt family
HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS
Offered in Solidarity with Pope Francis
POPE FRANCIS: CNS photo/Paul Haring — BISHOP MATHIAS LORAS: Courtesy of The Witness, Archdiocese of Dubuque
UNIVERSAL: That we may take good care of creation — a gift freely given — cultivating and protecting it for future generations. EVANGELIZATION: That opportunities may increase for dialogue and encounter between the Christian faith and the peoples of Asia.
members. Yet, as St. Paul teaches, the sun should not go down on our anger (cf. Eph. 4:26). If we wait to apologize, we open the way for backbiting and grudges, even long-term alienation. Practice thoughtfulness. Not only should we apologize when we offend members of our family, we should try to change our behavior so that we don’t offend so often. Pray together. When a family prays together in the home, forgiveness becomes easier. It’s hard to stay angry at someone you’ve prayed for and prayed with.
Go as a family to receive the sacrament of penance. Nothing will help families reconcile and grow strong in love more than going to the very Source of mercy. Assist with a charitable project. It might be a program sponsored by your K of C council or your parish. Volunteering as a family to help those in need is a wonderful way to open ourselves to God’s mercy and to share his mercy with others. This year, let’s not talk about a “long Lent.” Let’s talk instead about a joyful Lent, filled with God’s abundant mercy for ourselves and for our families!♦
C AT H O L I C M A N O F T H E M O N T H
Bishop Mathias Loras (1792-1858) THE 10TH OF 11 children, Pierre Jean Mathias Loras was born into an aristocratic family in Lyon, France, on Aug. 30, 1792. His father was the first of 17 relatives to be guillotined during the Reign of Terror. Loras was still an infant, and priests whom his mother sheltered at the time later became his first educators. In grade school, Loras formed a lifelong friendship with his classmate St. John Vianney. Having discerned a priestly vocation at an early age, Loras was ordained in 1815. A man of deep faith with a talent for administration, he served as a seminary instructor and superior for 13 years. In 1828, Father Loras volunteered to become a missionary in Mobile, Ala., and in 1837, he was named the first bishop of Dubuque. The diocese encompassed Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas east of the Missouri River, and consisted of only three parishes, some 3,000 Catholics and one priest: Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli. Bishop Loras immediately began recruiting priests and encouraging Catholics from eastern states to come to his diocese. Traveling by steamboat, canoe and horse, the tireless bishop preached hundreds of
missions among his largely Irish, German and Native American flock. He established flourishing parishes and a seminary, the forerunner of Loras College. In 1843, Bishop Loras invited the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Iowa from Philadelphia. He also welcomed Trappist monks from Ireland. Though a cultivated Frenchman, Bishop Loras came to love the American frontier. “We have no martyrs of blood in the U.S.,” he once wrote to a French bishop, “but many of charity.” Offered a French archbishopric late in life, he flatly refused. At his death on Feb. 19, 1858, Bishop Loras left his diocese with 48 priests, 60 churches and 54,000 Catholics.♦
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS
Supreme Knight, Church Leaders Call for U.S. to Name Christians as Victims of Genocide
EDITOR’S NOTE: An extended version of this article was published by the National Catholic Register in December 2015. It is reprinted here with permission. AMID GROWING ALARM over the Islamic State’s (IS) declared campaign to eradicate Christianity from territory under its control, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson implored the U.S. State Department to “publicly acknowledge that genocide is taking place against the Christian communities of Iraq and Syria.” Anderson’s comprehensive testimony before a Dec. 9 House subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on “Fulfilling the Humanitarian Imperative: Assisting Victims of ISIS Violence” marked an intensive ecumenical effort to lobby the Obama administration to explicitly designate Christians, along with Yazidis, as victims of genocide. The Yazidis’ ancient faith incorporates elements of Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Islamic State militants have assailed them as “devil worshippers,” and have killed thousands of men and taken women and girls as sex slaves. The White House is expected to issue a formal statement that will identify Yazidis as the target of the Islamic State’s genocidal policies. Reportedly, other vulnerable religious minorities will not be so designated, despite the fact that they have suffered crucifixions, beheadings, sexual enslavement and forced exile at the hands of IS, also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh. EXAMPLES OF BRUTALITY In his congressional testimony, Supreme Knight Anderson offered numerous examples of executions, kidnappings and 6 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
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other brutal actions against Christians. “Since 2003, so many thousands of Iraqi and Syrian Christians have been held hostage for ransom that Christians there are sometimes referred to as ‘currency,’ and such ransoms are cited by experts as a major source of ISIS’ revenues,” he said. Anderson told the story of Chaldean priest Douglas Bazi, a kidnapping victim who was later featured in a television commercial sponsored by the Knights that aired on Fox. Today, Father Bazi manages the Mar Elia camp for 100 displaced Christian families in Erbil, Iraq. “Like many others, Father Bazi was severely tortured” while in captivity, said Anderson. He recalled the priest’s plea that Christians in the West become a powerful voice for vulnerable religious minorities in the Middle East. “Be our voice. I will not be surprised if they are going to destroy us, but I will be disappointed if no one will tell our stories,” Father Bazi told Anderson. “I will ask you here: Pray for my people, help my people, and save my people. And I believe you can.” Anderson also highlighted problems at refugee camps for Syrians sponsored by the United Nations High Command for Refugees, noting that Christians fear they will be attacked at the camps and so seek shelter in churches and private homes. But Washington relies on the UNHCR to register refugees seeking resettlement in the U.S., and Anderson argued that most Christians were thus effectively excluded from the application process. “The United States is rightly viewed as the world’s leading defender of vulnerable minorities, and it is critically important that the State Department consider the best available evidence before issuing a statement that would exclude Christians,” Anderson concluded.
Photos by John Whitman
Rep. Trent Franks (left), R-Ariz., co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, addresses witnesses gathered Dec. 9, 2015, for a congressional subcommittee hearing titled “Fulfilling the Humanitarian Imperative: Assisting Victims of ISIS Violence.” The hearing was organized by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, which is chaired by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey.
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS
‘MORAL PRESSURE’ CREDIBILITY IN THE BALANCE “A declaration of genocide can be interpreted as requiring These unresolved problems, combined with both Washingaction to ‘protect’ and ‘punish’ under Article 1 of the 1948 ton’s failure to contain IS aggression and the unconfirmed Convention on Genocide, but I doubt this administration press reports that only Yazidis will be designated as victims would read it that way,” Thomas F. Farr, director of the Re- of genocide, have led some Church leaders to conclude that ligious Freedom Project at Georgetown University and a President Barack Obama has turned his back on persecuted member of Potomac Council 433 in Washington, told the Christians. Register. “My guess is that any declaration of genocide by “The U.S. government should not turn a blind eye to any government — even this one — would bring great the genocidal atrocities,” Chaldean Bishop Frank Kalabat moral pressure on them to take more action than they are of Detroit argued in his testimony before the Dec. 9 concurrently taking.” gressional hearing. “The Obama administration again reNina Shea, who leads the Hudson Institute’s Center for fuses to recognize their plight.” Religious Freedom in Washington, emphasized the vital Georgetown’s Farr stated that while he wants Syrian Chrisimportance of the genocide designation. tians to be free to apply for resettlement in the U.S., he also “Without an acknowledgement that they face genocide, hopes that Washington and its allies will develop a plan for Iraqi and Syrian ChrisChristians’ long-term protians would have an even tection in the region. steeper uphill battle to ob“My own view is that tain such things as refugee the United States should status and priority resettlebe leading the effort to esment as a ‘vulnerable mitablish a Nineveh Plain nority’ in the West,” Shea protected zone for Christold the Register. tians and other minorities Similar arguments were willing to live in peace — presented in a letter to providing the security and Secretary of State John other support that will be Kerry that was signed by needed,” said Farr. an array of religious leadBut he was skeptical ers, including Cardinal about the Obama adminDonald Wuerl of Washistration’s likely next steps. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson delivers his testimony in defense of ington, Supreme Knight “If the administration persecuted Christians in the Middle East during the Dec. 9 hearing. Anderson and Russell issues a declaration of Moore, president of the genocide that excludes the Southern Baptist Ethics & Christians, it will elimiReligious Liberty Commission. nate any shred of credibility that remains concerning this The Genocide Convention defines genocide as killing administration’s competence or goodwill,” Farr argued. and certain other acts “committed with intent to destroy, During his testimony before the House subcommittee, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious Supreme Knight Anderson echoed the U.S. bishops’ call group,” and the letter signed by the ecumenical group ar- for lawmakers to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 75, gued that the Islamic State’s campaign against Christians which specifically condemns the ongoing “genocide” met that standard. against Christians and other vulnerable minorities in Iraq The letter cited “evidence of IS assassinations of Church and Syria. Introduced by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., leaders; mass murders; torture; kidnapping for ransom in and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., it has drawn 150 cothe Christian communities of Iraq and Syria; its sexual en- sponsors. slavement and systematic rape of Christian girls and Anderson further noted that the Knights of Columbus women; its practices of forcible conversions to Islam; its has raised more than $5 million to help religious minorities destruction of churches, monasteries, cemeteries and Chris- under threat and displaced from their homes by IS. The tian artifacts; and its theft of lands and wealth from Chris- Order has also established a donation and news web portal tian clergy and laity alike.” at christiansatrisk.org, where the stories of persecuted Further, the ecumenical group pointed to “IS’ own pub- Christians are shared with a broader audience.♦ lic statements taking ‘credit’ for mass murder of Christians and expressing its intent to eliminate Christian communi- JOAN FRAWLEY DESMOND is the National Catholic ties from its ‘Islamic State.’” Register’s senior editor.
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The Origins of K of C Insurance Insuring Catholic families was at the heart of Venerable Michael McGivney’s founding vision by Kevin Coyne
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ear the end of his first year at a Jesuit seminary in Montreal, as final exams were approaching in June 1873, Michael J. McGivney received sad and unexpected news from his family in Connecticut: His father had died at the age of 48. Michael was the eldest child, and he left for home without taking his exams, uncertain about whether his father’s death would mean the end of his own dream of becoming a priest. His father, Patrick, was a molder in a brass factory in Waterbury, an Irish immigrant who still had a wife and six other children living at home on Railroad Hill Street, and who left them what most workingmen of his station in that era left their families when they died too soon — very little. In his absence, the McGivney family would have to survive on faith, charity and the labor of the older children. The kind of insurance that might have eased this burden was mostly the province of families of more means than theirs. Michael’s year at the seminary had cost his family $300. Where would they find $300 more for another year? Would he have to go back to his old job making spoons at a Waterbury factory? He was lucky. The bishop of Hartford heard of his plight and decided that a promising young man with such a deep vocation should be in a seminary, not a tableware factory. By September, Michael J. McGivney was studying for the priesthood again, at a seminary in Maryland, the providential beneficiary of the bishop’s generosity. CATHOLIC BENEFITS After he was ordained, Father McGivney was assigned as a curate to St. Mary’s parish in New Haven in 1878. It soon became clear that he was not the kind of priest who believed that his ministry ended with the Mass. He walked fast but spoke slowly, with perfect diction and the authority of faith, in a voice so clear and pleasant that an old blind man, not even Catholic himself, came to Mass each Sunday just to hear it. In his first three years at St. Mary’s, Father McGivney earned the respect of the “energetic, pushing, go-ahead young men” of the city. Soon he was energetically pushing the big idea he had for a new kind of organization that would offer Catholic men some things they couldn’t get elsewhere. Fraternal lodges and secret societies abounded in America after the Civil War, and their rituals replaced religion for many men. Father McGivney disapproved of these groups, especially those that appealed to the immigrant Catholics in his parish, but he recognized within them a genuine yearning for solidarity in the face of a world whose harshness he had felt in his own life when he lost his father. His family, like so many others, could have used the benevolent aid some of these groups offered their members in times
A 2003 painting by Italian artist Antonella Cappuccio depicts Venerable Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. In the background are 19th-century immigrants accompanied by K of C insurance agents outside St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn. FEBRUARY 2016
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of sickness or death. Not everyone could count on a bishop’s largesse, but maybe a new group, allied with the Church, could help Catholic men count on each other. On an October Sunday in 1881, Father McGivney asked the other Catholic priests in New Haven to make the same announcement from their pulpits at Mass that he did at his — inviting the city’s young Catholic men to a special meeting at 4 p.m. in the basement of St. Mary’s to discuss the new group he hoped to organize. Among the 80 men who attended that meeting were the former principals of a benevolent society called the Red Knights, which took its name from the red blankets most of them carried in their knapsacks as members of the IrishCatholic militia unit they had established upon their return from the Civil War. “The advancement and mutual improvement of the young men of our race” was their stated goal, and they tried “to extend a helping hand to needy Brothers, and to assist them in the time of sickness and death.” The clerk of the Probate Court in New Haven was a member, and he saw firsthand how “few of our people left any estates to be probated, however small.” The death benefit the Red Knights offered was itself small, though, and the group had disbanded a year before they went to Father McGivney’s meeting. Father McGivney believed that the Red Knights had the right idea, yet the group he envisioned would embrace the Church, not stand apart from it, and offer a more substantial death benefit. A chairman and secretary were elected and a committee of 10, dominated by former Red Knights, was appointed to
establish a constitution and bylaws for a group that soon took the name of Knights of Columbus. The Connecticut Assembly recognized the new group with an official charter in March 1882, and the first members were initiated at St. Mary’s a few days later. Attendance at meetings was spotty at first, with membership hovering near 30 through the spring. They planned to pay a $5 weekly benefit to members kept from work by illness and a $1,000 benefit to the families of members who died, but first they needed to enroll 1,000 men. ‘SLOWLY, BUT SURELY’ Father McGivney sent a letter to all the parishes in the diocese, introducing them to his idea. “By permission of our Rt. Rev. Bishop, and in accordance with an Act of the Legislature of the State of Connecticut, we have formed an organization under the name of the Knights of Columbus,” he wrote. “Our primary object is to prevent people from entering Secret Societies, by offering the same, if not better, advantages to our members. Secondly, to unite the men of our Faith throughout the diocese of Hartford, that we may thereby gain strength to aid each other in time of sickness; to provide for decent burial, and to render pecuniary assistance to the families of deceased members.” He asked pastors to “exert your influence in the formation of a council in your parish.” Leaving the fraternal rituals to others, Father McGivney focused on the insurance component of the Order’s mission. “We are advancing slowly, but surely,” he wrote in the summer of 1883. “‘Unity and Charity’ is our motto. Unity in order to
1882 Father Michael J. McGivney’s name is the first one listed in the insurance ledger, and he becomes the first insured member of the Order. The original insurance program was based on an assessment system. When a member died, the others were sent an assessment to pay based on three grades of payment.
1940 An agency system is begun and five new insurance plans are adopted.
1975 A.M. Best bestows its highest approval rating on the Knights for the first time.
1944 The Order establishes the Juvenile Insurance Program for the sons of members.
1977 Flexible retirement annuities are introduced to members.
1945 The first cash dividend is paid to policyholders.
1980 Total life insurance premiums surpass $1 billion.
1892 The Order establishes a Reserve Fund to guarantee financial solvency during epidemics.
1958 To further assist members and their families, the Order introduces spousal insurance products and coverage for members’ daughters.
1982 The New Member Plan is introduced to encourage greater member participation in the Order’s insurance program.
1898 A K of C committee on insurance rates is established, which results in the Knights’ first use of an actuary, David Parks Fackler. 1902 Sweeping reforms are made to the insurance program, including the implementation of a step-rate plan. 10 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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1960 The Order reaches $1 billion of insurance in force, and assets surpass $170 million. 1970 The Order opens a new 23-story home office building in New Haven, Conn.
1985 Insurance in force reaches $10 billion as assets pass $1.7 billion. 1987 Certificates in force exceed one million. 1989 The Order distributes more than $100 million in life dividends.
PREVIOUS SPREAD: Knights of Columbus Muesum
MILESTONES OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS INSURANCE
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Knights of Columbus Multimedia Archives
Knights of Columbus employees are pictured filing insurance applications in New Haven, Conn., in 1953.
1992 Insurance in force passes the $20 billion mark. The Order receives its first AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s.
plan for members and their spouses. Insurance in force exceeds $40 billion and assets top $8.5 billion.
2008 Newly priced and enhanced life insurance product portfolio, known as the “800 Series,” is introduced.
1994 Family Fraternal Benefit, Orphan Fraternal Benefit and Member/Spouse Fraternal Benefit programs are approved at the 112th Supreme Convention.
2002 Out of more than 1,200 insurance providers in North America, the Order becomes one of only six to receive the highest ratings from Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best, as well as IMSA certification.
2010 billion.
1996 After issuing more than $4 billion of insurance in a single year, the Order reaches $30 billion of total insurance in force.
2003 Life sales exceed $5 billion as assets pass $10 billion. Life dividends paid exceed $300 million.
1998 The Order distributes more than $200 million in life dividends.
2005 A limited life insurance program begins for members in Mexico.
1999 The Insurance Marketplace Standards Association (IMSA) certifies the Order’s insurance program for its ethical business practices.
2006 The Order reaches $10 billion in benefits paid to member families since its founding: $2.3 billion in death claims and $8 billion in living benefits.
2000 The Order offers “Knights of Columbus Care,” a long-term care insurance
2007 $1 billion net life insurance face amount is issued in 63 days, a new record.
Insurance in force passes $75
2011 Order introduces new “Income Armor” disability income insurance for members and their eligible family members. 2014 The Ethisphere Institute names the Knights of Columbus as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies®. It is one of only two life insurers to receive the honor. Total policies surpass the 2 million mark. 2015 The Knights of Columbus earns its 40th consecutive highest possible rating (A++, Superior) for financial strength from A.M. Best and passes $100 billion of life insurance in force.
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Supreme Knight John W. McDevitt (left) is joined by (front, from left) Connecticut State Insurance Commissioner William Cotter, Bishop John Hackette of Hartford and New Haven Mayor Richard Lee during the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Knights of Columbus headquarters in New Haven May 2, 1967.
gain strength to be charitable to each other in benevolence whilst we live and in bestowing financial aid to those whom we leave to mourn our loss.” By 1885, new councils were forming at the rate of two a month. On March 1, 1885, a 30-year-old clerk from Hartford, Dennis J. O’Brien, the recording secretary of Green Cross Council 11, died of pneumonia — the Order’s first death. His family received $963, and 500 Knights marched behind his hearse wearing mourning badges. On April 6, Dennis Devine, 35, of Genoa Council 9 in Meriden, Conn., died of tuberculosis, and two others died the following month — Michael Curran (age 40, San Salvador Council 1, inflammation of the brain) and James Creed (age 36, Washington Council 4, carbuncle infection). Their families — like the families of the nine other Knights who died throughout the rest of the year of typhoid fever, cerebral meningitis, smallpox, erysipelas,
Brights disease and other afflictions that claimed men as young as their 20s and no older than their 40s — received the full $1,000 insurance benefit, keeping the promise upon which Father McGivney had built the Order. Father McGivney died young, too — of pneumonia, two days after his 38th birthday in 1890. His survivors included 6,000 Knights, members of the Order that had started with those few earnest young men on a winter night in the basement of St. Mary’s. He was one of 66 Knights to die that year, and his beneficiaries were thus entitled to the $1,000 death benefit that he believed was so essential to families diminished by early death. His benefit went to Annie and Maggie McGivney, his sisters. By the time the Order celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1957, it counted 1 million members, with $690 million of insurance in force. (By 1960, it reached $1 billion of insurance.) “What are you trying to do, make an insurance organization out of the Knights of Columbus?” Supreme Knight Luke Hart wrote in his report to the Supreme Council that year, posing a rhetorical question. “Of course,” he continued. “Father McGivney made an insurance organization out of it. That was its primal purpose and it has never been otherwise.”♦ KEVIN COYNE is an award-winning author currently working on a history of the Knights of Columbus. He lives in Freehold, N.J., with his family.
ON NOV. 25, 1897, Council 284 was chartered in Montréal, Québec, inaugurating the Order’s expansion into Canada. Canada quickly became a vibrant center of fraternal activity and charitable giving, with nearly 2,000 councils and more than 200,000 members. In addition to their strong fraternal commitment, Canadian Knights are also strong supporters of the Knights of Columbus Insurance program. The province of Ontario is the third largest insurance jurisdiction in the Order, with more than $5 billion of life insurance in force. The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan are the first and third Knights of Columbus jurisdictions (respectively) in insurance in force per 12 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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capita, with $166,476 per member in Alberta and $127,137 in Saskatchewan.* The Knights of Columbus Insurance program in Canada is led by a field force of more than 100 professional Knight agents. Three of the Order’s top 10 general agencies reside in Canada, including the Bouchard Agency in Alberta, which, in 2015, was the first Knights of Columbus insurance agency in history to issue over $300,000,000 of life insurance in force to help protect Catholic families.
Marc Bouchard, a K of C general agent since 1993, leads a team of field agents serving members in Alberta and Northwest Territories.
*Insurance in force per capita is calculated by dividing the total amount of insurance in force in a jurisdiction by the total number of members in that jurisdiction.♦
Knights of Columbus Multimedia Archives
THE GROWTH OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS INSURANCE IN CANADA
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS
Pope Francis Meets With Supreme Knight, Supreme Chaplain
Pope Francis received Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore in a private audience at the Vatican Dec. 17, 2015. They discussed the charitable mission and work of the Knights of Columbus, particularly its support for persecuted Christians in the Middle East. On behalf of the 1.9 million members of the Order, the supreme knight presented the pope with a $1.6 million check, representing the annual proceeds of the Vicarius Christi Fund. Since it was established in 1981, the fund has provided more than $56 million for the pope’s personal charities and causes.
TOP: Photo by L’Osservatore Romano
Majority of Americans Say Christians Face Genocide in Middle East ACCORDING TO a K of C-Marist poll conducted Dec. 1-7, 2015, 55 percent versus 36 percent of Americans agreed that the targeting of Christians and other religious minorities by Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria meets the U.N. definition of genocide. Nearly 6 in 10 Americans (59 percent) said they have heard “a great deal” or “a good amount” about this persecution, while presidential candidates from both parties have used the term “genocide” to describe the situation. “The American people, together with presidential candidates and elected officials of both political parties, agree that Christians and other religious minorities are facing genocide in the Middle East,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “With such a bipartisan consensus, inaction on a declaration of genocide by Congress and the State Department is unconscionable.”
The survey came shortly after a broad coalition of religious leaders, researchers and scholars sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging that Christians be included in any determination of genocide made by the State Department (see page 6). In solidarity with persecuted Christians worldwide, together with the ongoing Knights of Columbus Christian Refugee Relief Fund, the Order is asking members and their families to pray for those under assault for their faith, especially in Iraq and Syria. A card with a special Prayer for Persecuted Christians (#10340) composed by Supreme Chaplain William E. Lori is available from the Order’s Supply Department for $3 per 100 prayer cards. For more information, email supply@kofc.org or visit christiansatrisk.org♦
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Strength in Numbers Brother Knights can be proud of the impressive record of the Order’s insurance program by Thomas P. Smith Jr.
I
n business, true success comes not from the occasional big sale or banner year, but from consistent, positive results. Likewise, the integrity of a business comes not from profits or earnings, but from honest, dedicated service and ethical consistency. Throughout its history, the Knights of Columbus has worked diligently to be a successful business of utmost integrity. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our professional agency force and the unwavering trust of brother Knights, we have built a legacy of lasting strength that Knights everywhere can be proud of. Three numbers help to tell our story today.
15 This past year marked the 15th consecutive year of insurance sales growth for the Knights of Columbus, and the streak continues amid a turbulent economic cycle. The 2008 economic collapse and recession, and the ensuing near-zero interest rate environment, were tough on most companies. They were especially tough on the insurance industry. Nevertheless, the Knights of Columbus successfully navigated these troubled waters to achieve 15 consecutive years of sales growth. When customers were turning away from other businesses, wondering whom they could trust, members of the Knights of Columbus continued to believe in the strength of our business and the value of our products. And we continued to rely on a tried-and-true system that puts members first, with a sales model grounded on the personal relationship forged between a member and his brother Knight agent. Ours may be an unconventional approach in a rapidly changing industry, but it has ultimately been a major reason 14 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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for our success. Purchasing life insurance is an important, personal decision that requires the purchaser to think seriously about his economic picture, his future and his family. With most other insurance companies, it’s a decision that one may make in isolation and without adequate guidance. Or perhaps it is a decision made with a stranger — a broker or a salesman whom the purchaser has never met before. With the Knights of Columbus, it is a decision that members make with a brother Knight — someone who shares a common bond, who cares about them and their family and who will be there to help when they need it most. This relationship is built on trust, and it builds trust too. This is the basis of our slogan “insurance by brother Knights, for brother Knights,” and it has been the reason for our continued success.
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2 “Insurance by brother Knights, for brother Knights” also means that we put our members and their families at the forefront of every decision we make. While companies typically concern themselves with profitability above all else, this is simply not the way the Knights of Columbus does business, as the supreme knight has said on countless occasions. The Knights’ ethical integrity is not a mere assertion, but an acknowledged reality. Last March, for the second consecutive year, our commitment to ethical practice and governance was recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, which named the Knights of Columbus a 2015 World’s Most Ethical Company®. This evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of a business’ operation, including its corporate citizenship and responsibility, its culture of ethics, its governance and its leadership, innovation and reputation. The Knights was one of only three recipients in the life insurance category. Such an honor, and similar recognition in the past, attests to the depth and breadth of our ethical commitment. Moreover, it demonstrates that we take our duty to our members, to their families, to our communities — and to our founder — very seriously.
40 Taking this duty seriously has had positive consequences. For example, last August, the Knights of Columbus earned the highest possible rating for financial strength by ratings agency A.M. Best — for the 40th consecutive year. There is no more highly rated life insurer in North America. “Through conservative management, active fraternalism and high-quality insurance products, the fraternal society has grown to a multi-billion dollar international insurance organization,” A.M. Best said of the Knights of Columbus. In short, the trust that members continue to place in the Knights of Columbus, coupled with the ethical, moral and subsequently conservative approach we employ, has enabled us to run a successful, sound business that brother Knights everywhere can take pride in. Everything that we do ultimately points back to the founding mission of our venerable founder: to protect Catholic families. It is a testament to Father McGivney’s vision that the Knights of Columbus has grown to become one of the largest life insurers in North America and the largest Catholic insurer by far. Just as Father McGivney hoped, the Order has been able to build upon the bonds of brotherhood to help Catholic families secure the financial protection they need. It is a unique arrangement that has led to lasting strength the likes of which no one — save, perhaps, Father McGivney himself — could have imagined.♦ THOMAS P. SMITH JR. is the chief insurance officer of the Knights of Columbus.
K OF C INSURANCE PRODUCTS LIFE INSURANCE — Many products offered to age 80 • Permanent Life: Our signature product. Insure your life for life. A variety of options that provide guaranteed lifelong coverage. Generally, cash values accumulate on a tax-deferred basis and are available for emergency needs. • Term Life: Affordable protection for temporary needs. Plans offer coverage for 10-, 15- and 20-year periods, with guaranteed premiums. No cash value accumulation. • Second-to-Die: Leave a legacy — together. Survivorship Universal Life (SUL) insurance covers two people. The death benefit is paid upon the death of the second person. • Discoverer: A blended life plan. This unique plan combines the guaranteed cash value of a whole life policy with some of the features of term life insurance. • Multiple riders and benefits available, including Child Rider. RETIREMENT PRODUCTS — Many products offered to age 85 Retirement income you can count on. Guaranteed. • Deferred annuities provide long-term accumulation of wealth, specifically designed for retirement needs. • Payout annuities provide you with guaranteed periodic income for a specified period of time, or for the rest of your life. • Guaranteed safety of principal (surrender charges may apply). • CDs, cash from mutual funds and money markets can be transferred into our tax-deferred, non-qualified annuities. • Qualified and non-qualified plans are available in the United States. In Canada, registered and non-registered plans are available. • It is also possible to roll your existing plan into a Knights of Columbus annuity. • Our annuities can be funded with as little as $300 to start. LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE —Products offered to age 75 Protect your assets. Get quality care. Prepare for the future. • Provides funding for long term care services. Allows your spouse or children to be your family, not your caregiver. • Two policy types available: Comprehensive — provides for covered care at home or in facilities; and Facility-only Care — provides for covered care in a licensed facility. DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE — Products offered to age 61 Receive an income even when you can’t work. • Helps make sure that — in the event of a disability — your last paycheck is never your last paycheck. • Total and partial disability income benefits available. • Benefit periods available: 2-years, 5-years, and until age 67. • Coverage available for stay-at-home spouses.♦
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The $100 Billion Family The recent K of C Insurance milestone is about safeguarding the future of Catholic families by Patti Maguire Armstrong 16 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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Donovan Selensky, a member of Rugby (N.D.) Council 4136, and his wife, Tera, are pictured with their four children at their home in Bismarck.
Photo by Glasser Images
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ast November, when Donovan Selensky of Bismarck, N.D., purchased a life insurance policy for his 1-year-old son, Dyson, he was just continuing a tradition that his own father had begun — protecting the future of his family with Knights of Columbus Insurance. And when field agent Wayne Cherney sold Selensky this policy, his goal was simply to protect another K of C family so they would not have to face the hardships he had endured as a young boy. What neither of these men knew at the time was that this policy, together with an increase in coverage for Selensky and
his wife, Tera, would lift the Knights of Columbus Insurance program over the $100 billion mark of life insurance in force. In financial terms, this number refers to the sum of policy face values and dividends paid. Thus, for Knights like Donovan Selensky and Wayne Cherney, the milestone did not merely reflect the insurance program’s position as one of the largest life insurers in North America; more importantly, it signaled that the vision of Father Michael J. McGivney, who founded the Knights to offer financial security to families, was bearing fruit for more Catholic households than ever.
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A FAMILY TRADITION Selensky, a member of Rugby (N.D.) Council 4136, recounted how his own Knights of Columbus Insurance policy stemmed from his father’s foresight. “My dad had taken out a $5,000 rider on me when I was little,” Selensky said. “So that meant when I came of age [at 26], I could automatically convert it to my own policy.” Seated amid the happy hustle and bustle of his home one December evening, Selensky said he does not like to think about the possibility of losing his wife or any of their four children, ages 1 to 10. “That would already be tough enough,” he said, “but to have expenses we couldn’t afford on top of it would make everything so much harder. [Life insurance] means there’s just one less thing to worry about.” Selensky recalled growing up on a cattle and grain farm in Rugby, as the eighth of 12 children, noting that he would come home from school and milk cows. His wife, who is one 18 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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of four children, also helped out on her family’s farm in nearby Willow City. Hard work and long days prepared them for their busy lives today as a two-income family in Bismarck. Their children attend St. Joseph School, with the youngest in the school’s childcare program. Every weekday morning, Selensky takes the kids with him over the bridge to school in Mandan, where he works as a software engineer. Tera is employed in town as a travel supervisor and also coaches her third-grade daughter’s basketball team. As little Dyson cheerfully bounced on his father’s lap, Selensky explained how his family and his insurance coverage grew. While he was dating Tera with an eye toward marriage, he began adding to his initial policy. “The last thing I wanted to do was leave expenses for anyone if anything were to happen to me,” he said. The Selenskys added additional life insurance on them-
Photo by Glasser Images
The Selenskys meet in their home with field agent Wayne Cherney, a member of Devils Lake (N.D.) Council 1779.
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selves when they married in 2002 and have continued to do could find to buy inventory,” Cherney said. “Maybe he went so as their family responsibilities have grown. without insurance thinking it would just be temporary.” “I did not have life insurance on myself before we marBut it did not work out that way. ried,” Tera explained. Looking around and smiling at her In 1975, nine months after starting his own independent busy brood, she added, “But it makes sense to have it.” hardware business, Cherney’s father died of a heart attack at However, the desire to secure their family’s future was only the age of 52 — leaving his 38-year-old wife, Georgie Ann, part of the reason that the Selenskys invested with the and five children between the ages of 6 and 17 with no means Knights of Columbus. It is the shared Catholic faith that has of support. kept them as customers. “My dad had a very small insurance policy that did not Years ago, Selensky said, he had talked with an agent from even cover the funeral expenses,” Cherney said. “It was the another company. local Knights who helped out our family by holding a “A friend had suggested that I check them out, but it just fundraising breakfast.” didn’t feel right,” he recalled. “The values and principles of Cherney remembers hearing his mother cry herself to sleep an organization are just as important as the services they many nights. Within a year, she had not only lost her husoffer. With the Knights, I know that their Catholic values band, but also her own father and a brother. are part of who they are.” “She didn’t know how she was going to manage,” Cherney Selensky became a Knight of Columbus himself in 2002, recalled. and he did so in a remarkable fashion. Selensky’s father, now In addition to receiving Social Security benefits, his in his 70s, had suggested that Donovan and his six brothers mother made ends meet by becoming a cook at the local café consider becoming Knights. and later by working at St. Boniface Church and rectory. “My dad and uncles were all “She was a person of few words and Knights,” Selensky said. “So I talked was very devout,” Cherney said. “The about it with my brothers and we most important thing that my mom agreed, ‘Hey, we should do that too.’” instilled in me was my faith. She HE LAST THING I Together, the seven sons, along with would always say, ‘Practice your faith. a few cousins, made their First Degree Stay strong in your faith.’” WANTED TO DO WAS in Rugby. Cherney’s faith and personal experi“It was Selensky night,” he said with ence together led him to choose a caLEAVE EXPENSES FOR a grin. reer as a K of C field agent and thereby support his wife and two sons. ANYONE IF ANYTHING SECURITY IN TIMES “Father McGivney wanted families WERE TO HAPPEN TO OF DISTRESS to have enough insurance to care for Selensky noted that Cherney, his field them any time a breadwinner passed ME.” agent, stops by periodically to check away,” he said. “This is an organizaon the family’s need to expand insurtion that reflects what I’m passionate ance coverage. A member of Devils about.” Lake (N.D.) Council 1779, Cherney According to Cherney, his work as has been a K of C field agent in the region for 28 years. a field agent is not separate from his faith. “I told Donovan and Tera that they reminded me of my “It’s not just professional for me, it’s personal,” he afown parents when they were young,” Cherney said. “The dif- firmed. “It feels good at night to be able to put my head ference is that the Selenskys have taken an extra step that my down on my pillow knowing that I made a difference with a parents did not.” family and that I did it in line with my Catholic values. Neglecting to take out adequate life insurance caused “If I can do that, then my career has been fulfilled,” he Cherney’s own family added suffering when his father died said. unexpectedly. That tragedy, he said, which took place when Donovan and Tera Selensky are just one example of a family Cherney was only 12, is what motivates him to help other that is grateful for Cherney’s service. When Cherney came to families carry sufficient life insurance. their home last fall and they chose to increase their coverage, Although his father had been a hardworking provider for they knew that their hard-earned money was well-placed. the family, Cherney surmised that he considered life insur“It’s for peace of mind,” Tera said. “There’s a lot in life ance an unnecessary expense during difficult financial times. you can’t do anything about, but this is something you can “Dad had the Gambles Hardware store in Wimbledon,” manage.”♦ Cherney explained. “But there was not enough purchasing, so he lost the franchise.” PATTI MAGUIRE ARMSTRONG is an author, freelance His father continued the business on his own, renaming it writer and correspondent for the National Catholic Register Cherney’s Hardware. “He had to scratch for every penny he based in Bismarck, N.D.
“T
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The Catholic Difference
An interview with Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson about the distinctive mission of Knights of Columbus Insurance by Columbia staff
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n Nov. 3, 2015, the Knights of Columbus surpassed $100 billion of life insurance in force, marking a significant milestone in the Catholic fraternal benefit society’s mission to protect the financial future of Catholic families. Through its network of more than 1,500 dedicated, professional agents in the United States and Canada — all of whom are members of the Knights of Columbus — the organization offers top-rate products to its members and their families, manages $21 billion in assets and ranks 939 on the most recent Fortune 1000 list. The foundation of these numbers, however, is the farsighted vision of Father Michael J. McGivney, who was motivated to serve and strengthen Catholic families, in part by protecting their financial well-being. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson recently spoke with the Columbia editors about the continuing mission of the Order’s insurance program and what sets it apart as a uniquely Catholic enterprise. COLUMBIA: What role does the Order’s insurance program play in relation to Father McGivney’s founding vision for the Knights of Columbus? SUPREME KNIGHT: The insurance program is — and has always been — at the core of the Knights of Columbus. We have to remember the historical circumstances surrounding our founding. Father McGivney was the associate pastor of a church that largely served an underprivileged, immigrant community. Many in that community were dying young, and many were leaving behind large families — widows and orphans — with scant resources. In fact, Father McGivney had experienced their plight firsthand when his own father died. Young Michael McGivney had to leave the seminary to return home to Waterbury, Conn., to help his family. 20 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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So the genius of Father McGivney’s vision, forged through his own personal experience and suffering, was that he was able to combine spiritual principles and practical insights. That is, he was confident that a fraternal society like the Knights of Columbus could deepen the faith of its members while providing a strong sense of Catholic brotherhood. Yet the Knights of Columbus was also — in large part — his solution to the problem of financial poverty as well. It was critically important to him. He had hands-on involvement in the formulation of the original pass-the-hat insurance program, and studied how other fraternal benefit societies worked. And we know that he was himself the Order’s first insurance member. COLUMBIA: As far as milestones are concerned, most insurance companies would emphasize revenue, or some other number, not insurance in force. What is the significance of the Knights of Columbus reaching $100 billion of life insurance in force, and what does this achievement mean for our members? SUPREME KNIGHT: The Knights of Columbus is not like “most insurance companies” because we are not concerned with profit in the way a traditional business is. Our “bottom line” is different. It’s not a question of how much money we made; it’s a question of how many Catholic families we protected. That is our mission. And the insurance in force number or milestone is a reflection of that mission. Insurance in force is the total sum of the face amount of all of our active policies. What that means, fundamentally, is that our amount of insurance in force — $100 billion — is the amount of money we will pay to Catholic families in their time of need. It is a number with real impact.
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Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson is pictured in his office at the Knights of Columbus headquarters in New Haven, Conn. The supreme knight serves as CEO of Knights of Columbus Insurance, the largest Catholic life insurer in North America. So yes, we celebrate that number as it grows, but not because we want to flex our financial muscle. Rather, we take pride in such growth because it means that more Catholic families, lives, homes and futures will be protected.
Photo by Tom Serafin
COLUMBIA: In addition to providing financial security for Catholic families, how is Knights of Columbus Insurance tied to charity, the Order’s first principle, especially in terms of service to the Church and to those in need? SUPREME KNIGHT: This is a critical point to understanding the role that Knights of Columbus Insurance plays, not only in the mission of the Order, but in the day-to-day action of the Order throughout the world. The insurance program is a powerful financial engine that supports much of the good works we do. Through the insurance program, we are blessed with the opportunity to give generously and support numerous charitable and spiritual causes, building up society and the Church. Of course, this is closely tied to our Catholic identity and the fact that charity is our first principle. We are called to be “our brother’s keeper,” and to look after the physical and spiritual well-being of those around us. But the fact is that without the insurance program, much of what we do, particularly at the Supreme Council level, would simply not be possible.
COLUMBIA: What does it mean to say that the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic company, and how does this Catholic identity affect the way the Order conducts business? SUPREME KNIGHT: It means that we are different. We talk a lot about the “Catholic difference” of doing business with the Knights of Columbus. We present our members with a clear choice between doing business with us and doing business with a secular insurer. We are proud of our identity as a Catholic company. One of the key ways in which our Catholic identity impacts our business operations is with our investment strategy. We hold a substantial amount of investments, as any insurance company does. But here again we do things differently. Most companies focus on the return on their investments. They want to make sure they are making the most they can. But we are not willing to sacrifice quality and integrity for profitability. For example, we refuse to purchase “junk” bonds or derivatives. We will not invest in companies that are in any way involved in abortion, contraception, human cloning, embryonic stem-cell research, for-profit healthcare that pays for any of these things, or pornography. It is a principled approach to investing that we think highlights the depth of our commitment to our faith. And while following these principles, our investment team has consistently achieved positive and competitive financial returns. FEBRUARY 2016
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COLUMBIA: Many people think that a business cannot simultaneously hold high ethical standards and be competitive in terms of profitability. How has the Knights of Columbus achieved such success, receiving top ratings from independent ratings agencies for financial strength, while at the same time emphasizing ethical practices? SUPREME KNIGHT: We believe that the one strengthens the other: The more we hold true to our ethical principles and practices, the more value brother Knights and their families see in our business. The more value they see, the more they turn to the Knights of Columbus to help protect their family, and the stronger our financial position grows. And it goes even further. I firmly believe that our moral compass has helped guide us through a turbulent decade and an uncertain economy. While other companies were making ethically questionable and unnecessarily risky decisions, we were not. While others were looking for novel ways to do business and to increase profits, we were not. Our ethical 22 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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practices, in fact, received international recognition in 2014 and 2015, when the Ethisphere Institute designated the Knights of Columbus as a World’s Most Ethical Company®. We stayed true to our principles and knew that if we did the right thing for the right reasons, we would get the results that we wanted — and we have. Last year marked our 15th consecutive year of insurance sales growth. COLUMBIA: The Knights of Columbus proudly provides insurance “by brother Knights, for brother Knights.” Why is it important that the K of C field force is made up of members serving other members? SUPREME KNIGHT: I believe that access to a brother Knight field agent is the best benefit of doing business with the Knights of Columbus. There are many types of insurance companies, including stock companies, mutual companies and fraternal benefit societies. The hallmark of a fraternal benefit society — like ours
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The façade of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican is pictured as Swiss Guards stand at attention during a papal address in 2014. The Knights of Columbus underwrote the cleaning and restoration of the basilica’s 65,000-square-foot façade in 1987, a two-year project made possible by revenues from the Order’s insurance program.
CNS photo/Paul Haring
— is that it is brother-to-brother, member-to-member. These men are not just salesmen, but men dedicated to our Order and its principles. They are men who care deeply about brother Knights’ families and their financial protection. They are men bound by the bonds of brotherhood who are committed to being there when you and your family need them most. That’s why we say “insurance by brother Knights, for brother Knights.” Our relationship with our policyholders is not simply transactional, it is personal. And it is personal precisely because it is grounded in a Christian understanding of brotherhood. COLUMBIA: What would you say to a member who has not yet taken the opportunity to meet with his agent and to examine the many products and benefits offered through the Knights of Columbus Insurance program?
SUPREME KNIGHT: Now is the time. This is an extraordinary program, spearheaded by extraordinary brother Knights in the field who have made it their mission to carry on Father McGivney’s goal of providing financial protection to Catholic families. Why would you look elsewhere? With the Knights of Columbus, you are doing business with brothers. You are doing business with an authentically Catholic company, and one whose ethical integrity and financial strength are well-documented and widely recognized. By becoming an insurance member, you are taking advantage of the greatest fraternal benefit that we offer and taking the critical step of protecting your family. It’s a responsibility that we all have — especially as fathers — and one that we can fulfill with the help of the Knights of Columbus.♦ FEBRUARY 2016
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A Passion for Service Top-performing insurance agents share how their faith inspires them to help brother Knights and their families by María de Lourdes Ruiz Scaperlanda
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had McAuliff cannot help grinning as he talks about his work. Whether approaching a young family just starting out, a single man without financial planning or a couple nearing retirement, the No. 1 field agent for the Knights of Columbus thrives on each encounter as a personal opportunity to help families make the right financial choices. “My job is a huge blessing,” said 26-year-old McAuliff, a member of Harry L. Harper Council 6606 in Broken Arrow, Okla. “I have a true passion. I think that’s why I’m successful at what I do. I never dreamt that I could work for a Catholic organization — a good, ethical, moral company — and be able to help Catholics with their finances.” In story after story, McAuliff describes the joy he feels whenever he’s able to help a brother Knight create a positive and doable financial plan. He recalled, for example, a recent visit with a new Knight and his wife, both close to retirement in their late 50s. “We talked about the Knights and about Father McGivney’s vision of financially caring for families. And the wife admitted that neither of them knew that the Knights of Columbus had all these programs,” McAuliff explained. “Then she looked at me and said, ‘I just lost my job and I’ve been praying for someone to come and help us with our finances. We had no idea what we were going to do.’” McAuliff helped the couple put together a plan to help them get through financially until they receive Social Security, and he was embraced in gratitude for a job well done. McAuliff ’s experience is representative of a dedicated professional field force of some 1,400 Knights of Columbus field agents in the United States and Canada. Together with approximately 130 general agents, these men proudly follow the lead of their founder, Venerable Michael McGivney, in serving the financial needs of Catholic families. A FULFILLING PROFESSION An Oklahoma native, Chad McAuliff joined the Knights at 18, around the time he received a two-year scholarship from 24 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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the Order, which helped defray the cost to attend the state’s Catholic college, St. Gregory’s University. McAuliff met his future wife, Alyssa, during his freshman year at a bowling tournament in Joplin, Mo., and they found out they lived within five miles of one another in Broken Arrow, where they still live today. “My parents and I gave him a ride home, and he left his jacket in the car,” recalled Alyssa, smiling. “I used that as an opportunity to ask her out on a date,” Chad added with a laugh. The couple, active members at St. Benedict’s Parish in Broken Arrow, married in 2012. They have two young children and are expecting a third in May. In 2012, McAuliff became a Knights of Columbus field agent and was named “Rookie of the Year” for his work. In 2015, he was the No. 1 field agent Orderwide. But for McAuliff, being a field agent is not only a viable career option; it’s also part of a vocation to serve and to help fellow members and their families — a vocation he takes very seriously. “I have an inner peace because I have found what I’m called to do, and it’s my responsibility to take care of these families,” McAuliff said. “On the way to an appointment, I pray, ‘Please God, grant me the strength and wisdom to know how to take care of them.’” In a state where Catholics make up 5-6 percent of the population, Chad and Alyssa feel blessed to be surrounded by Catholic families. “Many of our friends are Chad’s clients,” Alyssa said. “That’s how we’ve met more people who share our same faith commitment.” In addition to Knights of Columbus activities, the young couple serves their parish as RCIA program volunteers and as Pre-Cana sponsors. They appreciate the flexibility that working from a home office provides. “We have a good schedule that works,” McAuliff explained. “I’m consistent and efficient, and Alyssa keeps me organized and structured. I work all year and take time off during the whole year.”
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Field Agent Chad McAuliff, a member of Harry L. Harper Council 6606 in Broken Arrow, Okla., visits with a young couple to discuss their insurance needs.
Photo by Miller Photography
More than this, McAuliff appreciates the strong Catholic foundation that gives his work deeper meaning. “The faith values, the community, the service — that’s what makes ours so different from other commercial companies,” he said. “I feel passion and purpose for what I do, and I think families see that when I sit down with them.” BY BROTHER KNIGHTS, FOR BROTHER KNIGHTS The way his faith and professional life complement one another is one of the key reasons why General Agent Kevin Pierce, 35, says that his work “truly makes a difference in the lives of many Catholic families.” Like his field agent Chad McAuliff, Pierce’s agency is also in first place in the company, an accolade Pierce credits to his men. “If our agency is number one, it’s because my men chose to be number one collectively, not me,” said Pierce, a member of Edmond (Okla.) Council 6477. The job of a general agent, he explained, is to recruit, contract, train and manage. “I’m here to support them, help train them, offer advice and be there for them,” said Pierce. “I really care about my people. I’m proud of my men.”
According to Pierce, McAuliff embodies what he looks for in a field agent, namely that “special something that I can’t teach!” “I can teach the program, the process, how to explain things, how to service things, how to ask people to take the first step in purchasing,” Pierce said, “but I can’t teach heart — and I can’t teach work ethic.” A Catholic convert and former college football player, Pierce credits his own profession with the Knights to a relative who was a field agent in Kearney, Neb. “Every time our families got together we would talk shop, talk insurance. It was how I was educated on the Knights,” Pierce said. Looking back at his career, he smiled. “I see Father McGivney’s hand in all of this! My faith and prayer, that’s my foundation,” he said, adding that he is first and foremost devoted to his family and his parish. “We simply never know what impact our actions may have years from now.” That potential impact, Pierce affirmed, should affect an agent’s everyday responsibilities and decision-making. “I tell my agents, one day we’re going to be sitting in front of Father McGivney,” said Pierce, “and he’s going to ask, ‘How FEBRUARY 2016
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did you treat my members? Did you take care of the widows and the orphans?’ “We are out there living Father McGivney’s mindset and vision every day, which is so much more than just going to work for some random insurance company,” Pierce added. “As agents we get to make sure that widows and orphans are protected. That’s our job.” MOTIVATED TO SERVE Every agent has a story or two that particularly drives him. Sometimes it’s a moment when he made a difference in the middle of a crisis. But sometimes it’s about a missed opportunity — a heart-wrenching instance when a Knight put off buying insurance or making plans, with tragic results. For Kevin Pierce, one such experience took place when he was a field agent. Pierce avoided approaching a brother Knight because the 30-something-year-old worked for a com26 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
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peting insurance company. What Pierce didn’t know was that this Knight’s employer had denied him coverage. Pierce acknowledges that he didn’t follow up with him after an initial discussion. The Knight died in his sleep two weeks later. “The image of his wife walking into the funeral with their two young children is etched in my memory forever,” Pierce said quietly. “It is heartbreaking and I’ll never forget it. I share that story with my agents because it motivates me.” This and similar stories impel McAuliff to meet with brother Knights in a timely manner. “As a financial professional, I feel a responsibility to approach every member because things can happen,” McAuliff said. “We hope and pray that they don’t, but things do happen that completely alter our lives. There’s an urgency I feel to visit with every family.” The most difficult aspect of his work, McAuliff said, is when someone says, “Thanks, but no thanks.” The challenge,
Photo by Miller Photography
Chad and Alyssa McAuliff are pictured with their two children at their home in Broken Arrow, Okla.
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General Agent Kevin W. Pierce, a member of Edmond (Okla.) Council 6477, and Chad McAuliff are pictured together in Pierce’s office in Edmond.
he explained, is to impress upon them the need to plan long before a crisis occurs. “If they understood more about what we do, I firmly believe they could be helped also,” McAuliff said. “What I do in that situation is simply continue to offer my help.” In offering help to members and their families, it is not un-
usual for a field agent to assume responsibilities with his clients that go well beyond selling insurance. “We work to create a relationship. We may not be related, but my clients are family to me,” explained McAuliff, noting a recent instance when a Knight died. At the widow’s home, McAuliff sat down with her and looked over her financial records. “When I delivered a death claim check to her, she was in tears. I was in tears. We talked about the check and how to handle the funds and the funeral. She was really thankful that someone took the time to go through all the papers.” Such experiences remind McAuliff of why he decided to become a field agent and of the difference the Knights of Columbus can make.♦ MARÍA DE LOURDES RUIZ SCAPERLANDA is a freelance writer and author living in Norman, Okla.
Photo by McNeese Stills + Motion
A CAREER UNLIKE ANY OTHER Might a career with the Knights of Columbus field force be right for you? A CAREER AS a Knights of Columbus field agent may very well be the most rewarding, fulfilling and unique opportunity that you’ll ever come across. First and foremost, it gives you the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Working with a select group of professionals, you help to support and safeguard families within your local Catholic community. Second, you get to determine your own level of success. Within a team-based agency system, you can enjoy a flexible schedule and unlimited potential as you collaborate with brother Knights within an established territory. Finally, you don’t have to worry about checking your values at the office door. The Knights of Columbus is a proud Catholic company, a World’s Most Ethical Company® and one of the greatest forces for good in North America and beyond. Interested? Consider having a no-obligation discussion about a career with the Knights of Columbus.
As a K of C agent, you establish your own business as part of a regional agency team. You’re in business for yourself, but you’re never by yourself. Our agents get to take advantage of a time-tested training system that has helped thousands of agents create successful careers. Agents engage in pre-contract work and field-based training. They study in our custom Agent Online University. They participate in continuing education and earn professional designations. They take advantage of a support system of general agents, fellow agents, regional agents and Supreme Council office staff. For more information, visit the “Career Opportunities” section of the Order’s website — kofc.org/careers — where you can view video testimonials from current agents. You can also express interest or find out more by calling Vice President of Manpower Development Steve Fedewa at (203) 752-4136, or emailing him at steven.fedewa@kofc.org.♦ FEBRUARY 2016
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KNIGHTS IN ACTION
REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES Bibles to a prison ministry organization. The Bibles will help prison chaplains and other volunteers spread the Gospel of Christ and support religious education among inmates. CAR FOR PRIEST
Knights from Banal Na Sakramento Council 8753 in Quezon City, Luzon, wave while participating in a pro-life march to promote the sanctity of all human life. Dozens of Knights walked about two miles from the K of C offices in Manila to the San Andres Malate Gymnasium.
St. Catherine Laboure Council 11827 in Chino Valley, Ariz., held a “Food for Breakfast” event for more than 100
guests. In exchange for the meal, attendees were asked to bring four cans of food to be donated to a local food bank. In total, the council collected more than 300 cans or packages of food. PRAYER BOOKLET FOR STUDENTS
Members of John Paul II Assembly in Greenwood, S.C., stand at attention as Faithful Navigator Robert Figueira delivers brief remarks while dedicating a new plaque in honor of Greenwood County veterans. Knights donated the plaque to the Greenwood County Veterans Affairs Office in order to establish a “Hall of Heroes” that honors area servicemen and women. 28 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
Virgin of Peñafrancia Council 3976 in Naga City, Luzon, gave prayer booklets to 121 students graduating from Domingo G. Abcede Elementary School. The booklets contained prayers for Mass; guidelines for confession, Communion and praying the rosary; information on the Stations of the Cross; and prayers to be said before the Blessed Sacrament. WILD GAME NIGHT
Father John F. O’Neill Council 10722 and Bishop Dingman Council 10805, both in Council Bluffs, Iowa, cosponsored a wild game dinner for charity. With dinner op-
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tions that ranged from beaver, elk and wild boar, the dinner raised more than $25,000 for 20 different charities. CLEANING PARISH BUILDINGS
Father Justin Cunningham Council 11324 in Charlottesville, Va., organized a group of volunteers to clean the buildings of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish. The workers cleaned the interior of the church and the kitchen in St. Thomas Hall. ROSES TO NEW MOMS
Beginning in 1995, St. Charles Borromeo Council 4279 in Bensalem, Pa., has presented roses of life to new mothers at the four parishes it serves. To date, Knights have presented more than 4,800 roses to new mothers. PRISON MINISTRY
St. Anthony the Miracle Worker Council 7641 in Bedford, Texas, donated 25
Don Kropp (right) of St. Michael the Archangel Assembly in Tampa, Fla., stands with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Phil Yang during the annual Tampa Bay Ride 2 Recovery Event. Knights served as volunteers and participants in the race, which is part of a nationwide program to help injured veterans rebuild their physical and mental strength through bicycle riding. The assembly, along with Msgr. Kevin S. Mullen Council 12956, also made donations to the Ride 2 Recovery program.
LOWER LEFT: Photo by Maddy Jones/Index-Journal
‘FOOD FOR BREAKFAST’
Our Lady of Lourdes Council 4500 in Marple, Pa., donated $1,500 to Father John Bradley after he was in a car accident in which his vehicle was totaled. Father Bradley celebrates Mass at several local parishes, so it was essential that he have reliable transportation. In addition to the donation toward the purchase of a car, the council also located a used car for Father Bradley to buy.
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KNIGHTS IN ACTION RETIREMENT AGE
St. Helena Council 7965 in San Antonio and its ladies’ auxiliary attended a Mass to celebrate the opening of a new retirement home for the Hermanas Josefinas of San Antonio. Following Mass and a tour of the facility, the council presented the sisters with $1,000 to help them purchase additional furnishings for the home. GEAR FOR SCOUTS
Roseburg (Ore.) Council 2939 donated approximately $1,500 worth of camping equipment to Boy Scout Troop #1, chartered at Sacred Heart Church in Medford. Included in the camp gear were four canoes, two metalframed camp shelters, two snow sleds, camp stoves, cooking utensils, ropes and several ice saws.
Members of St. Francis of Assisi Council 13456 in Henderson, Nev., load donated food items onto a Catholic Charities truck following the council’s monthly collection at St. Francis of Assisi Church. During their most recent drive, Knights collected 6,000 pounds of nonperishable food items. In 2014, the council garnered 94,500 pounds of goods.
STATION UPGRADES
St. Joseph Council 12788 in Mechanicsburg, Pa., upgraded the lighting and replaced the ceiling tiles in the broadcast booth of a local Catholic radio station. Holy
Family Radio in Shiremanstown serves the Catholic community in the Diocese of Harrisburg. Knights donated all labor and materials for the project, saving the station about $500.
Bergie’s personal charities to help the less fortunate.
DINNER FOR DECEASED KNIGHT
St. Mary of Sorrows Council 8600 in Fairfax Station, Va., organized a “Polish Night” to raise funds for Marian Homes Inc., a non-profit organization that provides housing for people with intellectual disabilities. Knights raised $2,146 for the organization, which is in the process of acquiring a third housing facility that will offer 24-hour continuous care.
POLISH NIGHT
Father Goentges Council 1987 in Lapeer, Mich., hosted a Polish dinner that raised more than $9,000 to provide utility bill assistance to families served by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Father Martin T. Gilligan Council 14882 in Dayton, Ohio, sponsored a fundraiser at a local restaurant to benefit the widow and children of a recently deceased Knight. Council members helped seat and serve attendees at the event, which raised more than $2,600 for the deceased Knight’s family.
VISITING & CATECHESIS
BISHOP’S CHARITY ASSOCIATION
CHEERING SECTION
Each week, members of San Isidro Magsasaka Council 13150 in Lucena City, Luzon, offer religious instruction to inmates at the Lucena City Jail. Knights also assist in marketing various items that have been handcrafted
Councils from throughout the Diocese of St. Catharines, Ontario, organized the Knights’ Bishops Charity Association, which, in turn, hosted its first-ever charity dinner. The event raised $7,000 for Bishop Gerard P.
Holy Crusaders Council 9193 in Blackwood, N.J., provided funding to help the Our Lady of Hope Regional School Cheerleaders purchase new gym mats for squad members to use while learning their routines.
UTILITY ASSISTANCE
Carl Anderson of East Hanover (N.J.) Council 6504 presents a red rose to his wife, Pat, at the council’s annual wives appreciation dinner. Council members and their spouses were encouraged to attend the event to show their appreciation for each other and the organizations they’re involved in throughout the year.
by the inmates, the sales of which benefit rehabilitation projects.
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KNIGHTS IN ACTION
Members of St. Peter Council 13474 in Stockton, Mo., construct the framework for a picnic pavilion at their parish. With funding from parishioners, Knights provided volunteer labor to construct the pavilion, which includes two storage rooms for parish and council equipment.
SUPPORTING SISTERS
HOME FOR FAMILY IN NEED
St. Joseph Council 10894 in Springfield, Neb., donated $2,500 to the Poor Clares to help support the new convent that the order just completed in Elkhorn. Funds for the donation were raised through a councilsponsored food booth at a parish event.
Father Thomas Cushen Council 5268 in Excelsior, Minn., joined Knights from throughout the state in aiding a family in need of a temporary home. A local family
CEMETERY CLEANUP
Members of St. Leo Council 9477 in Casselton, N.D., volunteer to maintain the cemetery at their parish. Knights straighten headstones and perform grounds maintenance as part of the ongoing program. 30 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦
A CLEAN FLUSH
K of C councils from throughout Chester County, Pa., pooled their efforts to raise more than $37,000 to rebuild the septic system at St. Joseph House, a facility that provides shelter and Catholic education opportunities to orphans and others in need. The organization had no working toilets for a short period due to the system’s failure. FOUNDATION ASSISTANCE
ITEMS FOR HOSPITAL
Aurora (Ontario) Council 6519 collected personal care items for patients at the Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket. The items, which included shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes and hand creams, were provided through a partnership with the hospital’s spiritual care group.
of five was recently informed that they could no longer live in their two-bedroom apartment because of a Minnesota housing code change. After learning about the problem, Mike Buchanan of Archbishop John Roach Council 10031 in Chanhassen offered a townhouse for the family’s use. Knights repainted and updated the house for the family, who will be living there rent-free for several months as they work to find long-term housing.
Master Sgt. Richard Jones, charter grand knight of Deacon Douglas R. Sliger Council 16127 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, stands with Chuck Gallina, the Order’s assistant for military and veterans affairs, at the council’s chartering ceremony March 22. The council is named for a deacon and Air Force veteran who served at Hill Air Force Base for 12 years. In addition to the chartering ceremony, members of the new council also attended Mass and prayed together.
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Through a variety of fundraisers and sponsorship contributions, Baie-Comeau (Québec) Council 3094 raised $32,000 for Fondation du Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Manicouagan, which provides services to senior citizens in long-term care facilities. Specifically, the funds are earmarked to purchase new entertainment and comfort equipment for residents to ensure a better quality of life. SANDWICHES FOR SHELTER
Msgr. John F. Callahan Council 3600 in West Hartford, Conn., gathered at St. Thomas the Apostle Church to prepare food for a local shelter. Knights and volun-
teers, including students from the parish religious education program, made approximately 360 sandwiches. PLAY PRODUCTION
Our Lady Queen of Peace Council 11680 in New Port Richey, Fla., staged a successful production of 12 Angry Men, with various members of the council making up the cast and crew. All of the performances sold out. VETERAN T-SHIRTS
Father Denys Baron Assembly in Pittsburgh donated nine dozen T-shirts to the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The shirts included a message thanking the veterans for their military service. SAUSAGE GRIND
Father Nicholas A. Hassel Council 1131 in Princeton, Ind., organized a “sausage grind” fundraiser. Knights worked to make approximately 1,500 pounds of meat to fill orders for packaged sausages. Proceeds were added to the council’s charitable fund.
Members of Rosary Heights Council 6591 in Cotabato City, Mindanao, look on as a baby receives a pneumonia vaccination during a councilsponsored medical program. Knights hosted the medical mission to ensure that all children — especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds — are vaccinated against the disease.
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KNIGHTS IN ACTION FLAMINGO FLOCKING
Holy Angels Circle 5658 in Aurora, Ill., raised $1,000 for the Waterleaf Women’s Center by hosting a “flamingo flocking” fundraiser. Squires would set up a flock of plastic flamingos at a local residence before migrating the flock to the next house for a small donation. Homeowners could also buy “antiflocking” insurance to protect their homes from the pesky pink birds.
many parishes and missions he serves in Nepal. HIGHWAY CLEANUP
Members of AssumptionKeene (Ontario) Council 14032 joined with parishioners and their families to clean a six-mile stretch of roadway as part of an adopta-highway program. Volunteers collected 48 bags of trash and 19 bags of recyclables. A local restaurant donated refreshments to the workers.
NEW MOTORBIKE
Bishop Salpointe Council 4584 in Sierra Vista, Ariz., organized a special fundraiser to purchase a new motorbike for Father Silas Bogati, the vicar general of the apostolic vicariate of Nepal. Father Bogati, who is a member of Council 4584, will use the new bike to travel to the
RELIEF DONATIONS
Mary, Cause of Our Joy Council 8447 in Soldiers Hills, Luzon, and Kalayaan Assembly in Muntinlupa City delivered relief donations to 250 families that were affected by a local fire. Knights collected rice, canned goods, soap and clothing for people displaced by the fire. BASKETBALL FUNDRAISER
Members of St. Juan Diego Circle 5704 in Buckingham, Pa., got together to make 1,000 free throws to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Squires and counselors made all 1,000 of their shots, raising more than $2,500 for the hospital. WHEELCHAIRS REPURPOSED
Members of Pateros (Luzon) Council 4640 work to repair a statue of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in preparation of the anniversary of Pateros Liberation Day. Knights volunteered 800 hours to restoring and repainting the historical monument, which is located in front of a local municipal building.
Msgr. Robert J. Yates Assembly in Perrysburg, Ohio, repurposed 20 wheelchairs from Toledo Honor Flight. Knights delivered the wheelchairs to the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky along with T-shirts, bags and other items. HANDMADE BLANKETS
In addition to its regular clothing distributions, Bishop
Father Glenn Diaz blesses a statue of Venerable Michael McGivney that was donated to St. Patrick Church by Msgr. John M. McCall Council 4892 and Archbishop J. P. Hurley Assembly, both in Largo, Fla. Knights purchased and installed the statue, and Fourth Degree members provided an honor guard for the dedication ceremony.
Ruocco Council 9275 in Westford, Mass., personally handed out 100 handmade fleece blankets to the homeless in greater Boston. Knights purchased materials for the blankets, which were then made by the council’s ladies’ auxiliary. HEATING SYSTEM
Donat Robichaud (New Brunswick) Council 9178 organized a fundraiser to help purchase a new heating system for St. Teresa of Avila Church in Cap-Pelé. With the assistance of local parishioners, Knights raised $15,800 to purchase a new, reliable system that will ensure the church is properly heated year round.
struction of a cement shell and a granite façade. Knights worked with the retreat center to raise $41,000 for the project, with additional funds from the Diocese of Fresno. Bishop Armando X. Ochoa of Fresno dedicated the completed grotto alongside an honor guard of Fourth Degree Knights. PET DRIVE
Joined by members of its ladies’ auxiliary, St. Joseph Council 3402 in Keyport, N.J., collected food, towels, shampoo, blankets, collars, leashes, toys and other items during its first annual pet drive. The collected items were donated to the Monmouth County SPCA.
GUADALUPE GROTTO
Father Dade Assembly in Tulare, Calif., helped fund the construction of a grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the St. Anthony Retreat Center in Three Rivers. The project called for the excavation of a massive rock monolith on the patio of the retreat house, followed by the con-
kofc.org exclusive See more “Knights in Action” reports and photos at www.kofc.org/ knightsinaction
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O N - TA RG E T R E C RU I T I N G
K OF C ITEMS OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS
‘Be present, be yourself. Christianity spreads through attraction.’
IN THE UNITED STATES THE ENGLISH COMPANY INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment 1-800-444-5632 • www.kofcsupplies.com
Named 2015 Virginia State College Knight of the Year, Daniel C. Tillson joined the Order in 2013. A member of James T. O’Neil Council 10806 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tillson has recruited more than 25 new Knights. He currently serves as his council’s vocations chairman.
LYNCH AND KELLY INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-548-3890 • www.lynchkelly.com IN CANADA ROGER SAUVÉ INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-266-1211 • www.roger-sauve.com
JOIN THE FATHER MCGIVNEY GUILD
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Please enroll me in the Father McGivney Guild: NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP/POSTAL CODE Complete this coupon and mail to: The Father McGivney Guild, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 or enroll online at: www.fathermcgivney.org
OFFICIAL FEB. 1, 2016: To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Laws of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the policy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MATTER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: COLUMBIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. REJECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PURCHASED MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS BY WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SUBSCRIPTION RATES — IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CURRENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901.
COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326. PHONE: 203-752-4000, www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2015 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. CANADIAN POSTMASTER — PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 1473549. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 50 MACINTOSH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, ONTARIO L4K 4P3 PHILIPPINES — FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAIL AT THE MANILA CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURN COPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1511, MANILA.
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A FAMILY LEGACY I became a Knight because in 1948, my grandfather, Robert Tillson, became a Knight. He was actually the first to bring the Catholic faith to the Tillson family. And so for me it was a way to honor him and really continue his legacy. Upon becoming a brother Knight, I realized that this is a real ministry. This is a way in which we can challenge people to grow in their faith and to become better Catholics. And, in turn, my brothers also challenge me. A FRATERNITY FOR ALL CATHOLIC MEN We like to wear our emblem around campus. We want people to know about the Knights of Columbus, so that they will be curious enough to come up to us and ask, “What is that?” This way, we’ll get a chance to talk about Father McGivney and our faith. We also send a formal packet to prospective members that includes a photo of our council and a description of Father McGivney’s mission. By being present on campus, we are branding the Order as a fraternity for all Catholic men, not just older men or those who already have a family. We open up new avenues for evangelization among young people. DON’T TAKE “NO” FOR AN ANSWER The most satisfying recruitment experience, I think, was the guy who told me “No” 11 times but who was really enjoying everything about the Knights. We kept inviting him to hang out with us, to participate in our events, even though he wasn’t yet a member. And eventually he got to the point where he said, “I don’t even understand why I don’t accept the invitation. I’m already participating in everything; I should just do it.” He became a Knight three weeks ago and actually got elected as an officer yesterday. BEING A GENUINE WITNESS Be genuine with the people around you and your presence as a Knight can itself be a witness to the Catholic faith. In addition to being an active recruiter and seeking people out, there’s also an aspect to it that we often forget, which is to just be present, be yourself. Christianity spreads through attraction.
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K N I G H T S O F C O L UM B U S
Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Building a better world one council at a time Every day, Knights all over the world are given opportunities to make a difference — whether through community service, raising money or prayer. We celebrate each and every Knight for his strength, his compassion and his dedication to building a better world.
TO
BE FEATURED HERE , SEND YOUR COUNCIL’ S
C OLUMBIA , 1 C OLUMBUS P LAZA , N EW
Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore (left) and Spiritan Father Honest Munishi, pastor of St. Edward the Confessor Parish, help a student of Catholic Charities Head Start of Baltimore City try on a new coat Nov. 30, 2015. The supreme chaplain assisted with the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids initiative, as local Knights distributed 1,000 coats to children from Catholic Charities Head Start and from Sts. James and John Catholic School, Holy Angels Catholic School and Alexander Hamilton Elementary School, all in Baltimore.
“K NIGHTS IN A CTION ” H AVEN , CT 06510-3326
PHOTO AS WELL AS ITS DESCRIPTION TO : OR E - MAIL : COLUMBIA @ KOFC . ORG .
FEBRUARY 2016
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PLEASE, DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PRIESTLY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
K E E P T H E F A IT H A L I V E
‘STRONG MALE ROLE MODELS ARE INDISPENSABLE.’
FATHER SCOTT MURRAY Diocese of Pembroke, Ontario St. Andrew’s Council 15945 in Killaloe
Brian Walters Photography
I grew up in a small town in the Ottawa Valley, where community was always an important aspect of my life. My parents were both very active members of St. Andrew’s Parish and the town of Killaloe, Ontario. From an early age, they encouraged my brothers and me to be men who would serve and lead. My dad passed away before I became a priest, and before my brothers became husbands and fathers, but I know that he is proud of the men we are and strive to be. Strong male role models are an indispensable good that the Knights of Columbus can and do provide to our communities. At a time when we are experiencing such a painful crisis of fatherhood in our society, we need the Knights now more than ever to be those role models. Families and communities need moral, faithful, courageous fathers. I am grateful to the Knights for the years of support that they have given to me and my family, and I look forward to many years of collaboration with them in striving to build up the communities to which my bishop sends me.