There was much enjoyment for me and many others who attended the 133rd annual convention of the Knights of Columbus. Besides three beautiful Masses (including the Memorial Mass in which past state chaplains like our deceased friend, Father Vic Bieberle, were prayed for by name during the Prayer of the Faithful), there was great fellowship among brother Knights, both lay and ordained, and I saw the beautiful cathedral/basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and the shrine of St. John Neuman, the first bishop of Philadelphia and the founder of the parochial school movement in the United States. One of the aspects of the convention that was not enjoyable, but rather, was very sobering, was the talks of the prelates, Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil, Iraq, and Archbishop Jean Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo, Syria. They both spoke passionately about the terrible persecution of Christians in their countries and the ongoing devastating effect it is having on Christians who have either been displaced from their homes and cities, or are living daily in fear for their lives.
While the Knights of Columbus, as an organization, has already contributed $3,000,000 to support the efforts to aid Christians in that region of the world who are in desperate straits, our Supreme Knight Carl Anderson has not only made the effort to help persecuted Christians a priority for the Knights in this fraternal year, he has given Knights (and now I give to you), a way to give to the relief efforts for persecuted Christians via www.ChristiansAtRisk.org. I encourage you to give once or make an ongoing pledge to help those who have lost everything materially, but who stay strong in their Christian faith and in their belief that Christ and Christ-like brothers and sisters will reach out in solidarity and love to help them in their time of need. Another avenue to give is through "Catholic Relief Services" which is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Their address is: 228 Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-3443. At the least, please pray for persecuted Christians, and know that we will be doing that as a community at Masses in the future at our church.
While the Knights of Columbus, as an organization, has already contributed $3,000,000 to support the efforts to aid Christians in that region of the world who are in desperate straits, our Supreme Knight Carl Anderson has not only made the effort to help persecuted Christians a priority for the Knights in this fraternal year, he has given Knights (and now I give to you), a way to give to the relief efforts for persecuted Christians via www.ChristiansAtRisk.org. I encourage you to give once or make an ongoing pledge to help those who have lost everything materially, but who stay strong in their Christian faith and in their belief that Christ and Christ-like brothers and sisters will reach out in solidarity and love to help them in their time of need. Another avenue to give is through "Catholic Relief Services" which is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Their address is: 228 Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-3443. At the least, please pray for persecuted Christians, and know that we will be doing that as a community at Masses in the future at our church.
As I write this column, I am preparing to go as state chaplain to Philadelphia for the annual Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus. Though I have been to four of these already, I find the experience strengthens me in a number of ways. It is a reminder that we are all part of a larger Church than just what we see everyday. Catholics from all over the United States and other countries (including Canada, Mexico, Poland and and Korea) will be there to celebrate being part of the largest Catholic lay organization in the world and hearing what we are all doing as Knights in charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Seeing all the priests at the convention and the large number of bishops, archbishops and cardinals, is a reminder of the efforts of the Church's leaders in collaboration with our lay leaders, to spread the Kingdom of God and His Church to others. Finally, I must admit it is good for me to get away for a few days to refresh and renew myself spiritually, and in other important ways.
I never hesitate to encourage men to join the Knights of Columbus as I have seen, and continue to see, men becoming more committed to their Catholic faith and growing in their relationship with the Lord. Please pray with me that more men will step forward to become Knights, and see many blessings flow to them and from them for doing so.
I never hesitate to encourage men to join the Knights of Columbus as I have seen, and continue to see, men becoming more committed to their Catholic faith and growing in their relationship with the Lord. Please pray with me that more men will step forward to become Knights, and see many blessings flow to them and from them for doing so.
"America! America! God shed His grace on thee."
The words of the first verse of the patriotic song, "America the Beautiful" echo the sentiments of many Americans about the blessings that have come to our country through the help of God. The second verse of that same song is a petition to God. "America! America! God mend thine every flaw." It recognizes that our country is far from perfect and needs God's continual help to become what He, and we, want it to be.
Last weekend in my homily, I quoted the Scripture scholar Reginald Fuller who said the following back in the 1980s: "The United States is the most wasteful country on the earth." He did not include references for this statement, and some might question whether what he said was true then, or is true today.
I received a few comments after my homily about our country being "the most generous country" on the face of the earth. Certainly many of us would agree with such a statement about the care our country has shown and continues to show for people in need throughout the world. God's grace continues to inspire such generosity. Still, it is important that our country's flaws be identified and corrected through the efforts of people who cooperate with God's grace to make this country an example for others to follow in all things, including responsible use of our natural resources. We have much in our country to celebrate and much to work on to strive to be what God wants us to be for ourselves and for future generations here and throughout the world. The last part of the third verse of "America the Beautiful" appeals to God once again: "America! America! May God thy gold refine. Till all success be nobleness and ev'ry gain divine." I hope we will all say "Amen" to that.
The words of the first verse of the patriotic song, "America the Beautiful" echo the sentiments of many Americans about the blessings that have come to our country through the help of God. The second verse of that same song is a petition to God. "America! America! God mend thine every flaw." It recognizes that our country is far from perfect and needs God's continual help to become what He, and we, want it to be.
Last weekend in my homily, I quoted the Scripture scholar Reginald Fuller who said the following back in the 1980s: "The United States is the most wasteful country on the earth." He did not include references for this statement, and some might question whether what he said was true then, or is true today.
I received a few comments after my homily about our country being "the most generous country" on the face of the earth. Certainly many of us would agree with such a statement about the care our country has shown and continues to show for people in need throughout the world. God's grace continues to inspire such generosity. Still, it is important that our country's flaws be identified and corrected through the efforts of people who cooperate with God's grace to make this country an example for others to follow in all things, including responsible use of our natural resources. We have much in our country to celebrate and much to work on to strive to be what God wants us to be for ourselves and for future generations here and throughout the world. The last part of the third verse of "America the Beautiful" appeals to God once again: "America! America! May God thy gold refine. Till all success be nobleness and ev'ry gain divine." I hope we will all say "Amen" to that.