Columbia March 2012

KNI GHT S O F CO LUMBU S

M ARCH 2012

COLUMBIA “It is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States comes to realize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness.”

Pope Benedict XVI

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march 2012 ♦ Volume 92 ♦ Number 3

COLUMBIA F E AT U R E S

8 In the Service of Dignity For almost 50 years, Knights in New Jersey have assisted adults with developmental disabilities.

BY CHRIS DONAHUE

12 ‘A Critical Role to Play’ In an unprecedented address, Pope Benedict XVI speaks out publicly about grave threats to religious liberty in the United States.

16 Father McGivney’s International Education When he was a young seminarian in Quebec, Michael McGivney could not have dreamed of the legacy he would leave there.

BY JOSEPH WYLLIE GOSKI & MARC NADEAU

21 Full Stomachs, Full Hearts In a spirit of charity and fraternity, Knights prepare food that supports their communities and brings people together.

BY PATRICK SCALISI

24 St. Joseph, a Father of Fathers In his love for Mary and Jesus, St. Joseph’s faithfulness and purity are an example for all Christian fathers.

BY FATHER FREDERICK J. MILLER

A painting by Raffaelo Sanzio depicts the Transfiguration, upon which we reflect in the fourth luminous mystery of the rosary and in the Gospel reading of the second Sunday of Lent. Read more on page 4.

D E PA RT M E N T S 3

Building a better world

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Only a morality rooted in love can adequately address the world’s economic and political challenges.

BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

Scala / art resource, NY

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Learning the faith, living the faith In contemplating Christ’s majesty shining through his humanity, we see a vision of future glory.

Knights of Columbus News Knights Participate in March for Life, Poll Finds Most Americans Favor Abortion Restrictions • Knights Urged to Continue Advocacy for Religious Freedom • Forest Service Decides Jesus Statue Can Stay

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Knights in Action

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Columbianism by Degrees

Fathers for Good

BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN BISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI

Our life of faith involves a willingness to take risks and sincerely pray, “Thy will be done.”

PLUS Catholic Man of the Month

BY GREG WILLITS

MARCH 2012

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Rise, Pray, Follow DURING LENT, the Church’s liturgy recalls the Gospel story of the Transfiguration, in which Jesus takes Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain to pray and there reveals his glory to them (see page 4). According to St. Luke, the three apostles had fallen asleep and awoke to see the glorified Christ conversing with Moses and Elijah (cf. Lk 9:32).

This event foreshadows and prepares the apostles for what is to come.

After the Last Supper, Jesus again takes Peter, James and John to a mountain to pray. This time, it is not Christ’s divinity, but his humanity that is made manifest. He prays to his Father in agony, and his sweat becomes like drops of blood (cf. Lk 22:44). Jesus once again awakens his disciples, who have fallen asleep, and says, “Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test” (Lk 22:46).

As the Church observes Lent this year, Catholics in the United States are acutely aware of the need to stay alert and to pray in the face of adversity. On Jan. 19, Pope Benedict XVI addressed U.S. bishops about “grave threats” to religious liberty and said there is “a need for an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity” to address these challenges (see page 12). The next day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an unprecedented federal rule that would force institutions and individuals to pay for sterilization, contraception and some abortion-inducing drugs (see page 7).

A strong, unified response resulted

in which Catholics and others recognized that such governmental measures violate conscience rights and the U.S. Constitution’s protection of freedom of religion.

The architects and proponents of the mandate presume that contraception and abortifacients constitute basic health care. Unlike actual medical treatments and preventive care, though, these were not developed to promote bodily health or to heal or preclude any malady — neither fertility nor pregnancy is a disease. As the debate continues, numerous people and organizations could face an impossible dilemma: to comply with a policy that violates their beliefs, to face debilitating penalties, or to cease serving the common good.

This controversy is simply the latest in a line of recent challenges to religious freedom and conscience rights; more are likely to follow. The season of Lent serves as a reminder that, in the face of such challenges, we are called to remain disciplined and alert, to practice charity, and to stay close to the Lord in prayer. At this time of year, Knights also look in a special way to the dedicated witness of Venerable Michael McGivney and St. Joseph (see pages 18 and 24, respectively). Emulating these fathers in faith, we ask for the grace to be preserved from unnecessary trials and for the courage to follow Christ wherever he may lead.♦ ALTON J . PELOWSKI MANAGING EDITOR

National Catholic Prayer Breakfast – April 19 THE 8TH ANNUAL National Catholic Prayer Breakfast will take place Thursday, April 19, in Washington, D.C. The event will feature keynote speeches on the topic of religious liberty by Archbishop Francis A. Chullikatt, apostolic nuncio to the United Nations, and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the event, which is sponsored by the Supreme Council, visit catholicprayerbreakfast.org.

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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 Dennis A. Savoie DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT Charles E. Maurer Jr. SUPREME SECRETARY Logan T. Ludwig SUPREME TREASURER John A. Marrella SUPREME ADVOCATE ________ EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski alton.pelowski@kofc.org MANAGING EDITOR Patrick Scalisi patrick.scalisi@kofc.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR Brian Dowling brian.dowling@kofc.org CREATIVE & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ________

Venerable Michael McGivney (1852-90) Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Intercede for Us. ________ HOW TO REACH US MAIL COLUMBIA 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510-3326 ADDRESS CHANGES 203-752-4580 OTHER INQUIRIES 203-752-4398 FAX 203-752-4109 CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-380-9995 E-MAIL columbia@kofc.org INTERNET kofc.org/columbia ________ Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. This means that an applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church.

________ Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved ________ ON THE COVER Pope Benedict XVI holds his crosier during the papal Mass at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 2008.

coVer: cNS photo/Karen callaway

E D I TO R I A L

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD

Our Moral Witness Only a morality rooted in love can adequately address the world’s economic and political challenges

by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson THIS YEAR will mark the fourth year nition that states, “If anyone says, ‘I love of a global financial crisis. Government God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; officials and financial leaders continue to for he who does not love his brother propose technical and legal “fixes” with whom he has seen, cannot love God in the struggle for racial justice. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Jusvarying degrees of success, but public whom he has not seen” (1 Jn 4:20). confidence remains low, and there reIn his most recent encyclical, Caritas tice is really love in calculation. Justice mains widespread lack of trust in both in Veritate, Pope Benedict writes, “The is love correcting that which revolts government and business. development of peoples depends, above against love.” When he said this, King Obviously, technical and legal action all, upon a recognition that the human was not being sentimental — he was is necessary. But people intuitively sense race is a single family” (53). The pope preparing to go to jail.

King knew, and Pope Benedict continthat a more fundamental change is nec- reminds us that the fundamental Chrisessary to achieve long-term economic tian attitude toward our neighbor is ues to remind us, that love is intrinsic to justice. If we love someone, we sustainability. Americans beinsist that he or she be treated lieve that the nation’s moral fairly — not only within our compass is pointed in the family, but also within society. wrong direction but can still Love is the necessary condition Love is the necessary condition turn in a way consistent with of justice. This realization is of justice. This realization is at their deeply held moral values. the very heart of our moral witWhat has been missing from at the very heart of our ness as Catholics. the public discourse of the ecoIn January, Pope Benedict nomic crisis these past few years moral witness as Catholics. said, “It is imperative that the has been a candid discussion of entire Catholic community in the importance of these values. the United States comes to reIt is here that Catholics have a very important role to play under the “brotherhood” and “family.” The family alize the grave threats to the Church’s leadership of Pope Benedict XVI. is the place where we are first called to public moral witness presented by a radIn his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, love one another, where we learn to ical secularism which finds increasing exPope Benedict set forth the fundamental make a sincere gift of our selves rather pression in the political and cultural Christian vision of how we are to act. If than cheat one another and “look out spheres” (see page 12). This radical secuwe say, “God is love,” we are saying some- for number one.” In the family, we ex- larism can erect government barriers to thing much more than God sometimes perience “deep personal sharing” and the Church’s public moral witness, but it acts in a loving way or acts “out of love.” learn that “I must give to others not also seeks other ways to exclude this witIf he himself is love, then every expres- only something that is my own, but my ness from the nation’s public discourse.

In the face of these challenges, the sion, every manifestation, every revela- very self” (Deus Caritas Est, 34). tion of himself is an expression, a Yet, this attitude of “fraternal” charity 1.8 million Catholic men of the Knights manifestation, a revelation of love. cannot be limited to family life. It is, of Columbus — men known for their Thus, if the Christian life is a call to Pope Benedict insists, fundamental to determined public moral witness — have conform one’s life to God, then love be- economic development and civil society. an important role to play: We must concomes the context of not just some, but Some might dismiss this as unrealistic tinue to be in the forefront, demonstratof every human action. We see this in the idealism or sentimentality. But in our ef- ing in word and in deed that truly “God commandment to “love one’s neighbor forts to achieve economic justice, we is love.” This can make all the difference.

Vivat Jesus! as one’s self” and in the scriptural admo- might remember the lessons we learned

MARCH 2012

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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

The Transfiguration In contemplating Christ’s majesty shining through his humanity, we see a vision of future glory

by Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori

ON THE SECOND Sunday of open our hearts to the ultimate gift Lent, as the Church prepares by of love. The purpose of Lent is not prayer, penance and charity for the merely to overcome a few bad habits, closest followers. He also knew that solemn commemoration of Christ’s but to allow ourselves “to be led to his resurrection would astonish death and resurrection, a Gospel ac- that fullness of grace which God the them beyond anything they could count of the Transfiguration is pro- Father bestows upon his sons and imagine.

In his Transfiguration, Jesus made claimed (see Mt 17:1-9, Mk 9:2-10, daughters” (see Preface I, Lent). By Lk 9:28b-36). Even though we are in gazing upon “the glory of God shin- an enduring impression on the the midst of a somber season of re- ing on the face of Christ” (2 Cor minds and hearts of Peter, James and pentance and self-denial, we find 4:6), we see that by sharing in the John. John writes in his Gospel: “We beheld his glory, the glory as ourselves gazing upon the of the only begotten Son of Lord’s splendor, which he rethe Father” (Jn 1:14). And vealed atop Mount Tabor to By contemplating the glorified Peter writes: “We had been Peter, James and John, in the humanity of Christ, we sense the eyewitnesses of his majesty. presence of Moses and Elijah.

For he received honor and As we meditate on this Gospel tremendousness of our baptismal glory from the Father when scene, we begin to share somethat unique declaration thing of the wonder that the vocation. The glory that Jesus came to him from majestic apostles experienced as they revealed on Mount Tabor is the glory, ‘This is my Son, my saw a glimpse of God’s hidden beloved, in whom I am well glory and heard the voice of the glory of the Trinity’s self-giving pleased.’ We ourselves heard Father proclaim Jesus as his this voice come from heaven beloved Son. love poured out upon the world. while we were with him on the holy mountain” (2 Pt FROM DEATH TO GLORY The preface for the second Sunday Paschal Mystery, we die to our sins 1:16-18). of Lent explains why we are pre- and become capable of reflecting sented with such a scene amid a pen- God’s glory in our humanity. Even LOVE POURED OUT itential season: “For after he had told in this life, we can begin to share in Since the Transfiguration played a foundational role in the apostles’ the disciples of his coming Death, the grace of Christ’s resurrection. on the holy mountain he manifested The presence of Moses and Elijah faith and in the entire pattern of to them his glory, to show, even by signaled to the Apostles that Jesus Christian life, the Church sets aside the testimony of the law and the was the fulfillment of the law and a special day, Aug. 6, to celebrate prophets, that the Passion leads to the prophets. Yet Jesus knew that this mystery. By contemplating the the glory of the Resurrection.” the way in which this fulfillment glorified humanity of Christ, we Lent should not be viewed as a would come about — namely, sense the tremendousness of our punishment, but rather as a gift through his passion and death — baptismal vocation. The glory that from the Lord, a season when we would shake the faith of even his Jesus revealed on Mount Tabor is the 4 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦

MARCH 2012

LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

glory of the Trinity’s self-giving love poured out upon the world. This same love is lavished upon us in the Word of God and the sacraments. It is the love that we sense in the lives of the saints and in those who strive in God’s grace to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel. It enables us to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as God loves us. When our lives are immersed in divine love and shaped by it, we also gleam with some of God’s glory! To paraphrase St. Paul, we glorify God in our bodies (see 1 Cor 6:20).

Blessed Pope John Paul II understood that it is not enough for us to

HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS

Offered in solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI GENERAL: That the whole world may recognize the contribution of women to the development of society.

PoPe: cNS photo/Paul haring — FaTher KINo: arizona historical Society

MISSION: That the Holy Spirit may grant perseverance to those who suffer discrimination, persecution or death for the name of Christ, particularly in Asia.

recall the Transfiguration only twice a year. He wrote about it often. For example, he spoke of those who follow the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience as leading “transfigured lives capable of amazing the world” (see Vita Consecrata, 20). Not surprisingly, the Transfiguration is of central importance to the luminous mysteries of the rosary. In his apostolic letter The Rosary of the Virgin Mary, John Paul II called it “the mystery of light par excellence” (21).

Although the Blessed Virgin Mary was not present at the Transfiguration, she helps us contemplate the

transfigured face of Christ. After all, no one listened more attentively to the voice of her son did than Mary.

No one lived the Beatitudes more completely, fulfilled the vocation to love more fully, or shared more totally in the mystery of the cross and the glory of the Resurrection.

Sinless from the moment of her conception and attuned to God’s saving will even amid suffering, Mary led a transfigured life that continues to amaze the world: All generations call her blessed (see Lk 1:48). May the glorious Virgin Mother of God lead us to share in and reflect the glory of God shining on the face of her son!♦

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

Father Eusebio Kino (1644-1711) EUSEBIO FRANCISCO Kino was born in present-day Italy and studied in Austria. After recovering from a life-threatening illness at age 18, he entered the Jesuits and continued his studies in Germany. He desired to be a missionary in the East, but following his ordination, his superiors sent him to the New World.

After settling in Mexico with his Jesuit companions in 1681, Father Kino established the first Catholic church in the Sonoran Desert. He went on to found two-dozen missions and visitas throughout northern Mexico and present-day Arizona and California. A skilled mathematician and cartographer, he mapped an area of 50,000 square miles during his expeditions and was named the royal cosmographer.

Father Kino was compassionate toward the natives, fighting for their rights and teaching them the faith.

“The harvest of the very many souls is now so ripe,” he wrote in a memoir, “that all the year they come from distances of 50, 100, 150 and more leagues to see me and to ask me to go and baptize them.” He also taught

European agriculture and herding practices, opposed the forced labor of natives in Spanish silver mines, and worked for peace among tribes.

On March 15, 1711, Father Kino died in Magdelena, Sonoro, Mexico.

His remains were discovered in 1966 and the process for his canonization began the following year. In 2006, he was named a Servant of God. When Blessed John Paul II visited Phoenix in 1987, he said, “With exceptional personal abnegation, Father Kino worked indefatigably to found missions everywhere in this region, so that the Gospel of our Lord could take root among the people who lived here.”♦ MARCH 2012

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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

Knights Participate in March for Life, Poll Finds Most Americans Favor Abortion Restrictions

A group of college Knights was among the tens of thousands of participants in the 39th Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. IN LATE JANUARY, Knights from throughout the United States joined tens of thousands of young people for the 39th annual March for Life and related events in Washington, D.C. Before braving rainy, cold weather to participate in the march on Monday, Jan. 23, college Knights co-sponsored a pro-life conference at Georgetown University while a new K of C-sponsored poll showed that a majority of Americans support significant abortion restrictions.

On Saturday evening, Jan. 21, Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., celebrated the opening Mass of the 13th annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life, co-sponsored by Georgetown University Council 6375.

“It is not enough for us to be pro-life intellectually and politically,” said Bishop Lori in his homily. “We must embrace the Gospel of Life in the depth of our souls in such a way that it continually transforms us.”

The following day, the conference continued with a keynote address from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia.

“The task you need to take home with you today is this: Never give up the struggle that the March for Life embodies,” Archbishop Chaput said. “No matter how long it takes, no matter how many times you march — it matters, eternally. Because of you, some young woman will choose life, and that new life will have the love of God forever.”

Later that evening, Knights from the District of Columbia served as ushers during the opening Mass for the Na-

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tional Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Thousands attended the Mass, which was celebrated by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and concelebrated by four cardinals, 31 other bishops and 300 priests.

A Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll released Jan. 23, the day of the march, found that 79 percent of Americans say that they would not allow abortion after the first three months of pregnancy. More than half would only allow abortion — at most — in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother — or would not allow it at all.

“Almost four decades after the Supreme Court’s decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, which resulted in the almost totally unrestricted abortion regime of today, these decisions continue to be out of step with the vast majority of Americans,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. “Far from being settled law, the inadequacy of the Court’s reasoning on abortion in Roe and Doe is readily apparent to most Americans. Once a survey moves beyond the labels of pro-life and pro-choice, we see a fundamental unity among Americans in favor of significant abortion restrictions.”

The survey also found that 84 percent of Americans believe that laws can protect both the life of the unborn and the health and well-being of women. That number was consistent with — and slightly higher than — findings two years ago when 81 percent of respondents said that both could be protected.♦

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

Knights Urged to Continue Advocacy for Religious Freedom A NEW RULE issued Jan. 20 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave Catholic institutions until August 2013 before it would begin forcing insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive methods and sterilization procedures, including several drugs that induce abortion.

As originally written, the mandate would have forced individuals and groups with religious or moral objections — including Catholic hospitals, universities and charities — to purchase and provide such coverage.

In response to strong and unified opposition from the U.S. bishops and others, the administration announced a revision to the policy Feb. 10, claiming to accommodate the objections. “Contraception coverage will be offered to women by their employers’ insurance companies directly, with no role for religious employers who oppose contraception,” stated President Barack Obama, adding that insurance companies “will be required to provide contraception to these women free of charge.”

Following the Feb. 10 announcement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that although some details of the revised mandate were unclear, serious concerns remained unresolved.

“We note at the outset that the lack of clear protection for key stakeholders — for self-insured religious employers; for religious and secular for-profit employers; for secular nonprofit employers; for religious insurers; and for individuals — is unacceptable and must be corrected,” the bishops’ statement said. “And in the case where the employee and insurer agree to add the objectionable coverage, that coverage is still provided as a part of the objecting employer’s plan, financed in the same way as the rest of the coverage offered by the objecting employer.”

The bishops warned that the proposal continues to “threaten government coercion of religious people and

In response to the call from U.S. bishops, Knights are urged to contact their representatives in Congress and express support for freedom of conscience in health care. groups to violate their deeply held convictions. ... The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services.”

As the situation develops further and debate continues, Knights and their families are asked to continue sending a clear message to their representatives in Congress and urging them to co-sponsor the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179/S. 1467). This bi-partisan legislation would ensure that federal mandates do not penalize or discriminate against any Catholics.

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, in a recent message to state deputies, said, “Our 129th Supreme Convention in Denver last year unanimously passed a resolution pledging our support for freedom of conscience in health care. Now is the time to make that pledge of support a reality.”

For more information and resources, visit kofc.org/rights and usccb.org/conscience.♦

caPITol: cNS photo/Jonathan ernst, reuters

Forest Service Decides Jesus Statue Can Stay THE KNIGHTS of Columbus has been successful in its appeal of a Forest Service decision that would have forced the removal of the 10th Mountain Division’s World War II memorial near Whitefish, Mont. The memorial features a life-size statue of Jesus and has been under the care of local Knights since 1954. On Jan. 31, the Forest Service renewed the Knights’

permit for 10 years, citing the statue’s importance “to the community for its historical heritage.”

The statue’s presence in Montana had been challenged by the Freedom from Religion Foundation. On Feb. 7, the Wisconsin-based group formally filed a suit against the Forest Service in response to the decision to renew of the permit.♦

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I N THE S ERVICE OF D IGNITY For almost 50 years, Knights in New Jersey have assisted adults with developmental disabilities

by Chris Donahue Photography by Rich Green

I

n an activity room at the Gruenert Center, an adult training facility operated by the New Jersey Department for Persons with Disabilities, Peter Solensky sits at a table placing toothbrushes into slots in a plastic cup. The practice helps Solensky, a middle-aged man with an intellectual disability, prepare for paid jobs such as mailing newsletters or shredding paper for local businesses and organizations.

Solensky lives at the Finnegan House in Oak Ridge, one of nine group homes operated by DPD. He is largely independent, but needs help with things such as cooking and taking medication. As Solensky concentrates on his task, Bill Rudloff, a member of Marquette Council 588 in Sparta, walks over to him.

Looking up and seeing his friend, Solensky breaks into a smile and shakes Rudloff ’s hand.

“It took me well over a year before he had the confidence to give me his hand,” said Rudloff. “So every time I come in, I make sure I give him a high-five or handshake and look for the smile.”

A Catholic Charities agency in the Diocese of Paterson, the Department for Persons with Disabilities has served clients like Solensky for five decades. The agency cares for 74 men and women in group homes and supervised apartments, and 51 others at the Gruenert Center. Rudloff is one of many Knights who either work at the site or volunteer as coordinators, teachers and mentors.

In addition to 12 years of service on the board of trustees, Rudloff has also volunteered on several planning and activity committees and at the Wallace House in Sparta. Rudloff has taken clients fishing, to baseball games and, using his skills as a ski instructor, on ski trips. He even recruited two local teachers to help clients build model rockets with the permission of the local fire department.

“The staff here is phenomenal, and our clients are just so friendly and outgoing,” said Rudloff. “Over the years, we have built relationships with quite a few of them. When Wallace House was dedicated, our council would cook dinner for the residents. Two of them joined our council because we wanted them to be members of a team and part of the community.”

Top: John shows Bill Rudloff his room at the Alexander House, a group home run by the New Jersey Department for Persons with Disabilities, a Catholic Charities agency.

Bottom, from left: Rudloff visits with Gruenert Center clients Anthony and Kelly.

• John stands with Rudloff and Scott Milliken, DPD’s executive director. • Rudloff and Mindy paint a ceramic decoration.

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A VISIBLE PRESENCE The Knights’ support of DPD began in 1965 when Father Jack Wehrlen founded the agency in Clifton, explained Chris Brancato, the agency’s director of development and public relations. One of the first people Father Wehrlen contacted was Fred Conforti, a local Knight, who pledged to assist in any way he could.

In just over five years, the Knights’ support helped DPD open its first group home in Clifton, the Murray House. It is the longest-running facility of its kind in the state, said Brancato, who is a member of Our Lady of the Highway Council 3835 in Little Falls.

Prior to the 1970s, adults with intellectual or physical disabilities were either institutionalized at state-run or private facilities or lived with their families. The first state-run facility in New Jersey opened in 1888, and efforts to deinstitutionalize persons with disabilities didn’t begin until 1978.

Clients receive better care at DPD than at a state-run institution or hospital because they get more personal attention, said DPD Executive Director Scott Milliken, a member of Joseph F. Lamb Council 5510 in Oak Ridge.

“In an institution-like setting, there is roughly one staff member for 10-15 residents, while at DPD, in a community-based setting, you probably have a one-to-two or a one-to-three ratio at the most,” Milliken said, adding that the community system is actually less expensive.

Joanna Miller, DPD’s associate executive director, said that clients have access to better health care, too. “Folks are living longer in the community setting than in the institutions,” she said, “and there is more opportunity for community integration and socialization, which also enhances their quality of life.”

To support the good work that the agency is doing, the Knights of Columbus has raised more than $2 million for DPD since 1965. Brancato explained that the Order’s support continues to exceed that of “any corporate entity or individual donor.” Annually, Knights contribute about $100,000 to the agency’s $7 million budget, which is also supplemented by state and federal funds. Financial support comes from councils throughout New Jersey.

“The extra money is one of the reasons the homes look as good as they do and we can maintain our programs,” said Milliken.

The Knights’ connection to DPD, however, goes deeper than monetary donations. Eight of the 14 members of DPD’s board of trustees are Knights, and many council members — like Rudloff — donate time directly to clients.

Rudloff said his involvement with DPD was inspired by

his pastor, Msgr. Paul Knaur of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Sparta. At the time, Rudloff had retired from his job as an engineering manager at AT&T after accepting a buyout at age 55. Msgr. Knaur asked Rudloff if he would be interested in serving at a Catholic Charities agency. When Rudloff learned that two of his friends served with DPD, he signed on as well.

“I didn’t get involved in the Gruenert Center right away,” Rudloff said. “It wasn’t until I started forming some committees that I started to become familiar with the clients, what our responsibilities were and how to better serve them. I wanted to be able to go there and feel comfortable and have them feel comfortable around me.”

Over time, Rudloff said the clients at the Gruenert Center became so comfortable with him that it was difficult to drop something off without being noticed. “Sometimes they would be looking out the window, and I couldn’t sneak in or out because they were waving to me as I was walking up,” he said.

The relationship between the Order and DPD can also be found in the names of some of its group homes, including the Columbus House and the Finnegan House, both in Oak Ridge.

The latter was named in honor of John Finnegan, a past grand knight of Council 5510, and built entirely by Knights. Finally, there is the Calabrese House in Parsippany, which is named for Past State Deputy Dominick Calabrese as a testament to his dedication to DPD. Calabrese was involved with DPD for many years even before he became state deputy in 1988. He did whatever he could for people with physical or intellectual disabilities and also worked toward paying off the mortgages of the group homes. However, at a DPD event in 1997, while presenting a plan to raise money for an additional facility, Calabrese suffered a fatal heart attack.

This tragedy did not prevent the Knights from continuing Calabrese’s work. Shortly after, the Knights of Columbus Patterson Federation, comprised of 55 councils from throughout the diocese, established “Dominick’s Dream” to raise about $200,000 to build a new DPD facility and to support other DPD programs.

“People are very gratified to know that DPD is a Catholic organization, and part of that is the dignity of work every day.

It follows hand-in-hand with being all God’s children, and it is what we embrace.”

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FOUNDATION OF FAITH At the Gruenert Center, clients like Peter Solensky work on tasks such as mass mailings, packing and shredding. On weekdays, clients participate in book clubs and classes that teach ceramics, theater and scrapbooking. They also conduct food drives for the needy and collect cell phones for the military, among other activities.

Robert Walker, a resident at Alexander House, plays the organ as Rudloff sits by his side.

Milliken explained that the Knights’ involvement, as well as DPD’s overall mission, revolves around Catholic social teaching. “Part of our mission is treating people with dignity and respect,” he said. “People are very gratified to know that DPD is a Catholic organization, and part of that is the dignity of work every day. … It follows hand-in-hand with being all God’s children, and it is what we embrace.”

Thomas P. Ciborski, a membership and programs consultant for the Supreme Council, credited Calabrese’s example for bringing him into the “DPD family” as a board member 10 years ago. At first, Ciborski said, he was a little hesitant to associate directly with clients, because he didn’t know what to expect. “But the more I interacted with them, the more I saw they are beautiful people,” he said. “They all have something to give and have a different love of life.”

Ciborski said that one of the agency’s growing challenges, in addition to funding, is its aging client base. As Associate Executive Director Miller noted, people with disabilities are living longer than ever before, and DPD will need to start considering assisted living arrangements for elderly clients.

Despite these hurdles, though, volunteers and staff members alike are optimistic about DPD’s future.

At the end of his day, Rudloff visited residents of the Columbus House and the adjoining Alexander House in Oak

Ridge. In a sitting room at the Alexander House, after clients had returned from the Gruenert Center, Rudloff encouraged Robert Walker, 68, who played one of the countless songs he has memorized on the organ or piano. Walker, who has no family and has lived in the care of DPD almost since its founding, deftly played each song with one finger.

“When he goes to the local senior center to play, the residents there really look forward to it,” Rudloff said.

Rudloff knows firsthand how the work of the agency and the Knights’ participation reflect a commitment to serving neighbors in need, especially the poor and vulnerable, and giving everyone the opportunity to be part of a community.

“It is much more person-centered here,” explained Milliken. “Each person has goals and objectives that we help them achieve. It might not seem like much, but for someone to come from an institution setting and learn to say, ‘Hi,’ it is a huge accomplishment. It might take them a few months to learn it, but that is what we focus on for each person.”

To volunteer, make a donation or receive more information about DPD, visit www.dpd.org.♦ CHRIS DONAHUE is a staff writer for The Catholic Spirit in the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., and is a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Council 7250 in Milltown.

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‘A Critical Role to Play’ In an unprecedented address, Pope Benedict XVI speaks out publicly about grave threats to religious liberty in the United States

EDITOR’S NOTE: Pope Benedict XVI delivered the following address Jan. 19 to the bishops of Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas during their ad limina visits at the Vatican.

ture’s God. Today, that consensus has eroded significantly in the face of powerful new cultural currents, which are not only directly opposed to core moral teachings of the JudeoChristian tradition, but are also increasingly hostile to Dear Brother Bishops, Christianity as such.

I greet all of you with fraternal affection and I pray that this For her part, the Church in the United States is called, in pilgrimage of spiritual renewal and deepened communion season and out of season, to proclaim a Gospel that not only will confirm you in faith and comproposes unchanging moral truths, mitment to your task as pastors of but also proposes them precisely as the Church in the United States of the key to human happiness and soAmerica. As you know, it is my incial prospering (cf. Gaudium et tention in the course of this year Spes, 10). To the extent that some e see the need to reflect with you on some of the current cultural trends contain elefor an engaged, spiritual and cultural challenges of ments that would curtail the the new evangelization. proclamation of these truths, articulate and wellOne of the most memorable aswhether constricting it within the pects of my pastoral visit to the limits of a merely scientific rationformed Catholic laity United States was the opportunity ality or suppressing it in the name [to participate] in public it afforded me to reflect on Amerof political power or majority rule, ica’s historical experience of relithey represent a threat not just to debate about the issues gious freedom and specifically the Christian faith, but also to humanrelationship between religion and ity itself and to the deepest truth that are determining culture. At the heart of every culabout our being and ultimate vocathe future of ture, whether perceived or not, is tion, our relationship to God. a consensus about the nature of When a culture attempts to supAmerican society. reality and the moral good, and press the dimension of ultimate thus about the conditions for mystery, and to close the doors to human flourishing. In America, transcendent truth, it inevitably bethat consensus, as enshrined in comes impoverished and falls prey, your nation’s founding documents, was grounded in a as the late Pope John Paul II so clearly saw, to reductionist worldview shaped not only by faith, but also a commitment and totalitarian readings of the human person and the nature to certain ethical principles deriving from nature and na- of society.

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With her long tradition of respect for the right relationship Pope Benedict XVI speaks at the White House April 16, 2008, during between faith and reason, the Church has a critical role to his apostolic visit to the United States. play in countering cultural currents that, on the basis of an extreme individualism, seek to promote notions of freedom In the light of these considerations, it is imperative that the detached from moral truth. Our tradition does not speak from blind faith, but from a rational perspective that links entire Catholic community in the United States comes to reour commitment to building an authentically just, humane alize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness and prosperous society to our ultimate assurance that the cos- presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing exmos is possessed of an inner logic accessible to human reason- pression in the political and cultural spheres. The seriousness ing. The Church’s defense of a moral reasoning based on the of these threats needs to be clearly appreciated at every level of ecclesial life. Of particular concern natural law is grounded on her are certain attempts being made to conviction that this law is not a limit that most cherished of American threat to our freedom, but freedoms, the freedom of religion. rather a “language” that enables t is imperative that Many of you have pointed out that us to understand ourselves and concerted efforts have been made to the truth of our being, and so the entire Catholic deny the right of conscientious objecto shape a more just and hucommunity in the tion on the part of Catholic individumane world. She thus proposes als and institutions with regard to her moral teaching as a message United States comes to cooperation in intrinsically evil pracnot of constraint, but of liberatices. Others have spoken to me of a tion, and as the basis for buildrealize the grave threats worrying tendency to reduce religious ing a secure future. to the Church’s public freedom to mere freedom of worship The Church’s witness, then, without guarantees of respect for freeis of its nature public: She seeks moral witness. dom of conscience. to convince by proposing raHere, once more, we see the need tional arguments in the public for an engaged, articulate and wellsquare. The legitimate separaformed Catholic laity endowed with a tion of Church and state cannot be taken to mean that the Church must be silent on strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture and with certain issues, nor that the state may choose not to engage, or the courage to counter a reductive secularism that would be engaged by, the voices of committed believers in determin- delegitimize the Church’s participation in public debate about the issues that are determining the future of American ing the values that will shape the future of the nation.

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Pope Benedict XVI gives his blessing during a Jan. 19 meeting with U.S. bishops. In a speech to the bishops, the pope issued a strong warning about threats to freedom of religion and conscience in the United States. society. The preparation of committed lay leaders and the contribution to the renewal of society as a whole. presentation of a convincing articulation of the Christian viDear Brother Bishops, in these brief remarks I have touched sion of man and society remain a primary task of the Church upon some of the pressing issues that you face in your service in your country; as essential components of the new evange- to the Gospel and their significance for the evangelization of lization, these concerns must American culture. No one who shape the vision and goals of catelooks at these issues realistically can chetical programs at every level. ignore the genuine difficulties that In this regard, I acknowledge the Church encounters at the preshe legitimate with appreciation your efforts to ent moment. Yet in faith, we can maintain contacts with Catholics take heart from the growing awareseparation of Church involved in political life and to ness of the need to preserve a civil help them understand their perorder clearly rooted in the Judeoand state cannot be sonal responsibility to offer public Christian tradition, as well as from taken to mean that the witness to their faith, especially the promise offered by a new generwith regard to the great moral isation of Catholics whose experience Church must be silent sues of our time: respect for God’s and convictions will have a decisive gift of life, the protection of role in renewing the Church’s preson certain issues, human dignity and the promotion ence and witness in American socinor that the state of authentic human rights. As the ety. The hope that these “signs of [Second Vatican] Council noted, the times” give us is itself a reason to may choose not to and I wished to reiterate during renew our efforts to mobilize the inmy pastoral visit, respect for the tellectual and moral resources of the engage the voices of just autonomy of the secular entire Catholic community in the committed believers. sphere must also take into considservice of the evangelization of eration the truth that there is no American culture and the building realm of worldly affairs that can be of the civilization of love. With great withdrawn from the Creator and affection I commend all of you, and his dominion (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 36). There can be no the flock entrusted to your care, to the prayers of Mary, Mother doubt that a more consistent witness on the part of America’s of Hope, and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge Catholics to their deepest convictions would make a major of grace and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord.♦ 14 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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

Gambling with God Our life of faith involves a willingness to take risks and sincerely pray, “Thy will be done”

by Greg Willits

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Thinkstock

rom the day I proposed to my wife, Jennifer, I desperately prayed, “Dear God, if you don’t want me to marry this woman, please stop this. If this is a terrible mistake, shut every door. Don’t let it happen.”

In 1995, I was an unemployed college student, poorly living out my faith, and mostly directionless except for the fact that I wanted to marry Jennifer and had some vague notion of pursuing a career as a novelist.

With no path of success before me, I knew that what Jennifer and I planned to do was idiotic. How would we support ourselves? What about finishing college? Where would we live? The questions were as numerous as they were unanswerable. In this practical society of dollars and cents, our relationship seemed doomed from the beginning.

Our engagement, however, taught me a lesson so valuable that in the years since, I have applied it countless times to situations relating to employment, marriage, children and everything in between.

What I learned was the prayer, “Dear God, if this is not your will, please stop it.”

Getting married was the first of many risks that Jennifer and I have taken together, and it was the first of many times we have said that prayer with noticeable results. With the prospect of marriage drawing us forward, I soon had a wonderful entry-level job, and we found the perfect starter apartment. Our wedding brought together all of my siblings in one place for the first time in six years. Friends from the various states in which I had lived — we moved around a lot when I was growing up — were able to come to town and meet one another and my new bride for the first time. On that day, God united me to my best friend, the woman who would become the mother of our five children.

Nearly 17 years later, I marvel at the fact that my fatherin-law gave us his blessing and, more importantly, that God has blessed our marriage so abundantly.

Marrying Jennifer was a tremendous risk, but it was one

entered into with significant prayer, much of it asking that God’s will, and not mine, be done. It was prayer with a willingness to give up even my fiancée — whom I considered the best thing to ever happen to me — if our marriage was not in keeping with God’s will. There are times in our lives when it is necessary to trust God so completely, so fully, that we are willing to risk it all.

I have applied this total trust to other life-changing ventures, and God has always been faithful. I once accepted a job that would have been full of terrible consequences, and God stopped me from ever starting it. Conversely, when I felt pulled to quit my career in information technology to pursue a full-time Catholic media ministry, God opened every door. I have since approached a number of projects, such as the creation of a Catholic sitcom pilot for the CatholicTV Network in Boston, with that same prayer: “Dear God, if this is not your will, please stop it.”

Being Catholic, being a leader, requires risk. Such risk can lead to incredible blessings by uniting us more fully to the will of God. But that must always be our goal: God’s will be done. As I often say on the radio show that Jennifer and I host for The Catholic Channel, my life is a prime, though imperfect, example of the fact that if we take the risks necessary to accomplish God’s will, we can be assured of his faithfulness.

Today, when I meet an engaged couple, I imagine that my advice to them may seem initially off-putting. “Congratulations,” I’ll say. “Pray every day for God to end your relationship if it’s not his will. And if you make it to your wedding day, you can be assured that he’ll look after you.”♦ GREG WILLITS is the founder of NewEvangelizers.com, cohost of “The Catholics Next Door” radio program on The Catholic Channel, SiriusXM 129, and co-author of The Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living (Servant Books).

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

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Father McGivney’s International Education When he was a young seminarian in Quebec, Michael McGivney could not have dreamed of the legacy he would leave there

by Joseph Wyllie Goski & Marc Nadeau Photography by Stéphane Larivière

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n 2011, as the Church in Canada celebrated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Jesuit missionaries on Canadian soil, a seminary in a small Quebec city 35 miles southeast of Montreal celebrated an anniversary of its own. Sept. 8, 2011, marked the bicentenary of the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe, an institution rich in history and significant for the Church in North America.

When a committee was formed to organize festivities surrounding the event, proposed initiatives included the building of a monument to commemorate a former student who had the greatest impact on society. Saint-Hyacinthe counts among its alumni many notable figures, including a number of influential churchmen and at least five graduates who went on to become the premier of Quebec. The committee, however, chose to honor Venerable Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, who spent two years at the school as a young seminary student in the late-19th century.

“Father McGivney was a natural choice,” said Canon Jean Corbeil, rector of the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe.

“With more than 1.8 million Knights of Columbus throughout the world, this man is clearly the most distinguished among our alumni. We were privileged to have him as a student. It is an honor that few institutions can boast.”

been settling since the mid-19th century to work in New England factories. Pious and strongly attached to their Catholic faith, the French Canadians demanded to be served by priests well versed in their own language. Bishop Francis P. McFarland of Hartford dreamed of answering this need by sending seminarians to Quebec for their priestly formation, and Father Thomas F. Hendricken, who was then pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Waterbury, turned his bishop’s dream into a reality. A charismatic and devoted parish priest, he led 16-year-old Michael McGivney and 10 other young men from his parish to the small community of SaintHyacinthe.

For much of the 19th century, the population of SaintHyacinthe was fewer than 5,000. But when the railroad connected New England to Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe quickly became an important crossroads for people and ideas. Diverse and intellectually vibrant, it was an ideal place for a young student eager to expand his mind.

By the time McGivney arrived in September 1868, the seminary system was already well entrenched in FrenchCanadian culture. Established in response to the dearth of clerical vocations following the British Conquest of New France in 1759, the system of minor seminaries sought to provide young men with an environment in which they could immerse themselves in the study of classical languages and enjoy a community life centered on the sacraments and various devotions. The cours classiques, as they were called, offered young men a quality education and the opportunity to reflect on pursuing theological studies for the priesthood. Although certainly not all young men who studied at these seminaries became priests, the education bore fruit through an increase in vocations.

“For us, the Knights of Quebec, it is an eloquent reminder of the importance of our work.

It also represents a vibrant source of hope as we anticipate and pray for the canonization of our exceptional founder.”

LEAVING NEW ENGLAND Michael McGivney’s journey to Canada began in his home state of Connecticut, where French-Canadian immigrants had

As he began his priestly formation, Michael McGivney would have spent much time in the chapel of the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe.

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Father Michael J. McGivney and other distinguished alumni are pictured at the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe. • A newly built memorial to Father McGivney stands outside of the seminary. • Portraits hang in a hallway at the seminary. • Old leather-bound Catholic theological dictionaries sit on a shelf of the seminary’s library.

A DIVERSE EDUCATION In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe went through three stages of expansion in order to accommodate an increased number of students. Following a sharp decline in the number of seminarians over the last few decades, though, the seminary has ceased providing priestly formation. Nevertheless, the facility remains active in education, as it is home to Antoine-Girouard College, a high school named for the seminary’s founder. Saint-Hyacinthe also serves as a residence for retired priests from many regions of Quebec and regularly welcomes various groups seeking formation in the Christian faith.

Although Saint-Hyacinthe was founded for French Canadians, at the time of McGivney’s enrollment the school maintained a curriculum of studies in English taught by a faculty of Irish priests. In fact, many of the students were English speakers of Irish descent.

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who won several academic awards and whose quiet, amiable personality allowed him to integrate well into community life. The seminary’s 1968-1969 yearbook, marking the centennial of McGivney’s matriculation, notes that McGivney “benefited from an atmosphere favourable to the development of his personality, from contact with true educators, from the spirit of initiative granted to the students.”

McGivney’s education at the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe came to an end in mid-1870. He then enrolled at the Seminary of Our Lady of the Angels in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in September 1871, continuing his preparation for theological studies by taking courses in philosophy and classical languages. The following year, he was ready to begin studying theology and chose to attend Sainte-Marie College, a Jesuit institution in Montreal, for its academic rigor and precision.

His studies there were interrupted in 1873 when the death of his father forced him to return home. He later completed priestly formation at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and was ordained in 1877.

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THE KNIGHTS IN QUEBEC Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., but he did not live to see the Order expand to Canada. In August 1890, he died of pneumonia at age 38 while serving as the pastor of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, Conn. Nonetheless, the French-Canadian province that McGivney had called home for three years would embrace the fledgling Order before the turn of the century.

Faith and Fraternalism, a history of the Knights of Columbus

by Christopher J. Kauffman, recounts that on Aug. 8, 1897, two residents of Montreal who formerly lived in Plattsburg, N.Y., were among the 66 charter members of Plattsburg Council 255.

The two men, J.P. Kavanaugh and Charles F. Smith, returned to Canada determined to establish a new council in their city.

With enthusiastic support from a former mayor of Montreal and permission from Archbishop Paul Bruchési, Montreal Council 284 was founded on Nov. 22, 1897.

At first, the council was composed almost entirely of men of Irish descent. The challenges faced by Catholics in French Canada, however, would lead more and more French Canadians to join their ranks. Ever since the British Conquest, French-Canadian Catholics endured much of the same discrimination encountered by Catholics in the United States.

The growing Order offered them a welcome refuge in which they could stand together.

Following the foundation of the Knights in Quebec, it wasn’t long before the Order expanded to other parts of the country.

The first Canadian Council outside of Quebec was established in Ottawa on Jan. 28, 1900. Just five years later, councils were

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church.

Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your venerable servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.)

All Knights and their families are encouraged to join the Father McGivney Guild. See page 31 for more information, or visit fathermcgivney.org.

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active in five Canadian provinces and every U.S. state.

The Knights of Columbus remains strong in Quebec today, counting more than 97,000 members in 569 councils.

Knights in Quebec continue to lead the way in charitable donations among all of the Order’s jurisdictions and raised $10.4 million during the 2010-11 fraternal year. Recognizing a pressing need to share the Gospel in their province, Quebec Knights focus on projects that support family life and recently launched an initiative to promote pro-family, pro-life education at the parish level.

A SYMBOL OF HOPE On March 31, two days after Founder’s Day, Quebec Knights will participate in a day of celebration at the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe. As they look back on 115 years of dedicated service in Quebec, they will also look toward the future, continuing the work that began with Father McGivney’s dedication and vision.

The bicentennial monument, which was unveiled at the seminary in September 2011, represents the special relationship that has developed between the Order and Quebec Catholics.

Designed by sculptor Claude Millette, who grew up near the seminary, the monument consists of two black granite columns — one of which bears an image of Father McGivney — and stainless-steel beams and a spire representing a church.

Suppliers provided materials for the monument at a reduced cost, while the Quebec State Council and the Supreme Council shared the remaining expense of $50,000.

Millette titled the work Passor Passare. In Latin, the word Passor means “he who opens,” and the word Passare means “to pass.” Millette explained, “Passor reflects very well the work of Father McGivney as the founder of the Knights of Columbus and, in turn, Passare expresses the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe as a place of passage that has transformed thousands of young people as citizens with diverse backgrounds.”

The granite signifies distinction, added Millette, and the monument’s four columns represent the Order’s principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. And since the monument stands directly outside the entrance to the seminary, it has invited visitors to reflect on the school and on Father McGivney’s legacy.

“For the Order, it is incredible visibility, especially at a time when we prepare to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the establishment of the Knights of Columbus in Quebec,” said Quebec State Deputy Jean-Marc Moyen. “For us, the Knights of Quebec, it is an eloquent reminder of the importance of our work. It also represents a vibrant source of hope as we anticipate and pray for the canonization of our exceptional founder.”♦ JOSEPH WYLLIE GOSKI is an associate producer for French programming with Salt + Light Catholic Television in Toronto. MARC NADEAU, a communications consultant, is a past grand knight of Sherbrooke (Québec) Council 530.

FULL STOMACHS, FULL HEARTS In a spirit of charity and fraternity, Knights prepare food that supports their communities and brings people together

by Patrick Scalisi Illustrations by Ben Hatke

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ood is not only an essential part of life, but it is also integral to the Christian faith. Jesus fed the masses with multiplied fish and bread during his ministry; foods and plants figured into the parables that Christ handed down to his disciples; and the Eucharist — the source and summit of the Christian life — was instituted during the most famous meal in human history: the Last Supper.

It is little wonder, then, that food continues to play a central role in Catholic culture today, both in worship and in the ways that sharing a meal can bring people together.

Sometimes these gatherings result in material or monetary donations for charitable causes. At other times, the simple act of coming to table produces an invaluable sense of togetherness.

For the Knights of Columbus, food is a visible part of the Order’s presence in communities around the world. In the Philippines, Knights feed the needy and vulnerable through communal food programs. In Poland, K of C members hand

out bread on certain feast days. And in North America, Knights are almost as famous for their breakfasts and fish frys as they are for their charitable outreach.

But pancakes and tilapia are only the first courses of a feast that includes many unique K of C recipes, each with its own story of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.

FRYING FISH — EVEN IN THE SNOW During Lent, many K of C units dust off deep fryers and skillets to prepare meatless Friday dinners for their Catholic communities. Glenville Council 10013 in Schenectady, N.Y., is no exception. For the past six years, the council has hosted fish fry dinners every Friday during Lent to supplement charitable income that had previously come from a Knights-sponsored golf tournament.

“They were running into problems with the golf tournaments — no one wanted to join them anymore, they were losing money,” said James W. Martin, who initiated the fish MARCH 2012

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frys when he served as grand knight from 2006 to 2008.

At first, Martin met resistance when trying to implement the program. When some people expressed concerns about the odor that cooking fish would leave in the kitchen, Martin offered to cook the fish outside.

When others pointed out that Lent usually falls during winter in New York, Martin’s solution was to buy a tent.

“In the great Northeast here, it snows a lot. We went through many snow storms doing these outside,” said Martin.

Despite a rocky start, the fish frys have taken off in recent years. The events draw involvement from the parish youth group and the wives of council members, who often prepare and donate dessert dishes. The dinners generate about half of the council’s charitable funds — about $3,500.

“It just brings so much unity to the Knights and all their wives,” said Martin. “The work of many hands makes little work for all. And it works out so well.”

A ‘WILD’ NIGHT Banquet dinners always involve plenty of food, but it isn’t often that the menu includes bear, beaver, moose and buffalo. That is, unless you happen to stop by the annual wild game dinner hosted by St. John de Brébeuf Council 8233 in Kingsville, Ontario.

Started in 1986, the dinner has grown from a modest affair serving about 100 people to a sold-out capacity event with 600 attendees ready to sample entrées, hors d’oeuvres, side dishes and desserts that range from caribou and venison to turtle and trout.

“When we first started, it was kind of a seat-of-our pants type of thing,” said Stanley E. Balakowski, who was grand knight when the program launched.

“Whatever we had, we served.”

From those simple roots, the dinner has become wildly popular, generating on average $13,000 for a variety of charitable causes that include the Leamington District Memorial Hospital, Birthright of Greater Windsor and the Kingsville Public Library, among others. The dinner, whose menu varies from year to year, has also strengthened the council and become a town tradition.

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said Balakowski. “But that didn’t do much for the council other than supply funds, because five or six men — usually the same ones — were the ones who ran the games. If five or six people are working on that, it doesn’t bring many of us together. But when you have 75 or 80 people out of 150 that work on this, then you get the integration between members. There’s a bond that’s established. You have a greater love for your brother Knight.”

Even the mayor of Kingsville has weighed in on the dinner. In a 2010 letter to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the event, Mayor Nelson Santos wrote, “As your event has grown over the years from its humble beginnings, it has truly become a part of our heritage, culture and great tradition of Kingsville.”

PANCAKES SO LIGHT, THEY FLOAT When Richard L. Wagner transferred to St. Francis of Assisi Council 12484 in Lancaster, Texas, in January 2009, he brought with him a culinary technique that transformed the parish breakfasts hosted by his new council: “Angel-Lite Pancakes.”

“Our secret recipe contains no water or milk,” Wagner wrote in a 2009 letter to Columbia magazine. “These ‘Angel Lites’ are so lite, they tend to float off the griddles and have to be plucked out of the air to serve them.”

In no time at all, Wagner’s recipe became the centerpiece of breakfasts held after Sunday Mass, and Wagner would take to the pulpit before each event to pitch his creation to parishioners.

“He always had a colorful expression to go with them. He said, ‘They’re so light, you’ll just fly away with them,’” said Thomas P. Germino Jr., who was grand knight when Wagner joined the council.

Besides the funds generated from the sale of the “AngelLite Pancakes” — which support the council’s charitable causes — the breakfasts have also brought parishioners closer together.

“That’s pretty much what the whole objective was: to have a place where the community could get to known one another,” said Germino. “We think that’s had a positive effect, because you get to know more people in the parish and grow into more of a family.”

Wagner passed away July 15, 2010, of complications from kidney failure, but his legacy lives on in the special pancakes that are still served by the council each month.

TACOS UNITE At first glance, western Oklahoma may not seem like the cultural melting pot of cities like New York or Los Angeles.

But St. Mary’s Church in Clinton encompasses a diversity rivaling most urban centers, for it is here that a community

of European, Hispanic, Japanese and Vietnamese Catholics come together to celebrate their faith. Tying them together is a meal program launched three years ago by Western Council 3101 in Clinton called “tacos al pastor.”

Introduced by District Warden Hector Hernandez of Oklahoma District #8, tacos al pastor has crossed cultural lines better than even the most seasoned international ambassador.

“We have a very successful attendance,” said District Deputy Michael Harris. “It’s a good time for all the cultures to get together and socialize.”

Hernandez learned how to make tacos al pastor, which denotes the preparation method for the dish using pork and pineapple, while working at a food stand in his native Mexico. When he brought the dish to his council, there was some concern that it might not translate well among parishioners from so many different backgrounds. Thankfully, tacos al pastor sparked curiosity among the parish family.

“Once they tasted it, it just really took off,” said Harris.

“It helped bring the council and the parishioners together in that way, in being unique.”

So far, the program’s greatest contribution has been to help build a new parish hall at St. Mary’s Church, which has, in turn, allowed the parish to become even closer. St. Joseph Hall houses the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the parish nursing program and, less visibly, the goodwill of a diverse family joined together for a common purpose.

A TRADITION HANDED DOWN Booya may not be a familiar dish to people living outside of Middle America, but Thomas Pexa of New Prague (Minn.) Council 2023 has been making it for most of his life. The soup, which may have its origins in a similar Czech recipe, was passed down by his father, Joseph S. Pexa Sr., who made booya as child.

“When [my father] was young, he always shot rabbit and squirrels, so they made a lot of that type of soup,” said Thomas. “He lived on a farm, and they had enough cream and vegetables, so they started to make it when he was a kid.”

For decades, members of Council 2023 have enjoyed booya once a year as part of their meetings. Each month, Knights gather for a meal after conducting council business and rotate through a number of recipes. Ever since Joseph introduced booya to the council many years ago, it has always been a hit.

Thomas estimates that the recipe is at least 80 years old

and added that his father made booya almost until the time of his death in mid-2011 at the age of 101. “He made it probably a month before he passed away,” said Thomas.

“Sometimes he said it didn’t taste good because his taste buds were so bad. I said, ‘Dad, you always make good soup.’”

Joseph’s fellow council members would likely agree.

“Men — it seems like they’re always ready to eat!” said Thomas, who explained that booya has encouraged fraternal brotherhood and that more members show up to participate when the soup is being served.

BETTER THAN RATIONS For families living on a military base, the normal pressures of home life are coupled with the anxieties of having a loved one deployed overseas. Sometimes, a task as simple as making dinner can seem like a stressful chore.

Enter Archbishop Seghers Council 5011 in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2006, the council decided to start giving back to the military families living at Fort Wainwright, and Feeding Our Outstanding Dependents was born.

In the six years since its launch, the program has united Catholics at Fort Wainwright in supporting military families The parish at the base provides funding for the food itself, while council members organize and cook the meals, which are often home-style recipes like “tangy and sweet baked chicken.”

For District Deputy Billy A. Chrisman Jr. of Alaska District #2, it is important that “the people who are there — the women, the children, the families — have a relaxing time where they don’t have to worry about what’s going on.”

Military spouses, he added, show up alone or with several children in tow; sometimes, soldiers who are on leave accompany their families.

Besides the togetherness it fosters, the program has also had a positive impact on evangelization. Chrisman explained that some people have actually returned to the Church after learning that the Knights and the Catholic community cosponsor the program.

“They’ll say, ‘Well, my mom would really be happy if I got my child baptized,’” Chrisman said. “We’re not really evangelizing doing this, but we are in a way.”♦ PATRICK SCALISI is Columbia magazine’s associate editor.

Your Turn In addition to recounting the stories from each of these K of C food initiatives, we also have available the recipes for Columbia readers to try at home or at their council functions. Visit kofc.org/columbia to view six recipes featured in this article.

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St. Joseph, a Father of Fathers In his love for Mary and Jesus, St. Joseph’s faithfulness and purity are an example for all Christian fathers

by Father Frederick J. Miller

I

n his 1989 apostolic letter, Guardian of the Redeemer, Blessed John Paul II held up St. Joseph as a model of the Christian life for all believers. He wrote, “St. Joseph’s example transcends all individual states of life and serves as a model for the entire Christian community, whatever the condition and duties of each of its members may be” (30). Precisely because of his closeness to Jesus and Mary, St. Joseph has a personal relationship with all Christians. But in a particular way, Catholic husbands and fathers turn to St. Joseph as a heavenly model and friend.

God desired to become man in a true human family. Although they never consummated their marriage out of reverence for the act of God in the virginal conception and birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph loved each other with a tender marital love. Joseph also loved Jesus as his son. The spousal and paternal love of Joseph was a gift of the Holy Spirit to help him live on earth as if he were already in heaven — a gift given, in large measure, to help Christian men be chaste and tender spouses and fathers.

Stated simply, St. Joseph is the model of all husbands and the exemplar of all fathers.

sudden and humanly inexplicable pregnancy. Rather, knowing that Mary was pregnant “by the power of the Holy Spirit,” Joseph was convinced that he was unworthy to be so close to the work of God and decided in his humility to step aside.

The angel did not say to Joseph, “Do not be angry” or “Do not be perplexed.” Rather, coming to him in a dream, the angel said, “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:20-21).

In this passage, Joseph manifests the fear of the Lord, a fear that was grounded in his reverence for God. Pope John Paul II explains, “Even though he decided to draw back so as not to interfere in the plan of God which was coming to pass in Mary, Joseph obeyed the explicit command of the angel and took Mary into his house, while respecting the fact that she belonged exclusively to God” (Guardian of the Redeemer, 20).

This understanding of Mt 1:20-21 proposes that the angel did not come to Joseph in his sleep to explain the divine origin of Mary’s pregnancy. Mary, in her love for Joseph, had likely informed him of this fact before the arrival of the angel. Knowing Mary’s goodness and holiness, Joseph believed what Mary had told him and made an act of faith.

The angel instead came to assure Joseph that God wanted him to accept Mary into his house as his wife. In doing so, Joseph would legally adopt the child Mary was carrying in her womb and become the foster father of God’s Son. By virtue of their marriage, St. Joseph integrated the child into the family of King David. The Jewish people understood that the Messiah would be the last and greatest king of Israel,

Just as Joseph received the grace to mediate God the Father’s love to Christ, so too does God give Christian fathers the grace to form their sons and daughters in virtue, in the image of Christ.

SON OF DAVID St. Matthew, explaining why Joseph initially decided to divorce Mary quietly after learning about her pregnancy, tells us that he was a “just man” (Mt 1:19). In other words, Joseph was faithful to the covenant that God had established with his Chosen People. He participated in and manifested God’s covenant love in every aspect of his life, and all of his relationships were characterized by the observance of the Ten Commandments.

A number of the early Church Fathers explained that Joseph did not decide to divorce Mary quietly because he suspected her of adultery or because he was perplexed by her 24 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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Tyrolese art Glass co., austria, 1899 / courtesy Saint Joseph's university collection, Philadelphia

a king who would reign forever. In the Davidic dynasty, it was the king’s mother who was queen. The queen-mother would share in the Messiah’s royal majesty and eternal reign.

Amazingly, the king and queen of Israel — indeed, the king and queen of the world — lived in the home of a humble carpenter in Nazareth. In certain cultures, St. Joseph is thus presented in Christian art wearing a crown — the crown of King David that he, through his act of faith, conferred on his adopted son.

This conferral of royalty took place in very ordinary circumstances and with little notice. How wonderful and strange are the ways of God! St. Joseph’s greatness is rooted in his reverence for Mary and her child. Together, Mary and Joseph brought the faith of Abraham to perfection and in receiving Christ as their son merited the gift of faith for all of us.

MODEL OF CHASTE LOVE The example of St. Joseph teaches married men the importance of being righteous in all of their relationships, especially with their wives and children. As the years pass and the graces he received on his wedding day mature, the Christian husband becomes increasingly aware that God created him and his wife for each other and that their path to holiness is to grow in union with Christ together.

How blessed the Church and the world would be to see St. Joseph’s deep respect and tender love for Mary in every Catholic husband!

Similarly, as Joseph revered and loved Christ as if Jesus were his natural son, so the Christian father reveres each of his children as a unique gift from God who has an unrepeatable role to play in God’s plan of salvation. The emotional, psychological and spiritual health of our children depends, to a large extent, on the strong and gentle love of fathers who recognize that each of their children belongs to God. Just as Joseph received the grace to mediate God the Father’s love to Christ, so too does God give Christian fathers the grace to form their sons and daughters in virtue, in the image of Christ.

The Christian husband and wife, in consummating their marriage and sharing in this beautiful intimacy throughout their lives, are also united with Christ and grow in his grace.

In the act of marital love, the Christian husband and wife open their relationship to new life and receive children lovingly from God. The holiness of the marital act should motivate Christian husbands to be chaste in all of their relationships, thoughts, words and deeds. Think of the stunning chastity of St. Joseph, who loved Mary as his wife and guarded her virginity as the sacred sign of Christ’s divine sonship. St. Joseph, from his place in heaven, helps married men to be chaste.

I recently heard a group of young married men discuss how they deal with sexual temptations, which might include such things as impure thoughts, pornography or flirting with women other than their wives. The men explained that whenever they are tempted, they offer the mortification involved in overcoming their desires as an act of love for their wives and as a prayer for their children’s chastity. And as these men grow in chastity, they grow in respect and love for those God has placed first and foremost in their lives: their wives and children.

St. Joseph lived at the heart of the Gospel of Life and wants to help us convince people today of the goodness of chastity and the importance of honoring the marital act through the rejection of sexual sins. I am certain that every pro-life effort by the Knights of Columbus in favor of chastity and, in particular, the movement to promote natural family planning will be richly blessed by St. Joseph.

Much more could be said about the benefits of prayerful devotion to St. Joseph — the sanctification of daily labor, contemplating Christ in times of prayer and amid our ordinary activities, and living and dying in the holy presence of Jesus and Mary. But one thing is certain: The Church in her ongoing struggle with the ancient serpent needs St. Joseph’s help more than ever before. We need him, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the foster father of God’s only son, to help our Catholic fathers be the best of fathers, fathers like St. Joseph.♦ FATHER FREDERICK J. MILLER, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., and a member of Father Thomas F. Canty Council 3197 in Hillside, is a professor of systematic theology at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md.

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KNIG HTS IN ACTI ON

REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES

PARISH BENEFIT

Paul. Knights distributed grocery bags with a list of suggested food items after all of the Masses at St. Mary Magdalene Church. The following weekend, council members received more than seven truckloads worth of food and about $100 in cash donations. That same weekend, the council hosted a pancake breakfast that raised an additional $579 for the food bank.

With assistance from parishioners, Laval Council 2721 in Quebec organized a charity dinner to benefit St. Émile Church. The event raised $13,000.

LAPTOP FOR DEPARTING PASTOR

Pope Pius XII Council 4737 in Goodyear, Ariz., presented Father John Herman, the departing pastor of St. John Vianney Church, with a laptop for use in his new assignment in Mexico. The computer was loaded with software to assist Father Herman with his duties and to communicate with friends and family back in the United States.

THE GIFT OF WATER

Angelo Roncalli Council 5584 in Rochester, Ind., held a pancake and sausage breakfast that raised $500 for Gift

Mark Kimble (far right) of Our Lady of the Highway Council 3835 in Little Falls, N.J., looks on as fellow council members Dave Schultz (left, white shirt) Gerard Occhiuzzi (center) fingerprint a child at the Little Falls Street Fair. Knights offered free child identification kits at the fair, fingerprinting and photographing more than 100 children with assistance from area police. of Water, a nonprofit organization that provides clean drinking water to Third World countries. Specifically, the donation will help the needy in Haiti, where clean water is essential to preventing the spread of disease.

WIND AND WATER

Members of Malolos (Luzon) Council 3710 look on as a girl receives a vaccine during a clinic hosted by the council. In cooperation with Vaxcen Inc., Knights sponsored free vaccinations for children ages 1 through 16 living at the Sañto Nino Orphanage in Tabe.

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After historic floods damaged several communities in western Kentucky last year, Father Thomas J. Malloy Council 6317 in Danville contacted the recently closed Philips Lighting plant to inquire about buying the plant’s industrial floor fans to help people dry out their homes.

Representatives from the plant were so enamored with the idea that they donated the fans — worth approximately $4,000 — to the Knights. Council 6317 then delivered the fans to Holy Rosary Council 1055 in Paducah for use during disasters.

TIE A RIBBON TO IT

St. Katharine Drexel Council 12868 in Egg Harbor Town-

ship, N.J., and Rev. Dr. John T. Sheehan Assembly in Atlantic City worked with the Yellow Ribbon Club at an area grocery store to collect approximately 1,200 pounds of food for U.S. troops serving overseas. Volunteers handed out a list of supplies to shoppers and collected enough donations to assemble 38 care packages.

NURSING HOME VISITS

For the past three years, members of Msgr. Nolan B. McKevitt Council 689 in Marquette, Mich., have visited an area nursing home to meet with patients. Knights bring prayer cards to pray with residents, as well as treats and an arsenal of jokes and good cheer.

FOOD DRIVE

Father Paul Donald O’Toole Council 10819 in Simpsonville, S.C., hosted a food drive to help stock an area food bank operated by the Society of St. Vincent de

DINNER, DESSERT AND AUCTION

Father Edward P. Harrison Council 7438 in Greenville, Texas, with assistance from the women’s guild at St. William Church, raised approximately $11,300 for the Raffa Clinic by hosting a benefit dinner, dessert competition and silent auction.

The Raffa Clinic, the only facility of its kind in Hunt County, provides free resources to women facing crisis pregnancies and/or challenging parenting circumstances.

HOSPITAL DINNER

St. Robert Bellarmine Council 8964 in Oakland Gardens, N.Y., prepared dinner for approximately 60 residents at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park, which provides temporary housing for the families of children undergoing treatment at area hospitals.

SHRINE RESTORED

St. Monica Council 14874 in Sunbury, Pa., cleaned and restored an outdoor shrine to the Sacred Heart that is located at St. Monica Church.

Following the restoration, Father Donald W. Cramer II, pastor and council chaplain, blessed and rededicated the shrine.

K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N SIGNS AND COMMANDMENTS

When the pastor of St. Mary, Queen of Peace Church in Brownwood, Texas, expressed his desire for a new church sign, members of Father F. X. Fassbender Council 3867 in Early saw an opportunity to align the project with their own desire to place a Ten Commandments monument at their church. Knights hosted a raffle for six weeks to raise funds for a Ten Commandments monument in two parts, which was placed on either side of the new church sign.

National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplain for distribution in VA hospitals throughout the country. The handmade rosaries have red, white and blue beads.

POST-PROM PARTY

Members of Pulilan Council 6105 in Bulacan, Luzon, plant new trees along the Dulong Highway as part of an environmental initiative.

Knights and other volunteers planted approximately 1,000 new saplings.

TEEN TRADE SCHOOL

To better prepare teen missionaries to handle construction projects abroad, Our Lady of La Salette Council 8376 in Marietta, Ga., provided a day of hands-on instruction that included training on how to use hand and power tools. Six hours of practical lessons were followed by a cookout for all 34 participants.

FOOD FOR A SPECIAL RETREAT

Laredo (Texas) Council 2304, Blessed Sacrament Council 10939 and St. Peter the Apostle Council 15246 prepared food for a three-day retreat for people with intellectual disabilities.

REUNITING A FAMILY

Jesuit Father J. Fred Reidy Council 1021 in Missoula, Mont., purchased a plane ticket for a woman with multiple sclerosis to reunite with her young daughter, whom she had not seen in five years.

Laura Stoll was diagnosed with MS at age 13, but went on to marry and have a child, Megan. Following Megan’s birth, though, Laura’s condition worsened and her husband passed away. Laura was

Bishop Thomas W. Lyons Council 9808 in Burtonsville, Md., helps to discourage teens from risky behavior by hosting an annual post-prom party. The party begins immediately following prom and lasts until dawn. Since the event’s inception, attendance has grown from around 225 people to more than 600.

DONATION FOR PERU

forced to place her daughter for adoption and move across the country to continue her medical care. With help from the council, Laura and Megan were finally able to reunite and spend time together.

HELPING THE BISHOP

When the Ontario State Council received a request from Bishop Donald Thériault of the Military Ordinariate of Canada to assist with repairs to the bishop’s residence, several councils from in and around Ottawa responded in earnest. Members of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Council 12401 in Russell, Resurrection of Our Lord Council 13701 in Ottawa and Bishop John Beahan Assembly in Ottawa re-stained an outdoor deck at the residence and installed new doors on the sunroom. A member of the bishop’s staff later treated the Knights to a barbecue in return for their hard work.

HAVE FOOD, WILL TRAVEL

Precious Blood Council 5147 in Bath, N.Y., provided free coffee, hot dogs and snacks to

travelers at a rest stop on I86. In return, Knights asked for freewill donations to help subsidize the council’s charitable fund.

MISSION MEN

Our Lady of the Mountains Council 9832 in Milford, Pa., donated $250 to Father José Maria Salazár, a priest from South America who works with the poor and needy in Lima, Peru.

Father Paul J.F. Wattson Council 8919 in Windsor, Ontario, serves dinner each month at the United Church Downtown Mission. The mission serves approximately 120,000 meals each year to the needy and homeless in and around Windsor.

CANCER EQUIPMENT

St. Timothy Council 10034 in Lady Lake, Fla., donated $2,000 to The Villages Health System Foundation to purchase equipment for the new Moffitt Cancer Center. The 100,000-square-foot facility, an extension of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, opened in December 2011.

PATRIOTIC ROSARIES

St. Frances of Assisi Assembly in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the rosary-making ministry at St. Lucie Church provided 300 patriotic rosaries to the

Andrew Maal, Liam Parker and Christian Gonzalez of Albert Solano Circle 5432 in Pueblo, Colo., cut back brush and trees at a retreat site in San Luis.

Squires and counselors removed piles of overgrown and dead trees from a mile-long trail that features life-size Stations of the Cross. After the work was done, circle members walked along a nearby trail that memorializes the Mexican Martyrs.

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

tended the event, which raised approximately $1,000 for charity.

FAIRY TALE BALL

Members of Father Edwin F. Kelley Council 5750 in Woodbridge, Va., construct a wheelchair ramp at the home of a council member who has disabilities. Knights provided volunteer manpower and $5,000 worth of materials to complete the ramp.

Bishop Becker Council 2427 in Elkton, Md., hosted a “Fairy Tale Ball,” a family event that included dancing, a dessert buffet, live performances, family photos, fairy tale characters, crafts, contests, raffles and more.

More than 100 local merchants donated cash and services to the event, and attendees were invited to dress up as their favorite fairy tale characters. The ball raised more than $6,000 for the food bank at Immaculate Conception Church.

ROOF REPAIRS

PRAYER WALK

St. Benedict Council 8337 in Duluth, Minn., hosted a golf scramble that raised nearly $2,000 to add a 15th station to the prayer walk that the council built at St. Benedict Church. Last year, the council completed work on an 840-foot, $25,000 prayer walk that included the 14

Julius Barrios and Jerry Guillot of Msgr. Tjebbe Bekema Council 12060 in Thibodaux, La., install a new screen door at the home of a local family that has five adopted children and three foster children. Knights repaired the front door, changed the locks and installed the new screen door.

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Stations of the Cross, each featuring an icon and shelter.

The 15th station will depict Christ’s resurrection.

OPERATION STAND DOWN

Valle de Oro Council 9332 in Spring Valley, Calif., and St. Luke Council 10512 in El Cajon delivered 5.5 tons of drinking water to Operation Stand Down in San Diego.

Held annually for the last 24 years, Operation Stand Down offers homeless veterans the chance to obtain medical and dental services, free clothing and haircuts, and a place to eat and sleep for the weekend. More than 1,000 veterans, many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, took advantage of the service.

COOKOUT AND PRESENTATION

St. Clement Council 12407 in Dunlap, Ill., hosted a parish cookout that featured a talk by Chase Hilgenbrinck, a Knight who left his career as a professional soccer player to study for the priesthood.

More than 150 people at-

St. Mark/Star of the Sea Council 11374 in Rochester, N.Y., donated $1,000 to help defray the cost of replacing the roof at St. Mark Church.

‘ROCKET’-ING TO SUCCESS

Eugene Teatum Council 6696 in Rio Rancho, N.M., donated nearly $11,000 to the New Mexico Special Olympics team, the Rio Rancho Rockets. For the past five years, nearly half of the Rockets’ operating budget has been funded by the council, amounting to more than $51,000.

Juan A. Cepero (left) of Thomas Dooley Council 6727 in Dothan, Ala., presents seminarian Nicholas Napolitano with a $500 stipend to defray the cost of his studies during a dinner honoring seminarians from throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile. Fourteen seminarians attended the event, along with Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi and more than 200 guests. Bishop Rodi is a member of Mobile Council 666.

Center in Detroit. The blankets were knitted by women incarcerated at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility and secured with assistance from Dennis Lipski, the assembly’s prison ministry coordinator.

SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON

Councils from throughout Quebec District #47 cosponsored a spaghetti luncheon that raised $26,289 for a local palliative care center.

RUMMAGE SALE

Siena Council 8596 in Dundee, Ill., held a three-day rummage sale for charity.

Proceeds from the event were added to the council’s charitable fund.

BLANKETS FOR VETERANS

Pope John XXIII Assembly in Livonia, Mich., donated 24 lap blankets to Michigan Fourth Degree District #1 for distribution to veterans at the John D. Dingell VA Medical

BUMPER CROPS

Ascension Circle 4893 in Chesterfield, Mo., created a vegetable garden for Our Lady’s Inn, a pregnancy resource center and shelter in Defiance. Squires planned the garden from inception to completion, purchased the necessary tools and plants, and cleared the target area of weeds. Once mature, the plants will provide some food for the women and children at the shelter.

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

Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus John M. Dougherty of Scranton, Pa., who is a member of Holy Family Council 13025, blesses the bell from St. John the Baptist Church following its restoration. When Council 13025 learned in July 2010 that the bell was going to be scrapped because the church was closing, they set out to raise $3,300 to refurbish the bell and have it moved to St. Patrick Church in West Scranton. Following its placement at St. Patrick Church, Knights also established a fund to pay for the bell’s ongoing care.

CRAFT FAIR & STEAK NIGHT

De Soto Council 6 in Cromwell, Conn., held a craft fair and steak night that raised more than $4,000 to aid men studying for the priesthood and to support people with intellectual disabilities.

LEGO BRICKS: Image courtesy of The LEGO Group

BARBECUE FOR SEMINARY

San Pablo Apostol Council 3723 in Monclova, Mexico Northeast, hosted a barbecue beef benefit to support an area seminary.

PRO-LIFE PAMPHLETS

Joseph Hyacinth Valine Council 11246 in Cedar City, Utah, wanted to participate in the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Ini-

tiative but, being a small council, did not have the financial resources to do so.

Instead, the council began a relationship with two gynecologists who were willing to offer ultrasounds free of charge to women in crisis pregnancies. To support the effort, the council printed up a number of pro-life cards and pamphlets with information about the service that council members distribute at faith institutions throughout the area.

YARD CLEANUP DAY

Clonmel Schulte Council 3114 in Witchita, Kan., held a yard cleanup day for the family of a 102-year-old man who needed to place his home on the real estate market to continue to pay for his stay at a nursing home. Knights gathered eight truckloads of brush, trash and general yard debris to help facilitate the sale of the property.

PAVILION BUILT

Father Herman J. Veger Council 5561 in Warrenton, Va., built a 26-foot by 50foot pavilion at St. John the Evangelist Church to serve as a gathering place for parish functions and as a memorial to council member William B. Ragan. Through parish and council fundraising, the council was also able to equip the pavilion with a built-in gas grill, ceiling fans, running water and a walk-in cooler.

Ragan, 68, was a Fourth Degree Knight and longtime deacon at St. John Parish.

Knight Builds Fraternity ... with LEGO®

WHEN JASON A. SEILER of St. Clare of Assisi Council 12963 in Clifton, Va., got married in 2003, he requested a Fourth Degree honor guard at his wedding. The Knights happily obliged, and nearly a decade later, Seiler created a unique tribute to his wedding day.

For his nine-year anniversary, Seiler, a 35-year-old LEGO aficionado, emulated the end of his wedding ceremony using the iconic building bricks. The figures (called minifigs in LEGO parlance) were ordered from a special supplier and further customized by Seiler with black arms and white hands. The cape colors correspond to the actual Fourth Degree uniform, while the chapeaus were repurposed from a LEGO pirate set.

Although a Knights of Columbus LEGO set won’t be available in stores anytime soon, fellow fans of the multicolor blocks can at least appreciate what Seiler built in the name of fraternity.

CONCERT OF HOPE REDUCTION RAFFLE

St. Malachy Council 13355 in Tamarac, Fla., raffled a big-screen LCD TV that raised $5,800 to help reduce the debt at St. Malachy Parish. The raffle was held following Mass over a fiveweek period.

East Providence (R.I.) Council 1528 held a “Concert of Hope” to collect donations for area food pantries. Along with a bake sale and a threeweek food drive, the concert saw enough donations to fill the shelves of three food pantries that help more than 100 needy families.

ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE

The Knights of Columbus Western New York Chapter made its annual pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston. Knights attended Mass together, followed by eucharistic adoration and an outdoor rosary.

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

Hamer, a member of St. Joseph Council 9202 who was very dedicated to the Columbian Squires, the scholarship is funded by various circle-sponsored charitable activities likes dinners and car washes.

SEMINARIAN BUFFET

Members of St. Joan of Arc Council 9206 in San Ramon, Calif., prepare to serve pancakes and sausage during the council’s quarterly parish breakfast. The event raised $2,600 for Catholic Charities of the East Bay. FISHING DAY

Pope Leo XIII Council 10804 in Virginia Beach, Va., sponsored a fishing day at Lynnhaven Fishing Pier for 200 children from area Boys and Girls Clubs. Nineteen Knights joined nearly 90 volunteers to help the children catch more than 300 fish in four hours. For about half of the children in attendance, this was the first time they had ever been fishing.

FILLING THE FISH PANTRY

Roseburg (Ore.) Council 2939 assisted with a food drive to benefit the Fish Pantry, an organization of local churches involved in supplying food to needy individuals and families. Knights collected approximately 1,200 pounds of food during a sixhour period.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

St. Benedict Cathedral Council 7544 in Evansville, Ind., hosted a pork ribs and butts barbecue to benefit the Mark Toon Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance to students at St. Benedict Cathedral School.

The barbecue raised $2,000, and Knights have con-

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tributed more than $15,000 to the fund over the past several years.

PIG ROAST FOR LITERACY

Thomas Merton Council 7254 in Wayne, Ill., hosted a pig roast, auction and raffle to benefit Literacy Volunteers of Illinois. The event, coupled with donations, raised more than $2,000.

St. Francis of Assisi Council 10698 in Belchertown, Mass., hosted a buffet lunch to benefit the Diocese of Springfield’s fund for seminarians. Using proceeds from the event, Knights were able to donate $1,200 in cash and $200 worth of gift certificates to diocesan seminarians for use during their studies.

RIVERBOAT RIDE

Msgr. Linus J. Dury Council 505 in Zanesville, Ohio, donated funds to support the annual Sternwheeler Riverboat Ride for patients from the Chillicothe VA Medical Center. Veterans enjoyed a hot lunch and a 75-minute cruise on the Licking and Muskingum Rivers.

FUNDING BUSES

NOTEBOOKS GIVEN

Wahoo (Neb.) Council 1833 donated $5,000 to Bishop Neumann High School to help the school purchase new buses. The funds, raised at a variety of K of C charitable functions, were presented during the school’s “Bus Night” banquet, an event that raises money to help pay for the school’s transportation costs.

Mary, Cause of Our Joy Council 8447 in Soldiers Hill, Luzon, donated assorted notebooks for use by the 600 students at Soldiers Elementary School. The council also planted new tree saplings at the school.

FOR FUTURE KNIGHTS

St. Joseph the Carpenter Circle 5197 in Lincoln, Calif., created a new scholarship that is awarded to a Squire who becomes a Knight of Columbus following his 18th birthday and is attending a college or trade school.

Named after the late Bob

COLUMBIA magazine

is now available on the

For more information, visit kofc.org/columbia

David King, Matt Trombley, Tom Freeman and Randy Golus of Calumet (Mich.) Council 1245 set a wooden post in place while erecting a fence near Hecla Cemetery. Knights built the fence at the request of the Houghton-Keweenaw County Genealogical Society to protect the abandoned cemetery, which dates from 1858, from motorized vehicle traffic.

HELPING A NEW PRIEST

Councils from throughout South Carolina District #10 contributed $2,000 to Father Agustin Guzman to purchase new vestments. As a newly ordained priest, Father Guzman was immediately assigned as pastor of St. March Church in Rock Hill and did not yet have the financial resources to purchase his own vestments.

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

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A.

LYNCH AND KELLY INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-548-3890 • www.lynchkelly.com IN CANADA ROGER SAUVÉ INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-266-1211 • www.roger-sauve.com

C.

J O I N T H E FAT H E R MCGIVNEY GUILD

!

03/12

Please enroll me in the Father McGivney Guild: NAME ADDRESS CITY

A. NEW! Knights Collegiate Athletic T-Shirt. Grey cotton shirt screen printed in navy blue with emblem of the Order and “Knights of Columbus Est. 1882” in collegiate-style lettering on the front and a large emblem of the Order on the back. Available in: S (PG-702), M (PG-703), L (PG-704), XL (PG-705) and XXL (PG-706) — $15 B. NEW! Navy Washed Cap. Soft-front cap embroidered with “Knights of Columbus Est. 1882.”

PG-557 — $10 C. Barbecue Set. Perfect for your council’s Lenten fish frys! Set includes apron, padded oven mitt and small towel in vibrant red and black. Multiple pockets for storage. Imprinted with emblem of the Order and the slogan, “It always tastes right when it’s served by a Knight.” PG-53 — $19

STATE/PROVINCE ZIP/POSTAL CODE Complete this coupon and mail to: The Father McGivney Guild, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 or enroll online at: www.fathermcgivney.org

OFFICIAL MAR. 1, 2012:

Control No.

State Code

O F F I C E U S E O N LY

Qty.

Item No.

Price Each

TOTAL

Promotional and Gift Department 78 Meadow Street New Haven, CT 06519-1759 PHONE: 203-752-4216 or 203-752-4425 FAX: 1-800-266-6340 All prices in U.S. currency — No C.O.D. Products available in the U.S. and Canada only NAME

SHIPPING AND HANDLING

STREET

CT residents add 6.35% sales tax

CITY/STATE/PROVINCE

ZIP OR POSTAL CODE

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER

q

CREDIT CARD BILLING ADDRESS CHECK IF SAME AS SHIPPING ADDRESS

TOTAL Check/Money Order No.*

Amount

* Make check or money order out to: “Knights of Columbus Supreme Council” CREDIT CARD BILLING INFORMATION DO NOT MAIL FAX ORDERS

NAME

M.C.

q

STREET CITY ZIP/POSTAL CODE

STATE/PROVINCE

$9

Expiration Date: Month

Signature

Year

VISA

q

To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Laws of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the policy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MATTER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: COLUMBIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901.

REJECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED

BY A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PURCHASED MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS

BY WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SUBSCRIPTION RATES — IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CURRENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901.

COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326.

PHONE: 203-752-4000, www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2012 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901.

CANADIAN POSTMASTER — PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 1473549. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 50 MACINTOSH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, ONTARIO L4K 4P3 PHILIPPINES — FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAIL AT THE MANILA CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURN COPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1511, MANILA.

MARCH 2012

♦ C O L U M B I A ♦ 31

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

Fraternity MEMBERS OF Bishop Thomas J. Grady Council 5618 in Altamonte Springs, Fla., unload lumber at the home of a council member who needed a wheelchair ramp built. Knights and their family members spent an entire day completing the ramp for the council member, who was recently confined to an electric wheelchair.

• John F. Kennedy Council 6004 in Artesia, Calif., operates an ongoing initiative called “Operation Brotherhood” that provides assistance to the widows of deceased council members.

Knights perform upkeep at the widows’ homes, such as lawn care or general maintenance.

Charity

Unity

Patriotism

MEMBERS OF Sum-Ag Circle 4651 in Bacolod City, Visayas, dish out soup and bread during a circle-sponsored feeding program for needy children. Knights distributed hot rice, soup and biscuits to the children of Purok Mabinuligon free of charge.

• St. Antoine Council 9253 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, held a spaghetti dinner that raised $10,000 for French Catholic schools and day care centers.

KNIGHTS FROM Sts. Gabriel and John Vianney Council 12335 in Colorado Springs, Colo., remove old shingles from the roof of a shed owned by VFW Post #4501. Council members volunteered to re-shingle the roof of the shed, which stores the post’s parade trailer.

• St. Mary’s Council 11093 in Longview, Texas, helped a local woman with disabilities move into her new apartment. Knights rented a truck for the move before helping to relocate furniture and other heavy items.

MEMBERS OF Father Maguire Council 3851 in Covina, Calif., sign up donors and volunteers during the council’s “Treasures for Our Troops” program. Knights solicited donations from family, friends, parishioners and members of the community to use in care packages for soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With help from volunteers, the council has mailed more than 1,500 packages to date.

32 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

MARCH 2012

KNIGHT S O F CO 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.

TO

BE FEATURED HERE , SEND YOUR COUNCIL’ S

C OLUMBIA , 1 C OLUMBUS P LAZA , N EW

Robert Yahrmarkt and William Bankstahl of St. Agnes Council 8043 in Sanford, Mich., measure the standing long jump effort of Brooke Leonhardt (center) during a Special Olympics track and field event at H. H. Dow High School in Midland. Several council members and their spouses served as timekeepers, linesmen, judges and photographers at the event. The council has volunteered with Special Olympics for more than 20 years.

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

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

MARCH 2012

♦ C O L U M B I A ♦ 33

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

KEEP T HE FAITH ALIV E

‘HE DOESN’T CALL THE QUALIFIED. HE QUALIFIES THE CALLED.’ When I was growing up, I often read the vocation stories on the back cover of my dad’s copy of Columbia magazine. I found them very intriguing but never thought God would one day call me — until one particular Sunday.

I was a junior at Benedictine College and, having a weekend off from playing volleyball, decided to go home. During his homily for Vocation Awareness Sunday, the priest told his own vocation story. When he finished, I thought, “He just read me my life.” The thought of being a religious hadn’t entered my mind before, but I knew then that God was calling me.

For the next year and a half, I wrestled with the idea, thinking I wasn’t good enough to be a sister. A friend reminded me, “He doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.”

One of the greatest joys of being a religious is having the Blessed Sacrament in our home. Day or night, we can stop in and visit Jesus, who is always waiting.

Photo by Beb Ervin

SISTER SERENA DETERS, M.S. Marian Sisters in Waverly, Neb.