Columbia March 2013

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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

M ARCH 2013

COLUMBIA

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Twelve Years of Growth During 2012, the Order issued more life insurance than ever before in our history, and surpassed $88 billion of life insurance in force.

Find an agent at kofc.org or call 1-800-345-5632 LIFE INSURANCE

DISABILITY INSURANCE

LONG-TERM CARE

ANNUITIES

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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MARCH 2013 ♦ VOLUME 93 ♦ NUMBER 3

COLUMBIA

F E AT U R E S

8 The Way of the Cross Following Jesus Christ on his way to Calvary, a traditional devotion helps us to meditate on the mysteries of salvation.

BY COLUMBIA STAFF, WITH PRAYERS BY POPE BENEDICT XVI

14 In My Father’s House The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple illuminates the Fatherhood of God and the fatherhood of St. Joseph.

BY FATHER FREDERICK L. MILLER

16 Guided by the Lord Grateful for Pope Benedict’s service, we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to bless his Church during this time of transition.

BY MICHELLE K. BORRAS

18 A Tradition of Faith, Family and Fraternity The Knights of Columbus has played an instrumental role in Catholic family life for more than five generations.

BY COLIN PARRISH

22 ‘God keep our land glorious and free’ Catholics respond to a growing secularism that threatens religious liberty in Canada.

BY COLLEEN ROULEAU

A life-size crucifix is pictured among the outdoor Stations of the Cross at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Shrine in Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia.

D E PA RT M E N T S 3

Building a better world Our duties and rights in relation to religious liberty precede the government and go beyond mere toleration.

BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

PHOTO: Kimberly Rae Sanderson

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Learning the faith, living the faith In Christ’s victory over sin and death on the cross, God manifests his love and overturns our earthly expectations.

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Knights of Columbus News Knights March for Life, Poll Finds Large Majority of Americans Favor Abortion Restrictions • Knights of Columbus Insurance Continues Record-Breaking Streak • Columbia is Available Online • Order Mourns Death of Cardinal Glemp • Catholic Writer Monica Dodds Dies at 60

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Fathers for Good We recall the saving passion and death of Christ, the great High Priest, and the sacrifice of his priestly servant Father McGivney.

BY FATHER GREGORY GRESKO

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Knights in Action

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Columbianism by Degrees

BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI

PLUS Catholic Man of the Month

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Praying With and For the Holy Father AS WE OBSERVE Lent this year, the obligation to examine our lives and to grow in the practice of prayer takes on special significance. Our Lenten observance not only comes amid the Year of Faith initiated by Pope Benedict XVI, but it also follows the Holy Father’s announcement that he is stepping down from the Chair of St. Peter (see page 16). We are thus challenged during these 40 days to grow in the virtue of faith as we pray for Pope Benedict, for his successor and for the whole Church.

Benedict no doubt foresaw this Lenten context in the timing of his announcement, which was given on the World Day of the Sick, Feb. 11, just two days before Ash Wednesday.

A consummate teacher known for his clear and insightful writing and gentle demeanor, Pope Benedict has always shown himself to be a very reflective, holy man. His words and actions are thoughtful and deliberate, and this certainly holds true for his decision to resign. He acknowledged that it was “a decision of great importance for the life of the Church,” that he was “well aware of the seriousness of this act,” and that he was acting “with full freedom.” Moreover, it was a decision arrived at after much prayer and “after having repeatedly examined [his] conscience before God.” Many have noted that in recognizing his own limitations as he grows frail with age, Pope Benedict has exhibited extraordinary humility and courage — not unlike that shown by his predecessor in Blessed John Paul’s steadfast witness through suffering.

Benedict’s action is a matter of humility and courage, not of “quitting” or turning away from responsibility, because he profoundly understands that his office is that of a servant. Far from pursuing political power, Benedict has faithfully carried out his role as a ser2 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦

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vant of the Truth, Jesus Christ, and a “servant of the servants of God.” After nearly eight years as pontiff, he has now “come to the certainty” that he can best serve the Church by stepping aside and saying with John the Baptist, “I must decrease” (Jn 3:30).

It is appropriate that during the month of March we celebrate St. Joseph, who lived wholly in the service of the Christ Child and the Blessed Virgin Mary — that is, until the time came for him to fade into the background so that Jesus’ mission of revealing the Father’s love might be fulfilled (see page 14). A spiritual father worthy to be St. Joseph’s namesake, Joseph Ratzinger has likewise deemed it an inestimable privilege to serve Christ in humble obedience. And to be sure, he does not intend to “retire” from his life of service. To the contrary, his most important service to the Church will continue. Concluding his announcement Feb. 11, he stated, “With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.” In a beautiful expression of solidarity, the pope visited a home for the elderly in November 2012 and said that our elderly brothers and sisters remain “a wealth for society, even in suffering and sickness.” They possess the essential resource of prayer, he said, adding that their prayers can “protect the world.”

Pope Benedict has wisely entrusted “the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ,” and we are invited to pray with him during this Lent for the future of the Church and the world, placing all of our faith and hope in the risen Lord.♦ ALTON J. PELOWSKI

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 Steve James DESIGN ________

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

________ Copyright © 2013 All rights reserved ________ ON THE COVER Pope Benedict XVI waves after celebrating a Mass to mark the World Day of Peace in St. Peter’s Basilica Jan. 1, 2008.

COVER: CNS photo/Dario Pignatelli, Reuters

E D I TO R I A L

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BUILDING A BETTER WORLD

Religious Freedom is a Natural Right Our duties and rights in relation to religious liberty precede the government and go beyond mere toleration

by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson RECENTLY, the U.S. Department of Thomas Paine put the matter very Health and Human Services issued new clearly in his book Rights of Man (1791): rules under the Patient Protection and Af- “Toleration is not the opposite of intoler- dent, both in order of time and in degree fordable Care Act. Many hoped that the ance but the counterfeit of it. Both are of obligation, to the claims of Civil SociObama administration would abandon despotisms: the one assumes to itself the ety. Before any man can be considered as the so-called HHS mandate of contracep- right of withholding liberty of conscience, a member of Civil Society, he must be tion, sterilization and abortion-causing the other of granting it.” considered as a subject of the Governor drugs in employee health care plans, conLikewise, James Madison and others of the Universe.” sidering the extraordinary criticism that’s would not accept the idea that Americans Today, we must ask whether we see in been given by a wide spectrum of reli- were to petition their government for per- the intransigence of government a regresgious leaders. Others hoped the rule mission to exercise their religion. Instead, sion — a shift away from liberty first and would move beyond exempting only Madison argued that the “free exercise of a return to a form of government-granted houses of worship. But the new rules have religion, according to the dictates of con- toleration, which is followed quickly by done neither. Instead, the govgovernment intolerance of our ernment stated that “the unifree exercise of religion. verse of employer plans that Though we now face unAs we look to safeguard our liberty, would qualify for the exempprecedented challenges to reliit is essential that we do so with a tion” would not be expanded gious liberty, history tells us that “beyond that which was inthe cause of freedom in America clear explanation of how freedom is tended in the 2012 final rules.” is not an isolated event, but a Since the legislation was rooted in the dignity of each person. journey. This is the lesson of the first introduced more than a great Civil Rights Movement of year ago, the U.S. Conferthe last century, which told us ence of Catholic Bishops has repeatedly science,” was a “natural and absolute to envision a day when “all God’s chilsaid that the HHS mandate violates our right.” According to Waldman, this dren” could say, “Thank God Almighty fundamental right to the free exercise of shifted the terms of debate “from tolera- we are free at last.” religion.

Every legal system rests upon a certain tion to liberty.”

Historian Steven Waldman, in his In his famous Memorial and Remon- vision of the human person. Our laws afbook Founding Faith: How Our Founding strance Against Religious Assessments fecting religious liberty are no exception.

Fathers Forged a Radical New Approach to (1785), Madison wrote: “The Religion As we look to safeguard our liberty, it is Religious Liberty (2009), reminds us that then of every man must be left to the con- essential that we do so with a clear explafrom the time of the Declaration of In- viction and conscience of every man; and nation of how freedom is rooted in the dependence to the Bill of Rights and it is the right of every man to exercise it dignity of each person.

As Madison observed in The Federalist shortly thereafter, a transformation took as these may dictate. This right is in its naPapers No. 51, “What is government itself, place in the United States in the way that ture an unalienable right.” religion was treated. In drafting these Madison’s concern went beyond diver- but the greatest of all reflections on documents, the Founding Fathers re- sity or pluralism to something far more human nature?” And since that is true, in jected the old European model of an es- important. “It is the duty of every man to the days ahead our country will need the tablished state religion in which religious render to the Creator such homage, and clear voice and enduring wisdom of the minorities were only granted some level such only, as he believes to be acceptable Catholic Church. of toleration by government.

Vivat Jesus! to him,” he wrote. “This duty is prece-

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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

The Power of Love In Christ’s victory over sin and death on the cross, God manifests his love and overturns our earthly expectations

by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

THE WORDS “power” and “love” A POWER THAT SAVES don’t seem to go together. Power tends God transforms our ordinary ideas to evoke fear. Love tends to evoke about power and love. Flawed angel said, “Nothing will be impossitrust. It is rare to find a person who human beings often use power for ble for God” (Lk 1:37). In response to would be described as both powerful evil purposes, and earthly love is all her cousin Elizabeth, Mary praised and loving. too often self-absorbed. Citing St. God’s power and love: “The Almighty In fact, we may even experience Thomas Aquinas, the Catechism of has done great things for me, holy is that disconnect with regard to God. the Catholic Church teaches: “Noth- his name” (Lk 1:49).

We rightfully address God as ing can be in God’s power which The greatest manifestation of God’s almighty, all-powerful. But we also could not be in his just will or his power is the forgiveness of sins. When speak of God as loving and merciful. wise intellect” (271). God uses his Jesus told a paralytic that his sins were A moral theology professor once power to create and redeem, to share forgiven, the Pharisees accused him of asked his students whether they blasphemy: “Who but God thought of God as “a monster or can forgive sins?” (Lk 5:21). a marshmallow” — that is to say, Similarly, the Liturgy reminds a harsh, exacting, powerful God, us that God’s power is or an indulgent God who gives Obedient to his Father’s saving demonstrated most in his us everything and expects almost mercy. One of the Opening will, Jesus used the instruments Prayers for Sunday Mass puts nothing in return. It turned out that many of his students this way: “O God, who of suffering and death to defeat itmanifest thought of God as having a split your almighty power personality — condemning one above all by pardoning and the power of sin and evil. minute and forgiving the next. showing mercy….” Truly, the Years ago, when I was helping Lord’s idea of power is very a young couple prepare for mardifferent from our own. riage, the bride-to-be told me As we journey through she didn’t want a Scripture reading his truth, to reveal his love and to Lent on our way to Holy Week, we from the Old Testament because back confer his goodness on creation. In experience a dramatic moment and then God was “angry,” whereas in the his fatherly care for us, he takes care are invited to share the power of New Testament God was “a lot nicer.” of our needs and calls us to be his God’s mercy and love. When Christ is Similarly, people’s faith is some- sons and daughters. By his endless condemned and led forth to be crucitimes put to the test by God’s seeming mercies, he exercises power over sin fied, he appears utterly powerless. He powerlessness. When a terrible and even death. His power is his is deserted by his disciples. Even his tragedy or natural disaster takes place, love, for “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8). heavenly Father seems to have abanthe question is asked, “Where was Again and again, the Scriptures sing doned him. Yet, it was in that moGod?” of God’s power to save. Mary was at ment that Jesus was most powerful.

In truth, God is always powerful, the heart of God’s merciful plan for For, as he mounted the cross, Jesus truthful and loving. But his “thoughts the salvation of the world. After an- took upon himself the sins of the are not our thoughts and his ways are nouncing to her that she would be- world and, by means of suffering and not our ways” (cf. Is 55:8). come the mother of God’s son, the death, robbed sin of its power to be 4 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦

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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

the last word about human existence.

Obedient to his Father’s saving will, Jesus used the instruments of suffering and death to defeat the power of sin and evil.

IN UNION WITH CHRIST In the glory of the Resurrection, Jesus manifested his power over sin and death. As Blessed John Paul II often said, the love of Christ crucified is stronger than sin and more powerful than death. With Mary we can say, “The Lord has done great things for us, we are glad indeed” (Ps 126:3, cf.

Lk 1:49).

Through the ages, we share in the

HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS

POPE: CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo — MSGR. SCHWARTZ: Courtesy of Fr. Al’s Childrens Foundation, Inc.

Offered in Solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI GENERAL: That respect for nature may grow with the awareness that all creation is God’s work entrusted to human responsibility.

MISSION: That bishops, priests, and deacons may be tireless messengers of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

power of Christ’s death and resurrection, the Paschal Mystery, principally through the Mass and the sacraments. Exalted at the right hand of the Father in heaven, Jesus truly remains with us in the power of his love in all the circumstances of our lives. Our redeemer is never absent in our moments of triumph, in our daily routine, and in times of trouble and sorrow. In his wisdom, God does not prevent all sin and evil from occurring, but he accompanies us at every moment of our lives, constantly seeking to expand our capacity to receive and give his love. If we allow the Lord to comfort us by the

power of his love, then whatever good we experience or evil we endure is for our salvation.

Meditating on the power of God’s love brings us to the first principle of the Order: charity. The charity that the family of the Knights of Columbus is called to practice flows from our union with Christ, crucified and risen. In our works of charity, we are bearing witness to God’s love and manifesting its power in our midst.

Through prayer, penance and charity may we open our hearts during this Lent as never before to the truth, beauty, goodness and power of God’s love!♦

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

Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz (1930-1992) BORN SEPT. 18, 1930, in Washington, D.C., the third of eight children, Philip Aloysius Schwartz heard the call to the priesthood at a young age.

He entered minor seminary at age 14 and, after receiving his B.A. at Maryknoll College, finished his theological studies in Belgium. There he visited the Shrine of the Virgin of the Poor and chose to dedicate his priesthood to serving and living in solidarity with the needy.

Within a year of being ordained for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1957, Father Schwartz was sent to Busan, South Korea. Known as “Father Al,” he began to raise money for the missions and established Korean Relief Inc. in 1961. Three years later he founded the Sisters of Mary, a religious order that continues to serve the poor in Korea, the Philippines and Latin America.

Throughout his ministry, Father Schwartz began and expanded programs that cared for abandoned and atrisk children, children with severe mental disabilities, and the destitute

and the infirm. In 1981, he founded the Society of the Brothers of Christ, a religious order that cares for homeless men in Seoul, South Korea.

Father Schwartz was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary service to the poor. Near the end of his life, he joined the Knights of Columbus as a member of Cardinal Shehan of Baltimore Council 205.

After a three-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, Father Schwartz died March 16, 1992. By that time, the relief programs he started were caring for more than 12,000 needy children in Asia and Mexico. The Archdiocese of Manila, Philippines, formally opened his cause for canonization in 2003.♦

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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

Knights March for Life, Poll Finds Large Majority of Americans Favor Abortion Restrictions

On Friday, Jan. 25, College Knights participated in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., with (from left) Supreme Advocate John A. Marrella, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Director Thomas M. Wegener and Assistant Supreme Advocate Michael J. O’Connor. Hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates, mostly young people, braved the cold to participate in the march.

Numerous Knights of Columbus councils and some 10,000 K of C “Defend Life” signs were seen among the massive crowd. The event marked the 40th anniversary of the Jan. 22, 1973, Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion throughout the United States. In addition to the annual march and rally, participants from throughout the United States gathered in Washington for special Masses, conferences and other pro-life events.

FOUR DECADES after the Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Roe v. Wade legalized abortion throughout the United States, a new K of C-Marist Poll shows that more than 8 in 10 Americans favor significant restrictions on the procedure.

The poll, conducted in December 2012, revealed that support for significant abortion restrictions increased by four points since the previous year — rising from 79 percent to 83 percent.

“After four decades of legalized abortion in this country, Americans have had ample time to understand that abortion has terrible consequences,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. “They understand abortion’s true legacy — a child loses life and parents lose a child. And after witnessing the effects of abortion for the past 40 years, Americans are not legally or morally comfortable with that legacy. It is time for our country to chart a new course on this issue — a course that protects both the mother and the child.”

For many years, public opinion polls regarding abortion have asked whether people label themselves as “pro-life” or “pro-choice.” Other commonly cited surveys ask respondents whether they support the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but without explaining the reach of the Roe ruling.

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labels to get a more complete picture of what Americans actually think about this issue,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.

What the K of C-Marist polling indicates is that although most Americans are not opposed to abortion in every circumstance, they do favor significant restrictions and thereby disagree with the central holding of Roe v.

Wade.

Of those who support restrictions, 10 percent believe abortion should never be permitted; 12 percent believe abortion should be allowed only to save the life of the mother; 34 percent would restrict abortion only to cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother; and 27 percent would limit abortion to — at most — the first three months of pregnancy.

Just 11 percent of respondents said abortion should be permitted at any time, while 6 percent would allow it during the first six months of pregnancy.

The survey also found that nearly 6 in 10 Americans (58 percent) believe abortion is “morally wrong.” And 84 percent believe laws can protect both mothers and unborn children.

The newly released survey is the latest in a series of polls commissioned by the Knights of Columbus and conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. Additional information is available at kofc.org.♦

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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

Knights of Columbus Insurance Continues Record-Breaking Streak

Cardinal Glemp: CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo

ILLUSTRATING the faith that members have in its products and services, Knights of Columbus Insurance marked its 12th consecutive year of growth in 2012, despite continued economic turmoil.

The Order issued more life insurance last year than ever before in the Knights’ 130-year history — $8.1 billion. Insurance in force surpassed $88 billion, more than doubling the figure from 2001.

At the heart of the Order’s insurance business is a field force of professionally trained agents across the United States and Canada.

Knights of Columbus Insurance finished the year with more field agents serving its members than ever before, and demand for more agents still exists.

Also in 2012, Knights of Columbus Insurance introduced new products and made changes to its current offerings with an aim toward meeting the evolving needs of its clients. The Order unveiled a new product, a graded premium whole life plan, to make whole life coverage more budget-friendly than ever before. The Knights likewise made improvements to the systematic withdrawal options for its annuity products and issued more than 13,000 new retirement annuities to members and their families.

In June 2012, A.M. Best Company reaffirmed the Order’s top A++ rating.

In its report, A.M. Best cited the Knights’ “strong fraternal and insurance presence within the Catholic communities in the United States and Canada.”

Responding to the report from A.M. Best, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said, “Earning A.M. Best’s top rating again this year highlights the importance and wisdom of our sustainable business and investment models.

Despite the recent economic downturn, the Knights of Columbus has grown stronger relative to our industry as people seek the safety and quality that Knights of Columbus products offer and are known for.”

Knights of Columbus Insurance also demonstrated growth in long-term care policies and its Income Armor disability income insurance, a product introduced in 2011 that has already been embraced by many members seeking to protect their income.

For more information about how Knights of Columbus Insurance continues to fulfill the vision of Father Michael J. McGivney, visit kofc.org.

To find a K of C agent near you, visit kofc.org/findagent.♦

Columbia is Available Online YOU CAN access Columbia magazine each month free of charge on your computer or compatible tablet device. There is no subscription service, but interested readers are invited to visit kofc.org/columbia at the beginning of the month to view the digital version online.

Past issues are also available.♦

Order Mourns Death of Cardinal Glemp Cardinal Józef Glemp, archbishop emeritus of Warsaw, passed away Jan 23.

He was 83 years old. Cardinal Glemp served as primate of the Church in Poland during the final years of communism and during the restoration of democracy.

Upon learning of the cardinal’s death, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson issued the following statement: “The 1.8 million members of Knights of Columbus and I join Catholics in Poland and throughout the world in mourning the death of Cardinal Józef Glemp. Cardinal Glemp was an important force in helping to bring freedom to Poland in the 1980s. He knew the Knights of Columbus well from his many trips to the United States and strongly encouraged our expansion into Poland. In meeting with him, I found his advice both on our work in Poland and on the general situation there to be invaluable. He will be fondly remembered and our prayers are with him and the people of Poland at this time.”♦

Catholic Writer Monica Dodds Dies at 60 AUTHOR, editor and longtime columnist for Catholic News Service and Columbia magazine Monica Dodds died Jan. 6 at her home in Mountlake Terrace, Wash. She was 60 and had battled uterine cancer for nearly three years.

With her husband of 38 years, Bill, she had been a columnist for CNS since 1991, focusing on a wide range of family issues. Together, the Doddses also penned columns for Columbia, wrote books, edited My Daily Visitor magazine, and founded Friends of St. John the Caregiver.♦

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The

Way of the Cross Following Jesus Christ on his way to Calvary, a traditional devotion helps us to meditate on the mysteries of salvation

by Columbia staff, with prayers by Pope Benedict XVI photography by Kimberly Rae Sanderson

F

or many centuries, the Via Crucis, or Way of the Cross, has been one of the most beloved Christian devotions, especially during Lent. Also known as the Stations of the Cross, the practice developed over several centuries to eventually include the 14 traditional stations depicting episodes of Jesus’ passion and death. These are sometimes modified to include biblical scenes such as Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Olives and the promise of paradise to the Good Thief.

Each year on Good Friday, the pope presides over a nighttime Way of the Cross service at Rome’s Colosseum, using prayers and meditations written by a person or group of people at the pope’s request.

The following prayers were excerpted from the text written by thenCardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2005, presented just one week before the death of Pope John Paul II (the full text is available online at vatican.va). Unable to attend the service due to his failing health, John Paul II watched via television from his private chapel and sent a message to participants: “I also offer my sufferings so that God’s plan may be completed and his Word spread among the peoples. I, in turn, am close to all who are tried by suffering at this time. I pray for each one of them.”

So, too, Pope Benedict has assured us he is praying with and for the Church during this Lent, as we prepare to welcome his successor.

Throughout the years, countless Knights of Columbus units have taken the lead on constructing, restoring or commissioning Stations of the Cross at their parishes or for outdoor prayer walks.

Pictured here are the outdoor Stations of the Cross at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Shrine in Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia. The life-size statues were restored in 2008 with assistance from Father Angellus Pickelle Council 12416 and Msgr. A.L. McIntyre Assembly.

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This prayer is said after the announcement of each station: V. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

R. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

FIRST STATION Jesus is condemned to death Reading: Matthew 27:22-23,26 Prayer: Lord, you were condemned to death because fear of what other people may think suppressed the voice of conscience.

So too, throughout history, the innocent have always been maltreated, condemned and killed. How many times have we ourselves preferred success to the truth, our reputation to justice?

Strengthen the quiet voice of our conscience, your own voice, in our lives. Look at me as you looked at Peter after his denial.

Let your gaze penetrate our hearts and indicate the direction our lives must take. On the day of Pentecost you stirred the hearts of those who, on Good Friday, clamored for your death, and you brought them to conversion. In this way you gave hope to all. Grant us, ever anew, the grace of conversion.

SECOND STATION Jesus takes up his Cross Reading: Matthew 27:27-31 Prayer: Lord, you willingly subjected yourself to mockery and scorn. Help us not to ally ourselves with those who look down on the weak and suffering. Help us to acknowledge your face in the lowly and the outcast. May we never lose heart when faced with the contempt of this world, which ridicules our obedience to your will. You carried your own Cross and you ask us to follow you on this path (cf. Mt 10:38). Help us to take up the Cross, and not to shun it. May we never complain or become discouraged by life’s trials. Help us to follow the path of love and, in submitting to its demands, to find true joy.

THIRD STATION Jesus falls for the first time Reading: Isaiah 53:4-6 Prayer: Lord Jesus, the weight of the Cross made you fall to the ground. The weight of our sin, the weight of our pride, brought you down. But your fall is not a tragedy, or mere human weakness. You came to us when, in our pride, we were laid low. The arrogance that makes us think that we ourselves can create human beings has turned man into a kind of merchandise, to be bought and sold, or stored to provide parts for experimentation. In doing this, we hope to conquer death by our own efforts, yet in reality we are profoundly debasing human dignity. Lord help us; we have fallen. Help us to abandon our destructive pride and, by learning from your humility, to rise again.

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FOURTH STATION Jesus meets his Mother Reading: Luke 2:34-35,51 Prayer: Holy Mary, Mother of the Lord, you remained faithful when the disciples fled. Just as you believed the angels’ incredible message — that you would become the Mother of the Most High, so too you believed at the hour of his greatest abasement. In this way, at the hour of the Cross, at the hour of the world’s darkest night, you became the Mother of all believers, the Mother of the Church. We beg you: teach us to believe, and grant that our faith may bear fruit in courageous service and be the sign of a love ever ready to share suffering and to offer assistance.

FIFTH STATION The Cyrenian helps Jesus carry the Cross Reading: Matthew 27:32; 16:24 Prayer: Lord, you opened the eyes and heart of Simon of Cyrene, and you gave him, by his share in your Cross, the grace of faith. Help us to aid our neighbors in need, even when this interferes with our own plans and desires. Help us to realize that it is a grace to be able to share the cross of others and, in this way, know that we are walking with you along the way. Help us to appreciate with joy that, when we share in your suffering and the sufferings of this world, we become servants of salvation and are able to help build up your Body, the Church.

SIXTH STATION Veronica wipes the face of Jesus Reading: Isaiah 53:2-3; Psalms 27:8-9 Prayer: Lord, grant us restless hearts, hearts that seek your face. Keep us from the blindness of heart that sees only the surface of things. Give us the simplicity and purity that allow us to recognize your presence in the world. When we are not able to accomplish great things, grant us the courage that is born of humility and goodness. Impress your face on our hearts. May we encounter you along the way and show your image to the world.

SEVENTH STATION Jesus falls for the second time Reading: Lamentations 3:1-2,9,16 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you have borne all our burdens and you continue to carry us. Our weight has made you fall. Lift us up, for by ourselves we cannot rise from the dust. Free us from the bonds of lust.

In place of a heart of stone, give us a heart of flesh, a heart capable of seeing. Lay low the power of ideologies, so that all may see that they are a web of lies. Do not let the wall of materialism become insurmountable.

Make us aware of your presence. Keep us sober and vigilant, capable of resisting the forces of evil. Help us to recognize the spiritual and material needs of others, and to give them the help they need. Lift us up, so that we may lift others up. Give us hope at every moment of darkness, so that we may bring your hope to the world.

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EIGHTH STATION Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem who weep for him Reading: Luke 23:28-31 Prayer: Lord, to the weeping women you spoke of repentance and the Day of Judgment, when all of us will stand before your face: before you, the Judge of the world. You call us to leave behind the trivialization of evil, which salves our consciences and allows us to carry on as before. You show us the seriousness of our responsibility, the danger of our being found guilty and without excuse on the Day of Judgment.

Grant that we may not simply walk at your side, with nothing to offer other than compassionate words. Convert us and give us new life.

Grant that in the end we will not be dry wood, but living branches in you, the true vine, bearing fruit for eternal life (cf. Jn 15:1-10).

NINTH STATION Jesus falls for the third time Reading: Lamentations 3:27-32 Prayer: Lord, your Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side. In your field we see more weeds than wheat. The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion. Yet it is we ourselves who have soiled them! It is we who betray you time and time again, after all our lofty words and grand gestures.

Have mercy on your Church; within her too, Adam continues to fall.

When we fall, we drag you down to earth, and Satan laughs, for he hopes that you will not be able to rise from that fall; he hopes that being dragged down in the fall of your Church, you will remain prostrate and overpowered. But you will rise again. You stood up, you arose and you can also raise us up. Save and sanctify your Church. Save and sanctify us all.

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TENTH STATION Jesus is stripped of his garments Reading: Matthew 27:33-36 Prayer: Lord Jesus, you were stripped of your garments, exposed to shame, cast out of society. You took upon yourself the shame of Adam, and you healed it.

You also take upon yourself the sufferings and the needs of the poor, the outcasts of our world. And in this very way you fulfill the words of the prophets. This is how you bring meaning into apparent meaninglessness. This is how you make us realize that your Father holds you, us, and the whole world in his hands. Give us a profound respect for man at every stage of his existence, and in all the situations in which we encounter him. Clothe us in the light of your grace.

ELEVENTH STATION Jesus is nailed to the Cross Reading: Matthew 27:37-42 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you let yourself be nailed to the Cross, accepting the terrible cruelty of this suffering, the destruction of your body and your dignity. You allowed yourself to be nailed fast; you did not try to escape or to lessen your suffering. May we never flee from what we are called to do. Help us to remain faithful to you.

Help us to unmask the false freedom which would distance us from you. Help us to accept your “binding” freedom, and, “bound” fast to you, to discover true freedom.

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TWELFTH STATION Jesus dies on the Cross Reading: John 19:19-20; Matthew 27:45-50,54 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, at the hour of your death the sun was darkened.

Ever anew you are being nailed to the Cross. At this present hour of history we are living in God’s darkness. Through your great sufferings and the wickedness of men, the face of God, your face, seems obscured, unrecognizable. And yet, on the Cross, you have revealed yourself. Precisely by being the one who suffers and loves, you are exalted. From the Cross on high you have triumphed. Help us to recognize your face at this hour of darkness and tribulation. Help us to believe in you and to follow you in our hour of darkness and need. Show yourself once more to the world at this hour. Reveal to us your salvation.

THIRTEENTH STATION Jesus is taken down from the Cross and given to his Mother Reading: Matthew 27:54-55 Prayer: Lord, you descended into the darkness of death. But your body is placed in good hands and wrapped in a white shroud (Mt 27:59). Faith has not completely died; the sun has not completely set. How often does it appear that you are asleep? How easy it is for us to step back and say to ourselves: “God is dead.” In the hour of darkness, help us to know that you are still there.

Do not abandon us when we are tempted to lose heart. Help us not to leave you alone. Give us the fidelity to withstand moments of confusion and a love ready to embrace you in your utter helplessness, like your Mother, who once more holds you to her breast. Help us, the poor and rich, simple and learned, to look beyond all our fears and prejudices, and to offer you our abilities, our hearts and our time, and thus to prepare a garden for the Resurrection.

FOURTEENTH STATION Jesus is laid in the tomb Reading: Matthew 27:59-61 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, in your burial you have taken on the death of the grain of wheat. You have become the lifeless grain of wheat that produces abundant fruit for every age and for all eternity. From the tomb shines forth in every generation the promise of the grain of wheat which gives rise to the true manna, the Bread of Life, in which you offer us your very self.

You put yourself into our hands and into our hearts, so that your word can grow within us and bear fruit. Through the death of the grain of wheat you give us yourself, so that we too can dare to lose our life in order to find it, so that we too can trust the promise of the grain of wheat. Help us grow in love and veneration for your eucharistic mystery — to make you, the Bread of heaven, the source of our life.

Help us to become your “fragrance,” and to make known in this world the mysterious traces of your life.

Like the grain of wheat that rises from the earth, putting forth its stalk and then its ear, you could not remain enclosed in the tomb: the tomb is empty because he — the Father — “did not abandon you to the nether world, nor let your flesh see corruption” (Acts 2:31; Ps 16:10).

No, you did not see corruption. You have risen, and have made a place for our transfigured flesh in the very heart of God. Help us to rejoice in this hope and bring it joyfully to the world. Help us to become witnesses of your Resurrection.♦ MARCH 2013

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In My Father’s House

The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple illuminates the Fatherhood of God and the fatherhood of St. Joseph

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he Gospel of Luke begins and ends in the great Temple of Jerusalem. For the Jew, the Temple was the holiest place in the universe. It was where that the God of Israel dwelt among his people, a place of worshipful sacrifice, a house of prayer.

In his narrative of Christ’s infancy, St. Luke records that Jesus went to Jerusalem at least twice during the “hidden years” — once as an infant in the arms of Mary and Joseph, and once as an adolescent in the company of his parents and extended family. One might speculate that the Holy Family made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem once, twice or even three times every year for the major feasts. The fact that Joseph and Mary trusted that 12-year-old Jesus would find his way back to Nazareth in the company of their relatives and friends indicates that the pilgrimage was probably a regular event.

One may imagine the impact this pilgrimage to Jerusalem had on the boy Jesus. Jesuit Father Jean Galot writes, “For his pilgrimage to be really true, it had to be a pilgrimage to the Father’s house. This is what increased his desire to go to Jerusalem each year. For him it was a question of the deepest transport of a Son’s heart. His Father’s house was his real house, more so than that of Nazareth.”

There is an important disjunction in this Gospel text: Mary and Joseph, after the celebration of Passover, have their gaze fixed on returning home to Nazareth and their family life. The young Jesus, though, stayed behind and has his gaze fixed on his Father in heaven and the fulfillment of his mission. Having 14 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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discovered the child’s absence, Mary and Joseph return in haste to Jerusalem to seek their son. Jesus remained in the Temple, magnetized by the presence and love of his Father who dwelt there. When his anxious parents found him after a three-day search, Jesus challenges them to understand his behavior, saying: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49).

In his recent book, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives (2012), Pope Benedict XVI explains Jesus’ words: “The answer of the twelve-year-old made it clear that he knew the Father — God — intimately. Only he knows God, not merely through the testimony of men, but he recognizes him in himself. Jesus stands before the Father as Son, on familiar terms.

He lives in his presence. He sees him. As Saint John says, Jesus is the only one who rests in the Father’s heart and is therefore able to make him known (cf. Jn 1:18). This is what the twelveyear-old’s answer makes clear: he is with the Father, he sees everything and everyone in the light of the Father” (127).

Some exegetes and theologians have irresponsibly suggested that Jesus is acting here like a typical, self-absorbed adolescent.

But this interpretation ignores at least one basic Christological truth: The Incarnate Word, at every moment of his life on earth, perfectly accomplished the will of his Father in heaven.

Jesus remained in Jerusalem because the Father willed that he stay in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Father willed that Jesus reveal himself to the official Temple scholars and preachers as the teacher and preacher par excellence. The Father willed that

Christ among the Doctors by Gianantonio Fumiani (1643-1710) – Cameraphoto Arte, Venice / Art Resource, NY

by Father Frederick L. Miller

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“IN

THESE

CONFUSED

EMOTIONS, JOSEPH LIKELY REALIZED WHAT IT MEANT TO BE THE GUARDIAN OF THE

SON

OF

GOD. HE

BOWED IN ADORATION AND Christ prepare his parents to particito be ready to release him for his misWORSHIP TO THE GOD pate in his paschal mystery through sion when the appointed time arrives. faith and parental love.

On that day in the Temple, Joseph WHOM JESUS CALLED ABBA.” Finding Jesus in the Temple among was likely confounded as he had never the teachers of the law, Mary says to been before. Imagine the first wave of Jesus: “Son, why have you done this to emotion: Joseph’s little boy seems to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anx- turn his back on him. He would rather live in the embrace of iety” (Lk 2:48). I might suggest that the translation is inade- his natural Father, in his Father’s house. In these confused quate. The word used to describe Mary and Joseph’s anxiety is emotions, Joseph likely realized what it meant to be the the same word used by Luke to describe the torture of the rich guardian of the Son of God. He bowed in adoration and worman in the flames of hell (Lk 16:24-25), the suffering of Paul’s ship to the God whom Jesus called Abba. disciples when he announces his death to them (Acts 20:38), Great was the faith of Abraham when, obeying God’s Word, and Paul’s own deep suffering over his people’s lack of faith he was willing to sacrifice his only son on Mount Moriah (cf.

(Rm 9:2). Mary tells Jesus that she and Joseph had suffered Gn 22:1-3). But greater still was Joseph’s faith. He believed that enormous pains searching for him for the past three days. The Mary had conceived God’s Son virginally by the power of the shadow of death surely hovers over this scriptural text.

Holy Spirit and that the boy he raised was God’s only Son who In his Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, St. Ambrose tells would “save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). Joseph’s faith us that Jesus accomplished the Father’s will by mercifully brought Abraham’s faith to perfection. By believing, Joseph and preparing Mary to suffer with him and lose him in the three Mary spiritually generated progeny more numerous than the days of his suffering, death and burial. He prepares her also to stars of heaven and the sands on the shore of the sea. find him again in the Temple of his risen body.

The Church honors St. Joseph with the title “Splendor of The Church has intuited that St. Joseph died before the be- the Patriarchs.” This title accentuates the truth that the faith ginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Joseph loved Jesus with all of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the faith of Moses and Aaron, the natural affection of a father, and Jesus loved him in return. the faith of King David and all of the prophets find fulfillment It must have been easy, then, for Joseph to forget in the routine and completion in Joseph’s faith in the incarnate Word. It is of daily life that he was not the child’s father. When Mary Joseph’s faith in Christ that makes him the “just man” of the points Joseph out to Jesus as his father by saying, “Your father New Testament (cf. Mt 1:19). The splendor of Joseph’s faith and I have been looking for you with great anxiety,” Jesus shining in the hearts of his sons and daughters makes them points out his Father in heaven to Mary and Joseph, placing righteous, holy and pleasing to God.♦ his mysterious mission before their eyes. The word “father,” so dear to Joseph on the lips of the boy Jesus, becomes the very FATHER FREDERICK L. MILLER, a priest of the Archdiocese sword that pierces Joseph’s heart and purifies his love for Christ of Newark, N.J., and a member of Father Thomas F. Canty Counand for all of us. Jesus asks Joseph to acknowledge at a new cil 3197 in Hillside, is a professor of systematic theology at Mount depth that he is the Heavenly Father’s only Son. He asks Joseph St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. MARCH 2013

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Guided by THE LORD Grateful for Pope Benedict’s service, we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to bless his Church during this time of transition

by Michelle K. Borras

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n Feb. 11, during a consistory of cardinals assembled for the announcement of three new canonizations, Pope Benedict XVI declared that, due to deteriorating “strength of mind and body,” he would renounce “the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter,” effective 8 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2013.

In his general audience on Feb. 13, Pope Benedict explained to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square that he made this difficult decision “in full freedom for the good of the Church.”

He also made it in faith, “strengthened and reassured by the certainty that the Church is Christ’s, who will never leave her without his guidance and care.”

When he was first elected on April 19, 2005, the pope stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as “a simple and humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.” With this historic declaration, he leaves the Petrine ministry as he came to it — and leaves the Church profoundly enriched by his example of life and his luminous body of teaching. Benedict lays down his office in simplicity, humility and faith, caring for the good of the Lord’s vineyard more than himself.

During the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Pope Benedict told those wondering what kind of pope he might be that there was no need for him to give a “program of governance” that would guide his papacy. “My real program of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own ideas, but to listen, together with the whole Church, to the word and the will of the Lord, to be guided by Him, so that He himself will lead the Church at this hour of our history.”

The new pope had further explained that careful discernment of God’s will can lead to difficult decisions. And yet “this will does not weigh down on us, oppressing us and taking away our freedom. To know what God wants, to know where the path of life is found — this was Israel’s joy…. It is also our joy: God’s will does not alienate us, it purifies us — even if this can be painful — and so it leads us to ourselves.” By listening for and following this will, however inscrutable, we know that “we serve not only him, but the salvation of the whole world, of all history.”

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Benedict XVI’s first day as pope. The decision to renounce the See of Peter, “knowing full well the seriousness of this act,” emerged from the same willingness to discern the will of the Lord and to obey it in love. And though this decision caught the world by surprise, it was in conformity with a papacy that sought from the beginning to be a “service to … God’s joy which longs to break into the world.”

“These days … have not been easy for me,” Pope Benedict admitted during the Feb. 13 general audience. But, he added, “I have felt almost physically the power of prayer — your prayers — which the love of the Church has given me. Continue to pray for me, for the Church and for the future pope. The Lord will guide us.”

Following the announcement, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson issued a statement on behalf of all Knights of Columbus: “In these remaining days of his papacy, our thoughts and prayers are with Pope Benedict XVI, who has worked so hard in leading the Church and has always been such a good friend to the Knights of Columbus,” he said. “In addition, we pray for all those cardinals who will take part in the conclave and for his successor, that God may inspire them as they carry out the mission with which they are entrusted.”

In a spirit of gratitude for what God has given to the Church through Benedict XVI, and in response to the pope’s request for prayers, the Order has provided special prayer cards that can be used during the period of papal transition. Knights of Columbus members and all the faithful are asked to pray in solidarity with Pope Benedict for God’s grace at this solemn moment in the life of the Church.♦ MICHELLE K. BORRAS is director of the Order’s Catholic Information Service.

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Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd after delivering his Christmas message “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Day 2012.

Prayer for the Church O Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme Pastor of Your Church, we thank you for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI and the selfless care with which he has led us as Successor of Peter, and Your Vicar on earth.

Good Shepherd, who founded Your Church on the rock of Peter’s faith and have never left Your flock untended, look with love upon us now, and sustain Your Church in faith, hope, and charity.

Grant, Lord Jesus, in Your boundless love for us, a new Pope for Your Church who will please You by his holiness and lead us faithfully to You, who are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.

CNS photo/Paul Haring

DECLARATION OF POPE BENEDICT XVI Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church.

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of

Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013 BENEDICTUS PP XVI

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A Tradition of Faith, Family and Fraternity The Knights of Columbus has played an instrumental role in Catholic family life for more than five generations

by Colin Parrish | photography by J. Craig Sweat

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here is little activity along the road as one drives among the silt foothills of southeastern Washington state, where umber brown and hunter green bleed together in a land that is waiting silently for spring. In the middle of a large region of the Pacific Northwest called the Palouse, a sign finally breaks the monotony of the rolling hills and fields of winter wheat: “Adopt a highway — Knights of Columbus Council 1565.”

This bit of metal is but a small testament to the Order’s impact on the local community. Amid a small town of just 400 people, there lives a large family with deep roots both in the region and in the Knights of Columbus.

More than a century has passed since the inception of Colton (Wash.) Council 1565. In that time, the Weber family, whose ancestors emigrated from Germany in the late 1800s, has sustained five successive generations of involvement in the Order.

Their family history — like countless others throughout North America — is closely intertwined with their love for the Catholic faith and with the Knights.

SMALL BEGINNINGS Much of Barthol Weber’s young life had been lived under the influence of the Kulturkampf of late-19th century Prussia, as the government suppressed the Catholic Church politically and culturally. Despite the difficult circumstances, the Weber family remained devout.

Barthol knew that he would be conscripted into the army of the German Empire when he turned 18. But because he was unwilling to enforce the anti-Catholic policies of the Kaiser, he

Men representing three generations of the Weber family, who for more than 100 years have been active members of the Knights of Columbus, are pictured in Colton, Wash.

snuck across the nearby border of Luxembourg, en route to the Netherlands, on the eve of his birthday. After several years, he emigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Whitman County, Wash., in 1886.

In Colton, Barthol established a farm, married and fathered 10 children. He and his wife were attracted to the area because of its strong Catholic identity — as were many other German immigrants of the time.

At about the same time that Barthol arrived in the United States, Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney and a group of men in New Haven, Conn., founded the Knights of Columbus. As the fledgling organization bolstered the Catholic identity of young immigrant families, it began to spread throughout North America. Soon, the Order began making inroads into the Pacific Northwest. In the early 1900s, recruiters for the Knights started arriving from cities like Denver.

After taking root in cities such as Seattle and Spokane, the Knights quickly spread to smaller communities and parishes throughout Washington.

When Colton Council 1565 formed in 1911, Barthol Weber and his sons were among its first members. Also among the council’s first members were the sons of Franz Druffel, a stonemason and farmer who had moved his family from western Germany and settled in Colton at the turn of the century.

Today, LeRoy Weber (Barthol’s grandson), and his wife, Trudy (Franz’s granddaughter), are the elders of the Weber clan. LeRoy, 89, and his two younger brothers, like their father George before them, had joined the Order at a young age.

“It was a way to organize and help the Church out,” explained LeRoy. “That is what the Knights of Columbus do in these little towns.”

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sembled its own men’s choir, while events such as Corpus Christi processions, Memorial Day gatherings and Christmas parties highlighted the Knights’ presence and the pride they took in their faith.

A farmer since his youth, LeRoy took his First Degree in 1943 and through his strong, quiet example, ensured that both the Catholic faith and the Columbian virtues remained central to his family’s life. Following in the footsteps of Trudy’s father, Bennie Druffel, LeRoy served as the council’s grand knight in the late 1950s.

“The Knights’ activity within the Church and in the community was impressive, and we could see it when we were kids,” said LeRoy’s oldest son, Tom. “Dad never missed a meeting, and we admired him.”

LeRoy and Trudy raised their seven children with a great sense of responsibility and investment in their local parish and community. When each of the boys turned 18, LeRoy would simply say, “You know, the Knights are a good organization.

You should join.”

Other members of the council would also pay the boys a visit to ensure they were welcomed into the Order.

“When I was 18, a couple of Knights came to talk to me about joining the council,” recalled Jerry Weber, 57. “These men were respected individuals in the community and it is a pretty impressive thing when you’re that young. To have such interest in me, it made me feel like I was worth something.”

Like their father and grandfather, three of the Weber boys — Tom, Jerry and Marty — became grand knights of Council 1565. Tom, in fact, went so far as to serve as Washington state deputy from 1995-97.

NEW GENERATIONS In the 1980s, the status of Knights in the region began to grow, thanks to a desire to serve the community even more. Council 1565 introduced activities such as the Steelhead Fishing Derby, which has grown from only 40 participants and a single catch to include hundreds of participants from throughout the Pacific Northwest. The event currently raises more than $4,000 annually for a rural Catholic school.

More importantly, involvement in the Order has encouraged council members to practice their faith not only on Sundays, but also to integrate it into their daily lives and work. The Colton Knights continue to take a direct route in inviting young men to join the Order — just as they were invited.

At a general audience during the Synod for the New Evangelization last October, Pope Benedict XVI said, “The encounter with Christ renews our human relationships, directing them, from day to day, to greater solidarity and brotherhood in the logic of love.”

As the Order emphasizes the importance of faith and family, while fostering this “greater solidarity and brotherhood in the logic of love,” it continues to have an enduring effect in communities and in the hearts of its members.

All of this is not lost on the current generation of the Weber family. Several of LeRoy’s grandsons are members of the Knights today.

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LeRoy Weber, 89, is a member of Colton (Wash.) Council 1565, like his grandfather and father before him, and like his sons and grandsons today.

Integral aspects of their formation as men came from the Order, according to Marty’s son Nick, 28, a member of Council 1565. He and his cousins recognize that the witness of the Knights, especially in their family, has provided a training ground for fostering community, taking on leadership roles and growing in character.

“Up in the city, a lot of people don’t know their neighbor or even care to know their neighbor,” said Nick, who lives in Spokane with his wife and two children. “We go out of our way to meet the people and get involved in our community in different ways.”

For the Weber family, the Knights of Columbus isn’t just a fraternity; it is part of their Catholic faith as a whole. Over the years, the Order has provided the Webers with significant opportunities for prayer and worship, but its influence has been much broader.

Trudy Weber put it the most simply: “The Knights have made my boys better men and better Catholics.”

The mission of the Knights continues to be concretely realized in innumerable families around the world, and the Webers are no exception. So far, LeRoy and Trudy Weber have ten greatgrandchildren and one on the way. And there’s every reason to believe that the men of this sixth generation will join the Knights, embracing the family’s strong tradition of fraternalism and enduring faith.

“The Knights and the faith have been a stronghold for our family,” said Trudy. “I pray that our great-grandsons may become Knights of Columbus and experience the strength and growth that we have experienced through the organization as well.”♦ COLIN PARRISH is a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Seattle at Bishop White Seminary and a member of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Council 12583 in Spokane, Wash.

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Above: Family members visit at the home of LeRoy and Trudy Weber in Colton, Wash. • Clockwise from left: Jerry, Tom, Nick, Bernie, Nate and Marty Weber are among LeRoy’s sons and grandsons who are members of the Knights.

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Catholics respond to a growing secularism that threatens religious liberty in Canada

by Colleen Rouleau

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ong before a railway expanded to the west coast of theory that places the beliefs of atheists and agnostics in a suCanada, the faith of the country’s early settlers and mis- perior position in the public sphere to the beliefs of religious sionaries established the foundations of Canada’s current so- citizens.” cial structures. In the summer of 1534, explorer Jacques Catholics find themselves increasingly challenged on some Cartier planted a 10-meter cross on Quebec soil, claiming the of their deeply held beliefs and freedoms, namely those of land for the King of France under the sign of Christ. The re- conscience and religion. “Catholics in Canada have expericent canonization of St. Kateri enced anti-Catholicism in the past, Tekakwitha, recalling the witness of a lot of it which had to do with the Canadian martyrs, together Protestants versus Catholics,” noted with beautiful pilgrimage sites in Dr. John Zucchi, chair of the hisQuebec, testify to the faith brought tory department at McGill Univerll the baptized to Canadian shores centuries ago. sity in Montreal. “What we see Today, numerous schools and nowadays is very different — it is have a responsibility to hospitals founded by religious comsinister, but often done in a genteel munities remain places of refuge for fashion. It is aimed at destroying replay an active role in the the faithful in a largely secular sociligious freedom, which was not the ety. European immigrants who setcase historically.” democratic process, and tled the prairies and raised their large Catholic families continue to THREATS TO LIBERTY to be present where public root hundreds of rural communiThe pressures facing lay Catholics ties. And even the predominantly and institutions in Canada today opinion and the future Protestant presence in Ontario and take many forms. the Atlantic provinces underscores Since the decriminalization of are being shaped.” a faith that is fundamental to public abortion in 1988, Canada has had values and morality. no federal laws restricting abortion.

Despite this strong history of Taxpayers pay for sterilization and faith — currently 44 percent of the abortion through publicly funded population is Catholic — the country has not been immune health care. Doctors who refuse to perform certain procedures to a prevailing culture of radical secularism. “Under the pre- are often expected by their professional associations to refer text of the ‘separation of church and state,’ aggressive secular- their patients to another physician. Recently, in the provinces ists insist that religion is a private matter,” explained Michèle of Quebec and British Columbia, there has been strong presBoulva, director of the national Catholic Organization of Life sure to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. and Family (COLF), which is co-sponsored by the Canadian After the legalization of same-sex unions in 2005 by the Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Colum- federal Civil Marriage Act, the province of Saskatchewan rebus. “But there should be no principle of Canadian law or fused to accommodate marriage commissioners who objected 22 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦

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PRINT: Jacques Cartier setting up a cross at Gaspé, 1883; The New York Public Library / Art Resource, NY

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to witnessing such unions. Since that time, three other provinces have imposed the same restrictions on their commissioners. In 2005, a Knights of Columbus council in British Columbia unknowingly booked a same-sex wedding reception at its hall and was subsequently fined $2,000 for cancelling the booking. Several other cases have also accused individuals of “hate speech” in reference to stances taken against homosexuality.

More recently, the Ontario government passed the Accepting Schools Act in June, mandating that Catholic school boards allow students to set up “gay-straight alliances,” thus jeopardizing the freedom of parents and Catholic schools to favor Catholic teachings in education.

In the face of all of these difficulties, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a Pastoral Letter on Freedom of Conscience and Religion in the spring of 2012. The document offers a succinct catechesis on the nature and proper formation of conscience and on the freedom of religion. Explaining what motivated the bishops to issue this pastoral letter, CCCB President Archbishop Richard W. Smith of Edmonton, Alberta, contrasted the Canadian situation with the sometimes brutal attacks against Christians in other countries. “In our own country, the pressure can be a lot more subtle,” he said. “Bishops will hear from people in medical or pharmaceutical professions, for example, of feeling pressured to act contrary to their own conscience.”

Thus, the pastoral letter begins by highlighting the value of “authentic freedom of conscience and religion” for all: “We hope to rekindle in all Canadians an appreciation of the significance of these rights as essential for ensuring the common good, and to encourage our fellow citizens, especially those in

professions where these rights may be at risk, to defend them courageously.”

This challenge issued by the Canadian bishops is one that the Knights of Columbus has been addressing since the first Canadian council was founded in Montreal in 1897. Today there are 1,900 councils across the country, consisting of nearly 230,000 members. Throughout Canada’s history, Knights have been a presence supporting the Church and promoting the common good through charitable works, patriotism and political advocacy defending the right to life and the sanctity of marriage. With these initiatives, the Order is building upon a heritage rich in faith.

Each year, Knights act as marshals at the annual National March for Life in Ottawa and participate in many smaller prolife events across the country. During the debate on the redefinition of marriage in 2005, the Knights led a national postcard campaign. Councils distributed more than 500,000 cards, promoting the Catholic understanding of marriage, to Canadian parishioners that could be mailed to Members of Parliament. In 2008, Canadian Knights lobbied against the governor general’s decision to award the Order of Canada — the country’s second highest honor of merit — to Dr. Henry Morgentaler, a physician who worked to decriminalize abortion in the 1970s and ’80s. In protest, people such as Father Lucien Larré and Frank Chauvin, both members of the Knights, returned their own Order of Canada awards to the governor general.

COLF Director Boulva said, “All the baptized have a responsibility to play an active role in the democratic process, and to be present where public opinion and the future are being shaped, in order to infuse a Christian perspective into cultural,

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CNS photo/Canadian Catholic News

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, then-archbishop of Quebec, addresses the National March for Life on Parliament Hill in Ottawa May 13, 2010.

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social and economic transformations.” She added that it is through the work of organizations like COLF that Catholics can be supported in their mission to stand up to what Pope Benedict XVI has called “the dictatorship of relativism.”

proach to religion and ethics in all Quebec schools, regardless of an institution’s religious affiliation. Then, in 2011, the provincial government denied funding to all day care programs that offer faith-based activities for children. Both initiatives deny parents and religious institutions the freedom to offer children a religious perspective.

A SECULAR NATION Canada’s faith foundations shifted significantly toward secularism in the 1970s and ’80s. In 1977, the Canadian Human AN EDUCATION IN FREEDOM Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Although the threats to religious liberty in Canada are grave, were established as federal bodies to administer the new Cana- the bishops’ letter encourages Canadian Catholics to particidian Human Rights Act. Today, each province also has its own pate actively in all sectors of society.

Human Rights Commission. These quasi-judicial federal or Archbishop Smith related that faithful witness is still imporprovincial bodies have often stated that religious freedom is tant. The government of Alberta, for instance, expressed a desubject to the fundamental sire to acknowledge the historic rights of others and that freecontributions of women religious comdom of religion does not extend munities that founded schools, hospito the practice of those beliefs in tals and charities. the public square.

“We now have, directly across from es, we must work In 1982, the Canadian Parliathe main doors on the grounds of the ment enacted the Charter of legislature, a huge bronze statue of a retirelessly to change laws, Rights and Freedoms as a bill of ligious woman in full habit as a visible rights within the newly adopted reminder to everybody of the role that but we must do so Canadian Constitution. Accordfaith has had in the formulation of this ing to Zucchi, while the Charter province. This wouldn’t necessarily be convinced that real aimed to secure the rights of the case in other places,” the archbishop each citizen, including religious said. societal change will freedom, its principal flaw is a Boulva sees the answer to the difficulmodern concept of rights that is ties facing Catholics in Canada in the come only when hearts unhinged from a religious Second Vatican Council’s universal call framework or the natural law, to holiness and willingness of the laity have changed.” and is thus disconnected from to live out their faith in everyday life. the question of truth.

“At this time of new evangelization, “What the Charter did was we must love freedom enough to refuse really open up the opportunity to be excluded from the public forum to create a culture of demanding absolute rights which would because of our deepest beliefs,” Boulva noted, adding that the come into conflict with long-standing traditional rights, in- battle for religious liberty cannot simply be reduced to politics. cluding religious freedom,” Zucchi said. “This really becomes “Yes, we must work tirelessly to change laws, but we must do a very dangerous thing not only for the Church but ultimately so convinced that real societal change will come only when for human freedom. The human rights culture often defends hearts have changed.” human rights to the point where you have inhuman situations Likewise, Zucchi believes that responding to challenges to — we lose sight of the person.” religious liberty requires a renewal of Christian witness.

When it comes to religious freedom, there is also a notable “Christ’s love for us is already the first victory. We are not difference in Quebec’s political environment compared to the fighting for a political position, for a political party, for the rest of Canada. With the rise of secularism during the Quiet Church as a voluntary institution in society — no — we are Revolution of the 1960s, the French-speaking province expe- there because the Church is our home, because we are aware rienced a massive loss of faith. The state now occupies the role of our belonging to Christ,” said Zucchi. the Church once had in Quebec society, which generally opThe Canadian bishops continue to call Christian men and erates under the assumption that it is the government — not women to stand up for their faith and encourage all people of God — that has power to grant rights. good will to stand up for the rights of conscience and religious Zucchi noted that many threats to religious freedom in Eng- freedom. lish-speaking Canada have come from the ground up — indiTheir timely message is echoed in the closing words of the viduals refusing to compromise in a situation and then finding Canadian national anthem, a prayer for true freedom: themselves in legal trouble. Quebec has seen a much stronger “God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand state-imposed, top-down assault upon religious freedom. In on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.”♦ 2008, the Quebec government introduced the Ethics and Religious Culture program, mandating a so-called neutral ap- COLLEEN ROULEAU writes from Edmonton, Alberta.

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

Good Friday Foundation We recall the saving passion and death of Christ, the great High Priest, and the sacrifice of his priestly servant Father McGivney

by Father Gregory Gresko

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his month offers us an opportunity to recall the origins of our Catholic faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as well as the founding of the Knights of Columbus by a priest who lived and died united to that sacrifice. Due to a convergence on the calendar, we commemorate Good Friday on March 29, the day we also observe as the Order’s Founder’s Day each year.

On Good Friday, Christians give witness to God’s perfect love through the death of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself for the salvation of the world. As a priest, the Order’s founder, Venerable Michael McGivney, was intimately linked to this loving sacrifice and sought to apply its benefits to his parishioners, who were passing through their own Good Friday experience as newcomers to America.

Catholics in 19th-century America suffered for the practice of their faith in a land marred by anti-Catholic and antiimmigrant sentiment. It was a time when job opportunities were posted with the words, “Irish Need Not Apply.” Amid these circumstances, it was not uncommon for a family’s breadwinner to die young in dangerous working conditions.

The harsh experiences of Father McGivney’s parishioners drove him to found the Knights of Columbus in 1882, providing them a program of financial benefits, fraternal support and faith formation.

On March 29, we pay tribute to Father McGivney and the handful of laymen who gathered in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., to find practical solutions to the problems Catholics faced. As their spiritual father, Father McGivney helped these first Knights realize the meaning of their often difficult lives through union with the suffering Christ. Together, these men founded a lay movement in which they could serve God and neighbor as more faithful husbands, fathers and men of the Church.

This Good Friday, as we offer our hearts in thanksgiving to the Lord for his sacrifice on the cross, we also have an opportunity to reflect on the fact that our Order was born in response to hardship and suffering. As Knights today, we must build on

that foundation, seeking out those who are needy in our parishes and communities and offering them the Order’s wellknown, charitable hand.

Father McGivney persevered despite overwork and exhaustion, holding firmly to trust-filled hope in Christ, strengthened by our Lord’s example and helped by his grace. He lived a noble, virtuous, priestly life modeled after the true High Priest, ultimately suffering a grave illness that took his life at the age of 38. The fruits of great growth within the Knights of Columbus could not have been realized without this brave priest’s selfless giving to God and the Church. Likewise, in our own faithful embrace of Father McGivney’s loving, devoted service, we as Knights may discover deeper meaning in our own lives of Christian faith, working collaboratively as brothers to build a genuine civilization of God’s love.

Father McGivney knew that achieving true manhood means imitating the manhood of Christ, who lived out perfectly his duties and responsibilities toward God and neighbor. While each priest is to be a model leader who emulates Christ’s manhood in his own life, laymen likewise are called to do the same as husbands and fathers. During this Year of Faith, Knights are called to “put out into the deep,” (Lk 5:4) to embrace the faith more fully and to follow Jesus in our love of God and service to our neighbor.

May God our Father always grant the Knights of Columbus and their families the grace of the Holy Spirit to follow his Son perfectly in selfless love, so that we might fulfill our vocation to love and make steady progress in the Christian call to holiness. In this month when we remember in a special way the founding of our Order, may Venerable Father McGivney also inspire us by his life of virtue to persevere in love, helping us to build our families and our councils into places of charity, unity and Christian fraternity.♦ FATHER GREGORY GRESKO is chaplain of the Blessed John Paul II Shrine and a member of Potomac Council 433 in Washington, D.C.

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

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KNIGHTS IN ACTION

REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES

the parents of children who are baptized at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

TURNING TRAGEDY

Shoppers browse used toys and books at a garage sale hosted

by Father Lacombe Council 2674 in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

The Knights’ annual sale featured goods that were donated by residents of Pincher Creek. The event raised more than $2,800 for charity.

CARING FOR A BROTHER

When Richard Shea of St. Elizabeth Seton Council 9022 in Carlsbad, Calif., became seriously ill and suffered brain damage, his wife, Marilyn, asked members of the council to come visit Richard on a regular basis.

The council formed a committee of six members to visit Richard to talk and play games. The Knights even performed caregiver responsibilities when a regular caregiver wasn’t available.

MARIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko, Martyr Council 15239 in Tarnobrzeg, Poland, organized a Marian music festival at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Thirty-two participants, ranging in age from 3 to 16, performed songs and chants about Mary.

FLAGS DONATED

East Hanover (N.J.) Council 6504 donated new Papal and U.S. flags to St. Rose of

Lima Church. Father Owen Moran, council chaplain, blessed the flags at their presentation.

JOB FAIR

Petaluma (Calif.) Council 1586 and Archbishop Edward J. Hanna Assembly in Santa Rosa donated $1,000 to help organize a resource and job fair for veterans. Almost 500 unemployed men and women, most of them U.S. veterans, attended the fair to learn about local jobs, sign up for interviews and discover various aid organizations.

HEADSTONES RIGHTED

Raoul Legere Council 10319 in Haute Aboujagane, New Brunswick, straightened headstones that were leaning or had fallen over at an area cemetery.

BAPTISMAL APPRECIATION

Our Lady of Queenship Council 4068 in Camp Hill, Pa., presents a red rose and a certificate of appreciation to

Bellmore (N.Y.) Council 3689 hosted a charity luncheon to benefit four children whose parents were killed in a murder-suicide. Restaurants throughout town donated food for the event, while many local merchants donated goods and services to raffle. The event raised $2,350 for the children’s trust fund.

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Epiphany (Calif.) Council 11033 sponsored a weekend basketball tournament to commemorate Msgr. Bruce Dreier, the late pastor of Church of the Epiphany and St. Robert Church. Youth from both parishes gathered for three days of competition, a Mass and a hall-offame banquet. The event raised $3,800.

ner to pilgrims from Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Jasper, Ga., during the pilgrims’ six-day visit to Catholic sites around the Chesapeake Bay. After learning that they would not be able to cook at their lodging, the pilgrims contacted the Knights for help in order to stay within their travel budget.

Knights provided two meals each day at no charge.

DECK REPLACED

Our Lady of the Lake Council 12270 in Pell City, Ala., replaced the deck at the home of a local senior citizen.

Knights learned that the woman fell and broke her arm when her rotted deck collapsed. In response, council members built a new deck, stairs and wheelchair ramp, donating $950 worth of materials for the project.

CEMETERY ALTAR CLEANED

St. Isadore Council 7118 in Enfield, Ill., landscaped the area around an outdoor altar at St. Clement Cemetery in McLeansboro. Knights removed weeds and tall grasses, relocated flowers to new beds, laid down landscaping rock, and created a rock path leading to the altar.

KEEPING COOL

St. Luke Council 12196 in Palm Harbor, Fla., donated $4,000 to either retrofit or replace the air conditioning system at St. Luke Church.

FEEDING PILGRIMS

Edward Douglass White Council 2473 in Arlington, Va., served breakfast and din-

George Rejsek of St. Michael the Archangel Council 14700 in Houston repaints one of the handicapped parking spaces at St. Mary’s Seminary. In addition to repainting the parking lot stripes, Knights inventoried 150 rooms at the seminary by replacing batteries in each of the smoke detectors, assessing the functionality of lights, outlets and faucets, and organizing the rooms so that each had the appropriate amount of furniture.

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

Springs, Ark., sponsored a lasagna dinner to raise funds to furnish the new dining room at the Diocese of Little Rock’s House of Formation.

The 200 people in attendance contributed more than $9,000 to help purchase dining room furniture. In addition, the council donated $1,000 to the diocese’s director of vocations to assist individual seminarians.

Msgr. Edgar M. Holihan Council 4746 in Vestal, N.Y., donated $100,000 to the Our Lady of Sorrows Church capital campaign. The funds, which were raised over several years, will help construct a new $3.7-million church building.

MCGIVNEY SHRINE

Kateri Tekakwitha Council 7365 in Indian River, Mich., completed a small shrine to pray for the canonization of Venerable Michael McGivney at the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods. At the invitation of their pastor, Father Mike Haney, Knights converted half of an octagon-shaped utility building into a place of prayer. The space includes a four-foot statue of Venerable McGivney, a bulletin board with posters and literature on Father McGivney and the Knights, and a television that plays the film The Life and Legacy of Father McGivney on constant loop. In addition to purchasing the statue, council members also performed much of the construction work to make the space ready.

HEARTS FOR LIFE Fourth Degree Knights from Bowen Assembly in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Msgr. Francis L. Sampson Assembly in Cedar Rapids and Father John R. Gallagher Assembly in Marion work with members of the American Legion to organize flags for retirement. Volunteers collected flags from throughout the county for proper disposal.

CHICKEN SOLD AT FESTIVAL

St. Quentin (New Brunswick) Assembly sold barbecue chicken dinners at one of the biggest Western festivals in all of Canada. Knights prepared and sold more than 1,750 dinners at the event, raising $19,000 for charity.

MUSIC FOR PATIENTS

Father James J. Scanlon Council 6936 in Highland Springs, Va., collected 200 music CDs for recovering patients at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center.

undergo surgery that would leave him wheelchair-bound.

Recognizing the immediate nature of the surgery, the council organized a team of volunteers, solicited nearly $1,000 in donations and obtained construction materials to build a wheelchair ramp at the Knight’s home in only three days. The council also widened a doorway at the home to accommodate a wheelchair.

DINING FOR SEMINARIANS

Daniel Patrick Council 10208

Sullivan in Hot

Father M. Joseph McDonnell Council 11044 in Carmel, Ind., provides support to Hearts for Life, a pro-life organization that promotes the spiritual adoption of unborn children. Specifically, Knights help distribute brochures for the organization at K of C and pro-life events.

YOUTH WORK CAMP

Sierras Madre Council 4781 in Carson City, Nv., provided support to a work camp program sponsored by the youth ministry at St. Teresa of Avila Church.

Knights supervised participants during the program, provided transportation and cooked meals. The youth who participate in the work camp give back to the community by performing maintenance projects for the elderly, sick or needy.

FISHER HOUSE DONATION

Salt Lake City Council 602 hosted a benefit breakfast that raised $500 for the Salt Lake City Fisher House, which provides housing to the families of military personnel who are receiving treatment at VA centers.

Members of St. Joseph Council 12498 in Mayantoc, Luzon, repaint the metal fence at St. Joseph Church as part of a larger project to improve the church.

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QUICK TURN-AROUND

Immaculate Conception Council 11991 in Goose Creek, S.C., responded to the needs of a council member who learned that he would

GEORGIA KNIGHTS SUPPORT SEMINARIANS

• Bishop Gross Council 1019 and Bishop Gross Assembly, both in Columbus, Ga., co-hosted a dinner to benefit seminarian education. Approximately 180 people purchased tickets for the event, which raised more than $8,000.

Six seminarians also attended the event.

• Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke Council 3607 in Albany, Ga., held its 14th annual seminarian support dinner. Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer of Savannah and nine seminarians joined 240 people at the event, which raised $8,500.

• Americus (Ga.) Council 7113 held its 3rd annual “Taste of St. Mary’s” dinner. More than 100 people attended the event, including eight seminarians.

The dinner raised $2,525 to assist all diocesan seminarians.

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K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N PHONE CARDS SENT

fundraiser for a local family that lost all of their belongings in a fire. Knights donated $1,000 to the family, and the event raised more than $26,000 in total.

Holy Family Council 3397 in Bridgeport, Pa., and Catholic War Veterans Post #1683 collectively sent more than $3,000 worth of pre-paid phone cards to U.S. troops serving overseas. The cards entitle each soldier to about 85 minutes of talk time.

POTATOES HARVESTED

MEN’S HEALTH SCREENING

Father Edward Joseph Farrell Council 6476 in Holiday, Fla., co-sponsored a free men’s only health screening with Florida Hospital North Pinellas. Nearly 80 men had the opportunity to receive free screenings that included blood pressure, cholesterol, prostate and spinal exams.

GRILL DONATED

St. Thomas More Council 9997 in Austin, Texas, donated a new barbecue grill with accessories to the Borromeo House of Discernment for the Austin Diocese.

A PROFITABLE RETURN

Msgr. Esper Council 3027 in Fowler, Mich., hosted its annual “Returns for Vocations” fundraiser to benefit local seminarians. By collecting redeemable bottles and cans as well as monetary donations from members of the community, Knights were able to raise $4,600 to support area men who are studying for the priesthood.

PAYMENT FOR STATUE

St. Clare of Assisi Council 12851 in Surprise, Ariz., donated $7,000 to its parish to purchase a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Funds for the donation were raised when council members worked the concession stands at all of the spring training games for the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers.

Harry Aharon Jr. (right) and Mark Kimble of Our Lady of the Highway Council 3835 in Little Falls, N.J., fingerprint Yasmin Hajbi, 8, during a community street fair. Knights provided free child identification kits — which included fingerprints — to families with young kids at the fair.

MAGNETIC BOARDS

Msgr. Tjebbe Bekema Council 12060 in Thibodaux, La., prepared magnetic boards for the religious education classrooms at its parish. Knights donated $250 worth of materials for the project.

MATTRESSES DONATED

Martinsburg (W.Va.) Council 1169 picked up more than 100 box springs and mattresses that had been donated by a local hotel and delivered them to needy residents throughout the community.

One of the recipients had just found out that she was regaining custody of her three children but needed three beds for them beforehand.

Thanks to assistance from the Knights, the children were once again able to live with their mother.

BARBECUE FOR SISTERS

Seven K of C councils from in and around Portland, Ore., provided manpower for a barbecue at the Our Lady of Peace Retreat House to benefit the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. Knights cooked

food for those in attendance, coordinated parking and offered any other assistance that was necessary.

FIRE FUNDRAISER

Father Peter P. Boerding Council 6357 in Belle Chasse cooked hamburgers and hot dogs as part of a

St. Elizabeth Council 13141 in Upper Uwchlan, Pa., harvested 3,200 pounds of potatoes from Springton Manor Farm and donated them to the Chester County Food Bank.

From there, the spuds were delivered to area food pantries for distribution to the needy.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Pope John Paul I Council 7565 in Norristown, Pa., created a Community Outreach Program to assist needy members of the community with housework. As their first project, Knights undertook a number of renovation projects for a local widow and her son. Council members cleaned gutters, cut the grass, trimmed trees, repaired doors, fixed a sink cabinet, replaced a radon mitigation system, mended a window, washed the deck and painted several rooms.

KNIGHTS FOR NEW LIFE

Wood chips fly as Ron Meier of Sacred Heart Council 14671 in Cardington, Ohio, cuts a post for a pavilion that Knights built at their parish.

Over the course of a year, the council raised $9,000 to construct a 40-foot by 30-foot shelter that includes electricity, water and a concrete floor. Knights also performed much of the labor to construct the pavilion.

Father John Joseph Dussman Council 3731 in Glenview, Ill., launched a program called “Knights for New Life” that aims to develop the spirituality of newborn babies and their parents. At baptism, Knights provide the parents of the baby with a rosary booklet called “To Jesus Through Mary” and encourage the parents to start praying the rosary with their child. After six months, council members again meet with the parents to provide the first in a series of 10 booklets approved by the U.S. Catholic bishops.

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

school supplies to the Onslow County Department of Education.

REDUCING FEVERS

Volunteers look on as a section of roofing is lifted into place by crane at the future home of Capt. Patrick Glavey, a U.S. Marine who was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan. Knights from seven K of C councils in and around Denver joined dozens of volunteers to help construct the house, specifically by providing food and drink to all of the workers. Capt. Glavey, whose legs were amputated as a result of his injuries, received his new home through Homes for Our Troops.

SHRUBS REMOVED

Members of St. Joseph Council 4586 in Madison, Wis., removed 11 tall bushes and a number of Junipers from the front of Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Monona. Removing the old shrubbery gave way to a cleaner look for the school building.

DINNER FOR SISTERS

Bordentown (N.J.) Council 570 prepared and served dinner to the Poor Clares of Chesterfield in honor of the order’s 800th anniversary.

Knights have been serving dinner to the sisters for 37 years out of a desire to support priests and religious in the area. The latest dinner at the convent saw 15 nuns and two visiting priests in attendance.

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS

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tended to pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. A reception followed the holy hour.

HOUSE OF PRAYER

Bishop Daniel J. Curley Council 3717 in Syracuse, N.Y., donated $5,000 to the Regis Center, a peaceful house of prayer founded by Father Regis Rodda in 2004.

The Regis Center houses New Hope Family Services, which offers resources to women facing unplanned pregnancies.

LUNCH FOR VETERANS

San Marcelino Champagnat Council 10055 in Miami hosted a pizza lunch for veterans at the Miami VA Health Care System’s Day Activity Center. Knights served pizza, soft drinks and ice cream to 40 veterans, many of whom receive one hot meal a day through the facility.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Father O’Byrne Council 3574 in Jacksonville, N.C., donated $450 worth of

Members of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Council 14323 in San Pedro, Luzon, cleaned drainage gutters in their community to help prevent flooding and the presence of standing water. The project aimed to reduce the mosquito population, which is responsible for spreading diseases like dengue fever.

HELPING ORPHANS

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Council 11080 in West Brookfield, Mass., hosted a golf tournament at Bay Path Golf Course to benefit the family of deceased council member David J. Reardon.

Reardon passed away in a car accident in 2011, leaving two small boys. The tournament raised more than $5,000 for a scholarship fund for Reardon’s children.

IMPROVED MOBILITY

The 21 Fourth Degree assemblies of Michigan Fourth Degree District #2 raised money to donate five new mobility scooters to the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw. The scooters will be used by veterans who are receiving treatment at the facility.

PARISH-WIDE TAG SALE

Bishop Flaget Council 13053 in Prospect, Ky., organized a parish-wide tag sale to raise funds for St. Bernadette Church. The event raised $9,300, which will be used to purchase new vestments for the parish priest, deacons and altar servers.

LUNCH FOR GUARDSMEN

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Council 3425 in New Iberia,

William Cancel of St. Matthew Council 8065 in San Antonio, Texas, applies a fresh coat of paint to a piece of playground equipment at the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Learning Center, a facility that provides Catholic pre-K education to the surrounding community. Knights repainted and repaired the aging equipment, giving it plenty of new life.

La., served lunch to members of the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Bravo Company during the unit’s annual training exercises. Knights served homemade chicken and sausage jambalaya to about 300 men and women of the National Guard.

PIG AND CORN ROAST

St. John Neumann Council 12532 in Lancaster, Pa., hosted its annual pig and corn roast at St. John Neumann Church. Knights fed more than 500 people at the event, which raised more than $4,000 for a number of charitable causes.

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

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

K OF C ITEMS OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

A.

IN THE UNITED STATES THE ENGLISH COMPANY INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment 1-800-444-5632 • www.kofcsupplies.com

C.

LYNCH AND KELLY INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-548-3890 • www.lynchkelly.com CHILBERT & CO. Approved Fourth Degree Tuxedos 1-800-289-2889 • www.chilbert.com IN CANADA ROGER SAUVÉ INC. Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes 1-888-266-1211 • www.roger-sauve.com

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

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Please enroll me in the Father McGivney Guild: NAME ADDRESS

A. Skagen Steel Mesh Watch. Signature Skagen Denmark® silver mesh band with a masculine touch. Enlarged brushed steel case with double-locking fold-over clasp. Gunmetal face with unique two-level dial, numerical indicators and date function. Emblem of the Order above date window.

PG-16 — $140 B. MV Sport® Varsity Blanket. Sweatshirt fleece blanket made of heavyweight 80% cotton / 20% polyester. Screen-printed with emblem of the Order and “Knights of Columbus.” Measures 54” x 84” and rolls for easy travel. PG-374 — $34 C. Columbia® Fleece Vest. Columbia® Cathedral Peak™ 100 % polyester fleece vest in blue. Full-zip front, zip pockets, open bottom. “Knights of Columbus” embroidered on left breast with full-color rainbow trout. Available in: M (PG-476), L (PG-477), XL (PG-478) and XXL (PG-479). — $45

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

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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.

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

PHONE: 203-752-4000, www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2013 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901.

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

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

Unity ROBERT JACKOWSKI of St. Mark Council 12852 in Richmond, Va., demonstrates a throwing technique for a Special Olympics athlete at the state games. Knights have volunteered at the games for seven years, specifically with the softball throw event. Council members helped with registration and assisted athletes.

Charity

Fraternity

Patriotism

MEMBERS OF Don Febian R. Millar Council 5973 in Tayabas City, Luzon, stand with some of the relief goods they delivered by boat to flood victims in Barangay Lambac, a village where 250 families were affected by a storm. Knights delivered food, medicine and other supplies.

ARCHBISHOP THOMAS G. WENSKI of Miami, a member of St. James Council 12402 in Orlando, places a relic of Venerable Michael McGivney beneath the altar stone of the Florida State Council’s new portable altar. After relying for years on having to borrow altars or make them out of makeshift materials for official events, the state council authorized funds to construct an altar of its own. Designed by Knights, the altar was built by Joseph Soborowicz of Resurrection Council 11189 in Winter Garden.

GARY GNIDZIEJKO, Father Helmut Pflanz and Gene Wall, all members of Father Emil J. Kapaun Council 11987 at the Sembach Air Base in Germany, stand in front of the Kaiserslautern Kindergraves Memorial during the annual memorial service there.

Knights, Boy Scouts and the Kaiserslautern military community paid their respects to 451 American children who were buried in the Kaiserslautern city cemetery between 1952 and 1971. Most were the children of American military personnel and died before their first birthday; this was at a time when assistance was not available to transport the deceased to the United States for a stateside burial.

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MARCH 2013

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K NI G HT S O F C O LUM BUS

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

Scotty Bonn, a Special Olympics athlete and a Fourth Degree member of Father Francisco Atanasio Dominguez Assembly in Salt Lake City, clasps hands with another athlete while Knights provide an honor guard for the opening ceremony of the Utah Fall Special Olympics Games. In addition to serving in the honor guard, Bonn also competed in the games, and his basketball team won a gold medal.

“K NIGHTS IN A CTION ” C OLUMBIA , 1 C OLUMBUS P LAZA , N EW H AVEN , CT 06510-3326

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

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

KEEP THE FAITH ALIVE

‘WHEN GOD TAKES HOLD, For me, there were no wondrous conversions, no peals of thunder booming the command, “Become a priest!” Rather, what led me on this journey was the Father’s voice, steady and sure, whispering through the day-to-day life of an ordinary Catholic boy.

One piece of the puzzle was reading the biography of St. John Vianney and his tremendous love for his parish in Ars, France. I was struck by his zeal for the salvation of souls, as he would spend 16-18 hours a day in the confessional, practice rigorous penances for the conversion of sinners, and daily commend them all to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I remember feeling some small portion of that same zeal stirring in my soul. Could I really be called to serve God as a priest?

This little spark, a love for prayer and the Eucharist, and the many great role models who had guided me in the faith worked together to help me hear the call and boldly answer it.

What is extraordinary about picking up a book, or the love and support of family and friends? When God takes hold of these ordinary things, extraordinary things happen.

JOSEPH LANGAN, SEMINARIAN Baltimore, Md.

Kimberly Simonetti, Kimberly Fine Portraiture, Owings Mills, Md.

EXTRAORDINARY THINGS HAPPEN’