Knights of Columbus Indoctrination

The Knights of Columbus Indoctrination

DIOCESE OF IMUS

ORGANIZATION • It is a Catholic, Family, Fraternal, Service Organization.

• Catholic - This is the common denominator of its membership.

Catholicism provides the idealism for continued growth and performance.

• Family - It is the basic unit of society around which all programs of activity revolve.

• Fraternal - Binds the members into a brotherhood for mutual spiritual and material support and assistance.

• Service - is the involvement and commitment to serve church, community and our fellowmen.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP • Must be 18 years or older.

• Must be a practical Catholic in union with the Holy See. • Must be baptized, and if married, must have been in catholic rites.

• Must not be convicted or any crime of moral turpitude.

• Must be able and willing to provide financial protection for his family.

• Preferably a resident of the Parish.

Practical Catholic in union with the Holy See •Practical Catholic - is one who lives up to the commandments of God and the precepts of the church. •Practical Catholic in union with the Holy See - is one who regulates his life according to the teachings of Christ and the Church and endeavors to observe the Commandments of God and of the Church. He strives to have a greater knowledge of the teachings of Christ and the Church. He accepts, respects and defends the Church authority vested in the Supreme Pontiff, the Bishops and the Priests. He gives material and moral support to the Church and its programs.

HISTORY • Established: March 29, 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. • Founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney and seven Catholic gentlemen who realized the value of insurance protection to those families experiencing the loss of a breadwinner.

ASPIRATIONS OF FR. MCGIVNEY • To help Catholic men remain steadfast in their faith through mutual encouragement.

• To promote closer ties of fraternity among them.

• To set up an elementary system of insurance so that widows and children of members in the group will not find themselves in dire financial straits.

WHO IS FR. MCGIVNEY • Eldest of 13 children with 4 siblings died during infancy.

• After primary school, worked in a spoon factory at age 13.

• Studied at St. Mary’s Seminary for priesthood.

• Lost his father in 1877, then left seminary to support his family.

• Went back to seminary under sponsorship of several Bishops.

• Upon ordination, was assigned to St. Mary’s Church where he founded K of C.

WHY KNIGHTS ? •They signify that the membership embodied knightly ideals of spirituality and service to Church, Country and fellowmen.

WHY COLUMBUS? • They felt that, as a group of Catholics, it should relate to Christopher Columbus, the Catholic discoverer of America “The New World”.

• This is to underscore their pride in America’s Catholic heritage, as Columbus evokes the aura of catholicity.

AIMS AND PURPOSES • To render pecuniary aid to members, their families, and beneficiaries of members and their families.

• To render mutual aid and assistance to it’s sick, disabled, and needy members and their families.

• To promote social and intellectual intercourse among it’s members and their families.

• To promote and conduct educational charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

HOW THE ORDER EXPANDED ?

• As conceived by Fr. McGivney the order served only the Diocese of Hartford which is all of Connecticut & Rhode Island.

• 2 years after the death of Fr. McGivney the Order expanded to New York & Massachusetts, & 12 years later there were councils in every major city from Maine to California.

• In due time, The Order expanded outside USA to Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, Virgin Islands, the Philippines & recently Poland.

IN THE PHILIPPINES • The first Council 1000 was established on April 23, 1905. 29 American Knights from the US Army & Navy was granted the authority to organize a council in Manila.

• In the beginning, the Council was exclusively composed of Americans. In 1907 they started to admit Filipinos as 1st degree Knights.

• In 1917, 30 prominent Filipinos were initiated & by 1920 the council became predominantly Filipino.

• WW II caused the council to suspend all activities. After the war Fr. George J Willmann, S.J. gradually re-activated the council. In October 1947 an expansion program was approved by the Supreme Knight & by 1955 there were more than 50 councils.

PROFILE AT PRESENT With over 1.8 Million members Worldwide Luzon Councils

1,045

Visayas Councils

523

Mindanao Councils

606

Total Number of Councils

2,174

Luzon Members

122,405

Visayas Members

49,541

Mindanao Members

72,035

Total Number of Membership

243,981

to serve and not to be served

Matt 20:28

VOLUNTEERISM •Serving out of our own free will, out of charity, out of our own true love for someone. It transcends time and space, reason and emotion. It stops only with the supreme being.

COMMITMENT -

•When a knight consents to be elected or appointed as an officer in the order, He moves from follower to ‘leader’. He makes a pledge and implores God’s help for him to be able to give his best. From then on he is expected to serve “rain or shine”.

SERVICE PROGRAMS • Church Activities - response to the call of the Church for more active involvement in the spirituality of the laity.

• Council Activities - activities for the members to enhance, strengthen and foster fraternalism among the Knights.

• Family Activities with Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) concerns activities that aims to strengthen the family life of the members.

SERVICE PROGRAMS • Community Activities - civic involvement and service rendered for the betterment of the community as externalization of their spirituality in the form of Lay Apostolate.

• Youth Activities through the Columbian Squires - serves to build the youth into responsible citizens of tomorrow.

• Pro-life Activities - you are called to defend the dignity of each human being at every stage and work together in building a culture of life and a civilization of love.

CEREMONIALS Open Close Ceremonials Ceremonials Council Charter Council Meetings Presentation Assembly Charter Assembly Meetings Presentation Exemplifications Installation of Officers Renewal of Obligations of the 4th Degree

Necrological Service

ADVANCEMENT IN THE ORDER • Must complete the required 2nd Degree Spiritual Formation Course prior to exemplification.

• Must have recruited a new member.

• Must have 75% attendance in Council meetings and activities.

• Must have stayed at least 2 months in the 1st degree.

FOUR CARDINAL PRINCIPLES • CHARITY – love of God and love of neighbor for the love of God. • UNITY – oneness of faith to gain strength in the pursuit of Charity.

• FRATERNITY – Christian brotherhood among Knights and our fellowmen.

• PATRIOTISM – Love of country and culture.

PROTOCOL • The rigid code setting forth the degree of obedience, the order of preference, the rules of official and social behavior.

• In situations not normally anticipated, it is always best to do what is commonly perceived as courteous or kind and sincere action.

• In our order, precedence is given to Bishops and Priests. They are given ”honored seats”. In the 3rd degree: The Grand Knight precedes over the Faithful Navigator. In the 4th degree: the FN precedes over the GK. The same is true between the District Master and District Deputy.

• Protocol demands that the chain of command be observed meticulously. A GK may not write directly to the State Deputy without coursing thru the DD. Refer to the booklet of Protocol provided to the GK.

PROTOCOL -2 • A council meeting must be conducted in accordance with our set of rules of the order. Using the ‘Robert’s rule of Order’ should be the reference for parliamentary procedure.

• The country’s flag should be either displayed flat, above and behind the speaker or at the right side of the speaker facing the audience. Other flags should be at the left side of the speaker.

• All officers should wear their jewel of office during council meetings.

• During official council affairs there should only be one main speaker, the last speaker on any program should be the highest ranking of the order.

PROTOCOL - 3 • Ranking of officers in any council gatherings are as follows: • The Clergy • Supreme Officers • State Officers • State Directors • District Deputies • Area Managers • Vice Supreme Master • Masters of the 4th Degree • Faithful Navigators • Visiting Grand Knight

THE K of C LOGO • THE FOUNDATION OF OUR LOGO IS THE FORMEY CROSS W/C IS SOMEWHAT TILTED. • THE QUATERNARY REPRESENTS OUR 4 PRINCIPLES – CHARITY, UNITY, FRATERNITY, & PATRIOTISM – W/C SYMBOLIZES FAITH. • THE SYMBOLS • CROSS for the CHURCH • SHIELD for GOOD WORKS

4TH DEGREE EMBLEM • Consists of 3 overlaid objects representing the Trinity.

• The Globe represents God the Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

• The Crusader’s Cross, similar to the cross which knights use to wear into battle during the Holy Crusades, represents God the Son, Jesus Christ.

• The Dove represents God the Holy Spirit • The Colors Red, White and Blue are the colors of the Philippine Flag representative of the principle of the 4th degree. Patriotism

COLUMBIAN SQUIRES • THE BASE IS THE MALTESE CROSS WITH THE LETTERS: •C for CHRIST •S for SQUIRES •K for KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS • ON THE CROSS ARE IMPRINTED THE LETTERS: •S for SPIRITUAL GROWTH •P for PHYSICAL GROWTH •I for INTELLECTUAL GROWTH •C for CITIZENSHIP INVOLVEMENT

OFFICERS IN COUNCIL/ASSEMBLY/CIRCLE COUNCIL

ASSEMBLY

CIRCLE

Grand Knight

Navigator

Chief Squire

Chaplain

Friar

Father Prior

Dep Grand Knight

Captain

Dep Chief Squire

Chancellor

Admiral

Recorder

Scribe

Notary

Financial Secretary

Comptroller

Bursar

Treasurer

Purser

Lecturer Advocate Warden

Pilot

Marshal

Inside Guard

Inner Sentinel

Sentry

Outside Guard

Outer Sentinel

Sentry

Trustee 3-yr

Trustee

Trustee 3-yr

Trustee 2-yr

Trustee 2-yr

Trustee 1-yr

Trustee 1-yr Color Corps Commander

FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP •Who is a “member in good standing”?

•Who is an “active member”?

•What is lost by forfeiture? - Non-payment of dues three (3) months after they were due and payable.

OBLIGATIONS OF A MEMBER • Payment of monthly dues as set by the council.

• Support the activities of the council with your time, talent and treasure.

• Attend KC sponsored mass and family fellowship.

• Attend monthly council meeting.

• Attend official functions or events in proper attire/uniform.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A COUNCIL? Some principles in life that we knew even before we joined Knights of Columbus.

• ‘Life is a give and take proposition.’ Luke 6:38 • ‘It is better to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35 • When we serve, it is better to do it in the name of our Lord, than in the name of any man? col 3:17 • ‘The measure you used in giving, will be the measure that will be used in your receiving.’ luke 6:38

•Free Fraternal Accidental Death Benefits (FADB) of Php 10,000.00 when you fill-up the form (ask your fraternal counselor).

•CMBP (Common Mortuary Benefit Plan) of Php 30,000.00 for Php 365.00 annual contributions.

•other KC life plan available to be discussed by KC Life Representative later.

REFERENCES:

QUESTION AND ANSWER PORTION

thank you for listening! vivat jesus!