Columbia February 2017 by Columbia Magazine

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K N I G H T S O F C O LU MBUS

F EBRUARY 2017

COLUMBIA

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K N I G H T S O F C O LU M BU S feBRuaRy 2017 ♦ Volume 97 ♦ NumBeR 2

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F E AT U R E S

‘Charity First’

From immediate relief to long-term recovery, Knights serve those affected by devastating flooding in Louisiana. BY RICHARD MEEK

14 Home Again Against All Odds A severely wounded veteran and his family receive a “specially adapted smart home” through the Order’s partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation. BY KELLY SEEGERS

19 Principled Investing Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors allows Catholic institutions to invest with integrity. BY JOSEPH O’BRIEN

22 Time for a Tipping Point The bombing attack of a Coptic cathedral in Egypt is but one example of widespread anti-Christian persecution. BY JOHN L. ALLEN JR.

A statue of Mary is seen partially submerged in floodwater in Sorrento, La., Aug. 20, 2016. K of C leaders mobilized to help victims in the Baton Rouge area in the wake of the United States’ worst natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

D E PA RT M E N T S 3

Building a better world A new film about 17th-century missionaries sheds light on the mission of the Church today. BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

CNS photo/Jonathan Bachman, Reuters

Learning the faith, living the faith

Knights of Columbus News Knights of Columbus Sets Insurance Record for 16th Consecutive Year • New Deputy Supreme Knight Appointed • Supreme Council Supports Local Charities

Fathers for Good The Church continues its ongoing work against the problem of pornography. BY ANDREW LICHTENWALNER

26 Knights in Action

Reflecting on the Presentation of the Lord reveals the path of hope and allows us to rest in peace. BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI

PLUS: Catholic Man of the Month

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Charity Is Always in Season ONE OF THE MANY reasons I love my home state of Michigan is that growing up there allowed me to appreciate each of the four seasons. However, some seasons seemed to last longer than others. I recall feeling glum one day in late February and at first attributed it to my approaching birthday. I then realized that it wasn’t the thought of turning another year older that prompted my melancholy but rather the fact that I hadn’t seen the sun come out in weeks. Even the Church’s liturgical calendar this time of year feels a bit dreary. After celebrating the Lord’s birth and baptism, we are met with two months of “ordinary time,” which is immediately followed by 40 days of penance. It is during times like this that we might want to push the proverbial “fastforward” button until we reach better days ahead. This is a perennial temptation, expressed in the last conversation between Jesus and his disciples before the Ascension. The disciples ask, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” In response, Jesus says, “It is not for you to know the times (chrónoi) or seasons (kairoí) that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (cf. Acts 1:6-8). Reflecting on these final words of Jesus, St. John Paul II once made the following observation during a general audience: “Jesus’ reply is not limited to restraining the disciples’ impatience, but

emphasizes their responsibility. They are tempted to expect that Jesus will take care of everything. Instead they receive a mission which calls them to make a generous commitment.” Cultivating the virtue of hope in Jesus Christ directs our minds to the future fulfillment of his promises, but it also gives purpose and direction to our lives today. It reminds us of our duty as Christians to practice charity, to witness to the Gospel and to grow in holiness here and now. Yes, there are days and seasons of our lives — and of the year — that may seem less meaningful or that we would rather not endure. But even during “ordinary time,” we do not cease to celebrate the mysteries of Christ, and even our most mundane or difficult moments provide an opportunity to grow in faith and gratitude. Many of the charitable works of Knights of Columbus councils, such as Coats for Kids, Christmas toy drives and Lenten fish fries, are seasonal by their nature. At other times, Knights are called to respond to people’s needs following tragic and unexpected events such as natural disasters (see page 8) or to the needs of Christians facing persecution in the Middle East and beyond. Nonetheless, just as St. Paul exhorted Timothy to “preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2), there is never a moment when we do not have an opportunity and a responsibility to witness to God’s love.♦ ALTON J. PELOWSKI EDITOR

Featured Resource: The Face of Mercy A NEW K-OF-C PRODUCED documentary chronicles the dramatic impact of the message of Divine Mercy in our time. Narrated by Jim Caviezel, the one-hour film, The Face of Mercy, discusses the visions of God’s mercy received by St. Faustina Kowalska and the role St. John Paul II played in spreading the message. Interviews feature individuals who have been touched by Divine Mercy, including the late NYPD detective Steven McDonald. For more information, visit faceofmercyfilm.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 Patrick E. Kelly DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT Michael J. O’Connor SUPREME SECRETARY Ronald F. Schwarz SUPREME TREASURER John A. Marrella SUPREME ADVOCATE ________ EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski EDITOR Andrew J. Matt MANAGING EDITOR Anna M. Bninski ASSOCIATE 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 addresschange@kofc.org 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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The Future of the Faith A new film about 17th-century missionaries sheds light on the mission of the Church today by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson RECENTLY, I HAD the opportunity to view Martin Scorsese’s new film, Silence, about two Jesuit missionaries who travel to Japan during the terrible 17th-century persecution of Christians there. They make the journey seeking to disprove rumors that a more senior Jesuit missionary in Japan has publicly renounced the faith. Silence is based upon the 1966 novel of the same name by the late Japanese Catholic author Shusaku Endo. The book raises profound questions regarding the challenge to Christian faith in the midst of suffering and a hostile culture. The most obvious is suggested by the film’s title: How are we to understand the silence of God amid great suffering and evil? This is one of the deepest questions of our time, and it is explored in works about the Holocaust such as Elie Wiesel’s book Night (1956) and Steven Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List (1993). Catholics have also long admired three exceptional films that have masterfully dealt with the question of conscience and martyrdom: Becket (1964), A Man for All Seasons (1966), and The Mission (1986). Now, 30 years after the last of these, a fourth must be added to the list: Silence. Some Catholics might wish that a film exploring this topic did not involve a plot about the apostasy of priests. But Scorsese has made a beautiful and important film, one that raises many profound moral and spiritual questions. He said making the film was a sort of “pilgrimage” for him. Catholics should see his film in just this way — as a kind of pilgrimage, as a challenging and at times uncom-

fortable spiritual journey that can deepen our understanding and living of the faith. Silence could not be more relevant today as globalization presents new challenges to the Church’s mission of evangelization. During one of the film’s highpoints there is an exchange between two Jesuit missionaries. The younger Jesuit asserts that Christianity is universally true — if it is not true in every culture, then it cannot be true for any. But the older one replies that Christianity cannot take root in Japan. The reality is, however, that thousands of Japanese had become Christians and endured horrible torture and death rather than renounce their faith. But to this fact, the older Jesuit claims that these Japanese martyrs do not really understand the faith; they embrace a mere shell of Christianity. There is something deeply troubling about this scene, where the sophisticated, highly educated Westerner rationalizes his abandonment of Christianity, while “wretched” Japanese peasants willingly give their lives for their faith. In many places in the West today, the light of Christian faith is diminishing, while throughout much of the rest of the world Christianity is growing stronger. This is especially true in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where many Christians are being persecuted and killed because of their faith. That Silence, written by a Japanese Catholic, would have such impact in the West should tell us something important about the future of global Christianity.

Years ago, I visited the Hawaiian island of Molokai on a private pilgrimage in the footsteps of Father Damien. The “leper priest” was canonized in 2009, and the “colony” he served still exists on the island, with an active Catholic church. I will never forget seeing a photo of a woman of Japanese descent who suffered from leprosy. She prayed the rosary many times a day. When she no longer had fingers, she held the rosary beads with her toes. Finally, when this, too, became impossible, she would have the rosary placed in her mouth and moved the beads with her tongue. I thought of this woman as I reflected on the questions raised by Silence: How can Christianity take root in non-Western cultures? What is the meaning of suffering in the midst of God’s silence? Can the sophisticated learn faith from the poor and suffering? What is the impact of globalization on the solidarity of Christians? Christians will need to contend with these questions in the coming years, and how we do so will determine in many ways the future of Christianity. Through our principles of charity, unity and fraternity, Knights of Columbus are already providing concrete answers on all these fronts. And we must continue. Vivat Jesus!

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

How to End the Day Reflecting on the Presentation of the Lord reveals the path of hope and allows us to rest in peace by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

I DON’T KNOW about you, but called Compline, which comes from some nights I have trouble sleeping. a Latin word that means “complete.” At bedtime, the events of the day are Compline, or night prayer, is a way still ringing in my ears. When I turn of making our day complete. out the light, the stubborn problem This prayer consists of an examina- Spirit, he uttered this canticle, which I wrestled with at 9 a.m. comes back tion of conscience, a hymn in which forms the centerpiece of the Church’s for a nocturnal visit. An unpleasant we ask God to be with us through the night prayer: “Lord, now you let your encounter in the early afternoon re- night, a psalm that speaks of remem- servant go in peace; your word has turns for a repeat performance. The bering God and his mercy even at been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen letter or email I wish I hadn’t re- night, and then, the pièce de résistance: the salvation which you have preceived is there for my mind’s eye to the Canticle of Simeon. pared in the sight of every people: a read with 20/20 clarity. All light to reveal you to the nathe while, I’m thinking about tions and the glory of your peowhat awful shape I’ll be in ple Israel” (Lk 2:29-32). the next day if I don’t get What a beautiful prayer to If I follow Simeon’s lead, I realize some sleep. offer as each day’s work comes that, in the day that is ending, the to an end! Instead of ruminatAn old song by Irving Berlin advises, “If you’re worover my worries or reliving Lord has been placed in my arms. ing ried and you can’t sleep, count any mishap the day has your blessings instead of brought, I find that when I sheep. And you’ll fall asleep truly concentrate on the meancounting your blessings.” In the beautiful scene in St. Luke’s ing of this canticle, I am better able Not bad advice. But we should not Gospel where Mary and Joseph, in ac- to put the whole day in its proper only count our blessings at the end of cord with the Law of God, bring the perspective. the day; we should also give God Child Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem thanks and praise for all the ways he to dedicate him to the Lord, they meet ENTRUST, EXAMINE, REST has blessed us. a layman named Simeon. Simeon was While we know very little about The Church, in fact, figured all of part of the remnant of Israel that Simeon’s life, he can surely be this out a long time ago and has an of- looked forward to the coming of the counted among those who struggled ficial prayer to bring the day to a close. Messiah. He was a prayerful man to “hope against hope.” When he whose heart was full of hope in all that saw Jesus, all that he spent his life THE CANTICLE OF SIMEON God had promised. No doubt he fre- and energy hoping and praying for The Liturgy of the Hours, also quently prayed in the Temple, but on came to pass. Jesus put Simeon’s known as the Divine Office or bre- this occasion he was prompted by the whole life in its proper perspective, viary, marks the hours of the day Spirit to go there, where he encoun- and Simeon experienced an exquisite with prayer — morning, midday, tered the Holy Family. peace. So, if I follow Simeon’s lead, evening and nighttime. Bishops, When Simeon took the Child Jesus as each day comes to an end, I need priests and deacons are obligated to into his arms, his eyes of faith were not avoid my worries and wounds, pray it, but all are encouraged to pray opened and he knew he held the long- nor do I have to salve them with aras well. The last prayer of the day is expected Savior. Filled with the Holy tificial happiness of self-induced 4 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦

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

positive thinking. On the contrary, all I need to do is to entrust the whole package — all my strengths and weaknesses, together with the events of the day — to the Lord Jesus, who is just as present to me as he was to Simeon. In that moment of trust and love, I can also serenely examine my conscience. If I continue to follow Simeon’s lead, I realize that, in the day that is ending, the Lord has been placed in my arms — entrusted to me in the Eucharist I have celebrated and received; in the Word of God I have

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

POPE FRANCIS: CNS photo/Paul Haring — BLESSED SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Tzaneen, South Africa

Offered in Solidarity with Pope Francis COMFORT FOR THE AFFLICTED: That all those who are afflicted, especially the poor, refugees, and marginalized, may find welcome and comfort in our communities.

proclaimed and listened to; in the people I have encountered, including those who are in need and those with whom I may have disagreed. When I am spiritually alert, I will ask if I paused during the course of the day and really opened my heart to the living presence of Christ in the Eucharist, just as Simeon opened his heart to the Child Jesus. I will look to see if, like Mary, I truly held Jesus, the living Word of God, in my heart. Did I try to see the face of Christ in those I encountered over the course of the day? Did my eyes

of faith perceive the light of Christ in others and truly glimpse the salvation that God has prepared for every person whom I am privileged to serve? Did my words, actions and demeanor reflect the light and goodness of the Christ I held in my arms? Then, entrusting myself to the Lord, I fall asleep in his peace. So as each day begins and ends, my prayer for you is this: “May the Lord protect you as you stay awake and watch over you as you sleep, that awake you may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.”♦

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

Blessed Samuel Benedict Daswa (1946-1990) TSHIMANGADZO Samuel Daswa was born in Mbahé, a village in northern South Africa, June 16, 1946. The oldest of five children, Daswa belonged to a tribe called the Lemba, which followed Semitic traditions, while the region’s predominant Venda culture embraced animism, ancestor worship and polygamy. As a boy, Daswa tended cattle and loved working in his father’s garden. When his father died in an accident, he became the provider for his siblings. With great dedication, Daswa encouraged them to study and paid for their education. At age 15, Daswa’s faith was kindled when he encountered Catholics in Johannesburg. Upon returning home, he sought religious instruction and was baptized and confirmed two years later, taking the name Benedict. Daswa became a catechist and later worked to build the first Catholic church in nearby Nweli. After earning a teaching degree, Daswa became the principal of Nweli Primary School, where he helped pupils in need cover tuition costs. In 1974,

Daswa married Shadi Eveline Monyai, and the couple eventually had eight children. A devoted Christian husband, he broke with Venda tradition by helping his wife with household chores. In 1990, when lightning strikes destroyed several homes, the village council blamed it on witchcraft and sought a traditional healer to identify who was responsible. Daswa, the council secretary, was absent when this decision was made. He later argued that natural phenomena should not be blamed on magic and said that his Catholic faith prevented him from participating in a witch hunt. Enraged, a mob attacked Daswa on his way home, clubbing him to death Feb. 2, 1990. His last words were, “God, into your hands receive my spirit.” Daswa was beatified in September 2015.♦

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

Knights of Columbus Sets Insurance Record for 16th Consecutive Year THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS recorded its 16th consecutive year of growth in insurance sales in 2016, with $8.54 billion in new life insurance sold — an increase of more than $125 million. The K of C now has more than $105 billion of life insurance in force — a $50 billion increase in the last decade due to record sales. “More and more Catholic families are turning to the Knights of Columbus for their insurance needs,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. “By leveraging our fraternal network of professional field agents and remaining faithful to our Catholic roots, we offer something unique to members and their families: top-quality financial protection provided by professionals who are brother Knights, who share our values — and who act on them.” The new sales record caps a year of milestones for the Knights. In March, the Order was named a 2016

New Deputy Supreme Knight Appointed PATRICK E. KELLY, a past state deputy of the District of Columbia, was appointed deputy supreme knight by the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors Dec. 13. A Knight for 33 years, Kelly became the Order’s vice president for public policy in 2006 and since Patrick Kelly 2011 has also served as executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. He was elected to the Order’s Board of Directors in 2013. Earlier this year, Kelly retired with the rank of captain from the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps Reserve, where he served as the commanding officer of the international law unit at the U.S. Naval War College. Previously, Kelly had a long career of public service that included advisory roles to Congress and the Department of Justice. He succeeds Logan T. Ludwig, who retired at age 70 after serving as deputy supreme knight since 2013.♦ 6 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦

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“World’s Most Ethical Company®” by the Ethisphere Institute, an independent center for research promoting best practices in corporate ethics and governance. It was the third consecutive year that the Knights earned the honor. The Knights was one of two companies named in the life insurance category. In September, the Knights was again listed on the Fortune 1000 list and, for the 41st consecutive year, earned the highest possible rating for financial strength — A++ (Superior) — from A.M. Best. No insurer in North America is more highly rated. With one of the lowest lapse rates in the industry, the K of C offers a product line designed to provide life insurance, annuities, disability income and long-term care policies to meet the needs of Catholic families while enjoying a stellar reputation for financial security.♦

Supreme Council Supports Local Charities A LOCAL VETERAN and his family received a new home, the Connecticut Food Bank served tens of thousands more meals, and various New Haven charities closed the year better equipped to serve the community thanks to Christmastime donations from the Knights of Columbus. “Since many people in our community are struggling with hunger and lack other resources,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, “the Knights of Columbus is pleased to support the wonderful work of our neighbor organizations as they demonstrate the spirit and meaning of Christmas.” Locally, the Knights recently provided $75,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven for the construction of a brand new home for a veteran and his family. With its origins and international headquarters located in New Haven, the Knights of Columbus continued its years of support for the Connecticut Food Bank with a $20,`000 donation. K of C employees also assist the food bank through various fundraising and volunteer endeavors year-round.

A Supreme Council employee volunteers with the Connecticut Food Bank in New Haven. Other charity efforts in the New Haven area that received assistance from the Knights this past year include the Coats for Kids “Black Friday” program, in coordination with the Connecticut Knights of Columbus; the Salvation Army; Connecticut Hospice, Inc.; local soup kitchens and food pantries, and more.♦

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A Pastoral Response The Church continues its ongoing work against the problem of pornography by Andrew Lichtenwalner

Thinkstock

ince its approval in November 2015, the U.S. bishops’ pastoral document on pornography has been a source of reflection and action throughout the Church in the United States. I was interviewed about the document, titled Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography, in the March 2016 issue of Columbia, and here I offer an update on how the document’s message has been received and implemented. Throughout the development of Create in Me a Clean Heart, the bishops envisioned this statement as a foundation for other resources and initiatives. It is a key reference point with clear teaching and guidance on a challenging topic that has implications for parish ministry, family life and community values. In October 2016, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released five pamphlets targeted to particular groups: • For parents: “Raising Chaste Children in a Pornographic World” • For married couples: “Pornography’s Effects on Marriage and Hope for Married Couples” • For priests: “The Role of Priests in Ministry to Those Who Struggle with Pornography” • For men and women who struggle with pornography: “‘Wash Me Thoroughly’: Healing from Pornography Use and Addiction” • For the Catholic parishioner: an abridged version of the pastoral document. Each of these pamphlets references Create in Me a Clean Heart and points to further resources. They are available at www.usccb.org/cleanheart in English and in Spanish. Dioceses, parishes and ministries are encouraged to use them as a way to educate the Catholic faithful and provide support to those struggling with pornography. Collaboration among Catholic leaders is a crucial aspect of the Church’s work of protecting children and families from pornography. At the USCCB, the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection included a focus on pornography in a nationwide live webinar for parish and Catholic institution leaders, and it also addressed the issue at the annual

conference of safe environment coordinators. In various dioceses, leaders from family life offices, safe environment offices and Catholic schools are working on effective ways to collaborate and share best practices. Other important collaborators with the USCCB are the many ministries and organizations that work to educate the Catholic faithful about pornography and provide healing for those who have been harmed by it. The bishops are very grateful for the generous and enthusiastic efforts by priests and the lay faithful to bring the message of Clean Heart to those who need to hear it. The Knights of Columbus and its Fathers for Good initiative have been early leaders in raising awareness. Fathers are key figures in protecting their children from exposure to offensive material on TV, the internet and social media. The work of promoting and implementing Create in Me a Clean Heart is ongoing, as practical resources continue to be developed and shared. The USCCB National Advisory Council submitted a resolution in September 2016 encouraging the bishops to identify resources and educational materials that can be used by families, parishes and schools to effectively address the problem of early exposure of children to pornography. At their November 2016 General Assembly, the U.S. bishops approved a strategic plan for 2017-2020, which includes the development of a pastoral plan for marriage and family life ministry and advocacy. This pastoral plan will address the topic of pornography, with guidance given for those who minister to marriages and families. The dangers of pornography are not going away any time soon; we must all remain vigilant to maintain a clean heart in ourselves, protect children and families from pornography, and offer healing to those who have been wounded.♦ ANDREW LICHTENWALNER is executive director of the Secretariat on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Sacred Heart Council 2577 in Bowie, Md.

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

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‘CHARITY FIRST’ From immediate relief to long-term recovery, Knights serve those affected by devastating flooding in Louisiana by Richard Meek 8 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦

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An aerial image shows flooded homes and businesses in downtown Denham Springs, La., Aug. 13, 2016.

Photo by Patrick Dennis/The Advocate

ven by Louisiana standards, it was an unusually warm mid-December morning when eight Knights of Columbus from several local councils arrived at the Care Pregnancy Clinic in Baton Rouge, a facility that was inundated with more than four feet of water when unprecedented flooding ravaged the region four months earlier. In the unseasonal heat, the volunteers came to offer a day of service. Under the supervision of Dorothy Wallis, the clinic’s executive director, the Knights painted recently hung drywall, moved donated furniture and equipment, and did whatever else was necessary to help the clinic reopen. The clinic had also lost its three ultrasound machines, two of

which had been funded by Mother of Mercy Council 4030 and St. Jean Vianney Council 9247, both in Baton Rouge, through the K of C Ultrasound Initiative. “I was determined we were going to start serving girls again, even if I did not have a house or a pillow to lay my head on,” said Wallis, whose own home was devastated and had to be rebuilt. “Words cannot express my gratitude for all of this help.” The volunteer effort at the Care Pregnancy Clinic was a mere snapshot of the disaster relief response undertaken by the Order on the local, state and national levels. While scores of councils acted swiftly to rescue, feed and find temporary shelter for thousands in the immediate aftermath of FEBRUARY 2017

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the deluge in August 2016, the Supreme Council spearheaded a national fundraising campaign, and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson visited devastated areas in September. Today, recovery efforts continue as local Knights work to rebuild homes and restore livelihoods.

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Rennan J. Duffour, state secretary of the Louisiana Knights of Columbus and a member of St. Charles Council 2409 in Luling, helps to deliver supplies to a Baton Rouge-area church Aug. 27. Council 9247, who played a pivotal role in the K of C relief effort. “If these people aren’t in need right now, I don’t know who is. It’s our mission to serve.” COMBINED EFFORTS Days after the flood, which garnered little national attention, the Supreme Council sent financial assistance directly to the Diocese of Baton Rouge and the state council, which then distributed the funds to multiple flooded parishes and numerous families in need. Whittington said donations that included household items, cleaning products, food, clothing and even furniture immediately began to pour in from states including Wyoming, Connecticut, North Carolina, Minnesota and Florida. Joe Henn, district deputy of Louisiana District #25 and a member of St. Theresa of Avila Council 2657 in Gonzales, received a phone call from the Supreme Council, asking if a building could be located to house the donations. Through local connections he secured an 11,000-square foot warehouse in Gonzales, about 20 miles from Baton Rouge, from businessman Lathan Alexander, for one month free of charge. “This gentleman’s generosity opened the door for us,” Henn said. Since he is retired, Henn decided to manage the warehouse, which operated for about four weeks. “I made it known to people at the state council that we had the space and that anything that comes in from whatever source we can use,” Henn said. “Immediately, many pallets of

Photo by Adam Falgout

FACED WITH DISASTER In a state where natural disasters are archived with such names as Katrina, Rita and Isaac, it is ironic that the worst flooding in Baton Rouge history was nameless. Mother Nature turned on the spigot Aug. 12, catching people off guard with five days of unremitting rain that measured 30 inches in some locations, ultimately dumping three times as much water on the region as Hurricane Katrina did in 2005. Rivers topped their banks, turning streets into navigable waterways. Just when those who were seemingly spared began to breathe a sigh of relief, backwater flooding caused the most severe damage. During the height of the flooding, two interstate highways that serve as arteries in and out of Baton Rouge were shut down, trapping motorists in their cars for more than 30 hours. Boat owners and other volunteers became known as the “Cajun Navy” as they rescued thousands stranded on rooftops in scenes eerily reminiscent of 2005. In the end, more than 60,000 homes were severely flooded, and at least 13 people had lost their lives. The Red Cross called it the worst natural disaster in the country since Superstorm Sandy walloped the Northeast in 2012. Even before the rains had subsided, the Knights of Columbus responded, first assisting the Cajun Navy in rescue efforts and then playing a significant role in the aftermath. State Deputy James Riente said that nearly 20 councils from throughout southeast Louisiana responded immediately. “A lot of councils in unaffected areas came together and aided with cooking and gutting houses,” Riente said. “This is what the Knights of Columbus is based on — charity first.” Members from the Baton Rouge area, some of whom had lost their homes and all of their possessions, placed the recovery of others above their own by manning delivery trucks and staffing makeshift soup kitchens. Councils from the metro New Orleans area collected supplies after Sunday Masses. Commonly, members could be found driving delivery trucks or cooking jambalaya, a Louisiana specialty, for hundreds of victims at area churches. Knights came with donations from as far away as North Dakota, adding to the hundreds of Knights volunteering. “Father McGivney founded the Knights to serve the widows, to serve the orphans and those in need,” said Vince Whittington, Louisiana state events coordinator and a member of

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ABOVE: Photo by Stephen Feiler — BELOW: Photo by Tim Mueller

Supreme Secretary Michael J. O’Connor, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, Louisiana State Deputy James F. Riente and Bishop Robert W. Muench of Baton Rouge walk down a street in Denham Springs, La., Sept. 17 amid ongoing recovery work. • Below: Grand Knight Tom Berner (left) and Phil Zima (right) of Our Lady of the Lake Council 9240 in Mandeville, La., serve jambalaya meals to volunteers and victims Aug. 19. Members visited Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denham Springs to serve nearly 600 meals and help with repairs.

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water and bleach, together with 200,000 MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), became available.” Henn also learned of a Holiday Inn in the northwest Louisiana city of Shreveport that was under renovation and willing to donate all of its old furniture. Keith Lawson, the state treasurer, spearheaded an effort to pick up the furniture with trucks secured by the Supreme Council and deliver it to the warehouse. “It was amazing how spontaneously all of this occurred,” said Henn. “I still can’t believe it all happened.” Financial assistance was also provided through the state council’s disaster relief fund. Riente said most of the funds went to the overall relief effort but the remainder was distributed among some 500 K of C families and widows in need. “We emptied the coffer,” Riente said. “It was not a huge amount, but it helped.” Meanwhile, area councils were busy with their own recovery

operations, including cooking meals for thousands of victims at several churches. Pope John XXIII Council 3743 at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge was one of the most active, cooking meals and assisting in many other ways at St. Joseph Church in French Settlement. Members of Ascension of Our Lord Council 9623 in LaPlace filled sandbags to prevent flooding in nearby Gramercy, helped move flooded families from their homes in the Holden area, and served more than 4,000 meals. For many of these Knights, it was a case of déjà vu, as they sent out a similar call for assistance four years earlier when Hurricane Isaac devastated their area and in February 2015, when tornadoes ripped through St. John the Baptist civil parish. ‘A REAL DIFFERENCE’ Supreme Knight Anderson, Supreme Secretary Michael J. O’Connor and Supreme Master Dennis J. Stoddard visited

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Civilian rescuers ferry a family to safety from their flooded home Oct. 9 in Lumberton, N.C., after Hurricane Matthew. said. “These efforts also brought together English and Spanish speakers from the community for a common goal.” In Georgia, the Savannah area received the majority of attention, with Knights engaged in tree and debris removal, according to State Deputy Mark Mullen. “Efforts then shifted to helping members who suffered significant structural damage to their homes and had costly tree removal work on their property,” Mullen said. “Financial assistance was

used to purchase gift cards to home improvement stores.” In Florida, State Deputy Don Goolesby Sr. reported that checks were distributed to members in need in St. Augustine as well as in the Bahamas. “The folks in Nassau Council 10415 in the Bahamas took the worst hit and are still recovering,” Goolesby said. “The state council is working with a hardware company to supply members with building materials to rebuild their homes.”♦

CNS photo/Jonathan Drake, Reuters

IN EARLY OCTOBER 2016, the Knights of Columbus provided immediate relief to victims in the wake of the destructive Hurricane Matthew. The first Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in nearly a decade, the storm killed more than 1,000 people in Haiti and 49 in the southeast United States. Several states were hard hit by heavy winds and rainfall, displacing thousands of families from their flooded or destroyed homes. The Supreme Council delivered emergency financial assistance to the state councils of North Carolina, Florida and Georgia. The funds were then distributed to local councils for those in most urgent need. Additional donations toward the relief efforts were collected through Knights of Columbus Charities. In North Carolina, State Deputy Colin Jorsch reported that Knights dropped off truckloads of needed supplies to parishes in affected areas. Members of Msgr. Arthur Freeman Council 5487 in Goldsboro and Father Maurice Tew Council 15752 in Greenville handdelivered essential items such a food, water and cleaning supplies. “In Lumberton, which was one of the hardest-hit areas, members of P. Holley Burch Council 7225 distributed care packages for families in need,” Jorsch

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Photo by Tim Mueller

K of C volunteers and staff members of the Care Pregnancy Clinic in Baton Rouge, La., gather in front of the clinic’s mobile ultrasound unit following a workday Dec. 17, 2016. some of the hardest-hit areas Sept. 17. Joined by State Deputy Riente and Bishop Robert W. Muench of Baton Rouge, their first stop was Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Amant. Not only was the church damaged during the flooding, but at least two coffins were found floating in the parish cemetery. The group also visited St. Jean Vianney Church, the most severely impacted church in Baton Rouge, as well as the homes of several Knights who were affected. “We have seen incredible generosity from our members,” the supreme knight said. “The funds we raise will go directly to help those affected by this tragedy, and working closely with the Catholic Church and our Knights in Louisiana, we will continue to make a real difference in the lives of the people of the Baton Rouge area.” Months later, Knights continued to volunteer and support relief efforts, despite their busy schedules. For Charles Salemi, a member of St. Joseph Cathedral Council 13632 in Baton Rouge, the decision to participate in the mid-December workday at Care Pregnancy Clinic was easy. “It does my heart good,” said Salemi, who took time away from two grandchildren visiting for the holidays. “It’s a feeling you don’t really know unless you volunteer to do something like this.” According to Whittington, more workdays were planned at

the clinic, with the goal of having the facility reopened by Jan. 23, complete with a new ultrasound machine made possible through the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative. When Whittington had contacted the Supreme Council for help with acquiring a replacement machine, he learned that, providentially, a council 1,600 miles away had money available for this purpose. Bishop Peterson Council 4442 in Salem, N.H., donated $13,000 toward the new machine, and Whittington learned that Father Charles A. Bartek Council 9431 in Jackson, Wyo., was ready to donate another $500. Council 3743 donated the remaining $3,300 needed to purchase the machine with matching funds from the Supreme Council. “It is amazing that this ultrasound came from brothers across the country helping brothers in need to save lives,” Whittington said. Looking back on all of the relief efforts, Riente could not be more proud of the response of his brother Knights. “Nobody had to ask for their help, they were asking where they could help,” he said. “Everybody did little parts, and it added up to a whole lot.”♦ RICHARD MEEK is the editor of The Catholic Commentator, the newspaper for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. FEBRUARY 2017

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Home Again Against All Odds

A severely wounded veteran and his family receive a “specially adapted smart home” through the Order’s partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation by Kelly Seegers

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HOPE FOR RECOVERY Claudia and Luis, who are both of Honduran descent, first met some 20 years ago in Washington, D.C., while Luis was visiting family there. Just three months later, the couple vowed to love each other in sickness and in health. They subsequently moved more than a dozen times and raised three children together. Despite Luis’ extensive injuries, Claudia was not about to let her husband go. Upon arrival at the hospital in Germany, she insisted on seeing Luis right away, before being briefed by doctors. After a few days, it was clear to the doctors that her presence was helping Luis to recover. While he remained in a coma, his heartbeat and vital signs were stronger when Claudia was in the room. By Jan. 12, Luis was stable enough to return to the United States. Yet while he was in the ICU at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, his doctors recommended that Claudia disconnect him from life support. Because of her faith that God had a reason for allowing Luis to make it that far, she adamantly refused. Claudia and her sons never lost hope and remained by his side, talking to him and playing his favorite music. On Feb. 14, 2012, defying all odds and medical expectations, Luis gave his family the best St. Valentine’s Day present they could have asked for — he woke up. The doctors, however, were still cautious, reminding Claudia 16 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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Capt. Luis Avila shakes hands with actor Gary Sinise at the dedication ceremony of the Avilas’ new home in Chevy Chase, Md., Nov. 11, 2016. that Luis could not speak and was unlikely to remember who she was. All the while, Claudia believed that the doctors underestimated her husband. On April 5, 2012, Luis spoke for the first time since the IED blast. After learning what day it was, he turned to Claudia and with his characteristically sharp sense of humor, asked, “Have you filed my taxes?” Three months later, the journey of recovery took the Avilas to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where Luis continues to undergo extensive physical therapy. Claudia accompanies him through the rigorous rehab schedule, constantly praying the rosary to ask God for strength to get through each day. Reflecting on his family’s dedication to him, Luis said, “I feel support, love and care.” ANSWERED PRAYER While Luis was still an inpatient at Walter Reed, Claudia began to worry about the next step of their journey, wondering and praying about how she would provide a handicapaccessible home for her husband. “My prayer was, ‘Give me the challenge or the problem, but really help me to make it happen,’” Claudia said. “I am a true believer that God does not give us more than we can handle.” One day in 2013, Claudia received an answer to her prayer. Gary Sinise, an actor and philanthropist best known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the movie Forrest Gump, met with the Avilas. He encouraged them to apply for a home through his charity serving veterans and first responders, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and its R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence

Photos courtesy of the Gary Sinise Foundation

n Dec. 27, 2011, while serving his fifth combat tour since enlisting in 2000, U.S. Army Capt. Luis Avila was riding with five fellow soldiers in an MRAP armored vehicle near the Pakistani border of Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated close by. Three of the soldiers were ejected from the vehicle and killed; Avila and two others survived. Avila lost his left leg, suffered two strokes and two heart attacks, and was left almost completely paralyzed and in a coma. By the time his wife, Claudia, received the news, Luis had already been pronounced dead twice. She was told to go to Germany, where her husband was hospitalized, because the doctors did not think he would survive. As she left their home in Fort Hood, Texas, Claudia also left her three sons — Luis Jr., Miguel and José, who were 14, 12 and 9 at the time — with this promise: “I am going to bring your dad back alive.” Today, after five years of challenges and unexpected graces, Luis continues his recovery at his family’s new “specially adapted smart home” in Chevy Chase, Md. It is one of more than 50 homes for severely wounded veterans completed or under construction by the Gary Sinise Foundation — and one of two that has been made possible through a partnership with the Knights of Columbus. A member of Washington (D.C.) Council 224 and James Cardinal Hickey Assembly, Luis has discovered a strong network of support, while his witness and perseverance inspire those around him. “Luis is a full testament that with God all things are possible,” Claudia said.

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Deputy Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly speaks at the dedication ceremony for the Avilas’ home Nov. 11, 2016. Supporting Empowerment) program. Since the Avilas did not yet know where they would need to live for Luis’ medical care, they had to wait. After Luis was discharged from Walter Reed on Feb. 4, 2014, the Avilas moved into a rental home in Bethesda. Makeshift ramps allowed Luis to travel between the bedroom, living room and garage, but only with constant supervision. When the Avilas finally learned in June 2015 that they needed to stay near Walter Reed for Luis’ continued medical care, the Gary Sinise Foundation swiftly mobilized to build their home. The foundation also informed the Avila family that a partner was contributing $600,000 to the project — the Knights of Columbus. To the Avilas, this was just one more sign of God’s providence. The family already knew the Order well, as Luis and Claudia had recently returned from their first trip with the Knights to Lourdes, France. In May 2015, they participated in the Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage for Wounded or Disabled Military Personnel, organized by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and supported by the Knights. During the pilgrimage, Luis experienced the healing baths of Lourdes, and upon their return he regained movement in his left arm, which was previously paralyzed. Several months later, Luis joined the Order. His fellow Knights, he said, have given him a great deal of “moral support and brotherhood.”

FAITH AND COURAGE In October 2015, the Avilas were fortunate to find a lot just two miles away from Walter Reed, which would also allow their sons to remain in the same school district. As it turned out, the lot had previously belonged to a World War II veteran who wished for the land to be sold to one of his brothers in arms. R.I.S.E. broke ground on the house Feb. 9, 2016, and after just nine months of hard work, the finished home was dedicated Nov. 11. Neighbors, staff members of Walter Reed, donors to the program, and friends of the Avilas gathered together on Veterans Day to welcome the family to their new home. “Having it on Veterans Day made it a little more special,” said Luis Jr. During the dedication ceremony, representatives of the organizations that partnered to build the home shared their gratitude for Captain Avila’s service. Patrick Kelly, deputy supreme knight and former executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., said the house is a sign of the Order’s solidarity with the Avila family and with all veterans. “We are proud to call Luis a brother Knight,” he said, “not only for his heroism in combat but also for the courage with which he has faced his injuries.” Gary Sinise also expressed his admiration for Capt. Avila in his remarks. “While we can never truly repay the debt that we owe Luis,” he said, “we can strive to show him and his FEBRUARY 2017

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brothers and sisters in arms our appreciation and gratitude whenever possible.” Turning to the Avilas, Sinise added, “You and Claudia are just simply amazing individuals. Your faith in God, your love for each other and for your beautiful children are infectious. I am quite sure that God has found joy in your faith and courage. I know that I have.” With the help of music therapists from Walter Reed, Luis, for whom speaking is still difficult, sang “God Bless America” to conclude the dedication ceremony. REGAINING INDEPENDENCE The Avilas’ new home includes an elevator and wide doors and hallways to allow Luis to navigate freely, without assistance. He can control many features of the home from an iPad, which the Gary Sinise Foundation presented to him during the home’s dedication. “This home is not only going to be a place for us to live, but it will help Luis heal faster and regain a lot of the things that he had lost,” Claudia said. “Because now he not only has the peace of mind, but he has the confidence to be able to go everywhere.” In the new house, Luis enjoys the ability to complete everyday tasks, such as going to the kitchen to get himself a 18 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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bottle of water. Claudia said she now asks Luis to bring her water, too, and apologized to him for taking advantage of the new convenience. Without missing a beat, Luis joked, “Don’t get used to it.” “Having more mobility makes life easier,” said Luis Jr. “I’m seeing my dad more often, with him not just being trapped in a single room anymore. Now he can go everywhere.” During a “Walls of Honor” event held by the Gary Sinise Foundation during the home’s construction, friends and supporters wrote kind wishes on wooden beams that have since been covered. But in between all of those notes is the message that has kept the family strong through it all — the Word of God. In the wall between the living room and Claudia and Luis’s bedroom stands a Bible that was donated by the Knights of Columbus. The Avilas consider this the true centerpiece of the house. “When we were building the home, we wanted to have something that we could put in here to remember where we came from,” Claudia said. “No matter how difficult it has been and no matter how challenging it has been, we’re always going to be together. Love and prayers and faith will help us through everything. This is what this home really is all about.”♦ KELLY SEEGERS is a staff writer for the Catholic Standard, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington.

Photo courtesy of the Gary Sinise Foundation

Luis and Claudia Avila enter their newly completed home. The “specially adapted smart home” is handicap accessible and designed for Luis’ needs.

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Principled Investing Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors allows Catholic institutions to invest with integrity by Joseph O’Brien

Chief Investment Officer Anthony V. Minopoli (standing right) and members of the Knights of Columbus investment team work in the trading room at the Order’s headquarters.

t may seem strange to compare the Knights of Columbus to Wall Street’s old guard, but the world’s largest Catholic fraternal order’s history of addressing the financial needs of families actually predates the biggest and brightest investment firms. Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, three years before Goldman Sachs began its dance with the bulls and bears. As the Order’s fraternal benefit program developed, the Knights began formally managing investments with a loan to St. Rose of Lima Parish in Meriden, Conn., in 1896 — just one year after J.P. Morgan & Company was established and 22 years before Merrill Lynch. The Knights of Columbus has since grown to become a Fortune 1000 company and for decades has earned top ratings for financial strength. In February 2015, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC for-

malized its longstanding role as the Order’s institutional investment arm. With the announcement of the new initiative, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said, “The Catholic community has traditionally been served by investment managers with a broad, rather than a Catholic, focus. We believe a Catholic firm committed to Catholic values can offer a more compelling solution for Catholic entities.” Since that time, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors has helped dozens of Catholic institutions unaffiliated with the Knights to invest in a manner consistent with the U.S. bishops’ investment guidelines. In addition, the K of C subsidiary has provided historically compelling returns, below-market fees and profitability that benefits the work of the Knights of Columbus and the Church.

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GROWTH AND SERVICE the attention of financial officers of dioceses, parishes, In October 2011, the Knights of Columbus sponsored a Catholic schools and hospitals, religious orders and other conference in Chicago on the topic of sustainable and ethical Catholic institutions. And the fact that these investments investments. are truly Catholic — screened according to the guidelines “Our approach to sustainable investing works to understand of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — is keeping the ‘personal’ consequences for all those affected by a particular that attention. trade or investment,” the supreme knight said in remarks at Duffy pointed out that investing is not a “morally neutral” the conclusion of the conference. “The ethics of the investor activity, but one that can be fraught with ethical pitfalls. matters; so do the guiding philosophy and ethical standards of “For example,” Duffy said, “someone who wants to invest those people leading the company being invested in.” in an index fund might not appreciate the fact that these According to Anthony V. Minopoli, president and chief in- funds are investing in firms that profit from, say, the producvestment officer of Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, the tion of abortifacients, pornography or even land mines. But idea for the Knights’ investment group was born of the 2011 as our bishops have explained, it is inappropriate for conference and follow-up conversations. Catholics to profit from such illicit practices. So, in keeping “The conference, coupled with conversations about whether with the bishops’ guidelines, Asset Advisors screens out all the Knights could manage money for those companies.” other organizations, made us realize While strict compliance means Asset there was an opportunity there,” he said. Advisors has to dig a little deeper into In his research, Minopoli discovered a their work, Minopoli said, the investors’ E BELIEVE A mostly untapped $160 billion Catholic peace of mind is worth the extra effort. institutional investment market. “There’s an old saying that the imposC ATHOLIC FIRM COM Since the Knights already had an insible takes 20 minutes longer. Here at ternal investment team and more than the Knights of Columbus, we’ll take the MITTED TO C ATHOLIC $20 billion of assets under manageextra 20 minutes and get our investVALUES CAN OFFER ment, it was an easy step to open these ments the right way,” Minopoli said. funds to the public, said Thomas Duffy, “Investing in a way that is consistent A MORE COMPELLING Asset Advisors vice president of investwith Church teaching is important,” he ment strategy. added. “We can provide that comfort SOLUTION.” “For decades the Knights had said, level because it’s part of our mandate as ‘No thanks — we only invest our own the Knights of Columbus — it’s part of money,’” Duffy explained. “But we fiwho we are.” nally got to the point that we knew we should make this capability available. As a service to the Church and to Catholic CATHOLIC, COMPLIANT, CONFIDENT investors everywhere, we can help them pursue strong risk- The Knights’ emphasis on ethical business practices extends adjusted returns while maintaining the integrity of their beyond investments to all aspects of the organization and its Catholic beliefs.” insurance program. For three consecutive years the Order has Supreme Knight Anderson has affirmed that while the been named a World’s Most Ethical Company® by the EthiOrder is proud to provide this service in support of Catholic sphere Institute. In addition, the Knights’ Catholic identity communities, both the investment team and dedicated field further influences how profits are managed. force has remained committed to serving members and their “It’s typical for an investment firm to give all their profits to families. its shareholders and partners,” Duffy said. “But the Knights of “The Knights of Columbus will continue to evaluate new Columbus Asset Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of the financial products that are beneficial to our members and our Knights of Columbus, so our profits get up-streamed to the agents,” the supreme knight said. Order, which donated more than $175 million last year alone to Since early 2015, nearly 100 clients in the United States, in- help Catholic causes and charities such as the Special Olympics.” cluding at least 16 dioceses and archdioceses, have gotten on In other words, rather than financing luxuries for its brokers, board with Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors. the dividends from Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors’ work Currently, two fixed-income funds are managed strictly by go where they are needed most. the Asset Advisors team, while four equity funds are managed “The hallmark of the Knights’ giving is that it gets to the in collaboration with the renowned Boston Advisors manage- right place,” Minopoli affirmed. “It gives us great satisfaction ment group. to know that as Asset Advisors grows and becomes truly prof“We’ve made sure to price these funds at levels below the itable, we are contributing money back to the Knights of industry averages across the board,” Duffy said. “The fees are Columbus and its charitable mission.” extremely competitive.” The Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors team is proud of Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors’ low fees often get its performance relative to peers in the investing world.

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Mother Mary Agnes Donovan, superior general of the Sisters of Life, is pictured with Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and his wife, Dorian, at Villa Maria Guadalupe, a retreat house in Stamford, Conn., owned by the Knights of Columbus and operated by the Sisters of Life. Like the Baltimore Archdiocese, the Sisters of Life, a New York-based religious order, invests with Asset Advisors. According to the order’s superior general, Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, the Sisters of Life do not see ethical investing as a luxury but a necessity. “In addition to the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, the Sisters of Life take a fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life,” said Mother Agnes. “It is critically important to us that our investments in companies are building a culture of life. The Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors researches the companies they invest in and provide us with morally and fiscally appropriate places for our financial resources.” “As our community and missions grow,” Mother Agnes added, “the Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors team is helping us to provide for the needs of God’s people and the sisters who serve them.”♦

“We don’t just compare well to other funds that are Catholic,” Minopoli said, “but we’re looking at the broad Lipper and Morningstar investment analyses for our various strategies. We know we have to maintain our ranking each and every day to earn our investors’ confidence — just as we have been for years, for those who have purchased Knights of Columbus insurance or annuities.” For more than 40 consecutive years, the Knights of Columbus — Asset Advisors’ parent company — has achieved the highest possible ratings for financial strength from A.M. Best. “This speaks to our ability to produce strong, risk-adjusted returns,” said Duffy. “The Order likes to take smart risks, to make sure that we get paid well for any risk we do take. Over time, we’ve found these strategies to be extremely effective.” According to the investors themselves, there’s yet another reason to choose Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors. As chief financial officer for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, William Baird sees to it that the Church in Baltimore achieves the best return on its investments. For the last seven years, Baird has worked for the archdiocese, but 25 years of experience in the secular investment world taught him that an investment is only as good as the team that supports it. “For me, investments are not only about whether they’re Catholic compliant, as important as that is, but also about a process where you have the opportunity to get attractive returns through the managers you select,” Baird said. “After my visit to New Haven, whether to invest with the Knights became a pretty easy decision to make, given the talent and caliber of Tony’s team.”

JOSEPH O’BRIEN is a freelance writer who lives in Soldiers Grove, Wis. He is a member of St. James the Greater Council 12606 in Gays Mills.

IS A KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS INVESTMENT RIGHT FOR YOUR CATHOLIC INSTITUTION? VISIT THE ASSET ADVISORS WEBSITE — www.kofcassetadvisors.org — to review the products offered and access the asset allocation tool to determine how to invest. A toll-free line (1-844-KC-FUNDS) is also available, staffed to help people complete the simple application form. Mutual fund investing involves risk. Some mutual funds have more risk than others. Fixed income investments are subject to interest rate risk, and their value will decline as interest rates rise. Consider the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. This and other information can be found in the funds’ full or summary prospectuses, which can be obtained by calling 1-844-KCFUNDS or by visiting www.kofcassetadvisors.org. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor, serves as the investment advisor to each of the Knights of Columbus Funds. The Knights of Columbus Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (1 Freedom Valley Dr., Oaks, PA 19456), which is not affiliated with Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors or any of its affiliates.

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Time for a Tipping Point The bombing attack of a Coptic cathedral in Egypt is but one example of widespread anti-Christian persecution by John L. Allen Jr. 22 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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A day after the Dec. 11 bombing at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral complex in Cairo, which left 25 worshippers dead, mourners carry coffins of victims following a funeral service at the Church of the Virgin Mary.

AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty

E DITOR ’ S N OTE : The following article was originally published Dec. 12, 2016, on Crux, a Catholic news and commentary website operated in partnership with the Knights of Columbus.

lmost two years ago, my colleague Inés San Martín and I were in a small medical clinic sponsored by the Coptic Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo, Egypt, to speak with Dr. Wadie Ramses.

Ramses, in his mid-60s, had been kidnapped and held for ransom for a terrifying 92 days by Muslim militants in 2014, kept in a tent in the desert, beaten, whipped, humiliated and constantly pressured to embrace Islam, until his family finally coughed up a payment to get him back. After listening to his story, we asked Ramses for a forecast for the future of Christians in Egypt. He spat back two bitter words: “Very bad.” Police won’t apprehend those who hurt Christians, he said; FEBRUARY 2017

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judges won’t prosecute their attackers; schools won’t educate Syria to Nigeria and Cameroon, from India and Sri Lanka to children in tolerance; and the government considers Chris- North Korea and China, even in parts of overwhelmingly tians second-class citizens. Catholic Latin America, a staggering number of Christians Ramses also ventured the view that promises of greater pro- face the daily risk of physical injury, arrest, kidnapping, tortection from the country’s new government under President ture and even death, for motives linked to their faith. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi were more about political expedience The fact the numbers are familiar doesn’t make them any than genuine conviction. less daunting. An estimated 200 million Christians around I’m sure it’s little consolation to Ramses that his reply now the world are at risk of physical persecution, and even the seems grimly prescient, in light of the Dec. 11 bombing at low-end estimate for the number of Christians killed for reSt. Mark’s Cathedral complex that left 25 Christians dead ligious reasons each year puts the count of new martyrs at and another 49 injured. roughly one every hour, 365 days a year. While no specific group immediately claimed responsibilThe real “tipping point” that needs to be reached, thereity for the attack, the motives don’t seem hard to intuit: The fore, isn’t so much in the rapport between the Copts and alblast was timed to coincide with the celebration of the Coptic Sisi, but the broader global relationship between perception Mass, and it came on the eve of a national holiday marking and reality vis-à-vis the threats Christians face. the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. In the eyes of those truly paying attention, anti-Christian The Coptic Orthodox Church is the dominant Christian persecution is one of the transcendent human rights chaltradition in Egypt, representing around 10 percent of the na- lenges of our time, and a priority that requires something tional population and forming the most sizeable Christian greater than simply exhorting national governments to step community in the Middle East. up their own efforts. They’re also some of the most deterWhat’s needed is a global mobilizamined Christians on the face of the tion, similar to the anti-apartheid earth — famously, Copts get a small movement in the 1980s, though in black tattoo of a cross on their wrist this case hardly directed at a single in childhood, usually after baptism, to pariah state. N ESTIMATED 200 serve as a lifelong reminder of their Of course, Christian suffering has MILLION C HRISTIANS identity in this vast Muslim nation. no greater inherent value than anyone It’s almost impossible to overstate else’s, but given their numbers, their AROUND THE WORLD the symbolic impact of attacking the vulnerability, and the widespread tenCopts at St. Mark’s, the seat of the dency to associate Christianity with ARE AT RISK OF PHYS Church and its leader, Pope Tawadros whatever grievances people may have II. For Catholics, it would be a bit with the West, Christians are today’s ICAL PERSECUTION. akin to a bomb going off at St. Peter’s most persecuted religious minority. Basilica in Rome. If rhetoric about a “culture of Pope Francis phoned Tawadros on human rights” is to mean anything, Monday, Dec. 12, telling him the two then global institutions and powers churches are “united in the blood of our martyrs” and vowing need to make a special investment in their protection. to pray for the Copts during the feast of Our Lady of Victims such as Ramses, drawing on their reservoir of faith, Guadalupe. often interpret their experience in a spiritual key. Many observers have speculated that perhaps the attack will He told San Martín and me that those 92 days in the desert mark a tipping point in the relationship between the Copts turned out to be one of the best periods of his life, because and al-Sisi, causing Christians to rethink what has been fairly they forced him to discover what real prayer, real dependence compact support for the former army general who came to on God alone, actually means. power by dislodging the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. That, of course, is the Christian instinct, to find the promRecently, 82 leading Coptic intellectuals signed a letter ise of redemption even in the most abject of circumstances. protesting the Church’s support for al-Sisi and insisting that The fact that evil can be turned to good, however, doesn’t alleged improvements in conditions for Christians are more make it any less evil — and it certainly doesn’t get the rest of cosmetic than real, and the U.S. Commission on Interna- the world off the hook for failing to do whatever it can to tional Religious Freedom recently found that Egypt has taken beat that evil back. “one step forward and two steps back.” To donate to the Knights of Columbus Christian Refugee Relief Phrasing things in terms of the domestic political fallout Fund, visit christiansatrisk.com. in Egypt, however, in many ways seems too small a frame for the reality of the situation. JOHN L. ALLEN JR. is the editor of Crux, specializing in Here’s that reality in a nutshell: Yes, Christians need help coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church. Visit in Egypt, but that’s hardly the only place. From Iraq and cruxnow.com.

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AN APPEAL FOR JUSTICE, FORGIVENESS AND PEACE

Photo by Tom Serafin

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following statement was released Dec. 12, 2016, by Bishop Anba Angaelos, general bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, a day after the bombing that killed 25 people and injured 49 during Mass at St. Peter and St. Paul chapel, an annex to St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. TODAY IS A DAY of many emotions: sadness, nervousness, uncertainty, and understandably even anger at times. That is because yesterday was a day in which we witnessed the worst of humanity, when innocent women and children who decided to worship their God in their spiritual home had their lives needlessly and senselessly ended without warning. They were used as pawns, a means to an end. To the perpetrators of this heinous crime, their lives clearly held no greater value than scribbles on a strategic page; a plan that was to be executed for a cause to which they were merely incidental, collateral damage. Yesterday we saw beautiful lives lost, families separated and broken, and whole communities grieving; a truly painful time that has not only affected Coptic Christians but Egyptian society at large, Muslims and Christians alike, and millions around the world. … In recent decades, we have seen recurring acts of violence against Christians and Christian communities in Egypt. Time and time again, very few, if any, perpetrators have been brought to justice, and we subsequently continue to witness an escalation of these attacks. This is not a matter of blame but accountability, with an expectation that barbaric acts such as these should never occur, but if they do, that their perpetrators are rightly and fairly held to account. This is not a call for vengeance but a deterrent against similar future plans and aspirations. We are thankful for the overwhelming outpouring of emotion and support that we have personally received from friends, and even indeed strangers, around the world in response to this horrific and heartbreaking attack, but it is unfathomable that at the same time, others have politicized this atrocity by actually laying blame on those targeted, maimed and killed because of the perceived political stance of Christians in Egypt. They have even gone so far as to imply that Christians and the Church were somehow complicit in this crime to gain sympathy, allegedly using their daughters, sisters, mothers and grandmothers as means to a ludicrous, contrived political end. … As Christians, we also believe in forgiveness, but forgiveness is by no means synonymous with ignoring justice. Forgiveness ensures that our own hearts are not entangled in a web of anger and resentment, or corrupted by feelings of hatred or revenge. Forgiveness is ultimately liberating and empowering, but at the same time, justice is essential — not for the purposes of punishment but to secure and protect our societies in which people must respectfully live side by side.

At a March 10, 2016, press conference in Washington, D.C., Coptic Orthodox Bishop Anba Angaelos displays a report on genocide in the Middle East. The Knights of Columbus and In Defense of Christians submitted the report to the U.S. State Department the previous day. Chapter 16 of the Gospel of St. John tells us that in the world “we will have tribulation” but to be “of good cheer” for the Lord Jesus Christ has “overcome the [evils of this] world.” The Scriptures also tell us that “the time is coming that whoever kills [us] will think that he offers God service” (Jn 16:2). This reality has been lived for two millennia, through the reign of Diocletian, and continues until today as we still witness targeted persecution throughout the world. In facing these struggles throughout history, too many precious lives have been lost, and this is why we must advocate for the safeguarding of every life, so that many more do not continue to suffer on our watch. … We remember and pray for them all, and assure them that they will not be forgotten. We also live confident that if we, as limited imperfect beings, are moved by their loss and suffering in this way, that our perfect, all-loving, all-powerful and all-just God hears their cries and will by no means forsake or forget them, but strengthen, support and comfort them as only He can.♦ FEBRUARY 2017

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KNI GHTS IN ACTION

REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES America to support a police officer in need. The council hosted a benefit dinner and silent auction to raise money for the local officer, who had been injured in the line of duty and incurred substantial medical bills. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the council netted more than $11,000 for the medical costs. The officer thanked the Knights as well as the community for supporting him and his family in a time of need. FROM THE ASHES

Members of Mother Seton Council 5427 in Washington Township, N.J., stand with family members and some of the food they collected during their annual drive. Knights collected 350 bags of food and $800 in cash donations for the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Hillsdale.

WORDS OF SUPPORT

St. Joseph of Arimathea Council 14025 in Lakeway, Texas, organized a successful bingo fundraiser for the Frontline Faith Project. The $3,125 in bingo proceeds enabled the Knights to purchase 100 MP3 players, which were loaded with encouraging words, music, Mass and prayers for deployed and recuperating servicemen and women. The Frontline Faith Project has distributed 47,000 MP3 players to spiritually support military personnel. SONG AND SCRIPTURE

Church of the Holy Spirit Council 10502 in Palmyra, Pa., donated $8,700 for the purchase of new church hymnals. The council worked closely with the pastor, music director and finance manager of the parish 26 â&#x2122;Ś C O L U M B I A â&#x2122;Ś

Father Eusebio Salvador Council 8330 in Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City, Mindanao, came to the aid of a Knight in need. Following a devastating house fire, the council helped the past grand knight of another council rebuild his home.

to select the perfect hymnals, which include the 3-year cycle of Scripture readings. The new hymnals arrived just in time for Easter. PACKING UP MEALS

Holy Spirit Council 15174 in Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, packed up 9,856 pounds of food (640 boxes, filling eight pallets with supplies for 8,213 meals) for the Mobile Pantry at the East Texas Food Bank in Tyler. The council volunteers every month at the center, which distributes to more than 200 other food banks in 26 counties. The Mobile Pantry focuses on reaching isolated rural communities without access to emergency food assistance. OFFICER BENEFIT

Lake Jackson (Texas) Council 6812 teamed up with the Catholic Daughters of

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Pat Lynch of Father Perez Council 1444 in Chicago, supervised by John Curtin and John Donovan, tries out a handcycle recently purchased by Cougar Sports Academy, which provides elementary school children with disabilities with athletic programs and adaptive P.E. The council raises an average of $50,000 per year to support organizations, including the academy, that serve people with disabilities.

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K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N LET THERE BE LIGHT

To raise funds for improved lighting at St. Thomas More Parish, Father Bonner Council 7599 in Edmonton, Alberta, undertook a campaign of selling grocery store gift cards to Knights and parishioners. The sale of 1 million dollars in cards that can be used for everyday purchases brought in more than $50,000 for the church.

Members of St. Joan of Arc Council 14357 in Phoenix, Ariz., pray the rosary with other pro-life witnesses outside a Planned Parenthood facility. The council has been praying there on Tuesdays for five years.

BLOOD DRIVE

St. Anastasia Council 5911 in Douglaston, N.Y., conducted a blood drive at St. Anastasia Parish. With help from Boy Scout Troop 153, the council collected 65 pints of blood from generous parishioners and community members. DANCE FOR A KITCHEN

To help fund a new facility for St. Vincent’s Kitchen, which serves more than 150 meals daily to people in need, St. Joseph Council 9989 in Oshawa, Ontario,

held a Big Band Dance. The Kitchen was the sole recipient of the event’s proceeds, which totaled $3,200. SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

Msgr. J. B. Gleissner Council 1834 in Bryan, Texas, awarded its annual Special Education scholarships. The recipients each received a $750 scholarship, renewable each year for up to four years. The scholarship funds special education seniors heading to college, vocational school or job training that will help them after high school graduation. BENEDICTINE DONATION

Edgar Orgen of Risen Christ Council 11863 in Tungawan, Mindanao, donates blood to the Philippine Red Cross. The council gives blood quarterly to the local Red Cross chapter.

John J. O’Hehir Council 447 in Duluth, Minn., donated $2,000 from the proceeds of pancake breakfasts, fish fries and Sunday coffee sales to Sister Gaudensia Mwanyika of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Gertrude Imiliwaha. The funding supports her goal of building a school for children with learning disabilities and handicaps in her country of Tanzania.

FOOD FEST FOR ULTRASOUND

Ponderosa Council 4928 in Sparks, Nev., put on a “Free Food Fest” of breakfast burritos, hot dogs, hamburgers and more for parishioners at Holy Cross Catholic Community. Donations at the event exceeded $3,000, making up a large part of the council’s donation to Life Choices Pregnancy Clinic in Carson City. Opening a new mobile unit, Life Choices needed funds for a portable ultrasound machine. IN GOOD GROUND

Holy Name Council 10761 in Marcus, Iowa, coordinated the “Isidore Project” at the council’s parish to thank God for the area’s fertile soil and to ask his blessing on agriculture in the coming year. Parishioners were provided with labeled quart jars, which were filled with soil from their fields or gardens and brought back to the church for blessing before the earth was returned to the original growing locations. Since life ultimately depends on earth, the project built appreciation for the goodness of creation and God’s providence. MAJOR MEALS

St. Thomas More Council 2760 in Mandan, N.D., put on two large fundraisers.

Benefiting 18 seminarians, the “Supper and Substance” Italian dinner featured 1,000 handmade meatballs and 40 gallons of sauce, and it raised over $9,000. Additionally, more than 400 people attended the “Cajun Cowboy Fais Do Do,” a festival featuring cajun-style cooking and an auction of over more than donated items. The event brought in $10,000 for an electronic sign at St. Joseph Church and School. A PLACE FOR MASS

During remodeling at St. Kieran Catholic Church, Mass had to be celebrated in the parish gym. To facilitate this, St. Kieran Council 13983 of Shelby Township, Mich., constructed a 14-by14-foot, 6-inch-deep platform to elevate the tabernacle and celebrant. The platform was finished to reduce noise and prevent damage to the gym floor, and carpeted on top. The council also completed a 3year commitment to donate $4,500 to the renovation.

A member of St. Jadwiga Queen of Poland Council 15268 in Rzeszów, Poland, distributes Holy Family prayer cards during a weeklong fundraiser. Donations collected in exchange for the cards went to the purchase of diapers for the local children’s hospital.

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K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N OFFERTORY FOR THOSE IN NEED

Our Lady of the Lakes Council 7053 in Angola, Ind., coordinated an offertory food drive at St. Anthony of Padua Parish on Holy Thursday. Parishioners were invited to bring nonperishable food or cash donations for the offertory procession. The 910 pounds of food collected were given to the United Methodist Church Food Pantry and the Project Help Food Pantry, both of Angola. SERVICE DAY TRIP

Ten members of St. Thomas Council 9174 in Washburn, N.D., drove 125 miles to Mandaree, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, for a day of service. They assisted the parish priest by refurbishing statues, building storage shelves, cleaning up picnic tables and clearing brush and trees. SPREADING THE WORD

Father William Brooks Council 5145 in Nederland, Texas, donated $100 to The Word Among Us Partners, a program which sends a quarterly Catholic maga-

zine to incarcerated people. The donation funded a one-year subscription for eight prisoners. PRO-LIFE INSIDE & OUT

Greensburg (Pa.) Council 1480 sponsors pro-life billboards around town to raise awareness in the community about life’s sanctity. Before every monthly meeting, the council also prays a rosary for life. SISTERS IN PERU

Harry “Hap” J. Hansen III Council 12281 in Hampstead, N.C., learned from the wife of a member that the Little Sisters of the Poor in her hometown of Tacna, Peru, needed wheelchairs for their senior home. The council sent money for two wheelchairs and an additional $200 donation to support the sisters’ ministry to the elderly. PLANT SALE

Eldorado Council 10 in Branford, Conn., conducted a pro-life plant sale. The $400 in proceeds was given to the St. Gianna Pregnancy Center, which serves mother and families in New Haven, Conn.

Members of Monsignor Thomas I. Sheehan Council 925 in Macon, Ga., stand with a new ultrasound machine. The machine was donated to St. Maximilian Kolbe Center for Life in Macon, which provides free assistance with pregnancy, counseling, NFP training and post-abortive healing.

HONORABLE FAREWELL

Our Lady of Charity Assembly in Sarasota, Fla., brought a respectful conclusion to the journey of a veteran’s remains. After the ashes were entrusted to a parish by a widow without reliable housing, a Knight was given the task of finding an appropriate resting place. At length he determined that the veteran could be laid to rest at the Sarasota National Cemetery. Twenty members of the assembly attended the funeral. WIDESPREAD DRIVE

Seminarian Christopher Bierlein unloads fried fish with Jim DeWyse, a member of St. Stephen Council 4102 of Bay City, Mich. Proceeds from the fish fry dinner and raffle went to support the seminarians of the Saginaw Diocese.

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John A. Hill Council 4955 in Pompano Beach, Fla., rallied nearly 50 members and their families to take part in a fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities. The drive covered the six churches served by the council, plus two supermarkets. A total of $4,317 was collected and divided between two local charities serving people with intellectual disabilities: Equine Assisted Therapies and Dynamos of Pompano Beach.

CHARITY ON ICE

St. Charles Borromeo Council 13034 in Hampshire, Ill., coordinated a lively game between two local ice hockey teams. The event raised $1,400 for the local parochial school. BINGO PROCEEDS

St. John Vianney Council 7525 in South Burlington, Vt., donated the proceeds of a Super Bingo fundraiser to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a summer camp specially designed for children who have cancer. The council’s largest single fundraising event, Super Bingo brought in $35,000 for the camp, which charges no tuition. CARE KITS

Monsignor Frank J. Wade Assembly in Birmingham, Ala., raised funds for more than 180 personal care kits for hospitalized veterans. The care kits, which contain a variety of toiletries, are assembled by the Birmingham VA Medical Center. In two years, the assembly’s efforts have contributed to nearly 300 care kits.

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

St. John of the Cross/Our Lady of the Rosary Council 13153 in Vero Beach, Fla., planned, cooked and served a free pasta feast for Wabasso School’s annual graduation luncheon. Graduates, students, family and staff, including the county supervisor of education, attended. The school, with an enrollment of approximately 50 students, is the only school in Indian River County designed to serve the unique educational needs of children and young adults with severe disabilities. EMERGENCY PREPARATION

Good Shepherd Council 7178 in Quezon City, Luzon North, worked with the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Metro Manila Development Authority to carry out its Disaster Risk Reduction Management exercise. In order to prepare for the pos-

A member of St. Joseph Council 10644 in Modesto, Calif., congratulates a participant in the council’s Special Olympics bowling competition.

sibility of earthquakes in the Metro Manila area, the council led the project and prepared people for the drill.

CARE PACKAGES

Sacred Heart Council 5780 in Madison, Conn., shipped a record 100 cartons of “Taste of Home” items — such as snacks, soups, coffees, shaving butter, books and decks of cards, along with appreciation letters by students and parishioners — to U.S. military personnel serving in Afghanistan. Called Operation American Soldier, the council uses this program to thank members of the military for their many sacrifices. ALL’S FAIR

Members of San Juan Nepomuceno Council 12075 in Bacolod City, Visayas, talk with inmates at a local prison. Together with the ladies’ auxiliary and joined by four Knights from Holy Family Council 14119, the council spent a day evangelizing through discussion of Catholicism and a Mass, followed by a hot meal of rice and bread. Three hundred male and 150 female inmates were served.

Pope Leo XIII Council 10804 in Virginia Beach, Va., joined by family members, supports the Annual Community Fair of Holy Family Parish. The four-day event requires 2,500 or so volunteer hours, dedicated to organizing and operating an extravaganza of food and

drink, children’s games, raffles, bake sales, entertainment and professionally operated rides. During the last decade alone, this immensely popular event has contributed, on average, more than $20,000 per year in support of Holy Family’s many ministries. SOLIDARITY PROGRAM

Mater Christi Council 14284 in Chicago, Ill., distributed prayer cards and orange awareness ribbons at three parishes to show solidarity with fellow Christians who are being tortured, killed or forced from their homes by ISIS and other radical groups. As a result of the project, parishioners donated $3,174 to the K of C Christian Refugee Relief Fund to help relieve the suffering of families being persecuted for following our Lord.

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

K of C families, also included used textbooks, rugs and classroom furnishings donated by the local St. Michael School. Volunteering at the sale, council member Nwachukwu Okafor realized that the school items could be put to good use at St. Joseph’s Primary School in Nigeria, which he attended as a child. The council purchased and shipped the useful items, and the event also raised $2,200 for council charities. RIGHTS EDUCATION

RAFFLE DONATION

Following a fire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, St. Isaac Jogues Council 11098 in Pickering, Ontario, donated the proceeds of its golf tournament’s 50/50 raffle to the relief efforts of the Alberta State Council. The draw raised $560, to which the winner donated an additional $100. The council matched the funds raised, allowing a total of $1,320 to be donated to Knights and families affected by the natural disaster. GOSPEL CONCERT

St. John the Baptist Council 8891 in New Freedom, Pa., held a “Southern Fried Gospel” dinner concert featuring Gospel singers and groups and the council’s own Elvis impersonator, Joe Forrester. The event raised money for the Port Maria Hospital Project, which provides aid to a hospital in Jamaica that serves a large impoverished population. The concert, dinner and silent auc30 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

tion brought in more than $11,600, a large collection of medical supplies and a number of medical monitors, devices and equipment. SOLIDARITY CROSSES

Edward Douglass White Council 2473 in Arlington, Va., raised $12,750 for the Christian Refugee Relief Fund from the sale of 620 solidarity crosses. POLICE LUNCH

Bienville Assembly in New Orleans delivered lunch to the men and women of the New Orleans Police Departmen’s 2nd District in appreciation for their service to the city.

bingo night has been operated by the assembly for the past several years. TRAVELING DISPLAY

Boyne Valley (Mich.) Council 6314 members erected 800 white crosses, which represent approximately 1/4 of the abortions that occur every day in the United States, in front of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Boyne City. The crosses were displayed in this heavily visited resort area during the busy weeks surrounding the Fourth of July. The crosses will later travel to four other towns in Northern Michigan to be erected by the councils of those parishes.

GAME NIGHT FOR VETS

YARD SALE

St. Patrick Assembly in Wentzville, Mo., runs a quarterly bingo night at the St. Louis Veterans Home. The event, which takes 18 volunteer hours each time, includes $120 in prizes for the participating veterans. The

The yard sale of Msgr. Michael A. Carey Council 6650 in Cary, N.C., reached across oceans and offered charity to more lives than the council thought possible. The yard sale, which featured household items from

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Carmelite sisters, who tied for second place at a chili cook-off held by Coral Gables (Fla.) Council 3274, discuss their recipes. The local fire and police departments, as well as other community service groups, cooked up chili that was judged by the 250 attendees. All proceeds went to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Hike for Life: photo by Matt Casey

Holy Spirit Council 7264 in Weatherford, Texas, teams up with parish youth ministry and Grace House Ministries in the the seventh annual Hike for Life. More than 150 people from Catholic and Anglican churches joined in a three-mile walk that raised $12,000 for Save the Storks, the Gabriel Project and Grace House, which offer services such as education and practical aid to pregnant women.

Manordale Valley Council 4226 in Murrysville, Pa., hosted educational socials after Mass during the USCCB’s Fortnight for Freedom for the parishioners of Mother of Sorrows Church. The council provided information on freedom of religion and the role of faith in the formation of the United States. Tasty treats were also provided.

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K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N GARDENING FOR CHARITY

St. Scholastica Council 14485 in Lecanto, Fla., developed a 3,000-square-foot organic vegetable garden. There, members grow produce for the Daystar Life Center of Citrus County, a mission of St. Benedict Church in Crystal River and one of the largest regional food banks. The garden provided more than 15 varieties of fresh vegetables, potatoes and melons in 2016. Over the course of a year, council members also volunteered more than 6,000 hours at the center. The council also runs a food drive at each business meeting and has a “brown bag” program that brings in approximately 4,000 pounds of food each year. FUNDS FOR MOTHERS

In a fund drive for mothers in need, Damien Council 598 in Jim Thorpe, Pa., handed out baby bottles on Mothers’ Day, which were returned with spare change

by Fathers’ Day. The $5,500 given by generous members of the three parishes that took part in the drive was donated to Mary’s Shelter in Bethlehem, Pa. The shelter provides both residential and nonresidential services for disadvantaged pregnant women as well as women with newborns, many of whom find themselves in need of support. PANTRY MILESTONE

Through food and fund drives conducted monthly at St. Louis Parish since 2012, Father Edward Farrell Council 5591 in Princeton, Ill., reached $50,000 in donations for the Bureau County Food Pantry. Pantry director Vanessa Hoffeditz noted that each dollar donated allows the pantry to purchase $10 in food, making the real value of the contribution more than $500,000. The council, which has also earned maximum matching funds from the Food for Families program for the last

At the first event hosted by the new St. Anthony of Padua Council 16364 in Agassiz, British Columbia, a member dishes out syrup and strawberries. A month after its founding, the council held a parish all-you-can-eat breakfast with all the trimmings, raising funds for the pastor and council charities.

four years, credits the very generous people of St. Louis Parish for this achievement. PARISH DEFIBRILLATOR

Idaho Falls (Id.) Council 1663, at the request of Father Raul Covarrubias, raised $2,000 to purchase a defibrillator for St. John Paul II Parish. The council raised $1,800 by raffling a pellet barbeque/smoker and cooking supplies. The council donated the remaining $200 for the instrument, which may save a life and will reduce the parish insurance rate. The defibrillator, designed to be used by the untrained, was placed in a clearly visible location with a plaque thanking the Knights for their donation.

tire changing and jumpstarting. The council also gave participants an emergency kit containing jumper cables, a tire pressure gauge and other tools. AIDING A FAMILY

St. Teresa’s Council 7702 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, rallied to aid a member of 50 years whose wife suffers from muscular dystrophy. In order to fund modifications to the couple’s van, the council conducted a weekly cribbage tournament, a large 50/50 raffle and a benefit variety concert. These events and donations from other regional councils raised $15,500 to help the couple meet the cost of disabilityfriendly transportation.

ABCS FOR THE ROAD

Members of South Plainfield (N.J.) Council 6203 test out a wheelchair ramp they installed. Responding to the need of a Knight and his wife facing health troubles, the council quickly purchased materials and spent a Saturday building the ramp. Unlike wooden ramps previously built by the council for members of the community, the aluminum version can be disassembled and moved to a new home.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Council 10483 in Wichita, Kan., held a Saturday morning Automotive Basics Clinic (ABCs) for 32 young parishioners. The program prepared them for minor vehicle emergencies, offering one-on-one coaching on topics such as oil checking,

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

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RECRUITING, BUILDING BROTHERHOOD I tell prospective members that the Knights of Columbus provides a sense of camaraderie with other Catholic gentlemen. It’s great to be a part of an organization that’s so strong in the Church and our community. We have a Catholic school, connected to a Catholic church — we’re like a big family. Our council supports a lot of things with the school and at the church, like helping kids to make the trip to D.C. for the annual March for Life. We also emphasize the opportunity to purchase insurance products sold by brother Knights for brother Knights. MAKING CONNECTIONS I’ve sat in church making notes of people that aren’t Knights yet, though that’s kind of hard, since my kids like to sit in the front. Being in a small town is different than trying to recruit in a larger town. We know people — or I know somebody who knows that person. I often have someone introduce me or talk to them after Mass. Some people probably dodge me because they know I’m going to talk to them about the Knights of Columbus! But every eligible Catholic man should be in the Knights. It’s a great organization to be a part of, and it’s great for their families. FELLOWSHIP We have a Knights of Columbus bowling league, which is awesome. We have eight teams of five Catholic men that bowl every Wednesday night. It’s a great recruitment tool. Do you want to come out and bowl with the guys? Sure, all right! Join the Knights of Columbus! A FAMILY AFFAIR With the greater sense of spirituality, it helps everybody. It helps your family. It’s very important that a Catholic man is a spiritual leader at home and teaches his kids how to pray, how to be thankful for all they have. We say prayers every night with our kids. My son is 4, and he knows the Apostles’ Creed. When I was grand knight, I took my daughter to a couple of the living rosaries. She wanted to learn the prayers, and we still pray them every night.

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K N I G H T S O F C O LU MBU S

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

BE FEATURED HERE , SEND YOUR COUNCIL’ S

C OLUMBIA , 1 C OLUMBUS P LAZA , N EW

Students of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Va., stand in front of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., on a school pilgrimage Nov. 8, 2016. In addition to visiting the exhibits, the students were given a special tour of the mosaics in the Luminous Mysteries Chapel by religion teacher Father Michele Benetti, a member of Potomac Council 433 in Washington, D.C. More than 250 students made the trip.

“K NIGHTS IN A CTION ” H AVEN , CT 06510-3326

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

FEBRUARY 2017

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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 FA I T H A L I V E

‘I FELT THE DESIRE TO GIVE IT ALL TO CHRIST.’

BENJAMIN J. DOUDNA Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska SISTER FAUSTINA OF Council MERCIFUL LOVE, OCD Archbishop Seghers 5011 Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles

Photo by J.R. Ancheta

What am I going to do with my life? This question that every young person must answer started early for me. Thanks to my wonderful Catholic family, the real question was: “What does God want me to do with my life?” In elementary school, I first felt the desire to give it all to Christ. I grew up surrounded by stories of the saints and wanted to lay down my life for him like they did. God has opened just such an opportunity in my own life: to serve the people in my difficult homeland of northern Alaska. Through his grace, I am now studying at Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Ore. God has blessed me abundantly in this journey, opening doors that I never knew existed. The little gift of love I can offer to him is certainly returned a hundredfold. Following the Lord’s will has by no means been easy — but what obstacle can be too daunting when God loves us so unreservedly that his only desire is that we love him in return?