COURT OF THE TABLE MEMBERS
Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is an international organization that recognizes the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals. Knights of Columbus ranked 5th in membership in the 2024 MDRT U.S. Company Rankings for most qualified agents.*
Congratulations to the 389 Knights of Columbus field agents who were recognized for their commitment to excellence, outstanding service and the highest ethical standards. We salute these men for their devotion to continuing Father McGivney’s mission. To see a full list of the 2024 qualifiers, please turn to page 32.
* www.mdrt.org/about-MDRT/for-companies/top-10-us-companies/
Brian Almond Hastings, NE
Brian Barlow Saginaw, MI
James Bell Irving, TX
James Booritch New Smyrna Beach, FL
Wade Bormann Preston, IA
Walker Bormann Hiawatha, IA
Jason Bourget Stanley, WI
Kevin Brown Nashua, NH
Joseph Carlin Weslaco, TX
Brandon Chambers Summerville, SC
Samuel Connahey Dillsburg, PA
Cory Cook Warrenton, VA
Jon Deakin York, PA
Brian DeBlauw Sarasota, FL
Matthew DiCalogero Medfield, MA
Joseph Donlon Somerset, NJ
Kevin Garza Huntington Beach, CA
Robert Gordon Mooresville, NC
Philip Hayden East Lansing, MI
Mitchell Hebert Lafayette, LA
Mark Hedge Butler, OH
Cody Honas Ellis, KS
Daniel Hooker Pearl River, NY
Robert Howard Charlottesville, VA
Gary Kwapiszeski Phoenix, AZ
Michael Lodato Windsor, CO
Anthony LoMonaco Vail, AZ
Michael Maggio Edmond, OK
Matthew Maurin Reserve, LA
Craig Pfeifer Madison, NE
Jerome Pickett Kingsford, MI
Henry Rangel Cypress, TX
John Ruckart Oldsmar, FL
Jayme Sanford Denver, CO
David Schallmo N. Chesterfield, VA
Michael Thelen Westphalia, MI
Jeffrey Toeniskoetter Boynton Beach, FL
Gaetan Tremblay Rimouski, QC
Gregory Waddle Adel, IA
Andrew Weiss South Bend, IN
William Wisniewski Chicopee, MA
142nd
Supreme Convention Aug. 6-8, 2024
‘To Be a Leaven of Peace and Holiness’
Greetings from Pope Francis sent to Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and the Supreme Convention by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Men ‘On Mission’
Knights celebrate the Order’s founding vision and Eucharistic mission at the 142nd Supreme Convention.
Annual Report of the Supreme Knight
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly’s annual report was broadcast worldwide Aug. 6 following the Supreme Convention’s opening Mass in Québec City, Canada.
ON THE COVER A monument to St. François de Laval, the first bishop of Québec, welcomes visitors to the historic district of Old Québec City.
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. kofc.org/join
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The Knights of Columbus Board of Directors stands together at the 142nd Supreme Convention, hosted in Québec City Aug. 6-8.
‘To Be a Leaven of Peace and Holiness’
Greetings from Pope Francis sent to Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and the Supreme Convention by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Dear Mr. Kelly,
His Holiness Pope Francis has asked me to convey to you his warm greetings and the assurance of his closeness in prayer to all who will take part in the 142nd Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus, to be held in Québec City from 6 to 8 August next. e theme chosen for this year’s meeting — On Mission — centers on the missionary dimension of Christian discipleship that the Holy Father has stressed from the earliest days of his ponti cate. In his rst Apostolic Exhortation, he reminded us that “every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Evangelii Gaudium, 120). e foundation of the Knights of Columbus, guided by the
prophetic vision of Blessed Michael McGivney, was inspired by the urgent need to bear witness to that love, above all in service to the poor and in apostolic zeal for the building up of the Church in unity, fraternity and delity to the saving truth of the Gospel.
In the pursuit of these noble goals, your Order, from its origins, has devoted great a ention to the formation of its members as men of faith and family. Over the generations, the Knights have worked for the strengthening of family life through programs of catechesis and spiritual growth, borne public witness to the centrality of the family as the fundamental cell of society, and supported a variety of initiatives to support families in their indispensable social and educational mission. is historic
commitment has included a particular concern for passing on the faith to new generations, instilling sound values and accompanying the young in their growth to maturity as men and women of integrity, wisdom and service to the communities in which they live. In his many writings and addresses to young people, the Holy Father has frequently warned them of the danger, in today’s uid and o en frivolous society, of becoming severed from the religious and cultural roots that provide their deepest identity (cf. Christus Vivit, 179-186). For this reason, he wishes to encourage in a special way the Knights’ Cor initiative and sends prayerful good wishes for its spiritual fruitfulness.
All missionary outreach has its heart and beating pulse in the presence of
our Lord in the Holy Sacri ce of the Mass, o ered for the peace and salvation of all the world (cf. Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayer III). In this past year, the cross-country Eucharistic Pilgrimage in the United States, promoted by your Order, bore impressive witness not only to the Church’s faith in the redemptive power of Christ’s sacri ce on the cross, but also his constant accompaniment of the Church on her pilgrimage through history. In these times marked by new wars, con icts and social unrest, the Holy Father has been untiring in calling all Christians to pray for justice, peace and reconciliation in our human family. He asks the Knights and their families to persevere in o ering their prayers and Masses for the triumph of Christ’s peace in the hearts of all people and the building of the civilization of love.
Once again, the Holy Father takes this occasion to express his profound gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for their concrete witness to the faith that works through love (cf. Gal 5:6). Together with the charitable activities of its local councils worldwide, your Order continues to give outstanding support and encouragement to e orts to defend God’s gi of life at every stage of its development, to uphold the dignity of the institution of marriage, and to advance the mission of the Church in developing countries. His Holiness is likewise grateful for the e orts of the Knights to care for the needs of our brothers and sisters in war-torn Ukraine, the Christian communities of the Middle East, and all those experiencing persecution for their faith in Christ; these are causes especially close to his heart as Pastor of the Universal Church.
In these months, the Church is preparing spiritually for the forthcoming Jubilee Year, when countless pilgrims will pass through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica to encounter the richness of the Lord’s mercies poured out upon our world through her apostolic ministry. It is the Holy Father’s hope that as they contemplate the great
Once again, the Holy Father takes this occasion to express his profound gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for their concrete witness to the faith that works through love (cf. Gal 5:6).
Bernini baldacchino that soars above the Tomb of Saint Peter, even now being restored to its original splendor through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus, they will be strengthened in faith and in unity with the Successor of Peter. His Holiness prays that the graces of the Holy Year will be poured out in abundance on the Knights and their families as they strive to ful l their baptismal mission to be a leaven of peace and holiness in our human family, weary of war and yearning for the peace that only Christ can give (cf. Jn 15:27).
With these sentiments, His Holiness commends the deliberations of the Convention to the loving intercession of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, and he cordially imparts to the Knights and their families his Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the Lord.
Yours sincerely,
Pietro Cardinal Parolin Secretary of State
PUBLISHER
Knights of Columbus
SUPREME OFFICERS
Patrick E. Kelly
Supreme Knight
Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. Supreme Chaplain
Arthur L. Peters
Deputy Supreme Knight
Patrick T. Mason
Supreme Secretary
Ronald F. Schwarz
Supreme Treasurer
John A. Marrella
Supreme Advocate
EDITORIAL
Alton J. Pelowski
Editor
Cecilia Hadley
Editorial Director
Andrew J. Matt
Managing Editor
Elisha Valladares-Cormier
Associate Editor
Paul Haring
Manager of Photography
Cecilia Engbert
Content Producer
Blessed 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
COLUMBIA 1 Columbus Plaza
New Haven, CT 06510-3326
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COLUMBIA INQUIRIES
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K OF C CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-380-9995
Above: Knights of Columbus leaders and guests pray for the canonization of the Order’s founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, at the conclusion of the convention’s opening business session Aug. 6. • Opposite page, clockwise, from middle left: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, interviews Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly Aug. 6 for his radio show on Sirius XM’s The Catholic Channel. • Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors, and family members pray around the tomb of St. Marie de l’Incarnation, following a Mass at the Ursuline Monastery in Québec City on Aug. 3. • Supreme Secretary Patrick Mason and his son assemble a bed frame for Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Aug. 4. Delegates and family members helped construct about 100 beds during the convention for people in need. • Supreme Master Michael McCusker leads Fourth Degree Knights from the Champlain Province at the conclusion of the Memorial Mass on Aug. 8.
MEN ‘ON MISSION’
Knights celebrate the Order’s founding vision and Eucharistic mission at the 142nd Supreme Convention
When St. François de Laval, Canada’s rst bishop, arrived in Québec in 1658, the vast continent before him was mission territory.
Speaking to Knights, family members, clergy members and guests assembled in Québec City Aug. 6-8 for the 142nd Supreme Convention, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly reminded them this same region has become mission territory again.
“ e days of easy faith are over,” the supreme knight said in his annual report Aug. 6. “We must have the zeal of Bishop de Laval and Father McGivney. … And we must start by building up a new generation of Catholic men — men formed in faith and virtue, men prepared to be missionary disciples.”
Meeting under this theme — “On Mission” — the convention was a time for delegates to pray and deepen bonds of fraternity, celebrate achievements, and set goals for the coming fraternal year.
Among the Order’s accomplishments in 2023-2024, Knights worldwide spent over 47 million volunteer hours serving others and donated more than $190 million to those in need. e Order also marked one of its best years of growth in a century: More than 92,000 men joined the Knights for a total of more than 2.1 million members worldwide. e supreme knight challenged members to think even bigger, noting a recent study that found as many as 7 million men in the United States alone are open to joining a group like the Knights but have not done so, primarily because they haven’t been asked.
“Imagine the impact — the communities we could help, the parishes we could serve, and the lives we could change,” he said. “Will you extend that invitation, that hand of brotherhood, to the next generation?”
In his address to delegates at the Aug. 8 business session, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori urged all councils to implement Cor and emphasized the crucial role of Eucharistic faith to growing in holiness and bringing others to Christ.
“Let’s be clear, brother Knights! Our Order originates in the Eucharistic heart of Blessed Michael McGivney,” he said. “ rough [his] intercession, may we return home ready for mission — the mission of proclaiming the name above every other name, the one who alone heals our wounds, reconciles us to his Father and one another, and helps us to build a civilization of truth and love.”
Read on to nd highlights of the convention’s proceedings, followed by the supreme knight’s annual report. For more coverage, visit kofc.org/convention B
In Honor of Exemplary Service
FIVE K OF C COUNCILS
were recognized for their witness to the Catholic faith, the family, the community and the culture of life at this year’s Supreme Knight’s Awards Session on Aug. 5. Below are summaries of the award-winning projects, as well as select honors for insurance sales and membership growth.
FAITH
is past March, members of St. Thomas Aquinas Council 15294 at Southeastern Missouri State University organized a weeklong Eucharistic pilgrimage that a racted more than 600 pilgrims. e college Knights spent their spring break traveling across the Diocese of Spring eld-Cape Girardeau with the Blessed Sacrament, stopping at 22 parishes for all-night adoration, Holy Hours and Eucharistic processions. Bishop Edward Rice of Spring eld-Cape Girardeau celebrated Mass at the university’s Newman Center on the last day of the pilgrimage and then led a Eucharistic procession through Cape Girardeau.
FAMILY (TIE)
When Jason McMahon of Mason (Mich.) Council 9182 died suddenly in a farm accident last fall, his brother Knights came to his family’s aid, providing help on their farm and funds for immediate expenses. e council went on to raise money for the McMahon children’s education fund. More than 500 people a ended a pig roast
fundraiser, which began with Mass and included live music, games and a silent auction. e Knights were able to present the McMahons with a check for $30,000, and their project brought the community together in a time of grief.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Council 17913 in Lviv, Ukraine, launched a program to provide material, spiritual and psychological help to children in a foster home in Bortnyky, a village about 40 miles south of Lviv. As part of the project, the council provided all the children with winter jackets, multiseason shoes and food. Even more importantly, the Knights joined them for Mass, prayer and fellowship.
COMMUNITY
For the last seven years, Pope Pius XIII Council 5295 in Narraganse , Rhode Island, has worked with Jacob’s Ladder, an orphanage in Jamaica,
to help care for children and adults with disabilities. In that time, the council has sent Jacob’s Ladder seven shipping containers containing adult diapers, clothing and other goods worth more than $200,000, and provided the facility with water heaters, washing machines, golf carts and an aquaponics food production system. e Knights also make an annual mission trip to the orphanage, where they work on construction and repair projects and spend time socializing and praying with residents and sta .
LIFE
Members of Pope St. John XXIII Council 15968 in Spokane, Washington, contributed 450 volunteer hours and $6,500 in support of Maddie’s Place, a clinic that provides a recovery nursery for babies experiencing withdrawal due to prenatal substance exposure, as well as care and housing for their
mothers. In response to sta requests, the Knights helped install a large storage shelf in the facility’s a ic and held a fundraiser at Assumption Catholic Church to purchase backpacks lled with baby supplies for clients.
Leading general agents: Kevin Pierce of Oklahoma/ Kansas (233% of quota) and Hector Lebrón-Sanabria of Puerto Rico (182% of quota)
Leading field agents: Kevin Garza of the Sandoval Agency in California (510% of quota) and James Booritch of the Spinelli Agency in Florida (459% of quota)
Top recruiters: Past State Deputy Walter Streit of Alberta was the top recruiter of 2023-2024 for the Order’s insurance territories, signing up 242 members. Danilo Martinez of Visayas was the top recruiter of the Order’s non-insurance territories, signing up 447 members. B
Members of Pope Pius XII Council 5295 in Narragansett, R.I., stand in front of homes for adults with disabilities that they helped to renovate last year in Jamaica.
International Family of the Year Bears Witness to Life and Love
“MY WIFE, TIFFANY, and I have always been open to children,” said Joe Ampe, a member of Msgr. Nolan B. McKevi Council 689 in Marque e, Michigan. “And we wanted to remain open to the possibility of adoption.”
at possibility became a reality in 2018 when the Ampes, who had eight children — and were expecting their ninth — traveled to Ukraine and adopted two infant boys with Down syndrome, Cazimir and Henrik. ey have since adopted two more boys with special needs: Zygmunt from Ukraine, who also has Down syndrome, and Quintus from Texas, who has a catastrophic brain anomaly.
Joe, Ti any and their 13 children were recognized at this year’s Supreme Convention as the Knights of Columbus International Family of the Year, honored for their witness to the dignity of life, the vocation of parenthood and solidarity with the su ering.
e Ampes are active in St. Peter Cathedral Parish in Marque e, as well as in council events and in the local community. Ti any and Joe, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who now works for
the Federal Aviation Administration, homeschool their children, grow their own produce and raise their own farm animals. Prayer permeates the home, including a family rosary every evening.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Joe and Ti any received calls for help from their children’s birth families and others, which led them to launch fundraisers and arrange deliveries of medical and other supplies.
As shipping companies suspended service to the war-torn country, the Ampes decided to y to Poland and make the deliveries to Ukraine in person. Joe’s council and neighboring councils held fundraisers and helped to pack supplies. e Ampes have now traveled 10 times to Ukraine, delivering more than $200,000 worth of humanitarian aid.
“My wife and I are profoundly appreciative of the Knights of Columbus and the many ways they have supported our missions,” Joe said as they accepted the International Family of the Year award. “But please, we can’t stop here. I challenge you and your families to make this coming year one lled with fewer orphans and more peace.” B
North Dakota Chaplain Receives McGivney Medal
FATHER CHAD WILHELM calls himself an “ordinary priest” — which is to say, he is extraordinarily busy. e recipient of this year’s Blessed Michael McGivney Medal, which honors exemplary K of C chaplains, is a priest of the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, where he is known for his dynamic parish leadership and community engagement.
As pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Devils Lake until 2023, Father Wilhelm started an altar server program, supported the parish thri store, and played an essential role in remodeling the parish chapel and Catholic school. Now pastor of St. James Basilica in Jamestown, he is also chaplain of the local re department, the state highway patrol and the state prison.
Despite his full days, Father Wilhelm always makes time for the Knights. He has been chaplain of three local councils, helping members to grow in prayer with a “Holy Half Hour” before council meetings. He also has served as North Dakota state chaplain for 20 years, in that time recruiting scores of men into the Order and placing small shrines to Blessed Michael McGivney in churches, K of C meeting spaces and homes across the state.
Accepting the medal at the Supreme Knight’s Award Session, Father Wilhelm asked all Knights to pray to the Order’s founder for parish priests, for struggling parishes and for priestly vocations.
“I believe Father McGivney is a saint for our times,” he said. “And we need his intercession now more than ever.” B
Above: Acolytes process into the opening Mass of the 142nd Supreme Convention on Aug. 6. The Mass was concelebrated by more than 50 bishops, with Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, archbishop of Québec, as the principal celebrant and homilist.
• Below: Cardinal Lacroix and concelebrants pray over the gifts during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
‘Listen and Follow’
TODAY THE CHURCH celebrates the beautiful and meaningful feast of the Trans guration of the Lord. … is event sheds its radiant light on the whole journey to the cross that is to follow. Coming right a er the announcement of the passion, it is a visible anticipation — a prophecy — of what Jesus has just revealed about his resurrection and future glory. For a brief moment the veil of ordinariness is li ed, and the three privileged disciples [Peter, James and John] see Jesus as he really is, his human nature su used with his divine glory. …
Like the rst disciples, we too need to be strengthened in faith to lead our brothers and sisters on the di cult road ahead. …
As we “come down the mountain” in a few days a er this convention and go home to where we live, work and serve, may we listen to Jesus and follow him. In him is our salvation. In him, we too will discover how to bring the good news of the Gospel to our brothers and sisters. In him, with him and through him, we will be “on mission.”
— Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec, Opening Mass homily, Feast of the Transfiguration, Aug. 6
Order to Aid Nigeria’s Persecuted Christians
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS will support a new project to ght religious persecution in Nigeria, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly announced during his annual report, continuing the Order’s legacy of aid to persecuted Christians that began over 10 years ago in the Middle East.
More than 4,000 Nigerian Christians were killed for their faith from October 2022 to September 2023 — more than everywhere else in the world combined — according to the organization Open Doors.
“ is crisis is a call to action. So we asked Nigeria’s bishops how we can help,” the supreme knight said. “ eir answer was unequivocal. ey need us to help their people stand strong in the face of persecution — by spreading the hope that comes from faith.” e Knights’ response includes funding a collaboration of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and Franciscan University of Steubenville that will establish a catechetical institute in the country’s capital of Abuja, and train priests, religious and lay leaders in catechetics and evangelization. e rst cohort of students from Nigeria began a master’s degree program at Franciscan in September.
In announcing the project, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly acknowledged Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Yola and Bishop Ma hew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto (pictured above, from le ), who a ended the convention as representatives of the bishops’ conference, and he pledged the Order’s continued support. B
From top: Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly delivers his annual report during the opening business session Aug. 6. • Iowa Knights, including State Deputy Johnathan McGee (right), join in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the business session. • Knights of Columbus leaders applaud during the supreme knight’s annual report. Pictured, from left, are former Supreme Warden Graydon Nicholas and Supreme Directors Antonio Bañuelos, Daniel Duchesne, Alfredo Vela and Stephen Kehoe.
From top: Knights of Columbus and guests wave flags during the annual States Dinner on Aug. 6. The program of state songs culminated with the singing of “Gen du pays,” the anthem of Québec, in honor of the host jurisdiction. • Delegates from the Philippines and Cuba wave their national flags during the States Dinner. • Youriy Maletskiy, immediate past state deputy of Ukraine, waves the flag of Ukraine with Zygmunt Ampe. Zygmunt was born in Ukraine and adopted by the Ampe family, who were honored as the 2024 Knights of Columbus International Family of the Year.
Photos by Matthew Barrick
Knights in Korea Celebrate 10 Years
SUPREME KNIGHT Patrick Kelly welcomed a joy- lled South Korean delegation to the 142nd Supreme Convention, noting that it has been 10 years since the rst nonmilitary councils were established in the country.
“We are joined today by our largest-ever Korean delegation of 21 Knights,” the supreme knight said. “ ey are led by Bishop Titus Seo Sang-bum and our territorial deputy, Gen. Shin Kyoung-soo. To you and all our brother Knights in Korea, thank you for expanding Father McGivney’s vision in Asia.”
e next day, the supreme knight presented Gen. Shin and his delegation the charters of the two newest Korean councils, established in June and July, respectively: Bupyeong Council 18513 and St. Lee Yoonil Joannes Daegu Council 18519. e delegation then gave the supreme knight a crèche, handcra ed by a Korean Knight, for the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s Christmas collection.
Before returning home, the Knights and their families made a pilgrimage to Connecticut, where they toured sites of signi cance to Blessed Michael McGivney in Waterbury, omaston and Terryville, and visited St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, the birthplace of the Order. Bishop Seo was the principal celebrant of the rst Korean-language Mass at St. Mary’s, where the delegation also prayed at Father McGivney’s tomb. B
Delegates from the Republic of Korea take a photo together after the States Dinner on Aug. 6, making a popular Korean gesture called the finger heart. Seated in the front row (left to right) are Bishop Titus Seo Sang-bum of the Military Ordinariate of Korea; Maj. Gen Shin Kyoung-soo, the jurisdiction’s territorial deputy; and retired Marine Col. Charles Gallina, who has worked closely with the Knights in Korea for many years.
Supreme Knight Kelly welcomes Cardinal Mauro Gambetti to the podium at the States Dinner. The cardinal serves as archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and president of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the institution responsible for maintaining the historical patrimony of the Vatican. The Order is funding the restoration of both the 10-story bronze baldacchino above the main altar of the basilica and the massive bronze sculpture at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter.
‘The
Spirit of Service’
I’D LIKE TO EXPRESS my personal gratitude … for the marvelous and productive collaboration that unites our institutions — an ongoing cooperation, spanning four decades, for the conservation of the basilica and of its immense patrimony of works of art which are, first and foremost, works of faith. Much has been and is being accomplished in St. Peter’s Basilica, thanks to generous financial support from the esteemed Order of the Knights of Columbus, a support silently offered in the highest spirit of service to the Church and to the pontiff, which is also showing its fruits in the preparation of the great jubilee we are marching toward.
Indeed, within a few months, Pope Francis shall open St. Peter’s Holy Door, inaugurating the Holy Year of Hope, of which he has written: “May it be, for everyone, a moment of a living and personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ of salvation.”
— Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, States Dinner remarks, Aug. 6
‘Become Grateful Samaritans’
I’VE OFTEN THOUGHT about that phrase [coined by Pope Francis], “globalization of indi erence.” What would be the opposite? What should be our ideal? How can we counter this indifference that paves the way for so much evil? I have re ected on this o en, and it seems to me that two powerful antidotes are gratitude and compassion, two characteristics that I might call Samaritan virtues. …
Everything we are and everything we have is a gi . How quickly we lose sight of that fact. I was so glad to see the enthusiastic response of the people who participated in the Eucharistic Congress. Christ has made a gi of himself to us in the Eucharist where he manifests his love by making himself poor, small, accessible. Too o en we are looking for the gong show, and our God reveals himself in the gentle breeze, in a small piece of bread, a sip of wine that have become his body and blood to strengthen us for our journey and for our mission. Yet so o en the greatest treasure is received with indi erence. Our God forgives us all our sins, and our reaction is, at times, a yawn of indi erence.
To rejoice in God’s mercy and forgiveness makes us ready and anxious to forgive those who have trespassed against us. When we realize as Christ’s disciples that he has saved our lives and that without him our existence does not make sense, then we begin to overcome the indi erence that blinds us to reality. …
e rst step in overcoming the globalization of indi erence is to begin with our own hearts. Like the Samaritan [whom Jesus healed of leprosy], we must learn to be thankful, to count our blessings, even the blessings in disguise. If we are going to be honest with ourselves, we must admit that o entimes prosperity and success result in our becoming more sel sh and self-centered. e blessing in disguise can very well be the cross or that leprosy or other
su ering that makes us depend entirely on God and thus discover his power and his love for us. …
St. Francis of Assisi’s conversion began when he overcame his repugnance for leprosy. His rst instinct was always to ee, but on a certain day the grace of God touched his heart, and when Francis saw the leper, instead of running away, he ran toward the leper, embraced him, he gave him his money and his clothes and kissed the leper. I always say St. Francis did not cure the leper; the leper cured St. Francis of his worldliness, his fear, his sel shness, and allowed him to discover Christ in a distressing disguise.
e grateful Samaritan will never be indi erent, but will always reach out to those in need. Just as we are thankful not only for material blessings, our freedom, our homes, our health, so too we are profoundly grateful for the treasure hidden in the eld, the pearl of great price, the spiritual treasures that come from a life of faith and friendship with the Lord and being part of his Church.
e parable of the Good Samaritan is given to us to explain who our neighbor is. Jesus shows us that the one in need has the greatest claim on our love. O entimes those needs are not just material
Jesus shows us that the one in need has the greatest claim on our love. Oftentimes those needs are not just material but also of a spiritual nature.
but also of a spiritual nature. Hence, if we really love our neighbors, we will want to share with them our greatest possession, our faith. Father [Luigi] Giussani once said: “He who does not give God, does not give enough.” …
As the spiritual progeny of Blessed Father Michael McGivney, let us break the globalization of indi erence to repair our world and to become grateful Samaritans who spread the compassion and joy of the Gospel.
— Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, States Dinner keynote address, Aug. 6
Photo by Tamino Petelinšek
‘The
Path of Holy Wisdom’
TODAY WE CELEBRATE St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of Our Lady and the grandparents of Our Lord … [who] call us to share in the holy wisdom that comes from many years of experience, astutely understood, within the context of humble faith. … So how, under the patronage of the heavenly grandparents, can we acquire the wisdom we need?
We must see the social environment in which we live from the perspective of God. … We need, rst of all, to know the stars we steer by, faith and reason, and especially the wisdom o ered by the Bible and the great saints of the Church. Only a er that will we know how to act in our contemporary society. …
To acquire wisdom, and to recognize illusion, we also need to disconnect in silence from the incessant cha er of technology. Be still and know God; only then can we have the enduring deep wisdom that is essential to our mission as disciples of Jesus. Fruitful apostolic action arises from adoration. As the mo o of the Carthusians wisely states: e cross stands rm while the world spins. In whatever adapted form is appropriate for our state of life, we need to disconnect from mindless, frantic connectivity, and be still. “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” is is the path of holy wisdom.
— Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto, Votive Mass of St. Anne and St. Joachim homily, Aug. 7
top: Cardinal Thomas Collins delivers his homily during the votive Mass on Aug. 7. • Cardinal Orlando Beltran Quevedo, archbishop emeritus of Cotabato, Mindanao, and principal celebrant of the Mass, incenses the altar.
From
Two New Board Members
Elected
DURING THE AUG. 7 business session of the 142nd Supreme Convention, more than 530 delegates elected two new members to the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors. e new supreme directors began their threeyear terms Sept. 1.
Christopher A. Kolomjec , an attorney in private practice for the past 23 years, was Michigan state deputy from 2022 to 2024. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a judge advocate, retiring with the rank of major. In addition, he was appointed a U.S. special assistant attorney and worked as a federal prosecutor for four years.
A member of the Knights of Columbus for 28 years, he belongs to Assumption Gro o Council 13419 and Father Paul M. Onderbeke Assembly 1795, both in Detroit.
He and his wife, Julie, live in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and have three adult children.
Herbert W. Yang, a professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the power distribution and motor control eld, is the current state deputy of British Columbia. A er many years of working for companies such as General Electric, he started his own company in 2014 and continues to work with industry leaders.
Born in Manila, Philippines, he came with his family to British Columbia as a teen. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1996 and belongs to Coquitlam Council 5540 and Bishop Durieu Assembly 30 in New Westminster.
He and his wife, Clara, live in Coquitlam and have two adult daughters. B
From top: Knights from various jurisdictions vote during the business session Aug. 7. • Past Supreme Knight Carl Anderson addresses delegates. • Supreme Director Antonio Pascua and Meynard Infantado, immediate past state deputy of Nevada, are pictured at the Aug. 7 business session. • Below: Supreme Advocate John Marrella reads the report of the Committee on Resolutions during the closing business session Aug. 8.
Photos by Matthew Barrick
‘Take the Gospel to Heart’
WE ARE CALLED to allow the word of God to penetrate our bones and marrow, to allow the re of divine love to be ignited in our hearts, and then to go “on mission” with the Lord, bearing witness to him by word and example.
For us as the family of the Knights of Columbus, what could it mean to “take the Gospel to heart”? Does that not sound like the Cor initiative — for cor is the Latin word for “heart.” As Cor takes root within the Order, hundreds, and soon thousands, of our councils will o er opportunities for their members and for other Catholic men to deepen their life of prayer, to develop their knowledge of Scripture, to grow as husbands and fathers, to be able to discuss with one another, in friendship, things that really ma er. All this is more than a self-improvement program. It is, rather, a call to a living faith, to ardent discipleship, a call to mission, to a shared and robust living of our principles of charity, unity and fraternity. …
We build, of course, on the foundations of those who have gone before us — the saints and the blesseds of our Order, most especially our Founder, Blessed Michael McGivney. But we build also on many others who have gone before us in faith — whether canonized or not — those whose friendship we have shared and those from whose good works we have bene ted. So at this Mass, we remember them gratefully.
— Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, Memorial Mass homily, Feast of St. Dominic, Aug. 8
From top: Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori elevates the chalice during the Memorial Mass on Aug. 8. • Leaders with the Québec State Council process into the Mass with relics of more than 20 saints and blesseds of Canada.
• Deputy Supreme Knight Arthur Peters reads the Necrology, a list of Knights of Columbus leaders who have died in the past year.
2024 Annual Report of the Supreme Knight
Québec
City, Canada | Aug. 6, 2024
Welcome to our Supreme Convention. We’re here to mark 142 years of being on mission. It’s ing that we’re here in Canada, for this is where we rst became an international brotherhood — just 15 years a er our founding. And since then, we’ve spread around the world. Everywhere we go, we serve the family and strengthen the faith. And today, I want to express my gratitude. To each and every brother Knight, thank you for making this a banner year — in charity, unity and fraternity! is is a special year for another reason. It has now been 350 years since the Church established the rst diocese in Canada. It happened here, in Québec City. At the time, the diocese stretched from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf of Mexico. And ever since, the Catholic faith has shaped this country — and this continent — in profound ways. And we proudly stand with Canada’s bishops and priests to continue this witness. …
Together, we build up families, parishes and communities that are centered on Christ. There is no greater task.
Photo by Michael Collopy
On Mission
LIKE THE CHURCH IN QUÉBEC, the Knights of Columbus is on mission — a mission given to us by Christ through the founding vision of Blessed Michael McGivney. From the beginning, Knights have been faithful to this mission. And today, we must summon the courage that these times demand. St. John Henry Newman once said that “every great change is effected by the few, not the many; by the resolute, undaunted, zealous few” (Sermon 22: Witnesses of the Resurrection). is is what you and I must choose to be — resolute, undaunted, zealous. It’s the only way to advance our mission in these times. And it’s how the heroes of our faith have built the Church. Consider the very city where we meet. e Québec we know would not exist without the heroic work of Bishop François de Laval and a handful of priests and religious sisters. Each of them could have remained in Europe. But instead, they chose to give up everything, risk their lives, and embrace the di culties that awaited them in New France. e winters were cold. Food was scarce. And the need for evangelization was immense. But they met hard times with hard work, standing on the rock of faith. And standing tallest was Bishop François de Laval. Here, in Québec, he built the parish that became home to Canada’s rst cathedral. He built the seminary that trained Canada’s rst priests. And he built schools and churches and charities, always winning hearts for Christ. It has now been 10 years since his canonization, and St. François de Laval remains an outstanding model of missionary zeal and creative courage.
Laval was a builder — a builder of the faith. And so was another priest we all know well — Father Michael McGivney. In his time, Catholic
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, blesses the new marble statue of Blessed Michael McGivney on Dec. 8, 2023, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and rector Msgr. Walter Rossi (right) are looking on.
families were struggling. Fathers were dying in factories, leaving widows and orphans with nothing. And the anti-Catholic culture of the 19th century pressured young men to leave the faith. Father McGivney met those challenges head-on — building up men in faith and strengthening their families.
More than 140 years later, the Knights of Columbus continues to do exactly that. Together, we build up families, parishes and communities that are centered on Christ. ere is no greater task. It requires sacri ce and sometimes even su ering. But that’s what it means to be a disciple. at’s what it means to be on mission.
Father McGivney is our model. Like Bishop de Laval, he spent his life in service to others. And we pray that our Founder, like Laval, will soon be recognized as a saint.
Devotion to Blessed Michael McGivney is growing. Last December, the patronal church of the United States — the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — unveiled a marble statue of our Founder. It shows Father McGivney holding the Gospels and pointing to the words that de ne our mission — unity and charity. And this winter, in the heart of New York City, St. Patrick’s Cathedral will unveil its own statue of Father McGivney. …
Membership
WE SHARE IN THE MISSION of Father McGivney and Bishop de Laval — a mission of building up the family and the Church. e days of easy faith are over. at’s as true here in Canada as it is in the United States. It’s true in Europe and around the world. We all see it. In the U.S. alone, at least 85% of Catholics now leave the Church by the time they’re young adults (cf. Dynamic Catholic Institute). In many places around the world, Catholic baptisms are declining and secularism is on the rise. And many of us are worried about the world our children will inherit.
In these challenging times, our mission ma ers. We must have the zeal of Bishop de Laval and Father McGivney. Like them, we must build. And we must start by building up a new generation of Catholic men — men formed in faith and virtue, men prepared to be missionary disciples.
We’re making historic progress. All together, we now have 2.1 million members. Last year alone, more than 92,000 men joined our ranks. And to all my brother Knights, thank you for achieving one of our best years of growth in a century!
Men are joining us around the world. From the United States to Ukraine, from the Philippines to France. And this year marks the 10th anniversary of our expansion into the Republic of Korea. We are joined today by our largest-ever Korean delegation of 21 Knights. ey are led by Bishop Titus Seo Sang-bum and our territorial deputy, Gen. Shin Kyoung-soo. To you and all our brother Knights in Korea, thank you for expanding Father McGivney’s vision in Asia.
We now have almost 17,000 active councils around the world. But one deserves a special mention. e Knights of Columbus arrived in Cuba in 1909 — 115 years ago. But our rst council
Members of San Agustín Council 1390 in Havana, Cuba, carry a statue of St. John Paul II around Havana Cathedral following a Mass in January 2023 that marked the 25th anniversary of the pope’s apostolic journey to Cuba.
there — San Agustín Council 1390 — was suppressed in the political turmoil of the 1950s. e same was true for the Order in all of Cuba. But that changed ve years ago, when the archbishop of Havana asked us to revive the council. We did — and it’s now growing along with other councils in Cuba. …
We are growing in Mexico, too, where our Knights have a new
tradition. Each year, they reconsecrate themselves to St. Joseph during their annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Christ the King in central Mexico. roughout the country, Mexican Knights are bearing witness to the faith. at was on full display last October, in Juárez. ere, Knights carried a statue of the Virgin Mary around the city’s Olympic Stadium, while more than
Photo by Adrian Martínez Cádiz
20,000 people prayed the rosary. To our Mexican Knights, thank you for your powerful witness. Viva Cristo Rey! We’re building in the United States as well — and we’re welcoming a record number of Hispanic men. Today, nearly a quarter of Knights who join online are Hispanic — and in the years ahead we will welcome even more. Over half of young American Catholics are now Hispanic. ey are more than just the Church’s future. ey are vital to the Church today. Ultimately, our duty is to reach every Catholic man. And we have been given a unique opportunity.
Recently, we commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate to conduct a national survey in the United States. We asked Catholic men why they join groups like ours. And we also asked them why they don’t. e study suggests that as many as 7 million men are open to joining groups like the Knights. But the vast majority haven’t joined for a simple reason: ey haven’t been invited. ink about that. Seven million potential Knights. And there are millions more here in Canada, in Mexico, and across Europe and Asia. We have a duty to invite these men to build with us.
Today, we have 2.1 million members. But I envision the day when we will have 4 or 5 million. Imagine the impact — the communities we could help, the parishes we could serve and the lives we could change.
Father McGivney created the Knights
to make that impact. And by inviting the rst Knights to join him in a great work, he created a culture of invitation that we must continue to carry forward. And so today, I ask every Knight: Will you extend that invitation, that hand of brotherhood, to the next generation?
Korean Knights of Columbus, led by Territorial Deputy Maj. Gen. Shin Kyoung-soo (far left), celebrate after participating in the March for Life in Seoul. Korean Knights have been instrumental in organizing the annual March for Life, as well as other pro-life initiatives.
French Knights gather after praying the Stations of the Cross at the Shrine of Our Lady of Verdelais during the country’s territorial convention June 1.
Charity
WE BUILD UP MEN IN FAITH and friendship. And together, we build communities that re ect God’s love, especially through our witness to charity.
Last year, Knights spent more than 47 million hours serving and sacri cing for the sake of others. And we set a new record for charitable giving. All told, the Knights of Columbus donated more than $190 million dollars to those in need!
Our charity is personal. I saw that last November when I visited Annunciation Catholic School in Denver. Most of the students there are under-privileged. Many don’t know where their next meal or next set of clothes will come from. So that morning, we gave out more than a thousand winter jackets through Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids. And it was my great joy to personally give a li le girl named Lexi our 1-millionth coat.
I’m grateful to every Knight who has made Coats for Kids such a huge
Our charity takes many forms. And we follow the call of Pope Francis to go “to the peripheries.” That’s where you’ll find the Knights — serving those who are overlooked.
Our charity takes many forms. And we follow the call of Pope Francis to go “to the peripheries.” at’s where you’ll nd the Knights — serving those who are overlooked.
success. We reached the million-coat milestone a er 14 years, thanks to your hard work.
But we are not done — today, I have a challenge. I’m calling on all of us to double that number in half the time.
e Knights of Columbus will give 2 million coats to children in need by the year 2030!
In partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission, we continue to help those who have lost limbs or cannot walk. Last year, we gave the gi of mobility to more than 11,000 people.
And we continue to serve persons with physical and intellectual disabilities through our partnership with Special Olympics. We helped organize nearly 4,000 competitions last year, and we donated more than $4 million to make Special Olympics a success.
FROM TOP: Photo by Paul Haring — Photo by Randy Hale
Opposite page, from top: Lexi Cordova, a first grader at Annunciation Catholic School in Denver, wears a golden coat she received to mark the 1 million coats given away since Coats for Kids began in 2009. • Supreme Director Rene Trevino, past state deputy of California, greets a girl after she receives a new wheelchair at CRIT Baja California, a children’s rehabilitation center in Tijuana, Mexico.
Right: Sister Isabel Blasco of the Sisters of the Company of the Savior holds a baby girl while Sister Laura Álvarez de Toledo speaks with her mother in Kalalé, Benin. The Knights of Columbus is supporting the construction of the order’s new vocational training center in Kalalé, where the sisters will help young girls develop spiritually, socially and economically.
AIDING THE PERSECUTED & THE VULNERABLE
We continue to serve those who are persecuted for our faith. Ten years ago, we promised to help the Christians of the Middle East. Since then, we’ve rebuilt churches and restored whole communities in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
And today, we’re standing with the persecuted Christians of Nigeria. ere are more than 20 million Catholics in Nigeria. Many live in fear of kidnapping, violence, forced conversion and even death. Last year, Nigerians accounted for 82% of Christians killed for their faith.
is crisis is a call to action. So we asked Nigeria’s bishops how we can help. eir answer was unequivocal. ey need us to help their people stand strong in the face of persecution — by spreading the hope that comes from faith. Today, I’m announcing that the Order will sponsor a collaboration between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and Franciscan University of Steubenville. We’ll fund the ongoing formation of priests and lay leaders — and support the creation of a national catechetical institute in Nigeria. Our e orts will reach thousands of parishes — and strengthen the faith of millions of Catholics in the heart of Africa. …
We’re mindful of Nigeria’s children — especially girls, who are o en targeted by terrorists for kidnapping. And we’re also assisting young girls in the neighboring country of Benin. It’s one of the most di cult places on the planet to be a girl. So, we’re helping the Sisters of the Company of the Savior build a vocational training center. With our support, the sisters will teach young girls in Benin to discover their God-given talents and develop socially and economically. …
And across the world, we’re defending women and girls by ghting the evil of human tra cking. In partnership with the Arise Foundation, we’ve launched a program in the Philippines called “Guardians of Dignity.” It is training Filipino Knights and others to sound the alarm when they spot the signs of human tra cking.
Ultimately, we’re helping to mobilize a broader movement in the Philippines, and so ful ll Father McGivney’s founding mission of protecting the vulnerable, especially women and children.
INDIGENOUS OUTREACH
At last year’s Supreme Convention, we adopted a historic resolution condemning the scourge of human trafficking. And we also resolved to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples. We’re fulfilling this promise in many ways.
In the United States, South Dakota Knights recently made a pilgrimage to the gravesite of Nicholas Black Elk. He was a man of great holiness, who devoted his life to strengthening the faith of the Lakota people. The Church has recognized him as a Servant of God. And we pray for his beatification.
South Dakota Knights also provided wheelchairs on the Pine Ridge Reservation. And when they learned that many of the reservation’s children had no beds to sleep on, they built and delivered 100 new beds.
And at this convention, we’ll do the same for children of the First Nations. Before the week is out, we’ll help build more than 100 beds, and the rst ones
will go to the Huron-Wendat First Nation, just 15 kilometers from here. In June, Knights organized a pilgrimage to Canada’s National Shrine of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Pope Francis praised Kateri, the Lily of the Mohawks, during his visit to Canada two years ago, hailing her “exemplary devotion to prayer and work” (Meeting with a Delegation of Indigenous Peoples in Québec, July 29, 2022). Inspired by her example, on a single day, Knights distributed 600 winter coats to children in the Tobique and Dene First Nations. Many of those children received their coats from Graydon Nicholas, the former lieutenant governor of New Brunswick who served on our board of directors and is a member of the Maliseet First Nation.
left: Graydon Nicholas, former supreme warden and a member of the Maliseet First Nation, helps a child in the Tobique First Nation try on a new winter coat during a Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids event in December 2023. Knights in New Brunswick distributed more than 100 coats at Mah-Sos School on the First Nation reserve. • Knights prepare wood to construct 100 beds for children in need during a build with Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Windsor, Ontario, July 14.
DISASTER RELIEF
We build up Indigenous communities in faith and charity. And worldwide, we continue to rebuild communities hit by natural disaster. We devoted more than $1 million dollars to disaster relief last year. And we responded to each crisis with immediate action.
Just days a er our convention in Orlando last year, wild res devastated the Hawaiian island of Maui. ey almost completely destroyed the town of Lahaina. Even before the smoke
had cleared, more than 200 Knights swung into action. ey delivered supplies by sea, land and air. And they quickly began the work of rebuilding, starting with the local Catholic school — Sacred Hearts. It had burned to the ground, leaving 120 families with nowhere to turn. With support from around the world, our Hawaiian Knights built a temporary school. And they did it in less than three weeks. anks to them, Sacred Hearts reopened in time for the school year. And
The town of Lahaina is seen after wildfires struck the Hawaiian island of Maui in August 2023. • Above: Knights unload supplies for victims of the wildfires at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua.
on the rst day of class, 11 teachers showed up to work, despite having lost their own homes in the re. eir dedication touched our hearts. So, we stepped in with immediate nancial support to help those courageous teachers rebuild their lives.
One of them wrote to me. She said that she’s “more grateful … than [we] will ever know.” And reflecting on our efforts, Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu called the Knights the “face of the Church.”
TOP, FROM LEFT:
Photo by Jamie Bard — Photo by Jonathan Francis — BELOW: Photos by Marco Garcia
From
Left:
Military Support & Religious Liberty
HAWAIIAN KNIGHTS
were truly heroic. And there’s another kind of service that’s heroic too.
At this very moment, thousands of Knights are serving their countries in uniform. We’re proud of them, and we support them through our 72 military councils and special initiatives for those who serve.
Twenty years ago, we published Armed with the Faith. It’s a simple, accessible Catholic handbook for military personnel. And we’ve now distributed more than 600,000 copies. As someone who served in uniform, I’ve experienced the pressures of military life, and I know the support and consolation that come from our faith. Armed with the Faith didn’t exist when I was
deployed, but since then I have o en heard about its impact.
I recently received a letter from a Knight named Logan Erickson, a private in the U.S. Army.
One day after Mass, Logan picked up a copy of Armed with the Faith He told me it helped him get through basic training. It deepened his faith and his commitment to the Order, and he resolved to become a Fourth Degree Knight. He ended the letter by thanking the Knights for all we do to support those who serve. But Pvt. Erickson, we are the ones who should be thanking you!
ose who serve defend our freedom. And as Knights, we defend our rights in other ways.
From top: Father Gino Rossi celebrates Mass at Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, Va., May 27. Petersburg Council 694 has held an annual Memorial Day Mass at the cemetery for more than 60 years. In 2024, a permit for the Mass was initially denied but later granted after the Knights brought a lawsuit against the National Park Service. • More than 600,000 copies of the Order’s Armed with the Faith prayer book have been given to military personnel since 2003.
In partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute, we’ll soon launch a First Amendment training program for military and college councils. e threats to religious liberty are real — and rising. But the Knights are ready to meet them. We stood against the hatred of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 20th century. We confronted the nativist legacy of the Know-Nothings, who said Catholics couldn’t be loyal citizens. And today, we’re ghting the new bigotry that aims to silence people of faith — in Canada, the United States and around the world.
One council deserves special mention. For more than 60 years, Petersburg Council 694 in Virginia has held a Memorial Day Mass at Poplar Grove National Cemetery. But this year, the federal government tried to block it. Virginia Knights refused to let this injustice stand. ey sued to protect their First Amendment rights. e federal government backed down — because the Knights of Columbus stood strong!
On the global stage, anti-Christian bigotry has become more aggressive and blatant. at was on full display at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, where Our Lord and the Last Supper were outrageously mocked. e Olympics should be a celebration of God’s gi s and the triumph of human achievement. But in Paris we saw blasphemy — a vile and intentional denigration of our faith.
As Catholics, and as Knights, we are rightly angry. But even more than that, we are resolved: We are Knights and we stand with Christ, our King — and we will not be silent!
Ukraine Solidarity
WE WILL ALWAYS STAND for human rights and human dignity. e challenges we face vary by country. But they’re especially dire for our brother Knights in Ukraine. ey are ghting for their lives — and their country’s survival.
It’s been two and a half years since Russia launched its unjust war. Since day one, the Order has rallied to support the people of Ukraine, and we’re continuing to expand our partnerships. With the Protez Foundation, we are providing prosthetics for the victims of war, and with the Knights of Malta, we’re training civilians in lifesaving first aid. …
Our K of C Charity Convoys have now delivered more than 8.5 million pounds of relief supplies to sha ered communities. K of C Mercy Centers and programs have given material and spiritual aid to more than 1.6 million refugees, mostly women and children. And through the Ukraine Solidarity Fund, we’ve already provided more than $17 million dollars for humanitarian relief.
e Russian authorities have taken notice. In fact, they’ve o cially banned the Knights of Columbus from the territory they occupy. Let me be clear: eir ban is our badge of honor!
In fact, the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has been banned. Russian authorities are using faith as a weapon of war. And what they fear most is the Church’s message of human freedom.
But Ukraine’s bishops and priests will not be silenced. … One story shows the courage of Catholics in Ukraine in an especially powerful way. In the early days of the war, Russian forces captured the city of Melitopol. It’s the home of St. Peter Council 16252. And its
Above: Father Oleksandr Bohomaz is pictured during the Ukraine State Convention in Bryukhovychi, Ukraine, in May 2023.
Right: Oleksandr Boryshchak, a firstaid trainer with the Knights of Malta, demonstrates lifesaving techniques July 20 in Lviv, the first in a series of training sessions organized by Ukrainian Knights.
chaplain, Father Oleksandr Bohomaz, refused to abandon his parishioners.
e occupation le Melitopol with li le food, li le fuel, and urgent medical needs. From the very start, Father Oleksandr fed the hungry and cared for the sick. And he brought the sacraments to his parishioners who were trapped in their homes.
It didn’t take long for Russian intelligence to learn his name. ey put him under surveillance, came to his parish, and then came to his rectory. ey interrogated him multiple times — and even threatened to execute him. And they repeatedly asked Father Oleksandr about his participation in the Knights of Columbus. He said, and I quote: “ ey accused me of being the one who recruits men” to the Knights. “And it’s true, I did encourage our men to become Knights.”
Father Oleksandr was eventually arrested and deported — and he’s here today. Father, your courage is an inspiration to all of us!
In February, Ukraine State Deputy Youriy Maletskiy sent me a le er about the Order’s humanitarian relief e orts. He wrote: “We can calculate the number of food boxes, packages … the amount of clothes, the weight of medicines and medical equipment … but we will never be able to put a number on
the value of this help, because human life has no price.” Youriy ended with a request to all of us: “I appeal to you to continue to remember us in your prayers, and not to leave us alone.”
Youriy Maletskiy, we hear you — and I promise all our Ukrainian Knights: We will never abandon you!
Our Polish Knights are keeping this promise in a unique way. ey’ve welcomed refugees with open arms. And they keep our Mercy Centers and Charity Convoys running. ese Knights are continuing the legacy of their countrymen. at includes the family of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, who gave their lives rescuing Jews in World War II.
Pope Francis approved the Ulma family’s beatification last year. They became the first family beatified together, including the unborn child in Wiktoria’s womb. We’ve created a special exhibit featuring relics of the entire family at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. We are honored to tell the story of the Ulma family, and we will strive to follow their heroic example of defending the most vulnerable.
FROM TOP:
Photo by Andrey Gorb — Photo by Igor Ivanovych
Insurance & Investments
WE HAVE A SOLEMN DUTY to protect families — a duty rooted in our founding.
Since the days of Father McGivney, we have pooled our money to help widows and orphans. And we’ve built our life insurance program around the same principle of mutual aid. When families lose a loved one, we are there for them — just as we have always been. We now protect Catholic families with more than $123 billion dollars of life insurance.
We value the trust our families place in us, and we’re widely recognized for our stewardship of their financial well-being. Forbes has named us one of America’s best life insurance companies for three years running.
Standard & Poor’s awarded us a superior rating again this year. And we’ve now had top marks from AM Best for 40 years in a row.
But life insurance is only one part of how we serve families. We also help them plan for their future through Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors. Knights of Columbus Mutual Funds are available to anyone who wants to invest in line with the Catholic faith. And we help Catholic institutions steward their resources. We now manage more than $2.2 billion for dioceses, religious communities and families. And every dollar we invest respects the Church’s moral teaching.
is is also true of the Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund. We launched it ve years ago. And this year, we passed a major milestone. rough KCCF, a wide variety of generous donors have now given more than $100 million to over 2,000 worthy charities.
Our continued growth proves the timeless value of Father McGivney’s vision. But it’s also a testament to the
Above: Field Agent Mark Pan (center) of Lee Wah Agency in British Columbia greets colleagues at a conference in Dallas in July 2023 that brought together more than 600 Knights of Columbus insurance professionals. • Right: General Agents Joe DiCalogero (left) and Bob Marlowe (right) are retiring after a combined 85 years of service.
tireless work of our fellow Knights.
One thousand K of C insurance agents advance our mission every day. ey do outstanding work. And I couldn’t be more grateful for their commitment and professionalism.
When I became supreme knight, I asked Bob Marlowe and Joe DiCalogero to be my senior insurance advisors. Both of these men have been top-performing general agents for decades. And they know what it takes to keep us strong and growing. A er a combined 85 years of building up the Knights, they’re both retiring this year. Bob Marlowe and Joe DiCalogero, thank you for serving the Order so well for so long!
Knights and family members participate in the National March for Life in Ottawa, Ontario, on May 9.
Pro-Life
WE PROTECT FAMILIES because they are a gift from God. And the same sense of mission impels us to defend all human life.
In Canada and the United States, we’re fighting the evil of assisted suicide. In May, we were a leading sponsor of a joint conference on endof-life care organized by the Canadian and U.S. bishops’ conferences. With them, we reject the lie that some lives are not worth living, that suffering is meaningless, and that we can be the masters of our final destiny. We know that God is the author of life. And our responsibility — our duty — is to cherish and protect life, not end it!
The same goes for children and their mothers. We steadfastly defend their dignity and right to life. Again last year, we participated in national prolife marches around the world. And in
the U.S., Knights organized and joined state marches from coast to coast.
Before the March for Life in Washington, D.C., we held the second annual Life Fest. We co-hosted it with the Sisters of Life, and all told, more than 6,000 young people joined us. ey came to celebrate the gi of human life. And while we aimed to inspire them, it was their joy that inspired us. e prolife movement is young and vibrant, and it lls us with hope.
With Roe v. Wade gone, laws now protect unborn life in nearly half of the United States. And the best estimates say that pro-life laws have prevented one out of every four abortions (cf. Institute of Labor Economics).
Our annual Marist polling continues to show that two-thirds of Americans want real legal limits on abortion. But in many places, we’ve faced a tough slog at the ballot box. And this November alone, as many as 11 states may put abortion before voters. Life may prevail in some of them. But the abortion industry is fighting hard, with fear and lies.
The United States is not the only country where life is at risk. France put the so-called right to abortion in its constitution this year. And recently in Mexico, the Supreme Court ruled that pro-life state laws were unconstitutional. The reality is, we are not just fighting legal and policy battles. We are fighting what John Paul II described as a culture of death and what Pope Francis has called a throwaway culture.
Ultimately, this ba le is spiritual. As St. Paul told the Ephesians: “Our struggle is not with esh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness” (Eph 6:12). We must remember this, especially when the road is steep. No ma er what happens, our faith demands that we continue to pray and push forward in hope. And I know that when it comes to supporting vulnerable mothers and their unborn children, the Knights of Columbus will never waver!
Our witness to charity can build a culture of life.
Photo by Patrick Doyle
Photos by Jeffrey Bruno
Last year, we placed 135 ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers throughout the United States. at brings our total to more than 1,800 ultrasounds, with many more on the way. Our Ultrasound Initiative is saving thousands of lives every year.
And we’ve taken our newest pro-life initiative to new heights. Through our ASAP program — Aid and Support After Pregnancy — in just two years, we have donated more than $11 million dollars to pregnancy centers and maternity homes. That’s more than double our initial goal. ASAP has been so successful because our pro-life witness is rooted in love. And while some may be tempted to discouragement, we must give hope to those around us, reminding them that the greatest victories often spring from adversity. The pro-life movement is proof. When Roe v. Wade made abortion-on-demand the law of the land, we did not give up. We rallied to the cause with courage and perseverance. And after five decades of hard work, we prevailed.
Today, the work is even harder. But it doesn’t ma er how hard it is or how long it takes — we will never stop building a culture of life!
We reject the lie that some lives are not worth living; that suffering is meaningless; and that we can be the masters of our final destiny. We know that God is the author of life.
Above: Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori celebrates Mass at Life Fest on Jan. 19 in Washington, D.C. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, to his right, served as the homilist and concelebrated with several other bishops and dozens of priests. • Below: Sister Charity (left) and Sister Cora Caeli of the Sisters of Life welcome young people to Life Fest.
Church Support & Faith Formation
THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT is a powerful witness to the love of Christ. And as Knights, we also witness to that love in many other ways. at includes our unfailing support for the Church.
rough our vocations support program, RSVP, we gave more than $4.1 million last year to the formation of seminarians and women religious in Canada, the United States and around the world.
And we supported dioceses and religious communities in the ongoing education of priests and women religious. In Rome, we helped American, Canadian and Filipino priests prepare to become the Church’s future teachers and leaders.
And working closely with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, we once again sponsored a major theological conference on vocations at the Vatican.
We’re also proud to help the Holy See Mission to the United Nations. is year marks its 60th anniversary. To celebrate
this milestone, we’re strengthening our long history of support for the Mission as it brings the Church’s prophetic voice to the world stage. …
We’re also helping the Vatican Apostolic Archives restore precious documents from the missionaries who brought the Gospel to North America. Catholics on this continent can trace our heritage to these le ers from giants of our faith like Archbishop John Carroll, St. Jean de Brébeuf and St. Junípero Serra.
e Church’s work of evangelization continues in all our countries. But we know that to change the world, we must rst be changed ourselves. A man cannot give what he does not have. And as Catholic men, we need to have a living faith.
at’s why we started Cor — to gather and build up men through prayer, faith formation and fraternity. Cor is meant to transform us by drawing us closer to Christ and to each other. And as men
grow together in faith and fraternity, they grow as husbands, fathers and citizens. In less than two years, more than 650 councils have started Cor. And nearly 4,000 more have plans to start this transformational initiative in the coming year.
Cor is answering an urgent need for a deepened faith and an authentic Catholic brotherhood. We live in a time of unprecedented isolation. In the United States, more than a quarter of millennials say they have no close friends. And nearly the same number say they have no friends at all (YouGov, 2019).
Men, in particular, are su ering from loneliness. But Cor gives them a place to connect — to open up their lives to one another about the hopes they have
FROM TOP: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz — Photo by Tamino Petelinšek
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly visits the Casa Santa Maria, a residence for priests who are pursuing advanced studies in Rome, last January. The supreme knight presented the residence’s superior, Jesuit Father James Conn, and its priests with an image of Blessed Michael McGivney.
Pope Francis addresses world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 25, 2015.
and the challenges they face, at work and more importantly in their families. Cor helps men nd and form authentic Christian friendships.
I believe this is the reason Cor has been adopted with such enthusiasm. And as Catholic men grow closer to one another, they grow closer to Christ. As one deputy grand knight put it, Cor is “the answer to what the Church needs today.”
Every Cor group is di erent. Many are using our Men of the Word Bible study. And others are watching our newest video series, Into the Breach: e Mission of the Family. It gives actionable insights for husbands and fathers, and in less than a year, it has been viewed over 1.5 million times.
We have a wealth of content to use in Cor, and there’s even more on the way. Earlier this summer, I announced a new partnership with the Augustine Institute. It’s one of the best producers of Catholic content in the world. And we’re making its resources available to Knights. We now have a dedicated section on Formed, their popular streaming service. Knights can access award-winning videos featuring some of the Church’s best teachers and speakers. And through this collaboration, we’re already developing new, tailor-made resources speci cally for Cor
We’re doing this work to deepen our faith and strengthen our families. And as always, we’re blessed to have the support of our wives. Our wives are essential partners in everything we do. I was reminded of this truth in a powerful way last fall, when I had the honor to give the eulogy at Ann Dechant’s funeral.
Ann was the devoted wife of Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant. He led the Order with distinction for 23 years, and she served the Knights no less than him. rough it all, she sacri ced for her family and the Order with heroic generosity. Ann cared for her young children and raised them to know and love Christ, all the while assisting her husband as he led a growing, global organization. And, in her nal moments on earth, she prayed with a relic of Blessed Michael McGivney. …
KNIGHTS OF THE EUCHARIST
As Catholic families, the ultimate source of our strength is Jesus Christ. And as Knights, we’re especially devoted to Christ in the Eucharist.
For the last two years, U.S. Catholics have looked to the Blessed Sacrament in a profound way through the National Eucharistic Revival.
It included four pilgrimages this summer, each starting on opposite ends of the country. Thousands of Knights and their families joined these processions, for 60 days and over 6,500 miles, tracing a living sign of the cross over the nation.
e Seton Route began on the East Coast, in the parish where Father
Above: The Blessed Sacrament is carried through New York City on May 26 by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly helped carry the canopy for the procession, part of the Seton Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. • Left: Pope John Paul II greets Virgil and Ann Dechant on Feb. 22, 1987, following the completion of restoration work on the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica.
McGivney founded the Knights. From St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, pilgrims followed our Eucharistic Lord through New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. ey crossed the Appalachians, into Pennsylvania and then Ohio, before reaching Indianapolis.
I had the privilege of joining that same procession on Memorial Day weekend. I traveled into New York City with my wife and our youngest daughter. We walked with pilgrims as they made their way from St. Patrick’s Cathedral through Manha an. As we processed down Lexington Avenue, one of the organizers noticed the K of C logo on my shirt. He asked, “Are you a Knight?” I said, “Yes … yes, I am.” en
he asked if I’d help carry the canopy. I said I’d be honored.
It was a truly amazing experience. Tourists knelt on the sidewalk and took videos. Waiters came outside and crossed themselves. Onlookers broke into spontaneous applause. And all the while, hundreds of pilgrims sang songs and bore witness to Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. Even on the streets of New York City, it was clear — Jesus is alive, he’s real, and he’s changing hearts!
All four pilgrimages converged in Indianapolis at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. There I joined more than 54,000 fellow pilgrims, including thousands of my brother Knights and their families. The stadium was electric — it was alive with the Holy Spirit. And the moment I will never forget was when the entire arena went utterly dark, except for our Eucharistic Lord illuminated on the altar.
A deep silence came over everyone. And there was a profound sense that we were all having a personal encounter with Jesus — heart speaking to heart. In that moment, we all realized: God is actively renewing his Church.
When I was installed as supreme knight, I called on all Knights to be, first and foremost, Knights of the Eucharist. The Eucharistic Congress showed us what that means in our time. And so did an extraordinary brother Knight, so many years ago.
The year was 1966. The place was this very city. And the man was the lieutenant governor of Québec, Paul Comtois. He was a devout Catholic and devoted Knight, who as a younger man had served as grand gnight of Council 1889. He had long petitioned the archbishop of Québec for permission to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in the lieutenant governor’s residence. After repeated requests, the archbishop finally relented. But he had one condition — that Paul Comtois would personally safeguard the Eucharist.
One night, the Comtois family awoke to a raging fire. The lieutenant governor carried his wife outside to safety and helped his daughter escape
From top: Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly inspects restoration work on the baldacchino over the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica on June 26. Also pictured are Alberto Capitanucci (left) and Dr. Pietro Zander, executives of the Fabbrica di San Pietro. • Paul Comtois, lieutenant governor of Québec, and his wife, Irène-Anne-Rachel, welcome Queen Elizabeth II to their o cial residence during the queen’s 1964 visit to Canada. A fire engulfed the residence just after midnight Feb. 22, 1966, and Comtois sacrificed his life protecting the Eucharist reserved in its chapel. • Opposite page: Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s massive bronze sculpture at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter is pictured in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Knights of Columbus will sponsor the restoration of the sculpture following the restoration of the basilica’s baldacchino.
through a chapel window. But he remained in the burning house — he still had a solemn duty.
When the blaze died down, rescuers went in. They found Paul’s lifeless body beneath a collapsed stairway. But they didn’t just find his charred
remains — they found something else, something sacred. He was still clutching the pyx which contained the Blessed Sacrament.
My fellow Knights: Lt. Gov. Paul Comtois sacrificed his life for the Eucharist.
TOP: Photo by Tamino Petelinsek — LOWER LEFT: Montreal Gazette Photo
Conclusion
THIS IS OUR CALL — to be Knights of the Eucharist — to serve Our Lord in all we do.
We answered this call in new and renewed ways over the last year. And as we look to the year ahead, we do so with great confidence and joy.
In 2025, the Church will celebrate a jubilee year. And the Knights of Columbus is preparing the way.
For the last jubilee, in the year 2000, we restored the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. And for this jubilee, we’re helping restore the baldacchino — the massive bronze canopy, crafted by Bernini, that rises 10 stories above the papal altar and St. Peter’s tomb. And today, I’m pleased to announce that we will assist with another landmark restoration — Bernini’s bronze masterpiece at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter. It contains the relics of the very chair used by our first pope and honors the authority of all his successors. There are few more important places in all of Christendom.
These renewed works of sacred art will deepen the faith of all who see them — especially in the coming jubilee year. Pope Francis has made hope the jubilee’s central message. And our duty, as Catholics and as Knights, is to witness to the hope that comes from Jesus Christ.
Hope is at the heart of who we are. It led Father McGivney and the first Knights to band together, trusting that through them, Our Lord would do great things. Hope led them to provide for widows and orphans. Hope led them to strengthen the family and defend the Church. The work they began was uncertain, the future unknown. But God has blessed the Knights of Columbus beyond what those men could have ever imagined.
And we trust that God will bless our work too. Like the men who gathered in the basement of St. Mary’s, we have the hope that comes from faith. It impels us to continue building up our parishes and our families. And like those first Knights, we trust in the living God who holds the future in his hands. He will guide us, as he did our forefathers. And like them, he calls us to go on mission
We gladly answer this call. And we promise to be like Blessed Michael McGivney and St. François de Laval, as together we build a future of hope and faith in Jesus Christ.
Vivat Jesus!
Our duty, as Catholics and as Knights, is to witness to the hope that comes from Jesus Christ.
Join the Father McGivney Guild
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The Premier Association of Financial Professionals® 2024 MDRT
Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is an international organization that recognizes the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals. Congratulations to the 389 Knights of Columbus field agents who were recognized for their commitment to excellence, outstanding service and highest ethical standards. We salute these men for their devotion to continuing Father McGivney’s mission.
William Albanese — Millsboro, DE
George Allers — Dadeville, AL
Deepak Almeida — Niagara Falls, ON
Daniel Andrews — Mount Joy, PA
Kevin Anglin — Conroe, TX
Blaine Anhel — Tappen, BC
Joshua Anselm — Remington, IN
Robert Arellano Jr. — Robstown, TX
Patrick Arndt — Fenton, MI
Lorenzo Arrindell — Floral Park, NY
Gilles Arsenault — Cormier-Village, NB
Ananias Ayroso — Hayward, CA
Louis Baca — Whittier, CA
Marcus Bardwell — Prairieville, LA
John Barfield W. — Melbourne, FL
David Barnes — Ponchatoula, LA
Darren Barr — Houston, TX
Kenneth Basel — Harvard, IL
Dennis Beans — Tay, ON
Cameron Beddome — Red Deer, AB
Odilon Bello — Pitt Meadows, BC
Daniel Biggs — Miami, FL
Julien Bisson — Saint-Jerome, QC
Jeremiah Blossom — Brookville, IN
Christopher Bohr — Martinsburg, MO
Steven Books — Plum City, WI
Enrico Boongaling — Maple Ridge, BC
Jeremy Borchers — West Point, NE
John Boylan — Hanover Township, PA
Timothy Bradford — Hurst, TX
Michael Braun — Toms River, NJ
Marcel Brideau — Tracadie-Sheila, NB
Derek Brown — Linwood, NJ
Adam Bruna — Abilene, KS
Carl Bruno — Mount Laurel, NJ
Michael Bryant — Graham, TX
Timothy Buback — Saint Louis, MO
Joel Buchinski — Prince Albert, SK
James Burke — Babson Park, FL
Donald Burks — Plano, TX
lawrence Cabirac — Houma, LA
Bob Canter — Crownsville, MD
Robert Canter — Fairfax, VA
Stephen Carrick — Independence, OH
Blair Carruthers — Saskatoon, SK
Wesley Casaus — Anthem, AZ
James Cassoday — Valparaiso, IN
Jose Castaneda — Sylmar, CA
Philippe Castelo Branco — Laval, QC
Brandon Castille — La Habra, CA
Albert Castillejo — North Port, FL
Cleophas Castillo — Winnipeg, MB
John Cesta — West Palm Beach, FL
Wayne Cherney — Devils Lake, ND
Jose Cisneros — Buena Park, CA
John Clarke — Roanoke, VA
Christopher Coforio — Houston, TX
Jonathan Collins — Coldwater, OH
Andre Cossette — St. Albert, AB
Chad Cox — Thorndale, TX
Jeffrey Cummons — Jackson Center, OH
Todd Curtis — Williamsburg, VA
Timothy Dagel — Sheldon, IA
Paul Daigle — Thompsons Stn, TN
Michael Dalby — Anadarko, OK
Dion Dangzalan — Salinas, CA
Shawn David — Lafayette, LA
Trenton Davis — Cheyenne Wells, CO
Aldrin D'Cunha — Burlington, ON
Pasqualino De Luca — Grande Prairie, AB
Mark Deaton — Cypress, TX
Matthew Dejesus — Fords, NJ
Ivan Delabruere — Milton, FL
Andrei Dias — Mississauga, ON
Robert DiCalogero — Canton, MA
Michael Dietz — Pueblo, CO
Trevor D'Mello — Mississauga, ON
Quinn Dobmeier — Melfort, SK
Nathaniel Doerr — O’Fallon, MO
Patrick Dolan — Park Rapids, MN
William Donohoe — Verona, WI
Timothy Dreger — Platteville, WI
Vincent D'Souza — Manotick, ON
Sebastian D'souza — Mississauga, ON
Lance Dufour — Locust Grove, OK
Robert Duncan — Albany, OR
Denis Duval — Sudbury, ON
Emeka Egu — CA
John Eisele — Tyler, TX
Thomas Ellis — Huntsville, AL
Frank Emanuele — Cromwell, CT
Louis Esola — Cherry Hill, NJ
Mathew Evangelista — Sainte-Sophie, QC
Thomas Farrell — Holtsville, NY
Alberto Fernandez — Ocala, FL
Raul Fernandez — Ocala, FL
Phillip Fischer — Estero, FL
Sean FitzPatrick — Baltimore, MD
Joe Flores — Poway, CA
John Forcella — Howell, NJ
Brian Ford — Omaha, NE
Brian Franck — Brainerd, MN
Dwight Frank — Louisville, KY
Joseph Freda — Freeport, NY
Jared Frey — North Battleford, SK
James Gabster — East Petersburg, PA
John Gallop — Brooklin, ON
Roberto Garcia — Glendora, CA
Edgar Garcia — Yukon, OK
Charles Gardner — Frenchtown, NJ
Michael Garofalo — Mount Laurel, NJ
Donovan Gaudin — Taylor, TX
Gerardo Gautier-Matias — Juana Diaz, PR
Ciriaco Gelera — Jersey City, NJ
Jeffrey Ghering — Woodbridge, VA
Jason Gill — Nashville, IL
Daniel Gimpel — Trenton, ON
James Ginter — Mechanicsville, VA
David Giuliani — Middlebury, VT
Andrew Godbout — Chilliwack, BC
Shane Goheen — Little River, SC
Christopher Gonzalez — Cranberry, PA
Jeffery Goralczyk — Syracuse, IN
Nicholas Goralczyk — Syracuse, IN
Danny Gosser — Vancouver, WA
Brian Graham — Kensington, MD
Michael Gruszewski — Lockport, NY
Glain Guilmette — Madison Heights, MI
Christopher Hamelly — Addison, IL
Matthew Harm — Omaha, NE
Paul Harrington — Mount Pleasant, SC
Stewart Havranek — Omaha, NE
Marc Hebert — Belle River, ON
Jared Heinen — Omaha, NE
Greg Helgerson — Union Center, WI
Thomas Hendricks — Doylestown, PA
Michael Henriquez — San Antonio, TX
Luke Henry — Gardner, KS
Ronald Henry — Knoxville, TN
Joel Herman — Harwood, ND
Scott Hinkebein — Nixa, MO
Darrell Hinkebein — Nixa, MO
Peter Holm — New Carlisle, OH
John Holtzhauser — Apollo Beach, FL
Ethan Hoolick — Plains, PA
Eric Hoppenbrouwer — Melbourne, FL
Steven Hudec — Fresno, CA
Theodore Hunkins — Pacific, MO
Michael Ives — Williamsburg, VA
Dale Jacks — Shelby Township, MI
Brady Jacques — Ellis, KS
Ryan Janak — Yoakum, TX
Glen Janow — Eagle Lake, TX
Ian Johnstone — Lincoln, NE
David Jolly — Arlington, TN
Gabriel Jones — Saint Louis, MO
Derek Kalscheur — Germantown, WI
Gerard Kane — Crownsville, MD
Robert Karaczun — Manalapan, NJ
James Keefe — Chicago, IL
James Kelly — Clinton, MA
Donald Kenkel — Portsmouth, IA
Lawrence Kennedy — Sanford, FL
Kevin Kenney — Highland Village, TX
Matthew Kling — St. Charles, IL
Warren Klug — Okotoks, AB
Jonathan Knaus — Stuart, FL
Mark Koeppen — Tucson, AZ
Alan Kotlarski — Punta Gorda, FL
Ben Krapu — Blue Springs, MO
James Krawczyk — Omaha, NE
Matthew Lamoreux — Bernalillo, NM
Peter Lancon — Beaumont, TX
Randy Laue — Fenton, MI
Brian Lazusky — Orlando, FL
Daniel Le Bouthillier — Montreal, QC
Hector Lebron Lopez — Las Piedras, PR
Bryce Levanti — Benton, IL
Shaun Linenberger — Hays, KS
Lawerence London — Winneconne, WI
Cesar Lozano — Kingwood, TX
Alfred Lugo — Torrance, CA
James Lutz — Mesa, AZ
Ian Maddock — Richibucto Road, NB
Mathieu Madore — Orleans, ON
Jeremy Mahon — Kansas City, MO
Justin Manion — Cottleville, MO
Djino Marcotte — Amos, QC
James Marcum — Cypress, TX
Robert Marlowe — Towson, MD
Jesse Martinez — Rosamond, CA
Christopher Massoglia — Eagan, MN
Benny Matos — Loxahatchee, FL
Greg Mattes — Saratoga Springs, NY
Kevin Maxwell — Tavares, FL
Jose Maza-Magnussen — The Colony, TX
Donato Mazzaro — Ringwood, NJ
Michael McAndrew — Altoona, PA
Gregory McBride — Ragley, LA
Dermot McCaughan — Helena, MT
Dean McClellan — Wildwood, MO
Luke McClure — Gulfport, MS
Robert McColl — Summerville, SC
Thomas McCully — Concord, MI
Mark McEniry — Seal Beach, CA
Patrick McFadden — Parlin, NJ
Daniel McGeehan — Toms River, NJ
Patrick McGuire — Riverhead, NY
David McIntosh — Greenville, PA
Ernest McKinnon — Moncton, NB
Greg Mehochko — Belleville, IL
Stephen Melancon — Las Vegas, NV
Joseph Melancon — Fallon, NV
Timothy Messing — Bad Axe, MI
Roy Metter — Gretna, NE
Christopher Miller — Turners Falls, MA
David Moeller — Folsom, CA
Ronald Moliterno — Sarasota, FL
Brandon Moore — Lakewood, CO
Shaun Moore — Breese, IL
Paul Morassutti — San Ramon, CA
Manuel Moreira-Guerra — Roseville, CA
John Mueller — Chandler, AZ
Darren Mueller — Wichita, KS
Chad Muhlenkamp — Milford, OH
William Mundy — Draper, UT
Albert Myers — Catonsville, MD
Seth Myhre — Minneota, MN
David Natishyn — Pocono Pines, PA
Desire Ndongo — Orleans, ON
Jason Nelligan — Hamilton, ON
Brandon Nelson — Pueblo, CO
Nicolas Novak — Temperance, MI
Douglas Nurenberg — St Johns, MI
Ikechukwu Chris Obodo — London, ON
Matthew O’Brien — Warrenton, MO
Edward Okeefe — Middle River, MD
Robert Olivas — Anaheim, CA
Brandon Olley — Natural Bridge, NY
Jose Oviedo — Houston, TX
Joseph Owens — Fuquay Varina, NC
Paolo Pacana — Irvine, CA
Kevin Paish — St. Albert, AB
Mark Pan — Pitt Meadows, BC
Jeffrey Patino — Pacifica, CA
James Patz — Green Bay, WI
Michael Payne — Lubbock, TX
Neil Pfeifer — Norfolk, NE
Noah Pfeifer — Norfolk, NE
Benoit Picard — Laval, QC
Jose Pinero — Carnegie, PA
Andrew Poole — South Saint Paul, MN
Jacob Pruemer — Teutopolis, IL
Timothy Pugh — Niceville, FL
Christiopher Randazzo — New Braunfels, TX
Darin Reed — Ellis, KS
Stephen Regan — White Plains, MD
Frederick Reinecke — Baltimore, MD
Joseph Remer — Winsted, MN
Robert Renaud — Sudbury, ON
Jean-Pierre Ricard — Glen Robertson, ON
Joseph T Richard — Lafayette, LA
Darren Richuber — Wichita, KS
Rocco Rizzo — Thunder Bay, ON
Jonathan Rock — Frederick, MD
Gerson Rodrigues — Brampton, ON
Nathan Rolf — South Bend, IN
Francisco Romero Carrasquillo — Lincoln, NE
Anthony Rosemeier — De Graff, MN
Jarrod Roth — Port Orchard, WA
Louis Rouleau — Edmonton, AB
Michael Roznowski — Loves Park, IL
Alejandro Ruelas Munoz — Cerritos, CA
Adrian Rusch — Lincoln, AL
Aaron Rutherford — Marietta, OH
Benjamin Salazar — Virginia Beach, VA
Victor Sallick — Boerne, TX
Alfred Sanchez — Midland, TX
Ronald Sandoval — San Gabriel, CA
Sonny Sangemino — Windsor, ON
Robert Sass — Chicopee, MA
John Schibi — Parsons, KS
Kirby Schmelzle — Seneca, KS
Kevin Schubert — Linn Creek, MO
Scott Schweitzer — Simpsonville, SC
Edward Schwieterman — Hurst, TX
Michael Scordato — Morgantown, WV
Matthew Seltzer — Deming, NM
Peter Seuntjens — Danbury, IA
Matthew Seuntjens — Danbury, IA
Kevin Seymour — Freeland, MI
Daniel Sheehan — Neoga, IL
Tyler Sheehan — Neoga, IL
Joseph Shock — Hanover Township, PA
Michael Sibilia — Lexington, SC
Mark Sirois — Naugatuck, CT
Daniel Slattery — Lowellville, OH
Joseph Soja — Fort Collins, CO
David Soukup — Kansas City, KS
Devon Soukup — Edmond, OK
Joseph Spada — Lombard, IL
Thomas Spinelli — Odessa, FL
Joseph Spinelli III — Tallahassee, FL
David St. Hilaire — Lincoln, NE
John Stewart — Bourne, MA
Blake Stubbington — Edmonton, AB
Joshua Sturm — Shelocta, PA
Julius Suero — Stockton, CA
Michael Sullivan — Edwardsville, IL
Mark Suomala — Boxford, MA
Jody Supak — La Grange, TX
Lawrence Suter — Canton, OH
Eric Sylvester — Tecumseh, ON
Matthew Sylvester — Tecumseh, ON
Gerald Tatarka — Hackettstown, NJ
Daniel Thelen — Westphalia, MI
Austin Thorne — Lake Charles, LA
Andrew Tice — Hurst, TX
Vance Todt — Oran, MO
John Tully — Floral Park, NY
Benjamin Turner — Manassas, VA
William Urban — Philadelphia, PA
Herman Vanderheyden — Strathroy, ON
Thomas Varkados — Lake In The Hills, IL
Timothy Voegeli — Wichita, KS
Alexander Vu — Spring, TX
Jack Walsh — Charleston, WV
David Weber — Antioch, CA
William Weber — Newton, KS
Kevin Weber — Gretna, NE
John Welker — Edmond, OK
Don Wesley — Mount Clemens, MI
Gregory White — Erlanger, KY
Stephen White — Pelham, NH
Philip Wiese — Corydon, IN
Donald Willey — Bismarck, ND
Scott Williamson — Red Deer, AB
Scott Willis — Lake Charles, LA
Christopher Winston — North Royalton, OH
William Wolfe — Jenkins Twp, PA
Jefferson Woolsey — Eagan, MN
Martin Yakimovich — Holly Ridge, NC
Fabian Yaklin — Burnsville, MN
Max Yardley — Edmond, OK
Michael York — Washington, MO
Mark Yubeta — San Clemente, CA
Steven Zahradka — Dacula, GA
Andrew Zmecek — Independence, OH
Knights of Charity
Every day, Knights all over the world are given opportunities to make a di erence — 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 be er world.
Joe Jewell (center), past grand knight of Holy Spirit Council 11922 in Annandale, Virginia, and his son, Michael, deliver a crib and mattress to a young mother and her baby during a delivery event with Project Manger, a nonprofit that supplies cribs and bedding to mothers facing financial di culties or crisis pregnancies. Several local councils fund hundreds of new cribs each year, and Knights help deliver the cribs during major distributions in twice a year.
Photo by Matthew Barrick
‘God met my reluctance with grace.’
My career was ourishing. With a master’s degree in ecology, I was working at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico. ings were coming together for me to pursue a doctorate and continue my career in ecological research.
Only one thing was amiss: My heart was unse led. Despite my e orts to convince Christ that there was no way I could be a nun, an undercurrent of gentle invitation remained. I took a leap of faith — well, a guarded one — and gave Our Lord a year to lay to rest the question of a religious vocation. Surely it would be perfectly clear that I was not called to religious life and could move on with my life.
God met my reluctance with much grace and persistence. Monastic life resonated deeply with how I felt called to live: with a unity of purpose, with all one’s being and activities consecrated to God, o ering to him in prayer the needs of the Church and the world. I am humbled and grateful for the great gi of being a bride of Christ and living for him alone.
Sister Christina Marie Order of Cistercians Valley of Our Lady Monastery Hollandale, Wisconsin
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Photo
Bruce Fritz