By J.D. Long-García | Aug. 6, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Serving in Iraq made Michael Ritchie reconsider a few things, service to the community among them.

“I had a lot of near-death experiences in Iraq and it made me recognize what’s important in life,” he said.

While on leave, he went to Mass at his home parish, St. Raphael in Glendale. The local Knights of Columbus council was looking for new members. Ritchie signed up.

After returning from active duty in 2006, Ritchie became a “Sir Knight,” or a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Whereas the first three degrees embody charity, unity and fraternity, the fourth is about patriotism.

“It’s just where I belonged and there’s just no way to explain it,” he said. “That’s where a true patriot belongs that has a Catholic faith.”

Members of the Knights of Columbus from across the world converged on Phoenix this week for the 127th Supreme Convention. The Marian Congress — which concludes with the Guadalupe Festival Aug. 8 at Jobing.com Arena — begins today.

During the convention, members of the Knights of Columbus developed new programs and evaluated ongoing efforts. The spirit of fraternity across parish and even country boundaries is something fourth degree Knights are familiar with.

Whereas all members meet at the parish level, called a council, fourth degree Knights also take part in assemblies, which are generally made up of members from several parishes.

The Knights of Columbus promote the sanctity of marriage and supported marriage amendments in Arizona, California and Florida this past election. They also advocate for pro-life legislation and support women in crisis pregnancies.

Councils support seminarians — praying for them and helping with formation costs — and the Knights of Columbus is a big part of Special Olympics.

Fourth degree members — about 17.4 percent of the Knights of Columbus — are the most visible part of the order. They’re the men who often accompany the local bishop donning capes, chapeaus and carrying swords.

“If they’re outsiders, people are like, ‘Who are those guys in the funny clothes?’” Ritchie quipped.

‘Funny clothes’

Every aspect of these “funny clothes” represents a deep-rooted value. The uniform is loosely based on what their namesake, Christopher Columbus, wore — complete with the chapeau, or admiral’s cap.

“The name [Columbus] was partly chosen because he was an evangelizer and that is what we do,” explained Larry Costanzo, who as supreme master heads up the fourth degree internationally.

“The sword is the symbol of love of country, love of Church, and our readiness to defend our family, our Church and our country,” he said.

The different color capes and plumes on the chapeaus denote rank and responsibility among fourth degree members. For example Costanzo, as the supreme master, wears a royal blue-lined cape with a royal blue plume. Those initially entering the fourth degree, on the other hand, wear a red-lined cape with a chapeau with a white plume.

“You may be sitting next to a guy at Mass and not know that he’s a Knight of Columbus,” Costanzo said. “But if you see him in his regalia, you know who he is, you know what he stands for.”

Beginning with charity

It started in 1881 when Fr. Michael McGivney met with a group of men in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn. The next year, this group incorporated the Knights of Columbus.

“If you think back, Catholics weren’t necessarily accepted by society around that time,” Costanzo said. “So Fr. McGivney founded the order to try to keep the Catholic men in the Catholic Church, instead of wandering away because of outside influences. And he also founded the order to support the families and children of members who died early.”

The Knights of Columbus has since developed into one of the top five life and long-term insurance companies in the country. The 1.7 million members across the world generated $150 million in charitable contributions last year and volunteered some 69 million hours.

A current effort, dubbed “Wheels for Veterans,” aims to provide 500 wheelchairs for veterans at a cost of some $50,000.

“We’re possibly most famous for our Tootsie Roll drive,” said John S. Garcia, the director of public information for the Arizona state council. “We collect around $200,000 statewide every year.”

The money goes to organizations like the Special Olympics, The Association for Retarded Children and local parishes to fund religious education materials for Catholics with learning disabilities.

Love of country

Michael Kingman, as Arizona Supreme Master, oversees the fourth degree in Arizona. He said a majority of fourth degree members are war veterans.

“A lot of veterans are drawn to the Knights of Columbus because of the uniform and what it stands for,” said Kingman, a veteran of the Vietnam war. “They want to serve those who have served our country.”

Fourth degree members are dedicated to the order’s mission and are involved at both the council and assembly levels.

“It reminds me of the military,” said Ritchie, who served in Iraq three years ago. “All these people from different backgrounds come together and put everything they have that differs aside and say ‘We’re doing God’s work.’ It’s putting yourself aside and dedicating yourself to something higher.”