FEB 19 E COVERS 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 1/17/19 3:19 PM Page 1

FEBRUARY 2019 KNIGHTSOFCOLUMBUS COLUMBIA February Columbia 19_EN_2.qxp 1/15/19 11:46 AM Page 1

Your Shield of STRENGTH The Knights of Columbus remains committed to Venerable Father Michael McGivney’s vision of protecting the financial future of our Catholic families.

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

L IF E I N S U R A N C E • D IS A B IL IT Y I N C O M E I N S U R A N C E • L O N G -T E R M C A R E I N S U R A N C E • R E T IR E M E N T A N N U IT IE S FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 1

KNIGHTSOFCOLUMBUS

february 2019 ♦ V o l u M e 9 9 ♦ N u M b e r 2 COLUMBIA

FEATURES 6 Heroism in Paradise Knights save lives and lead relief efforts after the worst wildfire in California history. BY ANDREW FOWLER 10 ‘This is Where I Belong’ A wildland firefighter describes how his return to the Church brought strength, purpose and peace. BY JOSEPH PAPPALARDO 12 Calling Out Anti-Catholicism Voices across the religious and political spectrum decry religious bigotry in the Senate. 14 Heart of a Priest Thousands of Catholics venerate the incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney as it makes a nationwide pilgrimage. BY COLUMBIA STAFF 22 Leading With the Heart of Mary Religious sisters have a decisive role to play in renewing the Church through their joyful “yes” to God’s will. BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON The incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney is pictured in front of a statue of the saint at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birm- ingham, Ala., Dec. 6. The major relic is making a nation- wide pilgrimage sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

DEPARTMENTS

24Building a better world Learning the faith, 25 Fathers for Good A message from Supreme Knight living the faith A homeschooling family discovers Carl A. Anderson about the Order’s As we look toward Lent, the Feast of the importance of the Church’s ed- history of charity and opposition to the Presentation signals the Church’s ucational system. religious prejudice. profound need for renewal. BY PETER WOLFGANG BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI 32 Knights in Action PLUS: Catholic Man of the Month Photo by Mary Dillard

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 1 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 2

BUILDINGABETTERWORLD

We Do Not Stand Alone

A message from Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson about the Order’s history of charity and opposition to religious prejudice

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following message our Order holds firm to the Church’s from the Supreme Knight, addressed to teachings on the sanctity of life and all members of the Knights of Colum- marriage. ganization adhering to the teachings bus, was emailed and posted on Such attacks on the basis of our of the Catholic Church. As with the kofc.org Jan. 1. For related coverage, Catholic faith are hardly new. The Church, our primary motivation in see page 24. Knights of Columbus was formed everything is Christ’s great command- amid a period of anti-Catholic big- ment — that we love God completely otry. We stood against that then, and and our neighbor as ourselves. Dear Brother Knight: we do so now. We have spoken out As the Compendium of the Social against persecution around the world Doctrine of the Church explains, There have been times in our coun- for nearly a century. At the same “Jesus Christ reveals to us that ‘God try’s past when uninformed or preju- time, here at home we stood against is love’ (1 Jn 4:8) and he teaches us diced people questioned that ‘the fundamental law of whether Catholics could be human perfection, and con- good citizens or honest pub- sequently of the transforma- lic servants. That’s why Fa- “The Knights of Columbus was tion of the world, is the new ther McGivney chose the formed amid a period of anti- commandment of love.’”[ii] name “Columbus” for our This love impels us to our Order — the discoverer was Catholic bigotry. We stood against great charitable endeavors the Catholic figure from on behalf of those in need. American history most ad- that then, and we do so now.” From inner cities in the mired and accepted at the United States to refugee time. In fact, from our camps in the Middle East, founding in 1882 until the election the Ku Klux Klan, including its at- our Order’s donations over the last of Brother Knight John F. Kennedy tempts to ban Catholic education, decade — more than $1 billion and in 1960, many still held that and we published books on the black hundreds of millions of hours in vol- Catholics were unfit for public office. and Jewish contributions to Ameri- unteer work — are the result of this Throughout that time, the Knights of can history decades before the Civil faith. Columbus worked to counter such Rights movement. More recently, we These works of charity have prac- prejudice. stood with the Little Sisters of the tical impacts that transform lives as Sadly, it seems that in some quarters Poor in their fight for religious lib- we help people here at home and this prejudice remains.[i] First, in erty and have worked with both the around the world. Our charity 2017, a Notre Dame law professor Obama and Trump administrations helped typhoon victims in the Philip- was deemed unfit for a federal judge- — and both sides of the aisle in Con- pines rebuild their lives and liveli- ship by a U.S. senator who feared that gress — to help Christians, Yazidis hoods; it brought prosthetics and “the dogma lives loudly within you.” and Shi’a Muslims targeted for geno- rehabilitation to thousands of Hait- Now, two more senators have ques- cide by ISIS. ian youth after the earthquake there; tioned a brother Knight’s fitness for From our very beginning, the it puts coats on children in some of the federal bench precisely because Knights of Columbus has been an or- our country’s most impoverished

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 2 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 3

BUILDINGABETTERWORLD COLUMBIA

PUBLISHER Knights of Columbus neighborhoods each winter; it gives ciation and freedom of speech. Any ______wheelchairs to those who otherwise suggestion that the Order’s adherence SUPREME OFFICERS could not afford them in countries to the beliefs of the Catholic Church Carl A. Anderson SUPREME KNIGHT like Vietnam and Mexico; and it pro- makes a brother Knight unfit for Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. vides education, housing and med- public office blatantly violates those SUPREME CHAPLAIN ical care to AIDS orphans in Africa. constitutional guarantees. Patrick E. Kelly DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT This love also motivates us to Let us continue to express our love Michael J. O’Connor stand with the Church on the impor- of God and neighbor by helping those SUPREME SECRETARY tant issues of life and marriage, pre- in need and by standing with our Ronald F. Schwarz SUPREME TREASURER cisely because the Church’s teaching Church, regardless of the popularity John A. Marrella is based on and reflects that love. We of doing so. Let us remember that our SUPREME ADVOCATE ______stand with our Church because we “Christian witness is to be considered [iii] EDITORIAL believe that what our faith teaches is a fundamental obligation.” Alton J. Pelowski consistent with reason, is timeless Let us also remember that, from EDITOR and transcends the changing senti- our founding, we have embodied the Andrew J. Matt MANAGING EDITOR ments of any particular time or place. truth that a good Catholic is a good Cecilia Hadley We do not stand alone. citizen who shows civility and dig- SENIOR EDITOR In his first message to our interna- nity even in the face of prejudice. Margaret B. Kelly ASSOCIATE EDITOR tional convention, Pope Francis As we begin 2019, Dorian and I asked “each Knight, and every Coun- wish you a new year filled with the cil, to bear witness to the authentic joy and wonders of His love. Thank nature of marriage and the family, you as well for all the many ways in the sanctity and inviolable dignity of which you have brought joy into the

human life, and the beauty and truth lives of millions around the world. Venerable Michael McGivney (1852-90) of human sexuality.” May the inspiration of our founder Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and And our positions on life are not prompt us to greater confidence in Founder of the Knights of Columbus, new. My two predecessors as that love and encourage us to even Intercede for Us. ______supreme knight spoke out forcefully greater works of charity. to defend the rights of the unborn. HOW TO REACH US MAIL In 1973, Supreme Knight John Fraternally, COLUMBIA McDevitt wrote that Roe v. Wade was 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510-3326 “a mortal blow to all who consider Carl A. Anderson ADDRESS CHANGES human life sacred.” He urged the 203-752-4210, option #3 Order to “to initiate or increase ef- [email protected] PRAYER CARDS & SUPPLIES forts to offset the harmful effects of 203-752-4214 this lamentable decision.” COLUMBIA INQUIRIES My immediate predecessor, Virgil 203-752-4398 FAX Dechant, said in 1977: “With some 203-752-4109 1.2 million unborn babies being K OF C CUSTOMER SERVICE killed by abortion each year in the 1-800-380-9995 EMAIL United States alone, we are con- [i] See the excellent study by historian Philip [email protected] fronted with an outrage against Jenkins, The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last INTERNET kofc.org/columbia human life paralleled only by the rav- Acceptable Prejudice, (Oxford University Press, ______ages of a bloody war.” 2003). Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men Simply put, our positions are 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. This means that an now, and have always been, Catholic [ii] Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the positions. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, We must remember that Article 6 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2005), no. 54. and is in good standing in the Catholic Church. of the U.S. Constitution forbids a re- ______[iii] Ibid., no. 570. Copyright © 2019 ligious test for public office, and the All rights reserved First Amendment guarantees our free ______exercise of religion, freedom of asso- ON THE COVER St. Jean Vianney, the holy Curé d’Ars, is depicted holding and pointing to a crucifix, indicating that Christ is the ON THE COVER: Icon by Fabrizio Diomedi, commissioned by the Supreme Council (2018). Photo by Peter Škrlep © Knights of Columbus center of his life (see credit for more details).

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 3 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 4

LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

A Month of Purification As we look toward Lent, the Feast of the Presentation signals the Church’s profound need for renewal

by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

WE OFTEN TAKE the names of the people. His arrival there attracts not various months of the year for granted. only Simeon and Anna, the widow and Take February, for instance. It is the prophetess, but perhaps even the Gen- shortest month of the year and pur- tiles in the Temple area. Jesus’ entrance portedly the last one added to the into the Temple signals its purification The Feast of the Presentation takes Roman calendar (around 713 B.C.). and foretells the hour when he will place every February, but this year it The word February comes from the again purify the Temple of those who takes on a special significance as Pope Latin, februum — a word which means were using it for their own unclean Francis gathers with the leadership of purification. Originally it may have re- purposes. bishops’ conferences from around the ferred to an ancient Roman purifica- In both the East and West, the world to discuss the sexual abuse crisis. tion feast held mid-month. For Church solemnly celebrates the Presen- For far too long has this crisis plagued Christians, Ash Wednesday marks the tation of the Lord. In the East, this the Church — wreaking havoc in the beginning of Lent, a season of lives of victim-survivors and purification usually beginning scandalizing the faithful. Please in February. God, may this important meet- This year, Ash Wednesday It is only the deep personal ing be a grace-filled moment doesn’t occur until March 6, of purification for the whole but there is another way that we renewal of each member of the Church. Let us pray, and pray can regard February 2019 as a Church that will restore the fervently, that it will set a direc- month of purification. In the tion that, in God’s grace, will Church’s tradition, Feb. 2, the Church’s beauty and vigor. truly purify the Church of this Feast of the Presentation of the great evil and set the Church on Lord Jesus in the Temple, is also the path of authentic renewal, a feast of purification. It commemo- feast is sometimes called Hypapante, a holiness and credibility. rates the event when, according to Jew- word that commemorates the first No single meeting and no set of ish law and custom, Mary and Joseph meeting of the Messiah with his people. measures, however effective in ensuring brought Jesus to the Temple for the In the West, this feast is sometimes transparency and accountability, will be customary rites of purification. Jesus, called Candlemas Day, a day in which sufficient to deal with this crisis. At the the all-holy Son of God made man had candles are carried to honor the new- end of the day, it is only the deep per- no need to be purified. But carried in born Christ as “a light for revelation to sonal renewal of each member of the the arms of his mother, who herself was the Gentiles and glory for his people Is- Church — beginning with its bishops preserved from all sin, Jesus undergoes rael” (Lk 2:32). Because this event is — that will restore the Church’s beauty the prescribed rites. not locked in the past but is rather a and vigor. But that renewal and purifi- Mary and Joseph are met at the living mystery, we are challenged to cation must extend to every member of Temple by the aged and holy Simeon, welcome Christ anew into the temple the Church, including the family of the whose eyes of faith are as keen as ever. of our hearts and the Temple which is Knights of Columbus. Filled with the Spirit, Simeon realizes the Church. His coming into our May februarius, the month of Feb- that an extraordinary event is taking depths and into our midst signals and ruary, be the beginning of that deep place. The long-awaited Messiah enters effects our purification from the dark- purification that will renew and beau- the Temple, his first encounter with his ness of sin and death. tify the Temple of the Church.♦

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 4 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 5

SUPREMECHAPLAIN’SCHALLENGE

A monthly reflection and practical challenge from Supreme Chaplain a critical spirit or our workaholism. But Jesus and his disciples Archbishop William E. Lori: travel lightly. He invites us to leave everything and follow him. Let’s experience this genuine freedom of being his disciple: a free- Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will dom that hits the open road with our Lord, free of everything be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, that hinders us. they left everything and followed him. (Gospel for Feb. 10, Lk 5:10-11) Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori: “They left everything and followed him.” My brothers, these This month, I challenge you to join other Catholic men who words shock me every time I hear or read them. If we are honest, are striving to “leave everything and follow him.” Join them for we have to admit how hard it is to leave everything to follow some time of prayer, fellowship and encouragement, possibly at Jesus. After all, we are so good at taking stuff with us as we at- a Knights meeting, for breakfast or a drink after work. Second, tempt to follow him — our pride, our possessions, our desire I challenge you to be open with a brother in Christ about some for power, comfort and pleasure. We attempt to drag this heavy area of your life where you are facing challenges. “Leaving every- luggage along, or sometimes try to sneak little trinkets into our thing” means that we also need to leave behind our pretense and bags to take with us. Maybe it’s our wandering eyes, our temper, appearances, and meet each other as true brothers.♦

HOLY FATHER’S CATHOLICMANOFTHEMONTH PRAYER INTENTION Blessed Daniel Brottier (1876-1936)

HE DECLARED at age 5: “I won’t be either a general or a pastry chef — I will be the pope!” When his mother said that he’d have to become a priest first, the boy replied, “Well, then I’ll become a priest!” Daniel Brottier entered the minor seminary of Blois, 30 kilometers west of his family’s home in central France, For a generous welcome of the vic- at age 11. He was ordained 12 years tims of human trafficking, of en- later, in 1899. forced prostitution, and of violence. Father Brottier was assigned to a high school, where he became a pop- ular teacher. Within a few years, how- Flanders, the Somme and Verdun. He ever, a call to the missionary life led later attributed his survival to the in- LITURGICALCALENDAR him to join the Congregation of the tercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Holy Spirit. He was then sent to Cited six times for bravery, he was Senegal, where he founded a school awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Feb. 2 The Presentation of the Lord for girls, cared for orphans and pub- Legion of Honor medal. Feb. 5 St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr lished the first Catholic monthly in In 1923, Father Brottier was ap- Feb. 6 St. Paul Miki and Companions, West Africa. Ill health forced him to pointed director of the Orphan Ap- Martyrs return to France in 1911. In the years prentices of Auteil in Paris. He built Feb. 11 Our Lady of Lourdes that followed, he created a network of a chapel in honor of St. Thérèse and Feb. 14 Sts. Cyril, Monk, 200,000 benefactors that funded the developed spiritual and practical pro- construction of a new cathedral in grams, including an array of trade and Methodius, Bishop Dakar, Senegal. workshops, serving more than 1,400 Feb. 21 St. Peter Damian, Bishop At the outbreak of World War I, Fa- orphans. After Father Brottier’s death and Doctor of the Church ther Brottier volunteered as a military in a Paris hospital Feb. 28, 1936, Feb. 22 The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle chaplain, and he ministered in the some 15,000 people attended his fu- Feb. 23 St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr trenches during the battles of Lorraine, neral. He was beatified in 1984.♦ POPE FRANCIS: CNS photo/Paul Haring — BLESSED DANIEL BROttIER: Wikimedia Commons

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 5 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 6

HEROISM IN PARADISE

Knights save lives and lead relief efforts after the worst wildfire in California history

by Andrew Fowler

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 6 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 7

avid Lemire was dropping off his 10- not much of an exaggeration.” year-old daughter at school last Novem- Several members, including Lemire and Kidder, Dber when he noticed smoke moving over acted swiftly to save others, even as their own the steeple of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. homes were about to be devoured by the flames. Minutes later, the smoke became darker. Then Joined by Collins and other local K of C leaders, dense ash the size of potato chips starting falling they have since been instrumental in relief efforts. from the sky. Meanwhile, Knights around the country also re- Lemire became worried and informed Greg sponded, sending supplies as well as donating Kidder, the facility manager at St. Thomas More, more than $200,000 to assist in the recovery. that he was leaving with his daughter and son to pack supplies. ESCAPE FROM PARADISE Today, ash is all that remains of approximately When Lemire returned home with his children 19,000 buildings, including the homes of 69 Nov. 8, he told his daughter to start filling the Knights, in Paradise, Calif. At least 86 people lost truck with clothes and other provisions while he their lives and 90 percent of the town’s residences checked on their elderly neighbor, Peggy, whom were razed in the state’s deadliest and most de- he had been helping for the past year. structive wildfire. Dubbed the Camp Fire, because “I told her, ‘Look, we got to get out of here, I it began on Camp Creek Road in Butte County, think there’s a serious fire coming up the ridge,’” the blaze burned for two weeks, scorching over Lemire recalled. 150,000 acres. Peggy refused to leave. But over the next half- Heavy winds caused the inferno to spread rapidly hour, the situation became critical. Lemire heard Nov. 8, and within hours it engulfed Paradise. the sound of exploding propane tanks and peo- Many of the town’s 27,000 residents, including ple screaming in the distance. The sky became members of St. Thomas More Council 7773, pitch black. barely escaped, leaving their possessions behind. “I ended up having to pull her from her bathroom “Paradise has been compared to Hiroshima after to the front door, and she started crying,” he said. “I the Bomb,” said Grand Knight Jim Collins. “It’s kept saying, ‘I love you. I can’t leave you here!’”

A home is overshadowed by towering smoke plumes as the Camp Fire races through Paradise, Calif., Nov. 8, 2018. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 7 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 8

Jim Collins (center), grand knight of St. Thomas More Council 7773 in Paradise, stands with fellow members David Lemire (left) and Greg Kidder in front of the gutted rectory of St. Thomas More Church. • Opposite page: Rubble lines a residential lot after the Camp Fire, burning in the distance Nov. 9, consumed a neighborhood on Skyway Road in Paradise. • Ronald Galla, a member of Council 7773, greets parishioners during a lunch Knights organized at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church in Chico.

Lemire helped Peggy to her car, raced back to collect her The cars, driven by staff, headed to an assembly point in medicine and then evacuated the premises. Chico. Kidder stayed behind to check every room in the By now, the raging fire had reached his own doorstep, and church and school and to shut off the gas and electricity. there was no time left for Lemire to hook up his trailer. As he “It was one of those things where you just act,” he said. “For drove through the inferno, he told his children to keep their me, it was executing the plan — processing what needs to be heads down and away from the windows. done, and crossing things off my list.” “Fire was on both sides of the street,” Lemire said. “I could hear the whistling of the propane tanks, the relief valves going STICKING TOGETHER off. I could hear explosions. It sounded like a war zone.” In Chico, Jim Collins made an effort to contact all of the Lemire would know. A veteran of the Iraq War, he retired Knights in his council, and he learned that 69 had lost their in 2007 after 25 years of service in the U.S. Army and U.S. homes. Air Force. “In my own neighborhood, six homes out of about 60 were He and his children prayed during the 20-mile drive to left,” he said. “In other areas, where you had 100 homes, it Chico, a trip that usually took 40 minutes but lasted more was zero.” than five hours. Kidder also made phone calls to confirm the welfare of Kidder, meanwhile, was busy coordinating the evacuation parishioners. plan back at the church and school, together with St. Thomas “The day after the fire, I just focused on our people. We More’s pastor, Father Godwin Xavier. When he had first seen made a gallant effort to gather them and keep them together,” the smoke a few miles away, Kidder was unconcerned, since Kidder said. “What they had was gone.” previous fires had always been contained. Before long, how- Lemire went from shelter to shelter offering his services, ever, an emergency order to evacuate was issued. volunteering up to 20 hours a day. He became a hub of in- “It was a matter of hours,” recalled Kidder, whose priority formation and helped place about a dozen families in homes. was the safety of the more than 220 students. A steady flow The St. Thomas More community initially found refuge at of parents soon began picking up their children. the Newman Catholic Center in Chico, as well as support “When we got most everyone off the property, we were from St. John the Baptist Church and Chico Council 1137. down to 23 students, and we had to load them into cars,” Kid- Later, the parish set up administrative offices at Our Divine der said. Savior Catholic Church, also in Chico. There, Knights from Photos by Alisa Duenas

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 8 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 9

“I believe God moves believers to do special things,” said Lemire. “I’m just trying to do the right thing.” Kidder shared a similar perspective. “God has always taken care of me,” he said. “I don’t have to look for something to do, because he always puts something in front of me.” St. Thomas More Parish lost four buildings, including the rectory and parish hall, as a result of the wildfire. Kidder ex- pects it will take more than a year to restore the church and school, but is grateful no one was hurt. As the members of Council 7773 strive for normalcy once again, Knights throughout the country have reached out in support. Many councils sent backpacks filled with supplies, while others hosted fundraisers. “People break down in tears because they figured there was Paradise collaborated with members of Henry F. Giroud- no hope,” said Collins. “I think it shows what the Knights are Robert Heimann Council 13765. Council 1137 also set up a truly all about.” centralized distribution center and hosted free dinners for dis- More than 250 people, including California State Deputy placed parishioners. Joe Salaiz, attended a Mass celebrated for wildfire victims at When Kidder arranged a campground in an empty lot next Our Divine Savior Church in December. to the church, Lemire offered to put to use the engineering skills “This is a perfect example of Father McGivney’s mission: he learned in the military. He cleared the land and, together with to be there for the families and to take care of our families,” local Knights, installed plumbing, septic tanks and electricity. said Salaiz, who also distributed relief funds for those in need. The lot now houses five RVs, including one for a widow of a Knights nationwide collectively donated more than Knight who died several days after the wildfire started. $200,000 to assist the victims, including $132,500 through For many, the big question is whether they will rebuild in the Supreme Council’s disaster relief fund. the Paradise or not. “A lot of people have been walking around in a zombie-like state, just overwhelmed by having to rebuild and trying to fig- ure out their next move,” said Collins. To assist victims, Collins established a disaster relief ini- tiative to distribute supplies and funds to those in need, with the motto “Arise and Rebuild.” Following Sunday Masses, Collins and other Knights, including Kidder, have handed out pillows, blankets, backpacks filled with supplies and over $10,000 in gift cards. The initiative has also raised $140,000 to cover one year of rent payments for 10 families in the community. “If we just chip away at it, person by person, and we use the money wisely, we should be able to plug the holes in the dike and help folks get back on their feet,” said Collins.

MOVED BY CHARITY Nearly two months after the Camp Fire left his neighbor- hood in ruins, Collins was allowed to evaluate the damage to his home. “We have water now, but we can’t drink it because it hasn’t been purified,” Collins said. “We’re one of the lucky ones; at “The Knights at all levels have jumped in there and par- least we have something to go back to.” ticipated in the outreach,” said Kidder. “There’s guys within Kidder and Lemire both lost their homes. It took Kidder the parish who are saying, ‘I need to become a Knight, be- almost a month to find a semi-permanent residence, an apart- cause they really take care of each other.’” ment in Chico, for him and his wife. Lemire currently lives To help victims of the California wildfires, donate to on the campsite he helped set up and continues to maintain kofc.org/disaster.♦ while assisting other service projects in the area. In the weeks following the fire, Lemire heard from Peggy’s ANDREW FOWLER is a content producer for the Knights daughter, who thanked him for saving her mother’s life. of Columbus Communications Department. TOP: AP Photo/Noah Berger

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 9 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/22/19 12:14 PM Page 10

‘This‘This IsIs WhereWhere II Belong’Belong’

A wildland firefighter describes how his return to the Church brought strength, purpose and peace

by Joseph Pappalardo

hen a wildfire moves, it sounds like a freight train. Cal- in Adelanto, Calif., where Magallanes serves as deputy grand W ifornia firefighter Daniel Magallanes would tell you knight of San Juan Diego Council 13469. this is true, but right now he’s facedown in the dirt, digging “I used to feel a false sense of invincibility, crediting success a hole for fresh air. to myself,” Magallanes said. “Now, every aspect of my life re- What started as a “prescribed burn” — a fire set in the volves around God.” cooler seasons so the summer blazes will be less intense — is suddenly out of control. Luckily for Magallanes and his crew, TAKEN BY THE HAND they can gasp for oxygen in the flat dirt clearing, albeit sur- Daniel Magallanes grew up a cradle Catholic in Calipatria, Calif. rounded by a raging fire. The former altar boy said he thought about the priesthood when This is how Magallanes describes what he experienced on he was 10 or 11 but his family discouraged a vocation. April 18, 2010. He remembers the date clearly, because it was “I felt embarrassed,” Magallanes said. “I didn’t get support his son’s 6th birthday, and he had been planning to take the from my family; not that they weren’t religious, but I was day off. young and a troublemaker.” If Magallanes were to encounter such a trial today, he would Growing up across the street from a fire station, he found utter an Our Father or Hail Mary and pray for strength. But a different calling. He spent time at the station in high school during what he calls the scariest moment of his career, he did and became a firefighter himself in 2002. He later became a not consider himself a practicing Catholic. wildland firefighter and today works for the U.S. Bureau of The 38-year-old has been fighting fires for 16 years, most re- Land Management. cently operating the fire truck as an engineer. In that time, he It was in the early stages of his career, Magallanes said, that questioned his faith, left the Church and finally converted back, doubts about his faith began to grow as he watched internet together with his wife, Gabriela. Today, they and their four chil- videos tearing down everything he had once believed in. dren are active parishioners at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish “Without any sort of education myself, I fell for the trick Courtesy of Daniel Magallanes

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 10 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 11

Opposite page: Daniel Magallanes prays the rosary during a break while fight- “I realized that the Knights do a lot for the Church and the ing the Donnell Fire in northern California’s Stanislaus National Forest in community, which I’m really passionate about,” he said. “I August 2018. Magallanes and his crew worked 14 days straight to contain feel that I can’t do enough to help the Church.” the fire, which burned more than 13,000 acres. • Magallanes, who serves as Jerry Burns, grand knight of Council 13469, recalls recruit- deputy grand knight of San Juan Diego Council 13469, and his family ing Magallanes after seeing him at Christ the Good Shepherd. are active parishioners of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Adelanto. “He’s not the kind of guy who’s going to let everybody know he’s there,” Burns said. “But he wants to help, and he’s always at the right place at the right time.” and started doubting,” he said. The family often assists with, or participates in, K of C He questioned Catholics like his church-going sister but fundraisers such as dinners and dances at the parish. Daniel didn’t find their answers convincing. Magallanes lost faith in serves on the parish council, and he and Gabriela are both ex- the Church and organized religion; around 2006, he began traordinary ministers of the Eucharist. They are also members considering himself an atheist. of the parish’s Blue Army chapter and strive to make daily de- Then, during what was supposed to be a routine controlled votions to Our Lady of Fatima, praying the rosary and going fire in 2010, Magallanes had his brush with death. A few to confession regularly. months later, Gabriela was diagnosed with an acoustic neu- “Our faith is very important to our family,” Gabriela said. roma, a large tumor on a cranial nerve. “We have been fortunate that our children also help serve in The couple was not married at the parish with us.” the time, but they had already Despite his own busy been together for 10 years and schedule, Daniel also makes had four children. Suddenly, as time to visit his kids’ school, Gabriela prepared to undergo the giving safety talks and dis- eight-hour, high-risk surgery, it cussing his job. seemed they might not have any His professional duties in- time left together. clude maintaining the station When Magallanes finally en- and fire engine, making sure tered the ICU to find Gabriela everyone is prepared and, be- still breathing, he wasn’t alone. A cause of a worker shortage, man was sitting at the nurses’ sta- fighting the intense fires with tion, looking over at the couple his team. He gets to go home without saying anything. When most nights, which is a luxury he finally came over to talk, he for wildland firefighters. asked if he could pray for them. Prayer has become a con- “He grabbed my wife’s hand, and he grabbed my hand,” stant part of his daily routine, and the white rosary he carries Magallanes recalled. “At that moment, I could feel this jolt go is a stark reminder of purity and faith amid ash and ruin. down my spine. I can only describe it now as the Holy Spirit.” “I try to pray every chance I get,” he said. “I know that the The man was Father Miguel Urrea, a priest of the Diocese of devil is trying to bring me down and get me to lose focus.” San Bernardino and the Catholic chaplain for the hospital. Ma- Magallanes also asks others to pray for his crew and the gallanes burst into tears as the priest continued to hold their many firefighters scattered across the country’s isolated forests. hands and pray. When Father Urrea asked them if they were It’s very difficult, he said, for wildland firefighters to keep up married, Magallanes explained he’d wanted a big wedding. their strength. “Do you think that’s what it’s all about?” the priest asked. “A lot of people work with us for a season or two and say, “Having a big party?” ‘No, this was not what I expected.’” After further discussion, the couple agreed to return to their Though prayer isn’t usually discussed in his line of work, faith, and in a unique situation, Father Urrea offered to pre- Magallanes said, he sometimes receives questions from his side at their wedding that very day, making all of the necessary peers, just as he once questioned his sister. He humbly ac- arrangements. knowledges he doesn’t have all of the answers, and strives to “He did everything himself,” Magallanes recalled. “We got give a passionate example of faith in action in both his career married by the Church and by the court on the same day.” and his service with the Knights. “My brother Knights and I try to do whatever we can for our RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME church, and we are proud to serve,” he said. “When I joined After Gabriela was released from the hospital, the Magallanes the Order and started helping, I knew this is where I belong.”♦ family began attending Christ the Good Shepherd Parish. They gradually became more involved, and Daniel joined the JOSEPH PAPPALARDO is a content producer for the Knights of Columbus in 2013. Knights of Columbus Communications Department. Photo by Steve Heisler

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 11 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 12

Calling Out Anti-Catholicism

Voices across the religious and political spectrum decry religious bigotry in the Senate

wo U.S. senators — Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Mazie books on black and Jewish history in America. They stood THirono (D-HI) — made headlines in December after against the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s, the height of its power, they questioned whether a judicial nominee’s membership in helping fund the Supreme Court case that defeated the Klan- the Knights of Columbus would prevent him from being an backed ban on Catholic education in Oregon. The Knights impartial judge. The nominee was Brian C. Buescher, a mem- spoke out against the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany as ber of Our Lady of Lourdes Council 13080 in Omaha, Neb. early as the 1930s. Today they assist victims of Islamic State. Sen. Hirono stated that “the Knights of Columbus has If Catholics like the Knights can be targeted, what should taken a number of extreme positions” and then asked members of my Pentecostal church expect? We share tradi- Buescher whether he would withdraw his membership with tional views on abortion and marriage. What about Orthodox the Order if confirmed, “to avoid any appearance of bias.” In Jews, Muslims, Mormons and evangelical Christians? Even the a similar vein, Sen. Harris called the Knights “an all-male so- Rev. Martin Luther King’s biblical beliefs would be anathema ciety” and asked if Buescher was aware that the group “op- to Sens. Harris, [Diane] Feinstein and Hirono. JFK, himself a posed a woman’s right to choose” and “marriage equality.” proud Knight of Columbus, would be unacceptable too. … Buescher responded that he has been a member of the We non-Catholics must also stand up, if not for courage, Knights since age 18 and that his membership “has involved then for survival. When first they come for the Catholics, we participation in charitable and community events in local can be certain that all of us are next, and that the respect for Catholic parishes.” faith and diversity of belief that made this country a beacon The senators’ line of questioning was widely viewed as a of freedom is now under severe threat — even from those we “religious test” for lawmakers, drawing a response from many entrust with its defense. political and social commentators, as well as from other leg- — Rev. Eugene F. Rivers III, a Pentecostal minister, is director islators. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson’s response took the of the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies form of a letter to members Jan. 1 (see page 2). Below are ex- in Boston. cerpts from three of the many op-eds and articles written in the days and weeks following. From “Senators employ stalking horse to oppose Catholic judicial nominee” — Crux, Dec. 30, 2018: From “Another Religious Test in the Senate” — Wall Street Journal, Jan. 4: OPPOSITION TO ABORTION and gay marriage are not policy positions of the Knights of Columbus but of the IS THE POPE AN EXTREMIST? Should anyone loyal to Catholic Church, as articulated most recently by the current the church’s teachings be barred from public office? There is leader of the Church, Pope Francis. no reason to accept such political bigotry. But this isn’t about On abortion, Francis takes a remarkably strong rhetorical anyone’s membership in a particular group. It is about silenc- line, even comparing the decision to have an abortion to “hir- ing believers of any kind whose views differ from the progres- ing a hitman to resolve a problem” during one of his weekly sive view on social issues. general audiences in October. … As a leader of black Christians, I feel particularly strongly Francis also has been firm in his opposition to gay marriage. about the Knights of Columbus. For more than a century they In a book-length interview last year with Dominique bravely defended minorities. The group ran integrated hospital- Wolton, Francis argued that by its very definition, marriage ity and recreation centers for troops in World War I — the only can only be between a man and a woman. charitable organization that did so. To confront prejudice in the Decrying what he called a “critical confusion” about mar- teaching of history, in the 1920s the Knights commissioned riage in the culture, Francis responded to a question about

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 12 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 13

Past Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart presents President John F. Kennedy, a fellow Knight of Columbus, with a framed copy of the Pledge of Allegiance Oct. 11, 1961.

gay marriage by saying, “Let’s call this ‘civil unions.’ We do then President John F. Kennedy, and the ‘liberal lion of the not joke around with truth.” Senate’ Ted Kennedy would have been “unqualified” for the This past June, in unscripted remarks to an Italian organi- same reasons. zation representing Catholic families, Francis said, “It is Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that there painful to say this today: People speak of varied families, of “shall be no religious test” for any seeking to serve in public various kinds of family,” but “the family [as] man and woman office. in the image of God is the only one.” No American should be told that his or her public service One could go on piling up examples, but the point ought is unwelcome because “the dogma lives loudly within you” as to be clear: Saying “no” to abortion and same-sex marriage is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said to Amy Coney Barrett not an idée fixe of the Knights of Columbus, but rather the during her confirmation hearings in 2017 to serve as U.S. Cir- corporate stance of the Catholic Church and its leadership. cuit Court judge in the 7th Circuit. In other words, Hirono and Harris are employing a “stalk- While I absolutely believe in the separation of church and ing horse” in the Buescher case, because their real target isn’t state as a necessity to the health of our nation, no American the Knights of Columbus but Catholic teaching. should be asked to renounce his or her faith or membership in Presumably, however, they felt it would be poor form to say a faith-based, service organization in order to hold public office. they wanted Buescher blackballed because he’s Catholic, so The party that worked so hard to convince people that they picked a softer target. … Catholics and Knights of Columbus like Al Smith and John F. For integrity’s sake, it’s important to be clear whom their ar- Kennedy could be both good Catholics and good public ser- gument is with — and it’s not the Knights of Columbus or any- vants shows an alarming disregard of its own history in making one else. It’s with the Catholic Church and the man in white. such attacks today. … — John L. Allen Jr. is editor of Crux, specializing in coverage Elected leaders engaging in religion-baiting are playing with of the Vatican and the Catholic Church. Visit cruxnow.com. fire. They are sacrificing the well-being, peace and harmony of our country to satisfy their own political ambitions for par- tisan political interests. From “Elected leaders who weaponize religion are We must stand together, call out and reject religious bigotry playing a dangerous game” — The Hill, Jan. 8: no matter where it comes from, and fight to protect the free- doms and principles that bind us together as Americans. IF BUESCHER IS “UNQUALIFIED” because of his — U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat, represents Hawaii’s Catholicism and affiliation with the Knights of Columbus, 2nd District. Knights of Columbus Multimedia Archives

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 13 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:00 AM Page 14

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 14 FEB 19E1_17FINAL.qxp_Mar121/18/1912:01AMPage15

OPPOSITE PAGE: Photo by Matthew Barrick the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., with a mosaic Christ of the High Priest in the background. 2018. Behind them hangs a painting anotherof model for parish priests, FatherJeanSt. Michaelof Vianney J.chaliceathat andbelonged saint,duringtheMcGivney. Father to Chocholski’s• OppositeSupremetheCouncilvisitto headquarters page: April14, The heart relic is seen at idential this opportunity to invoke the intercession of intercession the invoke to opportunity this idential Above: Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Father Patrice Chocholski, rector of the Shrine of Ars, hold a reliquary containing the incorrupt heart re- “spiritual a as prov- as “We welcome serve remarking, crisis, the to sponse” would pilgrimage the that suggested Anderson Carl Knight Supreme September, In erupted. crisis abuse sexual clergy the before spring, last presented first was grimage for served years. 40 than more (1786-1859) ney of Ars, France, where St. Jean Shrine Vian- the by Order the to ber. entrusted been has relic The Novem- of last began Knights Columbus, the by organized the pilgrimage, Priest” since a of “Heart States United the across chapels and churches in veneration. personal for relic the participants approach to lines long in waited conference, the Throughout in Indianapolis. center convention the into processed solemnly was of Vianney St. Jean-Marie heart incorrupt the holding reliquary a as reverence in stood S h psiiiy f h pil- the of possibility The There have been similar scenes ahlc nvriy tdns FCS. They (FOCUS). Students University Catholic of Fellowship the of conference annual the at 12 Jan. Mass for gathered people young 17,000 ome Thousands of Catholics venerate the incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney Vianney Jean St. of heart incorrupt the venerate Catholics of Thousands PRIEST HEART HEART as it makes a nationwide pilgrimage pilgrimage nationwide a makes it as of a a of by Columbia staff Columbia by kofc.org/vianney Atlanta D.C. to Washington, to Orleans New from cities of dozens has relic visited the Museum, Columbus of Knights the and began officially pilgrimage The August. last Baltimore in Convention Supreme 136th the to relic the brought as as in- and clergy.” for model holiness singular a are whose tegrity priests, parish of patron the h plrmg cnius ni ery ue Visit June. early until continues pilgrimage The Father Patrice Chocholski, St. Jean Vianney’s successor curé, or pastor, of Ars and rector of the shrine there, shrine the of rector and Ars of pastor, or for the schedule and more information. reflections at St. Mary’s Church St. at of reflections series a offered Father Chocholski where Conn., Haven, seminaries. area two at as prayer, well as and discernment spiritual of day full a during Assembly General Fall bishops’ U.S. the at present was relic the in Baltimore, ies. While Columbus, prayed during his stud- seminary of Knights the of founder McGivney, J. Michael the Father Venerable in where chapel Baltimore, in Center Spiritual Mary’s St. at 10 Nov. olwn sos n New in stops Following 9 1 0 2 Y R A U R B E F ♦ A I B M U L O C ♦ 15 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:01 AM Page 16

‘Alive in Christ’

An interview with St. Jean Vianney’s successor about the patron saint of parish priests

ather Patrice Chocholski, a native of northeastern France, to Rome, and many Christians died as martyrs, especially in Fwas ordained in 1989 in Rome. The pastor and rector of Lyon. The Vianney family followed the Church, which was the shrine in Ars since 2014, he has extensively studied the forced underground, and Jean-Marie received his first Com- life of his predecessor, St. Jean Vianney. Educated in France, munion during a clandestine Mass. Italy, Poland and Jerusalem, Father Chocholski teaches at the The transition in the years that followed was difficult. Jean- International Seminary of Ars and has served as the general Marie was later allowed to enter seminary, but he was then secretary for the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Rome forced to join the Napoleonic army. Somehow he got lost in (2008), Kraków (2011), Bogotá (2014) and Manila (2017). the mountains on the way to Spain and received the status of When Father Chocholski visited the United States last No- deserter. We do not know how it really happened, but we do vember to give a series of reflections coinciding with the pil- know he remained more than one year in the village of Les grimage of the St. Jean Vianney’s heart, Columbia editor Alton Noës, where he taught children and was appreciated by the Pelowski interviewed him about the saintly Curé of Ars and the people there. significance of the pilgrimage. When he returned home, his father refused to let him into the house because of how much the family had suffered in his COLUMBIA: The French Revolution began in 1789, shortly absence. His brother, Francis, had to take his place in the army after St. Jean-Marie Vianney’s birth. What effect did it have on and later died on the German front. With both sons gone, his his family and on his vocation? mother died of grief. His father told him to go pray at his FATHER PATRICE CHOCHOLSKI: During the French Revolu- mother’s tomb. Jean Vianney felt guilty and wounded and later tion, it was very dangerous for priests who remained faithful wrote letters to his father begging for his pardon. Photo by Aaron Joseph

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 16 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:01 AM Page 17

SPEAKING FROM THE HEART

As the relic of St. Jean Vianney has “To see a heart that was totally in made its way across the country, the love, a heart that was undivided and Supreme Council has received many purified by love of the Cross, was an notes expressing gratitude for sponsoring inspirational event. It was amazing to the pilgrimage. be able to see the heart of the parish priest who lived the life we are seeking “A few months ago we read a biog- to emulate. It reminded me that, with raphy of the saint in the refectory. I the grace of God, it is possible to be- was impressed by his humility and pas- come a saint despite any challenges toral love, but now I feel like I’ve ex- that might be in our way.” perienced these myself because he — Louis McHale, seminarian for wanted to come here to us! the Archdiocese of Washington at the “While I was praying with the heart, Saint John Paul II Seminary and a I found this verse in John 18: ‘This was member of The Catholic University of to fulfill the word which he had spo- America Council 9542 ken, Of those whom thou gavest me I lost not one.’ This thought seems so fitting “Welcoming the holy and incor- for a pastor who ‘lost not one’ of the rupt heart of the Curé of Ars was a multitude of souls entrusted to him and historic moment for the Apostolate who will lose not one of the intentions for Family Consecration. At this time entrusted to him on this tour.” in the Church when so many hearts — Sister Dominic Mary of Mercy, yearn for healing, it was a privilege to O.P., Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, provide the over 400 faithful in atten- North Guilford, Conn. dance — families, students, priests and religious — with an opportunity “I am very touched and humbled to to encounter the heart of a man be in the presence of my great-great- whose love for God and his Church Father Chocholski gives a reflection at St. Mary’s great-great-grand uncle, St. John Vian- was unshakable. Church in New Haven during a prayer vigil Nov. ney. Someday, I hope to visit Ars, “As a Knight, it’s my personal prayer 18. The vigil concluded three nights of prayer at France. I hope and pray for a blessed that God, through the intercession of the parish for healing, reparation and purification. tour and great healing and hope.” St. John Vianney and Venerable — Wade Anders Vianney, West Michael J. McGivney, grant me a heart Hartford, Conn. like the Curé of Ars.” — J. Basil Dannebohm, vice presi- We can see how this impacted his fu- “It was an amazing experience for us dent of advancement and evangeliza- ture as a priest. This sensitive man was in Pensacola. We estimated that 600 tion for the Apostolate of Family able to relieve so many people of their visitors passed through the doors of Consecration in Bloomingdale, Ohio guilt by welcoming them with the ten- the Basilica between our four Masses, derness of God in the sacrament of vespers and extended hours of being “What an incredible blessing for us confession. And he helped them expe- open. I could not have been more to have St. John Vianney’s incorrupt rience the healing of Divine Mercy pleased with the response of the heart at the recent SEEK conference! through absolution. Catholics in the area, plus those who Priest after priest told me how powerful joined us from outside Florida. it was to have the relic there. The thou- COLUMBIA: What other challenges “As I observed people in prayer be- sands of young people present loved it did Jean-Marie face in pursuing his fore the relic, the intensity of their too, venerating it in the eucharistic ado- vocation? prayer was quite visible. We have re- ration chapel. We are very grateful for FATHER CHOCHOLSKI: His father ceived a number of expressions of grat- the Knights for making this possible.” hoped that he would become a farmer itude for having the relic present in — Curtis Martin, founder and CEO like him. He didn’t give Jean-Marie the our diocese.” of the Fellowship of Catholic University opportunity to go to school and learn — Very Rev. Joseph P. Callipare, rec- Students (FOCUS) and a member of Latin like other boys. When Jean-Marie tor of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Council eventually entered the seminary, he was Archangel, Pensacola, Fla. 7502 in Northglenn, Colo. told he needed nine years of study, and

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 17 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:01 AM Page 18

Above: Father Mark Ivany, director of spiritual formation at the Saint John Paul II Seminary and director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Washing- ton, leads seminarians in prayer before the relic. • Left: Parishioners stand in line to venerate the relic at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven.

he had difficulty keeping up. He would not have been allowed to become a priest if Abbé Balley, the priest of Écully, had not told the bishop he would take him in and prepare him. There were a lot of humiliations. One of his fellow semi- narians was young Mathias Loras, who had no problem with his studies. Mathias once became impatient and lashed out at Jean-Marie, who instead of getting angry knelt down and asked for forgiveness. Mathias immediately reconciled with him, weeping. He later became the first bishop of Dubuque, Iowa, and the two remained lifelong friends.

COLUMBIA: How did St. Jean Vianney have such an impact on Ars and become so popular during his lifetime? FATHER CHOCHOLSKI: When he arrived in Ars, he found an abandoned, disheveled parish. There were fewer priests in France at that time, and some were swept up in the spirit of the Enlightenment. But a new clergy began to organize mis- sions to the villages and towns in each diocese — evangelizing, preaching and hearing confessions. Jean Vianney’s popularity began with his involvement in these missions. He did not preach because his theology was considered weak, so he was asked to hear confessions instead. He had a gift for listening and understanding with the ten- TOP: Photo by Matthew Barrick — LEFT: Photo by Aaron Joseph

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 18 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINALB.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 9:11 AM Page 19

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore celebrates Mass at Baltimore’s Basilica of the Assumption Jan. 11. The major relic of St. Jean Vianney was also present for veneration in the basilica’s crypt church (pictured below) before the Mass and at a reflection that followed.

derness of Christ, and so it was in the confessional that the fame. He went through terrible trials, and there were petitions people encountered a saint. More and more people came to against him. People in the village wanted to get rid of him. him. In Trévoux, for example, it is said that the pressure of He even had to endure a false accusation that he had fathered the waiting crowd moved his confessional. a child. It was not an easy fame. Then people began coming to Ars for his spiritual guidance. Before long, penitents were arriving from all around France, COLUMBIA: Four years after canonizing him in 1925, Pope as well as from Italy. Some had to wait a week to go to con- Pius the XI declared St. Jean Vianney the patron saint of fession. People were also attracted to his teaching, which was parish priests. Why is his witness so exemplary? simple and inspired by the Gospel and the Fathers of the FATHER CHOCHOLSKI: I believe that St. Jean Vianney became Church. He spoke in a language that both children and adults configured to Christ in a very special way. Christ is universal, understood. So Ars became a shrine and place of pilgrimage. and the more Jean Vianney became similar to Christ, the But Jean Vianney tried to be very poor and free from this more his life and message became universal. Photos by Kevin Parks/Archdiocese of Baltimore Because Jean Vianney emptied himself in humility and poverty, Christ could find a free space to dwell in him. And so what he was experiencing, living and expressing was more and more Christ. Christ alone. When my bishop asked me to become a successor to St. Jean Vianney, I was afraid, and I told him, “Please, find some- body else.” Since coming to Ars, I’ve witnessed the graces re- ceived by pilgrims all over the whole world. They give testimony to what Christ has done in their lives, and I feel poor, somehow like Jean Vianney.

COLUMBIA: The life of St. Jean Vianney overlapped with that of Father Michael McGivney. Do you see any similari- ties between them? FATHER CHOCHOLSKI: They each bore witness to Christ’s love for everyone in their parish, and they paid special attention to

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 19 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:01 AM Page 20

the poorest people. They were not self-centered. They encour- aged a communion of saints around them. The nucleus of St. Jean Vianney’s spirituality was the Divine Mercy. Experiencing and sharing Divine Mercy with others — this is what will attract hearts, and transform them, and make them run to Christ. He was convinced that the renewal of the Church would come through mercy, not the fear of hell. I see something similar in the spirituality of Father Mc- Givney and the Knights of Columbus. They trust in the Di- vine Mercy, and they work to build a civilization of love. Also, we cannot imagine Jean Vianney as a priest alone in his shrine. Like Father McGivney, he was a priest carrying a community. Jean Vianney was revolutionary in his day, working together with the lay people. He used to find a place, a mission for everybody in his village, even for those

From top: Father Jack Campbell, parochial vicar of St. Paul Church in Pensacola, Fla., concludes the procession of the heart relic before Mass at the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel Dec. 3. Father Joseph P. Callipare, rector of the basilica, is seen at right. • The relic is displayed for veneration Jan. 8 at the St. John Vianney Chapel and Welcome Center, operated by the Apostolate for Family Consecration in Bloomingdale, Ohio. • Catholic schoolchildren pray before the relic of St. Jean Vianney at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta Dec. 7. • Dominican Father Patrick Mary Briscoe carries the reliquary in procession before Mass at SEEK 2019, a conference of the Fellow- ship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) that drew more than 17,000 participants to Indianapolis in January. From top: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee — Photo by Daniel Lappert — Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Atlanta — Photo courtesy of FOCUS

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 20 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:01 AM Page 21

A MAN OF PRAYER, A MISSION OF LOVE

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic and sweetness that makes him ecstatic, nuncio to the United States and a native a light that surrounds him with mar- of France, celebrated Mass at the Basilica velous brightness. In this intimate of the National Shrine of the Immaculate union, God and the soul are fused to- Conception in Washington, D.C., Dec. 9, gether like two bits that no one can ever 2018, on the occasion of the reception and pull apart. This union of God with a veneration of the relic of St. Jean Vianney. tiny creature is a lovely thing. It is hap- Below are excerpts from his homily. piness beyond understanding.” These are profound words of St. Jean- WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, my Marie Vianney. I desired this happiness, family traveled to Ars for a few days and he inspired me to seek this deeper during the summer. I remember stop- union with God. … ping to pray before the famous sculpture After signing his letter of appointment by Émilien Cabuchet. [to Ars], the vicar general reportedly said St. Jean-Marie Vianney has been and to him, “There is not much love for God remains an attractive figure to me. And in that parish; you will bring some into why? What did I see there in the image? it.” That was his mission. That image incarnated what he was — Indeed, St. Jean Vianney brought so a man of prayer. much love to it that a tiny village be- The saint himself wrote: “Prayer is came the center of the world in just a our whole kingdom will be ruined.” Per- nothing else but union with God. When few short years. … haps, there will be three men here — or one has a heart that is pure and united Once during an exorcism, the devil even more — whom the Lord will raise with God, he is given a kind of serenity cried out, “Three more like Vianney and up to be his faithful priests!♦

who did not practice their faith. For Jean Vianney, every- friend to his people. He used to pray and intercede for them. body was important in the mission of the Church. I am sure Though dead, he is alive in Christ and is still a friend to his he would have been very happy working together with the people. This physical presence reminds us of his intercession, Knights of Columbus. of his prayer for us.

COLUMBIA: How did St. Jean Vianney’s heart become a relic? COLUMBIA: Can you share how this pilgrimage came about, FATHER CHOCHOLSKI: His body was exhumed in the early and speak of its significance at this time when the Church 20th century in view of his beatification, and it was a surprise faces so many challenges? to discover it to be incorrupt. Some parts FATHER CHOCHOLSKI: Yes, it is providential were kept for veneration. that it is happening now. The inspiration Why did the Church pay special attention came from the Knights of Columbus in New to his heart? First, because it was incorrupt, Haven, and it was intended to help people but also because it related to his spirituality. rediscover the beauty of being a priest — to He used to say that priesthood is the love of encourage priests in their ministry and to Jesus’ heart. For Jean Vianney, the mission of promote vocations. It is very hard to organ- the priest is to be a heart in the middle of a ize such a pilgrimage, and it had been community, to represent actually and sacra- planned for some time. mentally the love of Jesus. So his heart truly St. Jean Vianney was very drawn to the defined his presence as a priest. spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. At a cer- tain time, he wished to become a Capuchin. We could say COLUMBIA: What do you tell people who are unfamiliar or that he is a kind of Franciscan — his devotion to Jesus cruci- uncomfortable with the Church’s veneration of relics? fied, his poverty, the repentance of the penitents and so on. FATHER CHOCHOLSKI: As Christians, we believe in the Incar- We recall how the Lord said to St. Francis that his mission nation, “the Word became flesh.” It is an ancient tradition in was to rebuild the Church. We can see how St. Jean Vianney the Church to keep physical signs of this closeness of the saints. helped to rebuild the Church in France after the revolution. As a priest, St. Jean Vianney was a friend of God and a He can also help rebuild the Church today.♦ TOP: Photo by Matthew Barrick

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 21 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:01 AM Page 22

Leading With the Heart of Mary

Religious sisters have a decisive role to play in renewing the Church through their joyful “yes” to God’s will

by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following text is an abridged version of n Mary, all of us have the perfect model of the Chris- Supreme Knight Carl Anderson’s keynote address at the na- Itian life. But women religious have a special connec- tional assembly of the Council of Major Superiors of Women tion to her, and your unique reflection of her is greatly Religious (CMSWR) in September 2018. It is printed here needed for the Church — especially today. in light of the World Day for Consecrated Life, celebrated The witness of your communities is especially important on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Feb. 2. because of the crisis our Church now faces. More than ever our Church needs leadership with the heart of Mary.

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 22 FEB 19E1_17FINAL.qxp_Mar121/18/1912:01AMPage23

Photo by Becky Tower/Courtesy of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious the portrait of Our Lady in the Gospels. Gospels. the in Lady Our of portrait the with resonates admonition That words. use necessary, if and preach, to instruction the gave famously Francis St. WORDS MARY’S TO LISTENING waver. not would heart her because waver, not did Mary her. with stand to returned con- and Twelvethe of one arrested only cross, the of was foot the At demned. Christ when hiding into went who apostles, other the of cowardice the knew also She money. for Jesus betrayed who Judas, knew She publicly. of her son’s apostles. She knew Peter, who denied her son her Peter, denied knew who She son’sher of apostles. apostasy the through lived she as scandals, Church’s apostolic first the survived faithfulness Her others. for faith son. her kill to conspire day her of authorities and religious and civil the to see had she Then reputation. her herself to risk small no at — mother virgin unwed an be to called was She Romans. the by subjugated were people and country Her us. shock would today even that following 22,2018,at St.Louis. theOldCathedral MassSept. of Major the LeadersSuperiorsCouncil of of of Women Religious stand with Bishop Edward Springfield-CapeM. Rice Girardeau,of Missouri, She remained faithful while those around her did not. did her around those while faithful remained She And yet, she remained full of faith and a beacon of beacon a and faith of full remained she yet, And things saw Mary moment. a for scene the set us Let in her life. Like Mary, each of you bring to others an others to bring you of each Mary, Like life. her work God’s in of aware vows, her speaks woman secrated him. in trust her and heart her in God’slove from arose tells he decisiveness Her 2:5). whatever (Jn you” “Do from aside instruction no Cana angel. the from answer vague a only got she — and God of Son the bear would she how detailing blueprint no had She plans. or will God’s of details the knowing from come not did decisiveness Mary’s 1:38). decisiveness. with God toward them drawing others, to awareness that brought she And work. at will God’s of awareness illuminating public an his present — to life ministry embryonic Christ’s from — Cana at Church. the of Mother — mother our being journey to God her of Mother in the being from leadership her and heart Mary’s reveal recorded words the But said. she what about less and did It is with a similar decisiveness and love that each con- each that love and decisiveness a similar with It is at feast wedding the at servants the gave she Later, (Lk word” thy to according me to done be it “May feast to wedding the Her Annunciation the from words mother Christ’s what about more record Gospels The 9 1 0 2 Y R A U R B E F ♦ A I B M U L O C ♦ 23 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 12:01 AM Page 24

awareness of God’s work. You draw others toward God’s love — a love which brought each of us into existence. Like Mary, all of us, but especially those who are brides of Christ, are called to live lives of faith and ministries of love. Mary’s Magnificat prayer is reflected in lives that praise and magnify the goodness of the Lord. Indeed, one of the key ways the goodness of God’s lov- ing plan is communicated is through joy, which is itself a form of preaching without words. In one of his most beautiful speeches, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said: “The deepest poverty is the inabil- ity of joy, the tediousness of a life considered absurd and contradictory. This poverty is widespread today, in very different forms in the materially rich as well as the poor countries. The inability of joy produces the inability to love, produces jealousy, avarice — all defects that devas- tate the life of individuals and of the world. “This is why we need a new evangelization — if the art of living remains an unknown, nothing else works. But this art is not the object of a science — this art can only be communicated by [one] who has life — someone who is the Gospel personified.” Mary, our perfect model of the Christian life, not only bore the Word within her, but she is also clearly the Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and his wife, Dorian, stand with Gospel personified. She has taught the art of Christian Sister Mary Bernard Nettle (far left) and Sister Robert Francis Tait, living by being who she is. members of the Little Sisters of the Poor, at the 2018 CMSWR This is, in many ways, the message of the opening lines national assembly. of the Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk 1:46- 47). The Almighty has done great things for us, and he Little Sisters wanted the mandate rolled back “so that we has called each of us to be a vessel from which he can can continue caring for the elderly poor and dying as if pour out great things for others. they were Christ himself without the fear of government In answering the call of Christ, you have taken on a life- punishment.” long relationship that is poorly understood by the world So we might ask, “What kind of leadership is called for — but is a relationship desperately needed by the world. in the Church today?” Today, we need consecrated women to step forward THE MISSION OF CONSECRATED WOMEN into a place that had been abandoned by many and to In the history of this country, consecrated women stand as did Mary — faithful, steadfast, unafraid. awaken the world to the glorious plans of God — his We are called to remember, especially during this time, righting of wrongs, his preference for the poor, his fidelity that in Christianity there is always the possibility of a new and his love. beginning. The apostles did not remain in hiding forever. There is no shortage of stories of religious women who They returned to courageously preach the Gospel and to have shaped the history of our Church. We think of do so ultimately at the cost of their lives. women from our own lifetime like St. Teresa of Calcutta, And this brings us finally to the root of the crisis facing who helped shape the entire world’s view of human dig- our Church today. In Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II nity. And we think of the little way of St. Thérèse of writes: “The essence and role of the family are in the final Lisieux, or the dramatic actions of St. Catherine of Siena. analysis specified by love. Hence the family has the mission CMSWR sisters have provided this strong witness in to guard, reveal, and communicate love” (17). so many ways. When the HHS mandate demanded that The greatest challenge facing our Church today is the Catholics compromise their conscience to provide con- challenge to its “mission to guard, reveal, and communi- traceptives and abortion inducing drugs, it was the Little cate love.” In that mission you have an irreplaceable role. Sisters of the Poor who became the conscience of our Leading with the heart of Mary will mean not only country. stepping forward into places that others have abandoned, It was not out of duty to rules, but out of love for but most importantly stepping forward into places that God. As Mother Loraine Maguire noted last year, the only you, like Mary, can occupy.♦ Photo by Becky Tower/Courtesy of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 24 FEB 19 E 1_17 FINAL C.qxp_Mar E 12 1/18/19 9:55 AM Page 25

FATHERS FOR GOOD Plus Signs for Catholic Schools

A homeschooling family discovers the importance of the Church’s educational system

by Peter Wolfgang

ith seven children under the age of 19, my wife and 3. We now attend more extracurricular, friend-building WI have sought to embrace fully the Catholic faith activities than when we only homeschooled. Enrolling in we returned to during the papacy of St. John Paul II. Hav- schools that provide these programs as part of their mis- ing read in John Paul II’s 1981 exhortation Familiaris Con- sion takes the burden off parents to organize them. sortio that parents are the “first and foremost educators of 4. Our children have more opportunities to be around their children,” and not finding a school nearby that priests and women religious and to discern the possibility seemed right for our family, we decided to homeschool. that God may be calling them to a vocation. God blessed our decision. In Connecticut, there is an 5. Surrounded by other Catholic young adults on cam- excellent homeschooling support group as well as a classi- pus, our teens have opportunities to build lifelong friend- cal homeschooling hybrid program. We homeschool our ships and perhaps meet their future spouse. four youngest children to this day. 6. My wife and I also have oppor- But when our oldest child gradu- tunities to meet with other Catholic ated from the classical high school parents and widen our social circle. program last year, our family was at 7. We are now better homeschool- a crossroads. Homeschooling was ers! Prior to sending our older kids working well for some of our chil- to Catholic schools, we had time- dren, but not others. And that is management problems, as we tried when we learned just how fortunate to balance our duty to the younger Catholics are to have our own children with our efforts to give the school system. older children the best education Today, our oldest child is in her that we could. first year at a Catholic college that 8. An added bonus has been the takes its identity seriously, and our joy of seeing our teens fit in well and two other teenagers attend excellent work to their abilities in a larger Catholic high schools in Connecti- school setting, knowing that we cut. have given them a firm foundation Sending our children to three dif- at home. ferent Catholic schools is expensive. Catholic schools are not necessar- But true to their mission, the ily the best choice for every family schools work with families to reach a price they can afford. and budget, but they are the right choice for us, and for And the benefits far outweigh the cost. millions of other families. From our perspective, as a mostly homeschooling family Nor do Catholic schools absolve parents from the obli- at a turbulent time in the life of our Church, these are gation to teach the faith and virtues at home. As the Church some of the plus signs we see in Catholic schools: has consistently taught, Catholic schools were never meant 1. With three children going off to school, the teaching to take the place of mom and dad, even in the days when load at home is lighter, and we can give our younger chil- they were booming and staffed by religious communities. dren more of the attention they need. My wife and I have come to greatly appreciate how 2. Our older children are in the company of other Catholic schools can help us in our God-given tasks as ed- adults — teachers and administrators — who take their ucators, and we are grateful to find Catholic schools that faith seriously. The male high school teachers, in partic- can help us in this mission.♦ ular, have given my son healthy role models of Catholic Catholic Courier masculinity. This matters to me at a time when unhealthy PETER WOLFGANG is executive director of the Family male behavior both in the Church and in society is so Institute of Connecticut and a member of Fathers Dug- much in the news. gan-Zebris Council 13424 in Waterbury, Conn.

FIND ADDITIONAL ARTICLES AND RESOURCES FOR CATHOLIC MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES AT FATHERSFORGOOD.ORG. CNS photo/Mike Crupi,

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 25 FEB 19 E KIA 1_17 FINAL.qxp__Layout 1 1/18/19 10:05 AM Page 26

REPORTS FROM COUNCILS, ASSEMBLIES KNIGHTSACTIONIN AND COLUMBIAN SQUIRES CIRCLES

FAITH

SERVING THE SERVERS Cary-Grove (Ill.) Council 12824 honored the altar servers of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for their service to the parish with a recognition after the regular Saturday evening Mass. The servers received certificates of appreciation, and Council 12824 treated them and their families to a pizza dinner.

Members of Msgr. Joseph F. Loreti Council 3240 in Roselle Park, N.J., stand at the Saint John MARY’S ROSE GARDEN Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., at the conclusion of their “Divine Mercy Pilgrimage Father Tim S. Hickey, pastor for Persecuted Christians” in October 2018. The 330-mile cycling journey from Roselle Park of St. Mary’s Catholic to Washington, D.C., raised more than $7,500 for the Knights of Columbus Christian Refugee Church in Marienthal, Kan., Relief Fund. and former editor of Colum- “Our team of five riders and three support crew undertook this pilgrimage to remember bia, presided over the dedi- and help those Christians in the Middle East who have suffered so greatly in recent years,” cation of a new Marian said Past Grand Knight Thomas Grasso (fourth from left). “It was also our way of showing rosary garden on the feast of spiritual solidarity with them as members of the universal Church.” Our Lady of the Rosary. Members of Marienthal Council 2930 contributed the funds to purchase the statue of the Blessed Mother, ROSARY WORKSHOP after morning Masses at St. while parishioners and oth- St. Paul’s Council 11105 in John Parish, approaching 10 ers raised more than $10,000 Damascus, Md., held its an- years of the monthly to finance the construction nual rosary-making work- fundraiser. Each breakfast of the rosary walkway and shop for fourth- and averages $700 to $1,000 in provide landscaping on the fifth-grade religious educa- proceeds, which go directly parish grounds. tion students. Knights as- to the parish. sisted the 18 students with HELP TO THE HOLY LAND the trickier knots, explained CLERGY APPRECIATION Father Charles A. Bartek the prayers to go with each Multiple councils around Council 9431 in Jackson, bead, and gave each child a Mississauga, Ontario, collab- Wyo., made a $500 donation Father Jeffrey Kirby and Roch colorful pamphlet on how to orated on their annual clergy to Holy Land Christian Soci- Girard of Our Lady of Grace say the rosary. appreciation dinner. Knights ety, an organization serving Council 14765 in Indian Land, expressed gratitude to bish- Palestinian Christians. The S.C., stand with the First HEARTY BREAKFAST ops, priests, deacons and society’s president expressed Communion class of Our Fenton (Mich.) Council seminarians for their support deep gratitude, explaining Lady of Grace Parish. Each 7418 and its associated of the Church, the Order and that new taxation on nonprof- child received a rosary hand- women’s group served a the community. The event its operating in the Holy Land made by Knight John Neu to hearty “country breakfast” to was organized by Andrei Dias made for a time of great fi- commemorate the event. more than 200 parishioners of the Richer Agency. nancial need.

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 26 FEB 19 E KIA 1_17 FINAL.qxp__Layout 1 1/18/19 10:05 AM Page 27

KNIGHTSINACTION

FAMILY

MEDICAL RELIEF Mother Seton Council 5427 in the Township of Washing- ton, N.J., and the Jessie F. George School Parent Serv- ice Organization partnered to help a local family with medical expenses. The coun- cil held its annual Charity Picnic while the PSO con- ducted a walkathon; to- gether they raised $5,900 to assist Dave Saunders with Patrick Hull (far left) and Craig Lunz (far right) of Celina (Ohio) Council 1800 present roses treatment bills for an au- to the parents of newly baptized members of Immaculate Conception Parish. The gift of toimmune disorder. roses at infant baptisms expressed the council’s support of parents choosing to raise chil- dren in the Church.

STARTING OVER paint to the interior of a Council 12610 solicited The Wisconsin State Coun- Habitat for Humanity home donations and sold pizza, cil made a $300 donation to destined for the daughter of baked goods and raffle tick- a Green Bay family who lost a council member. ets, netting some $1,750 their possessions in a fire. for the Torres family, the FAMILY FÊTE 2017 North Carolina State DEAR SWEETHEARTS St. Edith Stein Council Family of the Year. In their Sweethearts Pro- 13049 and Rheal Franche gram, St. Henry’s Council Council 6198, both in Rock- CHARITY BASKETS 12012 in Nashville, Tenn., land, Ontario, hosted their Members of Cardinal Ritter has found a special way to first annual Family Day at Council 1221 in New Al- Past Grand Knight Chuck protect and serve the wid- Deschamps Park in Rock- bany, Ind., delivered more Kline of Pope Leo XIII Council ows of members. Fellow land. More than 150 atten- than 60 food baskets to 10804 in Norfolk, Va., assists members “adopt” the ladies dees enjoyed face painting needy families, a seasonal a young angler at the 31st an- and then visit them, help and balloons, a soccer game, project they have repeated nual Knights-sponsored Kids with errands and household a raffle drawing, a visit from over many years. Fishing Day at Chesapeake projects, and honor them firefighters and a barbecue Bay in Norfolk. Some 175 chil- with lunches out, birthday dinner. The event raised FOR THE LADIES dren from the Boys and Girls celebrations and Mother’s some $500 for a local charity. St. Elizabeth Council Clubs of southeastern Virginia Day remembrances. 13141 in Upper Uwchlan, enjoyed a day of fishing and HELP IN HARD TIMES Pa., held its first Wives Ap- marine education under the FOR A BROTHER’S St. Francis of Assisi Council preciation event. More than mentorship of members of DAUGHTER 12610 in Mocksville, N.C., 30 couples, celebrating two Council 10804, Father Robert Members of St. Andrew’s stepped in to help fellow to 60 years of marriage, B. Kealey Council 3548 in Council 9901 and Father member Jesús Torres while took part at a special Mass Norfolk and Father Nicholas J. James Knight Assembly he was out of work for and renewal of vows. Most Habets Council 4632 and 3070, both in Moore, Okla., seven months after back of the group adjourned to a Kempsville Council 10515, teamed up to frame and surgery. Over a two-day local restaurant to enjoy re- both in Virginia Beach. later apply two coats of event at the parish hall, freshments together.

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 27 FEB 19 E KIA 1_17 FINAL.qxp__Layout 1 1/18/19 10:05 AM Page 28

KNIGHTSINACTION

KEEPING TABS Over two and a half years, St. John Neumann Council 8305 in Yuma, Ariz., col- lected more than 1 million aluminum can tabs in sup- port of the Ronald McDon- COMMUNITY ald House Charities of Southern Arizona. Led by John Schiemer with the col- laboration of fellow Knights raffle tickets. Half the pro- and other parishioners, ceeds were given to the raffle Council 8305 was the first winners, while the rest went fraternal organization to to support organizations reach the Southern Arizona working to promote mental branch of the Ronald Mc- health, medical research and Donald House’s “Thanks A aid for youth. Million” milestone. HOOPS FOR A CAUSE CATHOLIC Father James O’Mahoney SCHOLARSHIP Council 4956 in Sherman Having chosen to sell its Oaks, Calif., held its annual home corporation building, 5th and 6th Grade Basket- Bishop McFadden Council ball Tournament. Eight 3777 in North Canton, local Catholic schools par- Ohio, established a $500,000 ticipated in the three-day endowed scholarship pro- weekend tournament, and gram at Walsh University, Council 4956 raised $1,000 providing need-based aid for for charity projects. students seeking a Catholic Members of Mary Cause of Our Joy Council 8447 in Soldiers education. The new partner- Hill, Muntinlupa, Luzon South, clean and paint the stones and ship also gives Council 3777 remove debris from grave plots at a public cemetery. partial use of Walsh’s facilities and brings the Catholic or- ganizations closer together in service to the community. FEEDING THE HUNGRY HANDY KNIGHTS John Cardinal Dearden Father Cyril Karlowicz ETHNIC FEST Council 744 in Mount Council 9002 in Wood- St. Joan of Arc Council Clemens, Mich., supported stock, Va., launched its 11317 in Spring Hill, Fla., Macomb County Rotating Knights Hands program in held its 26th Annual Ethnic Emergency Team (MCREST) concert with the various Festival, which featured a va- by providing two hot break- ministries of St. John Bosco riety of food booths with se- fasts for nearly 50 homeless Parish. Through the initia- lections from around the people during their one- tive, Knights accept refer- world, carnival rides, enter- week stay in St. Peter Parish rals, match verified needs to tainment and a secondhand facilities. MCREST has the various competencies of shop with new and gently Television personality Hank been serving Macomb brother Knights and appro- used items for purchase. The Cisco (left) interviews Herb County for 24 years, start- priate agencies, and render $49,000 in proceeds bene- Kaemmer of Father Joseph ing with 12 congregations; timely aid. The inaugural fited church expenses, repairs C. Tomko Assembly 934 in currently, 90 congregations Knights Hands projects in- and beautification projects. Norristown, Pa., about the participate. Overnight shel- cluded light building repairs Knights’ work. “The Hank ter for homeless men, to the historic parish church RAFFLE WIN Cisco Show,” a cable pro- women and children is pro- as well as window replace- Knights of St. Ferdinand gram produced in conjunction vided in addition to meals, ments, refuse hauling and (Quebec) Council 9149 with high school students that transportation and shower site assessment at the staffed tables at several local began its 30th season in facilities in a warm, safe Shenandoah County Preg- businesses over the course of 2018, highlights organizations environment. nancy Center in Edinburg. a month, selling $4,616 in that serve the community.

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 28 FEB 19 E KIA 1_17 FINAL.qxp__Layout 1 1/18/19 10:05 AM Page 29

KNIGHTSINACTION

CHARITY BARBECUE Immaculate Conception Council 13904 in Nashua, N.H., held its 9th Annual Winter Charity Barbecue, which drew some 120 people and raised more than $1,000 for Nashua Catholic Regional Junior High School. The event featured typical barbe- cue treats, a raffle and time for staff to speak about their school and its programs. Knights also put out informa- tional material about Council 13904 and the Order, and displayed entries from this Washington State Deputy Bob Baemmert and principal Rachel Sherwood help a student try year’s Keep Christ in Christ- on a donated coat at Bemiss Elementary School in Spokane, Wash., as members of St. mas Poster Contest. Joseph Council 8872 in Colbert look on. Through funding from its annual Coats for Kids Breakfast, Council 8872 has donated some 350 coats this year to be distributed to needy EQUIPPING THE children in partnership with area schools and charitable organizations. DISABLED Spearheaded by St. Joan of Arc Council 3384 in Or- leans, Mass., the Massachu- children with physical dis- Kloset, a donation center donation to Quilts for setts State Council made a abilities. The donation that discretely provides free Kids, a program which pro- $20,000 donation to Cape funded multi-sensory equip- clothing, school supplies vides quilts handmade by Abilities, which serves peo- ment for Cape Abilities’ day and hygiene products to its volunteers to children in ple of all ages who have in- habilitation programs — families with low incomes. hospitals throughout the tellectual disabilities, and and a member of Council Kids Kloset volunteers re- United States, as well as St. 3384 personally matched the ported that the donations Peter’s University Hospital donation to further support came just in time to restock in New Brunswick. Council the program. outerwear in preparation for 15540 has supported Quilts the winter. for Kids for years, and the FEEDING MULTITUDES donation was just one of When the food bank inven- BOXES OF JOY many dispersed from the tory of the local St. Vincent The Maryland State Council proceeds of the council’s an- de Paul Society was dramat- partnered with Cross Catholic nual fall Golf Outing and ically reduced due to high Outreach for the “Boxes of spring Comedy Night. demand, Msgr. William J. Joy” program. In the first year Collins Council 5066 in of the program, councils, REACHING OUT Southbury, Conn., promptly auxiliaries and others pro- Blessed Mother Council collected more than 4,500 vided 1,400 boxes filled with 13338 in Delray, Fla., held its Bill Newbrough, Alex Lopez- pounds of food to restock gifts for the people served by 8th Annual Food Drive for Bueno, Danny Orino and the shelves. Council 5066, Cross Catholic Outreach in the CROS (Christians Cesar Sanchez-Luna (left to which has supported the the developing world, in- Reaching Out to Society) right) of St. Joseph Manyanet pantry for some 20 years, cluding at an orphanage and Ministries of Palm Beach and Council 5567 in Wheaton, also gathered $350 to donate a home for survivors of do- Martin Counties. The food Md., prepare for their annual to St. Vincent de Paul. mestic abuse in Guatemala. drive, at Emmanuel Catholic car raffle drive. The event, Several state officers travelled Church in Delray Beach, which helps fund the Mary- CASES OF COATS to Guatemala and witnessed took in more than 7,000 land State Council’s Charity Members of Stillaguamish the impact of the program. pounds of nonperishable and Scholarship program, Council 8015 in Arlington, food. For 39 years, CROS was held in front of the Shrine Wash., participated in the QUILTS FOR KIDS Ministries has aided the of St. Jude Catholic Church in K of C Coats for Kids pro- Bishop Edward T. Hughes hungry in Palm Beach and Rockville and at St. Catherine gram by delivering 10 cases Council 15540 in Three Martin Counties through Laboure Church in Wheaton. of coats to Arlington Kids Bridges, N.J., made a $1,000 community collaborations.

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 29 FEB 19 E KIA 1_17 FINAL.qxp__Layout 1 1/18/19 10:05 AM Page 30

KNIGHTSINACTION

LIFE

the indigenous community, with free care, checkups and medicine. Council 3694 also distributed free reading glasses at the event.

WHEELS ARE TURNING For the fourth year in a row, Our Lady of the Rosary Council 3876 in Brookhaven, Pa., raised more than $1,500 during its annual Wheelchair Col- Members of St. Mary of the Assumption Council 14531 in Stockton, Calif., take part in lection. Over that period the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco, during which the Knights distributed and thanks to the generos- rosaries to the participants. ity of parishioners at Our Lady of Charity Church, Council 3876 has provided 45 wheelchairs for people CANS FOR KOVAR OPIATE AWARENESS who need them. John C. Webb Council St. Henry Council 10990 in 12134 in Fincastle, Va., has Averill Park, N.Y., held a placed donation cans in over pancake breakfast fundraiser 100 area stores to raise to support NOpiates, a money for KOVAR, a Vir- community grassroots or- ginia K of C charity that ganization founded by two provides financial assistance parents who lost their son to to organizations helping opiate addiction. Council those with intellectual dis- 10990 donated $2,500 abilities. The ongoing proj- raised at the breakfast to as- ect has raised $26,500 in the sist NOpiates with its mis- two years since its inception. sion of educating the public about the dangers of opiate A member of Father Mc- BIG ISLAND addiction, and donated an Givney Council 6392 in Marl- ULTRASOUND additional $500 to Miller boro, N.J., leads members of Over the past several years, Youngs Pharmacy in Averill the St. Leo the Great Parish St. Michael the Archangel Park to assist with the instal- “Ignite” Youth Ministry in cre- Council 13227 in Kailua- lation cost of a DEA-ap- ating a cross display honor- Kona, Hawaii, raised a total proved prescription drug Members of St. Martin of ing the souls of aborted of $12,800 in donations to- take-back box. Tours Council 13133 in Talty, children on Respect Life ward an ultrasound machine Texas, take a breather from Sunday. Each of the 60 small for a pregnancy resource ON A MISSION cleaning up the grounds at white crosses the council and center in Kailua-Kona. Zambales Council 3694 in the White Rose Women’s youth group planted in front Thanks to matching funds Iba Zambales, Luzon North, Center in Dallas. Dallas Coun- of St. Leo Catholic Church from the K of C Ultrasound sponsored a medical and cil 799 joined them to trim represents 1 million children Initiative, this is the second dental mission, which pro- trees and shrubs, clear logs aborted in the United States machine the council has do- vided 680 patients, prima- and mow the lawn at the since Roe v. Wade. nated since 2013. rily very poor members of pregnancy resource center.

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 30 FEB 19 E KIA 1_17 FINAL.qxp__Layout 1 1/18/19 10:05 AM Page 31

KNIGHTSINACTION

PATRIOTISM

PATRIOTIC PRESENCE Father Gregory Gerrer As- sembly 1864 in Shawnee, Okla., held a spaghetti din- ner fundraiser at St. Bene- dict’s Catholic Church. The proceeds were used to pur- chase a new set of flags, poles Members of Bishop Becker Council 2427 in Elkton, Md., present a float commemorating Knights and flag stands for the Okla- of Columbus World War I huts during a local parade. In the spirit of the Knights giving out candy homa District Fourth De- to the doughboys, council members gave out Tootsie Rolls to the parade spectators. gree Honor Guard, which participates in more than 50 events a year. HOME FOR that pays the transportation of Delaware Hospital for the CANINE CARE THE HOLIDAYS costs of active-duty military Chronically Ill in Smyrna. To help provide service dogs St. Joseph Council 3402 in personnel to return home for Led by council member for veterans with PTSD, Fa- Keyport, N.J., held a prime Christmas. The meal raised Joseph C. Fischer and his ther Francis X. Seelos Coun- rib dinner fundraiser for $2,158, which the council wife, Ann, the gatherings cil 2878 in Metarie, La., Send a Soldier Home for the supplemented with a fund draw 25 veterans, and at held a five-week raffle. The Holidays, a Trenton Diocesan drive and money from its Christmas the council solic- fundraiser yielded $17,000 . Federation-sponsored charity charity account for a total do- its specific gift requests and nation of $9,000. shops for the veterans.

THIRSTY TROOPS MONUMENT RESTORED St. Michael the Archangel As- San Mateo (Luzon North) sembly 3696 in Lake Wylie, Assembly 3726 renovated a S.C., sponsored a “water municipal World War II Fil- drive” for the United Service ipino Veteran Monument, Organizations of North Car- which was built in coopera- olina’s Charlotte Airport tion among the Knights, the Center, which serves nearly mayor’s office, the Veterans 13,000 active and retired mil- Federation of the Philippines itary members and their fam- San Mateo Post and the So- ilies. After putting out a call ciety of Sons & Daughters of to parishioners of All Saints World War II Veterans. Catholic Church, Assembly Children and members of Archbishop Carney Assembly 2701 3696 collected 18 cases of in Port Moody, British Columbia, prepare to take part in Port bottled water and $1,800 to Coquitlam’s May Day Parade in a “Santa Maria” float. Many purchase additional cases, kofc.org years ago, when a small boat was no longer needed by a enough to hydrate the USO local business, a member of Assembly 2701 lovingly restored Center for a full month. exclusive it in the image of the Santa Maria, the ship used by Colum- See more “Knights in bus. Maintained by members of Assembly 2701 and other VETS GET TOGETHER For five years, Dover Council Action” reports and Knights in the region, the Santa Maria remains in good con- photos at dition and is used in parades by numerous assemblies and 4182 in Camden, Del., has www.kofc.org/ councils in the Lower Mainland Region of British Columbia taken part in a monthly get- knightsinaction to showcase the Knights of Columbus in local communities. together for veteran residents

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 31 FEB 19 E KIA 1_17 FINAL.qxp__Layout 1 1/18/19 10:05 AM Page 32

KNIGHTSINACTION

K OF C ITEMS Feeding Our Neighbors OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS Knights in Arizona and Missouri roll up their sleeves to feed the hungry IN THE UNITED STATES THE ENGLISH COMPANY INC. It began with a call to set a few more Official council and Fourth Degree equipment places at the table. St. Pius X Coun- 1-800-444-5632 cil 10762 in Tucson, Ariz., received www.kofcsupplies.com a request in October 2018 from the IN CANADA St. Pius X Parish office to expand its ROGER SAUVÉ INC. regular community breakfast to ac- Official council and Fourth Degree equipment and officer robes commodate some Guatemalan im- 1-888-266-1211 migrants just released from U.S. www.roger-sauve.com Immigration and Customs Enforce- Joe Keaney (right), a member of St. Pius X ment detention. The parish did not Council 10762, enjoys a community break- know why they had fled their home 02/19 JOIN THE FATHER fast with recent immigrants from Guatemala. country. ! MCGIVNEYGUILD “All we knew,” said Grand Knight Please enroll me in the Anthony Pennisi, “is that they were hungry.” Father McGivney Guild: The parish gym was packed that Sunday. The immigrants pitched in to NAME help serve and clean while the Red Cross and community volunteers pro- ADDRESS vided clothing and supplies. CITY Meanwhile, the Knights kept the food coming through Friday afternoon, STATE/PROVINCE as more than 700 men, women and children received meals. Some K of C ZIP/POSTAL CODE volunteers arrived daily at 5 a.m. and did not leave until late afternoon. Complete this coupon and mail to: “We responded, ‘This is what we do,’” Pennisi affirmed. “We had to The Father feed the Body of Christ.” McGivney Guild, 1 Columbus Plaza, ✼✼✼ New Haven, CT For the past several years, members of St. 06510-3326 or Peter’s Council 13988 in Kansas City, Mo., enroll online at: www.fathermcgivney.org have similarly answered a call to nourish their neighbors. Brian Makar, a member of Council OFFICIAL FEB. 1, 2019: To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons 13988, was biking alongside Brush Creek, responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Laws a tributary of the Blue River, in 2016. He of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of had traveled the corridor for years, but this Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the time was different. After encountering a policy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 homeless person and offering a granola ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MAT- TER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: bar, he was inspired to do something more COLUMBIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. RE- JECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED BY A substantial. SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PUR- CHASED MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS BY Since that time, Makar and fellow WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE- SENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. council members — who call themselves Bob Dearth, a member of St. Peter’s SUBSCRIPTION RATES — IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. the “Knights of Brush Creek” — have Council 13988, joins other “Knights EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CURRENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNT- spent Sunday mornings before Mass of Brush Creek” to deliver food, blan- ING DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. cooking hot sandwiches, assembling pack- kets and warm clothing to homeless ages of personal items and delivering people along the Brush Creek Corridor COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUS them by bicycle to needy people they en- in Kansas City, Mo. PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326. PHONE: 203-752-4000, www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2019 BY counter along the route. Family members KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRO- DUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION and parishioners have pitched in to cover shifts, and the council began IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND fundraisers to help cover the costs. The crew has fed more than 1,300 peo- ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND AD- DRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPART- ple and hasn’t missed a single Sunday. MENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. CANADIAN POSTMASTER — PUBLICATIONS MAIL “I’ve always tried to help those in need, but it was a little here and there,” AGREEMENT NO. 1473549. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 50 Makar said. “By being part of the Knights, I saw that we could make a MACINTOSH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, ONTARIO L4K 4P3 PHILIPPINES — FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAIL bigger impact together.” — reported by Margaret Kelly, associate editor AT THE MANILA CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURN COPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1511, MANILA.

♦ COLUMBIA ♦ FEBRUARY 2019 32 FEB 19 E COVERS 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 1/17/19 3:20 PM Page 33

KNIGHTSOFCOLUMBUS

Knights

Grand Knight Juan Ygnacio Vargas Esqueda of Charity (center) of Fray Junípero Serra Council 13787 in Querétaro, Mexico, stands with members of his crew at the Casa Pater Noster church of the Every day, Knights all over the world are Operarios del Reino de Cristo, a religious order given opportunities to make a difference of priests. Council 13787 and family members — whether through community service, repaired the church’s pews, which had been raising money or prayer. We celebrate damaged by rainfall. each and every Knight for his strength, his compassion and his dedication to building a better world.

TO BE FEATURED HERE, SENDYOURCOUNCIL’S “KNIGHTSIN ACTION” PHOTOASWELLASITSDESCRIPTIONTO: COLUMBIA, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326 OREMAIL: [email protected].

FEBRUARY 2019 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 3 3 FEB 19 E COVERS 1_17 FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 1/17/19 3:21 PM Page 34

PLEASE, DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PRIESTLY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

KEEP THE FAITH ALIVE

‘I CONTEMPLATED MY FUTURE LIFE FOR CHRIST.’

Growing up, I had steadfast examples of always putting family and faith first. My father suggested that perhaps one day I would become a priest. At 15, I met the Oblates of the Virgin Mary at their parish near my home in Long Beach, Calif. I was attracted to their passion for preaching God’s mercy and making the sacraments available around the clock. They introduced me to the methods of prayer and discernment from St. Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. Imagining Jesus crucified before me, I contemplated my future life for Christ. Then, Mary whispered into the silence, “What about the priesthood?” I maintained spiritual direction through the remainder of high school and a university pro- gram in computer science. Finally, only 10 days after my younger sister joined a Dominican congregation, I entered the seminary in Boston. I had embarked on an adventure that would take me to three continents on the path to ministry as an Oblate priest, just like those who had captivated me at 15 — and I love it!

FATHER PAUL M. NGUYEN, O.M.V Oblates of the Virgin Mary Alton (Ill.) Council 460 Photo by Sid Hastings