columbia december 2014

DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014

COLUMBIACOLUMBIAKNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

L I F E I N S U R A N C E D I S A B I L I T Y I N S U R A N C E LO N G - T E R M CA R E R E T I R E M E N T A N N U I T I E S

Find an agent at kofc.org or 1-800-345-5632

Merry Christmasto you and your family.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 ♦ C O L U M B I A ♦ 1

COLUMBIAD e c e M B e r 2 0 1 4 ♦ V o l u M e 9 4 ♦ N u M B e r 1 2

F E AT U R E S

Ministers of MercyKnights offer freedom behind bars as they reach out to the incarcerated with a message of hope.BY CHRISTINA GRAY

A Legacy of ProtectionFor nearly six decades, the DiCalogero family has helped Knights of Columbus families obtain financial security.BY JUSTIN BELL

Sanctity on DisplayThe Saint John Paul II National Shrine unveils a new exhibit of the pope’s lifelong witness to ChristBY COLUMBIA STAFF

Suffering and Hope in the Face of TerrorismAmid violent persecution and social upheaval, Syrian Christians struggle for peace in their homelandBY ARCHBISHOP JEAN-CLÉMENT JEANBART

A Christmas JourneyThe Posada gives parishioners the opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth and remember the poorBY RICK SNIZEK

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Building a better worldThe Church seeks to protect thevulnerable by strengthening andsupporting Christian families. BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

Learning the faith, living the faithAs the first models and educators ofprayer, Christian parents help theirfamily face whatever difficulties cometheir way.BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN

ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI

PLUS: Catholic Man of the Month

Building the Domestic ChurchBecause the family that prays to-gether stays together, we want tolearn to pray as a family.

Knights in Action

Knights of Columbus NewsMidyear Meeting UnderscoresVocation to Fraternity • SupremeKnight and Mrs. Anderson Re-ceive New Evangelization Award• Cardinal Müller Visits SaintJohn Paul II Shrine • NewSupreme Warden Elected

Fathers for GoodThe Holy Father’s favorite moviesreflect the transformative spiritualpower of human relationships BY DAVID DICERTO

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Past a replica of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, young pilgrimsare seen walking through the new exhibit “A Gift of Love: The Life ofSaint John Paul II” at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine Oct. 22(see article on page 16).

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EDITORIAL

TWO DAYS BEFORE Christmas in1880, a young man named James “Chip”Smith fired a pistol while intoxicated in asaloon in Ansonia, Conn. When PoliceChief Daniel I. Hayes arrived at the sceneand confronted Smith, an altercationerupted. Hayes was shot in the abdomenand died four days later. For Smith, whowas used to getting into trouble whiledrinking, it took some time for the gravityof the situation to sink in. Brought beforethe Superior Court in New Haven a fewmonths later, he was convicted of first-de-gree murder and sentenced to death.

Father Michael J. McGivney, the asso-ciate priest at St. Mary’s Church in NewHaven at the time, frequently visited theNew Haven jail, ministering to the pris-oners. Over the next year and a half, hispresence made a profound impact onChip Smith’s life. The tireless youngpriest recognized the needs of his flock,especially the vulnerable and those mostin need of support. Thus, at the sametime that he was establishing the Knightsof Columbus to protect the well-being ofCatholic families, he also paid visits toSmith on an almost daily basis. In thespring of 1882, Smith told a reporter,“Father McGivney visits me very often,and I think a great deal of him.”

On the day of his execution the fol-lowing September, with Father Mc-Givney at his side, Smith consoled hismother with these words: “Just think ifI had been shot that night and diedwithout a moment’s time for prepara-tion; how much worse off I should bethan I am now. I have asked God to for-give me my sins, and believe that I shalldie a happy death.” In his will, Smith left

Father McGivney the “plant nowblooming in [his] cell” — a sign of theeternal hope that the saintly priesthelped Smith to discover.

More than 132 years later, there areechoes of Father McGivney’s conversa-tions with Chip Smith every timeKnights visit the imprisoned (see page 8),performing one of the corporal works ofmercy. Similarly, there are many otherways that Father McGivney’s compassionand vision live on in the Order hefounded. For example, when Knights ofColumbus Insurance agents serve the fi-nancial needs of their brother Knights’families, they help to strengthen the fra-ternal benefit society that Father Mc-Givney envisioned (see page 12). And asmembers bear witness to their Catholicfaith in society, in their parishes and es-pecially in their families, they are achiev-ing one of Father McGivney’s principalobjectives in founding the Knights.

These and countless more examples ofthe Order’s work demonstrate that FatherMcGivney’s vision, rooted in faith andcharity, is not only an enduring founda-tion, but also a source of creativity. Likethe star that guided the Magi to theChrist Child, the Columbian virtues il-luminate our path as we face the chal-lenges of a rapidly changing world. Andwherever there are people who, like ChipSmith or the immigrant families of 19th-century New Haven, are vulnerable andin need of hope, we are called to followthe lead of our faithful founder and re-spond with charity.♦

ALTON J. PELOWSKI

EDITOR

A Model to FollowCOLUMBIA

PUBLISHERKnights of Columbus

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SUPREME OFFICERSCarl A. AndersonSUPREME KNIGHT

Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D.SUPREME CHAPLAINLogan T. Ludwig

DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHTCharles E. Maurer Jr.SUPREME SECRETARY

Michael J. O’ConnorSUPREME TREASURERJohn A. MarrellaSUPREME ADVOCATE

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EDITORIALAlton J. Pelowski

EDITORAndrew J. MattMANAGING EDITOR

Patrick ScalisiSENIOR EDITOR

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Venerable Michael McGivney (1852-90)Apostle to the Young,

Protector of Christian Family Life andFounder of the Knights of Columbus,

Intercede for Us.________

HOW TO REACH USMAIL

COLUMBIA1 Columbus Plaza

New Haven, CT 06510-3326ADDRESS CHANGES203-752-4580OTHER INQUIRIES203-752-4398

FAX203-752-4109CUSTOMER SERVICE1-800-380-9995

[email protected]

INTERNETkofc.org/columbia

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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 anapplicant or member accepts the teaching authority of theCatholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires tolive in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church.

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Copyright © 2014All rights reserved

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ON THE COVERThe new exhibit “A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint JohnPaul II” features a replica of the Mater Ecclesiae (Motherof the Church) mosaic that overlooks St. Peter’s Square.

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Faith Resource: We Have Come to Adore Him The booklet We Have Come to Adore Him: An Introduction to Prayerat the School of Benedict XVI (#405) by Father Andreas Schmidt ispart of the New Evangelization Series published by the Order’sCatholic Information Service. Explaining how liturgical and per-sonal prayer form a single act of worship in which we discover whyand for whom we are made, this booklet invites us to become stu-dents at the “school” of a contemporary master of prayer. To down-load this and other Catholic resources, visit kofc.org/cis.

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD


Loving Concern for the Family

The Church seeks to protect the vulnerable bystrengthening and supporting Christian families

by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

THIS YEAR marked the 20th anniver-sary of the International Year of theFamily and St. John Paul II’s great doc-ument on the pastoral care of families.

In that document, titled Letter toFamilies, John Paul II wrote that “thefamily is the first and the most impor-tant” way of the Church. This is so, hesaid, because Christ has united himself“to every particular family in every partof the world,” especially to those whoare in “difficulty or danger,lacking confidence or experi-encing division.”

He also said, “The Churchdraws near with loving concernto all” families. And he prayedthat all families would “feel theloving and caring embrace oftheir brothers and sisters!”

We can be grateful thatPope Francis, like John Paul II,has the courage to face the hard reali-ties confronting our families.

The topic of civilly divorced and re-married Catholics has recently gottenmost of the attention. But the fre-quency of divorce among Catholicsraises more fundamental questions:

How are so many Catholics capableof inflicting great suffering on the oneperson they have promised the Lordthat they will always love and protect?How are they capable of inflictingenormous suffering on the childrenwhom the Lord has entrusted to thembecause of that promise? And why areincreasing numbers of Catholic cou-ples not capable of loving with “thelove with which Christ loved each andevery one ‘to the end’” (Jn 13:1)?

Moreover, there is yet another hardreality we must face: many vulnerablemarriages will end in divorce unlessthey receive help.

There simply must be greater pas-toral care for families at the parishlevel. We must pray that this is one ofthe fruits of next year’s Synod on theFamily and World Meeting of Families.

We have often heard that the familyis at the center of the new evangeliza-

tion. Our families need an evangeliza-tion that is new in its ardor, methodand expression.

Twenty years ago, John Paul II, thePope of the Family, presented us witha pastoral approach to these issues. Hesaid that we needed to return to theearly Church’s vision of the Christianfamily as a “domestic church” in orderto “discover anew” the Church’s “loveand concern for the family.”

This is the reason why the Knightsof Columbus recently began our newprogram called “Building the Domes-tic Church: The Family Fully Alive.”

At the center of this initiative is familyprayer and sacred Scripture. In this way,families — especially those who may bevulnerable or suffering — may experi-

ence the truth of what John Paul IIwrote in his Letter to Families: “Prayerincreases the strength and spiritualunity of the family, helping the familyto partake of God’s own strength.”

Thirteen years earlier, John Paul IIwrote in Familiaris Consortio that Chris-tian families have the “mission to guard,reveal and communicate love” (17).

This mission comes firstwithin the family itself.

Keenly aware of the evan-gelizing role of the family,John Paul II said the Chris-tian family has a missionarycharacter. The family is notonly a subject for evangeliza-tion. It must also be an activeagent of evangelization.

Christian married couplesare called to a missionary witness, toshow each other and their children thatit is possible to live in a way that is joyfuland life giving. But the missionary roleof Christian families in the new evange-lization requires a commitment to ac-company each other, especially familiesthat are vulnerable or suffering.

This is also a goal of Building theDomestic Church.

Discussing our program recentlywith a friend, I received this reaction:“Strengthening Catholic families, help-ing those who are hurting, reducingthe potential of divorce and transmit-ting the faith to our children — howlike the Knights of Columbus.”

How like indeed!Vivat Jesus!

The family is not only a subjectfor evangelization. It must also bean active agent of evangelization.

LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH


DURING THE YEARS of my sem-inary formation, I was constantlytold that happy priests with fruitfulministries are men of prayer. Theseminary rector, Father Flynn, usedto say, “Give me an hour of prayereach day and eight hours of sleep,and I’ll do anything the Church asksof me!” And every afternoon we’d seeFather Flynn, in the midst of a verybusy day, praying before thetabernacle.

After my priestly ordina-tion, I was surprised to dis-cover how busy my life hadbecome. No longer was it theordered schedule of the semi-nary. Almost every day, Ilearned, priests had to changeor even drop their plans tohelp those in need. I soonlearned another, more painfullesson: When the days gothectic, prayer was often the first ca-sualty. It was all too easy for this busypriest to say, “I know I need to pray,but I’m so busy now. I’ll get to itlater.” Of course, “later” never quitearrived. Pretty soon, I found my joyand strength evaporating. I thankGod that I had a good spiritual direc-tor and mentors to help me put myprayer life first.

Over the years, I came to anotherrealization: You can’t live any voca-tion in the Church happily and fruit-fully without prayer. One of the greatjoys of being a priest is coming toknow many families and spendingtime with them. Some of the happiest

homes I visited were the mostchaotic. Toys on the floor, the phoneringing, dishes in the sink. Thesecouples weren’t trying to run a disor-derly home; they were simply en-gaged with their children. And whenwe gathered around the dinner table,they’d ask their children to lead theprayer. I came to realize that the fam-ily of faith I was called to serve was a

lot like those families: chaotic butjoyful, a bit messy but with the rightpriorities in place.

FINDING TIME TO PRAYOne evening while visiting a youngfamily, the couple put their childrento bed and asked me to stay a littlelonger to talk. They told me that theydearly loved their children, but as acouple they were going through a verystressful time. “It’s endless and we’retired,” they said, “and now we argue alot more than we used to.” Out of theblue, I asked, “Do you pray?”

The couple told me that while theywent to Mass together most Sundays

and tried to teach their children topray, they rarely, if ever, prayed as acouple. I suddenly realized that theyand countless couples like themneeded prayer as much or more thanI do. Pretty soon we were talkingabout how they could set aside a littletime for prayer together each day.

Years later, these two are nowgrandparents and recently toldme they had the same conversa-tion with their adult marriedchildren.

A brother Knight of Colum-bus, Holy Cross Father PatrickPeyton, used to say, “The fam-ily that prays together stays to-gether.” He promoted thefamily rosary and conductedmany large public rosary rallies,earning him the title the

“Rosary Priest.” He understood thatwhen a family takes time each day toinvoke the help of the Blessed VirginMary while recalling what the Lordsaid and did to save us, that familywill bond together in God’s love andbe able to withstand whatever comesits way.

Likewise, St. Paul teaches in Eph-esians that we should never let thesun go down on our anger (cf. Eph4:26). Mom, dad and the kidsshould all be reconciled by day’s end— every day, without fail. Andnothing reconciles like praying to-gether. Families should make a habitof praying before and after meals,

The Family That Prays Together Stays Together

As the first models and educators of prayer,Christian parents help their family face whatever difficulties come their way

by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

A family should pray for thestrength to love one another ingood times and bad, as well as

for the strength to meet whateverchallenges its members face.


Offered inSolidarity withPope Francis

LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

HOLY FATHER’SPRAYER INTENTIONS

GENERAL: That the birth of theRedeemer may bring peace andhope to all people of good will.

MISSION: That parents may betrue evangelizers, passing on totheir children the precious gift offaith.

CATHOLIC MAN OF THE MONTH

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and Sunday Mass should be the“source and summit” of their dailyprayer.

FAMILY PRAYERSomeone else who clearly saw theimportance of prayer for families wasSt. John Paul II. He taught thatprayer is an essential part of beinghuman and “the first condition forauthentic freedom of spirit.” In otherwords, if we want to form our chil-dren into good people, free from sinand free to lead lives of love andvirtue, we have to help them opentheir hearts in prayer.

St. John Paul II understood that

Christian parents have a sacred re-sponsibility to be models and teach-ers of prayer. In Familiaris Consortio,his apostolic exhortation on the fam-ily, he urged families to pray in com-mon — “husband and wife together,parents and children together.” Itmakes a big impression on childrenwhen they see mom and dad prayingtogether.

Moreover, while families shouldcertainly keep in mind the manyneeds of the Church and society,family prayer also “has for its veryown object family life itself ” (59).Daily family prayer should not bethought of as an escape from every-

day commitments, but rather as amuch-needed source of strength forfamilies to fulfill their responsibili-ties. This means a family should prayfor the strength to love one anotherin good times and bad, as well as forthe strength to meet whatever chal-lenges its members face, whether it’sthe big lacrosse game or a toughexam or an illness.

The family is rightly called thedomestic church, and the churchthat doesn’t pray is a closed church!Let’s keep our parishes vibrant andour homes joyful by daily tappinginto the source of our truth, lifeand love through prayer.♦

St. John of Kanty(1390-1473)

John of Kęty, also known as St. Johnof Kanty or St. John Cantius, wasborn June 23, 1390, in the town ofKęty, located southwest of Kraków,the capital of the Polish kingdom. Hispious parents, Stanisław and Anna,recognized their son’s intellectual giftsand in 1413 sent him to study atKraków’s Jagiellonian University.

A serious, humble and amiableyoung man, John was well liked by hispeers and professors alike. In additionto his intense love of learning, he hadan ardent faith and was ordained tothe priesthood in 1421.

After teaching and serving as rectorof a school in Miechów, he joined thephilosophy department at his almamater in 1429. He later became thechair of the university’s theology de-partment, a position he held for therest of his life.

John was an enthusiastic and dedi-cated teacher whose vocation as apriest-professor exerted a profound in-fluence upon his students. He oncewrote, “What work can be more noblethan to cultivate the minds of youngpeople, guarding it carefully, so thatthe knowledge and love of God and

his holy precepts go hand-in-handwith learning?”

John’s vocation was rooted in his faithand devotion, as he habitually fastedand prayed late into the night. It was hischarity, however, that people foundmost inspiring. He was always carefulnot to speak ill of others and was knownfor his generosity toward the poor, evento the point of giving away the shoes orcloak he was wearing to those in need.

John of Kęty died on Christmas Evein 1473. He was canonized in 1767and remains a popular saint in Polandand in Polish communities through-out North America. In 1969, his feastday was transferred from Oct. 20 toDec. 23.♦

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS


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STATE DEPUTIES from the Order’s73 jurisdictions gathered in BaltimoreOct. 31-Nov. 2 for their midyearmeeting, which focused on member-ship growth and various initiatives,while at the same time urging partici-pants to promote a spirit of missionaryfraternity at all levels of the Knights ofColumbus.

“When we met in August at theSupreme Convention it was under thetheme ‘We Will All Be Brothers, OurVocation to Fraternity,’” said SupremeKnight Carl A. Anderson in hiskeynote address. “We’re picking up acentral theme of Pope Francis’ vision ofthe Church — a communal fraternitythat has a missionary outlook. And thatis the theme we are going to carry for-ward throughout the fraternal year.”

The meeting took place just daysbefore the Archdiocese of Baltimorecelebrated its 225th anniversary. Es-tablished Nov. 6, 1789, it was the firstdiocese in the United States.

On Saturday, Nov. 1, participantsgathered for an All Saints Day Mass atBaltimore’s Basilica of the NationalShrine of the Assumption of theBlessed Virgin Mary. Supreme Chap-lain Archbishop William E. Lori, whoserved as the principal celebrant andhomilist, noted that the basilica waswhere the Order’s founder, VenerableMichael McGivney, was ordained tothe priesthood in December 1877 bythen-Archbishop James Gibbons ofBaltimore.

“I rejoice every time I offer Mass inthis sanctuary where he was ordaineda priest,” the supreme chaplain said.

The virtues of charity, unity, frater-nity and patriotism are “the soul ofour Order” and can be thought of as“paths to holiness,” he added. “If weroot our lives in these four principles,we will soon find ourselves deepeningour relationship with Christ.”

As the meeting continued with gen-eral business sessions, the statedeputies participated in breakout ses-sions, workshops and working lunches

with the Order’s membership programconsultants to set strategic growthplans for their jurisdictions. Discus-sions highlighted the building blocksalready in place for steady, consistentgrowth: the one new member percouncil per month recruitment plan;the focus to increase the number ofStar Council award winners; and thepush to increase the number of FirstDegree exemplifications.

The key to reaching these goals,Supreme Knight Anderson noted, isfor more members to invite eligibleCatholic men to join the Order. “Thevast majority of men who are Knightsof Columbus members were asked tojoin by a family member or a friend,”he said.

Anderson also discussed three up-coming international initiatives sup-ported by the Supreme Council: theSpecial Olympics World SummerGames in Los Angeles in 2015; theWorld Meeting of Families inPhiladelphia that the Order is also co-sponsoring; and World Youth Day2016 in Kraków, at which the Orderwill once again host a site for English-speaking pilgrims.

“The Knights of Columbus is at thecenter of these three projects, and thatshould energize what we do this fra-ternal year and beyond,” the supremeknight said.

He likewise emphasized the impor-tance of the yearlong programlaunched in October titled “Buildingthe Domestic Church: The FamilyFully Alive,” noting that it will “en-courage family prayer, family close-ness, family catechesis and bettercommunication among families.”

At the conclusion of the businesssessions, the state deputies and theirfamilies traveled to the Saint JohnPaul II National Shrine in Washing-ton, D.C., to view the site’s new16,000-square-foot permanent ex-hibit, “A Gift of Love: The Life ofSaint John Paul II” (see page 16).

“As we enter this exhibit tonight,”the supreme knight said, “it is an ex-pression, a symbol that the Knights ofColumbus has not forgotten St. JohnPaul II’s words … and that we have re-mained faithful, worked with him toopen wide the doors of Christ andtake on the responsibility of the newevangelization.”♦

Midyear Meeting Underscores Vocation to Fraternity

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson delivers the opening keynote address at the Order’s midyearmeeting of state deputies in Baltimore Oct. 31.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS


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SUPREME KNIGHT Carl A. Anderson and his wife,Dorian, were honored as the 2014 recipients of the SaintJohn Paul II Award for the New Evangelization, given bythe Catholic Information Center to “those who havedemonstrated an exemplary commitment to proclaimingChrist to all peoples.” The presentation took place Oct. 29at the organization’s New Evangelization Award Dinner inWashington, D.C.

“Dorian and I cannot adequately express to you how verygrateful we are to receive this award,” said Supreme KnightAnderson. “But we are grateful most of all for the tremendouswork of … the Catholic Information Center, especially in itsday-to-day evangelizing efforts here in our nation’s capital.”

The Andersons were appointed by Pope Benedict XVI tothe Pontifical Council for the Family in 2007, and they areboth members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchreof Jerusalem. Mr. Anderson serves as a consultor on the Pon-tifical Council for the Laity, the Pontifical Council for SocialCommunications and the Pontifical Academy for Life, andhas also acted as a consultant to the Pro-Life Committee ofthe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops since 2002.

In accepting the award, the supreme knight pointed tothe family as an active agent of evangelization.

“Christian married couples are called to a missionary wit-ness — to show every day that it is possible to live the con-silium Dei [God’s plan for marriage] in a way that is joyfuland life giving,” he said. “But the missionary role of the

family in the new evangelization requires one thing more— it requires a commitment to accompany vulnerable fam-ilies who are suffering.”

He added that there must be greater pastoral care andformation of families at the parish level. “We must praythat this will be one of the fruits of the Synod on the Fam-ily and of the upcoming World Meeting of Families inPhiladelphia.”♦

Supreme Knight and Mrs. Anderson Receive New Evangelization Award

Father Arne Panula, director of the Catholic Information Center, presentsthe Saint John Paul II Award for the New Evangelization to SupremeKnight and Mrs. Anderson at the organization’s Oct. 29 banquet.

MICHAEL P. Vic-torino, past statedeputy of Hawaii(2012-2014), waselected supremewarden by theKnights of Colum-bus Board of Di-rectors Oct. 24-26.A Knight since1990, Victorino isa member of Maui Council 8578and Helio Assembly, both in Kahu-lui, Hawaii. He and his wife, Joyce-lyn, have been married 38 years andhave two children and five grand-children. Their younger son, Shane,is a professional baseball player forthe Boston Red Sox.♦

CARDINAL GERHARD L. Müller,prefect of the Congregation for theDoctrine of the Faith since 2012, gavean address Nov. 4 to more than 300seminarians at the Saint John Paul IINational Shrine in Washington, D.C.

The gathering took place at the in-vitation of Cardinal Donald W. Wuerlof Washington and included a tour ofthe new permanent exhibit on St. JohnPaul II’s life and teachings (see page 16).

Welcoming Cardinal Müller andguests, Supreme Knight Carl A. An-derson said that the exhibit was de-signed to be a formative part of apilgrim’s visit to the shrine, not onlyfor young people and families, but “es-pecially for seminarians and priests.”

Cardinal Müller said the shrine pro-vided an opportunity to “reflect uponthe eloquent example of a truly wise

shepherd whose priestly heart burnedfor love of Christ and the Church.”

Addressing the seminarians, hesaid, “I pray that God form yourhearts in the pattern of the SacredHeart, so that you might truly be menof abiding wisdom, priests full ofgrace and truth.”♦

New Supreme Warden Elected

Supreme WardenMichael Victorino

Cardinal Müller Visits Saint John Paul II Shrine

Cardinal Gerhard Müller addresses seminari-ans at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.


Despite its medieval appearance and echo-filled interior, SanQuentin State Prison’s “death row” is no cathedral. It’s a

five-story human warehouse of lost hope squatting on the rockyshores of San Francisco Bay. The words “Condemned Row,”painted in black Gothic script over the front door, serve as a re-minder of this reality.

Nonetheless, hope is something that Je-suit Father George Williams, the Californiaprison’s Catholic chaplain, has to offer mencurrently condemned to death for theirbrutal crimes. Approximately 125 of the750 maximum-security inmates wait fortheir turn to attend one of the two Massesoffered here each week. Up to 18 at a timeshuffle in restraints to the “chapel” — awindowless old shower room retrofittedwith heavy metal caging and six rows ofbolted down benches.

Dressed in both priestly vestments and aKevlar vest, Father Williams, 56, looks outat his congregation from within a pad-locked metal cage of his own, a little largerthan a phone booth. The men, manyscarred and pale, are silent as they gaze atthe consecrated host lifted into the glare ofthe florescent bulb overhead.

Father Williams said it’s at this point inthe Mass when he often imagines the lightof Christ streaming forth from the host, il-luminating the darkness of death row andthe souls within.

“When I raise the host I don’t see heinous murderers standingin front of me, I see human beings,” he said. “If his body wasnot given up for them, too, then what difference would our faithmake? What a gift I have been given to be able to bear witnessto the mercy of Christ embodied in this sacrament in such adark place.”

Whether priests, deacons or laymen, there are thousands oftrained Catholic prison ministers and volunteers who share theprivilege of bearing Christ’s light to incarcerated communitiesthroughout the United States. And many of them, like FatherWilliams, are Knights of Columbus who manifest their commit-

ment to charity and fraternity by heralding amessage of hope to those who need it most.

‘A PATH FOR HEALING’Ministry to prisoners is recognized by theCatholic Church as one of the seven corpo-ral works of mercy grounded in the Gospelmandate of charity. In preaching about theLast Judgment, Jesus identified himself withthose who are imprisoned: “I was in prisonand you visited to me” (Mt 25:36). Duringhis crucifixion, Christ ministered to the re-pentant criminal on the cross (cf. Lk 23:43).And the Letter to the Hebrews reads, “Bemindful of prisoners as if sharing their im-prisonment …” (Heb 13:3).

Knights of Columbus serving in prisonministry also have a special model in theirfounder, Venerable Michael McGivney. Inthe spring and summer of 1882, Father Mc-Givney was immersed in both parish respon-sibilities and the work of the fledgling Orderin New Haven, Conn. He also paid daily vis-its to James “Chip” Smith, a notorious youngruffian, in New Haven’s jail. Two years earlier,Smith had killed the chief of police during a

drunken brawl and was sentenced to death for the crime.For more than a year, Father McGivney was a faithful visitor

and friend to Smith, counseling him back to the Church.With Father McGivney’s permission, a reporter from the New

Haven Evening Register visited Smith the week before his execu-tion Sept. 1, 1882.

Knights offer freedom behind bars as they reach out to the incarcerated with a message of hope

by Christina Gray

Ministers of Mercy

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“The ministrations of Father McGivney and the Sisters ofMercy have given [Smith] the full consolation conveyed by strongand sincere religious faith,” the reporter wrote. “He has lately hadan unwonted animation of countenance and cheerfulness of spir-its which can be accounted for on no other ground.”

With gratitude to Father McGivney, who stood by his side, therepentant Smith assured his weeping mother that he was meetinga “happy death.”

Nearly a century later, Father Williams first felt the call to reli-gious life while growing up in North Haven, Conn., just a fewmiles away from where these conversations took place.

In 1987, at age 30, he left a career in the Air Force to becomea Jesuit brother and chose prison ministry as an “experiment” atthe Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Norfolk. It wasthere, while peering through a narrow slot to talk to a man in soli-tary confinement, that Father Williams said he “realized that Jesuswas showing me his face.”

Williams later chose to become ordained to the priesthood be-cause of his experience with prison ministry. A Columbian Squire

in his youth, he also joined the Knights, becoming a member ofMother of Good Counsel Council 1078 in Andover, Mass.

“As Knights, we are called to go where people are neglected andpoor,” he said. “A lot of prisoners fall into that category.”

Father Williams noted that beginning in the 1970s, the U.S.prison system shifted its focus from rehabilitation to retribution.Convicted men and women began cycling in and out of prison —angry, violent, drug-addicted, mentally ill or spiritually empty —essentially coming out worse than they went in. Today, the UnitedStates holds the largest incarcerated population in the world, withmore than 2.2 million prisoners in state and federal prisons.

“New studies confirm what our pastoral experience has demon-strated,” reads a statement titled “Responsibility, Rehabilitationand Restoration: A Catholic Perspective” that was published in2000 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Physical, be-havioral and emotional healing happens sooner and with morelasting results if accompanied by spiritual healing. Access to wor-ship and religious formation is … a significant element in rebuild-ing lives and changing behavior.”

Father John Hourican, Emmet “Spike” Hawkins and Deacon Bill Davis, members of the Knights who work in prison ministry, stand in front of the ShelbyCounty Correctional Center in Memphis, Tenn. • Opposite page: The door to Death Row is pictured at San Quentin State Prison in California.


Jesuit Father George Williams, a member of Mother of Good Counsel Council 1078 in Andover, Mass., celebrates Mass for Death Row inmates atSan Quentin on Nov. 2, All Souls Day. • Deacon Joaquin “Kin” Borja (right), a member of Father Damien de Veuster Council 6906 in Aiea,Hawaii, stands together with fellow council member Gary Stark and his wife, Linda, outside of Halawa Correctional Facility in Aiea.

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Critics are skeptical of the idea of rehabilitating murderers,rapists and gang members, and prison chaplains sometimes hearthat they are “wasting their time.” But most chaplains don’t believethat. Nearly three-quarters of the chaplains surveyed in a 2011study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reportedthat they consider access to religious programs to be “absolutelycritical” to the successful rehabilitation and re-entry of inmatesleaving prison.

For his part, Father Williams said that his job isn’t to fix pris-oners or undo the damage they have done. He doesn’t proselytizeinmates, but rather meets them where they are. “I offer them apath for healing their souls and making peace with themselvesand with God,” he explained.

CATHOLIC PRESENCEAs a modern Catholic prison chaplain, Father Williams representsa minority in the United States. Only 13 percent of the 1,474state prison chaplains that responded to the Pew survey identifiedthemselves as Catholic. Nearly three-quarters of them are evan-gelical Protestants aided by a legion of layvolunteers.

The fact that Catholic inmates are morelikely to drift away from the faith withouta Catholic presence underscores the needfor more Catholic prison chaplains, as wellas the need for more lay volunteers to assistand supplement their work.

“I have some terrific volunteers — won-derful, dedicated people — but we’re notgetting all the help we need in prisons,”said Father Harold P. Paulsen, a veteranprison minister and retired priest of theDiocese of Tyler, Texas.

For more than 20 years, Father Paulsenhas focused on healing prisoners by helping them overcome incli-nations to evil and crime through Christ. A longtime member ofPalestine (Texas) Council 1323, the 83-year-old Boston native “in-herited” the prison ministries of five Texas prisons and now zigzagsthe roads of northeast Texas for weekly visits to each facility.

“You see miracles every time you come,” said Father Paulsen,whose ministry consists of celebrating Mass and the sacraments,counseling, and encouraging prisoners to educate themselvesthrough spiritual and catechetical reading, using materials suchas those published by the Knight of Columbus Catholic Infor-mation Service.

“I get as much K of C literature as I can for every prison I goto,” Father Paulsen explained. “I have them study as much as pos-sible, and then they discover the goodness of the faith and of God.Some of the changes are really dramatic.”

Since the Catholic Information Service launched a 10-partFaith Formation Home Study Course in 1947, more than half ofthe students have been inmates — including 51 percent of the1,550 students currently enrolled.

In addition to the resources that the Order provides, thereare many examples of Knights who have found the courage tovolunteer for prison ministry themselves.

Emmett “Spike” Hawkins, a retired utility worker and memberof Whitehaven Council 5062 in Memphis, Tenn., has been vol-unteering in prisons for nearly 20 years. After completing a Cur-sillo weekend, a three-day “short course in Christianity,” he beganserving as a team member of Kairos, a modified version of Cursillofor the prison community.

Hawkins, 66, also serves with a group of volunteers at WestTennessee State Penitentiary, located 60 miles north of Memphis.

“We talk about what we believe and go over the Catechism,” hesaid, “but one of the main things is just to listen. It means a lot tothe prisoners to express themselves to someone who cares.”

Deacon Bill Davis, director of prison ministry for the Dioceseof Memphis and a member of Timothy J. Coyne Council 9317in Cordova, Tenn., encouraged Hawkins to get more involved.

“He helped me to see there is such a need,” Hawkins said.An ocean away, Deacon Joaquin “Kin” Borja, a longtime prison

minister at Halawa Correctional Facility in Aiea, Hawaii, similarlyconvinced his fellow council members to “adopt” the facility andits 300 medium-security inmates.

“This is more than just a Catholicissue; it’s a human issue,” said DeaconKin, a member of nearby St. ElizabethParish and Father Damien de VeusterCouncil 6906. Speaking to brotherKnights who are thinking about becom-ing prison ministry volunteers, he says,“Pray about it. The love of God willovercome your fear.”

Gary Stark, one of Deacon Kin’s fel-low council members, agreed to volun-teer to help coordinate Communionservices at the prison, which currentlyhas no Catholic chaplain.

“I wanted to do more than just at-tend council meetings and fundraisers,” said Stark, 60. By neces-sity, his prison training largely focused on the negative: what notto wear, what not to do, what not to say. At first, Stark askedhimself, “Do I really want to do this? I’ll have to be on my toesall the time.”

Soon, however, Stark’s fears were relieved, and his wife, Linda,completed the training as well. The couple now visits the HalawaCorrectional Facility on a weekly basis.

“The feeling we get when we leave there each week, you can’tput it into words,” said Linda.

The Starks’ experience is common among those working inprison ministry. Though surrounded by concrete and steel bars,they are able to clearly see light amid the darkness.

Recalling his first walk to death row after his arrival at SanQuentin in 2010, Father Williams said that when he looked upthrough the razor wire to the rafters he spotted a dozen red-winged blackbirds.

“Their song is a reminder that even in all this oppression anddarkness, God is here.”♦

CHRISTINA GRAY is a reporter for Catholic San Francisco, thenewspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

“AS KNIGHTS, WE ARE

CALLEDTO GOWHERE PEO-

PLE ARE NEGLECTED AND

POOR. A LOT OF PRISONERS

FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.”


For nearly six decades, the DiCalogero family has helped Knights of Columbus families obtain financial security

by Justin Bell | photos by Bryce Vickmark

A Legacy of Protection

Early in his career as a Knights of Columbus Insurance fieldagent, Joseph P. DiCalogero visited with Pasquale and Lor-

raine Bruno, and strongly suggested that they start saving forthe years ahead. Raising seven children in Melrose, Mass., thecouple was focused on providing college expenses and had notreally thought about their own financial future.

Now in their early 80s, the Brunos are thankful they heededtheir agent’s advice.

“As far as we’re concerned, whatever he tells us to do, we do,”said Pasquale, who is now in a position financially where heonly works because he want to — a few days a week at a foodcounter he used to own.

DiCalogero, 56, a member of Reading (Mass.) Council1031, served the Knights of Columbus as a field agent for 15years before working the past 20 years as a general agent. Inhelping numerous New England families like the Brunos make


important financial decisions, DiCalogero knows he is walkingin the footsteps of many other dedicated agents, including hisfather, Joseph B. DiCalogero. In fact, three of Joseph B.’s sons— Joseph P., John and Robert — as well as son-in-law TimCoskren, have become Knights of Columbus agents. Similarly,Joseph P. has ushered in a third generation of agents: his sons,Joseph J. and Matthew, and nephew, Jeff Denehy.

For the DiCalogeros, Knights of Columbus Insurance istruly a family affair — and not only because so many ofthem are agents. The DiCalogeros are acutely aware thatVenerable Michael McGivney established the Knights ofColumbus in 1882 with an eye to the financial security ofmembers’ families.

Father McGivney’s vision continues to inspire their work.For the DiCalogeros, “Insurance for brother Knights, bybrother Knights, with brother Knights in mind” is not a cor-

porate slogan; it’s a family motto and a proud legacy thatcontinues to grow.

A LONG TERMERAt 88, Joseph B. DiCalogero can still rattle off differences be-tween two insurance policies from the 1950s and clearly explainwhy the Knights’ offering is better.

“The insurance was less expensive, and it had more value,”he said.

Born in 1926 to Sicilian immigrant parents, Joseph B. grewup in the North End, a Boston neighborhood that he describesas being 99 percent Italian at the time.

After serving in the U.S. Navy toward the end of World WarII, he returned to Boston and went to business school. Hejoined the Knights of Columbus in 1949 and began workingfor the commercial insurance industry a year later.

Three generations of Knights of Columbus Insurance agents, including General Agent Joseph P. DiCalogero (front row, center) and his father, formerGeneral Agent Joseph B. DiCalogero (front right) are pictured. Also pictured are field agents Jeffrey Denehy (front left) and (back row, left to right)Joseph DiCalogero Jr., John DiCalogero, Matthew DiCalogero, Timothy Coskren and Robert DiCalogero.


Joseph B. soon became more involved with the Knights andat age 26 served as grand knight of Ausonia Council 1513 inBoston’s North End. In 1955, he married his wife, Marion, andtwo years later began a nearly four-decade career with theKnights of Columbus.

“The Knights of Columbus was not my first job, but I knewit would be my last,” said Joseph B.

Beginning as a field agent, he worked as the first regional su-pervisor at the Knights of Columbus headquarters in NewHaven, Conn., and later returned to the field as a general agent,retiring in December 1994.

His son, Joseph P., recalls practically growing up withKnights of Columbus Insurance. Starting at age 8, he and hissisters would assist their father by stuffing 8,000-10,000 en-velopes for summer mailings.

“We knew this was coming every summer, and we hated it,”Joseph P. said with a laugh.

From the family’s home in Norwood, a southern suburb ofBoston, he often found himself traveling with his dad tocouncil meetings and parishes lugging a projector for presen-tations. As a second-grade student, he attended the firstKnights of Columbus Insurance conference to be held outsideof New Haven.

As a general agent, the elder DiCalogero would often drivetwo hours each way to Springfield, in an old Buick with200,000 miles. One month after the Buick’s axle broke ontheir street in Norwood, he bought a winning raffle ticket. Theprize? A car.

“You tell me this is not Father McGivney looking over yourshoulder,” Joseph P. said, recalling the incident.

Joseph P. also recounted one day when he was 18, when hisdad told him to get in the car, but would not tell him wherethey were going. When they reached their destination, the teentook part in a First Degree exemplification with NorwoodCouncil 252.

After studying business at Salem State University, joining hisfather in the K of C insurance trade was not a complicated de-cision for Joseph P. He saw the success his father had enjoyedand figured he would try it out while he was young and stillunmarried.

Thirty-five years later, the Knights of Columbus has been theonly career that Joseph P. has ever known.

It wasn’t long before Joseph P. married his high school sweet-heart, Lauren. She had long been familiar with the Order, sinceher father was also a member, and she had even shared envelopestuffing duties.

As a field agent, Joseph P. could work out of his home, eat-ing dinner with his wife, Lauren, and children before headingout to evening appointments. As an agent under contract andworking on commissions, he could dictate his own schedule,allowing time for extracurricular activities, such as coachingyouth sports.

“That’s why I think a field agent has the greatest job in theworld, if you can handle it,” he said.

Lauren DiCalogero has also appreciated the community builtbetween the families of agents.

“It’s more than just a company you work for. You becomegood friends with people, you support each other,” she said,citing trips and families taking care of each other’s kids.

CONTINUING THE VISIONThe DiCalogero family’s contributions to Knights of ColumbusInsurance and its mission has continued to grow.

Joseph P. currently directs 22 field agents who serve Knightsin Vermont, New Hampshire and a third of Massachusetts —an area that comprises 170 councils and approximately 23,000members.

When Joseph P.’s sons first showed interest in becomingK of C agents for him, however, he directed them to getother jobs first.

“I wanted them to see what it was like outside the Knightsof Columbus,” he said.

Joseph P. also wanted to make sure the initiative to work forthe Knights came from his sons, not the other way around. Heknew that Knights of Columbus insurance agents are paid ac-cording to how hard they work, and they need to be self-moti-vated and disciplined in order to succeed.

Joseph J., 26, a member of Valencia Council 80 in Milford,Mass., said his father wanted him to get phone experience withinside sales and “build up courage to sit in front of people” inoutside sales. He did both in the credit card field before even-tually coming on board with the Knights.

General agent Joseph P. DiCalogero is pictured in his office at the DiCalogeroAgency in Norwood, Mass.


Likewise, older brother Matthew, 29, a member of Methuen(Mass.) Council 4027, described his move to sell insurance forthe Knights as a “gravitational pull” after graduating from busi-ness school and working in the banking industry. Shortly afterstarting with the Knights in 2013, he married his wife, Morgan,and appreciates that his career will provide for a family.

Although Joseph B. DiCalogero has been officially retiredfrom Knights of Columbus Insurance for nearly 20 years, heand his wife, Marion, continue to stay involved. For instance,they assisted their agent grandsons with stuffing 23 trays —more than 3,000 — of envelopes for their August mailing.

“It’s come full circle,” said Joseph P.In protecting the financial future of Knights of Columbus

families, the DiCalogeros know that they and other K of C in-surance agents are participating in a larger legacy.

It began simply, when Father McGivney, a young parishpriest at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, conceived of a fra-ternity grounded in charity to protect the vulnerable.

“I think it’s phenomenal how his vision is our vision,”Joseph P. said.

Father McGivney probably could not imagine how expansivethe fraternal benefit society would become, Joseph P. said. Nowa Fortune 1000 company, the Order is on target to surpass$100 billion of insurance in force in 2015, and there is nohigher rated insurer in North America.

“I think it’s amazing, and it’s just going to continue to growand grow,” Joseph P. said.

“Still, we’re the best kept secret in the industry,” he added.“People should know more about the Knights of Columbusand what we do. Forget the insurance for a second. We do-nated $170 million just last year to charities, and we had 130million volunteer man-hours. That’s unbelievable.”

The Order has “a great story to tell,” Joseph P. said. “Butwe have to get in to see more people, to tell that story.”

Longtime client, Rich O’Connell, obtained his first K of Cinsurance policy when his dad bought one from Joseph B. inthe early 1960s. O’Connell has since acquired a handfulmore policies over the years through the DiCalogeros, a cru-cial time being when he started his own civil engineeringbusiness.

Shopping around, he met with an insurance agent fromanother company. When the agent asked what insurance hecarried currently, O’Connell replied that it was with theKnights of Columbus. The meeting was then cut short as theagent started putting away his materials.

“I can’t do any better than those guys,” the agent said, ac-cording to O’Connell.

It is hard to imagine Father McGivney not smiling atthat.♦

JUSTIN BELL works for St. Mary of the Annunciation Parishin Danvers, Mass., and in Boston Public Schools and is a cor-respondent for the National Catholic Register. He is a memberof Denver (Colo.) Council 539.

Field agent Matthew DiCalogero meets longtime client John Walsh, a member of Norwood (Mass.) Council 252, and his wife, Jaynellen, to discusstheir insurance needs.


The Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington,D.C., hosted a series of events surrounding the Oct. 22

celebration of John Paul II’s first feast day since his canoniza-tion last April. Supreme Officers at the event were joined byArchbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki of Lviv, Ukraine, and otherdistinguished guests for the official opening of a world-classpermanent exhibit on the life and teachings of the new saint.

In addition, the celebration offered pilgrims special oppor-tunities for prayer and veneration of the saint’s relics, as wellas a chance to view the K of C-produced documentary titledJohn Paul II in America: Uniting a Continent.

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimorewas the principal celebrant of an evening Mass preceding theribbon-cutting ceremony of the shrine’s new 16,000-square-footexhibit, titled “A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II.”

“This evening, we gather in thanksgiving and joy as we cel-ebrate the feast day of St. John Paul II,” said the supremechaplain in his homily. “Our joy is compounded as we see allabout us how this shrine, named in his honor, is progressing.It has already become a place of pilgrimage, prayer and devo-tion, where many come to seek the powerful intercession ofSt. John Paul II.”

The Supreme Officers, led by Supreme Knight Carl A. An-derson, and the shrine staff, led by Executive Director PatrickE. Kelly, welcomed a number of special guests and dignitariesto the shrine for the events. For Archbishop Mokrzycki, whoserved as personal secretary to John Paul II from 1996 untilthe pope’s death in 2005, it was his first visit to the shrine. Inaddition to concelebrating Mass, Archbishop Mokrzycki ledthe Divine Mercy chaplet and a procession of a relic of St.John Paul II. The reliquary, which contains a glass ampouleof the saint’s blood, is a centerpiece of the shrine and was en-trusted to the Knights of Columbus by Cardinal StanisławDziwisz, archbishop of Kraków, Poland.

Delivering remarks after Mass, Archbishop Mokrzycki said,“The one who brings us together is St. John Paul II, who con-tinues to be a model of love for God, his commandments, theGospel and the Church.”

Sanctityon DisplayThe Saint John Paul II National Shrine unveils a new exhibit of the pope’s

lifelong witness to Christ

by Columbia staff | photos by Matthew Barrick


He added, “I thank the Knights of Columbus for such acourageous undertaking and I believe that through thisshrine you will be faithful stewards of St. John Paul II’s teach-ing today and in the future.”

Supreme Knight Anderson first announced the shrine ini-tiative during his annual report in August 2011, four monthsafter John Paul II’s beatification. A shrine dedicated to JohnPaul II’s contributions to the Church and society would belocated on the site of the former Pope John Paul II CulturalCenter, which opened in 2001. Cardinal Donald W. Wuerlof Washington gave his blessing to the project and declaredthe site an archdiocesan shrine. Last March, in anticipationof John Paul II’s canonization a month later, it was desig-nated a national shrine at a meeting of the U.S. Conferenceof Catholic Bishops.

In May, Pope Francis, through Vatican Secretary of StateCardinal Pietro Parolin, expressed his hope that “the Shrinewill open wide its doors to the countless members of thefaithful from the United States and abroad who rememberSt. John Paul with gratitude and affection, and who trust-ingly seek his intercession and assistance.”

Archbishop Lori echoed this sentiment in his homily Oct. 22,noting that John Paul II was particularly close to the Knights ofColumbus: “Now we are able to transform this building from a

center to a shrine, a place of grace and holiness, truth and loveto proclaim the message of his life and pontificate within theChurch and before the world.”

The new exhibit, which marks the completion of phaseone of the shrine, invites pilgrims to journey through ninegalleries that trace the life, papacy and teachings of St. JohnPaul II. The multimedia experience includes unique arti-facts, audio-visual components and engaging interactive dis-plays in a setting that inspires deep reflection on one of themajor intellectual, spiritual and historical figures of the 20thcentury.

Designed by Gallagher and Associates, the exhibit focusesboth on the events that shaped the pope and those that he inturn shaped: from his youth in Nazi-occupied Poland, to hisministry as priest, bishop and cardinal, to his dynamic 26-year pontificate.

“This exhibit is a true testament to the life of St. John Paul II,and will have three purposes,” Archbishop Mokrzycki said.“First, to protect, by securing and systematizing artifacts re-lated to the life of the saint. Then, to educate by cultural, sci-entific and educational programming, allowing visitors to learnabout the person of John Paul II and his teachings. Finally andmost importantly, to show the beauty of a life lived accordingto the Gospel.”♦

From left to right: Executive Director Patrick E. Kelly, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson,Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki of Lviv, Ukraine, Archbishop Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia (Ukrainian), and Deputy Supreme Knight Logan Ludwigtake part in the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new exhibit at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine Oct. 22.


Right: Archbishop Mokrzycki blesses a passageway of theexhibit, a replica of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica,accompanied by Archbishop Lori of Baltimore and SupremeKnight Anderson. • The expansive exhibit features keythemes from St. John Paul II’s life and pontificate, includinghis Marian devotion (above), his international travels, in-cluding World Youth Days (below), and the many saintsand blesseds he canonized and beatified (bottom right).


For more than six months, our city of Aleppo, in the north-west corner of Syria, has suffered from severe water short-

ages, while electricity and telephone services have beenregularly interrupted. On Holy Thursday, April 17, the citywas the scene of terrible attacks, and the people, horrified bybombings, were unable to leave their homes to attend Mass.This past summer, Aleppo was under siege and cut off fromthe rest of the world for more than 10 weeks.

We can barely begin to enumerate the suffering and diffi-culties that the people of Aleppo have had to endure in thesetragic times, which began three-and-a-half years ago. Whatstarted as a peaceful protest movementis now a raging civil war and a foreigninvasion.

Of course, Aleppo is not the onlycity to suffer in this ancient country,where St. Paul was called on the roadto Damascus to be the “chosen instru-ment” of Jesus and the tireless de-fender of the Church (cf. Acts 9:15). Iwould like to draw particular attentionto the fate of Christians who arecaught in the crossfire of the ongoingviolence and of the consequences forthe future of this region.

For the Church, what is most im-portant is that peace be restored assoon as possible, so that a non-confes-sional democracy may be established. In this way, all Syrians,including its many minorities, will be guaranteed the religiousfreedom necessary to live serenely as full-fledged citizens inthe country where they were born and where their ancestorsare buried.

UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDYAmericans are well aware of the savage executions of journal-ists James Foley in August and Steven Sotloff in September.Just a few days after the murder of her son, Diane Foley spokethese words: “We have never been so proud of our son, Jim.He gave his life trying to expose to the world the suffering ofthe Syrian people.”

You may also have heard about the execution of Jesuit Fa-ther Frans van der Lugt April 7 in the old city of Homs. Asteadfast and brilliant proponent of interfaith dialogue inSyria for 40 years who had become a symbol of Christian-Muslim friendship, Father van der Lugt chose to remain de-spite the ever-present dangers. His death is a great blow to usin Syria, but it is neither the first nor the only one.

When we consider innocent Christian victims, we canspeak without exaggeration of several hundred dead, many ofthem martyrs. We know of at least 10 priests assassinated. Thefate of other priests and bishops who have been kidnapped is

still unknown.The ancient village of Ma’loula, a

refuge of Christians since the time ofthe Roman persecutions, has seen fre-quent attacks. Jihadists have vandal-ized churches and convents there, andkidnapped 12 nuns in 2013 to terror-ize the population even more.

The heart-rending images that cometo us are the most unimaginable of the21st century. They reflect the inde-scribable suffering of hundreds of thou-sands of families in mourning, millionsof refugees, and all those who havestayed in their homes and labor nightand day to find food for their children.In the recent past, Syria was rather

quiet and safe. Christians lived peacefully in a pluralistic soci-ety with a Muslim majority that was tolerant and even benev-olent. But this inhuman war leaves nothing in its wake, and acatastrophic, rampant tragedy is annihilating this country.

Today, everything has changed dramatically. The protestmovement that began peacefully transformed into an armedrevolt that spread terror and insecurity throughout the coun-try. People are afraid to leave their houses; they avoid goingout of their cities or villages, or do so only to move to otherregions where they hope to find refuge. In perilous zones likeAleppo and the villages close to Turkey, there are kidnappers,snipers and armed gangs that oppress the civil population inareas where the army is not present.

Amid violent persecution and social upheaval, Syrian Christians struggle for peace in their homeland

by Archbishop Jean-Clément Jeanbart

Suffering and Hope inthe Face of Terrorism

“PEOPLE AVOID GOING

OUT OF THEIR CITIES OR

VILLAGES, OR DO SO

ONLY TO MOVE TO OTHER

REGIONS WHERE THEY

HOPE TO FIND REFUGE.”


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VICTIMS OF INVASIONI do not know whether the international community has of-ficially declared Aleppo a “disaster zone,” but I do know thathumanly and materially, it has become so. After years of sense-less war, the citizens of this great and beautiful city, with its7,000 years of history and culture, find themselves in a des-perate situation. The prosperity that Aleppo once enjoyed hasvanished. Countless attacks have destroyed its factories andits flourishing industry, its social and administrative institu-tions, its commercial area and its renowned souk (market-places), its ancient homes, its schools and its hospitals.Aleppo’s ruination means that Syria has lost a major source ofeconomic and social growth, and other cities have sufferedsimilar misfortune.

The Arab Christian population remains particularly at risk.These times of great change could deal a fatal blow to ourpresence and apostolic mission in the region, which can betraced back to the beginning of Christianity.

Nearly four years since it began, we have more and moreevidence that this revolution is not a protest movement ofSyrian citizens seeking freedom and a better life but rather adevastating invasion of our land, more terrible than the inva-sion of the Huns in the 5th century and the Mongols in theMiddle Ages. It is a war of destruction led by nations, usingthe unrest in parts of Syria to foment a fratricidal war into

which they have injected arms, money and tens of thousandsof jihadists and mercenaries. Thousands of European terroristshave even joined their ranks.

In the face of massacres of innocent people, kidnappings,refusal to engage in dialogue and massive destruction, we arenow convinced that this uprising has nothing to do with free-dom and democracy. If this were the case, the Church wouldhave been the first to become an ally in the protests and aleader of those asking for substantial reforms. Instead, we havefocused our attention on calling for an end to armed conflictand for dialogue toward a concerted political solution to thiscrisis that has plunged our country into blood and fire.

RAYS OF HOPEThe patriarchs of the Middle East, as well as the General As-sembly of the Bishops of these Middle-Eastern countries, to-gether with His Holiness Pope Francis, have not ceased to callthe believers to prayer, the fighters to calm and the nations tomilitary non-interference.

No one can forget the Holy Father’s prophetic call to theentire Church to participate in a day of fasting and prayerSept. 7, 2013, in the face of growing tensions that included apotential military attack by the United States.

The Lord answered the prayers of his Church! He sparedthe people of Syria and opened paths of dialogue and recon-

A man carries two girls covered with dust following an air strike on the Syrian city of Aleppo July 9.

ciliation. The Geneva talks were the first path, and we arepraying day and night that it may attain its objective and callfor another meeting to promote dialogue between combat-ants. We ask all of our Christian brothers to join us in prayerthat the peace process will succeed and the war will end forthe greater good of all Syria.

It is evident that the civil war in Syria will overflow into neigh-boring territories if the conflict continues unchecked. Unfortu-nately, we notice this happening every day. You can imagine thecruel picture ahead and the tragic consequences for Christiancommunities in the surrounding countries if this happens.

I am therefore convinced that our first task must be tostruggle for peace in our land and our region. In his Messagefor the World Day of Peace last January, Pope Francis stated,“Only when politics and the economy are open to movingwithin the wide space ensured by the One who loves each manand each woman will they achieve an ordering based on a gen-uine spirit of fraternal charity and become effective instru-ments of integral human development and peace.”

Recognizing what our Holy Father has called “the transcen-dent dimension of man,” Christians want a political system thatenables all citizens to live in peace and to participate in publiclife. We know the task is arduous and difficult, but we Chris-tians also know that the Lord never abandons his children.

We therefore look forward with a great hope to the daywhen this Calvary that our country is enduring will end. And

we ardently pray for the establishment of lasting peace so thatour faithful may return again to work and to their normallives, in an atmosphere of security, serenity and mutual un-derstanding among all the citizens of this beloved country.♦

METROPOLITAN JEAN-CLÉMENT JEANBART is thearchbishop of Aleppo, Syria (Melkite Greek Catholic Church),the city in which he was also born. This text was adapted froman address he delivered Sept. 26 at Fordham University in NewYork City and is reprinted with permission.


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A priest inspects the damage inside a church in Homs, Syria, May 13.

• The Knights of Columbus Christian Refugee Reliefinitiative has raised more than $2.5 million for those suf-fering persecution in Iraq and the surrounding region.To assist with these relief efforts, visit www.kofc.org/Iraq,or send checks or money orders to: K of C ChristianRefugee Relief, Knights of Columbus Charities, P.O.Box 1966, New Haven, CT 06509-1966.• The Food for Syria project, launched last year byJesus the King Council 15045 in Markham, Ontario,in collaboration with the Melkite Catholic Patriarchatein Syria, has provided food and medical supplies tomore than 1,500 families. To aid with these efforts,visit foodforsyria.org.

FATHERS FOR GOOD


FIND ADDITIONAL ARTICLES AND RESOURCES FOR CATHOLIC MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES AT FATHERSFORGOOD.ORG.

As you think about movies to watch with friends and familythis Christmas season, you might consider taking Pope

Francis as your guide for viewing. In various interviews, the pope has given a thumbs up to at

least three films that helped shape his spiritual and moral out-look: Roberto Rossellini’s neo-realist World War II masterpieceRome, Open City (1945); Federico Fellini’s classic La Strada(1954); and the Danish gem Babette’s Feast (1988).

All three are included on the Vati-can’s list of 45 “great films” — com-piled in 1995 on the occasion of the100th anniversary of cinema. And eachin its own way illuminates one of thedefining themes of Francis’ papacy: theimportance of encountering others. AsPope Francis wrote in his apostolic ex-hortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joyof the Gospel), “Whenever we encounteranother person in love, we learn some-thing new about God” (272).

In Rome, Open City, Aldo Fabriziplays a heroic Catholic priest namedDon Pietro who embodies compas-sionate openness to others in his workamong Nazi occupiers and resistancefighters.

A shepherd who has the “odor ofsheep” and who is unafraid to “go to theperipheries” — to borrow two of PopeFrancis’ memorable phrases — DonPietro seeks out those spurned by society. This includes Pina, awoman of sincere faith despite moral shortcomings, and her fi-ancé, Francesco, an honorable atheist hunted by the Nazis.

At one point, an S.S. officer pressures Don Pietro to betrayone of Francesco’s fellow fighters, slyly suggesting that all athe-ists are enemies of the Church. Responding with charity, thepriest replies, “I believe that anyone fighting for justice and lib-erty walks in the ways of the Lord, and the ways of the Lordare infinite.”La Strada focuses on another unlikely alliance — between

Anthony Quinn’s traveling strongman, Zampanò, and the sim-ple Gelsomina, played by Giulietta Masina.

Zampanò is a brute of violent impulses and base appetites,but he is ultimately changed by his encounter with the humbleGelsomina, who epitomizes il poverello (“the poor one”) or le

jongleur de Dieu (“God’s fool”), titles often associated with PopeFrancis’ namesake.

Perhaps no movie captures the transformative power of an au-thentic personal encounter better than Gabriel Axel’s parable Ba-bette’s Feast, in which the title character, a French refugee andformer master chef, prepares a banquet for a dwindling Christiancongregation in a remote area of 19th century Denmark. By herloving care for both food and friendship, Babette transfigures the

meal into “a love affair” where “mercyand truth” meet.

The dinner, with its 12 guests,clearly contains eucharistic overtones,while old divisions are healed by itssalutary effects. Beyond the sacramen-tal shades of the feast, the film toucheson other themes near to Francis’ heart:mercy, openness to being surprised byGod’s joy, community, and a self-emp-tying love exemplified by Babette’ssymbolic sacrifice of time and effort.

Each of these films communicateswhat Pope Paul VI said in a 1967 ad-dress to artists: Whenever art reveals “inthe human condition, however lowlyor sad it may be, a spark of goodness,at that very instant a glow of beautypervades the whole work.”

Moreover, all three movies deal withwounded characters and sinners whono doubt resonate with Pope Francis’

understanding of the Church as a field hospital after battle.In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis said he never tires of re-

peating the words of Deus Caritas Est, Benedict XVI’s first en-cyclical: “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choiceor a lofty idea, but an encounter with an event, a person whichgives life a new horizon and a decisive direction” (1).

These words, Pope Francis said, “take us to the very heart ofthe Gospel” (7).

There’s an old Jesuit maxim about “finding God in allthings.” For Pope Francis, that means using anything andeverything — including the popular medium of film — to en-courage just such an encounter with Christ.♦

DAVID DICERTO is a Catholic film critic and co-host of Reel Faithon NetNY, sponsored by the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Francis FilmsThe Holy Father’s favorite movies reflect the transformative

spiritual power of human relationships

by David DiCerto

Babette’s Feast (Denmark, 1988) is oneof Pope Francis’ favorite films.

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BUILDING THE DOMESTIC CHURCH


Special Christmas Project

Bring the miracle of Christ’s birth into your home bymaking a special Nativity set, or crèche. As a family, designa manger scene in Bethlehem. Throughout Advent, havefamily members place a different figure in the manger andmeditate on the meaning of this humble place where Godbecame man.

Prayer Project

Praying together as a family is a great way to experiencethe presence of God in our everyday lives. While there aremany ways to pray, using Scripture as the center and focusof family prayer time can be fruitful and instructive foreveryone.

• Place a Bible in your family prayer corner.• Gather as a family and begin with a prayer to the Holy

Spirit, asking for guidance and understanding of God’sWord.

• Read the Sunday Gospel or daily readings aloud(usccb.org/readings).

• Allow some time to reflect on the passage, and then sharea few words about it.

• End with a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of God’sliving Word.

Psalm of the Month (Psalm 84)

Pray the Psalm of the Month during every Sundayof the month at your family prayer space. On the lastSunday of the month, discuss as a family which versestood out most for each member.

How lovely is thy dwelling place,O LORD of hosts!My soul longs, yea, faintsfor the courts of the LORD;my heart and flesh sing for joyto the living God.Even the sparrow finds a home,and the swallow a nest for herself,where she may lay her young,at thy altars, O LORD of hosts,my King and my God.Blessed are those who dwell in thy house,ever singing thy praise!

There is something very powerful about praying togetheras a family. Jesus reminded us that where two or three aregathered together in his name, there he is in the midst ofthem (see Mt 18:20). He also revealed that when we praywith our children, their guardian angels always look uponthe face of the Father (see Mt 18:10).

Prayer needs to become a regular habit in the daily life ofour families. Even when children, grandchildren, siblings,parents and grandparents are far away, they can still pray foreach other. When a family prays together, an ocean of gracecomes into the world.

In his Letter to Families, St. John Paul II wrote, “Prayer in-creases the strength and spiritual unity of the family, helpingthe family to partake of God’s own ‘strength.’”

DECEMBERBecause the family that prays together stays together, we want to learn to pray as a family.

Council-Wide Event: Movie Night

December’s movie is The Muppet Christmas Carol. Beforethe movie begins, ask your families to share images of theirNativity scenes.

Bring Song Into Your Home

Immaculate MaryImmaculate Mary, your praises we sing.

You reign now in Heaven, with Jesus our king.Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.In Heaven the blessed your glory proclaim;

On Earth we your children invoke your sweet name.Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

THIS IS THE SECOND MONTH OF BUILDING THE DOMESTIC CHURCH: THE FAMILY FULLY ALIVE, A K OF C INITIATIVE FOR FAMILIES.

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BUILDING THE DOMESTIC CHURCH


Meditation

Prayer needs to become a regularhabit in the daily life of each family.Prayer is thanksgiving, praise ofGod, asking for forgiveness, suppli-cation and invocation. In all ofthese forms the prayer of the familyhas much to say to God. — St. JohnPaul II, Letter to Families (1994), 10

Mary appears therefore as thesupreme model of personal partici-pation in the divine mysteries. Sheguides the Church in meditating onthe mystery celebrated and in par-ticipating in the saving event by en-couraging the faithful to desire anintimate, personal relationship withChrist in order to cooperate withthe gift of their own life in the sal-vation of all. …

We could add that for the Peopleof God, Mary represents the modelof every expression of their prayerlife. In particular, she teaches Chris-tians how to turn to God to ask forhis help and support in the variouscircumstances of life.

Her motherly intercession at thewedding in Cana and her presencein the Upper Room at the Apostles’side as they prayed in expectation ofPentecost suggest that the prayer ofpetition is an essential form of co-operation in furthering the work ofsalvation in the world. By followingher model, the Church learns to bebold in her asking, to persevere inher intercessions and, above all, toimplore the gift of the Holy Spirit.— St. John Paul II, Audience, Sept.10, 1997

Questions for Reflection

1. During my day, what are sometimes when I could take a minute to“touch base” with God throughprayer, perhaps asking his help orsimply thanking him for his loveand his presence?

2. Just as talking can build a rela-tionship, the different kinds ofprayer mentioned are all ways togrow closer to God. What kindmakes me most aware that God isnear and a part of this life he hasgiven me?

3. How is our family touched andshaped by the prayers of all of itsmembers?

Council-Wide Event: A Christmas Celebration

During Advent, councils throughout the Orderorganize a traditional Christmas celebrationknown as La Posada (see article on page 24).

In the 16th century, Franciscan missionariesfrom Spain promoted the Posada in the NewWorld with the goal of introducing the faith. Itcontinues to be popular throughout the south-western United States and all of Latin America,and it is a rich tradition for Knights and theirfamilies to share.

The celebration consists of prayer, a play and aparty for families, parishes and whole communi-ties. It is a celebration that children and adults canenjoy together, as well as those from different cul-tural backgrounds.

A booklet titled The Posada: An Advent &Christmas Celebration (#9898-E,S) provides allthat is needed to conduct this Christmas celebra-tion with your parish and council families. Copiesof the booklet can be viewed in digital format ordownloaded at kofc.org/posada, or ordered fromthe Order’s Supply Department.

Your council can also benefit those in need thisChristmas season by asking attendees to bring anonperishable food item or an unwrapped toy tothe event as a donation.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND A COMPLETE LIST OF MONTHLY THEMES AND MEDITATIONS, VISIT KOFC.ORG/DOMESTICCHURCH.

Youth group members at St. Dominic Parish in Swansea, Mass., play the parts ofMary and Joseph during a Posada celebration in December 2013.

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December snow flurries swirled about St. Dominic Church inSwansea, Mass., as Mary and Joseph set out in search of a suit-

able place to give birth to the Christ Child. On this wintry Sunday,the seaside hamlet south of Boston may not have resembled first-century Bethlehem, but a hardy crowd of parishioners was warmedby the true spirit of Christmas that filled their quaint church.

The occasion was the third annual Christmas Posada hostedby Bishop James E. Cassidy Council 3669 last year. Those in at-tendance had come to witness a tra-ditional play of Hispanic origincommemorating Joseph and Mary’ssearch for lodging, or posada. A pairof local high school students por-trayed Mary and Joseph, while otheryoung people had adopted a host ofsupporting roles.

Those in attendance also came toaid the homeless and others in need,placing donations in a basket follow-ing the performance.

“Every year we have more partici-pants,” said Grand Knight BillBouchard of Council 3669. “Parish-ioners donate food and costumes,and people from other parishes arejoining in as well.”La Posada is a time-honored tradi-

tion that can be traced back to 16thcentury Spanish missionaries and their quest to evangelize theNew World. Since the Christmas Posada was launched as aSupreme Council program in 2011, K of C councils throughoutNorth America have increased awareness of this largely Hispanictradition and have found creative ways to make the Holy Family’sjourney come to life in their communities.

MAKING FAITH REALThe young people participating in the Posada at St. DominicChurch were garbed in traditional costumes calling to mind thetime of Christ’s birth. With assistance from fellow cast and familymembers, they had carefully designed woven head coverings andmatching cloaks to evoke the chill of the desert night that Josephand his pregnant wife had to endure. In a nod to the ongoingpopularity of the Posada in Latin America, the organizers alsoadded a modern flair to their production, with some of the youngtravelers donning colorful sombreros and ponchos.

During the performance in St. Dominic’s parish center, Maryand Joseph start out alone on their journey, slowly circling theperimeter of the hall and weaving among members of the audi-ence as they search for an innkeeper with room to spare. At eachstop, the couple is turned away. But after hearing of their plight,more and more participants join the couple on their journey to-ward Bethlehem, with Scripture readings and songs complement-ing each stop on the road to the manger. By the time Mary and

Joseph reach their destination, lo-cated before the altar, the entire con-gregation has joined the procession.

Father Joseph Viveiros, pastor ofSt. Dominic Parish and chaplain ofCouncil 3669, explained that thePosada is a “religious experience,” notsimply a retelling or dramatization ofbiblical events to be enjoyed on acold winter’s day.

“We’re trying to make our faithreal to young people,” FatherViveiros added.

Father Viveiros first invited thecouncil to sponsor a parish Posada in2011, inspired by the SupremeCouncil’s Christmas Posada pro-gram. From the outset, the event wasalso conceived as a way to benefitthose in need.

“The Posada is about the Holy Family looking for a placeat the inn,” explained Father Viveiros. “If we put out a dona-tion basket, we should give that to the homeless, because that’swhat Joseph and Mary and Jesus were that night — they werewithout a home.”

Originally, the council considered collecting things like clothesand blankets at the event, but staff members at the St. Vincentde Paul-run homeless shelter in nearby Fall River, Mass., ex-plained that their homeless guests could really use gift cards topurchase food during the day.

Last year, council members used the money collected at thePosada, along with a donation by the council, to purchase $500worth of food cards. A month later, the Knights personally dis-tributed the cards at the Fall River shelter.

Deacon Frank Lucca, a council member who leads theparish’s youth ministry, said that young parishioners are givenan integral role in producing the annual Posada so they can see

The Posada gives parishioners the opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth and remember the poor

by Rick Snizek

A Christmas Journey

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for themselves how their efforts can benefit the community.“They’re a part of the parish,” he explained. “We don’t look

upon them any differently because they are young, as St. Timothywould say.”

Hannah Barlow, 15, portrayed one of the innkeepers at lastyear’s Posada and serves on the parish’s youth council.

“We’re helping to bring awareness to the plight of the home-less,” she said. “These people have absolutely nothing. They de-pend on going to soup kitchens every day to eat.”

BEARING GIFTSNearly 1,700 miles to the southwest on a sunny Decembermorning in Austin, Texas, St. Mary Cathedral was hosting itsown Posada celebration last year with the support of St. MaryCathedral Council 14055. Staged at the Donahue Center Gym-nasium, adjacent to the cathedral, religious education studentsfrom the cathedral’s urban Catholic elementary and middleschool have gathered with parishioners for this special event.

In Austin’s version of the Posada, live animals from a localfarm, including donkeys, goats and lambs, play their part in thebiblical menagerie. The readings and songs are also performedin multiple languages.

The Posada started at St. Mary Cathedral three years agothanks to the efforts of Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez Jr., a mem-ber of Council 14055 and co-director of diaconal formation forthe Diocese of Austin. Like Father Viveiros in Massachusetts, heenvisioned the Posada as a way to offer a concrete expression ofcharity to the children in the audience.

“About 80 percent are inner city children whose parents arevery poor,” said Deacon Rodriguez.

Many of the parishioners, whom Deacon Rodriguez knows

personally through his work with religious education, have em-igrated from Mexico. Although they can find some work to sup-port and feed their families, there usually isn’t enough money leftover to purchase toys at Christmastime.

In response, council member Frank Fuentes made a sizeabledonation of toys for distribution at the annual event. As the cel-ebration concludes, the Magi approach from the East. The ThreeWise Men entering the scene are actually Knights bearing giftsfor the children in attendance, whose numbers have reached ashigh as 350 over the past two years.

“It really creates something in the hearts of the children,” Dea-con Rodriguez said. “You can see that star in their eyes.”

Deacon Rodriguez, who has fond memories of celebrating thePosada in southern Texas during his own childhood, added thathe hopes that the children will continue to celebrate the Posadawhen they get older.

In supporting their parishes and encouraging acts of charityduring the Christmas season, the Knights have seen that Posadacelebrations have helped to galvanize their councils as well. InMassachusetts, Council 3669 has had a marked increase in mem-bership since the annual event began.

It has also left an enduring impression on the young peoplewho have participated, including two former youth group mem-bers who have joined the Order.

“I grew up Catholic and from a young age was influenced tohelp the poor,” said Andrew Jacome, 20, a student at UMassDartmouth and the youngest member of Council 3669. “That’ssomething I admire about the Knights.”♦

RICK SNIZEK is editor of Rhode Island Catholic, the newspaperof the Diocese of Providence, R.I.

Young people, followed by three members of the Knights in the role of the Three Magi, participate in St. Mary Cathedral School’s annual Posada in Austin, Texas,Dec. 15, 2013. • Opposite page: Donations collected for the homeless are seen at the annual Posada celebration at St. Dominic Parish in Swansea, Mass.


pice, Boundary CommunityFood Bank and SpecialOlympics of Grand Forks.Council members sold char-ity appeal tickets to raisefunds for the donations.

SUPPORTING VOCATIONS

East Hanover (N.J.) Council6504 presented a monetarygift to Alex Nevitt, a localparishioner and councilmember who is studying forthe priesthood. Likewise, Per-rysburg (Ohio) Council 7978donated $4,800 to supportseminarians in the Diocese ofToledo. The council has pro-vided annual support forseminarians and was able tosignificantly increase its levelof giving thanks to successfulfundraising.

VOLUNTEER CO-OPSt. Irene Council 13848 inCarlisle, Mass., has estab-lished a volunteer coopera-tion with the Lazarus House

Emergency Shelter inLawrence, where the councilcooks and serves a monthlymeal for the shelter’s home-less residents. The councilserved its first dinner in Oc-tober 2013, and menus haveincluded spaghetti and meat-balls, baked hams, and Chi-nese food. Meanwhile, St.Paul the Apostle Council 560in Muncie, Ind., began amonthly collaboration withHarvest Soup Kitchen.Knights prepare around 100sack lunches for distributionto the needy. Each sack con-tains a sandwich, chips, fruit,carrots, a cookie and water.

ROTC AWARDSEach month, Our Lady ofHope Assembly in Port Or-ange, Fla., awards a “PatrioticService Award” and a $50stipend to a local Junior Re-serve Officers’ Training Corpsstudent who meets the re-quirements set by his or hersenior officer.

ON THE MOVE AGAINMother of Mercy Council4030 in Baton Rouge, La.,created a handicap ramp forJamison Porch, who liveswith his grandmother, DaleShirley. Porch is blind, par-tially deaf and confined to awheelchair. Shirley struggledwith transporting Jamison inand out of their home untilthe council built the ramp.

HERO HONOREDSt. Padre Pio Assembly in Lit-tleton, Colo., honored Lt.Cpl. Patrick J. Hannon of theU.S. Marine Corps, who wasthe first resident of Littletonkilled in the Vietnam War.The assembly erected aplaque for Hannon at St.Mary Catholic School, whereHannon graduated in 1960.

CHARITY APPEALBishop McCarthy Council13040 in Grand Forks, B.C.,donated $300 each to theBoundary Community Hos-

KNIGHTS ACTION REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLESIN

Reynolds Tagorda and

Michael Magaoay of St. John

Apostle and Evangelist

Council 14663 in Mililani,

Hawaii, install an interior door

at a Habitat for Humanity

building project. Knights vol-

unteered to help build two

homes for low-income fami-

lies, volunteering 75 hours to

install shelves, carpet, floor-

ing, cabinets and more.

Members of St. Michael

the Archangel Council

13227 in Kailua-Kona,

Hawaii, stand with boxes

of fruit they picked and de-

livered to local food banks.

The council picked 4,300

pounds of fruits and veg-

etables from local resi-

dents’ trees and gardens

and delivered them to

local hunger programs.

Due to storage considera-

tion, fresh produce is a

commodity that many

food banks lack, even

though fruits and vegeta-

bles are an important part

of a balanced diet.

DONATING A BALANCED DIET

KNIGHTS IN ACTION


sters, arrests were made, butthose with information de-clined to accept the rewardmoney. In response, thecouncil decided to split thefunds between the twochurches instead.

MASS KITHoly Redeemer Council11729 in Pickering, Ontario,presented Father ColmanNgulla Mruma, administra-tor of Holy Redeemer Parish,with a new Mass kit. Themobile kit will allow FatherMruma to carry his chaliceand paten as he offers Mass atdifferent locations through-out the area.

‘CASEY’S HELPERS’Cumberland (Md.) Council586 runs a program called“Casey’s Helpers” to volun-teer for small work projectsaround the community.Knights meet weekly to un-dertake such projects as cut-ting grass and repairinghomes for people who cannotcomplete the tasks them-selves. Most recently, Knights

CRAB FESTIVALSt. Joseph the CarpenterCouncil 9202 in Lincoln,Calif., held its ninth annualall-you-can-eat crab fest.Squires from St. Joseph theCarpenter Circle 5197 andthe parish “Edge” youthgroup served a five-coursedinner of salad, clam chow-der soup, shrimp Alfredopasta, crab and shrimp, and adessert. The crowd of 400also participated in drawingsfor cash raffle prizes anddancing. The annual festraises around $10,000 andis the council’s largestfundraiser.

REWARD MONEYWhen arsonists destroyedtwo local churches last year,Emmett (Idaho) Council3085 quickly stepped up tobuild a reward fund. For sev-eral weeks, members col-lected donations from thecommunity to fund a rewardto help solve the two crimes,which caused $1 million indamage. Based on informa-tion from community tip-

help renovate old classroomsat their parish that will beturned into offices.

KEEPING DAD IN THE GAME

Don Bosco Council 7784 inNewton, N.J., hosted twoevents to benefit the ProstateCancer Foundation’s “KeepDad in the Game” campaign.Knights hosted a two-dayfundraiser at an area restau-rant as well as a family bowl-ing night at Sparta Lanes.Both events generated morethan $1,700.

MOBILE ULTRASOUNDImmaculate Heart of MaryCouncil 4420 in Hapeville,Ga., raised $7,200 to helppay for the operating cost ofa new ultrasound mobileunit run by Pregnancy AidClinic. The mobile unit trav-els throughout the Atlantametro region, allowing ex-pectant mothers a chance tomeet their babies through ul-trasound technology andproviding alternative solu-tions to abortion.

George Gemberling, Dan Biggins and Kip Noreen of Siena

Council 8596 in Dundee, Ill., stand with a Christmas stable

that members of the council designed, built, stained and do-

nated to St. Catherine of Siena Parish. The new stable ac-

companies the church’s crèche statues, which Knights

repaired and repainted after many years of weathering. Mem-

bers of the council also pledged their time to keep the stable

and statues clear of snow while they are on display during

the Christmas season.

Members of Thomas

Aquinas Council 11926 and

Sun Bowl Council 15727,

both in El Paso, Texas, and

their families pull a full-size

fire truck during the Special

Olympics Fire Truck Pull at

the El Paso Firefighters

Academy. The annual event

encourages members of the

community and civic groups

to form teams to see who

can pull a fire truck the far-

thest distance in the shortest

amount of time. Proceeds

from the event are donated

to Special Olympics.

COATS FOR KIDS

Needy families no longer

need to feel uncertain

during cold weather

months, thanks in large

part to the Knights of

Columbus Coats for

Kids program. Here are

some councils that are

helping young people

keep warm during the

winter:

• St. David the King

Council 14716 in West

Windsor, N.J., distrib-

uted eight cartons of

coats to Trenton com-

munity service agencies

and a transitional living

facility.

• Our Lady of Hope

Council 8086 in Port Or-

ange, Fla., distributed

86 coats to the Mission

of Our Lady Guadalupe

in Wahneta and another

86 coats to Westside El-

ementary School.

• Belle Vernon (Pa.)

Council 3026 donated

24 new coats to the

Yough School District.

• Elizabeth Ann Seton-

Whippany (N.J.) Council

6904 donated 48 coats

to the Father English

Community Center in

Paterson.

• St. Lawrence the Mar-

tyr Council 13417 in

Toronto gave coats to

students at St. Lawrence

School and to clients

served by the Society of

St. Vincent de Paul.

• St. Joseph Council

15304 in Spirit Lake,

Idaho, distributed 20

coats to needy students

at two local schools.

KNIGHTS IN ACTION


Grand Knight Rod Giddens

of Westminster (British Co-

lumbia) Council 1283 re-

ceives a first blessing from

newly ordained Father Nick

Meisl. Father Meisl was or-

dained to the priesthood for

the Archdiocese of Vancou-

ver. The council supported

Father Meisl both financially

and spiritually throughout his

seminarian years.

their associated closets at a fa-cility run by Room at theInn, a pro-life organization inGreensboro that providessupport and shelter forwomen in crisis pregnancieswho have chosen to havetheir babies.

FLAGS PRESENTEDSt. Pius X Council 4425 inWilmington, Del., presentedSt. Anthony of Padua Ele-mentary School with an Ital-ian flag to replace a damagedone at the school, along witha Delaware state flag, a Papalflag, and a Knights ofColumbus flag for display.

REMEMBERING A HERO

St. John Council 1345 inBergenfield, N.J., held afundraiser for Lorraine Rior-dan-Mooney, a longtimeparishioner of St. Mary’sChurch and friend of thecouncil. Riordan-Mooneypassed away after a long bat-tle with pancreatic cancer.The fundraiser featured apasta dinner cooked byKnights, several raffles, music

MEDICAL BENEFITNotre-Dame des-Laurentides(Québec) Council 10999 do-nated $11,680 to a local fam-ily whose 3-year-old daughterhas several health problems.Knights held a dinner andauction attended by 250 peo-ple to raise the funds, whichwill help the family with itsmedical expenses.

CELEBRATING LIFENorth Port (Fla.) Council7997 hosted a Celebrate LifeLuncheon attended by morethan 200 parishioners andother Christian organizationsfrom in and around Venice.The luncheon included pre-sentations from pro-lifegroups and Gulf CoastStorks, a mobile unit offeringfree sonograms as well as freepregnancy tests, counselingand referrals.

ROOMS PAINTEDOur Lady of Mercy Council10504 in Winston-Salem,N.C., painted 14 rooms and

has assisted the store by pick-ing up furniture from estatesales in the surrounding area.The furniture items are thensold at the thrift store to helpthe needy.

AEDS PLACEDFather Kaesen Council 5199in Vermillion, Minn., teamedwith the Miesville LionsClub, Miesville Fire and Res-cue and Hastings Fire Reliefto purchase two new auto-matic external defibrillatorsfor the city of Vermillion.The two devices were in-stalled at a local Catholicschool and in the basementof a nearby Catholic church.

MONASTERY HELPChrist the BridegroomMonastery asked GeaugaCouncil 3304 in Chardon,Ohio, for help clearing out asmall house and tearingdown a shed on themonastery’s property. The sis-ters at the monastery wantedto use the house for retreats,and the shed was deemed un-safe. Knights cleaned the areaand filled a 40-foot dumpsterwith refuse. Afterward, thesisters served council mem-bers stuffed cabbage andmashed potatoes for lunch.

BIBLES FOR STUDENTS

In response to a request froma local parish’s religious edu-cation department, St. JudeCouncil 9629 in Highlands,Texas, donated $1,083 topurchase 60 new Bibles forstudents.

GOOD MEDICINEFather John G. SeyfriedCouncil 821 in Kings Park,N.Y., along with the CatholicDaughters of America,hosted a spaghetti dinner toraise funds for the family of a13-year-old girl sufferingfrom dystonia, a rare neuro-muscular disorder. The fam-ily is facing substantial

and various door prizes.More than 440 people at-tended, and the event raised$17,500 to aid with the med-ical costs that Riordan-Mooney incurred during hertreatment.

FILM SCREENINGSt. Philip the Apostle Coun-cil 11671 in Clifton, N.J.,and Perez Council 262 inPassaic, along with the St.Philip’s Girl Scouts troop, at-tended a screening of GimmeShelter, a film based on thetrue story of young womanwho is homeless and preg-nant. Representatives fromSeveral Sources Shelter, apro-life pregnancy resourcecenter, also attended thescreening.

FURNITURE TRANSPORT

When the St. Vincent dePaul thrift store in Durand,Wis., was struggling toschedule regular furnituredrop-offs and deliveries, theyturned to Durand Council2422 for help. For the pastseveral months, the council

A HAIR-RAISING EXPERIENCEGiuseppe Peritore of Marian

Council 3881 in Oakville, On-

tario, together with his wife,

Rita, and their two daugh-

ters, Anyssa and Celestia,

pose for “before” and “after”

photos after having their hair

cut for an Angel Hair for Kids

benefit. Peritore has grown

his hair out three times to

benefit charities that provide

wigs to children who have

suffered from burns, cancer

or other diseases. This time,

the Peritores made it a family

affair. Council 3881 sup-

ported the event through

donor sponsorship and by printing event programs and par-

ticipation certificates, videotaping the event, and purchasing

t-shirts and thank-you gifts for each donor. An honor guard

from Bishop Paul F. Reding Assembly led donors into the

event, which netted nearly 100 ponytails and about $4,200

in sponsorship.

KNIGHTS IN ACTION


Ontario, held a perch dinnerwith all proceeds going to thenew Our Lady of GuadalupeHome, a shelter for womenin crisis pregnancies. Councilmembers and their wivescooked and served 249 meals,and the council was able topresent Our Lady ofGuadalupe Home with$1,875.

NEW STOVELawrence (Kan.) Council1372 replaced the oldkitchen stove at St. ConradFriary with a new unit do-nated by the council.

WHEELCHAIRS DELIVERED

One month after the newVeterans Affairs Clinic inCape Coral, Fla., requestedwheelchairs to better servepatients, Our Lady of theRosary Assembly in BonitaSprings presented 10 wheel-chairs to the facility.

CHAPEL SUPPORTChristopher Columbus As-sembly in Wallingford,Conn., presented a check for$500 to the Franciscan Sistersof the Eucharist in Meriden.The funds will be used to

medical bills for this incur-able disease. More than 800members of the communityand parish attended theevent, which raised approxi-mately $30,000 for theyoung girl and her family.

ALLEVIATING HOMELESSNESS

Bishop W. Thomas LarkinCouncil 4727 in Jacksonville,Fla., donated $500 to FiveStar Veterans Center, whosemission is to offer safe and se-cure transitional housing todisplaced veterans in an at-tempt to alleviate veteranhomelessness. The centerprovides its military residentswith the dignity, compassionand respect they deserve,while providing a structured“Passport to Independence”program to re-integrate theveterans back into society.

TREASURED REDISCOVERED

Drayton Valley (Alberta)Council 7374 distributedgratis copies of the book Re-discover Catholicism to parish-ioners of St. Anthony Churchfollowing Mass.

PERCH DINNEROur Lady of Mount CarmelCouncil 13405 in Windsor,

support a new chapel formembers of the order.

RUNNING FOR CHARITY

San Martin de Porres Coun-cil 10070 in Sahuarita, Ariz.,sponsored its third annual 5KRun/Walk to support parishyouth programs and the Tuc-son-based Fatima Women’sCenter. This year’s eventraised more than $2,880 anddrew 88 runners in five agegroups. A pancake breakfastfor all participants followedthe event, and awards fromlocal businesses were distrib-uted to top competitors.

USO SUPPORTFather Maruskin Council10936 in Hudson, Ohio,collected toiletries, personalitems, non-perishable foodand cash donations for theArmory/USO of NorthernOhio. Total donations werevalued at $2,235 and weredistributed to members ofthe U.S. military and theirfamilies.

RED BAGSFather Edwin A. FisherCouncil 4354 in Manchester,Mich., initiated a “Red Bag

Food Drive,” in which coun-cil members fill red reusableKnights of Columbus shop-ping bags with non-perish-able food items. Sincelate-2013, the council hascollected 150 pounds of foodfor the local food bank fromdonations at monthly councilmeetings.

PILGRIMAGE TO FRANCE

Eight members from FatherEmil J. Kapaun Council11987 at Ramstein Air Basein Germany attended a men’sretreat at the Abbey of OurLady of Fontgombault, justsouth of Paris. Knights joinedthe 55 Benedictine monks atthe monastery at prayer, Massand meals, and also helpedwith some tasks around theabbey. Following the pilgrim-age, Knights visited theAisnes-Marnes AmericanCemetery in Belleau-Aisne,France, to pay tribute to theU.S. Marines who died dur-ing World War I.

Jose Alquicira of Denton (Texas) Council 4771 repairs a fence

surrounding the property of council member Joe Pelzel.

Pelzel, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, is con-

fined to bed and dependent on the care of his wife. When

his council discovered that the fence needed repairs, mem-

bers immediately secured the necessary materials and com-

pleted the work.

kofc.orgexclusive

See more “Knights in Action” reports and

photos atwww.kofc.org/knightsinaction

Members of St. Ignatius of

Loyola Council 12853 in San

Jose, Calif., paint traffic ar-

rows on the driveway of Holy

Family Church. Knights

painted a series of traffic

markers in the lot in an effort

to increase safety for parish-

ioners and school children.

CORRECTIONS

In the September 2014

issue of Columbia, the fea-

ture article “An Extraordi-

nary Jubilee Year” omits the

name of the artist who

sculpted the Holy Door at

the Cathedral-Basilica of

Notre-Dame de Québec.

The Holy Door was crafted

by Montreal-based artist

Jules Lasalle.

JOIN THE FATHERMCGIVNEY GUILDPlease enroll me in the Father McGivney Guild:

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE/PROVINCE

ZIP/POSTAL CODEComplete this coupon and mail to:The Father McGivney Guild, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 or enroll online at: www.fathermcgivney.org

OFFICIAL DEC. 1, 2014:To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons

responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is herebygiven that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Lawsof the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basisto the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights ofColumbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in thepolicy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O.Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7

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COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHEDMONTHLY BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUSPLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326. PHONE: 203-752-4000,www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2013 BYKNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRO-DUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSIONIS PROHIBITED.

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PHILIPPINES — FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAILAT THE MANILA CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURNCOPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT,PO BOX 1511, MANILA.

K OF C ITEMSOFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

IN THE UNITED STATESTHE ENGLISH COMPANY INC.

Official council and Fourth Degree equipment1-800-444-5632 • www.kofcsupplies.com

LYNCH AND KELLY INC.Official council and Fourth Degree

equipment and officer robes1-888-548-3890 • www.lynchkelly.com

IN CANADAROGER SAUVÉ INC.

Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes

1-888-266-1211 • www.roger-sauve.com

12/14

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STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION(Act of August 1, 1970: Section 3685, title 39, U.S. code)1. Publication Title: Columbia2. Publication No.: 12-37403. Date of filing: September 15, 20144. Frequency of issue: Monthly5. No. of issues published annually: 126. Annual subscription price: $67. Location of office of publication: 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-33268. Location of publisher’s headquarters: 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-33269. Names and address of publisher, editor and managing editor. Publisher: Carl A. Anderson, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 Editor: Alton J. Pelowski, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-332610. Owner: Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326.11. Known bond holders: none.12. For completion by nonprofit organiza-tions authorized to mail at special rates.The purpose, function, and nonprofit sta-tus of this organization and the exempt

status for federal income tax purposes: (Check one)

(If changed, publisher must submit expla-nation of change with this statement.)13. Publication name: Columbia.14. Issue date for circulation data below: October 201415. Extent and nature of circulation

A. Total no. copies (net press run) 1,644,710 1,668,016B. Paid and/or requested circulation1. Outside-county mail subscriptionsstated on Form 3541: 320,179 342,1792. Paid in-county subscriptions stated onForm 3541: 0 03. Sales through dealers and carriers,street vendors, counter sales and othernon-USPS distribution: 1,000 1,0004. Other classes mailed through theUSPS. 1,324,431 1,325,737C. Total paid and/or requested circula-tion:

1,645,610 1,669,016D. Free distribution by mail (samples,complimentary and other):1. Outside-county as stated on Form3541: 0 02. In-county as stated on Form 3541: 0 03. Other classes mailed through theUSPS: 5,000 5,000 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution out-side the mail (carriers or other): 0 0 E. Total Free or Nominal Rate distribution(Sum of (15d, (1), (2), (3) and (4): 5,000 5,00 0F. Total distribution (sum of 15c and 15e): 1,650,610 1,674,016G. Copies not distributed: 300 300H. Total (sum of 15f and 15g): 1,650,910 1,674,316I. Percent paid and/or requested circula-tion (15c / 15f x 100): 99.6% 99.7%16. Paid electronic copies 0 0

I certify that the statements made by meabove are correct and complete. ALTON J. PELOWSKI, Editor 09/15/2014

(x) Has notchanged duringthe preceding12 months.

( ) Has changedduring the preceding12 months.

Av. # copieseach issue dur-ing preceding12 months

# copies of sin-gle issue pub-lished nearestto filing date

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

John Phillip and Juan Benjamin of St. John the Baptist Council 10232 in

Madison stand among some of the Nativity set cutouts that the council con-

structed as part of its “Keep Christ in Christmas” campaign. Members of the

council spent several months constructing, assembling and painting 60 of

the Nativity sets, which they sold to the community and parish. In addition,

the council rented space on a digital billboard near a busy highway to display

a banner that reads “Keep Christ in Christmas.”

KNIGHTS IN ACTION

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: [email protected].

Building a better world one council at a time

Every day, Knights all over the world aregiven opportunities to make a difference— whether through community service,raising money or prayer. We celebrateeach and every Knight for his strength,his compassion and his dedication tobuilding a better world.

DEC EMBE R 2 0 1 4 ♦ CO LUMB I A ♦ 33

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Members of Pope John Paul II Assembly inPotomac Falls, Va., present the colors at aWashington Nationals baseball game Sept.28. This was the ninth consecutive yearthat the assembly had been invited to visitNationals Park. The game on Sept. 28 wasthe final match of the season and was at-tended by 35,085 fans.

plEasE, do all you can To EncouragE priEsTly and rEligious vocaTions. your prayErs and supporT maKE a diffErEncE.

KEEP THE FAITH ALIVE

‘WE ARE WEAK, BUTGOD IS STRONG.’

as a young person searching for fulfillment,i wondered what made people happy: money,power, career? Then, as a high school student,i had an opportunity to meet franciscan friarsand sisters, and i noticed that there was some-thing very special about people who conse-crated their lives to god. When i later met thelittle servant sisters of the immaculate con-ception, i felt completely at home with them.i decided to follow their example and give mywhole heart to god.

my parents and seven siblings supported mydecision, but i knew it was not easy for them.i am very grateful for my family’s continuouslove and encouragement.

To anyone who is being called to a religiouslife, i would say to trust in god’s grace andhave courage. being a religious in today’s worldis not easy. being pure, obedient and poor ischallenging. but being a faithful husband orwife, being a good mother or father is also dif-ficult. We are just human beings. We makemistakes. We are weak, but god is strong.

sisTEr bogusłaWa bagińsKa

Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate ConceptionCherry Hill, N.J.

Ph

oto

by D

on

Tra

cy

columbia december 2014

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