By Tanya Connor and Maria LeDoux
The Catholic Free Press
NORTH BROOKFIELD – Bishop McManus encouraged Knights of Columbus, celebrating their centennial Saturday at St. Joseph Parish to build up the faith.
The Knights’ chaplain and associate pastor, Father Donald C. Ouellette, drew parallels between their service to others and God’s provisions, illustrated by the day’s feast of Corpus Christi.
The clergymen spoke at the Lord’s Day vigil Mass, at which the 100th anniversary of the council based at St. Joseph’s was celebrated. Cardinal Gibbons Council 2381 was chartered on June 22, 1922.
Michael Lesperance, state deputy, presented Grand Knight Peter Losurdo with 100th anniversary certificates on behalf of the Knights in Massachusetts, and from Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly, on behalf of the supreme officers and members of the board of directors, based in New Haven, Connecticut.
Bishop McManus said the council’s namesake, Cardinal James Gibbons (1834-1921), struggled to protect the faith during a time of much bigotry against Catholics. Today, Bishop McManus said, “our families are under attack,” and the nature of marriage is attacked.
He urged the Knights to build up the faith and invite other people to it, noting that some children raised in the faith are not having their own children baptized. He said he hoped that what this council has done will be a source of evangelization.
Responding to the bishop’s message, Deputy Grand Knight Christopher Caputo told The Catholic Free Press, “I’d like to see nice families again … kids in the pews. … I say to the men, ‘I’d love to have you’” in the Knights of Columbus.
Grand Knight Losurdo said it is nice to be part of a council that’s been around for 100 years, and humbling to think of those who came before them.
“We’re just shepherding it into the next generation,” he said. “We just have to find (new, young members).”
In his homily, Father Ouellette used the words “service,” “sustenance” and “nourishment for the ages” and spoke about the feast day, the Gospel and the Cardinal Gibbons council.
The feast of Corpus Christi, the body and blood of Christ, shows how God has provided and will provide for us, he said. In the Gospel of the feeding of the multitude, the disciples pointed out that there was limited food. Jesus let God’s power prevail and there was enough, with some left over, Father Ouellette noted. He expressed hope that the spiritual and physical nourishment provided by God, and by the Knights’ efforts, will always prevail.
He shared some of the history of the Knights of Columbus, and of the Cardinal Gibbons Council, from material compiled by James Foyle, District Deputy of District 11 and advocate of Council 2381.
Mr. Foyle arranged for the anniversary observance, which included open houses in the church hall to showcase memorabilia and historical information. Exhibits included the council’s charter from 1922 and a copy of the 1890 book “Christ on the Altar,” which contains a handwritten approbation by Cardinal Gibbons that confirms the validity of the Catholic doctrine presented, Mr. Foyle said.
The Cardinal Gibbons council has helped people in numerous ways over the century. Mr. Foyle mentioned fundraisers to support the Knights’ charitable work, including Tootsie Roll sales and the “K of C BINGO night.” The Knights also supported other groups’ fundraisers and events, financially and/or with their volunteer efforts, he said.
The Knights helped families with food, clothing, and payment of bills; sponsored youth sports teams, and supported scouting troops, he said. The council has also supported respect life activities and agencies, religious education programs, priests and seminarians, ecumenical services, parish maintenance projects and a new church organ, and parish festivals.
In doing such things, the Knights embrace the four pillars of Columbianism – charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism, Mr. Foyle said.
Knights of Columbus founder Blessed Michael J. McGivney and his Knights chose Christopher Columbus as their namesake to assert that there was a place for Catholics and other immigrants within American society and that Columbus had played a part in creating this free world, Mr. Foyle said. They were also asserting that the Catholic faith and loyalty to one’s country are in harmony.
But, he said, in this nation that promised freedom and prosperity for immigrants, there were also injustices. The late 19th century saw anti-Catholic prejudice and dangerous factory working conditions that left families fatherless.
Recognizing the need to help such people and to prevent men from joining secret societies opposed to Catholic teaching, Father McGivney, an associate pastor in New Haven, proposed an organization of Catholic lay men to unite and serve others, Mr. Foyle said. In 1882 the Knights of Columbus was founded, and today there are members in several countries.
“We’re always striving to strengthen our membership .. to strengthen our Catholic faith,” Mr. Foyle said. “Our concept is to spread the faith. We want to spread the faith ... by helping others.”