News & Announcements

KofC council 14512 PGK SK John William names Grand Knight for the Galveston-Houston diocese for 2019-2020

On July 26, 2020, KofC council PAST Grand Knight SK, John Williams was named the GRAND KNIGHT of the Fraternal Year of 2019-2020.

This honor was bestowed upon John Williams at the Annual Training Session in Pearland, Texas for the Galveston-Houston Diocese.

There is some 130 councils in the diocese so this is definitely a great honor because there are some very good Grand Knights managing councils in the KofC diocese.

 

Please congratulate John, when you get a chance.  We are very lucky to be working with just a great Knight of Columbus.

 

SK John Williams is pictured here with SK John Hinojosa at the July 26, 2020 event.  

 

 

 

 

 

Beautification Mass for Father Michael J. McGivney (October 31, 2020)

Why is it important for Father McGivney to be beautified and made a Saint.(CLICK ON THIS LINK)
 

Father McGivney Beatification

Oct. 31 in Connecticut

 

The beatification ceremony for Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be celebrated Oct. 31, 2020, in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn. Father McGivney is pictured in an undated portrait. On May 27 the Vatican announced Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to the priest's intercession, clearing the way for his beatification. 

 

HARTFORD, Conn. – Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be beatified during a special Mass Oct. 31 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

On May 27, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis, who met with the board of directors of the Knights of Columbus in February, had signed the decree recognizing a miracle through the intercession of Father McGivney, clearing the way for his beatification. Once he is beatified, he will be given the title "Blessed."

Details of the beatification ceremony have not been released, including what COVID-19 restrictions might still be in place in the fall, such as limiting congregation size, social distancing, and the wearing of facial coverings. The Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes announced the date for the beatification July 20.

The miracle recognized by the Vatican occurred in 2015 and involved a U.S. baby, still in utero, with a life-threatening condition that, under most circumstances, could have led to an abortion.

That baby, Mikey Schachle, is now 5. His parents, Dan and Michelle Schachle, of Dickson, Tennessee, prayed to Father McGivney to intercede with God to save their son, still in his mother's womb, who was given no hope of surviving a life-threatening case of fetal hydrops.

Father McGivney (1852-1890), the son of Irish immigrants, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and was ordained a priest in 1877 for what is now the Archdiocese of Hartford. He founded the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary's Parish in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882.

 

He originally started the Knights as a service organization to help widows and orphans. At the time, Father McGivney was an assistant pastor at St. Mary's Parish. He is buried in New Haven.

The fraternal order for Catholic men has become the largest lay Catholic organization in the world with 2 million members and sponsors a wide range of educational, charitable and religious activities.

Father McGivney, who will be the first American parish priest to be beatified and has long been a hero of working-class Catholics, can be viewed as a martyr of a pandemic. When he died of pneumonia complications at age 38 in 1890, it was during an outbreak of influenza known as the Russian flu in Thomaston, Connecticut. Some recent evidence, according to the Knights, indicates the outbreak may have been the result of a coronavirus.

"Father McGivney has inspired generations of Catholic men to roll up their sleeves and put their faith into action," Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said. "He was decades ahead of his time in giving the laity an important role within the Church. Today, his spirit continues to shape the extraordinary charitable work of Knights as they continue to serve those on the margins of society as he served widows and orphans in the 1880s."

He added, "Father McGivney also remains an important role model for parish priests around the world and left us a transformative legacy of effective cooperation between the laity and clergy."

After the announcement that the priest would be beatified, Anderson told Catholic News Service in an interview: "We've been praying for years for this to occur, and finally this day has arrived."

The initial work on his sainthood cause began in 1982 on the Knights' centenary. His cause was formally opened in Hartford in 1997, and he was given the title "servant of God." In March 2008, the Catholic Church recognized the priest heroically lived the Christian virtues, so he was given the title "venerable."

Generally, two miracles attributed to the candidate's intercession are required for sainthood – one for beatification and the second for canonization.

The Knights have set up a new website for Father McGivney's sainthood cause: 

https://www.fathermcgivney.org.

 

Request by Diocese and Parish for Knights of Columbus participation in the "Safe Environment" of our youth.

CLICK on this link to get the GK's Letter in PDF format
 

August 3, 2020                                                                                           

 

Brothers Knights:

 

We (Knights of Columbus), have been asked by our Archbishop Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and our Pastor to “Promise to Protect and Heal our youth” via the SAFE ENVIRONMENT Program.  

This is a logical request due to the past history and the present unsafe environment regarding child abuse, within our beloved church and our society as a whole.

 

This training is to be done online, and the training will help you as a Knight and Parishioner to be aware of harmful situations that our innocent youth could be exposed to, not only in a Church environment but in society.

 

Even if you were not asked to do this by our Diocese and the Knights of Columbus, IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE to you in monitoring our own families to PROTECT our Youth from sexual predators.

 

As an active Knight in our parish, family environment, and community; we must be aware of circumstances that could lead to abuse.

Some of us have already been approached by St. Edwards to update your certifications from the old program called Virtus that has been upgraded to the Safe Environment program. Please follow up on those requests also.

 

Also know. that you are going to around children at the Church and Knight events and we are REQUIRED to go through the online training by our Diocese, so this action is mandatory but beneficial to you; and your family

 

Please go to this WEB site to start the process:

 

https://galvestonhouston.cmgconnect.org/://galvestonhouston.cmgconnect.org/

 

 

If you have any questions about what the Knights of Columbus are asked to do, please contact one of the officers for assistance or answers.

 

 

Your Brother in Christ,

 

Rudy Gonzalez

Grand Knight- Council 14512

Knightline for December 21, 2020

 

 Knightline

Weekly news for Knights around the world 

VOLUME 38 • NUMBER 33 • DECEMBER 21, 2020

'Tis still the season

Amid these troubling times of COVID-19, many are anxious and lonely. But in these last days of Advent, we hear the angel’s words to Mary, “Do not be afraid!” Read more in our final reflection from our Advent series here. 

Wishing our brother Knights and their families a blessed and joy-filled Christmas. 

Religious freedom for Christians in Nigeria

Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department included Nigeria on a list of “countries of particular concern” for its systematic violations of religious freedom. The inclusion on the list follows months of advocacy by the Knights, led by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who has said the atrocities in Nigeria verge on genocide. READ MORE

Help the season feel a little more like Christmas with this virtual nativity display. 

For many, the annual nativity exhibition at the Knights of Columbus Museum — recently renamed the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center — is a touchstone of the Christmas season. Since the center isn’t open due to the pandemic, we invite you to virtually explore this remarkable photo essay highlighting the museum’s nativity shows from the last five years. DISCOVER MORE 

This photo essay was published in the Daily Nutmeg, a daily email featuring the people, businesses and culture in New Haven — home to the Knights of Columbus’ Supreme Council. Sign up here. 

Photographed by Dan Mims

Our Sunday Visitor names Blessed Michael McGivney and 

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson 

‘Catholics of the Year’

Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), a Catholic publishing house that produces a national weekly newspaper by the same name, annually honors men and women whose witness of faith is an inspiration to Catholics everywhere. 

2020’s Catholics of the Year are noted as those who “were beacons of light that shone through the darkness” of these unprecedented times. We’re proud to share that among this year’s awardees are our Father McGivney and Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. READ MORE 

Any links to third-party sites outside of the Knights of Columbus are provided for information purposes only. This is not an endorsement of the service providers. 

PUBLISHED BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SUPREME COUNCIL • 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510 

Join the Knights for free

In honor of Father McGivney, we’re offering one year of FREE online membership. Simply use promo code MCGIVNEY2020 when signing up at kofc.org/join. Act now— this offer expires Dec. 31, 2020. 

This Christmas season, pray to the Holy Family

Join your brother Knights and their families on Dec. 27, the Feast of the Holy Family, in praying this Consecration to the Holy Family Prayer. May the Holy Family keep us strong in faith, perseverant in prayer and generous toward those in need.

VIDEO: Films on Father McGivney to air on the Catholic network

A Witness for the World: The Global Impact of Blessed Michael will air on the Catholic TV Network this Christmas season. Tune in Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. ET; Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. ET or Dec. 23 at 2:30 a.m. ET. The network is also airing Father McGivney: An American Blessed on Dec. 26 at 6 p.m. ET.

Thank you for helping us support kids in need

When we asked your help earlier this month to support Coats for Kids, the response was overwhelming! See the impact that new winter coats brought to families in need at a recent distribution in Washington, D.C. WATCH VIDEO 

Do you like what you see in Knightline? 

Forward it to Catholic men interested in the Knights. You can also share your questions, feedback and story by emailing knightline@kofc.org.

Life insurance calculator

Life insurance is probably something you don’t often think about, but no financial plan is complete without it. Estimate your needs with our easy-to-use life insurance calculator. CALCULATE

Revised and expanded guidebook

Earlier this month, the Supreme Council announced changes to the structure of council meetings. Now, our revised and expanded guidebook provides everything council officers need to plan and host meetings in-person or virtually, especially with COVID-19 restrictions. To learn more, visit kofc.org/fraternaloperations.

This month from Columbia magazine

The December issue of Columbia magazine commemorates Father McGivney’s beatification with stories celebrating his legacy and a special insert featuring prayers and devotions in his honor. VIEW ISSUE ONLINE