Knights to Play Active Role in International Eucharistic Congress, June 15-22
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KnightLine MAY 30, 2008 VOL. 25 • NO. 8 www.kofc.org NEWS FOR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LEADERS Knights to play active role in International Eucharistic Congress, June 15-22 s the 49th International chest created to promote the con- Eucharistic Congress (IEC) gress and encourage eucharistic A quickly approaches, Knights devotion. The Ark’s pilgrimage are helping to prepare for the thou- began in May 2006, after it was sands of pilgrims expected to attend. blessed by Pope Benedict XVI in The Ark of the New Covenant — pictured The congress will take place June 15- Rome. The Ark has since visited with Knights of Pope John XXIII Assembly 22 in Quebec City. IEC organizers numerous communities in Canada, in Penticton, B.C. — arrived in Quebec City see it as an invaluable opportunity to where people have been invited to on May 25, the feast of Corpus Christi, in celebrate the Catholic faith, grow sign pledges to pray for the congress anticipation of the 49th International closer to Christ and help inspire spir- and deepen their faith in the Eucharistic Congress. itual renewal. Eucharist. Pope John Paul II first announced In addition to transporting the ing with security, transportation and that the congress would be hosted in Ark, Knights have volunteered to logistics,” he said. Quebec City in October 2004. assist with other preparations for the The Order’s presence will not Months later, the Supreme Council congress. Jules Duguay of Courville only be behind the scenes. Fourth pledged $1 million in support of the (Que.) Council 10993 is responsible Degree Knights will participate in event. Local Knights have been for recruiting and coordinating vol- three of the congress’s major events: involved in various ways ever since. unteers for the IEC. Of the approxi- the opening Mass, a eucharistic pro- For the last two years, Canadian mately 2,000 volunteers recruited cession through Quebec City and Knights have transported through- thus far, Duguay said between 300 the closing Mass on June 22. out the country the Ark of the New and 400 are Knights. “During the Covenant, an icon-covered wooden congress, there will be Knights help- SEE ‘CONGRESS’ PAGE 3 Knights Sending Pilgrims to World Youth Day 2008 ony Genco wants every young ing, Genco and fellow council mem- send four young people to Sydney. Catholic to have an opportu- ber Carlo Di Giocchino suggested “I didn’t have any plans to go T nity similar to his at that Council 13630 sponsor several because I’m a student and I didn’t Toronto’s World Youth Day in 2002. pilgrims to attend this year’s World have the financial support,” said As an employee at the city’s Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, July Stefanie Romano, 22, one of the four Downsview Park, where the papal 15-20. The council raised $20,000 to chosen to attend. Her father, Nunzio, Mass and other WYD events took is a member of Council 13630. place, Genco had the privilege of Auxiliary Romano, who graduated from the receiving the World Youth Day Cross Bishop Anthony University of Toronto in May and when it arrived in 2001 from Rome. C. Fisher of wants to become a Catholic school He later met Pope John Paul II. Sydney is the teacher, entered the essay contest Says the member of St. Clare of organizer of that Council 13630 ran to choose Assisi Council 13630 in Woodbridge, World Youth Day 2008. An four WYD pilgrims. Ont.: “Ever since that experience, interview with Being told she had been chosen my life has sort of elevated its stan- Bishop Fisher “was pretty overwhelming. It was dard, between having met the Holy will be featured really exciting and such a blessing.” Father and having been a part of the in the July issue Other councils are doing their World Youth Day experience here. I of Columbia part to ensure that young pilgrims know what it did for me.” magazine. With WYD 2008 fast approach- SEE ‘WYD’ PAGE 3 FROM SUPREME KNIGHT Marriage and Family Scholars Called to CARL A. ANDERSON Be ‘Teachers and Witnesses’ The Numbers Add Up y all accounts, Pope Benedict XVI’s U.S. apostolic journey B last April was a great success. A recent poll conducted for the Knights of Columbus found that among practicing Catholics 88 per- cent said his visit met or exceeded their expectations. A majority of all Catholics said his visit helped them to be more in touch with their spiri- tual values, and 64 percent said they better understood the Catholic The 2008 graduating class of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Church’s position on important Family is pictured after the May 14 commencement Mass. Dominican Father Steven issues. Half of all Catholics said Boguslawski, president of the Dominican House of Studies, celebrated the Mass at the Basilica they were more likely to make fami- of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Also pictured are David L. Schindler, the institute’s provost and dean (left), and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, vice president. ly a larger part of their lives, and In remarks following the Mass, Supreme Knight Anderson told the graduates they are faced nearly 40 percent said they would with the responsibility to be “both teachers and witnesses” and must work with Pope Benedict become more active in their com- XVI as “co-workers of the truth.” munity or parish. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Washington campus, which is located at The These attitudes indicate that the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and has been operated by the Knights of pope’s visit has presented our Order Columbus since its establishment. There has been a total of 339 graduates to date. with a tremendous opportunity. Catholics have responded positively Washington’s to the pope’s message of faith, hope and love. The question now for us Catholic University is: What will we do to build on this positive trend in our Church and Honors Knights of country? The answer is obvious: Recruit! Columbus, I can think of no better organiza- tion than the Knights of Columbus Andersons to seize upon this upsurge of inter- est in the faith, in family life and in n May 17, Supreme Knight service. Our programs are the Holy Carl A. Anderson and his Father’s programs, and the greater O wife, Dorian, delivered the solidarity we have with him the 119th annual commencement stronger our Order can become. address of The Catholic University As was noted in the last issue of of America (CUA) to nearly 1,200 Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and his Knightline, Pope Benedict himself graduates in Washington, D.C. The wife, Dorian, received honorary Doctor of when celebrating Mass at St. university also conferred the hon- Theology degrees from The Catholic Patrick’s Cathedral in New York orary degree of Doctor of Theology University of America in Washington, D.C., during the May 17 commencement ceremony. praised the “vision and zeal” of our upon each of them “in recognition of founder, the Venerable Servant of their tireless efforts in bearing faith- leads, the largest charitable organiza- God Father Michael J. McGivney. ful witness, through their private tion in the world, which has helped That same vision and zeal are alive and public lives, to a civilization of build Catholic University from its in us today, and we must share our love embodied in Catholic marriage inception,” the statement read. founder’s vision for family life and and family life.” In the Andersons’ address, the fraternal service with every Catholic A university statement recalled supreme knight recalled Pope man and his family. the “close ties” the Knights of Benedict XVI’s April visit to the uni- The Holy Father’s visit has given Columbus and Catholic University versity. He encouraged the graduates us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have shared for more than a century. not to let the Holy Father’s message grow the Order. Let’s not pass it up. “In honoring Carl Anderson, CUA of hope “fade into mere memory,” Vivat Jesus! honors as well the organization he but to be changed by it. O 2 FROM ‘CONGRESS’ PAGE 1 were much more active in the Church than they are today.” Additionally, the Order’s Catho- Nonetheless, organizers have said lic Information Service will be on that the preparations for the IEC site distributing booklets in English have already yielded fruit. “As and French about Catholic belief and Knights of Columbus, we hope to practices. Several Supreme see a renewal of the faith in Officers are also scheduled to Quebec and beyond,” said attend. Duguay. IEC organizers recog- Cardinal Marc nize that by hosting the Ouellet of Quebec, pri- event in Quebec City, they mate of Canada and a are met with both great Knight, has invited all the FORMER DEPUTY challenges and great poten- faithful to participate in SUPREME KNIGHT tial. Although the region is this international event. historically Catholic, there has Even those who cannot attend HONORED been a great influence of secularism as pilgrims can pray for the congress At its annual meeting May 1-3 in in recent decades. The environment and reflect on its message. In a letter Quebec City, the Canadian Fraternal is much different than when of welcome, Cardinal Ouellet wrote: Association (CFA) honored Former Montreal hosted Canada’s last “I invite you to pray for the spiritual Deputy Supreme Knight Jean B. International Eucharistic Congress success of this great event in service Migneault, a past CFA president, with the 2008 Outstanding Fraternalist to the new evangelization.” O in 1910.