CHAPLAIN's Report
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november 20 11 ! volume 4 ! number 11 ! www.kofC.org/ChaPlains CHAPLAIN’S report KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS In Service to One. In Service to All. learning the faith, living the faith ! 1 Columbus Plaza, new haven, Ct 06510-3326, usa Mysteries FROM THE DIRECTOR ’S DESK of the Rosary Bishop William E. Lori Supreme Chaplain In the Rosary, Mary Leads Us to Her Son Father James Gallagher, C.S.C. of University of Notre Dame Council 1477, was the celebrant for the 2011 College Conference’s closing Mass. Also shown is Deacon Patrick Hirtz from St. Meinrad Seminary and School as We Meditate on the of Theology in Meinrad, Ind. Mysteries of Salvation rom time to time, I stop by the SHARING FAITH WITH F Knights of Columbus headquarters to bless rosaries for distribution to mem - bers and their families. These rosaries in - COLLEGE KNIGHTS clude the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the K of C emblem, which invite us to invoke the patroness of our he annual College Council Conference Order and to pray for one another in a T was held in New Haven from Sept. 30 Father John P. spirit of charity, unity and fraternity. through Oct. 2. As in other years, I had the Grace, O.S.A. opportunity to attend the event as an ob - The rosary is always in season, for it Director of Chaplain server and got to see first-hand the energy helps us enter more deeply into the cen - Programs & Development and enthusiasm that our college Knights tral mysteries of our faith that we cele - bring to our Church. brate in the liturgy throughout the year. We talk about the lay apostolate, about With that in mind, I shall offer in the the involvement of the Knights in parish ac - each day, and so many profound statements coming months a series on the Luminous tivities, and about the necessity of faith for - were delivered that I kept saying to myself: “I Mysteries, given to us by Blessed Pope mation in order that these may be effective. wish I had said that!” It was so encouraging to John Paul II. We expect leadership to come from the embrace the content of the talks and to know To begin, let us first recall what John clergy and that their commitment and exam - that this came from a lived experience, not Paul II taught us about the rosary itself. ple bear evidence to their preaching, but just theoretical observations. These were expe - Toward the end of his papacy, he issued during this conference, these attributes were rienced Knights speaking to college Knights. an apostolic letter titled The Rosary of the exemplified by the Knights themselves. It was conviction speaking to youthful enthu - SEE roSArY , P AGE 3 Keynote speakers addressed the delegates SEE conference, PAGE 2 Visit www.kofc.org/chaplains to sign up to receive future issues of this newsletter via e-mail. Previous issues are also archived at this site. “The Church is not looking for your contribution 10, 20 or 30 years from now,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson at the conference’s awards banquet. “The Church is looking for your contribution today. The Church needs you now, and your community needs you now.” conference , FROM PAGE 1 not just action, it is faith in action. siasm, seeking a receptive hearing and hopeful of It was mentioned that Father Michael Mc - acceptance in action. Givney wished to take ordinary men and make A number of important impressions and them extraordinary men. This reminds me of a ideals were enthusiastically discussed during the principle that was given to us as young Augus - conference. There is a positive response to the tinians: “We are not asked to do extraordinary Church’s call for a new evangelization. You have things, but to do the ordinary things extraordi - the direct involvement of the laity as seen in the narily well.” actions of the college Knights who are the fu - One speaker noted that while we live our ture of the Church and the Knights of Colum - lives spiritually, we deepen our work from a bus. The desire of these young men to serve the basis of Christian faith. This is not something Church is evident and is based on a true love of we keep hidden within ourselves but needs to the Gospel and Church teaching. be shared. Our service is a sharing with others What a treasure that is available! What a the spiritual and material gifts we have received force for good that is at hand! This is so encour - from God. Young members have a unique op - aging, especially when the mainstream media and the “powers-that-be” portunity of ministering to one another, offering them something that show such antipathy and a downright negative approach to Church is really life-changing. This is leadership taking action amidst peers, principles and the clergy. And in comparison, how discouraging was which is not a simple matter seeing that said peers are also college stu - the total silence of the media on the million-plus young people who dents with their own sense of freedom as they are encouraged to think gathered in Spain for World Youth Day. and act as they please. The kernel of the message given in these talks truly elaborates what The bottom line is that our youth wish to make a positive impres - Pope Benedict XVI said to the youth in Brazil on May 10, 2007: “You, sion. At this conference, they were offered the challenge of making young people, are not just the future of the Church and of humanity, Christ a positive reality in a college atmosphere, with the courage as if we could somehow run away from the present. On the contrary: granted by the grace of the Lord himself and the backing of Knights of you are that young man now; you are that young man in the Church Columbus principles of excellence. and in humanity today. You are his young face. The Church needs you, So, why do I write about this here in our Report ? We sometimes hear as young people, to manifest to the world the face of Jesus Christ, visi - the criticism that “the Knights are all old folk”! Some are, and we are ble in the Christian community. Without this young face, the Church grateful for their experience and dedication. But we also have a group of would appear disfigured.” people who are young, with fresh outlooks full of enthusiasm and new Our college members were reminded that by joining the Knights of ideas, proud to be Knights and ready for action. They are “out there.” Columbus, they chose to live their lives in a different way, knowing Let’s go look for them. Maybe that is what we need in our parishes. that they would be challenged and maybe even ridiculed as they give Thank you college council members, and thank you to all who or - public witness to their Catholic faith. The life of Knights is one of serv - ganized this memorable conference. ice and sacrifice, based completely on Christ, living out in a saintly May you all have a happy Thanksgiving as we offer our gratitude to manner our first principle of charity. This charity must transform the the God of plenty. hearts of those who serve, but it is also a “charity that evangelizes,” as God bless and keep you all! Blessed Pope John Paul II said. Our works of charity are geared toward others in Christ-like service but need to direct us toward the fulfill - REV . J OHN P. G RACE , O.S.A. ment of our own Christian identity as well — of becoming saint-like. DIRECTOR OF CHAPLAIN PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT . Idealistic? Yes, but what a challenge for our young members! These are JOHN .GRACE @KOFC .ORG no pious platitudes, but a challenge for sacrifice and excellence. This is (203) 752-4263 ‘The Posada: An Advent & Christmas Celebration’ he Posada is a traditional Christmas celebration that Franciscan missionaries developed in T America with the goal of introducing the faith, and it continues to be popular through - out the southwestern United States and all of Latin America. St. Francis introduced the tradi - tion of the Nativity set, and the Posada is an extension of his work. To make this tradition available to our councils, the booklet The Posada: An Advent & Christmas Celebration (#9898-E, S) is available. Through this booklet, the Order hopes to bring the rich Posada tradition to all Knights and their families as a way of encouraging a sharing of cultures in the Americas around the celebration of the birth of our Savior. This booklet provides all that is needed to conduct a Christmas Posada with your family and your Knights of Columbus council. Pastors may wist to work with their councils to possibly make the Posada a parish program. Copies of the booklet can be ordered by mailing or faxing (800-266-6340) a Requisition Form(#1) to the Supply Department. counter the mysteries of the rosary — events cal prayer: It is seeing Christ through the eyes roSArY , FROM PAGE 1 pertaining to the life of Christ by which of Mary and entering into her memory, where Virgin Mary . We can draw from it a deeper God’s hidden plan of salvation was revealed. the events of Jesus’ life were kept and under - understanding of the rosary, along with a re - After the initial prayers and after each stood like nowhere else. In the rosary, we call newed resolve to pray it each day and to teach decade, consisting of 10 Hail Marys, we pray upon Mary to help us meditate on the mys - our families to do so.