Announces launch of a new pilgrim icon
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus;
Knights' delegates elect
two new members to Board of Directors
QUÉBEC CITY, Aug. 8, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus 142nd Supreme Convention continued
this week as Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly encouraged the more than
2,500 Knights and their families, members of the Catholic hierarchy
and special guests in attendance to remain on mission by
striving to build up families, parishes and communities that are
centered on Christ — a mission given to the Knights by Christ
through the vision of their founder, Blessed Michael McGivney.
"There is no greater task," said Supreme Knight Kelly in his
opening address, in which he reported on the achievements of the
Catholic fraternal organization over the past year. "It requires
sacrifice and sometimes even suffering. But that's what it means to
be a disciple. That's what it means to be on mission."
Supreme Knight Kelly praised the convention's host province,
Québec, noting this year marks the 350th anniversary of the church
in Québec. In fact, Québec is the cradle of the Catholic faith in
North America, north of
Mexico, once covering a territory
that today has more than 150 dioceses. Moreover, Québec held a
special place in the heart of Blessed Michael McGivney, who studied
for the priesthood in the cities of Saint-Hyacinthe and Montreal.
Growing the Knights
Supreme Knight Kelly reminded the Knights that in these
challenging times, the Order's mission matters more than ever. "The
days of easy faith are over," he said.
Today's Knights must have "the zeal of Father McGivney," he
continued, to build the next generation of Catholic men by growing
the organization and forming Catholic men in faith and virtue, so
they're prepared to serve as missionary disciples. And he applauded
their historic progress in the past year.
The Knights of Columbus now has
more than 2.1 million members worldwide, and last year alone, more
than 92,000 men joined the Knights — one of its best years of
growth in a century. This includes a record number of Hispanic men,
who are critical to the future of the Catholic Church, since over
half of young American Catholics are now Hispanic.
A Witness to Charity
Supreme Knight Kelly then reminded the assembled Knights that
together they can follow the founding mission established by
Blessed Michael McGivney by building communities that reflect God's
love, especially through their witness to charity. Last year,
Knights worldwide spent over 47 million volunteer hours serving
others and donated more than $190
million to those in need.
A highlight of the Knights' many charitable efforts includes
their signature Coats for Kids program. In November 2023, Supreme Knight Kelly visited
Annunciation Catholic School in Denver personally to give the one-millionth
coat donated since the program began 14 years ago.
"But we are not done — today, I have a challenge," the Supreme
Knight continued. "I'm calling on all of us to double that number
in half the time. The Knights of Columbus will give 2 million coats to children
in need by the year 2030!"
The Knights also continues to serve those who are persecuted for
their faith, including Christians in the Middle East and Nigeria. In fact, last year, Nigerians
accounted for 82% of Christians killed for their faith. In response
to this crisis, Supreme Knight Kelly announced a new collaboration
between the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and Franciscan
University of Steubenville. Through this collaboration, the
Knights will fund the ongoing formation of priests and lay leaders
to reach thousands of parishes and strengthen the faith of millions
of Catholics in Africa.
In addition to fighting religious persecution, Supreme Knight
Kelly noted that anti-Christian bigotry has become more aggressive
and blatant around the world.
"A recent example was the opening ceremony of the Paris
Olympics, where Our Lord and the Last Supper were outrageously
mocked," Supreme Knight Kelly said. "The Olympics should be a
celebration of God's gifts and the triumph of human achievement.
But in Paris we saw blasphemy — a
vile and intentional denigration of our faith."
"As Catholics, and as Knights, we are rightly angry," he
continued. "But even more than that, we are resolved: We are
Knights and we stand with Christ, our King — and we will not be
silent!"
And over two years after Russia
launched its war in Ukraine, more
than 10,000 Knights in Ukraine and
Poland continue to manage the
largest relief effort in their history. Knights have distributed
8.5 million pounds of humanitarian aid to over 1.6 million
refugees, most of whom are women and children, and recently
announced a new partnership with the Protez Foundation to provide
personally fitted prosthetics to the victims of war. In fact, their
efforts have made such an impact that Russian authorities have
officially banned the Knights of Columbus from the territory they occupy.
"Let me be clear," Supreme Knight Kelly said. "Their ban is our
badge of honor!"
Defending the Culture of Life
Supreme Knight Kelly also challenged Knights to continue the
fight to defend life around the world.
"The reality is, we are not just fighting legal and policy
battles. We are fighting what John Paul
II described as a 'culture of death' and what Pope Francis
has called a 'throwaway culture.'"
Across the globe, Knights continue to follow Blessed Michael
McGivney's mission to protect mothers and their children.
In Washington, D.C., this year,
the Knights co-hosted the second annual Life Fest with the
Sisters of Life, which saw over 6,000 young people pray and rally
for a future that respects the dignity of life at all stages.
Later, thousands more gathered for the annual March for
Life, which the Knights has co-sponsored for over 50 years.
Knights are working closely with vulnerable mothers and their
unborn children as well. In 2023, Knights helped to place 135
ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers, bringing the
total to over 1,800. And through the Aid and Support After
Pregnancy (ASAP) program, Knights have donated more than
$11 million to pregnancy centers and
maternity homes.
Knights of the Eucharist
When Supreme Knight Kelly was installed in office, he called on
all Knights to be, first and foremost, Knights of the
Eucharist.
"As Catholic families, the ultimate source of our strength is
Jesus Christ," he said. "And as
Knights, we're especially devoted to Christ in the Eucharist."
Supreme Knight Kelly recalled his own personal experience of
joining the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on Memorial Day Weekend
in New York City.
"We walked with pilgrims as they made their way from St.
Patrick's Cathedral through Manhattan. It was a truly amazing experience.
Tourists knelt on the sidewalk and took videos. Waiters came
outside and crossed themselves. Onlookers broke into spontaneous
applause. And all the while, hundreds of pilgrims sang songs and
bore witness to Christ's real presence in the Eucharist. Even on
the streets of New York City, it
was clear — Jesus is alive, he's real, and he's changing
hearts!"
On Mission
In conclusion, Supreme Knight Kelly stated that the duty of
Catholics and of Knights is to witness to the hope that comes from
Jesus Christ.
"Hope is at the heart of who we are," he said. "It led Father
McGivney and the first Knights to band together, trusting that
through them, our Lord would do great things. Hope led them to
provide for widows and orphans. Hope led them to strengthen the
family and defend the Church."
Stressing the theme of the convention, Supreme Knight Kelly
continued, "And like those first Knights, we trust in the Living
God who holds the future in his hands. He will guide us, as he did
our forefathers. And like them, he calls us to go on
mission."
Supreme Knight Kelly Announces New Pilgrim Icon of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus
At the annual States Dinner, Supreme Knight Kelly noted that the
Knights was celebrating not just one but two significant
anniversaries this week. In addition to the founding of the
Catholic Church in Québec, this year marks the 350th anniversary of
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque receiving her visions of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus in 1674.
"Our Lord reminded her of that ancient and beautiful devotion,
and she shared that gift with the world," said Supreme Knight
Kelly. "As our Lord told her: 'Behold this Heart which has so loved
men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming
itself, in order to testify its love.'"
Mr. Kelly noted that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has
announced that he's writing a new document — a reflection on the
Sacred Heart — that will be released next month.
"The Holy Father has said that he will reintroduce this devotion
which is full of spiritual beauty, and he will offer it 'to a world
that seems to have lost its heart,'" said Mr. Kelly. "Our Holy
Father's encouragement, and his pastoral document, couldn't be more
timely."
Mr. Kelly also announced that in early 2025, the Knights will
help spread devotion to the Sacred Heart with the launch of a new
pilgrim icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. For more than 40 years,
the Knights' Pilgrim Icon Program has brought sacred images to
parishes around the world for prayer and devotion.
"In the heart of Christ, we see the heart of the Father," said
Supreme Knight Kelly. "And we ask Our Lord to help us make his
heart our own, so that we may see and love in others what he sees
and loves in us. That is what the world needs. And on the 350th
anniversary of St. Margaret Mary's visions, we will make this
mission our own."
Knights' Delegates Elect Two New Members to Board of
Directors
During the Knights' business session Aug.
7, more than 530 delegates, representing over 2.1 million
brother Knights around the world, elected two new members to the
organization's Board of Directors.
The new board members are Christopher A. Kolomjec from
Michigan and Herbert W. Yang from British Columbia, who will each serve a
three-year term beginning Sept. 1,
2024, and ending on Aug. 31,
2027.
Christopher A.
Kolomjec
Christopher A.
Kolomjec, an attorney in private practice for the past 23
years, was Michigan state deputy
from 2022-24. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a
Judge Advocate, retiring with the rank of Major. In addition, he
was appointed a U.S. Special Assistant Attorney and worked as a
federal prosecutor for four years.
A member of the Knights of Columbus for 28 years, he belongs to
Assumption Grotto Council 13419 and Rev. Paul M. Onderbeke Assembly
1795, both in Detroit.
He and his wife, Julie, live in Grosse
Pointe Farms, Michigan, and have three adult children.
Herbert W.
Yang
Herbert W. Yang,
a professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in
the power distribution and motor control field, is the current
British Columbia state deputy.
After many years of working for outstanding companies such as
General Electric, he started his own company in 2014 and continues
to work with industry leaders.
Born in Manila, Philippines, he
came as a teen with his family to British
Columbia. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1996 and belongs to Coquitlam
Council 5540 and Bishop Durieu Assembly 30 in New Westminster, B.C.
He and his wife, Clara, live in Coquitlam and have two adult daughters.
About the Knights of Columbus
In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in
New Haven, Connecticut, founded
the Knights of Columbus to serve
the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as
a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into the world's
premier lay Catholic men's organization, with more than 2.1 million
members in over 16,800 local councils. As members of one of the
world's leading international charitable organizations, Knights
around the world donated approximately 50 million service hours and
nearly $185 million for worthy causes
in their communities in 2022. The Knights of Columbus also offers a range of life insurance
products to members and their families and was named by Forbes as
one of America's Best Insurance Companies 2024 in the permanent
life insurance category. Knights of Columbus Insurance currently
has more than $123 billion* of life
insurance in force. In addition, the organization offers investment
services in accord with Catholic social teaching through its wholly
owned subsidiary, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds
more than $27 billion** in assets
under management. Based on the founding principles of charity,
unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus is committed to strengthening
Catholic families and parishes, and to practicing faith in action
through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the
Knights of Columbus, please visit
kofc.org/join.
*As of December 31, 2023
**As of December 31, 2023
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SOURCE Knights of Columbus