KNIGHTS CONVENTION
Knights of Columbus convention gets underway
By Andrew Junker | Aug. 5, 2009 | The Catholic Sun
More than 2,500 Knights and their families from all over the world joined 80 bishops and eight cardinals for an Aug 4. Mass inaugurating the 127th annual Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus.
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted — a Knight himself — was the main celebrant at the multi-lingual Mass, during which he praised Fr. Michael McGivney, who founded the charitable organization in 1882.
The bishop said the day was a “celebration in gratitude to God” for the good work begun by Fr. McGivney.
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The Knights of Columbus is the Church’s largest lay organization with 1.78 million members from 11 countries on three continents. In 2008, knights contributed $150 million for a multitude of charitable causes in addition to volunteering 68 million hours of their time.
During the Supreme Convention, knights attend seminars and vote on resolutions for the next year. But for many attendees, it’s the fraternity of the conventions that keep them coming back.
Ian Moore has been a Knight of Columbus for the past 27 years in the Archdiocese of Kingston in Ontario, Canada, but he had never attended a Supreme Convention before. This year, he was elected to be his council’s delegate.
“It’s just knights consistently everywhere you turn,” he said of the gathering. “It only reinforces our whole fraternal thing. It’s a wonderful aspect.”
Moore attended a committee meeting on the Knights in Canada Aug. 3 and will have to make an official report to his council when he returns at week’s end. He said the convention is important in that it brings to light all the good work being done by knights across the globe.
“It just makes you feel so proud to be a knight,” Moore said. “What little jobs we do on the front lines make such a huge impact.”
After today’s Mass, Jesuit Father Charles Connelly, who lives in Boston, said the work of the Knights is staggering, and can be difficult to comprehend.
“When you consider 1.7 million men engaged in Catholic work — You only understand that when you come to the Supreme Convention,” he said.
Following the Mass, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson delivered the organization’s annual report, during which he called for a health care reform that is abortion free.
He also pledged to expand the knights’ initiative to place ultrasound machines in crisis pregnancy centers across the country.
On Aug. 5, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington D.C. Cardinal, will celebrate Mass with Cardinal William Levada, head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, serving as homilist.
That day will also see an awards ceremony honoring the International Family of the Year, as well as winners in six categories: family activities, community activities, youth activities, church activities and pro-life activities.
On Aug. 6, Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn. will celebrate the morning Mass. He serves the Knights as their Supreme Chaplain.
After Mass, the convention’s final business session will convene to vote on resolutions for a number of issues including: abortion, marriage, rights of conscience, pornography and violence.
A two-and-a-half day Marian Congress of Our Lady of Guadalupe will also begin on Aug. 6. The congress is the first of its kind for the Knights and will feature lectures, films and art all relating to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The congress will culminate with festival at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale on Aug. 8. Event coordinators expect about 17,000 people to be in attendance at the festival, which will feature testimonials and entertainment.
