20 THE A.D. T IMES MAY 12, 2011 DIOCESE Knights of Columbus – 129 years of doing good works to compete for prizes and recognition at By TAMI A. QUIGLEY local, regional, state and international lev- Staff writer els. Allentown Bishop John Barres – who The Knights of Columbus have stood played junior varsity basketball at steadfast in their faith in God and service Princeton University, N.J. under legend- to their fellow man for the past 129 years, ary coach Pete Carril, a Bethlehem native – and are an active presence in the Catholic shot a promotional DVD for the Knights Church, as well as a mainstay of good International Free Throw Championship works in the Diocese of Allentown. Oct. 26, 2010 at Bethlehem Catholic High According to the Knights website, on School. March 29, 1882 the Connecticut state leg- The Knights use these programs as an islature officially chartered the Knights of outreach to youth and families in their com- Columbus, a fraternal benefit society munities to foster physical fitness, deter- founded by Father Michael McGivney with mination, confidence, courtesy, respect a group of parishioners in the basement of and sportsmanship. The program also pro- St. Mary Church, New Haven. Father motes Knights councils’ cooperation and McGivney’s cause for sainthood is being support for area parishes and civic com- investigated by the Vatican. munities. Still true to its founding principles of The order sponsors scholarships for charity, unity and fraternity 129 years later, college students and provides student the Knights has grown to the largest lay loans to the children of its members. The Catholic organization in the world with more Knights sponsor a writing award – Father than 1.7 million members. Michael J. McGivney Award for Journalis- Throughout its history, the Knights tic Excellence – to be presented at the have been an effective advocate and de- Catholic Media Convention Awards Din- fender of civil and religious rights for all. ner in Pittsburgh in June. The organization has also contributed bil- Sharing a moment at the recent Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown Fourth An- In addition, the Knights make an an- lions of dollars and millions of hours of nual Gala are, from left, Allentown Bishop Emeritus Edward Cullen; Msgr. J. Michael Beers, chaplain of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus; Michael O’Connor, su- nual, substantial donation to the Bishop volunteer service to charity. preme director of the Supreme Council and immediate past state deputy of the Penn- of Allentown to benefit vocations and re- The Knights was formed to render fi- sylvania Knights of Columbus; Allentown Bishop John Barres; Archbishop Joseph tired religious of the diocese. nancial aid to members and their families Kurtz of Louisville, Ky.; George Halcovage, grand knight of the Knights of Columbus The Columbian Squires is the official (see article this page). Mutual aid and as- Schuylkill Council No. 431, Pottsville; and Leonard Verrastro, former grand knight of youth organization of the Knights, and the sistance are offered to the sick, disabled the Knights of Columbus Trinity Council No. 313, Bethlehem. (Photo by John Simitz) Bishop Thomas J. Welsh Assembly No. and needy members and their families. So- 931 is sponsoring the recently founded cial and intellectual fellowship is promoted Squires Circle at Bethlehem Catholic. among members and their families through grams, and has contributed time and en- Paul Gaggawala is assistant state chaplain. According to the website http:// educational, charitable, religious, social ergy worldwide to service in communities. O’Connor said there are 39 Knights www.kofc.org/un/en/squires/, “Founded welfare, war relief and public relief works. Michael O’Connor is supreme director councils in the Allentown Diocese – seven on Aug. 4, 1925 with the institution of the The history of the order shows how the of the Supreme Council and past state in the east and 32 in the northeast. Duluth Circle 1 in Duluth, Minn., the foresight of Father McGivney brought deputy of the Pennsylvania Knights. The Knights are involved in the pro-life Columbian Squires program strives to pro- about what has become the world’s fore- O’Connor, of Frackville, is the first from movement in many other ways, as well, vide ‘the spiritual, cultural, civic, social and most Catholic fraternal benefit society. The the Allentown Diocese in 16 years to have such as the Knights’ Ultrasound Initiative physical improvement of its members, and order has helped families obtain economic been named Pennsylvania state deputy. – paid for by the Knights’ Culture of the development of their leadership security and stability through its life in- Father Philip Rodgers is Pennsylvania Life Fund – launched Jan. 22, 2009. qualities.’ surance, annuity and long-term care pro- state chaplain. Apostles of Jesus Father In less than two years, the “The Squires is an interna- Knights have approved tional fraternity of approxi- funding for 70 3D and 4D mately 25,000 Catholic ultrasound machines for young men, ages 10 to qualified pregnancy 18, in over 1,400 Knights also offer insurance help centers across circles worldwide. the country; see- Circles exist, or ing the ultrasound have existed, and financial products has already pro- throughout the pelled a change of Insurance and other financial products are available from the Knights of Co- United States, heart in some con- Canada, Mexico, lumbus to its members and their families – the original reason the Knights were sidering abortion. the Philippines, founded as a fraternal benefit society by Father Michael McGivney. When a state or lo- Based in the Harrisburg area, Jack Mitchell is the Knights’ general agent for Puerto Rico, Guatemala, cal Knights council is Panama, Cuba, the Baha- central and southeastern Pennsylvania. able to raise half the cost of mas, the Virgin Islands, Mitchell said the Knights offer financial products to brother knights, their purchasing a machine – more spouses and dependent children. The products are distributed through 1,300 Guam and on U.S. military than $1.8 million raised nation- bases abroad.” career agents in the United States and Canada. wide as of this past fall – the Su- “We have a lot of com- “The Knights were originally chartered to serve and provide financial aid and preme Council pays the other half. assistance to members and their families,” Mitchell said. munity activity, help charitable organiza- O’Connor said a former Pottsville resi- tions, sponsor Little League teams … we “Father McGivney saw the need to provide aid to families, many of whom dent recently bequeathed an ultrasound have a range of activities,” O’Connor said. suffered the early death of the breadwinner,” Mitchell explained. It began as machine to Schuylkill County. Father McGivney’s “back door ministry.” With the money left over after the The Knights have donated $1.4 million “The stats show it’s saving lives … out to benefit the families of law enforcement, collection, bills were paid and money was given to families in need. of 100 people, 97 changed their minds and firefighters and emergency personnel who Mitchell said the Knights have the top ratings few companies do: AAA for chose to keep their babies,” O’Connor said. Standard and Poor, and for 34 consecutive years an A + + from A.M. Best and died on 9/11. The Knights have also do- The Knights co-sponsor the annual nated prosthesis and disability training for Company. “They are the two highest you can have,” he said. Stand Up for Life Essay Contest in con- those who lost limbs in the earthquake in The Knights have more than $75 billion of life insurance in force, and are junction with the diocesan Office of Pro- ranked among the Fortune 1000 companies for total revenues. The Knights are Haiti. Life Activities, and sponsor buses that “We get involved with the church, help- financially strong, in the top 2 percent of all companies selling similar products. travel to the March for Life in Washing- ing pastors, bishops and the community.” The Knights, Mitchell said, offer products that are “the elite of the elite and ton, D.C. extremely competitive.” Products offered are life insurance, annuities, disability Cumulative figures show that during the The pro-life movement holds great im- past decade, the Knights has donated insurance and long-term care insurance. portance to the Knights, and many coun- nearly $1.25 billion to charity, and provided “There are two sides to the Knights, and they drive each other,” Mitchell said. cils are involved at the local level, such as The Knights’ effort is two-pronged: to give an excellent rate of return, and use in excess of 593 million hours of volunteer Knights Council No. 345, Easton, which service in support of charitable causes. some of the proceeds for the order’s charitable efforts, as the organization sup- paid tribute to the unborn with a monu- For more information on the Knights, ports the church and various charities around the world. ment at Gethsemane Cemetery, Easton, “The Knights are operated by and for brother Knights. It’s a wonderful pro- contact: John Fitzpatrick, New Council/ dedicated on Mother’s Day 2008. Round Table chairman (Northeast), Allen- gram – look at the wonderful charitable works we do that come from the financial The Knights presented $300,000 to the town, 610-530-7728, jlfitzpatrick@ver- side,” Mitchell said. “At the same time, we offer the best financial products out Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) there – it’s a win-win.” izon.net; Joseph Pascuzzi, Reading, 610- in 2007 to help propel the Marriage Protec- 921-2481, [email protected]; George Mitchell said each member receives free accidental death coverage on joining tion Amendment. Halcovage, director of Education Founda- the Knights, and other benefits as well, including a miscarriage benefit and or- A sampling of the Knights’ activities phan benefit.