Columbia November 2025

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Mission of Solidarity and Hope

Christ the King is depicted in a detail of a stained glass window at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y. The Church celebrates the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on the last Sunday of the liturgical year — this year Nov. 23.

K of C and CNEWA leaders visit the Holy Land to support communities affected by war.

By Columbia staff

Visible Signs of Devotion

Pope Leo receives the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors in audience during jubilee pilgrimage.

By Columbia staff

Breaking Barriers, Building Brotherhood

After making history in the NFL, LeRoy Jackson has forged a legacy through faith and service.

By Zoey Maraist

‘A Great Ride’

D-Day veteran Gordon Schottlander looks back on a century of epic events and everyday blessings.

Charity and Truth in the Public Square

In our contentious times, Catholics are called to engage opponents with civility in the common quest for truth.

By R.J. Snell

Knights On Ice

National Hockey League alumni game supported by Knights promotes charity and fraternity.

By Elisha Valladares-Cormier

Departments

3 For the greater glory of God

True thanksgiving is not a sentiment but a duty and discipline that deepens faith and fosters joy.

By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

4 Learning the faith, living the faith

At the heart of the Gospel, and of Blessed Michael McGivney’s founding vision, is the call to love Christ in the poor.

By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

6 Knights of Columbus News College Knights Urged To Be Ambassadors for Christ • Order Celebrates Golden Anniversary Seton Canonization • Relics of the Little Flower Make National Pilgrimage • Knights March for Life at State Capitols

8 Building the Domestic Church

A series of columns on family life, leadership and financial stewardship

26 Knights in Action

Reports from councils and assemblies, representing Faith in Action ON THE COVER Rays of light shine through the oculus of Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built in the fourth century at the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. This means that an applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church. kofc.org/join

Copyright © 2025 All rights reserved

The Heart of His Kingdom

A CENTURY AGO, amid the ruins of one world war and the foreboding of another, Pope Pius XI proposed a striking remedy for humanity’s unrest. In December 1925, he instituted a new feast — Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe — to be celebrated for the first time the following autumn, on Oct. 31, 1926. Echoing his first encyclical, written several years earlier, the Holy Father declared, “Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ” (Quas Primas, 1).

Pope Pius also cited his predecessor Leo XIII, who, when consecrating the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1899, proclaimed that Christ’s “empire includes not only Catholic nations, not only baptized persons … but also all those who are outside the Christian faith; so that truly the whole of mankind is subject to the power of Jesus Christ” (18; cf. Annum Sacrum, 3).

These declarations were not innovations but reaffirmations of truths firmly rooted in Scripture and sacred tradition. The prophets foretold the coming Prince of Peace, whose reign upon the throne of David would be “vast and forever peaceful” — a kingdom without end (Is 9:6-7, cf. Lk 1:32-33). Though Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom does not belong to this world,” he also taught his disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10). His reign is transcendent — “far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion” (Eph 1:21) — yet meant to transform this world, shaping hearts and societies according to divine truth. In that first encyclical, Pius XI lamented that, after the Great War, peace had been “only written into treaties. It was not received

into the hearts of men.” He warned that “true peace, the peace of Christ, is impossible unless we are willing and ready to accept the fundamental principles of Christianity, unless we are willing to observe the teachings and obey the law of Christ, both in public and private life” (Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio, 20; 47).

In the century since, the world has known no shortage of bloodshed — from global wars to conflicts still raging in our own day — along with growing polarization in the public square. Yet the remedy remains the same. Christ’s reign begins not through conquest but through conversion — when his truth governs the mind, his charity the heart, and his law the will. This is how Christ’s kingdom comes to earth, bringing his peace not only to persons and families, but also to nations and to the Church herself. Throughout this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Knights of Columbus — together with the whole Church — has looked to the source of that hope: the peace of Christ, whose Sacred Heart remains the sign and wellspring of divine mercy. This past spring, Pope Leo XIV began his pontificate by greeting the world from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica with the first words of the risen Lord: “Peace be with you all.” He spoke of “the peace of the risen Christ — a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering.” As the Church prepares to celebrate the feast of Christ the King, these words again remind us that the Lord’s reign advances not by force or decree, but by hearts converted — finding anew the peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ. B

Alton J. Pelowski, Editor

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Columbia

PUBLISHER

Knights of Columbus

SUPREME OFFICERS

Patrick E. Kelly

Supreme Knight

Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D.

Supreme Chaplain

Arthur L. Peters

Deputy Supreme Knight

John A. Marrella

Supreme Secretary

Ronald F. Schwarz

Supreme Treasurer

Anthony R. Picarello Jr.

Supreme Advocate

EDITORIAL

Alton J. Pelowski

Editor

Matthew Kirby

Editorial Director

Andrew J. Matt

Managing Editor

Elisha Valladares-Cormier

Senior Editor

Megan Stibley

Associate Editor

Paul Haring

Manager of Photography

Cecilia Engbert

Content Producer

Blessed Michael McGivney (1852-90) – Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Intercede for Us.

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The Grace of Gratitude

True thanksgiving is not a sentiment but a duty and discipline that deepens faith and fosters joy

By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

THANKSGIVING DAY in the United States is often marked by hectic travel, a large meal with family and friends, and the beginning of the frantic Christmas shopping season. But should there be more to it? How should we approach this holiday dedicated to giving thanks? One way is to take a closer look at the life-changing power of gratitude.

Gratitude is an often-overlooked virtue. It is not a passing emotion, but an intentional choice — an act of the will that has the power to transform our lives.

As a spiritual practice, gratitude is a habit of mind that helps us fully grasp the presence of God in our lives and the extraordinary gifts he has given to us. Rooted in humility, gratitude is the recognition that God’s blessings are based on his goodness to us and not upon our own merit. Through gratitude, Our Lord gives us “eyes to see and ears to hear” (Dt 29:3, cf. Prov 20:12, Mt 13:16). We see more clearly his magnificent, often hidden, action in our lives. We realize his great love for us and how he shapes us, encourages us and prepares us through the circumstances and seasons of our lives. This is especially true in times of difficulty — times when it is hardest to be grateful.

On a natural level, gratitude is the key to living a happier and healthier life. It brings about stronger relationships, better communication and healthier emotions. It takes us out of our narrow frame and allows us to see the world — and our place in it — with awe and wonder. There is a saying: “I never knew a grateful person who was unhappy, or an ungrateful person who was happy.” When we focus our minds and hearts on the gifts God has given us, our anxieties, petty resentments and negative emotions tend to fall away.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla once wrote to her husband, “The secret to happiness is to thank God for what he is sending us every day in his goodness.” Gratitude moves us

to generosity and even joy. What the saints knew is that gratitude leads us to holiness.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux told her sister Céline, “It is the spirit of gratitude which draws down upon us the overflow of God’s grace, for no sooner have we thanked him for one blessing than he hastens to send us 10 additional favors in return.”

Indeed, the Latin root for gratitude is gratia, or grace. And lack of gratitude seems to be the root cause of so many of the ills that bedevil our society today, including selfishness and envy.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists ingratitude among sins against the first commandment because it “fails or refuses to acknowledge” all that God has done for us (2094).

Rooted in pride, ingratitude blocks our spiritual progress. It leads to self-absorption and a sense of entitlement based on the false notion that others owe us something. In a letter to a brother priest, St. Ignatius of Loyola went so far as to say that ingratitude is the “cause, beginning and origin of all sins and misfortune.”

Conversely, the Mass is the highest form of thanks we can give to God. In its very essence, the Mass is a profound expression of our gratitude to the Lord for the healing power of his life, death and resurrection. It is no coincidence that the word “Eucharist” is derived from eucharistia , the Greek word for “thanksgiving.”

So as we approach Thanksgiving and the season of Advent, let us truly be thankful. But more than that, let us cultivate gratitude as a spiritual practice and an intentional and permanent part of our character. It will heal us and bring us the grace and peace of Christ.

“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:16-18).

Vivat Jesus!

Gratitude is the key to living a happier and healthier life. When we focus our minds and hearts on the gifts God has given us, our anxieties, petty resentments and negative emotions tend to fall away.

Pope Leo’s Summons to Charity

At the heart of the Gospel, and of Blessed Michael McGivney’s founding vision, is the call to love Christ in the poor

By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

TWO DAYS BEFORE receiving the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors in audience, Pope Leo XIV published Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You), an apostolic exhortation on love for the poor. During our meeting with the Holy Father, the supreme knight and I assured him that we would take his teaching to heart and share it widely throughout the Order.

As I read and reflected on the exhortation, I saw in the pope’s words the spiritual vision of Blessed Michael McGivney. Pope Leo does not mention Father McGivney by name, but he describes him to a T. At the same time, the Holy Father challenges us to live our principle of charity more robustly.

Like his predecessor Pope Francis, Pope Leo teaches that love for the poor and marginalized lies at the heart of our Catholic faith. God’s preferential love for the poor is inscribed throughout the pages of Scripture — and expressed fully in the person of Jesus Christ. St. Paul tells us that, for our sake, Christ “became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). The Gospels tell us that Jesus had nowhere to lay his head (cf. Mt 8:20). When Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor” (Lk 6:20), he was revealing himself to us. Indeed, Christ taught that whatever we do for those in need, we do for him (cf. Mt 25:40).

Second, Pope Leo shows that ancient Christian writers and the founders of religious communities firmly linked faith and worship to care for the poor. One cannot enter into Christ’s sacrifice worthily while ignoring those in need. To unite ourselves worthily with him in the Eucharist, we must love him in the poor. So too, Blessed Michael McGivney made charity the cornerstone of the Knights of Columbus. Care for widows and orphans, and love for the outcast, were hallmarks of his ministry and of our Order. By word and example, he taught that love for

the poor is at the heart of our faith. His care for those in need flowed seamlessly from preaching and celebrating the sacraments.

Third, Pope Leo speaks of different forms of poverty: the material poverty of those lacking life’s necessities; the poverty of the immigrant and outcast; and the spiritual poverty of those who possess worldly goods but lack faith. Father McGivney also recognized these forms of poverty: widows and orphans left without means; Irish and Catholic immigrants who were marginalized; a man condemned to death; and parishioners who were lukewarm in practicing their faith. Like the great saints, Father McGivney not only saw these forms of poverty — he addressed them. In founding the Knights of Columbus, he provided support for widows and orphans. He helped men practice their faith more ardently. In his charity, Father McGivney changed society — and even the course of history.

Fourth, Pope Leo reminds us that love for the poor means respecting their dignity and individuality. The poor are not statistics or problems to be solved. They are persons created in God’s image and endowed with dignity. They have names, faces, a personal history and destiny. Ever the parish priest, Father McGivney knew and loved the poor by name. For him, they were not objects of pity but subjects of love flowing from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In living our principle of charity, we are privileged to serve the poor — to know, respect and love them as persons. One final point. Loving the poor, Pope Leo teaches, is not a one-way street. “In giving, we receive.” From the poor we receive not only gratitude but also insight into the depth of God’s love for each person. In them, we meet Jesus. We are spiritually enriched. Indeed, Blessed Michael McGivney’s holiness is unthinkable apart from his love for those in need. So too for us! B

The

poor are not statistics or problems to be solved. They are persons created in God’s image and endowed with dignity. They have names, faces, a personal history and destiny.

by Paul Haring

Supreme Chaplain’s Challenge

A monthly reflection and practical challenge from Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

“You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Gospel for Nov. 16, Lk 21:17-19)

Jesus promised his faithful disciples many things — that he will always be with us, that we will receive if we ask, and that he would give us rest. He also promised that we would be hated and that we would be persecuted for the sake of his name. We must persevere and remain faithful despite the hardships we suffer for our faith. May we always put into action St. Paul’s admonition: “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” (Rom 12:12).

Challenge: This month, I challenge you to learn more about the lives of the saints by selecting one or more martyrs to read about and then reflecting on how you can imitate his or her perseverance and hope.

To view future challenges, visit kofc.org/monthlychallenge

Catholic Man of the Month

Blessed Giacomo Alberione (1884-1971)

IN THE FINAL HOURS of the Jubilee Year 1900, Giacomo Alberione, a young seminarian in northern Italy, prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. Kneeling in adoration, he received what he later described as “a particular light,” urging him “to do something for the Lord and for the people of the new century.” That night marked the beginning of one of the Church’s most innovative media apostolates.

Alberione grew up in a devout farming family in Italy’s Piedmont region and entered seminary at age 16. He was deeply moved by Pope Leo XIII’s jubilee call for spiritual renewal and evangelization, and he became inspired to proclaim the Gospel in the spirit of St. Paul — using the most modern means of communication.

Ordained in 1907 for the Diocese of Alba Pompeia, Father Alberione served as a parish priest, spiritual director for seminarians, and editor of the diocesan newspaper. In 1914, he founded the Pious Society of St. Paul, the first of 10 foundations he established. Known as

Liturgical Calendar

Nov. 1 All Saints

Nov. 2 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Nov. 4 St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop Nov. 9 The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Nov. 10 Pope Leo the Great, Doctor of the Church

Nov. 11 St. Martin of Tours, Bishop

Nov. 12 St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Nov. 13 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (USA)

Nov. 17 St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious Nov. 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Nov. 22 St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

Nov. 23 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Nov. 24 St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

the Pauline Family, they include five religious institutes, four unions, and an association of lay collaborators.

These communities, grounded in prayer with Scripture and devotion to the Eucharist and to St. Paul, expanded to every continent and developed apostolic initiatives in publishing, radio, film and television.

From the 1940s through the 1960s, Father Alberione traveled widely — including visits to the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines — to guide and encourage these works.

Father Giacomo Alberione died in Rome on Nov. 26, 1971, at age 87 — just hours after receiving a final blessing from Pope Paul VI. He was beatified in 2003. B

Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intention

Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.

College Knights Urged To Be Ambassadors for Christ

THE 60TH ANNUAL College Councils Conference welcomed nearly 200 college Knights to New Haven, Connecticut, Sept. 26-28, under the theme “Ambassadors for Christ.”

The event opened with an awards dinner Friday, Sept. 26, and continued through the weekend with daily Mass, panel discussions, guest lectures, and opportunities for prayer and fraternity.

In his keynote address, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly pointed to a growing crisis of isolation among young men, made worse by digital distractions — and the need for authentic, virtue-based friendship as its remedy.

“A true friend desires only what is best for you — he desires that you become the man that God has created you to be,” he said. “These are the friends who spur you on to acts of greatness.”

The supreme knight contrasted the example of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, canonized on Sept. 7, with the tragic case of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man in custody for the Sept. 10 assassination of civil dialogue advocate Charlie Kirk.

“Tyler Robinson didn’t have friends who encouraged him in virtue and holiness,” he said. “Nor did he have the most important friendship of all — friendship with Jesus Christ. But Pier Giorgio Frassati had both.”

He added, “Always be ready to help those who aren’t your friends — at least, not your friends yet. Do all you can to be there for the young men around you who are struggling in the darkness.”

One prime example of Christian fraternity is John Henry Cardinal Newman Council 15105 at the University of Houston, which received this year’s Outstanding College Council Award. Last year, the council achieved 700% of its recruitment goal by partnering with the Thomistic Institute to host lectures on Catholic theology and philosophy, and by organizing cookouts and Newman Center fish fries to build Catholic community. Members

Clockwise, from top: College Knights, including cadets and midshipmen from U.S. military academies, participate in a Eucharistic procession outside St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., Sept. 27. • Participants gather at the conclusion of the 60th College Councils Conference, Sept. 28. • Grand Knight David Bartlett, representing John Henry Cardinal Newman Council 15105 at the University of Houston, receives the first-place trophy for Outstanding College Council from Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly during the Sept. 26 banquet.

also led a daily rosary and took part in pro-life efforts, including 40 Days for Life and the ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program.

The next day, Supreme Secretary John Marrella addressed participants, noting that the conference theme was inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:20.

“The motivation for our sacrifice as ‘ambassadors for Christ’ must be the same motivation that led him to the Cross: love,” he said. “If we truly love our family members, friends, classmates and teammates, we will deliver through words and actions that message of reconciliation about which St. Paul wrote.”

That evening, students joined in a Eucharistic procession through New Haven, followed by a vigil Mass at St. Mary’s Church, the birthplace of the Knights of Columbus.

The conference concluded the next day with a call from Supreme Master Michael McCusker to follow the example of the Order’s founder.

“Blessed Michael McGivney, just like you, as a young man had already made that commitment,” he said. “You do not run, you do not abandon your friends, you do not abandon your faith — you do not abandon the truth that lives in your heart and your mind and your souls.” B

Order Celebrates Anniversary of Seton Canonization

NEARLY 2,000 PILGRIMS, including Knights and their families, packed the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland, on Sept. 14 for a Mass celebrating the 50th anniversary of the canonization of the shrine’s patroness — who, in 1975, became the first saint born in the United States.

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, the principal celebrant and homilist, was joined by Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and other concelebrants. More than a dozen Fourth Degree Knights provided an honor guard for the Sunday Mass, which coincided with the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The Mass was the culmination of a three-day celebration hosted by the shrine that featured concerts, lectures, museum tours, exhibits, and other family-friendly events honoring the life and legacy of Mother Seton. B

Knights March for Life at State Capitols Relics of the Little Flower Make National Pilgrimage

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS and their families were among the thousands of pro-life advocates who participated in marches at the state capitol buildings of Pennsylvania and Ohio — two of the country’s most prominent battleground states for abortion policies.

Pennsylvania Knights served as marshals, distributed K of C “Love Life, Choose Life” signs and helped set up an all-night Eucharistic adoration vigil Sept. 21 at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Harrisburg. Twelve days later, Ohio Knights were among the 5,000 demonstrators who converged on the Ohio Statehouse for the state’s March for Life on Oct. 3. Knights distributed signs and helped lead the march as marshals.

Two years ago, eight state marches were organized under the umbrella of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. This year, that number more than doubled to 19, with the final march of 2025 taking place in Lansing, Michigan, on Nov. 6. B

A Fourth Degree Knight stands guard as pilgrims venerate the major relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux at Sacred Heart Retreat House in Alhambra, Calif. A reliquary containing some of the saint’s bones is visiting more than 11 jurisdictions in the United States from Oct. 1 to Dec. 8 in celebration of the 100th year anniversary of her canonization and the Jubilee Year of Hope. Beginning with the tour’s opening Mass at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, Mich., on Oct. 1, Knights have provided honor guards for Masses, processions and times of veneration. Often referred to as the Little Flower, Thérèse entered the cloistered Carmelite monastery in Lisieux, France, at age 15 and is remembered for her “little way” to holiness: performing small acts with great love and confidence in God. Learn more at stthereseusa2025.com B

Failure Is Not an Option

By Daniel J. Cellucci

No one likes to fail. Men — especially husbands and fathers — definitely don’t like to fail. So don’t fail. Learn.

It might sound overly simplistic, but we can take “failure” off the table and treat the outcome — positive or negative — of anything we undertake as an opportunity to learn. Our identity is not fundamentally about what we do, but who we are — adopted sons and daughters of God. Looking at what we might consider a “failure” or a “success” as the next lesson the Lord has for us enables us to detach our tasks — and how well they go — from our sense of self-worth.

In our daily examination of conscience and especially in life’s major disappointments, we need to cultivate the discipline of discernment. Consider keeping some of the following questions at the top of your list: How did this outcome align with my expectations? Which of my expectations were fair or unfair? What can I learn about myself from this experience? What could I do differently the next time to foster a better outcome?

By intentionally choosing to learn, we can help motivate ourselves to embrace the autonomy and resilience God gives us rather than wallow as victims of circumstance or fate. Self-understanding, not self-pity, can help us become unstuck and move forward on the journey to become who the Lord calls us to be. B — Daniel J. Cellucci is the president and CEO of Catholic Leadership Institute. A Knight since 2021, he lives with wife and four children in Malvern, Pa.

MISSION OF THE FAMILY

Look to the End

Preparing for death means living with eternity on the horizon

By Father Joseph Illo

EACH NOVEMBER, the Church directs our thoughts to the four last things: death, judgment, heaven and hell. Death is an inevitable part of life — and of family life. As I often tell my Sunday congregation, “No one is leaving this church alive.” For husbands and fathers, spiritually preparing for your own last day brings grace to your family, both now and when the time comes.

I was a pilgrim at World Youth Day in France in 1997 when I lost my fear of death. At the tomb of St. Thérèse in Lisieux, I read an inscription from one of her final letters: “I am not dying; I’m entering into life.” At that moment, I smelled roses and knew with certitude that Thérèse was alive. Since then, by the grace of God, death has held no power over me.

Most people die as they live, so the time to become a saint is today — through frequent prayer and good works. At the end of life, however, there are a few final tasks to attend to. Make every effort to go to confession, receive anointing of the sick, and receive viaticum, your last holy Communion. A good confession at the end of life is even more important than anointing. If a priest tries to skip it, insist on it.

I once gave last rites to a non-practicing Catholic who was persuaded to receive the sacrament of reconciliation before meeting her Maker. A few days later, as her children prayed the rosary at her bedside, the ravages of age and illness melted from her face. She awoke from her coma looking like a young woman, made eye contact with each of her astonished

children, then fixed her radiant gaze on a point above them and breathed her last.

Death will come, the Lord tells us, “at an hour you do not expect” (Mt 24:44). How can we prepare?

First, pray the rosary daily — as we ask for the grace of a holy death with each Hail Mary. Second, make a good confession regularly — normally once a month. Finally, give your end-of-life directives to three trustworthy people, usually family members — asking that every effort be made to ensure you receive the last rites, including the apostolic pardon.

For those who are prepared, death — though it may be trying — is the beautiful moment when Our Lady and St. Joseph lead us back to God. B

FATHER

JOSEPH ILLO is pastor of Star of the Sea Parish in San Francisco and a member of St. Joseph the Worker Council 16734.

How can our family start investing consistently?

By Thom Duffy FAMILY FINANCE

For many families, the idea of investing to build long-term stability can feel daunting or out of reach. One approach that’s accessible and time-tested is systematic investing — a method of contributing regularly to an investment account through automatic deposits. You’re effectively “paying yourself first,” setting aside funds before they’re spent elsewhere and without requiring constant monitoring or willpower.

This strategy also takes advantage of dollar-cost averaging — buying more

FOR YOUR MARRIAGE

shares when prices are low and fewer when they’re high — which can help smooth out market ups and downs. Because it encourages long-term commitment, systematic investing helps investors stay the course, reducing the temptation to react emotionally to market swings. Historically, those who remain invested are more likely to benefit from the market’s strongest days and the power of compound returns — even if they began with modest amounts.

Importantly, systematic investing also provides flexibility across different income levels and as financial goals change: You can start small, increase contributions as income grows, or pause in case of an urgent need.

In short, systematic investing offers Catholic families a way to approach investing with discipline and peace

Spousal Sandpaper

Marriage, like anything of great value, takes faith, hope and a willingness to lose our rough edges

By Stephen Colella

IN THE SACRAMENT of matrimony, God gives each spouse a unique tool for sanctification. It is the gift of the other person — intentionally designed with differences. The very person who once seemed “perfect” may soon begin to feel like “sandpaper,” rubbing us the wrong way. But such abrasion, rather than a polarizing problem, is truly part of God’s plan to smooth our rough edges, humble us, and help us become the saints we are called to be.

The concept of “spousal sandpaper” is not meant to be derogatory but helpful. The differences, frustrations and conflicts that arise between husband and wife are not signs of failure or falling out of love. They are inevitable and must be accepted with much patience — and humor — as invitations to grow in love. These moments become real opportunities for deeper intimacy, communion and trust.

Knights are called to be men who lead with virtue, modeling how to love well. Small acts of love and forgiveness,

of mind. It’s a tried-and-true strategy that helps reduce the stress and risk of trying to time the market, while gradually building financial security for the years ahead.

For more information and resources, visit kofc.org/familyfinance B

— Thom Duffy is head of investment advisory services for the Knights of Columbus and a member of St. George Council 3928 in Guilford, Conn.

often hidden and unnoticed, are the very building blocks of a holy marriage. This means embracing the everyday call to holiness through the ordinary joys and struggles of married life — the daily opportunities to “die to self” and sacrifice for the good of one’s wife and family.

The more a husband includes God in his marriage — through prayer and reception of the sacraments — the more he will witness grace at work. Even the hardest edges can become instruments of transformation. In time, what once felt abrasive becomes part of the polish. B

STEPHEN COLELLA is cabinet secretary for Parish Life in the Archdiocese of Miami and a member of St. Mark Council 13045. He and his wife, Kari, co-founded Annunciation Ministries: Evangelization Through Marriage.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and members of the Knights of Columbus/CNEWA delegation visit Holy Family Children’s Home in Bethlehem. • Below, from left: Supreme Knight Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori meet in Jerusalem with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem. • Supreme Secretary John Marrella kneels before the altar of the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth — the site where the Angel Gabriel is believed to have appeared to the Virgin Mary. • Opposite page: Archbishop Lori celebrates Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Msgr. Peter Vaccari (left), president of CNEWA, concelebrated the liturgy.

MISSION of Solidarity and Hope

K of C and CNEWA leaders visit the Holy Land to support communities affected by war

By Columbia staff

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore were part of a delegation of Catholic leaders who traveled to Jerusalem, the Palestinian West Bank and Israel from Sept. 2-6, in an expression of solidarity with Catholics and all those suffering from the effects of the Israel-Hamas war.

Along with Supreme Secretary John Marrella, they joined Msgr. Peter Vaccari, president of Catholic Near East Welfare Association–Pontifical Mission, and other CNEWA representatives.

“The time of this pilgrimage was chosen precisely because there is need here in the Holy Land for people to come from elsewhere to show that they care, to show that we are in solidarity, that we want to learn and understand, and also that we want to help,” said Archbishop Lori, who also serves as vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The voyage coincided with the Jubilee Year 2025, which bears the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” It included meetings with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem; Father Francesco Ielpo, OFM, custos of the Holy Land; and Josef Blotz, grand hospitaller of the Order of Malta. The delegates also participated in liturgies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

“For us, it’s a mission of hope and of solidarity with those who are suffering,” said Supreme Knight Kelly during the visit. “I think it’s especially poignant that we’re here in the Jubilee Year of Hope.”

A REGION IN CRISIS

The most recent wave of conflict in the Holy Land began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants, operating out of Gaza, attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and

taking 250 hostages. Israel responded with airstrikes, artillery bombardments and armed incursions into Gaza.

As of Sept. 4, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that more than 64,000 people had been killed, estimating that half were women and children. Food shortages, lack of medical care, and widespread displacement have also resulted from the Israeli offensive.

Just a week before the Supreme Officers’ visit, on Aug. 26, Cardinal Pizzaballa and Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli government’s stated intention to occupy Gaza City and evacuate residents.

“We can only repeat what we have already said: There can be no future based on captivity, displacement of Palestinians or revenge,” the patriarchs wrote.

The following day, Pope Leo XIV echoed these sentiments after his Wednesday general audience.

“I implore that all the hostages be freed, that a permanent ceasefire be reached, that the safe entry of humanitarian aid be facilitated, and that humanitarian law be fully respected — especially the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibitions of collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of the population,” the pope said.

Sharing the concerns of the global Church, the K of C/ CNEWA delegation came bearing “a message of solidarity and hope to those who are suffering and in need in the great humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip,” said Archbishop Lori.

“We all come together — CNEWA, the Knights of Columbus, the bishops’ conference; we are, you might say, united in hope, but also united in charity.”

In connection with the visit, the Supreme Council made a $250,000 donation in support of CNEWA’s charitable efforts in the region, building on the Order’s longstanding partnership with the organization. The funds will assist the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and support a variety of humanitarian efforts: serving those in Gaza suffering from the war, providing food and medical care in Lebanon, and supporting charitable and pastoral initiatives in Jordan and Syria.

‘THE FACE OF CHRIST’

The delegation also visited several Christian communities in need, including Bethlehem’s Piccirillo Handicraft Center, where artisans with special needs craft products from olivewood; the St. Nicholas Home in Beit Jala, a predominantly Palestinian Christian town in the West Bank, where they met with elderly and infirm residents; and the Latin Patriarchate Seminary, also in Beit Jala.

Despite the conflict wracking the region, these Christian communities continue to be a sign of hope, Archbishop Lori said.

“Even in this time of struggle, when there is so much deprivation, so much injustice, so many challenges just to be the Church in this land made holy — there are heroic people doing tremendously important and beautiful ministries, and my admiration for them knows no bounds,” the supreme chaplain said.

At the Holy Family Children’s Home in Bethlehem — a refuge for abandoned orphans operated by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul — the supreme knight and supreme chaplain stopped to cradle some of the home’s infant residents during their tour of the facility.

“That mission of care really touched our hearts,” Supreme Knight Kelly said. “I think that’s one of the ways the Knights of Columbus can assist here — helping these courageous sisters who are doing that wonderful work. … Since our founding, we have assisted the vulnerable. Our hope [has been] to explore some of the areas where the Knights of Columbus can help.”

During the recording of an episode of Connections with Msgr. Peter, CNEWA’s video podcast hosted by Msgr. Vaccari, Supreme Secretary Marrella reflected on the connection between the charity displayed by Christian communities and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

“What has impressed me is how you and your staff are the presence of Christ,” the supreme secretary told Msgr. Vaccari. “You’re carrying that [presence] — along with the Daughters of Charity and other religious orders that we visited. They are the face of Christ here.”

Supreme Knight Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop Lori venerate the bedrock where Jesus is believed to have prayed before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, located in the Church of All Nations in Jerusalem.

by George Jaraiseh

PEACE ON THE HORIZON

On Sept. 24, Pope Leo XIV further expressed his concern for the region by calling all Catholics to pray the rosary daily for peace during the month of October. The request, made at a general audience, came the day after the Holy Father’s conversation with the pastor of Holy Family Church in Gaza City.

The Knights of Columbus responded with an invitation to members to take up the pope’s call, beginning with an Oct. 1 rosary livestreamed from St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, the birthplace of the Order.

Nine days later, just over a month after the K of C/ CNEWA delegation’s visit, a U.S.-brokered peace deal took effect on Oct. 10, followed by the Oct. 13 release of the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

The ceasefire brought renewed hope — tempered by ongoing clashes between the two sides, unanswered questions about governance of the Gaza Strip, and demands for the return of the bodies of deceased hostages.

“This is the day that we’ve been waiting for for two years,”

Joseph Hazboun, regional director for CNEWA–Pontifical Mission’s Jerusalem office, told OSV News in an interview — though he considered the deal a “ceasefire” rather than a true “peace agreement,” and predicted an exodus of Gaza’s remaining Christians.

Following the ceasefire, Hazboun noted, CNEWA would direct attention to the immediate needs of Gaza residents — including food, water and medical care.

Pope Leo — who days earlier announced that his first apostolic journey would be to Turkey and Lebanon, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 — likewise welcomed the development with words of encouragement and caution.

“As I have said before, peace is unarmed and disarming,” he told pilgrims gathered Oct. 11 in St. Peter’s Square for a prayer vigil and rosary for peace.

“[Peace] is not deterrence, but fraternity; it is not an ultimatum, but dialogue,” the Holy Father said, in the presence of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. “Peace will not come as the result of victories over the enemy, but as the fruit of sowing justice and courageous forgiveness.” B

Visible Signs of Devotion

Pope Leo receives the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors in audience during jubilee pilgrimage

By Columbia staff

Pope Leo XIV welcomed the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors for a private audience at the Vatican Oct. 6. In his address, delivered in the Sala del Concistoro of the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father emphasized the Order’s support for the Holy See and its charitable work, which he said brings “the compassion and love of the Lord into your local communities.” In particular, the pope commended the Knights’ “efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all of its stages, to assist victims of war and natural disasters, and also to support priestly vocations.”

The audience took place during the board’s pilgrimage to Rome in observance of the Jubilee Year of Hope. The jubilee, Pope Leo noted, has brought millions of pilgrims to Rome, where they have seen Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s iconic baldacchino and Chair of St. Peter monument in St. Peter’s Basilica. These 17th-century masterpieces were restored to their original beauty last year by the Fabbrica di San Pietro in monthslong projects underwritten by the Order. They now

Left: Pope Leo XIV speaks with Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore before his Oct. 6 audience with the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors.

• Opposite page: The Holy Father greets the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors in the Sala del Concistoro of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

stand, the Holy Father said, as “a visible sign of your continued devotion to the Vicar of Christ.”

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori also met privately with the Holy Father shortly before the audience to discuss K of C initiatives and their recent visit to the Holy Land. The supreme knight presented the pope with a bound copy of prayer petitions submitted during the Order’s novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus last June. He also presented a calligraphed copy of a resolution in honor of the new pontiff, adopted by the delegates to the 143rd Supreme Convention in August, promising “constant loyalty to Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Universal Church.”

“It was a wonderful meeting where we were able to express our thanks to him and what he means to us,” the supreme knight said afterward in an interview with Vatican News. “We were honored that he expressed his gratitude to the Knights of Columbus and the works that we do to support the Church, to support the Vatican, and to support human life.”

The previous day, the board gathered for Mass in Rome’s Church of the Gesù. They also visited the Gesù’s Sacred Heart Chapel and its renowned painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by 18th-century Italian artist Pompeo Batoni. The chapel and painting were restored earlier this year with support from the Knights of Columbus.

During the Mass, board members prayed: “For the intentions of our Holy Father, and for the prayer intentions received during the Orderwide novena for Pope Leo this past June, that the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus would bless and protect Pope Leo XIV, and in his mercy, kindly hear and answer these petitions.” B

Photo by Vatican Media

Address of Pope Leo XIV to the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors, Oct. 6

I AM PLEASED to welcome you this morning, all the members of the Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus as well as your families who accompany you this morning as part of your pilgrimage in this Jubilee Year of Hope. How important that word is in itself: hope.

Tens of millions of the faithful have likewise come to Rome in this Holy Year to visit the tombs of the Apostles, walk through the Holy Doors, to be strengthened in their faith. One of the pieces of art in the Vatican that they undoubtedly see when they go through the Holy Door and enter the Basilica is the baldacchino of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which now shines forth in all of its original beauty after the first comprehensive restoration in its history. Another, in the apse of the Basilica, is Bernini’s beautiful bronze monument protecting the Cathedra of Saint Peter, which was renewed at the same time. These masterpieces help all who look upon them to contemplate two of the principal tenets of our faith: the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the Pope as the Successor of Peter who unites and guides the Church.

I would like to express profound gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for your generosity in making these projects

possible. They are a visible sign of your continued devotion to the Vicar of Christ. Throughout its history, the Order has supported the charitable work of the Roman Pontiff in a variety of ways, including through the Vicarius Christi Fund, which allows him to express solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable throughout the world.

Through a variety of initiatives undertaken by local councils, you and your brother Knights also seek to bring the compassion and love of the Lord into your local communities, including through your efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all of its stages, to assist victims of war and natural disasters and also to support priestly vocations. For these concrete actions, as well as for your daily prayers and sacrifices for the good of all God’s people, I express sincerely my warm appreciation.

Dear brothers and sisters, I wish you a fruitful pilgrimage and pray that your time in Rome, in the Eternal City will nourish your faith, will confirm you in hope, and deepen your love for the Church. In this way, may you be strengthened to continue the worthy mission begun by your noble founder.

With these sentiments, I entrust all of you to the intercession of Our Lady, Mary, Mother of the Church, and also of Blessed Michael McGivney, and I gladly impart my blessing to each and every one of you, your families and loved ones. Thank you very much. B

BREAKING BARRIERS, BUILDING BROTHERHOOD

After making history in the NFL, LeRoy Jackson has forged a legacy through faith and service

By Zoey Maraist

One of LeRoy Jackson’s most memorable birthdays came on Dec. 8, 1962, when the rookie Washington Redskins running back scored on an 85-yard touchdown reception against the Baltimore Colts. At just 23, Jackson was already known for his exceptional speed; the team’s media guide called him the “fastest Redskin player of all time,” noting he had run the 100-yard dash in 9.4 seconds and could consistently do so in 9.5. A couple months earlier, in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, he made NFL history as the first Black player to take the field for the Redskins — known today as the Commanders.

Decades later, in the mid-1990s, Jackson was recognized in an entirely different setting. By then, he had been a member of Immaculate Conception Shrine Council 4944 in

Washington, D.C., for more than 15 years and was helping to mentor a new Knight named Arthur Robinson — showing him how to participate in meetings and assist with charitable events such as their neighborhood free-throw contest. Robinson would go on to serve multiple terms as grand knight, but at the time, he had no idea of Jackson’s past.

“You know who that is?” Robinson’s brother-in-law asked one day, gesturing at Jackson. “That’s the one who played with the Redskins.”

At first, Robinson thought he was joking. “I actually saw him play back in the ’60s,” he said.

Today, at age 85, Jackson is still known as a team player — as a barrier-breaking athlete, a faithful Knight, and a daily presence at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the

Immaculate Conception, where he works as a security guard.

“He pioneered the way,” Robinson affirmed. “He’s a very prime example of what a Knight should be.”

PLAYING BALL

Though a longtime Washingtonian, Jackson grew up in Chicago Heights, Illinois, in a family of steelworkers. As a child, he loved watching the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals). A track and football standout in high school, Jackson earned All-American honors in both sports at Western Illinois University, where a new football coach helped the team excel.

“Coach Lou Saban started recruiting from all parts of Illinois and built a team around two or three players,” Jackson recalled. “We became a top, great football team.” (Saban would later coach several NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills.)

Jackson’s college career culminated with the College AllStar Game, where top seniors faced off against the reigning NFL champions. In 1962, that was the Green Bay Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi, a Fourth Degree Knight.

“It was a big, big experience, because you got to meet some of the best players in the United States, and you felt like you were one of them,” Jackson recalled. Though the Packers won

42-20, the All-Stars put up a good fight. “They didn’t expect that much out of us,” Jackson said, “but they definitely found out once we got on the field.”

Jackson had been selected in the first round of the 1962 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. “I didn’t think I’d be drafted by a team that good — and not that high in the draft,” he recalled. But a few months later, he and fellow running back Bobby Mitchell were traded to Washington — then the southernmost team in the league and the last to integrate, due to the refusal of team owner George Preston Marshall.

“It was kind of a shock,” Jackson said. “I was leery about that trade.”

The Redskins only began accepting Black players after pressure from the Kennedy administration, which barred discrimination on federal land — including the site of the team’s new stadium.

Still, Jackson kept his focus. “As long as you go out and get your job done, they were all fine with you,” he said of his teammates.

Jackson, Mitchell and guard John Nisby — all African American — officially integrated the Redskins when they played in the 1962 season opener in Dallas. Of the three, Jackson was the first on the field: The Redskins lost the coin toss, and he was part of the kickoff team.

“My legacy to the NFL will be that I was the first Black guy to play for the Washington Redskins,” Jackson said.

Mitchell would go on to play six seasons in Washington and be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On the field, Mitchell was all business, Jackson recalled, but otherwise he was down-to-earth.

“When you stepped on the field with Bobby, you better be ready to play ball — or else you were going to hear it when you got in the huddle,” he said. “Off the field, he was just a regular guy. I’ll tell you something else most people don’t know — he loved to dance. And he was a real good dancer, too.”

Jackson was abruptly cut from the team in 1963. Saban, now coaching the Buffalo Bills, encouraged him to try playing in Buffalo or in the Canadian Football League — but Jackson’s heart was no longer in the game. That birthday touchdown would remain the only one of his career.

“It was a hard experience, being cut,” Jackson said. “I felt let down.”

JOINING NEW TEAMS

Fortunately, Jackson had already built a new foundation. The year before his release, he had married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy, and she helped him move forward.

LeRoy Jackson is pictured during his senior year at Western Illinois University, where he earned All-American honors and was acclaimed as the nation’s fastest back.

“My wife said, ‘Don’t let it get to you. Just take it in stride — things work out on their own,’” he recalled. “So, I did what she said.”

In 1964, Jackson became a bus driver, a job he held for 30 years. “You got to meet all kinds of people — from Embassy Row down to the housekeeping workers,” he said.

Jackson and Dorothy had two children, Mia and LeRoy III, and informally adopted a daughter, Rosita. Jackson also had an older son, Rodney, from a previous relationship. It was Dorothy who introduced him to Catholicism. “When we moved here to D.C., we went about checking different churches,” he said. “My wife met a priest, and I guess he made a good impression on us. We both agreed we’d become Catholics.”

Though his football career was behind him, Jackson stayed involved in athletics — playing intramurals and coaching basketball for the Catholic Youth Organization for about 16 years. “I enjoyed being around young men, trying to teach them some skills and point them in the right direction,” he said.

His daughter Mia said he became a father figure to many of his players. “It doesn’t matter whose child it was,” she said. “If they needed help, he would help.”

Jackson joined the Knights of Columbus in 1979 at the invitation of Ben Thompson, Mia’s godfather. He has been active in Immaculate Conception Shrine Council 4944 ever since.

“It’s a great organization because you work with your brother Knights to help people in your community,” Jackson said.

Reginald Tobias, a longtime member and current grand knight of Council 4944, fondly recalled going to preseason football games with Jackson and a priest friend.

“I told him, ‘Mr. Jackson, you’ve got to tell these people you used to play with the Redskins,’”

Tobias said. “And he would laugh and say, ‘Well, that’s in the past, you know.’”

Jackson is especially grateful for the fraternal bond he shares with Knights throughout the Order.

“You are always running into a brother Knight somewhere in your life,” he said. “And when I do, I feel better for the rest of the day.”

After retiring from public transportation, Jackson took a job as a security guard at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Most days, he arrives at 5 a.m. to turn off the alarms and turn on the lights in the largest Catholic church in North America. He greets pilgrims from around the world and makes a point to pray the rosary and read Scripture daily.

“It makes you feel better,” he said.

Over the years, Jackson has seen both triumph and loss. One of the hardest times came when he lost both his wife and his son LeRoy in the same year. More recently, he nearly died on the operating table during surgery.

“I saw a bright light. It got brighter and brighter — and then all of a sudden, it started to fade,” he recounted. “My doctor told me they had to resuscitate me. I was dead for about 45 seconds — close to a minute.”

Through it all, Jackson says, his faith has sustained him.

“I put a lot of trust in the Lord,” he said. “He’s still bringing me through.” B

ZOEY MARAIST writes from northern Virginia.

‘A GREAT RIDE’

D-Day veteran Gordon Schottlander looks back on a century of epic events and everyday blessings

Gordon Schottlander was born on Jan. 10, 1925, in London, England, the only child of Solomon “Sam” and Violet Schottlander. Sam, a veteran of World War I, rarely spoke about his military service. “After my father’s death in 1975,” Gordon recalled, “we found his military medals for bravery but no record of how he got them.”

His own four sons then began to ask about his service during World War II, telling him, “Dad, you can’t leave us in that same position.”

“So I started talking, and talking, and talking,” Gordon said.

A past grand knight of St. Gabriel’s Parish Council 10061 in Burlington, Ontario, Schottlander celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year, on Jan. 10. Later that month, he spoke with Columbia about his eventful life, including his experience at Normandy on June 6, 1944. This personal account is adapted from that conversation and supplemented with details from an interview conducted in March for the Oral History Project at Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto.

Gordon Schottlander is pictured after enlisting in the British army at age 17. World War II had begun two years earlier, in September 1939.

In 1938, my father decided that if there’s a war, then London’s going to be bombed. So we moved west of the city and were never in the war zone. Two years later, my boarding school in Brighton was closed because the Germans had invaded France and were 20 miles off the southern coast of England. So, at age 15, I got home from school earlier than usual, and that was the end of my formal education.

At that time, we were all listening to Churchill. We thought he was wonderful — most Brits did — because he was standing up to the Germans. At age 17, I joined the British army. I knew I was going to be called up, and I didn’t want to be under the ocean, on the ocean, or up in the air. If you volunteered, you could choose the service you wanted to go into, so that’s what I did. My parents didn’t want me to, but they understood.

I was born Jewish, but the army had to change that on my paperwork; they said if the Germans ever caught me, they’d probably kill me. So I became a member of the Church of England on paper.

Then, I was attached to the Royal Berkshire Regiment, in Reading, and I trained in Hull. It was quick because they wanted people in the service as fast as they could. It was hard — they really put you through it — but I was young and fit.

From there, I was assigned to the Signal Corps and sent to the Isle of Man for training in Morse code and flags. We did some training with landing craft in Wales and commando training in Scotland. I did officer training too, which was very hard, and became a second lieutenant.

Finally, I was sent out to the Mareth Line [in Tunisia] to help stop the [German-Italian] invasion of North Africa. I was there helping with signals for nine months and then sent back to Reading.

ACROSS THE CHANNEL

Two days before D-Day, I was taken at short notice and shipped down to Portsmouth, on the southern coast. It was rough and cold and wet, with rain and fog, and we all thought the invasion would be called off — but they decided to go ahead.

I was part of the 5th Royal Berkshire Battalion, attached to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. I was a young officer with 30 men under me, and a lot of them were seasick; fortunately, I wasn’t.

We went across the English Channel at night in a landing craft. We had a pastor on board, and he said a prayer for us all. Personally, I felt peaceful — calm. With 30 men to look after, that was a blessing, because my attention was on them rather than on myself.

Canadian soldiers storm Juno Beach in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Second Lieutenant Gordon Schottlander landed nearby as an officer in charge of 30 men with the British 5th Royal Berkshire Battalion, attached to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

One of the things I really remember was the noise — the planes going over, hundreds of planes — but most of it came from the shells of the big ships a few miles back. And of course, when we got close to the shore, the bullets started hitting the boat. We knew we were going to be under fire, and that’s exactly what happened.

We landed at Juno Beach about 6:35 a.m. The door went down, the bullets flew, and we ran. We pushed our way through waist-deep water as fast as we could and got onto the beach. I could feel the bullets whistling by me, and some of my friends went down, but we weren’t allowed to help them — the medics would. You had to keep going; if you stopped, you became a target.

Once we got on the beach and over a little hill, we were finally under cover. We lost about eight men, killed, and some were injured; I think almost half made it onto the beach. It was a tough time.

We didn’t know the master plan, of course, and I knew even less because I came on late. The mission was to get on the beach. But then we were stuck there — we couldn’t move. So we made tea and cigarettes; you know Brits — that’s what we did. We were there for four or five hours until, I think, the Americans took out most of the German guns.

Later, I was ordered to join my regiment. There were a lot of other troops around: Canadian, British, American. The locals were pleased to see us — they brought us eggs, wine, hot meals — and we flirted with the girls. We had liberated them; they were very grateful.

FROM CAEN TO CANADA

The capture of Caen, 15 miles south of Juno Beach, was the next objective. Halfway there, I got injured. A mortar bomb landed about 10 or 12 feet away, killing three other men beside me. Shrapnel hit my legs and knees, and I got knocked out. When I woke up, I wondered why I had water in my boots — and of course, it was blood.

The medics came in, dressed my wounds, and sent me back to England. That was the end of the war for me, though I would stay in the army several more years. First, I was sent to a hospital near Reading. I remember one nurse made me laugh so hard that I burst my stitches. The doctor was very angry.

I had metal all the way down my legs. Little pieces came out for years afterward.

I was sent to recover in Bangor, Northern Ireland — and that’s where I met my wife. I was assigned to Hollywood Barracks, the Royal Ulster Rifles regiment. One of our duties as young officers was to escort the families of senior officers who came to visit. At a big party, a friend and I were standing at the door when a blonde and a brunette stepped out of a car. I said, “I’ll take the blonde.” Her name was Colleen. We met that night and never parted for 65 years.

On VE Day — May 8, 1945 — Colleen and I went to downtown Belfast and celebrated with everyone. The following year, we were married there.

Still in the army, from 1947 to 1950 I was sent to the Royal West African Frontier Force, stationed in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

We came back to England in 1950, and I was looking for work. So many people were leaving the army that jobs were scarce. We were living with Colleen’s parents in Plymouth, and one day I got off a bus in the pouring rain and ducked into a doorway. I saw pictures of Niagara Falls and Toronto, so I popped inside — it was Canada House — picked up some brochures, and later threw them on the bed and said, “Let’s go to Canada.” And that’s exactly what we did. If I’d stepped into Australia House, we would have moved to Australia!

We stayed briefly in Windsor, Ontario, then Hamilton, where our first son was born in 1952. The next year we moved to Burlington. Three more boys followed. I was an only child, but I have a big family now — with lots of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

FAITH, FAMILY, FRATERNITY

Colleen came from a Catholic family, but I felt that to become Catholic I had to feel it from the heart. With the help of a very fine priest — and my wife — I entered the Church in 1968. I was very happy doing so, and I’ve been happy ever since.

I joined the Knights of Columbus in 1997, in Surrey,

British Columbia, when I ran a business on the west coast for a time. I was impressed by the work the Order was doing and joined the local council. The Knights, to me, have been a wonderful organization. I’ve had so many great friends, and we’ve done so much in the community. It’s been very good for me — spiritually, emotionally, every way.

Living a good life, I believe, means doing your best for people and hurting nobody. You need to be aware of what’s going on around you, make good decisions, and be part of a family — your own family of course, but the Knights have also been a family to me since the day I joined. I’m grateful to all my brother Knights who have given me so much in my life. There’s no better organization in the world.

I don’t know why I’ve lived to 100. My wife died in her 80s. Some people live long, some don’t. I think being positive, enjoying things, and communicating with people helps. But part of it’s health; sometimes you’re lucky, sometimes you’re not. That’s the way it is.

It’s up to the good Lord to decide when he wants you to go, and you go. I don’t want to go lying down thinking, “Oh, I wish I’d done that.” I want to go out saying, “Wow, that was a great ride!” B

CHARITY AND TRUTH in the Public Square

In our contentious times, Catholics are called to engage opponents with civility in the common quest for truth

By R.J. Snell

While the prophet Jeremiah did not have the United States — or any modern nation — in mind, his description of calls for “‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jer 6:14) aptly illustrates our current political and cultural discourse. Many decry the rancor and polarization in public life, to no avail, prompting ever more fervent demands for peace.

Catholics are full and ordinary citizens, with duties and rights like every other. Consequently, they have political tastes and views, as well as the usual disagreements — all of which is perfectly normal and not a problem. Many political issues allow reasonable people of good will to see things differently without revealing themselves as ignorant or unfaithful. Zoning laws, school funding and tariffs are matters the Church has not dogmatically defined and which natural law leaves unspecified, so differing viewpoints are expected without scandal.

Men and women in the pews can and do disagree on many issues while remaining loyal both to their faith and their country. Patriotism is a virtue, and patriots often disagree — just ask James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. Or Charles Carroll, the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence, who argued for independence from Britain in the Maryland Gazette under the pseudonym “First Citizen.” We

are patriotic citizens, proudly so, and a free and self-governed people deliberate, debate and disagree — as they should.

Of course, some disagreements are fundamental, with far more at stake than tax policy. Debates about abortion, euthanasia or the definition of marriage do not allow faithful Catholics to compromise on moral truth or the clear teachings of the Church. An essential task, then, is to know the difference and respond accordingly. Is this a matter of preference? Does this debate allow for legitimate diversity of opinion? We must take responsibility for forming our consciences well, guided by the Church’s teaching.

Even on fundamental issues, Catholics are called to be sowers of peace rather than enmity. After all, we know we are not citizens solely of the city of man; our first and primary citizenship is in the city of God, the Church. Politics matter — sometimes a great deal, involving life and death, right and wrong — but politics are not ultimate, for eternity awaits us long after the next election cycle, let alone the next news cycle. We take our rightful place in public debate but with a freedom not available to the unbeliever, trusting in a time beyond this one‚ in a King beyond all rulers. We vote and debate with a freedom — and responsibility — that others may lack, especially those who do not hope in God. Politics matter, but they are never first.

CHARITY AND UNITY

Because we live in hope and faith, Catholics are free to be charitable — even toward political opponents. In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola offered invaluable advice that is especially relevant today: “It should be presupposed that every good Christian ought to be more eager to put a good interpretation on a neighbor’s statement than to condemn it. Further, if one cannot interpret it favorably, one should ask how the other means it. If that meaning is wrong, one should correct the person with love.”

This counsel is nearly the opposite of today’s political chatter, especially online, where small disagreements are mischaracterized, catastrophized and attacked — often without the slightest effort to understand, let alone to interpret in the best possible light. But this is not charitable, nor does it reflect the freedom, hope and good cheer proper to the children of God.

The Catholic tradition holds to the natural law, affirming that human beings can access the basic principles of morality through reason alone. This provides a basis for unity despite disagreement. For instance, we all know that human life is to be preserved. It is reasonable to conclude that traffic laws help protect life, but whether the speed limit should be 65 or 70 on a particular stretch of highway is a prudential judgment — a question on which reasonable people may disagree. Obviously, the Church has no fixed opinion on speed limits, so why should you or I? But there are other natural law issues on which the Church has always spoken clearly — for example, the intrinsic evil of abortion. And this raises an important question: In a society where grave violations of natural law are permitted or even celebrated, how should Catholics conduct themselves in political discussions?

Here again, charity remains essential. People in error about serious moral matters need our prayers, which truly help them. And while we must not treat all perspectives as morally equal, we can still acknowledge that most people — like us — are attempting to state the truth as they understand it. They may be wrong, and even gravely so, but still be acting in good conscience. Two perspectives can, at times, both carry partial truths. And one person’s grasp of the truth does not render it unavailable to others.

Even on fundamental issues, Catholics are called to be sowers of peace rather than enmity. … We offer that truth best when we do so with mercy and humility, not condemnation.

This is not relativism; moral truth exists and can be known and defended. But we offer that truth best when we do so with mercy and humility, not condemnation. If we remember that others, like us, are created as rational seekers of truth, we can see them not as enemies, but as fellow pilgrims on a common quest.

BOUND IN BROTHERHOOD

Many matters allow for good people — all seeking the truth, all trying to be reasonable — to arrive at different conclusions. Unity with difference is not always a contradiction, and we need not fear it. We certainly need not be outraged by it. Calmness and charity in such matters can go a long way toward modeling good disagreement.

This posture fosters fraternity. When we recall that others are also patriotic, when we interpret them charitably, when we remember that they are united with us in seeking truth, it becomes easier to see them as neighbors — even friends and brothers. They have political views that matter to them; so do we. They have families, insurance premiums and property taxes; so do we. They have fears and dreams for their children — and so do we.

Perhaps they differ from us about taxes or health insurance, but they remain fellow citizens, fellow members of humanity, and perhaps redeemed by the same waters of baptism. We might oppose them at the ballot box or in the comments section, but we are still called to care for them, shoulder their burdens, seek the common good, and live in solidarity with all. In that view, cheap rhetorical points seem a hollow victory.

As Knights of Columbus in particular, we can draw on the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism in our dealings with others, whether our disputes are large or small. We cannot compromise on essentials, but firm resolution need not be unkind.

We must also be humble. Some truths we hold not because of our own brilliance, but because we were taught them by our mother, the Church. Not everyone has that good fortune. “There but for the grace of God go I” is more than a cliché; it’s a call to modesty about ourselves, and to patience and generosity for others.

And let us not forget: Those others, whatever their politics, are persons with an eternal destiny. If we gain the whole world but lose their souls — or risk our own — by seeking to “win” an argument, what does it profit?

Peace is in short supply, and bitterness often pervades public debate. Still, we would do well to remember that not every disagreement is a fundamental one — and even when it is, we are still bound by Christ’s command: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44). As Catholics and as Knights, we can begin by doing just that. B

R.J. SNELL is director of academic programs and editor-in-chief of Public Discourse for the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, N.J. A member of St. John the Evangelist Council 10024 in nearby Lambertville, he and his family reside in the Princeton area.

KNIGHTS ON ICE

National Hockey League alumni game supported by Knights promotes charity and fraternity

By Elisha Valladares-Cormier

Flying up the left wing, John Scott — an eight-year NHL veteran and MVP of the 2016 NHL All-Star Game — took a pass from a Montreal Canadiens teammate and fired the puck past the Detroit Red Wings’ goalkeeper. Montreal 5, Detroit 2.

The crowd roared, horns blared, and Scott’s teammates shared congratulations. But no Stanley Cup was at stake, nor were players vying for a big contract. Instead, the two squads — rosters filled with alumni from their storied franchises — were facing off to raise funds for children with disabilities.

The GH Pastor Foundation hosted its third annual NHL Alumni Game last March at Big Boy Arena in Fraser, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. The Canadiens would go on to win 9-6, but the real victory couldn’t

be found on the scoreboard. The game — organized with support from George F. Monaghan Council 2690 in Livonia and several other Knights on and off the ice — raised about $35,000 to benefit sled hockey programs for youth with disabilities and other organizations that support families with children in need.

John Pastor, a member of Council 2690 whose family established the GH Pastor Foundation, helped plan the event, and additional council members volunteered during the game as ushers and clubhouse attendants. Angelo D’Amico, who spent six years as an NHL linesman, and John Horrigan, an Emmy-winning announcer for the Boston Bruins Alumni, are Knights who reprised their professional hockey roles for the game.

Opposite page: John Scott (right), an eight-year veteran of the NHL, takes a shot on goal during the 2025 NHL Alumni Game organized by the GH Pastor Foundation with support from local Knights. • Above, from left: Angelo D’Amico (second from left), a former NHL linesman and a Knight in Ontario, stands with members of George F. Monaghan Council 2690 in Livonia, Mich., who volunteered at the alumni game.• Alex Foster (left), wearing a replica jersey of his father, former Detroit Red Wing Dwight Foster, greets John Scott after the alumni game. A former professional hockey player himself, Alex joined the Red Wings alumni team in honor of his father, who died in January.

For D’Amico — a member of St. Christopher Council 13272 in Mississauga, Ontario, and the son of Hockey Hall of Fame linesman John D’Amico — the game was a clear expression of what it means to be a Knight.

“Blessed Michael McGivney inspires us to make a difference,” D’Amico said. “This game is not in my community, but I traveled here to make a difference with fellow Knights. That’s what this brotherhood is all about.”

Pastor explained that the GH Pastor Foundation was established in 2023 to give back to organizations that had supported children facing serious medical challenges — including his own son, who had a brain tumor; a niece with epilepsy; and the son of a business partner, who was diagnosed with autism and trisomy 21, commonly known as Down syndrome.

Hockey had long been a shared passion among the families, so the foundation explored the idea of a charity game featuring former NHL stars, with proceeds benefiting children with disabilities and serious health conditions. One of the foundation’s long-term goals, Pastor explained, is to create a residential facility for people with trisomy 21 who no longer qualify for government assistance.

“That’s the value of hockey,” he said. “The reason we’re doing this event is for our love of the game and to raise money for the different charities. And it’s what the Knights of Columbus is about: giving back to our community, helping people who don’t have the same things we do.”

The foundation launched its NHL Alumni Series in its first year, with Red Wings alumni taking on a different NHL team’s alumni squad each year; more than $100,000 has since been donated to children’s charities. The event also features a sled hockey competition between Canadian and U.S. teams that include Paralympians and other athletes with disabilities.

The 2024 sled hockey game saw Vladimir Konstantinov, a Red Wings legend and Stanley Cup champion, return to

the ice for the first time since 1997, when a car crash left him partially paralyzed and ended his career. This year, he appeared as an honorary captain for Team USA.

Cliff Liptak, grand knight of Council 2690, said the sled hockey game was a key reason the council chose to get involved.

“The Knights of Columbus has always supported programs for kids with disabilities, so this is something we have a big interest in,” Liptak said. “We want to make sure they are supported and have access to the things they’re interested in.”

Though not its primary intention, this year’s game was also an opportunity to bring athletes and fans from Canada and the United States together, following tensions surrounding the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament the month prior.

“One thing we felt was that hockey unites us as one, and it gave us an opportunity to celebrate why we’re there — for the greater good,” D’Amico said. “If individuals from two different countries can combine their efforts to make a difference in someone’s life through faith and charity, it’s a win.”

Scott, who was born in Alberta and now lives in Michigan, agreed that camaraderie and charity go hand in hand. “We’re different players with different teams coming together for a common goal to achieve some good,” he said.

Several Knights reflected on the long-term impact they hoped the event would have — long after the final buzzer.

“We hope to continue to support these families, make their lives comfortable and give them quality of life,” said Pat Maher, a past grand knight of Council 2690. “Blessed Michael McGivney was all about family, community, fraternity, charity … and that’s what today is all about: seeing families get together, raising money for charity and supporting each other.” B

ELISHA VALLADARES-CORMIER is senior editor of Columbia and a member of Sandusky (Ohio) Council 546.

Members of Father Vincent S. Sikora Council 7992 in Burke, Virginia, display their council banner in front of a chapel in Bangang, a village in western Cameroon, during a mission trip with the nonprofit Viridiane’s Hope for Children’s Health & Education. In addition to helping complete the chapel’s interior and exterior walls and building an altar, the Knights drilled two drinking water wells in Bangang and Babouantou, planted crops, and assisted with other projects.

GLORY TO THE SACRED HEART

Father Aloysius Nolan Council 10655 in Kinkora, Ontario, hosted a Holy Hour with the Order’s pilgrim icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Patrick Church. Father Jude Ogbenna, associate pastor and a brother Knight, led Eucharistic adoration.

FATHER MCGIVNEY, PRAY FOR US!

Knights from Banal na Sakramento Council 8753 in Quezon City, Luzon North, attended Mass at Banal na Sakramento Church to celebrate the conclusion of the council’s novena to Blessed Michael McGivney. An image of Father McGivney was on display during the Mass.

MONASTERY MOMENTS

St. Patrick Council 11109 in Independence, Ore., sponsored a pilgrimage of 25 youth from St. Patrick Church’s confirmation program to Mount Angel Abbey Church in St. Benedict. Many Knights joined the pilgrimage and Benedictine Father Andrew Schwenke

spoke to students about the history of the Benedictine order, the process of entering religious life, and his own vocation story.

FONT OF EVERY BLESSING

Perham (Minn.) Council 1773 donated $300 — proceeds from a pancake breakfast — to cover half the cost of materials to build a second baptismal font at St. Henry Church. Council member Mark Halbakken built the font, which was placed in the parish chapel to allow for more flexibility in scheduling baptisms around Mass times.

FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION

St. Patrick Council 11745 in Anchorage, Alaska, worked with Father Leo Walsh, pastor of St. Patrick Parish and council chaplain, to revive the First Friday Devotion at the parish — inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Dilexit Nos ( He Loved Us ). After each month’s Mass, attendees pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart, followed by a potluck organized by the council.

Faith

HOLY FAMILY, PRAY FOR US

Holy Family Council 6099 in Chattanooga, Tenn., gave small statues of the Holy Family to more than 40 young people who received the sacrament of confirmation at St. Stephen Church. Since 2020, Council 6099 and its associated women’s group have provided sacramental gifts to parishioners receiving first Communion and confirmation.

Fourth Degree Knights from Marquette Assembly 1197 in Green Bay, Wis., provide an honor guard as they lead a procession of the Jubilee Mission Cross into the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion for a Mass celebrating the Jubilee 2025. After Mass, Knights carried the cross for a 1.7-mile procession throughout the shrine grounds.

Family

Lope Suyom of St. Peter the Apostle Council 14648 in Telegrafo, Visayas, cuts grass at Canmogsay Elementary School as part of the country’s annual Brigada Eskwela campaign — an effort to prepare schools before the start of the new school year. Fifteen Knights landscaped the school grounds over three hours.

A TON OF SUPPORT

Our Lady of Peace Council 61 in Stratford, Conn., received more than 1,000 pounds of food during its monthly Food for Families collection. The donated food was given to the food pantry at Blessed Sacrament Church, which distributes more than 700 bags of food each week. Since March 2023, Council 61 has collected an average of 500 pounds of food for the pantry each month.

THROWING FOR A CAUSE

St. Joseph the Worker Council 10921 in Orefield, Pa., and Queenship of Mary Council 4050 in Whitehall jointly hosted their annual cornhole fundraiser tournament at Egypt Memorial Park. The event raised more than $4,000 and collected 10 boxes of food for the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, which serves about 1,000 people each month.

A+ SCHOLARS

Good Samaritan Council 14181 in Ellijay, Ga., awarded seven Gilmer High School graduates each with a $1,000 scholarship. The program, named in honor of longtime Knight Ed Elie, who died in 2019, has supported students for five years.

SENDING A BROTHER HOME

When a Nigerian-born member of Immaculate Conception Council 6245 in Annandale, N.J., died, the council contributed $5,000, with support from individual donations, to help his wife send his body to Nigeria for burial in his family cemetery.

PARISH FAMILY PICNIC

Knights from Blackstone (Mass.) Millville-St. André Bessette Council 15829 prepared food and served more than 100 people during Divine Mercy Parish’s annual picnic.

COLD STORAGE, WARM HEARTS

St. William Council 10757 in Naples, Fla., donated $5,600 to an outreach center for people experiencing homelessness, operated by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Venice, to purchase a new freezer after the previous one failed. The donation came from proceeds of the council’s monthly parish breakfasts at St. William Catholic Church.

IN MEMORIAM

Knights from Cardinal Gibbons Assembly 150 in Hockessin, Del., built and installed six memorial benches, with plaques engraved with names of deceased assembly members, at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Shrine at Holy Spirit Parish. The $8,000 project was funded through individual member donations and gifts to the memorial fund.

Edward Domich (right) and other members of Siena Council 8596 in West Dundee, Ill., fill backpacks with school supplies for local families in need. The items came from the annual school supply drive organized by Council 8596 and F.I.S.H. Food Pantry, with donations totaling more than 500 pounds — enough to fill more than 75 backpacks.

Supreme Master Michael McCusker (front, third from right) joins State Deputy Savio Dias of Prince Edward Island (front, third from left) and other K of C leaders following a Fourth Degree exemplification at the Prince Edward Island State Convention. Nearly 30 men became Sir Knights during the event, which followed the revised ceremonial format introduced earlier this year.

CARING FOR OUR VETERANS

Members of Bishop Fenwick Assembly 100 in Norwalk, Conn., partnered with House of Heroes to repair and paint the deck, clean a basement, and install a handrail at the home of Willie Jones, a U.S. Army veteran. The $5,000 project was funded by proceeds from the assembly’s annual Patriot Dinner and community carnival.

HIGHWAY TO CLEANLINESS

Knights from Sacred Heart of Mary Council 7622 in Jermyn, Pa., collected more than 40 large bags of litter during a recent road cleanup. For more than 20 years, Council 7622 has partnered with the Adopt-A-Highway program to organize cleanups along a 5-mile stretch of State Route 107.

NOT ALONE

Annapolis (Md.) Council 1384 raised more than $36,000 during its annual fundraiser to support research and awareness of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva — a rare genetic disorder in which muscle and connective tissues are gradually replaced by bone. The event was first held in 2023, after a Knight’s son was diagnosed with the disease.

ABAYAN FESTIVAL

Nearly 50 Knights from several councils and assemblies near Butuan City, Mindanao, participated in the 2025 Abayan Festival — an annual religious and cultural event honoring St. Anne, patroness of the Agusan River. Knights provided an honor guard during a 30-minute procession from St. Joseph Cathedral to a nearby Philippine Ports Authority site, where Mass was celebrated. They then accompanied the image of St. Anne during a three-hour river parade.

WEATHERING THE STORM

After a tornado struck Grinnell, Kan., in mid-May, destroying about 20 homes, Knights from several area councils distributed water and $300 gift cards through the Kansas State Council’s emergency response program to affected families.

SPRING JUBILEE

Members of St. Gerard Majella Council 6884 in Seneca, S.C., staffed a food tent at the annual Pendleton Spring Jubilee arts festival. Approximately 300 attendees purchased sausages, hot dogs and water from the council, raising more than $750 for charity.

Community

Knights from several councils near Rapid City, S.D., place flags on veterans’ graves at Black Hills National Cemetery. St. Therese Council 8025 has coordinated the event for more than five years. This is one of many activities organized by the councils throughout the year to honor deceased veterans.

HOLY SMOKE

Members of Father Puetz Council 6550 in Harrisonville, Mo., participated in an annual barbecue competition and community meal. Council 6550’s team, representing Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, competed against nine other local churches at the ecumenical event, which gathered hundreds of people for Christian fellowship. Knights also shared information about the Catholic Church with several people who inquired.

Life

MARCHING FOR LIFE

St. Charles Borromeo Council 13513 in Jacksonville, Ala., and Joseph J. Burn Sr. Council 3227 in Anniston organized a joint march for life with five local Catholic churches. The group made a mile-long procession from St. Charles Borromeo Church to Jacksonville’s town square. Knights have supported the walk for more than 20 years, but this was the first year they served as principal organizers.

Mark Weiss, life director of Father Aufderheide Council 12912 in Vandalia, Ohio, and Father Kyle Schnippel, pastor of St. Christopher Church, stand beside a pro-life educational display created by the council and the parish respect life committee. The illuminated cabinet, showing fetal models at various stages of development, was blessed by Father Schnippel and placed near the church entrance.

More than 50 Knights from some 20 councils statewide volunteered during the weekend event — keeping time for track events, preparing food for athletes, and more.

DRIVE SUPPORTS MEDICAL NEEDS

St. Joseph Astoria (N.Y.) Council 18577 and St. Joseph Church hosted a blood drive at the parish auditorium to benefit the New York Blood Center. More than 60 pints of blood and platelets were donated to benefit patients and advance research.

LIFE-SAVING DONATIONS

Islands Council 10579 in Savannah, Ga., hosted a blood drive at St. Peter the Apostle Parish, collecting 40 pints. The council has run twice-annual drives for more than a decade, gathering about 500 pints in that time.

ALL LEARNING STYLES WELCOMED

Santa Maria Council 2829 in Winston-Salem, N.C., made several donations, totaling more than $13,000, to support programs for students with intellectual disabilities at 10 local Catholic and public schools in the Children’s Center of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County School District. The

grants were made through the LAMB Foundation of NC, a K of C-sponsored initiative founded in 1960.

BRITE FUTURE AHEAD

Archbishop James V. Casey Council 9349 in Littleton, Colo., donated $10,500 to Birthline of Colorado, the state’s oldest pregnancy resource center, to help expand its services and construct a new facility, BriteStar Health. The council has supported Birthline since 1985.

CHOOSE LIFE

Knights from Ramon E. Nazareno Council 5378 in Calape, Visayas, were joined by parishioners of St. Vincent Ferrer Church for the council’s first march for life. The theme for the march was “Choose Life.”

See more at www.kofc.org/knightsinaction

Please submit your council activities to knightsinaction@kofc.org

Star Councils Awarded

For the 2024-2025 fraternal year, 2,967 councils earned the Star Council Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and programming. Of these councils (listed here), 455 earned the Double Star Council Award (200% of membership quota) and 244 earned the Triple Star Council Award (300% or more of membership quota) or higher.

In addition, 4,644 councils earned the Columbian Award for excellence in programming; 4,886 attained the Father McGivney Award for meeting their membership quota; and 3,856 earned the Founder’s Award for meeting their insurance quota.

4085 4562 4663 4873 5352 5499 5530 5747 5935 6326 6753 7033 7350 7355 7856 8058 8342 8442 8546 8601 8615 8743 8840 8878 8901 8932 9000 9007 9107 9240 9247 9623 9769 10080 10176 10178 10293 10744 10911 11060 12061 12072 12245 12529 12906 12989 13425 13819 14614 14657 14822 15006 15133 17205 18091 18108 LOUISIANA 3363 3692

OFFICIAL

NOVEMBER 1, 2025:

owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby

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provisions of Section 84 of the Laws of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 065061492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the policy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MATTER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: COLUMBIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-9982. REJECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PURCHASED MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS BY WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SUBSCRIPTION RATES — IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CURRENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-9982.

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Knights of Charity

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

Michigan State Deputy Barry Borsenik (center, holding baseball) gathers with priests and seminarians from the Diocese of Lansing at Jackson Field for the 25th annual K of C Vocations Night baseball game. Priests, seminarians, religious sisters and numerous families enjoyed cheering on the Lansing Lugnuts, a Minor League Baseball team, and raising awareness for vocations in the Catholic Church.

‘I marvel at the work of God’s grace.’

Growing up on the east coast of Canada, I was involved in my family’s parish, but my faith remained lukewarm. A vocation to the priesthood never crossed my mind.

Instead, my attention was captured by the insights into the natural world provided by science, which eventually led me to pursue a doctorate in chemistry at a university in California. During my Ph.D. research, the Holy Spirit led me to ask deeper questions that could not be answered by chemistry alone. As a result, I came to believe the Catholic faith firmly and sought to live it intentionally. Jesus Christ answered the true longing of my mind and heart.

During this time, I sensed an unexpected call to the priesthood. The priests serving in campus ministry helped my discernment, and in time I heard God calling me home as a diocesan priest. After my doctorate, I entered seminary and was ordained in 2016.

I still marvel at the work of God’s grace in my life, and I encourage young people to be open to the surprising ways God may be calling them.

Father James Fleming Archdiocese of St. John’s Mary, Queen of Peace Council 7405 Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador

Photo by Emma Hutchinson Photography