CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 4th Council Meeting Vosbein Hall 6:30 pm
April 9th Golf Tournament MTG, 630pm @ St Angela Merici School gym
April 13th WNLC Born to Run 5K 7am setup @ Lafreniere Park, Metairie
April 14th Family Mass (Coffee & Donuts) @ St Clement of Rome, Vosbein Hall, setup 945am
April 15th Golf Tournament Chateau Country Club Kenner, Setup 11am
April 18th Planning Meeting- Parish Center, 630pm
May 2nd Council Meeting-PARISH CENTER*** 630pm (note change in venue)
All in God’s Timing
Father McGivney’s beatification illuminates his life and witness for parish priests, Catholic men and families today.
“I believe that our Founder’s beatification in this moment in history is no mere coincidence,” Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly writes in his monthly column for Columbia. “We should look to his response to the needs of his time as a roadmap for our own response to the needs of our time.”
Our Founder-Blessed Fr Michael McGivney
On March 29, 1882 the Connecticut legislature approved the charter of the Knights of Columbus. Each year the Knights of Columbus commemorate this event as Founder’s Day. This year we celebrate the 140th anniversary of our founding by Father Michael J. McGivney.
Father McGivney was a 29-year-old associate pastor at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven at the time. He saw the plights and challenges of Catholics, Irish immigrants, and the poor. The late 19th century was marked by an increase in fraternal benefit societies, anti-Catholic and Irish prejudice and dangerous factory conditions that left many families fatherless. Father McGivney knew he had to do something to help, and there had to be other Catholics in his own parish who felt the same way. He gathered a small group of like-minded Catholic men in the basement of the Church to start a group that would become the Knights of Columbus.
To demonstrate their loyalty to their country as well as their faith, these men took Christopher Columbus--recognized as a Catholic and celebrated as the discoverer of America--as their patron. In forming the organization, Fr. McGivney hoped to help Catholic men remain steadfast in the faith through mutual encouragement while establishing an elementary system of insurance so that the widows and children of members in the group who might die would not find themselves in dire financial straits.
In addition to the order’s benefits, Catholic men were drawn to the Knights because of its emphasis on serving one’s Church, community, and family with virtue. The Knight’s founding principles of charity and unity were expanded to include fraternity in 1885 and the fourth principle of patriotism in 1900.
Father McGivney died on August 12, 1852 at the young age of 38. The legacy of his mission continues on. Today there are approximately 2 million members of the Knights of Columbus serving in more than 16,000 councils around the world. Thousands of hours of service and millions of dollars are donated each year by its members.
The cause for Father McGivney’s canonization was started in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1996. In March 2008, Pope Benedict XVI declared him “Venerable” in recognition of his heroic virtue. On October 31, 2020 our founder, Father McGivney, was beatified by Pope Francis and now has the title “Blessed.” One more miracle attributed to his intercession is needed for him to be canonized as a saint.
- To keep holy the Lord's Day by attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and to rest from servile labor.
- To confess your sins in the sacrament of Confession at least once a year during the Easter Season.
- To receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season.
- To observe the days of fast and abstinence according to the norms of the Church.
- To observe the marriage laws of the Church.
- To contribute to the needs of the Church.
Golf Tournament
Meal provided for St. Joan of Arc (LaPlace)
October 28th
The Council served close to 250 meals in 30 minutes to parishioners and friends of St. Joan of Arc. Thanks to all our Brothers for helping in this endeavor. Special thanks to Chef Mark Benedetto of Caffe Latte Da (5860 Citrus Blvd. Harahan! click here)
