Columbia October 2011

KNI GHT S O F CO LUMBU S

O CTOBER 2011

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“So That The World May Know New Hope”

129th Supreme Convention Denver, Colorado

AT T HIS TABLE ... E XCELLENCE

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A commitment to excellence, outstanding service and the highest ethical standards. ese are traits of all Knights of Columbus field agents, but the dedication of the agents listed below has earned them membership in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) for 2011. MDRT is an international organization that recognizes the top one percent of financial professionals in the world. We salute these men for their devotion to making a difference for life.

“Court of the Table” member two years in a row.

Robert Abbate Virginia Beach, Virginia

Pierre Albert — Hearst, Ontario

Lawrence Messer — Westminster, Maryland

Randall Atkins — Fort Myers, Florida

Gregory Miskiman — Calgary, Alberta

Ben Baca — Whittier, California

Michel Myre — London, Ontario

James Bertine — Arlington, Virginia

James Nestmann — Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Jeremie Bornais — Amherstburg, Ontario

Edward O’Keefe — Abingdon, Maryland

Daniel Bouchard — Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia

Eric Ottemann — Midland, Texas

Tyler Bouchard — Red Deer, Alberta

Kevin Paish — St. Albert, Alberta

Martin Bourgeois — Timmins, Ontario

Kevin Patterson — Grand Blanc, Michigan

Neil Bouvier — Hamilton, Ontario

Arturo Perchemlian — Menifee, California

William Buchta — Grand Island, Nebraska

Neil Pfeifer — Norfolk, Nebraska

Todd Cabral — Reno, Nevada

Alan Pires — Mississauga, Ontario

John Canter — Crownsville, Maryland

Vincent Polis — Lewiston, Idaho

Robert Canter — Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Daniel Reed — Garden City, Kansas

Cleophas Castillo — Winnipeg, Manitoba

Darin Reed — Ellis, Kansas

Quintin Chausse — Caledonia, Ontario

Stephen Regan — Chattanooga, Tennessee

Wayne Cherney — Devils Lake, North Dakota

Robert Renaud — Sudbury, Ontario

Jonathan Chiem — San Jose, California

James Rolleri — Germantown, Tennessee

Timothy Coskren — Walpole, Massachusetts

Ronald Sandoval — San Gabriel, California

Trevor D’Mello — Mississauga, Ontario

Larry Hoelscher — Jefferson City, Missouri

Sonny Sangemino — Kanata, Ontario

Mark Deaton — Cypress, Texas

Daniel Huffman — San Clemente, California

James Seideman — Lubbock, Texas

Justin Deges — Hill City, Kansas

David Imbriani — Monroe Township, New Jersey

Thomas Sitzmann — Pueblo, Colorado

Daniel del Villar — Henderson, Nevada

Joe Jackson — Denver, Colorado

David Soukup — Leavenworth, Kansas

Joseph DeMarco — Vero Beach, Florida

Aaron Jelinek — Prior Lake, Minnesota

Joseph Spinelli III — Tallahassee, Florida

John DiCalogero — East Walpole, Massachusetts

Douglas Kelly — Omaha, Nebraska

Leroy Stoecker — Houston, Texas

Robert DiCalogero — Canton, Massachusetts

Jason Lalonde — Virgil, Ontario

John Stoeckinger — Lincoln, Nebraska

Marvin Doerhoff — St. Peters, Missouri

Paul Lalonde — Virgil, Ontario

Douglas Supak — La Grange, Texas

Daniel Duval — Garson, Ontario

Chuck Larter — Spencerville, Ontario

Jody Supak — La Grange, Texas

Denis Duval — Garson, Ontario

William Lewchuk — Calgary, Alberta

Butch Tastet — Washington, Louisiana

Shawn Fetter — Vancouver, British Columbia

William Lueddemann — Anaheim, California

James Vukets — Surrey, British Columbia

Richard Fuentes — Lebanon, New Jersey

Jimmy Lummus — Pampa, Texas

Kevin Weber — Gretna, Nebraska

Perry Gaudet — Bellevue, Saskatchewan

Peter Marsico — Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

James White — Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

James Grabinski — Walden, New York

Henry McCormick — Maryville, Tennessee

Joseph Wolf — Harker Heights, Texas

Brian Graham — Kensington, Maryland

Michael McDonough — North Port, Florida

Mark Yubeta — San Clemente, California

Mark Hedge — Butler, Ohio

Michael McGranahan — Fullerton, California

Arnold Zwiers — Prince George, British Columbia

Whether your agent is a current or future MDRT member, helping you to protect your family is his highest priority.

To identify your professional Knights of Columbus agent, click “Find an Agent” at kofc.org or call 1-800-345-KOFC ere is no higher rated insurer in North America than the Knights of Columbus

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

PUBLISHER Knights of Columbus ________ SUPREME OFFICERS Carl A. Anderson SUPREME KNIGHT Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. SUPREME CHAPLAIN Dennis A. Savoie DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT Charles E. Maurer Jr. SUPREME SECRETARY Logan T. Ludwig SUPREME TREASURER John A. Marrella SUPREME ADVOCATE ________ EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski alton.pelowski@kofc.org MANAGING EDITOR Patrick Scalisi patrick.scalisi@kofc.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR Brian Dowling brian.dowling@kofc.org CREATIVE & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ________ GRAPHICS Michelle McCleary LAYOUT

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COLUMBIA 129th SUPREME CONVENTION Aug. 2-4, 2011

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An Impressive Witness to Hope Papal greetings sent to the 129th Supreme Convention by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

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129th Supreme Convention Highlights The Supreme Convention celebrated the Order’s accomplishments and charged Knights to bring new hope to the world.

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‘A Single-Minded Confidence in God’ Archbishop Charles J. Chaput’s homily from the convention’s opening Mass.

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.

14 Our Lady’s Messengers Through a new prayer program dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Knights will carry on the work of the new evangelization.

18 Honoring Excellence Awards session recognizes outstanding achievements in charity, unity, fraternity.

20 Report of the Supreme Knight In his report to the 129th Supreme Convention, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson highlighted the Order’s charitable contributions and ongoing work.

48 The Roman Missal The new translations of the Suscipiat, Preface and Sanctus invite us to deeper participation at Mass.

BY ARCHBISHOP ALFRED C. HUGHES

COVER: Thinkstock

________ Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved ________ ON THE COVER A scene of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

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An Impressive Witness to Hope Papal Greetings sent to the Supreme Convention by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

HIS HOLINESS Pope Benedict XVI was pleased to of our democratic societies. He sees in this valued learn that from 2-4 August 2011, the 129th Supreme service to the common good an outstanding example Convention of the Knights of Columbus will be held of the lay apostolate, which consists, as the Second in Denver, Colorado. He has asked me to convey his Vatican Council teaches, in “building up the Church, warm greetings and good wishes to all in attendance, sanctifying the world and imbuing it with the Spirit together with the assurance of his prayers for the fruit- of Christ” (Apostolicam Actuositatem, 16). Such a clear fulness of these annual deliberations. and courageous moral witness is all the more necessary The theme of this year’s Supreme Convention — in the light of a proliferation of legislative initiatives “So That The World May Know New Hope” — was that not only undermine such basic institutions of sofittingly inspired by ciety as marriage and the the great prayer for family but also threaten families with which the fundamental human Blessed John Paul II rights of conscientious concluded his aposobjection and religious In the local councils, in parishes tolic exhortation Ecclefreedom. As part of its resia in America. It was sponse to these increasand in local communities, the precisely so that “the ingly serious challenges, world may know new His Holiness encourages Knights represent a privileged hope” that the late your Order to renew and “setting of Christian hope” pontiff tirelessly called reinforce its praiseworthy upon the lay faithful programs of catechesis to work for the spread and of continuing formaof the Gospel of Jesus tion in the faith and the Christ and the renewal principles of Christian of society in accordance with its liberating message. morality, so that each Knight can be prepared to offer Today, before the increasingly evident signs of a grow- a reasonable account of his deepest convictions. ing forgetfulness of God, a rejection of the most basic In his Encyclical Spe Salvi, the Holy Father recalled principles of morality and a breakdown in the very that the most effective testimony to Christ is given by foundations of social life, no committed follower of men and women whose closeness to the wellsprings of Christ can fail to heed this urgent summons to work divine love in prayer and in the sacramental life of the for the rebuilding of our communities in accordance Church transforms them and makes them living icons with the enduring values grounded in the natural law, of hope. In this context he thinks especially of the imconfirmed by the Gospel and enshrined in the Chris- pressive witness to hope given by the Knights of tian vision of life’s true meaning, beauty and purpose. Columbus as they help so many young men to grow For this reason, the Holy Father expresses his deep to Christian maturity, teaching them to let their lives gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for their con- be shaped by the things that really matter (cf. Phil tinuing contribution to responsible public debate 1:10) and offering countless quiet examples of the masabout the great ethical issues that will shape the future culine virtues of fidelity, hard work, generosity and

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CNS photo/Paul Haring

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self-sacrifice. In the local councils, in parishes and in local communities, the Knights represent a privileged “setting of Christian hope” (cf. Spe Salvi, 32ff.), where the Catholic faith and its deepest values are embodied and passed on through friendship, fraternal charity, volunteerism and good works. His Holiness encourages all of you to reflect with gratitude on this often-hidden, yet very real charism of your Order and to foster it as a significant resource for the renewal of the Church and society at every level.

Finally, the Holy Father expresses his profound satisfaction for the continuing fidelity of the Knights of Columbus to the vision of Father Michael McGivney, who desired that the Order should be the embodiment of Christian charity through its manifold works of fraternal solidarity and mutual aid. This commitment has always been shown first and foremost on the level of the local councils, in the many quiet ways in which Knights have always sought to help one another, especially in difficult times such as the present economic downturn. It has also found privileged expression in your Order’s institutional programs of insurance and financial planning, which have brought stability and hope to so many individuals and families, and in your charitable outreach to the poor throughout the world,

particularly in the wake of disasters such as those that recently struck Haiti and Japan. His Holiness is likewise grateful for the unswerving support that the Knights have given to the Successor of Peter in his ministry to the universal Church. He sees in this great symphony of charity a testimony to the catholicity of our faith and to the breadth and depth of our hope in Christ’s saving promises.

With these sentiments, the Holy Father invokes upon all assembled in Denver the Spirit’s gifts of wisdom, understanding and good counsel. Commending all the Knights and their families to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in Jesus, her divine Son. Adding my own prayerful good wishes for the work of the Supreme Convention, I remain Yours sincerely,

Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone Secretary of State

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129th Supreme Convention The Supreme Convention in Denver Aug. 2-4 celebrated the Order’s accomplishments and charged Knights to bring new hope to the world

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s 2,500 Knights and their families arrived in Denver for the 129th Supreme Convention in August, they were met by Colorado Knights’ hospitality and the landscape’s undeniable beauty. In the days immediately preceding the convention, families participated in tours of scenic locations and devotional sites that reflect the more than 150 years of rich Catholic history in Denver and the surrounding area.

Some 100 priests and more than 70 archbishops and bish4

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ops, including 11 cardinals, concelebrated the Aug. 2 opening Mass. The entrance procession was led by a Fourth Degree honor guard from Colorado’s John H. Reddin Province, named after the first Supreme Master of the Fourth Degree and a pioneer for the Order in the Western United States in the early 20th century.

During the opening business session, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson delivered his annual report, reflecting on the

past year and the Order’s record-breaking charitable giving and volunteer service. He also announced a number of important initiatives that the Order will undertake in coming months, including the Knights of Columbus Disaster Response Program, an AIDS outreach to orphaned children in Africa, a new military chaplain scholarship, and a shrine dedicated to Blessed John Paul II in Washington, D.C. (See page 20 for the full text of the report.)

The event’s theme — “That The World May Know New Hope” — was taken from Blessed John Paul II’s prayer for families, which concluded his 1999 apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America. From homilies at concelebrated Masses to remarks at the States Dinner and business sessions, special guest speakers echoed this theme, encouraging the Knights to bring new hope to the world by participating in the new evangelization. Excerpts of many of these addresses are fea-

tured in the following pages of convention highlights.

Delegates to the Supreme Convention strengthened their resolve to be hopeful witnesses of the Gospel, adopting resolutions in support of such issues as the culture of life, marriage, religious liberty and Catholic education. The convention also saw the launch of a new Orderwide Marian Prayer Program dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe that will run from 2011-13 (see page 14).

Throughout the convention, speakers recalled the teachings of Blessed John Paul II and the vision of Venerable Michael McGivney. Knights who have gone before us, including the late Supreme Secretary Emilio B. Moure, were also remembered in words and in prayer.

Full texts and extended coverage can be found at kofc.org, and DVDs of the convention’s proceedings are available for purchase (see page 47).♦ OCTOBER 2011

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‘A Single-Minded Confidence in God’ EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is selected from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput’s homily delivered Aug. 2 at the Supreme Convention’s opening Mass.

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses on the pretext of the marriage he had contracted with a Cushite woman. They complained, “Is it through Moses alone that the LORD speaks? Does he not speak through us also?” And the LORD heard this.

THE DYNAMIC OF THE Moses family is not so different from the dynamic in the family of today’s Church. God has chosen Moses to lead his people. Miriam and Aaron, the sister and brother of Moses, resent his taking of a Cushite wife. But the disputed marriage is merely a pretext for the siblings. What they really resent is Moses’ elevation above themselves, his special relationship with God. Moses is very much a flawed human being.

By this point in Scripture he may be “meek,” but he is not without sin. Nonetheless he is chosen by God. Therefore, Miriam’s and Aaron’s criticism — which flows out of their own rebellious pride — is really a criticism of God himself. Miriam, as the instigator, 6

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is struck with leprosy, but at least there is a kind of negative dignity to her willfulness. Aaron is almost worse; a portrait of male spinelessness. This is the man who went along with the golden calf.

Now he goes along with Miriam, and when Miriam is punished, he becomes obsequious with Moses.

Something similar can be said about conflicts in the modern Church. Bishops, priests and deacons are too often weak and sinful. They need to be held to high standards. Some deserve to be chastised. The clergy’s leadership in the Church should always be marked by humility and service, and never by a sense of entitlement. But men and women didn’t found the Church; they don’t own her; and they have no license to reinvent her. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ, and the different roles within the Christian community — clergy, laity and religious life — have equal dignity but different purposes. Sin and failure, including by the clergy, need to be named. But when people deride their bishops and priests out of pride and resentment or some perverse desire for what they perceive as “power,” they undermine the Church herself, and they set themselves against the God whose vessel she is. And that, as Scripture suggests, leads in a painful direction.

OPENING MASS

All real reform in the Church requires two things. Today’s Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 51 — gives us the first thing. We find it in the lines “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow;” and “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” Renewal begins not in vilifying others, but in examining ourselves honestly, repenting of our own sins and changing ourselves. This applies to every baptized person, from the pope to the average man or woman earning a wage. We are all sinners. We are all in need of repentance and God’s mercy. When we really understand that, we can speak to each other with both honesty and love, and restoring the mission of the Church can begin.

Today’s Gospel gives us the second thing needed for any lasting Church reform: faith. Not faith as theology, or faith as a collection of doctrines and practices; but faith as a single-minded confidence in God; faith as the humility — and in a sense, the imprudence, the passion, the recklessness — to give ourselves entirely to Jesus Christ. That kind of faith changes people. That kind of faith shifts the world on its axis, because nothing can stand against it. As long as Peter keeps his eyes and his heart fixed on Jesus Christ, he can do the impossible — he can walk on the water. The moment he gives in to doubt and fear, he begins to sink. So it is with our personal faith, and so it is with life and health of the Church.

In light of our Gospel reading, it’s fitting that our Mass today commemorates the French priest and saint from the 19th century, Peter Eymard. Eymard was a friend of Sts. Peter Chanel and JeanMarie Vianney, and the founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. He was an intriguing man. The great French sculptor, Auguste Rodin, once entered Eymard’s congregation as a lay brother, having given up art after the death of his sister. Eymard served as Rodin’s spiritual counselor, and eventually sent him back to his work in the world as a sculptor, because he believed that Rodin glorified God more truly through the beauty of his art. The focus of Eymard’s life was an intense love of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He was tireless in preaching a deep devotion to the Eucharist as a key to reigniting the vocation of Christians in the world. The Church honors him as “the Apostle of the Eucharist,” and his most famous line is worth remembering. When he decided to leave the diocesan clergy to become a religious priest, his sisters begged him to wait and reflect just a little longer before he acted — even just one more day. He answered, “God calls me now. Tomorrow will be too late.” God is calling each of us here today — clergy, lay and religious — to love him with all our hearts and to renew the life of his Church. God is calling us now. Tomorrow will be too late. So let’s pray for each other, and support each other — and begin.♦ OCTOBER 2011

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BUSINESS SESSIONS

(Clockwise from top) Delegates raise signs of their respective jurisdictions at a business session Aug. 3. • Deputy Supreme Knight Dennis A. Savoie addresses the convention. • A delegate from Cuba seeks to be recognized during the Aug. 3 business session. • Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl visit before the Aug 2 business session. • Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., leads delegates in prayer for the canonization of Venerable Michael McGivney, the Order’s founder. • Cadets from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs provide a color guard at the opening of the convention’s main business session Aug. 2.

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WE LIVE in a world, which, at this time, is undergoing a profound transformation. The manner in which we have carried out our mission of bringing the Good News of the Kingdom until now cries out for renewal, and in some instances, fundamental change. It is my belief that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, responded to this very need by choosing [the new evangelization] as the theme of the next Synod of Bishops and by establishing a new Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. For several years now, the Canadian bishops have been reflecting on this theme at their Plenary Assemblies. We look forward to the upcoming Synod, knowing that it will provide us with many new avenues and strategies to strengthen our efforts in the First Evangelization and the New Evangelization in our country. …

I am delighted to see that the Knights have chosen to reflect on this theme as well. In this way, you remind us that, more than our specific duties as bishops, priests, religious and laypersons, the proclamation of the Good News has been entrusted to all the baptized.

Bishop Pierre Morissette of Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

THE KNIGHTS of Columbus is making a big difference in the local Church in the Philippines. Present in all dioceses of the country, there are now over 260,000 or so active members — and growing. They are active in pastoral programs in parishes and, noticeably, in their strong pro-life advocacy. …

There has been no time in the Philippines’ history when the Catholic Church has been so challenged and even maligned than today. …

Please continue to help us fight against this onslaught [against] life.

Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar of Tandag, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines OCTOBER 2011

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I AM NOT a politician. I am a pastor of souls — and an American citizen.

That is my perspective on these issues. As pastor of the largest Catholic community in the United States, I am deeply affected by our nation’s immigration policy crisis. Historically, the Catholic Church has always been a Church of immigrants — just as America has always been a nation of immigrants. …

American Catholics form one spiritual family drawn from some 60 ethnic and national groups from every continent. ...

About 70 percent of the flock I minister to is Hispanic. And Los Angeles is not an exception — but a sign of the future.

The important thing for us is to approach these political issues not as Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, but as Catholics. And as Catholics, we should be alarmed by the human toll of our failure to fix our broken immigration system. …

I believe comprehensive immigration reform offers us a special moment as a nation — and as a Church. As immigrants have in every generation, this new generation of immigrants promises to make us a stronger, more virtuous and prosperous America.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles

THIS GIVES me the providential opportunity to let you, esteemed brother Knights, know how deeply we bishops, your pastors, appreciate your charism. You are ‘Exhibit A’ when it comes to modeling the effective lay apostolate revived in the Church by the Second Vatican Council — a luminous example of the faithful, enlightened, generous man on the front lines of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as impeccably passed on by his Church, to home and family, business, community, culture, our beloved country, and our world.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 10

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(Clockwise from top) Past Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant speaks at the Aug. 3 business session. • Colorado delegates wave their state flag during the States Dinner.

• Supreme Advocate John A. Marrella presents the report of the resolutions committee to the voting delegates Aug. 4.

STATES DINNER

‘The Essence of the New Evangelization’ EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is excerpted from Cardinal Raymond L. Burke’s keynote address at the States Dinner.

AN EXTRAORDINARY synthesis of the teaching of Blessed John Paul II on the new evangelization is found in his Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, “At the Close of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.” In the face of the grave situation of the world today, we are, Blessed John Paul II reminded us, like the first disciples who, after hearing St. Peter’s Pentecost discourse, asked him: “What must we do?” Even as the first disciples faced a pagan world which had not even heard of our Lord Jesus Christ, so we, too face a culture which is forgetful of God and hostile to his law written upon every human heart.

Before the great challenge of our time, Blessed Pope John Paul cautioned us that we will not save ourselves and our world by discovering “some magic formula” or by “inventing a new program.” In unmistakable terms, he declared: “No, we shall not be saved by a formula but by a Person, and the assurance which he gives us: I am with you” (29).

He reminded us that the programme by which we are to address effectively the great spiritual challenges of our time is, in the end, Jesus Christ alive for us in the Church. In short, the program leading to freedom and happiness is, for each of us, the holiness of life in Christ, in accord with our state in life and with careful attention to our “time and culture.” ...

Blessed John Paul II, making reference to the Second Vatican Council, reminded us that “this ideal of perfection must not be

misunderstood as if it involved some kind of extraordinary existence, possible only for a few ‘uncommon heroes’ of holiness.”

The saintly pontiff taught us the extraordinary nature of our ordinary life, because it is lived in Christ and, therefore, produces in us the incomparable beauty of holiness of life. He declared: “The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each individual. I thank the Lord that in these years he has enabled me to beatify and canonize a large number of Christians, and among them many lay people who attained holiness in the most ordinary circumstances of life. The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction” (31).

Seeing in us the daily conversion of life by which we strive to meet the high standard of holiness, the “high standard of ordinary Christian living,” our brothers and sisters will discover the great mystery of their own ordinary life in which God, in a truly extraordinary manner, daily showers upon them his immeasurable and ceaseless love, calling them to holiness of life in Christ, his only-begotten Son. They will find new hope.

Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal at the Apostolic Signatura

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Deputy Supreme Knight Dennis A. Savoie and Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec, primate of Canada, wave flags during the States Dinner.

THERE EXISTS an American Christian identity: Between Catholics and members of other Christian faiths, we make up the majority of the inhabitants of the hemisphere. We are a Christian continent. … Our common problems, which are many and serious, must be confronted based on our identity and faith in Christ, which we, the majority, profess. We must seek solutions in order to elevate the dignity of mankind and to strengthen the reign of God. …

The Knights of Columbus, laymen organized and committed to the causes of Christ and his Church, must familiarize themselves with this document, Ecclesia in America. The teachings of our late Holy Father, Blessed John Paul II, shed light upon solutions based on faith in Christ and insist upon a realistic apostolate that must contribute to solving even problems of a structural nature, for the good of all brothers and sisters in need.

Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico 12

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BROTHER KNIGHTS of Columbus, you are a true inspiration to so many people in your parishes and hometowns and cities. Your untiring commitment to serve and to love through your actions, your love of human life is a very positive witness in a world that truly needs your presence and your faith. I am very grateful for the more than 100,000 Knights who work in the province of Quebec, and the thousands that are present in the Archdiocese of Quebec. I know the Church can always count on you to tackle the challenges before us. …

Even as we share in this wonderful convention, I’m sure in your hearts so many of your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family members also know the pangs of hunger for love and peace, justice, hope and solidarity. “Do not be afraid!”

Go out to share what you have seen and heard, go out to witness the great love of your life: Jesus Christ!

Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec, primate of Canada

Above: Delegates examine proposed resolutions during a business session. • Below: A Fourth Degree honor guard sits attentively during the Votive Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

MAY I PROPOSE an invigorating dedication to the human person, most especially to those persons most vulnerable. In the current climate the attack on the human person still focuses on the beginnings and end of human personal life, the stages of greatest vulnerability. The Annunciation scene manifests the astounding act of the Eternal Word being conceived in the womb of his mother. It puts an exclamation point on the reality of every human being made in the image and likeness of God. ...

Certainly, we must be mindful of the poor and weak, the stranger and immigrant and those who have wandered away from the Father’s embrace. Above all, though, we Knights must be mindful of the unborn, whose fragile and delicate beginnings the Savior himself accepted in becoming man. The first and last stages of life, where the newly conceived may not yet have a name and the seriously ill and elderly may have forgotten their name, are most crucial.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of GalvestonHouston

ST. JOHN Vianney’s life was consumed with saving souls. The overarching goal of his life was helping his parishioners and many of those who flocked to his little parish in the village of Ars, France, to undergo conversion, to grow in holiness and to become fit for eternal life in heaven. What a powerful reminder this feast is for me and for my fellow bishops and priests as we commend the beloved dead of our Order to the tender mercies of God. We, dear friends, are fellow pilgrims with you on the path of salvation, fellow pilgrims who must seek forgiveness of our sins and holiness in our own lives. Even so, the Lord in his mercy has called us and sent us to expend ourselves in helping you and helping many others to reject sin, to refuse to mastered by evil, and to attain that holiness of life of which Christ himself is the measure.

Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn.

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Our Lady’s Messengers Through a new prayer program dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Knights will carry on the work of the new evangelization

by Alton J. Pelowski

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t the conclusion of a votive Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Aug. 3 at the 129th Supreme Convention in Denver, the Knights of Columbus launched a new Marian Prayer Program. The choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception sang Totus Tuus, a choral work dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as state deputies processed toward the altar carrying large, framed images of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Hundreds of copies of the image have been distributed and will be used for a two-year prayer program in which local councils will organize special prayer services at churches and other locations. The first year of the program will culminate with the second international Guadalupe Festival, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in 2012, immediately prior to the 130th Supreme Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, postulator for the cause of canonization of St. Juan Diego and canon of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, introduced the program and explained the uniqueness of the images. He said that the images held by the state deputies received a papal blessing and was touched to the original, miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Moreover, each bears the signature of the rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and was sealed with soil from Mexico’s Tepeyac Hill, where Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego in 1531.

“My brother Knights, nearly 500 years later, you are now called, like St. Juan Diego, to be heralds of the new evangelization, carrying Our Lady’s beautiful image and message of love far and wide in all your jurisdictions,” said Msgr. Chávez, who is a member of Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Council 14138.

Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., then offered a prayer of commissioning, and the state deputies raised the images as the assembly joined in singing Salve Regina.

Before the final blessing, Cardinal James Francis Stafford, Major Penitentiary Emeritus and principal celebrant of the Mass, called the prayer program “one of the most moving and challenging tasks that I have seen given to the laity.” After serving as archbishop of Denver for 10 years, Cardinal Stafford served as president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity from 1996-2003.

“Dear brothers, this challenge is to become the royal priesthood of the laity,” the cardinal added. “God bless you for this wonderful, wonderful challenge that you have been willing to accept.”

Left: Cardinal James Francis Stafford, Major Penitentiary Emeritus, celebrates the Votive Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe Aug. 3. • Right: Bishop concelebrants are pictured during the Votive Mass.

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Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, postulator for the cause of canonization of St. Juan Diego, introduces the Marian Prayer Program Aug. 3.

CONSECRATED TO OUR LADY This two-year prayer program is the 15th initiative of its kind since the Order’s first Marian Hour of Prayer in 1979. Most of the past programs have honored the Blessed Mother under various titles, including the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Częstochowa and, most recently, Our Lady of Charity. These Orderwide programs have also brought some 14 million people together for more than 100,000 prayer services.

The last time the Knights of Columbus launched a prayer program dedicated to Mary under her title Our Lady of Guadalupe was in 2000, a year after Pope John Paul II released his apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America, in which he invoked the Virgin of Guadalupe as the “Mother and Evangelizer of America.” When Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and other officers were later installed in ceremonies at the basilica in Mexico City in February 2001, the supreme knight and then-Supreme Chaplain Bishop Thomas V. Daily led those in attendance in consecrating the Order to the care of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In the evening before the current Marian Prayer Program was launched, Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura at the Vatican, reflected on the meaning of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparitions and message. During his keynote address at the States Dinner, he described the cultural environment during the time of Our Lady’s apparitions from Dec. 9-12, 1531.

“Our Lady appeared on the continent of America at a time when many men were drifting from God and his life-giving law,” explained Cardinal Burke, a member of Bishops Council 10490 in St. Louis, Mo. “On the one hand, under a long and macabre leadership, the religion of the Native Americans, the Aztecs, was increasingly marked by a diabolical worship which demanded constant and mass human sacrifice. On the other hand, the arrival and activity of European explorers in the same territory had developed into a conflict between the Spanish and Native Americans, which threatened an increasingly massive destruction of human life and goods. In the context of so much and so great suffering and death, the Mother of God was sent to draw men once again to the one and only source of hope and life in the love and mercy of God the Father, made present in our midst by his incarnate Son.” The appearance of the Virgin Mary to a humble Indian, a Christian convert named Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, soon changed the face of the continent. Our Lady appeared as a mestiza, or mixed-race woman, who was pregnant with the Son of God. Mexico’s first bishop, Friar Juan de Zumárraga, and the native people comprehended the Gospel message contained in the symbol-rich image that was miraculously imprinted on Juan Diego’s tilma, or cloak. And inspired by the message of divine love, some 9 million Native Americans were baptized from the time of the apparitions until the deaths of Bishop Zumárraga and Juan Diego in 1548.

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A UNIVERSAL MESSAGE Almost five centuries later, the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to inspire Christians not only in Mexico, but also throughout the Western Hemisphere.

In Ecclesia in America, which was written to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the first evangelization of America and to prepare for the Jubilee Year 2000, John Paul II cited the widespread appeal of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The influence of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to St. Juan Diego, he noted, “greatly overflows the boundaries of Mexico, spreading to the whole Continent. America, which historically has been, and still is, a melting-pot of peoples, has recognized in the mestiza face of the Virgin of Tepeyec, ‘in Blessed Mary of Guadalupe, an impressive example of a perfectly inculturated evangelization.’ Consequently, not only in Central and South America, but in North America as well, the Virgin of Guadalupe is venerated as Queen of all America” (11).

The universality of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message was demonstrated in 2003, when the Order sponsored a tour of a relic of St. Juan Diego’s tilma, and tens of thousands of people of numerous nationalities came to express their devotion. Likewise, more than 1,000 Knights and their families attended a Marian Congress dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which the Order co-sponsored with the Diocese of Phoenix and the Institute of Guadalupan Studies in August 2009.

Following the Marian Congress, a capacity crowd of more than 15,000 people participated in the first international Guadalupe Festival at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

Building on the success of that event — which featured musical performances, speakers, the recitation of an international rosary and the solemn procession of the tilma relic — Knights hope to welcome tens of thousands of the faithful to the second international Guadalupe Festival in Los Angeles next August.

Yet, before then, a multitude of people will be participating in prayer services throughout K of C jurisdictions. As outlined

in an official prayer booklet, each service will include readings, silent reflection, intercessions, the rosary and other prayers.

The goal is to spread far and wide a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and an appreciation of the enduring relevance of the Guadalupan message.

“We live in no less troubled times which severely test our hope,” said Cardinal Burke in his States Dinner address. Citing moral relativism and various manifestations of a “culture of death” in the modern world, he added, “We are witnesses of a society in which, in many respects, morality has ceased to exist.

We are called ever more urgently to the new evangelization of our culture. Our Lady of Guadalupe gives us hope, gives us Jesus Christ who alone brings us truth and freedom.”

For more information about the schedule of the Marian Prayer Program in your area, contact your Knights of Columbus state council.♦ ALTON J. PELOWSKI is the managing editor of Columbia.

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Honoring Excellence Awards session recognizes outstanding achievements in charity, unity, fraternity

A

t the annual Supreme Knight’s Award Session in Denver Aug. 3, awards were given for achievements in various categories, including membership recruitment, insurance and exemplary practice of the Order’s principles in council activities.

Here is a brief account of some of the awards and recipients.

FAMILY OF YEAR Ron Simurdiak and his family are models of charity and Catholic values in their Wisconsin parish and community.

Ron belongs to Father John Patrick Slowey Council 2963 in Phillips, and his father, Joseph, has been a member for more than 60 years. Ron and his wife, Elizabeth, both teach religious education classes.

Their son Joseph, 19, attends St. Norbert’s College in De Pere, and their son John, 17, is a high school junior. Their daughter Jenna, 9, was born in China and was adopted when she was 13 months old.

The entire family participates in Knights of Columbus activities, including the annual candy drive for persons with disabilities, pancake breakfasts and fish fry dinners. In 2005, Ron was elected president of the newly established St. Vincent De Paul Society in Price County. And the following year he was one of four Knights who provided collateral for the purchase of a former furniture store building to start a St. Vincent De Paul thrift store. The family literally “bet the farm” – taking a mortgage on their land to help fund the purchase. Proceeds from the store have enabled them to help 11 needy families with rent, utilities and prescription medicines. And last year, they launched a new St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry, which distributed nearly 5,000 pounds of food to 182 needy families in December alone.

Now as Knights of Columbus Family of the Year recipients, the Simurdiaks hope to bring the message of faith, hope and charity to others.

CHURCH ACTIVITIES Stella Maris Council 4265 in Fort San Felipe, Luzon, assisted in building a shrine dedicated to Blessed John Paul II in order to strengthen the faith of the local community. The shrine honors John Paul II’s 1981 visit to the Philippines and his role in giving hope and encouragement to thousands of Indo-Chinese refugees.

Council members, along with their pastor and bishop, raised funds for the project by soliciting materials or monetary donations and by organizing a “Walk for Pope John Paul II” fundraiser.

Construction, led by council members, began Feb. 2 and 18

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finished with a dedication May 2 — one day after Blessed John Paul’s beatification in Vatican City. Thirty-five Knights volunteered 9,800 hours to the project.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES A Quebec council raised more than $100,000 to purchase a handicapped-accessible van for Les Amirams de la Vallée, an organization that transports people with disabilities to educational, cultural and sporting activities, as well as respite care.

Along with volunteers from Amirams, 180 members of Des Lacs Council 10048 in Lac au Saumon, Quebec, volunteered more than 2,300 hours to raise the funds needed to purchase the van. The new vehicle, emblazoned with the emblem of the Order, replaced an out-of-service van and now provides transportation for children and adults to educational, cultural and sporting activities, as well as respite care.

In addition to offering safe transportation, the van provides a permanent job to a driver and greater autonomy to the clients of Amirams.

COUNCIL ACTIVITIES When education officials approached a North Dakota council to ask for help raising funds for a new elementary school, Knights donated $100,000 to the project.

In turn, Wahpeton Council 2205 was allotted a room in the school — designed by council members — that could be used for gatherings and activities. The Knights contributed an additional $60,000 for materials and furnishings. An image of Father McGivney and the council’s charter are now displayed permanently in the finished meeting room, which features a large conference table, leather conference chairs embossed with the emblem of the Order and modern A/V equipment.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES Islands Council 10579 in Savannah, Ga., solicited the help of parishioners at St. Peter the Apostle Church to collect baby and childcare supplies for a U.S. military clinic serving civilians in Afghanistan. Through a local contact, Capt. Kim Phillips, a doctor assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in Afghanistan, requested supplies to help care for sick and injured children.

The response included enough clothing, shoes, toys, stuffed animals, baby lotion, plastic wrap, and other baby and childcare items to fill more than 100 individual packages. Knights coordinated with the U.S. National Guard to ship the packages to Capt. Phillips in Afghanistan.

Ronald and Elizabeth Simurdiak of Father John Patrick Slowey Council 2963 in Phillips, Wis., and their family were named the Order’s 2011 International Family of the Year.

PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES This year, a Washington council obtained a box truck outfitted with a pro-life billboard that was visible at 40 Days for Life, pro-life marches, Planned Parenthood demonstrations and other high-visibility events.

Kennewick Council 8179 has a strong history of pro-life service. Knights host a biannual pro-life conference, coordinate trips to the state capitol for the annual march for life there, participate in 40 Days for Life and conduct monthly pro-life educational seminars. They also sponsor billboards and advertisements on Catholic radio stations.

The council’s most recent endeavor — the pro-life box truck — was a dominant sight at the pro-life march between St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the soccer field at St. Joseph School, where Knights staked more than 500 white crosses as a tribute to lives lost to abortion.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES St. Mary Council 4458 in Derby, Kan., contributed 475 hours each month to host activities for the youth of its parish and community, providing a series of healthful activities while promoting a positive attitude toward the Knights of Columbus goals of charity and family values.

Knights held activities like a parish family golf tournament, a “Knights vs. Teens” softball game and cookout, a soccer challenge, a fishing derby (including clean-up of the area around the pond), a Christmas celebration, a free throw

championship, a movie night, a vocations poster contest, an Easter egg hunt, a parochial school picnic, and a day camp for children with special needs.

Through these activities, the council kept the young people and their families engaged throughout the year, dramatically increasing the visibility of the council and generating significant goodwill in the community.

LEADING GENERAL AGENTS Marc G. Bouchard of Alberta, Canada, was the number-one general agent. He finished the year at 196 percent of quota with a volume per member of $15,532. His total gross volume was $262,429,000.

Kevin G. Pfeifer of Nebraska was the number-two general agent, finishing the year at 179 percent of quota with a volume per member of $11,194. His total gross volume was $176,867,000.

LEADING FIELD AGENTS Marvin J. Doerhoff of the Rackers Agency in Missouri was the number-one field agent in 2010. Doerhoff met 544 percent of his quota with a volume per member of $17,361 and a total gross volume of $19,080,000.

Neil S. Bouvier of the Marc Bouchard Agency in Alberta, Canada, was the number-two field agent in 2010. Bouvier met 427 percent of his quota with a volume per member of $17,662 and a total gross volume of $16,232,000.♦ OCTOBER 2011

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Annual Repor t of the SUPREME KNIGHT 129TH SUPREME CONVENTION

DENVER, COLORADO, AUGUST 2, 2011

“So that the world may know new hope”

IN HIS ENCYCLICAL, Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that, “Hope is a key word in biblical faith,” so much so that at times, “the words ‘faith’ and ‘hope’ seem interchangeable” (2).

Catholics have always seen ourselves as people whose very identity is closely related to the gift of hope. As Pope Benedict put it, “The one who has hope lives differently” (2).

Along with love and the spirit of charity, hope was one of the distinctive traits of Christians in the first century. “The self-understanding of the early Christians,” the pope wrote, “was shaped by their having received the gift of a trustworthy hope” (2).

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The theme of our convention this year is: “So that the world may know new hope.” We bring new hope to the world through the millions of acts of charity we perform each year. We bring new hope to the world when we live out our principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism in ways that change lives for the better. Our theme is taken from a prayer composed by Pope John Paul II that concluded his document Ecclesia in America following the Synod of Bishops for America in 1997. John Paul II had asked the bishops of the Western Hemisphere to “reflect on America as a single entity” (5).

The nations of North, Central and South America have a

“shared Christian identity,” he said. “The decision to speak of ‘America’ in the singular” was his “attempt to express ... the unity ... which the Church wishes to foster as part of her own mission” (5).

As Knights of Columbus, we are acutely aware of the importance of unity in our lives as Catholics. It is the second principle of our Order, and it has real meaning for us at many levels: in our local and state councils, within the nations in which we are organized, and as an international fraternal society of Catholic men that now spans three continents. It is this same unity that guides us to solidarity with our bishops and our priests.

A significant part of our mission is to make manifest the “deeper spiritual union” and “spirit of solidarity” that John Paul sought to develop among the Catholics of the Americas (5).

Knights of Columbus councils can be found throughout the Americas: in the United States and Canada, as well as in Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia and the Bahamas. And of course we have gone even farther, gathering into our fold hundreds of thousands of Catholic men from the Philippines, the largest Catholic country in Asia, and more than a thousand in Poland, one of the most Catholic countries in Europe.

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In August, the Order co-hosted the “Love and Life Centre” at World Youth Day with the Sisters of Life at the Palacio de Deportes, Madrid’s premiere sports and concert venue, which has seating for more than 10,000.

In a very real sense, the Knights of Columbus is at the forefront of helping to build what John Paul II called “the unity which comes from true communion with the Risen Lord” (7). This is the goal of the New Evangelization, promoted by Blessed John Paul II and carried forward with great enthusiasm by Pope Benedict. It is grounded in St. Paul’s observation: “In hope we are saved” (Rom 8:24).

Blessed John Paul’s long papacy will be remembered for many things, but perhaps the most memorable is the special attention he paid to young people. In the prayer at the end of Ecclesia in America, he asked God to grant that we might be “faithful witnesses to [Jesus’] Resurrection for the younger generation ... so that, in knowing [him], they may follow [him] and find in [him] their peace and joy” (76).

Later this month [August], the Church will once again celebrate one of Blessed John Paul’s most remarkable innovations — World Youth Day — this time in Madrid. And the Knights of Columbus will play a central role in creating a powerful spiritual experience for English-speaking pilgrims who will travel to Spain from around the world.

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As was the case at the last World Youth Day in Australia, we will co-host the “Love and Life Centre” with the Sisters of Life, this time at the Palacio de Deportes, Madrid’s premiere sports venue, which seats more than 10,000 people. We will be joined by co-sponsors from Holy Cross Family Ministries, Salt + Light Television, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, the Apostleship of Prayer, and the World Youth Alliance. Together, we will offer participants the opportunity to attend Mass, confession, eucharistic adoration, and a wide variety of presentations, panel discussions, dynamic catechesis, meals and concerts — and of course an occasion to meet and get to know other Catholic youth from throughout the English-speaking world.

World Youth Day is a living reminder of Blessed John Paul’s ministry to youth during his papacy of nearly three decades. The “John Paul II Generation” has had a tremendous impact on the Church, and when Supreme Chaplain Bishop William Lori, Past Supreme Knight Virgil Dechant and I traveled to Rome for John Paul’s beatification on May 1,

we found that generation very much in evidence.

We have welcomed many of them into the ranks of the Knights of Columbus, and I want to take this opportunity to invite them to join us in evergreater numbers as we continue to build on John Paul II’s legacy. Several of our newest college councils, including Father Bill Nolan Council 15094 at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and Commodore John Barry Council 14534 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., are prime examples of the rich bounty that the members of the John Paul II Generation bring to the Knights of Columbus and the Church. So is our 2010 Outstanding College Council of the Year, Our Lady of the Skies Council 8200 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Blessed John Paul saw the Knights of Columbus as the sort of lay organization envisioned in one of the most important documents of the Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes (“Joy and Hope”).

The document described the way in which the Church would engage the modern world by means of a new evangelization. John Paul II believed that Gaudium et Spes was in many ways the theological, philosophical and pastoral summation of the Council. It is no accident that the highest award of the Knights of Columbus is known as the Gaudium et Spes Award — we are fully committed to this mission of the Church. Because God entered the world to redeem us, we are called to fill the world with a Christian spirit and Christian values through our witness, especially our witness to charity and our faithfulness to the teaching of the Church. In other words, as Pope Benedict has told us, we are called to live differently.

Our work over the past year demonstrates that we have been faithful to this mission. Our Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity shows that we set new all-time records for charity last year.

Total charitable contributions by the Knights of Columbus at all levels last year reached $154.6 million, exceeding the previous year’s total by more than $3 million. Sixty percent of these donations went to projects at the community level. Among the larger donations were $1 million for our Food for Families program and $1 million for “Healing Haiti’s Children,” a joint project with the University of Miami’s Project Medishare through which we have made available prosthetic limbs to every child in Haiti who suffered an amputation in the 2010 earthquake.

Knights of Columbus also rolled up their sleeves and provided a record 70 million hours of volunteer service for charitable causes in 2010, an increase of nearly 800,000 hours.

According to Independent Sector, an organization that tracks volunteerism and estimates the value of volunteer service, the value of an hour of

Supreme Secretary Emilio Moure addresses the media with Dr. Robert Gailey of Project Medishare prior to the first shipment of prosthetic devices to Portau-Prince, Haiti, in November 2010. Moure helped lead the Order’s “Healing Haiti’s Children” program, which has made prostheses available to every Haitian child who lost a limb during the 2010 earthquake that devastated that country. volunteer time last year was $21.36. That means our volunteer time last year was worth nearly $1.5 billion.

Among the service programs benefiting from a significant number of K of C volunteer hours were Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission and Habitat for Humanity. Knights of Columbus blood drives drew more than 428,000 donors.

Over the past decade, the amount of volunteer time donated by Knights of Columbus has totaled more than 653 million hours. And the value of those volunteer hours totals more than $12.2 billion.

Among our state jurisdictions, Canadian Knights once again led the way in charitable donations. Québec’s $10.4 million in donations and Ontario’s $8.5 million were followed by Texas with $6.3 million, Florida with $6.1 million, California with $5.8 million and Michigan with $5.2 million.

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Contributions $Millions

155

2010 2009

151

2008

150

2007

145

2006

144

Volunteer Hours Million

2010 For many parts of this continent, this past winter was an extremely harsh and cold one. It was even harder on the many poor children who had inadequate winter clothing. But thanks to the efforts of Knights in 32 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces, more than 17,600 needy children received a brand-new coat. tions with the highest per capita donations to charity, leading with seven of the top ten. British Columbia took first place, with a per capita total of $209 per member, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Alaska, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Virginia, Florida, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. The range of our charitable activity over the past year is truly extraordinary.

In a tough economy, a startling number of people have gone from being food bank donors to needing help themselves. Our Food for Families program has played a major role in many communities where the need is great.

In addition, there are many Knights of Columbus councils that have developed food donation programs that are uniquely tailored to their communities.

Each month in Hawaii, Brother Joseph Dutton Council 7156 in Honolulu collects thousands of pounds of food donated by the Navy Exchange at Pearl Harbor and delivers it to food banks throughout the area. Bishop James J. Sweeney Council 11485 in nearby Waianae mans a soup kitchen that feeds the homeless on a daily basis.

Father Jose Reyes Nacu Council 12935 in Honolulu also collects food, distributes it to the needy and stocks a storage facility that is used to help re24

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70.0

2009

69.3

2008

68.8

2007

68.7

2006

68.3

plenish food banks when supplies run low.

In the San Antonio suburb of Helotes, Texas, Our Lady of Guadalupe Council 8306 launched a program this year called “40 Cans for Lent.”

Parishioners were invited to bring one can of food for each of the 40 days of Lent. Donors filled 114 barrels with food — more than 4,300 food items — which were then distributed to food banks run

by Catholic Charities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the San Antonio Food Bank. The food arrived at a critical time — just as holiday season donations were nearly exhausted. Suddenly, the shelves were full again, and a Lenten sacrifice became a path to helping people in need.

In Colorado Springs, Divine Redeemer Council 4699 has been collecting, transporting and distributing food items for the parish food bank for many years. Last year, requests for food rose dramatically, straining the council’s ability to serve all those in need. So the council set — and reached — a goal

In the wake of a devastating tornado that killed 151 people in Joplin, Mo., Knights from Father Benedict W. Harter Council 979 and St. Mary’s Council 14096 turned out to set up a food and supply distribution center at St. Peter the Apostle Parish. of collecting 2,000 pounds of food so that its service to the community could continue. Members of the council also volunteer regularly at Marian House, the Colorado Springs Catholic Charities soup kitchen.

Like so many Philippine councils, members of Holy Cross Council 4104 in Laguna, Luzon, sponsored programs to feed children who do not have adequate nutrition, and Immaculate Conception Council 14405 in Cainta, Luzon, went into poor sections of the city to distribute much-needed clothing to families.

Stories like these are repeated many times over every day, thanks to Knights of Columbus councils all over the world.

Another success story for us over the past several years has been the Coats for Kids program.

For many parts of this continent, this past winter was extremely harsh. It was even harder on poor children who had inadequate winter clothing. But thanks to the efforts of Knights in 32 states and six Canadian provinces, more than 17,600 needy children received a new coat this winter. Among the many cities where Knights provided coats for kids

this season were Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven, Conn.; Reno, Nev.; Worcester, Mass.; Windsor, Ontario; Denver, Colo.; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Montreal and Québec City in Québec; Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Salt Lake City, Utah. A total of 202 councils distributed coats this year.

Our longstanding tradition of support for Special Olympics continued over the past year, during which more than 74,000 Knights volunteered 268,000 hours of their time at more than 10,000 Special Olympics events. This is one of the most popular charitable activities of the Order, with more than 3,600 councils providing support to Special Olympics.

As most of you know, Special Olympics was founded by brother Knight Sargent Shriver and his wife, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in 1968. Sargent Shriver passed away in January at the age of 95.

Many people know him as the founder of the Peace Corps. He was a man who personified the ideal of Catholic public service.

Sargent Shriver led the way in service to his fellow man for all the right reasons. He lived by the values of Catholic social teaching: a love for the inOCTOBER 2011

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More than 74,000 Knights volunteered 268,000 hours of their time at more than 10,000 Special Olympics games and other events.

Special Olympics is one of the most popular charitable activities in the Order. nate dignity of every human person and a determination to help improve the lot of all who suffer.

Sargent Shriver’s son, Tim, has continued this legacy for a number of years now, and Knights have continued their support. Since the first Special Olympics event, the Supreme Council and state and local councils have together contributed a total of more than $61 million to Special Olympics.

In many jurisdictions, the support of the Knights of Columbus for those with intellectual disabilities goes well beyond Special Olympics. In fact, while local councils donated more than $3.3 million to Special Olympics last year, they donated more than $13 million to programs for people with intellectual handicaps in general. The combined contributions from the Knights of Columbus at all levels to programs for people with intellectual and physical disabilities since 1980 total $507.6 million.

In Missouri, Knights fund the operation of the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at the SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. The center opened in 1981 and provides a variety of services for children with developmental disabilities. Missouri Knights have donated more than $5.5 million to support the Knights of 26

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Columbus Developmental Center since its opening 30 years ago.

In Oklahoma, Knights provide significant funding and support for the operation of the Center of Family Love, a residential home and care facility for people with intellectual disabilities. The center includes a care facility and assisted-living program, two group homes, and the state’s only fully accredited nursing home facility for adults who are developmentally delayed.

In Virginia, the Knights of Columbus KOVAR program provides interest-free loans for purchasing group homes, furnishings for those homes, funds for buying vans to transport persons who are developmentally disabled and training programs so that they can become productive members of their communities. During its 40-year history, the KOVAR program has collected and distributed more than $13 million, making the Knights of Columbus second only to the state government as a contributor to programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

In New Jersey, Knights of Columbus provide support for the operation of Calabrese House, a group home serving persons with disabilities. The home is named for Past State Deputy Dominick Calabrese (1988-90), who was a strong advocate

For many years, Knights have been volunteering to help build homes in Habitat for Humanity projects. The latest numbers show that last year, members of the Knights of Columbus volunteered more than 1.5 million hours of their time to Habitat builds. for people with intellectual disabilities.

Another organization with which we have worked closely is the Global Wheelchair Mission, founded by brother Knight Chris Lewis. Over the past year, the Knights of Columbus and the Wheelchair Mission together have provided 3,565 wheelchairs around the world.

In February, Knights in Southern California and British Columbia distributed 130 wheelchairs in Northern Vietnam as part of a “Medical Aid for Vietnam” effort organized by Father Tien Tran of Vancouver. They also delivered 150 wheelchairs in Southern Vietnam in conjunction with Caritas Saigon, Medical Aid for Vietnam, Franciscan Outreach for the Needy and the Saigon Association for Paralyzed Persons.

Knights from California, Nevada and Florida distributed 280 wheelchairs to the poor in and around Manila in early March in conjunction with the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor.

Knights in Florida and Tennessee distributed wheelchairs to veterans, retired clergy and others in February and March, and Knights in Atlanta, San Antonio and Danville, Calif., all have containers of wheelchairs on order for distribution in their communities later this year.

Thanks to Knights in California, Texas, Florida

and Tennessee, two containers of 560 wheelchairs will soon be on their way to the Holy Land, where they will be distributed in cooperation with Caritas Jerusalem. San Antonio Knights have raised funds for wheelchairs to be distributed soon in Mexico City at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Dallas Knights have raised funds for a shipment of 280 wheelchairs to Honduras.

Since our wheelchair efforts began in 2003, Knights at all levels have provided 30,000 wheelchairs to people in 17 countries around the world.

For many years, Knights have volunteered to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity projects. The latest numbers show that Knights last year volunteered more than 1.5 million hours to Habitat. Moreover, local councils have donated more than $1.1 million to Habitat projects over the past year.

One example is St. Peter Council 7070 in Edmonton, Alberta. The council serves as a “Silver Sponsor” of a Habitat project to build 47 new homes that will be known as Anderson Gardens.

More than 25 percent of the council’s members are devoting hundreds of hours of their time to completing the project.

Natural disasters are unpredictable, but 2011 has been an unusually difficult year.

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Bishop Andrew Francis of the Diocese of Multan delivers a relief package to a Pakistani boy whose family fell victim to the severe flooding.

In Pakistan, flooding in the Indus River Basin killed approximately 2,000 people and directly affected 20 million more. The Knights responded with donations totaling more than $35,000, which were sent to Bishop Andrew Francis of the Diocese of Multan in the heavily damaged area of South Punjab. The donations enabled the bishop — who sometimes had to travel on foot or by boat — to distribute food, clothing and other essentials to families in all seven districts of his diocese, at a time when most other relief was unavailable.

In a message of thanks to the Knights, the diocese reported: “His Excellency Most Rev. Bishop Andrew has gone to distribute and to give food, shelter and medicine to the flood victims, who are mostly Muslims. He thanks you for your support which is making this positive understanding and bridge building in Islam and Christianity. The Diocese of Multan is very grateful to you.”

Such bridge building is no small matter. The bishop himself was once nearly assassinated, suffering a gunshot to the head at the hands of the Taliban. Like Pope John Paul II, Bishop Andrew Francis forgave his would-be assassins, and we are pleased to help him witness to the power of charity and forgiveness halfway around the world.

In the United States, tornadoes caused unprece28

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dented destruction in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Joplin, Mo. Tuscaloosa was at the center of a late-April storm outbreak that brought 334 tornadoes to 21 states.

The mile-wide tornado that hit Tuscaloosa on April 27 was among 53 tornadoes that killed 241 people in Alabama and injured thousands more.

Knights throughout the area supplemented the relief being offered at official government shelters, including food and clothing provided by a Hispanic Roundtable at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

The round table’s contribution was especially important because many of the Latino residents in the area lost all of their personal possessions, including identification. They were understandably reluctant to seek help at government-run shelters, but felt comfortable approaching the Knights in their Catholic community.

In Joplin, a powerful tornado that was threequarters of a mile wide killed 151 people and was the deadliest tornado since modern record keeping began in 1950. It completely destroyed St. Mary’s Church, whose pastor, Father Justin D. Monaghan, was saved only when parishioners were able to dig him out of the rubble. Knights from Father Benedict W. Harter Council 979 and St. Mary’s Council 14096, both in Joplin, set up a food and

CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec

supply distribution center at St. Peter the Apostle firefighters and emergency medical personnel — Church, which was undamaged by the storm. and with their help, we will build a local council More than a thousand volunteers turned out to network that can better help those who need food, help. clothing and shelter following a disaster.

When one of the most powerful earthquakes in It is indeed an honor to have someone leading history struck northeastern Japan last March, the this program who exemplifies the qualities of a quake and the resulting tsunami caused destrucKnight of Columbus — a man who has put himself tion on a massive scale. The Supreme Council in harm’s way in a manner most of us can only imagquickly sent $50,000 to Bishop Martin Hiraga of ine: brother Knight and 9/11 hero New York City the Diocese of Sendai, Fire Department Capt. and many Knights made Alfredo Fuentes. With individual donations as Capt. Fuentes’ leaderwell. ship, it is my hope that Knights in St. every state will develop a Bernard Parish, La., who strong disaster response know all too well the team, made up of curdamage that a wall of rent and retired first rewater can cause, decided sponders and other to raise money and colvolunteers, who will be lect supplies for the vicable to deliver hope tims in Japan. At their when it is needed most. annual Louisiana CrawIn other parts of the fish Festival, a steady world, health care panstream of donors demics are often the stopped by to drop off issue. Nowhere is this donations.

Everyone truer than in sub-Sahathere knew that Hurriran Africa, where AIDS cane Katrina had buried claims the lives of more the festival site under 17 than 1 million people feet of water, and they each year, according to had first-hand experiU.N. statistics. Those ence with the kind of numbers show that of losses being endured by The Knights of Columbus will assist AIDS orphans in Africa by the estimated 1.8 milthe people of Japan. working with the Apostles of Jesus, the first religious order of mis- lion AIDS-related deaths So far this year, the worldwide in 2009, sionary priests and brothers founded in Africa.

Supreme Council has more than 7 in 10 — a distributed an additotal of 1.3 million — tional $135,000 for disaster relief involving tornaoccurred in sub-Saharan Africa. The U.N. estimates does in Alabama, Missouri, North Carolina and that there are now nearly 15 million orphans in subIowa, flooding in Nebraska and South Dakota, and Saharan Africa as a result of the AIDS crisis. fires in Arizona.

Of course, the Knights of Columbus cannot do Of course, we are not first responders. We caneverything — we cannot solve every problem. But not duplicate the work of police, firefighters, Nawhere we can help, we do so. And I believe that tional Guard troops, the Red Cross, and other we can help alleviate the suffering of at least some agencies that are well-equipped and trained to aschildren orphaned by AIDS. I am pleased to ansist in disaster recovery. But there is much we can nounce that the Knights of Columbus will assist be doing as “second responders” — helping proAIDS orphans in Africa by working with the vide food and supplies to those who suddenly have Apostles of Jesus, the first religious order of misnothing and making our council halls available to sionary priests and brothers founded in Africa. emergency responders as command posts or as disThe Apostles of Jesus work with these orphans tribution centers for food and clothing. and provide them with food, clothing, shelter, edIn order to make our outreach even more effecucation and counseling. In the spirit of Father tive in times of disaster, I am pleased to announce McGivney, beginning this year, we will help them that we are launching the Knights of Columbus assist even more orphans who so desperately need Disaster Response Program. Many of our members our help so that these children, too, may know are current or retired first responders — police, new hope.

OCTOBER 2011

Use your smartphone to donate to the AIDS orphans initiative.

Details, page 51.

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STRONG R IGHT AR M OF T HE C HURC H

The first-ever State Chaplains Meeting was held in March in New Haven with 66 chaplains representing 58 jurisdictions. Included among them were five bishops from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

OUR CHURCH-RELATED ACTIVITIES are central to our work as an organization of Catholic laymen, and over the past year, we have placed extra emphasis on helping every Knight become a better and more well-informed Catholic. During our 125th anniversary year, I emphasized the need for the Knights to be the strong right arm of our parish priests. Supreme Chaplain Bishop William Lori and Father John Grace, who heads our chaplains program, have been working diligently with our state chaplains to help them in their work with state and local councils.

Our goal is to have each council be the strong 30

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right arm of its local parish and to have each pastor look to the local council for the support he needs on a wide variety of projects.

At the same time, Bishop Lori and Father Grace have been working with our state chaplains to emphasize the faith formation of brother Knights by our chaplains.

In March, we held the first-ever State Chaplains Meeting in New Haven, with 66 chaplains representing 58 jurisdictions. Among them were five bishops from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The four-day conference focused on how we can be at the forefront of forging a closer

relationship between the clergy and the laity.

In the coming year, I encourage every grand knight to offer his pastor the council’s assistance. I ask you to welcome your pastor to your council meetings and to be his strong right arm for needs large and small.

To our chaplains and to the pastors of the thousands of parishes where our councils are present: We welcome your involvement. We ask you to strengthen us in faith while we strengthen your works of charity.

We need only look to Father McGivney and the early days of the Order to see that our councils work best when they support their parish.

In keeping with our tradition of a close relationship with clergy, our support for Catholic seminarians continued at a high level this year. During the academic year, we provided $2,500 McGivney Vocations Scholarships to 33 new recipients and 58 continuing recipients attending 24 major schools of theology.

We also provided $2,500 Bishop Daily Vocations Scholarships to eight new recipients and 21 continuing recipients.

The Father McGivney Scholarship was established in 1992 and is awarded on the basis of need.

It has assisted a total of 552 seminarians who have been ordained to the priesthood. The Bishop Daily Scholarship was established in 1997 and is awarded based on merit and academic excellence.

It has assisted a total of 107 seminarians who were ordained to the priesthood.

Together, the Father McGivney and Bishop Daily Scholarships totaled $295,000 last year.

The largest amount of Knights of Columbus assistance to seminarians comes through our Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP). During the last fraternal year, 2,697 councils and assemblies provided $3 million in assistance to 4,995 seminarians. St. Lawrence Council 2950 in Utica, Mich., has done an exceptional job implementing the RSVP program, providing $25,000 in support to 32 seminarians at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

Several important events have brought Knights of Columbus to Rome over the past year. I have already mentioned the beatification of Pope John Paul II in May. Last October, a delegation of state officers from Québec attended the canonization of Brother André Bessette, a trip that began in Montreal with Mass at the Oratory of St. Joseph, which St. André founded. He is the first male saint from Canada and the subject of a wonderful television biography titled “God’s Doorkeeper: St. André of Montreal” produced by our friends at Canada’s Salt + Light

Television.

A few weeks after the canonization of St. André, the Vatican took delivery of a new $6 million mobile television production truck that brings the Holy See into the era of high-definition TV with the support of the Knights of Columbus and Sony Corporation. We have provided the Vatican with both radio and television broadcast facilities for many decades, including earlier generations of television production vans in 1985 and 1995, and were happy to join in this most recent effort. We have funded satellite uplinks of live broadcasts from the Vatican since the 1970s and have also been honored to support and promote a variety of other Vatican communications initiatives, including L’Osservatore Romano, which was featured in the July issue of Columbia magazine, and the recently launched Vatican news portal, news.va. Our support of all of these initiatives is designed to bring the Good News of the Gospel to the entire world using the latest communications technology.

Pope Benedict XVI personally blessed the new TV truck on November 17, and I had the opportunity to be present for the event, along with my fellow Supreme Officers.

The Knights of Columbus is proud to support this newest contribution to the evangelizing mission of the Church, using the most advanced technology available to reach billions of people throughout the world.

In December, the supreme chaplain and I were privileged to have a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI, during which we presented him with a gift of $1.6 million, representing last year’s earnings from our Vicarius Christi Fund. During the 30 years since the fund was established in 1981, it has enabled us to provide $48 million for the pope’s personal charities and causes.

The cause of Father McGivney remains under consideration by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints. As deliberations continue, public television viewers in the United States were given the opportunity to get to know Father McGivney through a wonderful hour-long documentary titled “Father McGivney”, which was distributed just before Easter. It premiered on Connecticut Public Television and has since been shown in more than 30 markets throughout the country. The program will soon be available on DVD, in English, Spanish, French and Polish.

I encourage all Knights — and especially those in Mexico and the Philippines — to foster devotion to Father McGivney and to report any favors received through his intercession to the Father McGivney Guild.

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MEMBE RSH I P ONE OF THE KEYS to our ability to increase our charitable contributions each year is continued growth in our membership. I am very pleased to be able to announce to you that for the 40th consecutive year, our membership has grown, to a new all-time record of 1,816,826.

An important part of our growth is related to setting up new councils in parishes that previously had no Knights of Columbus presence. Over the past year we added 217 new councils, for a total of 14,174 councils Orderwide.

Our most important initiative aimed at attracting younger members to our ranks — the establishment of councils on college campuses — has made significant strides over the past year. During the 2010-11 fraternal year, we chartered a dozen new college councils: six in the United States, two in Mexico and four in the Philippines. We now have a total of 269 college councils around the world, and college membership totals 23,837.

The number of Columbian Squires enrolled in our program for boys aged 10-18 stands at 21,812, and the number of Squires Circles has grown to 1,565. Knights of Columbus councils also sponsor a total of 1,452 local Boy Scout units for 32,390 Scouts.

Our annual Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship drew 120,901 participants this year, and 9,357 young people participated in our Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge, which was launched six years ago.

This has also been a big year for some of our smaller jurisdictions.

The Board of Directors held its fall meeting in Poland in October 2010. Based on its assessment of the growth and health of the Knights of Columbus there, the board voted this spring to promote the jurisdiction from a territory to a state council.

The first state convention was held in May, and I was pleased to personally install our new state deputy during Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland. We are very glad to welcome to this Supreme Convention the first elected state deputy from Poland, Krzysztof Orzechowski, and his fellow delegate, Włodzimierz Łukomski.

While the Board was in Krakow, we took the opportunity to present our Gaudium et Spes Award to Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, the archbishop of Krakow and former personal secretary to Pope John Paul II. He is the ninth person to receive our highest award.

Knights in Mexico held two major events over the past year: In September [2010], their rosary celebration dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe drew 10,000 people to her basilica in Mexico City with Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera; and in 32

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Membership (June 30) Million

2011

1.82

2010

1.81

2009

1.79

2008

1.76

2007

1.74

Councils (June 30) Thousand

2011

14.2 14.0

2010 2009 2008 2007

13.7 13.5 13.2

March, they sponsored a pilgrimage to the beautiful Shrine of Christ the King on Cubilete Hill.

More than 400 Knights and their families came from throughout Mexico to the event, and Cardinal Juan Sandoval Ìñiguez, the archbishop of Guadalajara, celebrated Mass in memory of the Knights of Columbus martyrs who were killed during the Cristero War. In November, then-Supreme Secretary Emilio Moure and I joined Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino in Cuba for the dedication of the first Catholic seminary to be built there in more than 50 years. Its construction was funded by the Knights of Columbus and was made possible by the gradual changes that have taken place since Pope John Paul II’s 1998 visit to Cuba. It was an especially important trip for Emilio and his wife, Rebeca, who were both born in Cuba and came to

On Veterans Day, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson traveled to Annapolis to present a charter to the members of Commodore John Barry Council 14534 at the U.S. Naval Academy. The council’s name honors a Catholic naval officer from the American Revolutionary War.

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the United States when they were children.

Knights in Puerto Rico are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Puerto Rico is home to 77 councils and more than 3,700 members. Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his second voyage to the New World. We look forward to continued growth during our second century in Puerto Rico.

Membership in the Fourth Degree also continued to increase last year, reaching an all-time high of 323,192. That represents an increase of more than 5,000 members in the patriotic degree of our Order.

We created 54 new Fourth Degree assemblies last year.

Among the important initiatives of the Fourth Degree is its work with CLINIC — the Catholic Legal Immigration Network — in conducting citizenship seminars for immigrants.

In addition to the Father McGivney and Bishop Daily Scholarships mentioned earlier, we also have 16 other scholarship programs. During the 2010-2011 academic year, these programs funded 523 scholarships totaling nearly $1.2 million.

The Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven has established a solid reputation for presenting worldclass exhibitions of religious art and history. Over the past year, exhibitions have focused on the life and spirituality of Mother Teresa; a tribute to Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his beatification; and a fascinating display of Crowned Madonnas from the Vatican Basilica. Also on display is a full-sized bronze reproduction of one of Michelangelo’s most famous sculptures, the Pieta.

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Top, Left: Catholics throughout the Orange County area of Southern California had the opportunity to learn more about the Knights’ long history in Mexico and to venerate the relics of the Order’s six saints who were martyred during the persecution of the Church in Mexico during the 1920s and 30s. Above: More than 400 Knights and their families came from throughout Mexico on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Christ the King on Cubilete Hill. Left: In October of last year, Knights mourned the passing of Former Supreme Advocate Ricardo H. Garcia. In addition to being a member of the Board of Directors and past state deputy of Texas, Judge Garcia also served as the supreme knight’s Consultant for Latin America Affairs.

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There are 52 active military councils, 10 naval carrier roundtables, and four war zone roundtables in Iraq and Afghanistan.

HON OR IN G KNIGH TS W HO SERVE , AND TH OSE WHO HAV E PASS ED A NUMBER OF THE FOUNDING members of the Knights of Columbus were veterans, and the Order has always had a close relationship with both active-duty personnel and veterans of military service.

In the United States today, there are 1.5 million Catholic servicemen and women and their family members who are stationed at 220 military installations in 29 countries.

Today, we have 52 active military councils and four war zone round tables in Iraq and Afghanistan. Overseas military councils are located in countries where the United States has a long-established military presence, including Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea. During the past year, we established new military councils at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Carson, Colo. In each location, we work in close cooperation with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Recently, I had the opportunity to get a first36

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hand look at the rigors of life aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. As I watched flight qualifier tests with an assistant secretary of the Navy, I thought about the Catholics in uniform who often must go weeks and even months without being able to attend Mass or receive spiritual guidance from a priest.

It can be very difficult for Catholic members of the armed forces when they’re on forward deployments. The Military Archdiocese, which supplies Catholic chaplains, estimates that it needs 800 priests to fully serve all of the Catholic men and women in uniform today, but they are only able to supply 280 — barely a third of the number needed. I believe the Knights of Columbus can do something to help, and so I’m pleased to announce that we will establish new Father McGivney Military Chaplain Scholarships reserved exclusively for seminarians who will, once ordained, serve both their home diocese and the Archdiocese for the

Military Services, USA, as a uniformed chaplain.

The Fourth Degree assemblies in the United States will also participate in providing financial support for this new scholarship.

Recently, the Supreme Council joined with the Georgia State Council and FrontLine Faith to provide thousands of Catholic soldiers deployed in areas where they rarely see a chaplain with a customized Knights of Columbus MP3 player containing many hours of Catholic programs, music, Mass, homilies and prayers. This initiative complements the program in which we have provided more than 500,000 copies of Knights of Columbus military prayer books to active-duty soldiers around the world.

We also make a special effort to serve retired military personnel, especially those who are among the 29,000 Catholic patients in VA medical centers. Currently, we have more than 1,100 Knights of Columbus volunteers serving regularly at 135 VA medical centers. Last year, they donated more than 98,000 hours of service to hospitalized veterans through the Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service program.

More than 100,000 Americans remain deployed in active war zones in the Middle East. Over the past year, three of our own have given their lives in the line of duty.

Army Staff Sgt. Wyatt A. Goldsmith died July 15 of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. He was a medical sergeant in the 1st Special Forces Group based at Fort Bragg, and this was his third deployment to Afghanistan. He was a member of Colville (Wash.) Council 12273 where his father, John, is grand knight.

Marine Lance Cpl. Peter J. Clore was killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan May 28. He was a member of New Philadelphia (Ohio) Council 2372 where his father, Clifford, is a past grand knight.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Hamski died of injuries from a roadside bomb in Afghanistan May 26.

He was a former Columbian Squire with Msgr. Walsh Circle 2351 in Ottumwa, Iowa, and is survived by his wife, Air Force Staff Sgt. Maria Hamski.

We honor the sacrifice that these men have made and all those who have given the last full measure of devotion in our defense.

I think that President Franklin Roosevelt’s prayer on D-Day is appropriate as we remember these men. Roosevelt said: For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest.

They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate.

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson visits with Capt. Marcus A. Hitchcock of the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower while on board as a guest of the assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy.

They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

We also take this opportunity to mourn the passing of several other Knights who have died since we met last year in Washington, D.C. I noted earlier the death of Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps and co-founder of Special Olympics.

Also, it is with deep sadness that I report to you that Supreme Secretary Emilio Moure passed away July 23. Emilio was a great man and a model knight. In addition to his day-to-day duties at the Supreme Council headquarters, he was instrumental in the Order’s work in Haiti and in Cuba, as well as with our International Marian Congress and Festival dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

He served the Order as state deputy of California, as supreme treasurer and most recently as supreme secretary.

We likewise mourn Judge Ricardo Garcia, past state deputy of Texas and former supreme advocate; Darrell Beck, past state deputy of Illinois and former supreme director and supreme master; U.S. District Court Judge John Roll, who was among those killed in the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz.; and Maestro Henryk Górecki, the legendary Polish composer who celebrated the establishment of the Order in his homeland by dedicating a sacred choral work to the Knights of Columbus.

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In recognition of his contributions to his country, the Knights of Columbus undertook the funding of restoration work at President Kennedy’s gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. The restoration work was done by Gordon Ponsford, who has performed similar work at more than a dozen sites in the cemetery.

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JANUARY 20 MARKED the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy, America’s first Catholic president. Kennedy joined the Knights of Columbus soon after returning from service with the U.S. Navy during World War II and remained a member until his assassination in 1963. His inaugural address is one of the most famous speeches in American history, and we decided last year to ensure that the anniversary was suitably remembered.

In his address, President Kennedy recalled that our rights come from God, not from the state. He reminded us that on earth, God’s work must be our own. And he challenged us to ask not what our country can do for us, but what we can do for our country. It was a monumental speech, one that captured the heart and imagination of a generation, and it remains a speech that continues to resonate today.

Many of the words of President Kennedy’s inaugural address are engraved in granite at his gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. A year ago, just before the opening of our Supreme Convention in Washington, D.C., the Supreme Officers and Directors visited the site and noticed that the words had become weathered and very difficult to read. We offered to restore the engravings at the gravesite. The job was completed in record time, and President Kennedy’s words are once again clear and distinct.

We also sponsored an essay contest for Catholic high school students throughout the United States on the topic, “Why President Kennedy’s Words Still Matter.”

We received entries from 726 students at 171 Catholic high schools. The third place winner was Sean Little of Lancaster Catholic High School in Pennsylvania, and he will receive a $500 prize. The second place winner was Paul Mueller of John Paul II Catholic High School in New Braunfels, Texas, and he will receive a $1,000 prize. And the first place winner was Edward Vogel of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Conn. In addition to his $1,500 prize, Vogel and his parents received an all-expenses-paid trip to the 129th Supreme Convention here in Denver.

We also commissioned a Knights of Columbus/ Marist Poll just prior to the anniversary of the Kennedy inaugural and found that Americans overwhelmingly believe that the key themes of President Kennedy’s speech are still important today.

Eighty-six percent said that the phrase “Here on earth God’s work must truly be our own” was still important. And 85 percent said the same of the statement, “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.”

With the backdrop of historic Faneuil Hall in Boston, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson delivered a speech April 7 titled ‘Making God’s Work Our Own: The Importance of President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address 50 Years Later.’ More than 400 dignitaries, Knights, seminarians, and members of the public attended the event.

In April, I had the opportunity to deliver my own views regarding President Kennedy’s inaugural address at historic Faneuil Hall in Boston, only a short distance from Bunker Hill Council 62, where Kennedy was a member.

On that occasion, I stressed that President Kennedy’s view about the “rights of man” coming from “the hand of God” provides an important insight into the decision by Congress just six years earlier to insert the words “under God” into the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. Those words were not the slightest bit controversial at that time. Everyone knew and understood that in the context of the Pledge of Allegiance, those words were making the point that President Kennedy was making: Our fundamental rights are not the state’s to give or take away. We are endowed by our Creator with those rights, and it is the government’s responsibility to protect them.

I am happy to say that during the past year and a half, two United States Courts of Appeal have seen things exactly the same way. Since 2005, we have been directly involved in two lawsuits addressing the constitutionality of the words “under

God” as defendant-intervenors — actual parties to the lawsuit — while fighting an atheist challenge to the Pledge right in the courtroom. Thanks to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which has represented us in these cases, both the Ninth Circuit in California and the First Circuit in Boston agreed with us that the Pledge — with the words “under God” — is constitutional. And in June, by refusing to hear an appeal of the First Circuit case, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively took the same view.

My brother Knights, not only were we instrumental in persuading Congress to place the words “under God” into the Pledge almost six decades ago, but we have also successfully defended those words today. The principle that this is a nation under God is foundational to our system of government. It is a principle expressed eloquently in the Declaration of Independence, in President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and in President Kennedy’s inaugural address. And now it is a principle that will continue to live in the voices of U.S. citizens from coast to coast, thanks to the Knights of Columbus.

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IN ADDITION TO OUR charitable work, there is, of course, another aspect of our mission that was of vital importance to our founder, Venerable Michael McGivney. It is the way in which we help our members provide financial protection for their families. In this area, the past year has been absolutely extraordinary.

At a time when the economy is still struggling to recover from a deep recession, the exceptional strength of our insurance program is the rock on which a growing number of Catholic families build their futures.

Why should you protect your family with Knights of Columbus life insurance? It starts with the fact that for all the measurements that determine a company’s strength and reliability, no one ranks higher than we do. Out of more than 1,500 life insurance companies in North America, only five insurers have earned the highest possible rating from both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s, and we are one of those five.

But even more importantly, we have earned that top AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s for 19 consecutive years. And we’ve earned the top A++ rating from A.M. Best for 36 consecutive years. Our financial strength is not an occasional, once-in-a-while thing. We have built that strength with care and conviction by applying the same rigorous standards to our financial stewardship year after year.

We earn our top ratings in good times and bad, because the Knights of Columbus insurance program is run by brother Knights for brother Knights. In this year’s report renewing our top rating, A.M. Best cited our “proven conservative investment management practices, high credit quality fixed income portfolio, and sound asset liability management” as among the reasons for our continued strength. And they recognized what they termed our “exceptional level of risk-adjusted capitalization” for setting us apart.

What does that mean? It simply means that we don’t venture into high-risk investments; the bonds that make up the vast majority of our portfolio must meet very high standards; and we maintain a very substantial safety cushion to make sure we’ll be able to meet our obligations to you.

Only 4 percent of independent-rated insurance companies in the U.S. and Canada get A.M. Best’s top rating. And only five insurers in North

40

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FORTUNE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used under license. From FORTUNE Magazine, May 23, 2011. 2011 ©Time Inc. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Licensee.

INSURANCE AND INVE STMENTS

Insurance In Force $Billion America have earned the top rating from both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. There is simply no more highly rated insurer in North America than the Knights of Columbus.

If you’re looking for safety, security, strength and proven performance in a life insurance company, that’s where you start. And when a company has earned that kind of recognition for 19 consecutive years, its exceptional strength is not in doubt.

Our life insurance in force has doubled over the past decade, hitting $80 billion on April 21. This tremendous growth has raised our standing among the largest companies in America. In 2011, we climbed 29 spots on the Fortune 1000 list of America’s largest companies. We now have an overall rank of 900.

Such an increase is not surprising given our performance. Over the past five years, the life insurance industry as a whole has seen a 6.8 percent decrease in sales. But during that same time, Knights of Columbus life insurance sales have grown by 20.7 percent. We are outpacing the industry as a whole by more than 25 percent.

We succeed despite the poor economy for many reasons, but central to our success is our commitment to ethical business practices and sound, sustainable, and ethical investing.

When Knights buy our insurance, more than 96 percent keep our insurance, secure in the knowledge that it’s the best place to be. Our lapse rate last year was just 3.6 percent, less than half of the industry average of 7.3 percent.

The most important measure of financial strength is an insurance company’s surplus ratio, the size of the cushion we maintain to make sure that our obligations to our policy holders are covered. Our surplus ratio last year was 12.6 percent, well above the industry average of 11 percent.

Our success is due to many things, and much of the credit goes to our exceptional sales force of more than 1,400 general and field agents. These men are all brother Knights — men you know because they’re in the pews next to you at Mass and at your council meetings and events. They are all professionally trained to help you make wise financial choices.

During the past year we have developed new products to meet the evolving needs of our families in the 21st century.

2010

79.0 74.3

2009

70.1

2008 2007 2006

66.1 61.5

New Insurance Issued $Billion

2010

7.8 7.6

2009 2008 2007 2006

6.7 6.6 6.5

Life Certificates Million

2010

1.69

2009

1.68

2008

1.67

2007 2006

1.65 1.63

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Knights of Columbus life insurance in force has doubled over the past decade, hitting $80 billion on April 21. The Knights of Columbus Board of Directors is pictured Aug. 4 during the 129th Supreme Convention in Denver.

Among those new products are “Income Armor,” our new disability income insurance plan; a new “Ten-Pay” life insurance policy that offers a fully paid-up policy after just ten years of premium payments; and an interest-only payout option for our annuities — a very valuable option for those who are approaching retirement age.

Another major reason for our success is the skillful work and careful strategy of our investment staff.

During the past year, we invested nearly $12 million every day. Overall, we invested $2.924 billion in 2010, and although interest rates softened, our new purchase rate was 4.39 percent.

Our ChurchLoan program allows churches and

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Catholic schools to finance construction projects at very competitive rates. At the end of 2010, we had outstanding ChurchLoan mortgages totaling nearly $100 million.

People sometimes think that Knights of Columbus Insurance provides a benefit only when you die. In fact, our insurance members receive excellent returns on their policies during their lifetimes. We pay one of the highest dividend rates in the industry. During 2010, we paid death benefits of $253 million. But we paid out to our insurance members dividends of more than $338 million.

Since our founding in 1882, we have paid over $3.1 billion in death claims. And we have paid more than $10.5 billion in living benefits.

PROTECTI NG LI FE WHEN WE USE Knights of Columbus Insurance to make sure that our families will be safe and secure in the years to come, we are taking steps to protect and shape their future. But it is not the only way in which their futures will be shaped.

Today, the very nature of the family is being threatened in many places and in many ways. And during the past four decades, even our most fundamental right — the right to life — has been undermined.

I don’t have to tell you that in many ways, society has lost track of the things that are most important: the sacredness of human life and the right of every child not only to be born, but to be raised by a mother and a father.

As faithful Catholics and Knights of Columbus, we know that among the most important tasks ahead of us is the need to shape our culture according to Gospel values and to bring the Christian message of hope to all.

To this end, we continue to work closely with our Catholic bishops.

In May, the Minnesota legislature voted to put a marriage protection amendment on the ballot in 2012. Unfortunately, in New York it was another story. The narrow vote to enact same-sex “marriage” in the New York Senate came despite our determined effort and that of Archbishop Timothy Dolan and the other New York bishops. One of our proudest moments was co-sponsoring, with the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the United States in 1995. During his homily that day, he said, “there can be no life worthy of the human person without a culture — and a legal system — that honors and defends marriage and the family.” Children, he said, “need not only material support from their parents, but more importantly a secure, affectionate and morally correct family environment.” The New York State Senate may have forgotten this message, but the Knights of Columbus never will.

Our position is a simple one: Trust the people.

Wherever the people have had an opportunity to cast a ballot on the matter, voters have chosen to protect traditional marriage in every single case. In Maine, they did so by overturning a vote by the state legislature. In 30 states, including California, the people have voted to enact constitutional amendments to protect marriage between a man and a woman. As this national debate continues, we must be well-informed and capable of discussing the issue with our fellow citizens.

We are proud to be working with the U.S. bish-

Rachel Owens (right), executive director of Choices Medical Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa, shares information with a young woman. The ultrasound machine was purchased for the clinic through the Order’s Ultrasound Initiative. ops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. Recently, they released the second of five videos on the subject, titled “Made for Life.”

As Subcommittee Chairman Bishop Salvatore Cordileone puts it, “In contemporary debates about the meaning of marriage, the rights and dignity of the child should be at the forefront.” Marriage, he points out, is about “the vital importance of a mother and a father together for the life and upbringing of their child.”

Most of all, Bishop Cordileone says, there is a “close connection between a culture of life and a culture that promotes and protects marriage. The two cannot be separated.”

We have been at the forefront of promoting the pastoral care of families since 1988, when we sponsored the establishment of the Washington session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. It is now located in McGivney Hall at The Catholic University of America.

The institute provides rigorous graduate-level education and sponsors research in bioethics, moral theology, philosophy, culture and much more. To date, it has conferred degrees on 417 graduates. In June, the Washington session received full accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Pope John Paul II founded the Central Session of the institute [in 1981], and I was privileged to

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Auxiliary Bishop Peter J. Uglietto of Boston, Father Antonio López and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson are shown with the 2011 graduating class of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. be in Rome in May when Pope Benedict XVI joined many of us who have been involved in the institute’s creation and development to celebrate its 30th anniversary. In addition to the Washington session, other campuses are located around the world in Brazil, Australia, Spain, India, Mexico and Benin.

There is other good news in our work to help build a culture of life.

Several years ago, we commissioned a poll with the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion that revealed for the first time that views on abortion were shifting dramatically to the pro-life position. We found that 67 percent of those who described themselves as “pro-choice” favored laws that would be much more restrictive than Roe v.

Wade. Our subsequent polling data — and that of other surveys — reveals that this trend is very real.

More than two-thirds of Americans are deeply uncomfortable with the legacy of Roe, and our consistent message on the importance and dignity of all human life is making a real difference.

As I pointed out in my book Beyond a House Divided, what we found in our polling is not a clash of absolutes, but a consensus. Abortion is not a hopelessly divisive issue. It can be resolved if we overturn Roe v. Wade and once again listen to the people. The reality is that people are actually united: By a margin of more than three to one, people believe that abortion should be legal in only a few circumstances, if at all. In short, there is a moral consensus in America, and it is a pro-life consensus. My brother Knights, there is now real hope that our decades-long effort to change hearts is causing a shift toward a culture of life. One of 44

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our most important projects, the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative, launched just two and half years ago, is already a great success. Made possible by the establishment of our Culture of Life Fund and by the efforts of state and local councils, this project provides local pregnancy centers with state-of-the-art ultrasound machines so that pregnant women considering an abortion can see a reallife picture of the baby developing within them.

This program offers pregnant women and their unborn children new hope and will save thousands of lives. The initiative has already resulted in the purchase of 149 ultrasound machines in 41 states at a cost of $4.4 million.

Knights in Georgia have not only partnered with the Supreme Council to purchase four machines in their own state, but they also bought one for the Holy Innocents Center in Kingston, Jamaica. Recently, Father Richard Ho Lung, the founder and superior general of the Missionaries of the Poor, sent a letter of thanks to [Immediate Past] State Deputy James C. St. John. He described seeing dozens of Jamaican women “of all ages and in all stages of pregnancy using the ultrasound machine which the Knights of Columbus donated.”

“Women from the ghettos of Kingston,” he wrote, “see the baby in her womb. The baby turns, breathes, swims and plays, intimately bound up with the flesh of the mother in a closeness that cannot escape the life-beat, heartbeat, moods and feelings of one another.”

At every one of these pregnancy centers, the story is much the same: We are touching the hearts of thousands of mothers and saving the lives of thousands of children.

PRESERVING BLESSED JOHN PAUL’S LEGACY

Photo by John mcDonnell/Washington Post/Getty Images

Pope John Paul II waves as he leaves the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., on his 1979 trip to the United States.

SIXTEEN YEARS AGO, Pope John Paul II traveled to New York City to speak before the General Assembly of the United Nations. He said he came “as a witness: a witness to human dignity, a witness to hope, a witness to the conviction that the destiny of all nations lies in the hands of a merciful Providence.”

In Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict put it this way: “God is the foundation of hope: the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end” (31).

That is the message that we Knights must share, in as many ways, in as many places, and with as many people as we can.

“It is never too late to touch the heart of another,” Pope Benedict wrote. “As Christians we should never limit ourselves to asking: How can I save myself? We should also ask: What can I do in order that others may be saved and that for them too the star of hope may rise?” (48) All of us have had the privilege to have seen

and heard Blessed John Paul II, in person or on television. We have known him — and known him to be a special friend of the Knights of Columbus. I think future generations will look back with envy that this was so. And I think they will also ask us what we did to keep his memory, his legacy and his vision alive.

In his message to the Knights of Columbus in 2003, Pope John Paul II wrote: “By bearing witness to ‘the faith that works through love,’ the Knights can offer our world a powerful sign of the presence of God’s Kingdom and an attractive invitation to rediscover the reasons for the Church’s hope. This witness to a hope that does not disappoint is especially important.”

Today, I take great pride in reporting to you that because of the recent action of your Board of Directors, the Knights of Columbus will be at the forefront of preserving his legacy for generations to come.

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Use your smartphone to donate to the John Paul II Shrine.

Details, page 51.

In the coming year, working closely with Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington and Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit, we will establish in Washington, D.C., a national center and Shrine of Blessed John Paul II. We will also establish a permanent museum on the life and papacy of John Paul II, and to give lasting expression of his desire to foster unity and solidarity among all the people of our hemisphere, we will establish a new museum to celebrate the 500-year Catholic heritage of North America. It will be a place where English, Spanish and French-speaking pilgrims from throughout North America will encounter the mission and legacy of one of history’s greatest popes. And it will be a place where they will continue to experience his blessing. It will also be a place where our children and grandchildren will learn about their great heritage as Catholics. It will be a place where they will be proud to be Catholic.

To house this project, we will purchase the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., located just down the street from three other institutions which the Knights of Columbus has long supported: the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, The Catholic University of America and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

True to Pope John Paul II’s vision, and using the story of his life as an inspiration, this shrine will be an opportunity to evangelize and spread the good news of the Gospel through a New Evangelization.

Just days ago, I received a letter from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, expressing his support for our project: “I offer heartfelt good wishes for its successful realization. I am particularly appreciative of the desire of the Knights not only to cultivate devotion to the late Pontiff, but also to advance his insightful teaching on the complex and fruitful interplay of faith and culture in the New World. ... I am deeply gratified that your Order has wished to carry forward that vision as part of your commitment to the new evangelization and to the strengthening of the Church’s witness to Christ at every level of American society.”

Pope John Paul II came to the United States seven different times. Included in his trips was

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his participation at World Youth Day 18 years ago in Denver. Then, nine years ago in Toronto, he again led a World Youth Day on this continent on one of his many visits to Canada. His first international trip as pope was to this continent as well — to Mexico City, to visit America’s mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe. And an estimated five million people — one the largest gatherings ever — attended John Paul II’s Mass in Manila on Jan. 15, 1995.

Because of his tireless evangelization efforts, an entire generation of Catholics has become known as the John Paul II Generation, and certainly, we are honored to continue to spread his profound and powerful message of hope for our country, our continent and our world.

Over the past year, I have met with Pope Benedict XVI and heard him thank the Knights of Columbus for our many contributions to the Holy See. I visited Dartmouth College and the Naval Academy and have seen the future of the Order in the motivated young Knights there. In Latin America, I have seen first-hand both the sacrifices and the good that the Knights of Columbus is doing in Mexico and Cuba.

I have been honored to represent the Order at the beatification of John Paul II in Rome and join with many Knights from Canada at the canonization of Brother André. Through the countless charitable actions of thousands of local councils, we know that John F. Kennedy was right when he said that here on earth, God’s work must be our own. It is witnessed to daily in our charitable works and embraced by people throughout the world who now know new hope.

Our work bears new fruit in restored hope: for Haiti’s children, for AIDS orphans in Africa, for families in Pakistan and, closer to home, for cold children in the winter, for communities damaged by natural disasters, and for hungry families throughout the year.

My brother Knights, we are called to be witnesses to hope. Not just among ourselves, not just in our councils and parishes and communities, but before the entire world. “In hope we are saved.” Let us go forth and share the hope that saves. Let us live differently — with hope — so that we might help others and inspire others. This is the witness to which strong men are called. This is the witness of the Knights of Columbus.

Vivat Jesus!

OFFICIAL OCT. 1, 2011:

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

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PHONE: 203-752-4000, www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2011 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.

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DONATE USING YOUR SMARTPHONE 1. Download a bar code or QR code app for your smartphone.

2. using the app, carefully snap or scan the tag, which will direct your mobile browser to the donation page.

You can also donate online: AIDS ORPHANS: kofc.org/orphans JP II SHRINE: kofc.org/jpiishrine

Colorado State Deputy Roger Muller introduces representatives from the Colorado State Council during the Supreme Convention in Denver.

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RO M A N M I S S A L

Sacrifice, Offering and Thanksgiving The new translations of the Suscipiat, Preface and Sanctus invite us to deeper participation at Mass

by Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fifth in a series of articles on the Roman Missal in anticipation of the new English-language translation, effective in the United States beginning Nov. 27.

W

e are fast approaching the implementation date for the new translation of the Roman Missal. The Knights of Columbus has been a significant supporter of the work of the Vox Clara Committee, which has been assisting the Holy See in this effort. Through this series of articles, Columbia continues to offer a wonderful opportunity to help Knights and their families to understand and welcome this new translation.

Most of the changes to the translation affect the prayers that the celebrant offers. But there are a number of smaller adjustments that involve all of the participating faithful. These modifications are intended to make the texts of the prayers more accurate in doctrine or more sacred in expression.

For example, the prayer that concludes the preparation of the gifts, or the offertory rite, will invite us to pray that “the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands” — the hands of the celebrant — “for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.” Notice how this makes clear that each Mass has a threefold purpose: we offer the sacrifice of Christ so that the Lord may be better known and praised (worship), so that our own good may be realized (salvation) and so that holy Church as a whole will benefit (the Church being most herself at the Eucharist). In the previous translation, the word “holy” had been omitted. The restoration of that word reminds us that the Church is holy because her head, the Lord Jesus, is holy and wants us to become holy in him.

The Mass then proceeds to the Eucharistic Prayer, wherein the sacramental re-presentation of the Lord’s sacrifice takes place. The Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer offers praise and thanksgiving to God: “We lift up our hearts to the Lord!” In the new introductory dialogue, we will recognize one change for the faithful: When the celebrant invites, “Let us give

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thanks to the Lord our God,” the response will be: “It is right and just.” This is a more faithful rendition of the Latin and captures the truth that our worship is not optional; rather, we owe worship to God in grateful love for all that he is and does. This is why participation in Sunday Mass is a serious obligation.

At the conclusion of the Preface, we are invited to pray: “Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts….” We move to the most sacred part of the Divine Liturgy by expressing awe and reverence, just as Isaiah did in the presence of God (Is 6:3).

Note the small change in that we now call God the “Lord God of hosts,” instead of “Lord God of power and might.” We are not proclaiming here attributes of God (power and might), but are joining with the hosts of angels in heaven who adore, worship and praise the Lord. Even while here on earth, we are participating in heavenly worship!

At first, we may experience these modifications as annoying since we generally dislike changes to our routines in life. But each change has deeper significance for faithful and sacred worship.

Obviously, it is going to be necessary for both the priest celebrant and the participating faithful to rely more closely on liturgical aids to learn these new expressions, but the Church invites us to listen attentively to the prayer texts. They can help us to realize the principal purpose of the liturgical renewal proposed by the Second Vatican Council that our participation be more active, conscious and fruitful. It will be active if we are truly seeking to enter into the mystery that is being celebrated in the Eucharist. It will be conscious if we are growing in understanding and internally engaged. And it will be more fruitful if we progress in virtue in daily life as a result of our participation in Mass.♦ ARCHBISHOP ALFRED C. HUGHES, emeritus of New Orleans and a member of Baton Rouge (La.) Council 969, serves as a member of the Vox Clara Committee, which was formed to oversee the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

KNIGHT S O F CO LU MBU S

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

TO

BE FEATURED HERE , SEND YOUR COUNCIL’ S

C OLUMBIA , 1 C OLUMBUS P LAZA , N EW

Members of Our Lady of Loreto Council 12336 in Foxfield, Colo., stand next to the construction site of the new St. Joseph Center at Our Lady of Loreto Church. With proceeds from a number of fundraisers — including the council’s annual golf tournament — Knights pledged and delivered $120,000 to help make the new parish hall a reality. And as a way of recognizing the council for its efforts, the new St. Joseph Center will feature the “Knight’s Kitchen.”

“K NIGHTS IN A CTION ” 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 T HE FAITH ALIV E

‘IT SEEMED CLEAR THAT CHRIST WAS INVITING ME.’ There I was, a 19-year-old kneeling in church before the Blessed Sacrament while on pilgrimage with my parish to World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany. I had just gone to confession, and during my prayer, I was struck with a sudden realization: “I think I want to be a priest!”

That was a powerful moment for me; God gave me incredible peace with that realization.

After several months of prayer and discernment, it seemed clear that Christ was inviting me to follow him into the seminary.

My five years in the seminary so far have deepened my desire to be a priest. Seminary, for me, has been so much more than an education — it has been a lesson in discipleship. I’m learning the theological ins-and-outs of Christology and, at the same time, the ins-and-outs of being a follower of Christ. By his grace, Jesus will form me into the priest he wants me to be.

I am thrilled at the thought of becoming a priest and am literally counting down the days until my ordination.

SCOTT BAILEY Archdiocese of Denver