SEPTEMBER 2022 Columbia KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
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An interview with Trevor Williams, a Knight of Columbus, about his faith and how it guides him as a husband, father and professional ballplayer. 18
The official image for the 10th World Meeting of Families depicts the wedding at Cana and was created by Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik. A number of Knights of Columbus families participated in the joy-filled meeting, which took place at the Vatican June 22-26 (see page 18).
226 CONTENTS
13 PhotosMagnum/RaiRaghuCOVER:THEON—FamiliesofMeetingillustration/WorldCNSTOP:
By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori PLUS: Catholic Man of the Month 21 Fathers for Good Lead your family to the communion of the Holy Trinity by strengthening your communion on earth.
Saint of the Peripheries
• A ‘Historic and Sacred Space’ By Elisha Valladares-Cormier
By James Day
By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly 4 Learning the faith, living the faith As a young priest and bishop, I witnessed firsthand St. Teresa of Calcutta’s intrepid faith and charity.
By Soren and Ever Johnson 26 Knights in Action Reports from councils and assemblies, representing the four pillars of the Faith in Action program model 30 Scholarship Recipients ON THE COVER Mother Teresa holds a baby at the Shishu Bhavan orphanage in Calcutta in 1989.
• Champions of Charity
• Encounters With Mother • Pro-Life in Word and Deed By Jim Towey Journey of Healing and Reconciliation
The Gift of Family Life
A new K of C film chronicles Mother Teresa’s life and mission to bring Christ’s love to the poorest of the poor.
For the greater glory of God Mother Teresa’s consistent witness to human dignity and compassion for the vulnerable gave her a profound credibility.
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 Copyright © 2022 All rights reserved
By Damon Owens Pitching With a Higher Power
SEPTEMBER 2022 ✢ COLUMBIA 1 3Departments
Pope Francis makes a penitential pilgrimage to meet with the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
A Knight reflects on marriage, joy and participating in the 10th World Meeting of Families.
By Kyle Greenham
Columbia SEPTEMBER 2022 ✢ VOLUME 102 ✢ NUMBER 7
According to a recent article in e Atlantic, that’s what it is in the hands of devoted men en gaged in spiritual ba le. Published Aug. 14, the article begins, “Just as the AR-15 ri e has be come a sacred object for Christian nationalists in general, the rosary has acquired a militaristic meaning for radical-traditional (or ‘rad trad’) Catholics.” e writer goes on to make vague references to “hostility toward liberalism and secularism” and “toward abortion-rights advo cates” — and even implies that the Order’s Into the Breach video series, with its promotion of “traditional conceptions of Catholic masculini ty,” might be a gateway to physical violence.
Alton J. Pelowski, Editor
One of the greatest examples of “radical Christianity” in modern times, St. Teresa of Calcu a, is celebrated in this issue of Columbia. Carrying her rosary wherever she went, she fearlessly proclaimed and lived the Gospel of Life in her loving service to the most vulnera ble. She also recognized, “Holiness is not the luxury of a few. It is a simple duty for you and for me.” We have all been called to share in the sacri cial love of Christ, whose saving death on the cross Pope Benedict XVI described as “love in its most radical form” (Deus Caritas Est, 12). In the end, the Church has a name for the most radical Christians — saints — and the secular media gets one thing right: e rosary is indeed a powerful weapon on our path to holiness. ✢
Radical Christianity admits, before adding: “But that does not imply the existence of a complex, coordinated campaign of violence.” In a blatant display of anti-Catholic bias, the article further notes, “ ree [of the instances cited] involve broken statues at Catholic churches, for example, and nothing more.”
This award-winning documentary produced by the Knights of Columbus in 2021 explores the rich spiritual and cultural gifts of Indigenous Catholics in North America. The 58-minute film tells the stories of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pro tectress of Canada and the first canonized Native American saint; Nicholas Black Elk, a Lakota chief whose cause for canonization is underway; and many others. Above all, it shows how Christ reveals himself through the uniqueness of every culture. For more information and to watch the film, visit kofc.org/enduringfaith.
Of course, such media bias extends well beyond the pages of e Atlantic, but these examples are particularly egregious and instructive. Not only do they demonstrate a remarkable double standard, they also under score the very spiritual ba les they object to and raise an important question: What exactly does “extreme” or “radical” Christianity look like? In a 2013 message to religious superiors, Pope Francis noted that consecrated religious “follow the Lord in a special way, in a prophetic way,” yet “radical evangelical living is not only for religious: it is demanded of everyone.”
EDITORIAL
Enduring Faith: The Story of Native American Catholicism
2 COLUMBIA ✢ SEPTEMBER 2022 Columbia PUBLISHER Knights of Columbus SUPREME OFFICERS Patrick E. Kelly Supreme Knight Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. Supreme Chaplain Paul G. O’Sullivan Deputy Supreme Knight Patrick T. Mason Supreme Secretary Ronald F. Schwarz Supreme Treasurer John A. Marrella Supreme Advocate EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski Editor Andrew J. Matt Managing Editor Cecilia Hadley Senior Editor Elisha Valladares-Cormier Associate Editor 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 1COLUMBIAColumbus Plaza New Haven, CT kofc.org/columbiacolumbia@kofc.org06510-3326 ADDRESS CHANGES 203-752-4210, option addresschange@kofc.org#3 COLUMBIA INQUIRIES 203-752-4398 K OF C CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-380-9995 IN THE EXEMPLIFICATION ceremony to initiate new members of the Order, the presiding o cer declares, “We are called, as St. Paul tells us, to stand rm, with integrity as a breastplate, carrying the shield of faith, wearing salvation as a helmet, and carrying the Word of God as a sword.” A presenter on charity then a rms, “As Knights of Columbus, we turn always to the gentle and glorious Virgin Mary, our Queen and Mother. … What challenge can we not face? What victories can we not achieve?” Finally, each new Knight is invested with a rosary and told, “Carry it always, and pray it as o en as you can.”
Does the rosary in this context sound like a symbol of far-right, violent extremism?
Another Atlantic article published several days earlier downplayed dozens of actual acts of violence and vandalism toward pro-life organizations, pregnancy centers and churches in relation to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. “Pro-abortion-rights activists have engaged in vandalism in recent weeks, and the blog posts associated with Jane’s Revenge are actively encouraging the behavior,” the writer
‘Mother remindedTeresausthat if we truly want to live up to the ideals of justice and equality for all, we must start by respecting the dignity and the worth of every human life, made in the image and likeness of God.’ day. No one could rival her total gi of self in her love for the poor and the vulnerable.
ON DEC. 10, 1979, a li le Albanian woman wearing a white and blue sari stood before some of most powerful leaders on earth and received one of the world’s highest honors — the Nobel Peace Prize. at day, the dimin utive giant, Mother Teresa of Calcu a, was honored for, as the award stated, “bringing help to su ering humanity” and “a ention to the plight of children and refugees.”
Mother Teresa immediately gave away the Nobel’s monetary award to build shel ters for the poorest of the poor. She gave all glory to God. But she also gave a great gift to the world — a reorientation of our understanding of true poverty and of the foundations of peace. In her speech to the dignitaries gathered to praise her, Mother Teresa boldly stated, “The greatest destroyer of peace today is the cry of the innocent unborn child. For if a mother can murder her own child in her own womb, what is left for you and for me to kill each other?” Her listeners were dumbstruck. This dramatic moment is one of nu merous evocative scenes in the new, feature-length documentary Mother Teresa: No Greater Love , which will be in select U.S. theaters Oct. 3-4. It would not be the last time Mother Teresa would be so bold — not by a long shot. Her 1985 address to the United Na tions and her witness at the 1994 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., come to mind. She was the very face of kindness, but her clarity and conviction frequently left world leaders uncomfortable. Mother Teresa reminded us that if we truly want to live up to the ideals of justice and equality for all, we must start by respecting the dignity and the worth of every human life, made in the image and likeness of God. And for this, there was no be er messenger, because Mother Teresa lived this reality every
Mother Teresa’s consistent witness to human dignity and compassion for the vulnerable gave her a profound credibility
Speaking Truth in Love
Mother Teresa was the world’s most credible witness for a culture of life precisely because she saw the face of Christ in those she served. When she was feeding the hungry or holding the hand of someone who was dying, she was doing so to the most important person in her life, Jesus Christ himself. is was the source of her authenticity and consistency. Her words matched her actions, and her actions matched her words. She had the courage to speak the truth because she had a heart that burned with love, and that love was matched by a life of sacri ce for others. In a general audience address last year, Pope Fran cis emphasized this link between truth and love: “Let us not be afraid to be truthful, to speak the truth, to hear the truth, to conform ourselves to the truth, so we can love.” This is the witness the world needs now. And I believe Knights and their families are the ones to offer it. While none of us can be St. Teresa of Cal cutta, each of us can demonstrate, through our care for our families, the poor and all those around us, the dignity and worth of everyisperson.mission ts perfectly with that of Blessed Michael McGivney and the work of the Knights. It’s why we’ve launched our new ASAP (Aid and Support A er Pregnancy) program — and why, for decades, councils and Knights have been there for women in need, through our Ultrasound Initiative and otherTheworks.world needs to hear that we stand for life, because every life is of inestimable value and goodness. Our society needs us to proclaim that message boldly, and then to back up our words by laying down our lives for mothers and children, in love. Indeed, there is “no greater love” (Jn 15:13).
SEPTEMBER 2022 ✢ COLUMBIA 3 FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD
Vivat Jesus!
BarisonziLaurabyPhoto
By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly
LEARNING
Meeting Mother Teresa THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH
Mother Teresa’s second house in Wash ington was for pregnant homeless women. I will never forget the day Cardinal Hickey came to bless it, and for two reasons: First, in those days before GPS and cell phones, I got lost, and so the cardinal and I were late. Second, when we did arrive, I saw Mother Teresa in person for the first time. She was at prayer, sitting on the floor toward the back of a simple, dimly lit chapel. After Mass, I was introduced to her as the one who delayed the proceedings.
Years later, Mother Teresa decided to open yet another home in Washington — one that would serve homeless people who had AIDS or were terminally ill. She was also looking for a convent for her young sisters preparing for nal profession. Cardinal Hickey assigned me to go on the “real estate tour” with Mother Teresa and her counselors. We visited several properties owned by the archdiocese, in cluding a large building that housed Catholic Charities at the time. I was hoping she would not choose it; if she did, Catholic Charities would have to nd new headquarters. But a er looking at that property, Mother Teresa called a huddle with her sisters and then proceeded to put Miraculous Medals in the mortar of the building. My heart sank. I knew she had found her building. e homeless
By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori
‘As I reflect on Mother Teresa’s life and spirituality, two things stand out: The first is how she cherished the gift of human life. The second is how she connected love of the Lord in the Eucharist with love for the poor.’ moved in, and Catholic Charities moved out. It turned out to be a blessing for everyone, including Catholic Charities, which relocated next to a downtown parish. rough the years, Mother Teresa frequent ly came to Washington for the nal profession of her sisters. By then, I had met her many times. She was small in stature yet larger than life. She had a beautiful smile and never wasted words. She was laser-focused on her mission of charity. Meeting her, I knew I was in the presence of a living saint. In 1995, soon a er I became auxiliary bishop of Washing ton, I celebrated a Mass of Final Profession for her sisters with Mother Teresa present. No pressure there! As I re ect on Mother Teresa’s life and spirituality, two things stand out: e rst is how she cherished the gi of human life. e second is how she connected love of the Lord in the Eucharist with love for the poor. Mother Teresa taught us to love both the mother facing a di cult pregnancy and her unborn child. Her sisters have been “walking with moms in need” for a long time. ey surround both mother and child with love and care for their needs, while also embracing abandoned children. For Mother Teresa and her sisters, respect for human life from the moment of conception until natural death is not an abstract principle, but a way of life. ey serve the poorest of the poor and minister to the sick and dying as if to Christ himself. Mother Teresa often spoke of how her sisters gathered to adore the Lord Jesus, tru ly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Then, they would go out to wash the sores on the body of Christ, the homeless on the streets of AsCalcutta.anOrder commi ed to building a culture of love and life, and as Knights of the Eucharist, let us look to Mother Teresa’s example and seek her intercession. St. Teresa of Calcu a, pray for us! ✢
As a young priest and bishop, I witnessed firsthand St. Teresa of Calcutta’s intrepid faith and charity
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THE PREMIERE of the Knights of Columbus documentary about St. Teresa of Calcu a brings back memories of my encounters with her. I met her because of my role as priest-sec retary to Cardinal James Hickey in Wash ington, D.C. In 1981, soon a er his arrival in Washington, then-Archbishop Hickey invited Mother Teresa’s sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, to open a convent there. Mother Te resa accepted the invitation and wisely chose to open a convent for her contemplative sisters. eir prayerfulness paved the way for the works of charity of her active sisters, who were soon to arrive.
“I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
Blessed Bartolomé Gutiérrez (1580-1632)
ChallengeChaplain’sSupreme
Haringphoto/PaulCNS—CommonsMuseum/WikimediaHermitageState1669/Thec.Rijn,vanHarmenszoonRembrandtby Sept. 3 St. Gregory the Great Sept. 8 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sept. 9 St. Peter Claver (USA) Sept. 13 St. John Chrysostom Sept. 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sept. 15 Our Lady of Sorrows Sept. 16 Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian Sept. 20 Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Paul Chong Ha-sang and Companions Sept. 21 St. Matthew Sept. 23 St. Pius of Pietrelcina Sept. 27 St. Vincent de Paul Sept. 29 Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Sept. 30 St. Jerome
Liturgical Calendar Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intention
FATHER BARTOLOMÉ Gutiérrez knew the dangers of mission work in 17th-century Japan, and he faced them with fortitude and even humor. Teased by colleagues that he was too fat to be a missionary, Father Gutiérrez is said to have joked, prophetically, “All the be er — there will be more relics to distribute when I die a martyr.” Gutiérrez was born in Mexico City in 1580. He joined the Order of St. Au gustine at age 16 and, a er ordination, ministered in Puebla. In 1606, Father Gutiérrez set out for the Philippines, where he served as the order’s master of novices for six years before traveling to Japan.eChurch had been growing rapidly in Japan since the mid-1500s, but so had suspicion and persecution of the Chris tian faith. A group of 26 missionaries and converts had been cruci ed in 1597, becoming the country’s rst martyrs. In 1614, just two years a er Father Gutiér rez arrived, Christianity was banned and virtually all foreign missionaries expelled. Father Gutiérrez sailed back to Manila initially but returned a few years later, undeterred by the perilous prospect of serving in Japan. In 1618, he and Father Pedro Zuñiga, whose Spanish father had served as viceroy of Mexico, entered the country together, disguised as Formerchants.morethan a decade, Father Gutiérrez ministered to the faithful, preaching and administering the sacraments in secret. To evade detection, he o en lived outdoors, with scant food and shelter. Captured and imprisoned in 1629, he refused to apostatize despite being scalded repeatedly in hot sulfurous springs. He was eventually burned at the stake on Sept. 3, 1632, in Nagasaki, alongside several other priests and Japanese laymen. Pope Pius IX beati ed him among 205 martyrs of Japan in 1867. ✢
Catholic Man of the Month
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A monthly reflection and practical challenge from Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori
We pray that the death penalty, which attacks the dignity of the human person, may be legally abolished in every country.
(Gospel for Sept. 11, Lk 15:7) This Gospel reading links the parable of the lost sheep with the parable of the prodigal son. Together these parables remind us that God constantly seeks us whenever we go astray. We are all sinners, and like the prodigal son we must wake up, repent and return to the Father. When we do this, we find that he runs to meet us. My brother Knights, let us create some joy in heaven. Let us recognize that we are sinners in need of repentance and ask the Father for his forgiveness.
Challenge: This month, I chal lenge you to watch the “Sacra mental Life” episode of the Into the Breach video series, particu larly reflecting on the importance of the sacrament of reconcilia tion. Second, I challenge you to participate in the Faith in Action Sacramental Gifts program.
Her story encapsulates the lesson at the core of Mother Teresa’s mission and of the new documentary, which marks the 25th anniversary of the saint’s death. Filmed on five continents, it is an ambitious project, but it has a simple message. As Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly says in the film, “Mother Teresa taught us that there are no expendable people. Everyone has dignity and worth because everyone is made in the image of God.”
SAINT OF THE Peripheries
By James Day
A new K of C film chronicles Mother Teresa’s life and mission to bring Christ’s love to the poorest of the poor
C ristiane, a former drug addict on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, never met St. Teresa of Calcu a, but she was transformed by her legacy. In a powerful moment of Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, a new feature-length documentary produced by the Knights of Columbus, Cris tiane recalls her life in Cracolândia, or “Crackland” — an area where Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity minister to homeless addicts who have been banned even from the slums. e sisters’ witness of love changed her life. “We turned into zombies in search of drugs, living as if nothing else in the world existed,” Cristiane says. “ e sisters
helped me with everything. And the biggest support was hearing ‘I love you’ from the sisters. It’s Jesus who lls all the voids we have inside us.”
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PAST AND PRESENT Mother Teresa: No Greater Love takes a multilayered approach to telling the story of its remarkable subject. Dramatic recreations and historical footage of Mother Teresa, from her childhood in present-day North Macedonia, under the O oman Empire, to her work in the slums of India, are jux taposed with the current work of the Missionaries of Charity.
At the same time, interviews with a wide array of people who knew or were deeply a ected by Mother Teresa punctuate the narrative with insights about her early life, her spirituality and her missionary vision. us, as viewers are taken on far- ung geographical jour neys to witness the Missionaries of Charity at work today — from the Philippines to Kenya to Haiti — they are also led on a historical and spiritual journey in the footsteps of the dimin utive saint, who was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in 1910. e refreshing, nonlinear structure complements the scope of Mother Teresa’s reach and immerses viewers in the work of the Missionaries of Charity in a visceral, un inching way. “We felt early on that this lm needed to be more than just a chronological biography of Mother Teresa’s life,” director David Naglieri explained. “We wanted the viewer to gain an
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Mother Teresa speaks with an elderly man at the Kalighat home for the dying and destitute in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), India, in October 1979. Later the same year, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for “bringing help to su ering humanity.”
While Mother Teresa was a household name at the end of the 20th century, Father Kolodiejchuk hopes the
Viewed through this lens, the gripping scenes shot in Rio’s Cracolândia take on even deeper meaning. Moving through the mud streets of the favela in their pristine blue-and-white saris, the Missionaries of Charity share food and words of greeting with drug peddlers and addicts sprawled on the ground. Unper turbed by the squalor, they only see the person in front of them as Christ.
A CHALLENGE TO LOVE
As director of the Mother Teresa Center in Rome, Father Kol odiejchuk had long received pitches from Hollywood compa nies seeking to produce a narrative feature lm about the saint. Dissatis ed with their proposals, he approached the Knights of Columbus about making a documentary. He had collabo rated with the Knights for years and particularly admired the award-winning 2016 K of C-produced documentary Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism.
For Mother Teresa, there was an intimate connection between serving Christ in the poor and adoring him in the Blessed
e lm o ers glimpses of the sisters’ care for lepers, aban doned babies, drug addicts and others crushed by poverty and indi erence. Images of su ering and destitution make for di cult viewing at times, but this is to the credit of the lmmakers. One feels on location with the sisters as they bear witness to the Gospel: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).
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Left: Pope John Paul II greets Mother Teresa during the pope’s apostolic visit to Albania in April 1993. • Above: In scenes from the new documentary Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, Missionaries of Charity around the world serve Christ in the poorest of the poor and adore him in the Eucharist: (from top) feeding a child at a home for severely handicapped children in Nairobi, Kenya; at adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel of the order’s motherhouse in Kolkata; bringing the Eucharist to a homebound man in a remote village in Amazonas, Brazil.
“MotherSacrament.said,‘Ican’t do this work without having the Eucharist every day,’” explained Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, a member of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers and postulator for the cause of Mother Teresa’s canonization. “And that comes across in the film — the connection between Jesus present in the Eucharist and Jesus present in the poorest of the poor.”
understanding of who Mother Teresa was, but also to trans mit how her singular vision to serve Christ in the poorest of the poor continues to be realized today through the inspiring work of the Missionaries of Charity.”
Mother Teresa did accept Supreme Knight Dechant’s o er the following year to print the constitutions of the Missionaries of Charity at the K of C printing plant. But her personal approach was again evident: She insisted on delivering the document by hand to Supreme Council headquarters in New Haven, Conn., after which she gave an impromptu speech to nearly 600 employees.
“Send us your Knights and their families. Let them help us with the soup kitchens and our work,” she told then-Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant in 1987, after turning down a monthly stipend that she feared would make her sisters too dependent on regular support rather than God’s providence. From these words was born Operation Share, an Orderwide program to collaborate with Missionar ies of Charity in their many apostolates.
Champions of Charity: Mother Teresa and the Knights of Columbus
In January 2016, the Supreme Council commissioned a portrait of Mother Teresa, by artist Chas Fagan, as a gift to the Missionaries of Charity. Later that year, it became the o cial portrait for her canonization, and the Order printed 1 million prayer cards featuring the image. ✢
e
Mother Teresa: No Greater Love is slated for release in more than 700 theaters across the United States, Oct. 3-4. To learn more about the lm and group ticket sales, visit motherteresamovie.com
Since Mother Teresa’s death in 1997, the Knights of Columbus has continued its support for projects of the Missionaries of Charity, including the printing and shipping of numerous copies of their prayer book and hymnal, prayer cards, and volumes of Mother Teresa’s letters and instructions to her congregation.
Supreme Council — whose relationship with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity dates back many decades (see sidebar) — agreed to the project, and lming took place between October 2021 and February 2022, even as the omicron variant of the coronavirus spread around the world. e face masks worn by the sis ters in many scenes serve as a wordless reminder that their vocation to love the poorest of the poor never ceases de spite lockdowns and social distancing.
SEPTEMBER 2022 ✢ COLUMBIA 9 ArchivesMultimediaColumbusofKnights
“Holiness is not the luxury of the few. It is a simple duty for you and for me,” she told the delegates. “This is my prayer for you, that you grow in holiness, to want that love for one another and that you share this love with all you meet.”
Sister Mary Joseph, superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, hopes that the documentary will sensitize viewers to the suffering of the poor and move them to open their hearts and hands. “The film challenges us to move out of our own petty self-centeredness to a greater generosi ty of spirit, toward God and our fellow man,” she said. is observation is echoed by Su preme Knight Kelly in the lm: “When [Mother Teresa] was feeding the hungry or holding the hand of some one who was dying, she was teaching us to have a heart that sees. And if we can do this, if we can see the world and each other more like Mother Teresa did, then the world would be a radically di erent and I think be er place.”
Artist Chas Fagan and Patrick Kelly, then executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, join two Missionaries of Charity to unveil the painting commissioned by the Knights of Columbus in 2016.
Mother Teresa spoke to Knights again in 1992, when she accepted the Order’s inaugural Gaudium et Spes Award — its highest honor — at the 110th Supreme Convention in New York City.
JAMES DAY is the television opera tions manager for EWTN’s west coast studio in California and the author of several books, including Saint Michael the Archangel (OSV, 2020).
MOTHER TERESA of Calcutta knew she could turn to the Knights of Columbus when she needed assistance with various needs and projects. However, more than financial donations from the Order, she wanted its members, like her own Missionaries of Charity, to serve Christ by serving the poorest of the poor.
documentary will introduce the saint to a new generation 25 years a er her“Wedeath.don’t assume any more that there’s a general knowledge of Mother Teresa in the culture,” he said. “I think people don’t realize just what an im portant world gure she was. Not since St. Francis of Assisi did someone have such an outreach or impact or e ect beyond the Church.”
“This is such a small thing, but I ask: Where does that love begin in your own life, in your own family? You know that families that pray together, stay togeth er,” she said. “Come and see, do not be afraid to share that joy of loving. … Let love begin at home.”
MERCIFUL LOVE Sister M. Bernice grew up in Baltimore and joined the Missionar ies of Charity a er reading a 1975 Time magazine article about Mother Teresa. At their rst meeting, Mother Teresa gave Sister M. Bernice her religious name; at their second meeting, Mother led her and other sisters straight into gun re in order to have a word with the leader of a Chicago gang. e very rst time I met Mother Teresa was when she gave me my name. I was accepted into the aspirancy in the Bronx, and then Mother came. My [vocation director] asked me to ask Mother if she could give me a name. So Mother was coming down the hall and I approached her. I said, “Mother, I don’t have a name.” She looked at me and said, “What is your mother’s name?” I said, “My mother’s name is Bernice.” Mother put her head down to pray; then she li ed it up and put her two hands on my head and blessed me. She said, “Your name is Sister Mary Bernice.” As I continued my aspi rancy, I remembered that moment. Even when they taught me the bells, I was always in the wrong place — instead of the study room, I was in the chapel. But I used to say, “Moth er blessed me and gave me my name. I’m going to go on.” e second time I met her was when we le New York to go for postulancy in Chicago. It was a terrifying experience. e gangs had taken over that area. We were surrounded by ve high-rise apartments and we could see the ri es sur rounding us, shooting at us every day. We noti ed our Mother and she came. We were so relieved to see our Mother because we thought she would take us out of there. But that morning she called us together for one of the biggest lessons on love that I have ever known. She said, “Sisters, I sent you here to love. I don’t care if they’re killing. We came here to love. We can turn hate into love.” And then she said, “Take me now to the door where they are shooting us.” We could not believe it. As we were walking toward the door, all these buildings surrounding us, the ri es were pointed out and kept shooting at us. Not one bullet touched us. And when we reached the door, this big man said to Mother Teresa, “Mother, you can’t come in here. I have business in here.” And Mother put her head down. And she looked up at him and she said, “I too have business in here.
For numerous people, meeting Mother Teresa was a pivotal turning point in their lives Encounters With Mother D
A er that, as soon we would walk by, the guy would say, “Cease the re. Let Mother Teresa’s sisters pass.” But as soon as we stepped by, boom, boom, boom. I went in that building every day for one year and came out safely.
ozens of men and women personally affected by St. Teresa of Calcutta were interviewed for the new Knights of Columbus-produced documentary, Mother Teresa: No Greater Love . Some knew her well, and some met her only once. Here are just two of their stories, in their own words.
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Mother Teresa’s highest characteristic was her merciful love for everyone. She wouldn’t care if they were a killer or robber or drug addict — they’re children of God, and they have an opportunity to go into heaven. “They stopped shooting at us. They became our best friends. This is what Mother taught me and the sisters — to love until it hurts, even if they want to kill you.”
Mother Teresa did another beautiful thing. She said, “Sisters, invite the gangs to eat in the soup kitchen. Let them come in and eat rst.” So we served the gang that was shoot ing at us. ey stopped shooting at us. ey became our best friends. is is what Mother taught me and the sisters — to love until it hurts, even if they want to kill you.
Let us make a deal.” e man was so shocked that Mother would speak this way. He said, “You can come in here, Moth er. I can’t stop my business. But I will protect your sisters.”
I’ve always looked at it like God sent Mother Tere sa there speci cally for me. e way I’ve always joked about it — but it’s really not a joke — is that God sent his number one assistant on earth for me. Be cause I am as broken and as in need as those people in Calcu a if I don’t have God, if I don’t have Christ. ✢ “I’ve always looked at it like God sent Mother Teresa there specifically for me. The way I’ve always joked about it — but it’s really not a joke — is that God sent his number one assistant on earth for me.”
The priest, Father Jim Fratus, comes to me, very excited, and says, “Mother Teresa is coming to this prison.” I said, “Oh, that’s fantastic, Father, that’s so great. Who is Mother Teresa?” Over the course of the next two weeks, I did a little research and sort of understood the magnitude of what was happening. Or at least I thought I understood the magnitude. But I really didn’t; I had no concept of what it would mean to me. e day came, and I was walk ing through the quad when I saw a group coming in the front door. At a certain point, they kind of parted, and here’s this li le woman. And as they get closer, I see that this is Mother Teresa. I became aware of a couple of things: I became aware of her sweater because it looked like it was 200 years old. And then I looked down at her feet. If her sweater looked like it was 200 years old, her shoes look like they were 1,000 years old. I felt as though I was seeing true humility. Mass was in the gymnasium. There was a stage that served as the altar, and I remember the cardinal sort of beckoning Mother Teresa. He had a special chair for her, he wanted her to come and sit with him. She humbly refused and instead stayed there on the floor, with her sis ters, with the inmates. I remember her being there on her knees and me looking over. And I can tell you that there was a sense for me that I was looking at the face of God. It was that profound for me. en the time came for her to speak. And the words that she said changed my life. She got up and she just told us the facts. And the facts were that we were children of God, that Jesus Christ died for us — and that we were more than the crimes that we commi ed, that God loved us. And I go a tell you that there was a moment when the 800 people there seemed to be gone, and she was talking to me and only me. e rest of the day is a li le foggy. I remember going back to my cell and not really being able to sleep — and when the doors opened the next morning, kind of running back to Father Fratus and saying to him, “Father, I don’t know what’s going on. But I need to know more about the God that she’s talking about. And not the God that I was raised with. I need to know more about this Jesus that she’s talking about.” He immediately kind of laughed. He said, “We’re gonna teach you more about this Jesus,” and he just embraced me.
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‘THE FACE OF GOD’ Jim Wahlberg encountered Mother Teresa when he was a Massachuse s state prison inmate in 1988. e 22-year-old was serving time for home invasion and had spent years addicted to alcohol and drugs. Hearing Mother Teresa speak was a turning point in his life, leading him toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, Wahlberg is a speaker, writer and advocate for people struggling with addiction, as well as executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.
e Knights of Columbus is doing just that. Its ongoing charitable work to help young mothers choose life and care for their newborns, boosted by the new ASAP (Aid and Support A er Pregnancy) program, is the same “love in action” that Mother Pro-Life in Word and Deed
Mother Teresa would have rejoiced at the end of Roe — and then gone back to work caring for women and children in need
By Jim Towey Teresa displayed throughout her life. By assisting pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes, Knights are following in Mother’s footsteps.
Her appeal has an even greater urgency today. ere is work to be done, ASAP. ✢
12 COLUMBIA ✢ SEPTEMBER 2022 I WAS AT THE National Prayer Breakfast in 1994 when Mother Teresa told the thousands in a endance — including the president and rst lady, Bill and Hillary Clinton — that abortion was the greatest destroyer of peace in the world. Echoing her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech 15 years earlier, she asked, “If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?”
When I ran Florida’s health and human services agency in the early 1990s, I oversaw a system with 10,000 foster kids, and I saw the supports needed for at-risk mothers to thrive: stable housing, access to medical care and mental health services, a ordable childcare, and education and training programs tailored to their needs. Such initiatives aren’t cheap or easy to provide. Citizen involvement is critical, whether that means volunteering to mentor at a er-school programs, supporting faith-based partnerships with government, promoting adoption alternatives, or campaigning for candidates, at all levels of government, who are willing to prioritize interventions that give at-risk moms a ghtingAcrosschance.America and around the world, there are pregnant women hungering for accompaniment, children thirsting to be fostered, childcare and a er-school programs starved for volunteers, and emergency shelters for families craving capacity and funds.
If she were alive today, Mother Teresa would have rejoiced in the news that the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade had been overturned. She believed all life is sa cred because of the divine imprint it bears. As she said during her prayer breakfast speech in 1994, “ at unborn child has been carved in the hand of God from conception and is called by God to love and be loved.” But Mother Teresa would have also recognized that a culture of life does not depend on human laws as much as on human hearts willing to care for those in need. She knew that if communities did not treat women facing di cult, if not unbearable, nancial and social circumstances with more compassion, many of them would continue to have recourse to abortion, legal or not. Mother was emphatically pro-life, and she was equally determined to defend the poor — and most especially poor women. In fact, barely 5 miles from the Washington hotel where she spoke so forcefully, her Missionaries of Charity ran a home where they cared for pregnant women and their children. Mother knew that to protect life, it wasn’t enough to oppose abortion; you had to provide a viable alternative.
JIM TOWEY, a trusted friend and adviser to Mother Teresa for 12 years, is author of To Love and Be Loved: A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa (Simon and Schuster, September 2022) and a member of Father Hugon Council 3521 in Tallahassee, Fla.
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Mother Teresa greets Jim Towey and his infant son, Joe, in June 1995, outside the Gift of Peace House in Washington, D.C. The home was opened nine years earlier to serve people dying of AIDS.
e ballroom was as divided on the subject of abortion that morning as the country is today.
Much of the public today does not know how to balance the rights of nascent human life with those of the anguished mother. Political ba le lines have been drawn in response to the high court’s decision. However, what is needed from both sides is a comprehensive plan to spare women the agonizing decision between terminating a pregnancy or bearing a child she cannot care for.
At the prayer breakfast, Mother Teresa invited us all to unite in common cause. “Let us make that one point — that no child will be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, or killed and thrown away,” she said. “And give until it hurts — with a smile.”
Some a endees at the breakfast in Washington, D.C., sat in frozen silence as she delivered her speech, only a few feet from the Clintons. Others interrupted her remarks with prolonged applause.
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By Kyle Greenham
Journey of HEALING AND RECONCILIATION
ope Francis addressed a packed crowd of In digenous parishioners at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmon ton, Alberta, on July 25. Speaking before the taberna cle, designed to resemble a teepee, his words went to the very heart of his July 24-29 pastoral visit to Canada. “ e teepee reminds us that God accompanies us on our journey and loves to meet us together. And when he became man, the Gospel tells us, he literally ‘pitched his tent among us,’” the Holy Father said. “ at is what we should call to mind every time that we enter a church, where Jesus is present in the tabernacle, a word that itself originally meant ‘tent.’ erefore, God has placed his tent in our midst; he accom panies us through our deserts. He does not dwell in heavenly mansions, but in our Church, which he wants to be a house of Reconciliationreconciliation.” and healing between the Catholic Church and the Indigenous peoples of Canada was the central aim of the pope’s apostolic journey, which took place under the theme “Walking Together.” Pope Francis visited the provinc es of Alberta and Québec and the territory of Nunavut, and he apologized on several occasions for the Church’s role in running Canada’s residential schools and the abuses suffered there. For more than a century, the government-sponsored school system separated children from their families and sought to expunge aspects of Indigenous culture, language and religion.
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Pope Francis kisses the hand of an Indigenous leader during a meeting with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities at Maskwacis, Alberta, July 25.
In support of the pope’s visit, the Knights of Co lumbus provided nancial assistance to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bish ops, and local Knights played a key role in the volunteer e orts around the papal events. K of C leaders from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick were also present at the papal Masses in Alber ta and FormerQuébec.Supreme War den Graydon Nicholas, a member of the Maliseet First Nation and consultant for the supreme knight on Indigenous affairs, was grateful that Pope Francis came to Canada to meet with affected communities. “ e residential school survivors and intergenerational families will look forward to walking with our Church and non-Indigenous brothers and sisters toward healing and reconciliation,” Nicholas said. “It will take a long time for trust and con dence to be restored, but the pope brought a message of hope.”
‘I ASK FORGIVENESS’ e Holy Father’s visit was prompted by a Vatican meeting in March between the pope and representatives of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Indigenous peoples. At that time, Pope Francis apologized to them for the Church’s role in the residential school system and promised to do so again publicly on Canadian soil. Four months later, on July 25, Pope Francis began the first full day of his apostolic journey with a visit to the First Pope Francis makes a penitential pilgrimage to meet with the Indigenous peoples of Canada
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14 COLUMBIA ✢ SEPTEMBER 2022 Nations community of Maskwacis in central Alberta, formerly the site of one of Canada’s largest residen tial“Ischools.amhere because the first step of my penitential pilgrimage among you is that of again asking forgive ness, of telling you once more that I am deeply sorry,” the pope said. “I ask forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the Church and of religious communities cooperated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residen tialLaterschools.”thata ernoon, the Holy Father visited Edmonton’s Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, which was renovated a er a dev astating re with support from the Order in time for the pope’s visit (seeOnsidebar).July26, the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Pope Francis celebrated an outdoor Mass in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium before trav eling to Lac Ste. Anne, a site sacred to Indigenous peoples in Alberta. A Catholic pilgrimage to the lake has been held each July since the late 19th century, drawing tens of thousands of Indigenous peoples annually.
“The grandmother, the kokum , is very important in Indigenous cultures,” explained Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton. “As the mother of the Blessed Virgin and
• Top right: Knights of Columbus leaders are pictured outside Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples after Pope Francis’ visit there — from left, Gaston Launière, state deputy of Alberta and a member of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsi pekuk First Nation; Ferdinand Mendita, immediate past state deputy of Alberta; Ronald Martineau, secretary of the parish finance council and a member of the Frog Lake First Nation, as well as St. Christopher Council 4788 in Edmonton; and Supreme Director Arcie Lim, past state deputy of British Columbia.
Above: Pope Francis speaks to parishioners of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 25. He praised their generous “works of charity” for the poor and reflected on the meaning of reconciliation in light of the wounds endured by Canada’s Indigenous peoples.
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ELISHA VALLADARES-CORMIER is associate editor of Columbia and a mem ber of Bishop John Mussio Council 9804 at the Franciscan University of Steuben ville, Ohio. Pope Francis receives a gift from Celina Loyer and Fernie Marty, parishioners of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples. Marty, a parish elder, is also a member of St. Christo pher Council 4788 in Edmonton.
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TWO YEARS AFTER a fire gutted Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, the church was renovated days before parishioners welcomed Pope Francis on July 25. The renovation was made possible, in part, through the support of local Knights of Columbus and the Supreme Council.
Sacred Heart Church, built in 1913, has been a spiritual home for the country’s Indigenous Catholics since it was established as the first national parish for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in 1991. In August 2020, an accidental fire caused major damage to the church’s interior.
Two Knights from Council 4788 — Mar tineau and Fernie Marty — were among several parishioners who met the pope and presented him with gifts.
Father Jesu invited Pope Francis to visit his parish this past spring, shortly after the pope met with Indigenous leaders in the Vatican. Upon the Holy Father’s acceptance and the scheduling of his visit, arrangements were made to expedite the church’s renovation, which wasn’t slated to be complete untilAmongNovember.theIndigenous design elements introduced in the church’s remodel were a teepee-shaped taber nacle and a set of tall teepee poles over the new altar, which was crafted from a large tree trunk.
“It means the world for him to come here, especially with his message,” Martineau said afterward. “We are so proud of the Indigenous aspects of this church. … I was looking around the crowd today and I wasn’t the only one that had tears.”
An Indigenous parish church in Alberta is renovated with help from Knights just in time for papal visit By Elisha Valladares-Cormier healing process for Indigenous people.
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“What a feeling you have when a dire need is happening, and the Knights of Columbus are there to help,” said Father Susai Jesu, the pastor of Sacred Heart since 2017 and a member of the Knights.
Recognizing the importance of restoring this place of worship, Knights in Alberta raised more than CA$155,000 toward the CA$2 million shortfall. The Supreme Council also contributed $50,000 to restore the “historic and sacred space.” In a letter to Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said that this com bined support “adds another important dimension to the Order’s ongoing e orts to aid Indigenous communities.”
“You could see people walking around with tears running down their face. It was just heartbreaking,” said Ronald Martineau, secretary of the parish finance council and a member of the Frog Lake First Nation, as well as St. Christopher Council 4788 in Edmonton. The community was forced to cel ebrate Sunday Mass in a school gym for almost two years. The discovery of asbestos and subsequent decisions to renovate the parish, including the instal lation of a new heating system, drove the cost to more than CA$9 million. Insurance covered only CA$7 million.
During Pope Francis’ meeting at Sa cred Heart Church of the First Peoples, he expressed his desire to continue the
A ‘Historic and Sacred Space’
“Mothers and grandmothers help to heal the wounds of our hearts,” he said in his address at Lac Ste. Anne. “At the dramatic time of the conquest, Our Lady of Guadalupe transmitted the true faith to the Indigenous people, speaking their own language and clothed in their own garments, without violence or imposition. … In Canada, this ‘maternal inculturation’ took place through St. Anne, combining the beau ty of Indigenous traditions and faith, and fashioning them with the wisdom of a grandmother, who is a mother twice over.”
A STEP ALONG THE ROAD
Father Bouve e, a young priest whose father is Indigenous Cree and Métis and whose mother is Italian, is a longtime member of Joe McKenna Council 90502 in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
“Standing guard with our Lord in the holy Eucharist and showing him the reverence we ought to show him as Knights is a service that is hidden and known to no one but him,” he said. “That should be the greatest service of all.”e next day, as the papal visit neared its conclusion, the Holy Father met with a delegation of Indigenous peoples from Québec and entrusted the path ahead to three women: St. Anne, the Virgin Mary and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
Father Cristino Bouve e, the nation al liturgical director of the papal visit, particularly thanked Knights for serving as “guards of the Blessed Sacrament” at large-scale Masses during the papal visit, helping to facilitate the reverent distribution of holy Communion.
Graydon Nicholas concurred.
“Reconciliation will be about walking together, non-Indigenous people with Indigenous people, accepting one another as brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said. “ is has been a long time coming, and it was a moment of grace.”
“Two of them, Our Lady and St. Kat eri, received from God a plan for their lives, and … courageously said ‘yes’ to it,” the pope said. “With meekness and determination, with prophetic words and decisive gestures, they blazed a trail and accomplished what they had been called to do. May they bless the journey we now share, and intercede for us and for this great work of healing and reconciliation that is so pleasing to AfterGod.”spending the remainder of the day with the Inuit peoples of Nunavut, Canada’s northernmost territory, the Holy Father returned to Rome July 29, ending his penitential pilgrimage. But as Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, archbish op of Québec, noted, the road toward healing is just beginning.
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Pope Francis blesses the crowd as he participates in a pilgrimage at Lac Ste. Anne, Al berta, July 26. Father Cristino Bouvette (holding holy water basin), a priest of Indigenous Cree and Métis ancestry and longtime member of the Knights, served as the national liturgical director of the papal visit.
The pope’s pilgrimage continued in Québec, with the largest Mass taking place July 28 in the Basilica of Ste. Anne-de-Beaupré, one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Canada. Like Lac St. Anne, the national shrine has long been considered a sacred place by Indigenous Catholics. Graydon Nicholas, Supreme Director Arthur Peters and Supreme Director Daniel Duchesne were among those attending the Mass. As in Ed monton, local Knights served in a wide variety of roles, including directing pilgrims to buses and boats bound for the shrine, which sits on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.
KYLE GREENHAM is editor of North ern Light , the magazine of the Archdi ocese of Grouard-McLennan in Alberta, and a member of Msgr. Joseph Malone Council 13312 in Edmonton.
therefore the grandmother of Jesus, a wonderful, beautiful devotion to St. Anne has grown.” In his homilies and addresses, Pope Francis underscored the importance of honoring one’s parents and grandpar ents and the traditions they pass on.
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“This visit is already a big step, as I don’t think there’s ever been a meeting of this magnitude,” Cardinal Lacroix said. “Healing is a process that takes time. We have a long way to go, but we’re on the right path.”
Top: The Holy Father (right, in popemobile) greets the crowd before cele brating Mass at the Basilica of Ste.-Anne-de-Beaupré in Québec on July 28.
• Above: Supreme Director Daniel Duchesne, Supreme Director Arthur Pe ters and former Supreme Warden Graydon Nicholas, a member of the Mali seet First Nation, stand together after the papal Mass. • Left: Pope Francis delivers the homily as he leads vespers in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Québec on July 28. Seated second to the right is Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, archbishop of Québec.
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An exuberant throng of Catholic families from around the globe gathers for the World Meeting of Families nearly every three years. Established in 1994 by St. John Paul II, the event has varied in size, depending on the venue and circumstances. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participation at the 10th World Meeting was limited to 2,000 families. Nonetheless, del egations from 120 countries traveled to Rome, coming together June 22-26 under the theme “Family Life: A Vocation and Path to MoreHoliness.”than a dozen families joined the U.S. delegation, led by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, who serves as chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. Damon and Melanie Owens made the journey with five of their eight children, thanks in part to financial support from Damon’s brother Knights in St. Patrick Council 15346 in Kennett Square, Pa., and a grant from the Supreme Council. In the past three decades, Damon and Melanie have trained more than 20,000 couples in marriage preparation, natural family planning and theology of the body. They were presenters at the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, and in 2020 they founded Joyful Ever After, a Catholic ministry to renew and transform marriages.
A Knight reflects on marriage, joy and participating in the 10th World Meeting of Families
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Damon also served as the first executive director of the The ology of the Body Institute and was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Francis in 2018 for his service to the Church in support of marriage and family. He spoke with Columbia about his journey of faith, his work and his family’s experience at the recent meeting in Rome.
‘REAL, AUTHENTIC LOVE’ Melanie and I were both cradle Catholics, and the faith was always part of our lives growing up — she in California and I in New Jersey. But going to college in the ’80s and then grad uate school, we each dri ed away from the faith — not being angry, not having a particular issue with the Church, but just being absorbed and distracted by the secular culture, mainly around sexuality and relationships. God brought us together at the University of California at Berkeley, of all places, where we fell deeply in love. And it was there that we also reached a crisis where everything we’d experienced in college — all of our beliefs around inti macy and relationships and marriage — failed us. We were both, in our unique way, broken. Because what we wanted was real, authentic love, we made an affirmative decision to stop having sex and to come back to the Church. It was an incredibly difficult two-year journey, but it drew us so much closer to each other by coming closer to Christ and the Church.atjourney led us not just to the altar in 1993, but also launched us into a passion to want to learn more, to teach more, to be around our peers and other couples. We immedi ately went into marriage preparation training, learned natural family planning, became teachers in the rst six months of our marriage, and started telling our story of coming back to the faith — how we learned to express our sexual love for each other in a way that God delights in. We saw the impact this had on our peers in those early years, and we saw the great need. As we started to study more theology, I was introduced to John Paul II’s theology of the body and Familiaris Consortio, which opened up a whole world of explanation, understanding and coherence.
By Damon Owens GIFT OF Family Life
“Being a better husband, being a better father is directly related to becoming a saint, to our own personal holiness, but also to drawing our families, our communities and the world to that holiness.”
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It revealed an unending beauty about who we are, why we’re here, and what marriage is in God’s salvation plan. All of these years of ministry led up to a surprise invitation in February from Archbishop Cordileone and the good folks at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to be part of the U.S. delegation to the World Meeting of Families.
MEETING IN JOY
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Concretely, our ministry work has involved an a entiveness to couples who don’t have a strong foundation of faith, yet who are close enough to the Church that they’re coming to priests and Catholic lay apostolates and therapists for help. is a entiveness has helped us to see divorce and cohab itation and all these statistics we track as more than abstract problems. Couples are really, really hurting. e statistics are real, but the ministry isn’t to change the world’s divorce rate; the ministry is walking with a couple, as many couples as you can, and opening your life to them. at’s really the heart of our new Joyful Ever A er ministry. Joy has been a key theme in our work. As much as you focus on love — and we need to, for it’s the center of ev erything — joy is something you can’t fake, it just wells up within. And everybody wants joy, not just happiness, not just peace in the sense of quiet. People want a joyful life. So joy has been a connection I’ve had with Pope Francis and the language he uses, from Evangelii Gaudium ( e Joy of the Gospel) to Amoris Laetitia ( e Joy of Love). At this World Meeting of Families, joy was very much front and center in the witness stories — either the lack of joy or the desire for it or the wounds around it. e theme of joy permeated the witness stories of these couples from around theItworld.wasliterally a World Meeting of Families, with couples from African and Asian countries, South American and Damon and Melanie Owens stand with five of their eight children — left to right, Collette, Nathan, Olivia, Leah and Veronica — in front of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican during the World Meeting of Families on June 25.
ON THE FRONTLINES
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Pope Francis opens the World Meeting of Families in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican June 22. The Festival of Families, an evening of shar ing and music, was the opening event of the five-day meeting.
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the beautiful when it comes to marriage and to family. And I think the Supreme Council has done invaluable work in being a consistent advocate for the goodness of fatherhood and for what marriage is. Some of it is the Faith in Action programs; some of it is informational, such as Columbia, and highlight ing what is essential and irreplaceable. Because I travel quite a bit around the country, no ma er where I go, I’m meeting brother Knights who are involved either in hosting events or a ending events. Knights are everywhere, and I love it. ese are my brothers and we’re consistently working together. is may sound trite, but one of the beautiful things about our brotherhood is that we grow where God has put us. We bloom where we’re planted. Not everyone is called to go to a World Meeting of Families; not everyone is called to be in politics or to be business owners; but every Knight has a cir cle of in uence. In that circle of in uence, there is something that will be directly impacted by us prioritizing our marriage, doing our work, being courageous, and sacri cing in a way that may not get headlines. It is the part of cultural change that the Knights of Columbus was founded for.
Being a be er husband, being a be er father is directly re lated to becoming a saint, to our own personal holiness, but also to drawing our families, our communities and the world to that holiness.
European countries. And it was eye- and heart-opening to learn how much we have in common. Under the visual and obvious differences between nations and cultures and fami lies, there was something very real about our Catholic faith that tied us together. Also uniting us are the common issues that we’re dealing with: unity within the family, peace and love as a husband and a wife, communication, misunder standing, wounds, infidelity to God and to each other, the difficulty in parenting.
To hear from a family from Nigeria or the Philippines or Poland, and to hear the same struggles — with nuanced dif ferences, but the same aching, the same longing — was very beautiful and powerful.
I’ve been a member of the Knights for a while, and there’s a power in the Order’s advocacy for the good, the true, and
I was pleased to discover that of the delegate couples from around the United States, most of the men were members of the Knights of Columbus. That clearly was not intention al, but I think it speaks volumes both to who the Knights attract and to who is working to build marriage and family in the U.S. I was like, “Man, look how many Knights are working on these frontline issues and have been recognized for their work.”
Each of us makes countless small decisions every day. Should I exercise now, or help my son with his homework? Should I develop myself to be what I may think God has called me to be, or is it time for me to serve my family? The principle of communion preserves a delicate tension between each person’s development and his or her contribution to the family. If we make these small deci sions faithfully, allocating our time prudently among persons and the common good, it will be easier to discern when we come to medi um-sized decisions. And if we use the principle of communion at life’s small and medium junctures, we will be ready when we arrive at big intersections: when we must decide whether to move to another town or take a new job, or how to take care of an elderly parent or a child who has just been released from rehab or prison. Discernment that leads to greater communion with God and others is an invitation that our Lord makes to every family today, even those who feel their life is “crisis upon crisis.” If it is true, as St. John Paul II said, that “the future of humanity passes by way of the family,” then the future will also pass by the way of each family’s daily discernment as a little Trinity, a communion of persons. ✢
Soren and Ever Johnson are pictured at Trinity House Café & Market in Leesburg, Va.
Editor’s Note: Soren and Ever Johnson, joined by their five children (ages 10-19), were among at least eight Knights of Columbus families to participate with the U.S. delegation in the 10th World Meeting of Families, held June 22-26 in Rome (see also page 18). This column is adapted from a presentation they made there on June 25.
THREE YEARS AGO, we felt besieged by life. Soren had been in and out of the hospital for a year with life-threatening emergencies. And during that year we also experienced the sudden death of Soren’s father and the loss of his job. Our five children were all still at home, and we knew that we urgently needed to discern our next step. We thought back to the days when we would go on long retreats to better hear the Lord’s “still, small voice.” Now, in our home, we were surrounded by grief, uncertainty and the clamor of constant needs. For so many families today, this experience of “crisis upon crisis” is normal. It seems impossible to nd the narrow path to heaven when we are surrounded by illness, death, economic instability and worse. How can authentic dis cernment take place amid so much exhaustion, anxiety and brokenness? Before we answer that question, let’s remember what discernment is for. The purpose of discernment is to prepare to live with God in heaven. And living with God means living in communion, because God’s life is one of mutual giving between the Father and Son, which brings about a creative, fruitful communion in the HolyisSpirit.iswhere we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Because fam ilies are already much closer to heaven than we might think! The truth hidden in plain sight is that the family and the Holy Trinity share a stunning similarity: Both are a “com munion of persons” by virtue of the love they share. Our families, made in the image of God, are icons of the Trin ity. “The Christian family,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the
By Soren and Ever Johnson Holy Spirit” (2205). Rather than being distant, the dynam ics of life in heaven already belong to every family. Discernment does not require an escape from family life, a sabbatical from marriage, or a timeout from parenting. By being our very own image of God dwelling in our homes, our families are both our way to heaven and our present taste of it. If our families are both an image of divine communion and a path to grow in it, we must evaluate our choices according to this mystical reality. Of any decision our family faces, we can ask, “Will the likely result of this decision strengthen or weaken our communion?”
Lead your family to the communion of the Holy Trinity by strengthening your communion on earth
SOREN and EVER JOHNSON are the founders of the non profit ministry Trinity House Community. Soren is a member of Holy Family Council 6831 in Leesburg, Va.
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Discerning the Way to Heaven
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COLUMBIA: Do you see connections between growing as an athlete and growing in your faith?
COLUMBIA: What role does the Catholic faith play in your life and in your career as a professional baseball player?
“When you have the goal of heaven in mind,” he says, “everything else kind of goes to the wayside.”
Williams’ professional career, which in the past six years has taken the right-handed pitcher from the Pittsburgh Pi rates to the Chicago Cubs to the New York Mets, is import ant to him. But his Catholic faith is much more important. It guides him and gives him purpose and perspective far beyond the baseball diamond.
I understand that baseball is not the most important thing in the world. It’s something I take very seriously because I’ve been entrusted with this responsibility as a Catholic athlete. I am grateful for what has been given to me. But at the end of the day, does baseball ma er? Not really. So it’s nding that identity as a Catholic man versus a baseball player. My faith also reminds me to celebrate the highs with humility and accept the defeats with grace. It is God who gives us these talents. It’s my gift back to God to say, “I am going to give it my best. I am going to take everything that you’ve given me and make it flourish.” It’s a challenge to know God is still asking me to be in this role. But it will be more of a challenge once he asks me to do something else, to accept that graciously and with a humble heart.
E very time Major League Baseball player Trevor Wil liams raises his hands to deliver a pitch, a small tattoo on the inside of his left wrist — AMDG — reminds him what it’s all about: Ad majorem Dei gloriam , for the greater glory of God.
A father of four, Williams is a member of Catholic Ath letes for Christ and of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Council 9665 in his hometown of San Diego. Earlier this year, he spoke with Columbia about his faith, his family, his non profit work, and his favorite baseball moments.
TREVOR WILLIAMS: I was raised Catholic, but it wasn’t until I started coming into my identity as a man and as a man of God that I realized my Catholic faith is what defines me. And when I found that identity, I took it into my relation ships with my friends and co-workers, into dating and now into my marriage to Jackie. You want to share it with people, and you want to tell people about it. God invites us to have this relationship with him, and we Catholics are so fortunate to have the sacraments and Mary and so many devotions and prayers to help us grow closer to him. So my faith is a constant; if something goes awry at all, it’s my bearings — go back to the Church. It’s the most important thing in my life, my wife’s life and our family’s life.
TREVOR WILLIAMS: As an athlete, I’ve always known that exercise is the way to get be er at something. And when you take that into the spiritual life, you think, OK, what am I do ing to become a be er husband and a father and a Christian? The way I see it, you always go back to the basics. Whenever you try a new pitch or learn a new delivery, it’s always back to the basics. Maybe today I’m going to find my balance point at the top of my delivery and just hit that 20 times. And repeat that over and over and over again.
I think sometimes in our spiritual life, we try to run before we can walk. You order 15 books and you read eight pages out of all of them. Or you start a lecture series and you only get through the first lecture. What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Am I on my knees in front of a cru cifix 24 hours a day? Should I do a Holy Hour right away? Maybe I should start with a holy five minutes, then move to a holy 10 minutes or a holy 15.
Pitching With a HIGHER POWER
An interview with Trevor Williams, a Knight of Columbus, about his faith and how it guides him as a husband, father and professional ballplayer
Trevor Williams of the New York Mets prepares to deliver a pitch against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in New York City on May 31. The Mets defeated the Nationals 10-0.
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Above: Trevor Williams pitches a wi e ball to his son Isaac in their backyard in San Diego. • Opposite page: Williams is pictured with his wife, Jackie, and their four children — Isaac, Josephine, Jude Michael and baby Lucas.
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COLUMBIA: What are some of your favorite big-league moments so far?
TREVOR WILLIAMS: I’ve had a few favorite moments, but the one that stands out way in front of the others is my major league debut in 2016. At the time, my dad had cancer, and he was given 60 to 90 days to live at the beginning of the year. And I was thinking, “I need to get called up in April so he can see this.” But then I had this peace, this sense: “Just wait, it’ll be perfect timing.”
TREVOR WILLIAMS: Jackie and I got married in November 2014 and found out we were pregnant in January 2015. Our oldest, Isaac, is now 7 years old. We had always said that we want to have a big family, but it took some time for us to have another child. So we thought, maybe God is calling us to adopt right now. We went through the adoption process and found out on Divine Mercy Sunday 2019 that we were ge ing a baby; she was going to be born in July. en a few days later — God has a crazy sense of humor — we found out that we were pregnant. So our daughter, Josephine, and our second son, Jude, are exactly six months apart. And we were blessed again with another child, Lucas, last year. Being a father has taught me that I’m not the most import ant thing in the world. As soon as Isaac was born, it was like, “Man, I just went from the most important thing in my world to like number 9 or 10 or 11 on the list.” And it’s a test every
I finally got called up in September and my second day up, I pitched three innings, got the win. And then I got to share a moment with my dad after the game. I gave him a ball and we had a big hug. And it made every practice, every sacrifice that he made, every early morning completely worth it, even if I had no other big-league games. That was the best, bar ankfully,none.mydad is doing be er now, and I have another favorite moment with him. He grew up in Chicago, and he’s been a huge Cubs fan his entire life. When I was a free agent [in 2021], calling to tell him that I was signing with his favor ite team was a special phone call. I only spent half the season there before ge ing traded, but those few months being in Chicago — seeing him in the stands, seeing him like a li le kid again — were incredible.
COLUMBIA: You have young children of your own now — can you tell us about your family and your experience of fatherhood?
SEPTEMBER 2022 ✢ COLUMBIA 25 day — of patience, of being present. I do my best to be a role model to my children; some days it works out great, some days it doesn’t. But I think it’s good to show them that we all make mistakes — and as long as we come back to the cross, as long as we ask for forgiveness, we’re going to come out be er.
TREVOR WILLIAMS: I founded Project 34 with Cory Hahn, my roommate and teammate at Arizona State University. Cory got hurt our opening weekend, when he slid head- rst into second base and collided with the second baseman. It was just like any other play, any other collision, but then he wouldn’t get up. He had no feeling from the neck down. We found out later that he had a burst fracture of his C5 vertebrae. As terrible as his injury was, Cory got lucky in a sense in that it happened on a baseball field — NCAA insurance covered a lot of his treatment and therapy. He would meet other people with spinal cord injuries at rehab, and he saw a twofold need: People need help paying for physical therapy, extra wheelchairs, home modifications, car modifications. But he also saw that some people don’t have the support they need. It’s a monotonous rehab process. Sometimes it takes three years just to scratch your nose. And the people in your corner will burn out because it’s such a long process.
Project 34 became an o cial charity in 2018, and to date, we’ve given out over $100,000 in grants. We’ve helped 40 to 50 families with anything from a complete home modi cation to building a ramp to a year of physical therapy.
COLUMBIA: What inspired you to join the Knights of Columbus?
COLUMBIA: In addition to playing professional baseball, you co-founded a nonprofit that assists people living with spinal cord injuries. What in spired that?
COLUMBIA: What is the significance of the num ber 34?
TREVOR WILLIAMS: Growing up around the Church, you were surrounded by Knights. ey were men of character, men of vir tue, people you looked up to as leaders in our parish. And it was something that I wanted to be a part of — the brotherhood, the camaraderie, the tradition. As a younger man, you might look at the Knights and think, “I’ll wait until I’m older and I have a family.” But what’s the point of a waiting? So I became a Knight in With2018.the baseball lifestyle, you’re moving around a lot. We have moved cities and parishes and I’ve moved to di erent coun cils, but I found my home, nally, in our council at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We came back here because this is where we grew up. is is where our roots are. And to get established in a council that you know you’re going to be with for a long time is something special. ✢
TREVOR WILLIAMS: Cory’s favorite number is 32, but a senior had the number 32 at ASU. So he chose the number 34, and 34 became this rallying cry with our baseball team once he got hurt. I promised him when I got to the big leagues that I would change my number to 34. I didn’t think that I would make it, so it was kind of an empty promise. And then when I did, someone on the Pirates had that number. But a er the 2017 season, that player became a free agent, and I got permission to change to 34. For the rest of my career, I’m going to do my best to get number 32 or 34, just as a tangible remind er that there are people who can’t play this game anymore who would love to — a reminder that my career can be done any moment. That gets me out of bed, it gets me into my workouts, it keeps me focused on being the best version of myself on the field. Every time I put the uniform on, I am reminded of [Cory]. He’s with me as well.
With funds raised by a spaghetti dinner, St. Patrick’s Council 4057 in Carlisle, Pa., was able to give $4,700 to each of two seminarians from the Diocese of Harrisburg to support their priestly formation.
DINNER FOR SEMINARIANS
Knights from Sandusky (Ohio) Council 546 hold a canopy over Father Zachary Brown as he carries the Blessed Sacrament through the city’s streets. The Corpus Christi proces sion made stops at each of the three parishes the council serves.
MASS FOR VETS Blessed Sacrament Council 8056 in West Lafayette, Ind., supports a weekly Mass at the Indiana Veterans’ Home. Knights set up the altar and assist resi dents in going to and from Mass.
ROSARIES FOR MOTHER CHURCH Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Assembly 3677 in Richmond, Va., pur chased custom rosaries as gifts for Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Richmond and Father Tony Marques, the cathedral’s rector. The central medal and Our Father beads of the rosaries feature artwork from the cathedral.
MASS FOR ST. JOSEPH Bedford (Nova Scotia) Council 9404 sponsored a Mass honoring St. Jo seph at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Knights served as readers, ushers and
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altar servers for the liturgy, which was celebrated by Archbishop Brian Dunn of Halifax-Yarmouth. More than 100 parishioners participated and prayed before the Order’s pilgrim icon of St. Joseph.
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SACRED VESSELS Michael J. Sabella Assembly 2417 in Denver, N.C., donated two chalice and paten sets to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Military chaplains will use the sets to celebrate Mass for service members around the world.
KNIGHTS IN ACTION ✢ FAITH IN ACTION Faith
UNDER HER MANTLE St. Pius X Council 17086 in Rochester, N.Y., issued a “Thousand Rosary Chal lenge” to the parish for the month of May. Parishioners pledged more than 4,000 rosaries, and the Knights held a prayer service and luncheon to mark the end of the campaign.
POWERFUL DONATION St. Margaret Mary Council 11091 in Al gonquin, Ill., raised $7,000 to purchase power generators for two Franciscan convents in Ukraine that lost power following the outbreak of the war.
Mark Padilla (holding mi crophone), a member of St. Anthony the Finder of the Lost Council 15089 in San Gabriel, Calif., and teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in La Puente, leads students in a Knights of Columbus Silver Rose prayer service — promoting the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and respect for life.
PARISH SUPPORT St. Charles Borromeo Council 10570 in Albuquerque, N.M., held several fundraisers to benefit the parish, al lowing it to donate more than $11,000 for various parish projects and needs.
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NOTHING BUT NET Marian Council 3864 in Whitehall, Ohio, held a three-on-three basketball tournament for students at Holy Spirit Catholic School. Ten teams competed in the event, at which canned goods were also collected for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry at Holy Spirit Parish.
ONWARD AND UPWARD St. Theodore Guerin Council 14057 in Palos Heights, Ill., awarded two $1,000 scholarships to graduating eighth graders. The council annually provides scholarships to students who will continue their education at a Catholic high school.
Members of Banal na Sakramento Council 8753 and Tandang Sora Assembly 2715 in Quezon City, Luzon North, gather at Placido del Mundo Elementary School in Talipapa, Novaliches. The Knights donated religious materials and a bookshelf to the school, which many of them attended and which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Family Mike Morano (right) and Archdiocese of Philadelphia seminarian Bernard Ekeagwu (center), members of Our Lady of Grace Council 17417 in Penndel, Pa., receive donations at the council’s recent food drive. Since May 2020, Council 17417 has held monthly food drives that have collected more than 43,000 pounds of food and $9,000 for Mary’s Cupboard, an emergency food program in Levittown.
BUILT FOR A BROTHER
Several members of Empress of the Americas Council 6092 in Fresno, Calif., rebuilt a backyard fence at the home of a brother Knight a er a storm had blown it down. e new fence has helped the Knight, who had also been struggling with health issues, feel more secure.
SUPPORTED BY THE CROSS St. Augustine Council 15192 in New City, N.Y., raised $2,000 for a local Catholic Charities food pantry by sell ing more than 60 stained-glass crosses to parishioners. The crosses were handmade by Past Grand Knight Larry Abbamonte.
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EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT Father Joseph E. Miller Council 2144 in Centerville, Iowa, was recently honored by the local school district for its extensive and ongoing support. The council helped provide essential supplies, such as clothing and bedding, for students in need, and also donated an electronic white board for the dis trict’s special education program.
FOOD PACK-A-THON Father Daniel J. Kennedy Council 1611 in Needham, Mass., sponsored a three-day food-packing event to benefit the CRUDEM Foundation, which operates a hospital in Haiti. Council members and more than 500 volunteers from St. Joseph Parish packed 152,000 meals, which included rice, beans, vegetables and more, to be shipped to Haiti.
FEEDING FAMILIES Boulet Council 2126 in Mount Ver non, Wash., donated more than 5,300 pounds of food and $1,700 to the Tri-Parish Food Bank in Burlington. The food bank serves more than 1,000 families each week.
ROAD CLEANUP Members of several councils in the Diocese of Talibon, Visayas, cleaned local roads by removing political ads following recent national and local elections. The efforts were made fol lowing a request from Bishop Daniel Patrick Y. Parcon.
AUTOMATIC GATE FOR VETERAN Members of Victoria (Texas) Council 1329 installed an automatic opener on the driveway gate of a severely injured combat veteran and rebuilt a section of his front fence. The council arranged to purchase the device after a Knight noticed that the veteran needed to get out of his car every day to open and close the gate.
Grand Knight Chris Taurence (right) stands with members of St. Luke the Evangelist Council 12455 in Raleigh, N.C., and groceries they bagged at Catholic Parish Outreach, a food pantry of Catholic Charities of the Dio cese of Raleigh. The Knights participated in an assembly line charity project, pack aging six pallets of food for people in need.
Community Young racers barrel toward the finish line during a soap box derby hosted by Our Lady of the Hill Council 13064 in Beaumont, Alberta. More than 30 youth participated in this year’s event, which coincides with the annual Beaumont Days community festival. Knights have organized the annual derby for nearly 30 years. hygiene products and other supplies to the Little Sisters’ residences since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Dr. Thomas A. Dooley Council 5492 in Livonia, Mich., held its fifth annual Kick Off to Summer Car Show, with more than 150 classic and custom cars displayed. The event raised over $7,000 for charity, and more than 40 Knights volunteered.
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INREPRESENTATIONRED Monroe (La.) Council 1337 and Msgr. John C. Marsh Assembly 329 donated red T-shirts to residents of the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Home as a way to honor military service members deployed across the world. Many military supporters wear red on Fridays to “Remember Everyone Deployed.”
SISTERS SUPPORT UKRAINE Little Sisters of the Poor in Catons ville, Md., presented the Maryland State Council with $35,000 — collect ed from friends, benefactors and vol unteers — for the Ukraine Solidarity Fund. The state council has organized a monthly collection to provide food,
STEADY SUPPORT FOR VETS
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Msgr. James T. Weber Assembly 2152 in Tucson, Ariz., assists and honors veterans through several initiatives, including its Socks for Vets program and an annual Veterans Day program. Most recently, it donated $2,200 to the local Veterans Affairs hospital.
CRUISIN’ FOR A PURPOSE
EAT, PRAY, CLEAN Knights from St. Clare of Assisi Coun cil 12963 in Clifton, Va., conducted their biannual Adopt-A-Highway road cleanup. The group attends Mass and has breakfast together prior to picking up trash along a road near the church.
KNIGHTS IN ACTION ✢ FAITH IN ACTION
PRAYING FOR LIFE Knights and family members from St. Mary’s Council 13313 in Tulsa, Okla., gather every Thursday in front of a local abortion facility to pray the rosary for an end to abortion.
Knights from several Kentucky councils assist athletes competing in the softball throw event at the 2022 Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games. In addition to volun teering at competitions, Kentucky Knights organize and participate in various fundraisers for Special Olympics, including the annual Polar Plunge and Plane Pull.
BOTTLING UP CHANGE
DECISION DAY RALLY
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Blessed Sacrament Council 13240 in Clermont, Fla., held a baby bottle drive for the local JMJ Pregnancy Center. Parishioners donated more than $6,500, which will help offset the center’s operational costs.
A HAND FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS Father Bernard McDevi Council 15085 in Waynesville, N.C., donated $575 to the Exceptional Student Program at Tuscola High School. e money was raised through the council’s fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities.
INTERNSHIP FUNDING St. Bernade e Council 10236 in Ajax, Ontario, donated CA$5,000 to Priests for Life Canada. e donation, which was funded through the collection of scrap metal, allowed the organization to hire a seminarian summer intern.
St. Ann Council 12863 in Channahon, Ill., and Our Lady of Knock Council 12882 in Minooka collaborate with Versiti Blood Center to hold six blood drives a year, three each at the coun cils’ respective parishes. Since March 2020, the councils have collected more than 1,000 units of blood.
BLOOD DRIVE COLLABORATION
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Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade , Knights from St. Jude Council 17442 in Eugene, Ore., helped organize a “Decision Day Rally” that included music and several pro-life speakers, including State Life Director Patrick Parson and Father John Boyle, chap lain of Carl Kebelbeck Council 3154 in Cottage Grove.
PROTECTED BY OUR LADY Deacon Wally Kullman Council 14479 in Conifer, Colo., donated a replica of St. Juan Diego’s tilma and $2,500 to Marisol Services of Denver Catholic Charities. The council raised the funds by selling the tilmas , which depict Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn. Life Grand Knight James Hogue (top, center) and other mem bers of St. Joseph Council 4480 in Kingston, Mass., stand with mothers and children supported by Friends of the Unborn Maternity Home in Quincy. The council worked with Joan Bailey (bottom), director of the center, to raise more than $6,500 in cash and baby supplies at a parish Mother’s Day baby shower. See more at www.kofc.org/knightsinaction Please submit your council activities to knightsinaction@kofc.org
FOURTH DEGREE PRO DEO AND PRO PATRIA (CANADA)SCHOLARSHIPS
For more information about the Order’s scholarship programs, visit kofc.org/scholarships .
30 COLUMBIA ✢ SEPTEMBER 2022 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Percy J. Johnson Scholar ships are awarded to young men attending U.S. Cath olic colleges or Catholic universities and are fund ed by a 1990 bequest of Percy J. Johnson, a member of Seville Council 93 in Brockton, Mass. Ten schol arships were awarded and 13 renewed for the current academic year. The new recipients are Isaiah Ar mendariz, Therese Barrett, John Dossie, Nathan Gali cia, Hans Guenther, Briant Johnson, Ryan Lally, Emma Pourciau, Jadon Scheidel and Kirk E. Shelton. In 2000, Knights of Columbus Charities Inc. received a $100,000 dona tion from Frank L. Goularte. A scholarship fund in his name was established to provide $1,500 in needbased grants that are admin istered, in general, accord ing to the rules of the Pro Deo and Pro Patria Scholar ships. Two new scholarship was awarded for the current academic year and six were renewed. The new recip ients are Thomas Massey and Gwenyth VanLeeuwen. From 1995 to 1997, Knights of Columbus Charities Inc. received bequests totaling nearly $200,000 from the estate of Anthony J. LaBella. In his will, LaBella remembered the kindness shown to him by Knights when he was an orphan in Farmingdale, N.Y. The bequests have since been used to establish a scholarship fund in LaBel la’s name. Earnings from the fund provide scholar ships for undergraduate study in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Pro Deo and Pro Patria Scholarships. Three new scholarships were awarded to Andrew McNally, Kerry Perz and Ellen Phillips, and seven were renewed. In 1997, Knights of Columbus Charities Inc. received a bequest from Dr. Arthur F. Battista to establish scholarships for graduates of the Cornwall (Ontario) Collegiate and Vocational School. These $1,500 and $2,000 annual scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, financial need, community
Supreme Council Awards College Scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPENDOWED FUNDS
e recipients are Knights of Columbus or Columbian Squires, the son or daughter of a Knight in good standing, or the son or daughter of a Knight who was in good standing at the time of his death. Contingent on sat isfactory academic perfor mance, these scholarships are renewed for a total of fourThisyears.academic year, 11 new scholarships were awarded and 31 renewed. The following are firsttime recipients: Ryan Buddenbohn, Joseph Candelas, Florian Covington, Gennah Deutscher, Leo Devick, Zane Douglass, Nicholas Durkee, Curt McGovern, Samuel Rust, Keegan Schmi and John Stravalle.
A total of 42 U.S. students received Fourth Degree Pro Deo and Pro Patria scholar ships of $1,500 each. ese scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excel lence to incoming freshmen in bachelor’s degree pro grams at Catholic colleges or Catholic universities.
is scholarship was estab lished in 1998 in honor of the Order’s 11th supreme knight. Recipients must be enrolled at a Catholic col lege or Catholic university in the United States and be a Knight, the wife of a Knight, or the son or daughter of a Knight. Columbian Squires and widows and children of members who died in good standing are also eligible. In addition to the 22 new recip ients listed here, 79 schol arships were renewed for the current academic year.
For the 2022-2023 aca demic year, the Knights of Columbus awarded scholarships totaling close to $1.5 million to more than 500 stu dents. Most recipients are the children of Knights, or Knights themselves, attending Catholic universities or Catholic colleges in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico or the Philip pines. These figures include over $200,000 given to more than 100 seminarians in the U.S. and Canada.
FOURTH DEGREE PRO DEO AND PRO SCHOLARSHIPSPATRIA
These scholarships are for students entering colleges or universities in Canada, with requirements regard ing K of C membership that are essentially the same as for their U.S. counterparts. Ten new scholarships were awarded and 32 renewed for the current academic year.
New recipients are: Samuel Aitchison, Sidney Appel, Madilyn Bannach, Claire Caton, Elizabeth (Lily) Dorris, Winston Fairchild, Isaac Gonzalez, Olivia Guil ford, Magdalen Heckman, Grace Kearns, Haydon Kent, Sydnie Leavery, Joseph Ma guire, Aine Manning, Sally McGrath, Anna Meeker, Kephas Olsson, Monica Rip plinger, So a Seidl, Autumn Sekerak, Rosemarie Tatz and Leah Weaver.
New recipients are: Kate lynn May Maureen Allen, Peter Anagbogu, Alexandre Diogo, Kieran Donais, Leah Hurley, Angela Ilyas, Ra phael LeChance, Rebecca Minten, Michal Nutar and Gabrielle Vautour.
JOHN W. MCDEVITT (FOURTH SCHOLARSHIPSDEGREE)
This scholarship is named for Sister Thea Bowman (1937-1990), an African American religious who inspired many people with her urgent and uplifting call for better education for children of the African American community. In December 1996, the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors, in partnership with the Sister Thea Bow man Foundation, autho rized a four-year grant in the amount of $25,000 per year to support deserving African American students pursuing a Catholic college education. Periodically, the board has approved continuation of the grant program. For the 2022-2023 academic year, one scholar ship was renewed.
SCHOLARSHIPSPHILIPPINES
For the current academic year, six new scholarships were awarded and four renewed. The new recipi ents are Yaina Cruz Marrero, Deleanys Ferrer Arroyo, Génesis Alanna Gómez Vázquez, Jerelyn C. Gonzá lez Ortiz, Glorian Marrero Maldonado and Carlos Luis Santiago Ortiz .
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FOR MORE INFORMATION Scholarship applications for the upcoming academic year will be available after Oct. 1. For more information, visit kofc.org/scholarships
As of June 30, a total of 814 children have been recorded as eligible for bene ts from the Francis P. Ma hews and John E. Swi Educational Trust Fund scholarship program since its establishment in 1944. Thus far, 360 eligible children have chosen not to use the scholarships, three have died, and 128 who began college either discontinued their studies or fully used their scholarship eligibility before gradu ation. There are 20 future candidates. To date, 303 students have completed their education through the fund. Owen Pelletier, Natalie Pelletier and Kevin Wallen graduated in 2022, and the following students are working toward their degrees: John J. Kelly, Dominic Miller and Lauren Murphy Sweet. One additional student, Jordan Murphy, began un dergraduate studies with the 2022-2023 academic year, making a total of four scholarships overall. service and extracurricu lar activities. Preference is given to Knights; to the children or grandchildren of members; to students recommended by the On tario State Council; and to students bound for Cath olic colleges or Catholic universities. For the current academic year, four new scholarships were awarded and 16 grants renewed. New recipients are: Rori Camp bell, Mia Grant, Mubarak Atheef Lafir Madani and Tharuyan Nallaiah.
Educational Trust
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For the current academic year, eight new scholarships were awarded in the amount of $500 each, renewable for up to four years. In addition, 12 were renewed. The new recipients are: Tadeo Ismael Aceves Gutiérrez, José Juan Álvarez Romero, Samanta Baeza Muñiz, Fernanda Valentina Cuevas Ramírez, Luisa Guadalupe Rodríguez Quintana, Daniela Sofía Ro mero Zepeda, Yuliana María Villegas Osuna and Frida Estefanía Zaragoza Ibáñez.
MEXICO SCHOLARSHIPS
The Francis P. Matthews and John E. Swift Educational Trust offers scholarships to the children of members who are killed or permanently and to tally disabled by hostile action while serving with the armed forces during a covered period of conflict. In 2004, the Order declared that military conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Paki stan would be covered under the trust fund. Also eligible are the children of members who are killed as a result of criminal violence directed against them while performing their duties as full-time law enforcement officers or full-time firefighters. An application must be filed within two years of the date of the member’s death.
FELLOWSHIPSGRADUATE The Order has an endow ment at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., that pro vides Knights of Columbus graduate fellowships. For the 2022-2023 academic year, three fellowships have been awarded to Sophia Guidici, Ariel Hobbs and Alex Lopez. Eight scholar ships were renewed. Two new fellowships for the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America were awarded for the 2021-2022 academic year to Maria Teresa Briggs and Ailsa Skudoas. No scholarships were renewed.
For the current academic year, 18 new scholarships of $500 were awarded and 18 renewed. The new recipi ents are: Irish Khya L. Abel la, Hazle Love G. Bartolo, Angel Marie T. Butsayo, Al thea Gwyneth B. Cabillage, Sean Raye V. Calamohoy, Precious Mae L. Calogcog, Ganie S. Calugan, Clowee Shameka D. Castillo, Leige Agea M. Dimaandal, Rea Leen S. Dulin, Christian Matthew G. Evalla, Raleen Andre D. Gener, Godwin B. Labay, Rachelle Mae M. Lopez, Jessa A. Rebonza, Arian Farra T. Soriano, Shaun Russel T. Tacanay and Jovan P. Virtudazo.
32 COLUMBIA ✢ SEPTEMBER 2022 OFFICIAL SEPTEMBER 1, 2022: To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Laws of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the policy. In Canada: Knights of Colum bus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MATTER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: COLUM BIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-9982. REJECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-AD DRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PURCHASED MA TERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS BY WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SUBSCRIPTION RATES IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CUR RENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNTING DE PARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-9982. COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHED 10 TIMES A YEAR BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326. PHONE: 203-752-4000, kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2021 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND AD DITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 554, ELMSFORD, NY 10523. CANADIAN POSTMASTER PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREE MENT NO. 1473549. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 50 MACINTOSH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, ONTARIO L4K 4P3. PHILIPPINES FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAIL AT THE MANILA CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURN COPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1511, MANILA. K OF C OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS www.KnightsGear.comwww.KnightsGear.ca 1-833-695-4872 IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA THE ENGLISH COMPANY INC. www.kofcsupplies.com1-800-444-5632 FOR UNIFORMS THE SUPPLY ROOM, INC. www.kofcuniform.com1-833-562-4327 Join the McGivneyFatherGuild Please enroll me in the Father Michael J. McGivney Guild: CompleteZIP/POSTALSTATE/PROVINCECITYADDRESSNAMECODEthiscoupon and mail to: The or06510-3326New1McGivneyFatherGuild,ColumbusPlaza,Haven,CTenrollonlineat: fathermcgivney.org !9/22 Knights Gear Gives Back! orKnightsGear.comscantheQRCodetodaytostartshopping for all your personal and council needs!Custom Council TABLE THROWS Perfect for dressing up your presence at special events while promoting your council and driving membership. Various layouts that include the emblem of the Order, the Fourth Degree emblem and the Knights of Columbus logo in a variety of languages are available. Comes in 6-foot and 8-foot sizes. $165.00 - $175.00 Cutter & Buck TEXTURED DRYTEC POLO WITH UV SUN PROTECTION The high-quality, ultra-fine pique fabric combines DryTec polyester and spandex for incredible comfort, moisture wicking for a cooling effect, and amazing stretch that will keep it looking sharp for years. $55.00 Choice of Emblem & Color: Emblem of the Order or Fourth Degree Navy, White, Tour Blue, Red Custom RETRACTABLEMEMBERSHIPCouncilDRIVEBANNER Publicize your membership drive with a professional-looking display at an economical price! Add your council name and number to help spread the word and build excitement for your event! Set up and break down of the display takes seconds, and it conveniently stores in its included padded travel bag. Includes : Aluminum base, custom printed graphic, support pole, top clamp bar, travel bag $145.00 Now Available in Spanish! Outdoor Cap AMERICAN FLAG CAP Show pride for your nation as well as the Order with this structured, mid-profile, six-panel, brushed cotton twill hat. Features a pre-curved visor and hookand-loop closure. $24.75 Choice of Color: Olive, Red, Black When you buy from Knights Gear, you are supporting K of C Charities! Knights Gear gives a portion of each purchase to K of C Charities programs such as: Do Good and Look Great. Shop the only place that supports the Knights of Columbus! Coats for Kids Ukraine Relief Disaster Relief 2022 Supreme Convention Bestsellers! Dress Up Your Council! ZIPPERED PADFOLIO Zippered closure. Interior organizer with gusseted file pocket. Clear ID or calculator pocket. Front slot pocket. Includes 8.5” x 11” writing pad. Pen not included. $30.50
Knights of Charity
Ukrainian and Polish children stand below Czorsztyn Castle near the southern border of Poland during a holiday camp organized by Polish Knights. The 10-day camp for both local and refugee families included a rafting excursion and hiking trips to sites throughout the country.
To be featured here, send your council’s “Knights in Action” photo as well as its description to: Columbia, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 or e-mail: knightsinaction@kofc.org 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.
AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. McElhoeRebeccabyPhoto KOC
‘Christ’s consumeslovemy life.’
Father Thomas J. Haan Diocese of Lafaye e in Indiana Father omas J. Kelley Council 6923, Fishers, Ind. I grew up loving two things: our family farm and sports. ere was a basketball hoop in the haymow of our barn, and during breaks from working with the ca le, I would play pickup games with my brothers and cousins. I grew to love football, too, and was even blessed to play quarterback at the collegiate level for a year. But over time, another love quietly grew in my heart: a love for Christ and his Church. My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and an unswerving trust in the Lord. My parish priest provided an example of real eucharistic amazement, an intense prayer life and a lial devotion to our Blessed Mother. rough their in uence, I discovered that the greatest joy of my life was when I could draw others closer to ourWhileSavior.Istill love to come home to the family farm and still play sports, it is Christ’s all-conquering love that consumes my life, and I couldn’t be happier. To all those discerning their vocation: Let his love conquer!
PLEASE, DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PRIESTLY
