Knights of Columbus National Dinner
Supreme Chaplain’s Remarks
Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion
August 24, 2024
Warm Hospitality
From the moment we stepped off the plane, and throughout every step of our visit to the Philippines, you have given the warmest of welcomes and friendliest of hospitality to the Supreme Knight, his wife Vanessa, and their daughters – as well as yours truly, the Supreme Chaplain.
The charity, unity, and fraternity for which the family of the Knights of Columbus is known were evident not only in your wonderful hospitality but especially in the works of faith and charity that you, the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines, are engaged in. Seeing all this firsthand has brought me a lot of joy! Thank you! Salamat!
Holy Priests
In these days, we encountered priests laboring in the spirit of Father McGivney, such as Fr. Luis Palinas who oversees a massive food program and an ultrasound clinic at Baseco, not very far from here, and Fr. Matthieu Dauchez whose ANAK Tnk Foundation serves the abandoned elderly, orphans, and children living in the slums . . . What an amazing day that was – to see light and hope in the midst of darkness.
In these days I have also become more familiar with the pioneering work of Jesuit Father George Willmann, the Servant of God who did so much to strengthen and expand the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines. Today we visited the Sisters of Mary Girls Town, run by the Sisters of Mary founded by the Venerable Msgr. Aloysius Schwarz. Mass was celebrated with 3,000 girls – you could hear a pin drop and the participation in the Mass of these students was magnificent. Mass was followed by a talent show second to none!
Indeed, the Knights in the Philippines continue to be blessed with wonderful bishops and priests who provide spiritual support for you, your families, and the mission of the Knights of Columbus: Archbishop Brown, Bishop Colin Bagaforo who have joined with us this evening, and especially Msgr. Pedro Quitorio and Fr. Jerome Cruz whose love for the Order is extraordinary, as well as the many chaplains who serve the Order throughout the Philippines. Truly, they are following in the footsteps of Blessed Michael McGivney.
Lay Leadership
But as you know, Blessed Michael McGivney insisted that the Knights of Columbus was to be led by laity. So respected was Father McGivney by the men of his parish that he easily could have been the first Supreme Knight. But he founded the Knights to be led, not by the clergy but by the laity. And at the same time, the Knights would benefit from the presence, the spirituality, and pastoral service of chaplains who would work cooperatively with the lay leadership of the Knights and generously serve the spiritual needs of Knights and their families.
Founded in 1882, the Knights of Columbus was ahead of its time. In the late 19th century, many did not understand why Fr. McGivney set up his new organization in this way. Lay leadership in the Church, while not unheard of, was uncommon. With great foresight, Fr. McGivney saw the importance of inviting men not only to join an organization that would support them in the faith, and help their families in time of need – but he went further. He invited them to take responsibility for the Knights of Columbus, to lead it, and through their leadership in the Knights of Columbus to participate actively carrying forward the Church’s mission.
Co-Responsibility
A few years ago, I accompanied the Supreme Knight on our annual visit to the Holy Father, Pope Francis. During our conversation, the Supreme Knight and I mentioned that in the Knights of Columbus, laity and clergy not only work together, but indeed have a strong sense of co-responsibility for the Church’s mission. I don’t think we could have said anything that would have made him happier. Pope Francis became very animated and asked us to speak about this reality often . . . so, here I am!
And let me speak personally. Even before I became Supreme Chaplain in 2005, I knew that the Knights of Columbus was blessed with great leadership. And through the years, that has been confirmed again and again, most recently in the leadership of our Supreme Knight, Patrick Kelly. Praying and working with the leadership of the Knights of Columbus, striving however imperfectly to emulate Blessed Michael McGivney, has inspired and greatly strengthened my ministry as priest and bishop, and relying on God’s great mercy, I hope and pray that the reverse is also true.
This is something I have also witnessed in many state jurisdictions where the State Deputy and his team work closely with the State Chaplain and/or the Deputy State Chaplain, and vice-versa, and where Grand Knights work closely with Council Chaplains, and vice-versa. We priests and bishops deeply respect the lay character of the Knights and you, the leaders and members of Knights offer us your unstinting support in the challenges of our ministry and in support of priestly vocations. Thanks to this partnership, the Knights truly are “the strong right arm of the Church.”
Navy Analogy
Since our Supreme Knight spent many years in the U.S. Navy, perhaps I can end with a bit of naval terminology, namely the phrase, “all hands on deck”. When a navy vessel faces an emergency or a dangerous operation, the captain might issue the order, “all hands on deck”, in other words, he might order all crew members to be at their station, ready for action.
When we look at the challenges which the Church’s mission faces today, the troubled waters upon which the barque of Peter sails, is it any wonder that Pope Francis has issued the call, “all hands on deck”? He has called each of us as baptized members of the Church to listen attentively to the Lord and to one another, to engage in heartfelt prayer and formation, thus to strengthen our communion and deepen our participation in the life and mission of the Church. As the Knights of Columbus, we’ve been doing just that for 144 years!
Thank you brother Knights and thanks to your wives and families for your deep faith, your continual growth, your strong leadership, your partnership, and your dedication to the Church’s mission. May God continue to protect and prosper the Order here in the Philippines now and for many years to come. Vivat Jesus!