Memorials Committee

Chariman: M Alan Ladwig

Information from Supreme for this committee:

• Establish a memorials committee within your council. A member may never need a strong show of fraternal spirit from his Order and his brother Knights so much as upon the death of someone in his family. By the same token, the family of a member may never recognize the genuineness of that spirit nor realize its benefits so much as upon that member’s death. The primary responsibility of the memorials committee is to attend wakes and funerals of brother Knights or their family members. Special council prayer cards should be provided to members of the memorials committee, with prayers chosen by the council chaplain as appropriate for wakes. Such cards are usually designed by the council chaplain and printed locally. The Knights of Columbus Memorial Service booklet (#2942), available from the Supply Department, includes a wake serv- ice for deceased Knights. In addition to wake attendance and funeral attendance, many other services of the council may be welcome to the bereaved, and the chairman of the group should make it a point to learn as soon as possible what further aid the council may contribute. Individual council policy should be set and be familiar to the chairman so that he may know exactly what commitments may or may not be made on behalf of the council.
• Offer Masses for departed members and their families.
• Sponsor an annual memorial Mass and Communion breakfast.
• Establish scholarships in memory of deceased members.
• Urge enrollment of members in purgatorial Masses and offer spiritual bouquets for them and their relatives.
• Send “Resolution of Condolence” certificates to the family of a deceased member on behalf of the entire council. These certificates (#1450 E,F,S) are available in English, French and Spanish, 25¢ each, from the Supreme Council Supply Department.
• Donate Knights of Columbus rosaries to families grieving the loss of a loved one. Approach your chaplain or parish pastor and offer to provide a rosary for each funeral/wake service he conducts.