Newsletter of The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Knights of Columbus – December 2020
Celina - Coldwater - St. Henry - Fort Recovery - Sidney - Versailles - Greenville - Russia Covington - Wapakoneta - St. Marys - Minster -Russells Point - McCartyville - Springfield Urbana - Bellefontaine Fairborn - Eaton - Huber Heights - Vandalia - Englewood - Piqua Troy - Tipp City - New Carlisle - Dayton - Xenia - Beavercreek -Centerville - Kettering Hamilton - Fairfield - Harrison - North Bend - Monroe - West Chester - Carthage - Sharonville New Burlington - Norwood - Shandon - Wilmington - Morrow - Mason- Lebanon - Milford - Loveland - Springfield Middletown - Miamisburg - Franklin - Trenton - Cincinnati - Ripley - Fayetteville - Hillsboro - Greenfield - West Union - Waynesville
…and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. We have again quickly found ourselves in the Advent season. When this issue of The Arch arrives we will only be a few weeks away from Christmas. This time of year we often turn to Luke 2:13-14… And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
For me as I have grown older I think of the Serenity Prayer: "God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
I am certainly getting better at the last part but sometimes the “acceptance” part is a little more difficult. Although we cannot change the fact that this virus is around us, we can do the best we can to “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace stay safe and help keep others safe. We as Knights to those on whom his favor rests.” also have the courage to adapt what we do as an order to work within the If you look the passage up online restrictions set on us by our you will find several translations, parishes, local community and "God grant me serenity to even from “Catholic sources”. state rules. And we are certainly accept the things I cannot But more often than not you will coming up with new ideas to change, courage to change the see the phrase “Peace on earth, serve our parishes and the needy good will toward men” used to in our communities. things I can, and wisdom to cover most all Christian know the difference.” denominations. Thus, we cannot give up hope! We must innovate, remembering, If you’re like me growing up at the end of the our organization was built on innovation. Although Vietnam war and during the cold war you thought of there were other fraternal societies in the late praying for peace. As I got older I learned that we 1800’s, there was nothing like the Knights of should pray for the inner peace which comes from Columbus for Catholic men. trusting Jesus with our lives. Like us, Blessed Michael McGivney saw a need and However, this year has really put this to the test. came up with a way to fill that need by establishing First there was the arrival of the Corona virus, then the our Order during a pandemic. Maybe his vision the fear of it’s spread and the subsequent didn’t exactly include offering small bottles of Holy lockdowns, closures, and job losses. When the water to parishioners after Mass, live streaming the Bishops of Ohio agreed to close the churches and rosary by Knights for those quarantined, or hosting a dispense with the obligation of weekly Mass and “socially distanced” free throw if able to for the need. thus the loss for many of our councils to host the activities we normally run, that initial underlying Yes, things are going to be different for a bit, but we stress and anxiety became more prominent within. can still be the strong right arm of the church, and by continuing to “do things” I hope that you, like me find Couple all that with an election year and being some peace in the ability to help where needed. bombarded with political commercial after political commercial (no less that from three separate states May God bless you and your families and all our down here in the Cincinnati area) we really needed brother Knights this Christmas. Vivat Jesus! Jesus’ guidance and peace more than ever. Michael Felerski - State Advocate