Newsletter of The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Knights of Columbus – October 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
FRATELLI TUTTI All Brothers – Brothers All An excerpt from the Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti of the Holy Father Francis on Fraternity and Social Friendship: 1. “FRATELLI TUTTI”.[1] With these words, Saint Francis of Assisi addressed his brothers and sisters and proposed to them a way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel. Of the counsels Francis offered, I would like to select the one in which he calls for a love that transcends the barriers of geography and distance, and declares blessed all those who love their brother “as much when he is far away from him as when he is with him”.[2] In his simple and direct way, Saint Francis expressed the essence of a fraternal openness that allows us to acknowledge, appreciate and love each person, regardless of physical proximity, regardless of where he or she was born or lives. 2. This saint of fraternal love, simplicity and joy, who inspired me to write the Encyclical Laudato Si’, prompts me once more to devote this new Encyclical to fraternity and social friendship. Francis felt himself a brother to the sun, the sea and the wind, yet he knew that he was even closer to those of his own flesh. Wherever he went, he sowed seeds of peace and walked alongside the poor, the abandoned, the infirm and the outcast, the least of his brothers and sisters. How incredible is it that Pope Francis’ latest Encyclical Letter espouses Fraternity and Social Friendship during the same month that our founder the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney is to be beatified as Blessed!
The third pillar of our Order is Fraternity and the Holy Father expounds on Saint Francis’ calls for …a love that transcends the barriers of geography and distance, and declares blessed all those who love their brother “as much when he is far away from him as when he is with him”. Sadly this year we have personally experienced this with the restrictions the pandemic has placed on us. Never before have we desired to be together with our brother Knights, working programs, praying outside of Mass, or even in meetings. I’m sure in the past everyone has experienced a day where we just didn’t have the energy to attend a council or chapter meeting – yet we do. We make the effort and never regret it. It is in our nature as Knights to be together and work together in support of our families, our communities, our parishes and really, the world. Personally I never realized how deeply I would miss getting together with my brother Knights because I never thought something like this could happen. So now every and any opportunity to get together, albeit physically distanced, is a blessing. There are many councils throughout the Archdiocese coming up with creative ways to do what we do as Knights, and we applaud them. Remember that our Founder Father McGivney began our Order during a pandemic and in the face of rampant anti-Catholic discrimination. He never gave up until his last day on earth, and he continues to be with us, fraternally, as we find new ways to help the widow, the orphan, and the outcast in our communities. Michael Felerski - State Advocate
[1] Admonitions, 6, 1. English translation in Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, vol 1., New York, London, Manila (1999), 131. [2] Ibid., 25: op. cit., 136.