KnightLine NOVEMBER 2009
www.kofc.org
NEWS FOR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LEADERS
Filipino Knights, led by Luzon Deputy Alonso L. Tan, Task Force Ondoy Chairman Bonifacio B. Martinez and other state service directors, distributed 425 bags of goods to flood victims, including this little girl and her family, in Marikina and Botolan.
Relief Efforts Under Way for Flood Victims in Philippines
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he Supreme Council rushed an emergency donation of $50,000 to Filipino victims of Tropical Storm Ketsana (known locally as Typhoon Ondoy), and another $40,000 in donations from state and local councils and individual Knights was sent by Oct. 10. As of Oct. 21, one jurisdiction, Illinois, donated $5,000; another, Washington, donated $3,000; three jurisdictions (Pennsylvania, Idaho and
Arkansas) had donated $2,000 each to Philippines flood relief; five jurisdictions (Iowa, Alabama, Massachusetts, Texas and British Columbia) had donated $1,000 each; and Delaware, Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia had donated smaller amounts. All online donations made to United in Charity through Oct. 31, 2009, are being earmarked for
See ‘PHILIPPINES’ Page 2
More Information on Reported McGivney Miracle
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fficials of a supplemental Tribunal, constituted by the Archdiocese of Hartford, have formally sent a new report to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The tribunal — a panel tasked with gathering additional testimony — interviewed additional witnesses, including several medical doctors, about the circumstances of a reported miracle attributed to Venerable Michael McGivney’s intercession. The report was signed and presented to Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford on Sept. 22, and was affixed with the seal of the archbishop. The postulator of the cause, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi (shown,
VOL. 26 • NO. 11
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Federal Court Victory in Pledge of Allegiance Case The Knights of Columbus scored an important victory in federal court, in New Hampshire on Sept. 30, when U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe upheld the constitutionality of the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Read more here.
Supreme Knight Keynotes at Project Rachel Anniversary Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson addressed the celebratory gathering for the 25th anniversary of Project Rachel in Milwaukee. Founded in 1984, Project Rachel and the National Office of PostAbortion Reconciliation and Healing are the Catholic Church’s outreach to women and men affected by abortion. For details, visit www.hopeafterabortion.com.
Supreme Assembly Meets
right), traveled from Rome to Hartford for the occasion. The event was held in the chapel at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Hartford and was attended by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, other Supreme Officers, relatives of Father McGivney and archdiocesan officials.
Supreme Master Lawrence G. Costanzo led current and former vice supreme masters of the Fourth Degree as they conducted the business of the Order’s patriotic arm during the 99th Supreme Assembly meeting in New Haven, Conn., on Sept. 25. Read more here.
PHILIPPINES, continued from Page 1 Philippine disaster relief. The funds were sent to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which is coordinating Catholic relief efforts. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the President of the CBCP, expressed “profound gratitude” to the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council and the U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Relief Services in an interview with the Catholic News Service (CNS). “They were among the first to respond,” he said. Knights in the Philippines have also moved quickly to help their countrymen impacted by the flooding, distributing food and bottled water. At least 450 people died in the capitol of Manila, where more than 80 percent of the city was under water at the height of the storm, which also affected 27 provinces in seven regions of the country. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced and are without electricity or clean drinking water. There are more than 250,000 members of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines, and fully half — 126,000 — live in Luzon, which was hardest hit.
Knights of Columbus members distribute relief supplies to flood victims. In a related story, college Knights kicked off this year’s College Council Conference by raising more than $300 to assist relief efforts for the flood victims in the Philippines. See Page 3 for more about the conference.
You can still contribute after the Oct. 31 deadline BY CHECK ONLY. Make checks payable to Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc., specify "Philippines" on the memo line of your check, and mail to: Knights of Columbus Charities, 1 Columbus Plaza, PO Box 1966, New Haven, CT 06509-1966. For updates on this effort, visit www.kofc.org/news.
Stars Come to New Haven Winners of the grand knight and district deputy 2008-09 incentive trip to New Haven, Conn. (shown here with Deputy Supreme Knight Dennis A. Savoie), got the “star” treatment as they visited the Supreme Council office, met the Supreme Officers, toured the Knights of Columbus Museum, celebrated Mass at St. Mary’s Church, dined at some of New Haven’s finest restaurants, and explored the historic city. The incentive drawing was open to district deputies who achieved Star District status (attaining 100 percent or more of their membership and insurance quotas) and grand knights who attained Star Council status during the 2008-09 fraternal year. For more information, visit “For Officers” at www.kofc.org or click here.
Supreme Knight Anderson Appointed to Vatican Bank
Knights Co-Sponsor Religious Liberty Conference
The Holy See, on Sept. 24, named Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson as one of the new members of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR) — the Vatican Bank — supervisory board. “I am honored to have been selected ... and I hope that my experience in working with the Vatican on a variety of issues over the past decade, and my work in the business and financial sector — as supreme knight and chief executive officer of the Knights of Columbus — will enable me to contribute to the success of the IOR’s many important initiatives.”
The Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese of Mexico City co-sponsored a conference on religious liberty in the Americas, Sept. 25-26, in the Mexican capital. The event was organized by Knights of Columbus and the The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson delivered the opening address on the morning of Sept. 25. “Today, in an age of globalization, we see the question of religious freedom take on new importance. Especially in secular cultures, and in countries that are by their
nature pluralistic, the danger is the marginalization of Christianity and religious liberty,” the supreme knight said at the opening of the two-day conference. Other speakers included Harvard Law Professor and former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission J. Kenneth Blackwell, and former U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Robert Seiple. Professors from universities in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Brazil and Canada also made presentations. A special Web site (www.voicessymposium.org/) features complete details of the conference program.
Columbus Day Celebration Fourth Degree Knights from Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and surrounding areas honored Christopher Columbus at a wreath-laying ceremony held at the memorial fountain that bears his likeness, near Union Station in Washington, D.C. The Knights of Columbus was instrumental in the construction of the fountain that was dedicated in 1908.
College Knights Energized by Annual Conference Anderson delivered the keynote address. “Too often we oy is infectious, and members of college councils who think — especially in college — that our big decisions are networked together, made new friends, shared ideas going to come later. But the fact of the matter is that some and became energized about the Order and their role in of your most important decisions are being made now: it during the 2009 College Council Conference, need to decisions that will condition what your decisions later in bring that joy back and share it among their fellow council life after you graduate will be; decisions about whether the members, said Michael V. Brewer, College Council basic insights involving the Coordinator. HARVARD WINS OUTSTANDING COLLEGE COUNCIL Theology of the Body are true or “Joy has an attractive quality not; whether the ethical standard to it ... a strong interior life and a that the Church holds up for us is sense of faith will support you true or not.” throughout your life,” Brewer told Awards were presented for the young Knights who worked, membership and insurance growth, socialized and celebrated their faith and for achievements in the “Surge together during the (Oct. 2-4) … with Service” categories. The conference in New Haven, Conn. winner of this year’s Outstanding These 143 Knights represented College Council award was John approximately 65 colleges and uniPaul II Council 14188 at Harvard versities in the United States, University in Cambridge, Mass. Canada, Mexico and the Dominican At Sunday morning’s closing Republic. session, Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, posThe young men attended preSupreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Conference tulator for the canonization cause of sentations and workshops on topics Committee Chairman Steven Bierschbach, present St. Juan Diego, gave a talk on Our ranging from programming and the Outstanding College Council Award to Grand Lady of Guadalupe. “You (college Knight Juan Carmona of John Paul II Council 14188. membership to the leadership Knights) are the heart, blood and responsibilities of Knights on camtruth of our Church ... the sign that Our Lady of pus. During these sessions, Knights networked to share Guadalupe gave to Juan Diego was the flower, which innovative ideas from their councils and generate new means truth,” Msgr. Chávez told the attendees. “You are approaches to challenges. Conference delegates also toured the flower, you are the truth of God.” the Supreme Council office and the Knights of Columbus For more coverage and to view a slideshow of the conference, Museum, and attended Mass at St. Mary’s Church. visit www.kofc.org/college. At the awards banquet, Supreme Knight Carl A.
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Election of Officers, Installation of New Directors in San Antonio
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embers of the Board of Directors elected Supreme Officers and installed new board members at their quarterly meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 9. Re-elected were Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, Deputy Supreme Knight Dennis A. Savoie, Supreme Secretary Donald R. Kehoe, Supreme Advocate John A. Marrella, Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori and Supreme Warden Meclea “Mickey” L. Casavant. Supreme Treasurer John W. O’Reilly Jr., who will reach the mandatory retirement
age of 70 next year, chose not to seek re-election; Emilio B. Moure, Past State Deputy of California, was elected the new Supreme Treasurer. Also named to new terms were Supreme Master Lawrence G. Costanzo, Assistant Supreme Secretary Ronald J. Tracz, Assistant Supreme Advocate Yves Duceppe, Administrative Assistant to the Supreme Knight (General Administration) Stephen M. Feiler, Administrative Assistant to the Supreme Knight (Insurance) Edward J. Mullen, and Medical Director Dr.
Michael Conforti (to perform the duties of the Supreme Physician). Newly elected directors Javier S. Martinez of Texas, Reginald F. Beckett of New Jersey and Daniel J. Baker of Georgia were formally installed at a morning Mass, Oct. 10. Pictured above (from left): Supreme Director Daniel J. Baker and Donna; Supreme Treasurer Emilio B. Moure and Rebecca; Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori; Dorian and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson; Alice and Supreme Director Reginald F. Beckett; and Marietta and Supreme Director Javier S. Martinez.
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A Valuable Resource for Bulletin Editors
BY THOMAS P. SMITH JR. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT (AGENCIES AND MARKETING)
I
know from the council bulletins I read every month that our newsletter editors — and, increasingly, council Web site developers — do a great job in communicating council news and Orderwide events. For many years now, we have encouraged our agents to write a monthly column for the newsletters or Web sites of the councils they serve. Knights of Columbus insurance agents, aside from being professionally trained experts in the field, are
knowledgeable ambassadors of the is an article for each month of the Order. Giving your agent a presence year, along with a couple of alternain the council bulletin tive articles should the can help your council need ever arise. These artireach its insurance quota cles are short, to the point We have and earn the Founders’ and easily edited. Most are prepared Award, one of the three about the same length as a number awards needed to achieve this column (between 200of articles Star Council status. 300 words). All the bulfor council Our agents are salesletin editor needs to do is bulletins, men, however, not writadd the agent’s name and ers. Many of them have telephone number (or the which are difficulty meeting several general agent’s informaavailable from bulletin deadlines in addition if the council is the Supreme tion to their professional presently not served by a Council office. and fraternal responsibilifield agent) to the end of ties. My office has a soluthe story. tion that will help agents and the bulletin editors. We have preInterested? You can request these pared a number of articles for council articles from us. Send your request to bulletins, which are available from Rudy Sturk at rudolph.sturk@ the Supreme Council office. Included kofc.org.
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