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News
One of LaSalle Knights of Columbus Council’s bigger events each year is our “Keep Christ in Christmas” program. In recent years, we have sponsored a billboard during December to remind people passing by about the true meaning of Christmas, often lost in the hubbub of decorating, shopping and parties (most years) that fill the holiday season. This year our billboard is quite noticeable (12 X 25 ft.) and located on Colerain Avenue just north of North Bend Road on the west side of the road. We hope it captures the true beauty and significance of Christmas. It is particularly striking when lit at night, so consider doing a drive-by while looking at Christmas displays. In this difficult year for most of us, our prayer is that we find time this Advent to embrace the quiet beauty of the incarnation and the birth of Christ in a way not always experienced.
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Fraternal organizations, which combined social aspects and ritual, were extremely popular during the late 19th century, but anti-Catholic sentiments regularly excluded Catholics from joining many of these groups and accessing the social services they provided. Given this social environment and the Church’s ban on membership in secret societies, Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney established the K of C not only to unite men in their faith and provide for deceased men’s families, but also to create an alternative social outlet to discourage Catholic men from joining organizations that conflicted with Church teaching.
Given the strong desire for ritual at the time, the K of C developed multiple ceremonies associated with receiving the four degrees that marked a man’s progress as a Knight. While the K of C has never been a secret society, the degree ceremonies were kept confidential to preserve their impact on the degree candidates as well as maintain the beauty and dignity of the lessons taught regarding charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.
Times change and so do the Knights. After 142 years, in early 2020 the Knights decided to combine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees into a single ceremony called the Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. They also removed the veil of secrecy by making it open to family, friends and fellow parishioners. On January 31st, LaSalle Council inducted new members during the first Exemplification ceremony to be held at St. I’s.
For more information about the Knights visit our website at lasallekofc.webstarts.com or email us at knights@sainti.org.
Since its founding, the Knights of Columbus has been involved in evangelization. In 1948, the Knights started Catholic Information Service (CIS). The Catholic Information Service (CIS) develops, publishes, and distributes booklets about our faith and critical Catholic moral and doctrinal issues. CIS publications faithfully adhere to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church. These booklets are available for free download, and the contents of some exist as audio files. There are currently 106 booklets available.
Booklets can be read individually or read in a structured manner to learn more about our Catholic faith and Church teachings. CIS offers two self-study courses that include knowledge checks, for which you can sign-up at no cost. The Luke E. Hart course, named after a former Supreme Knight, is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and seeks to provide answers to three basic questions: What do Catholics believe? How do they worship? How should they live? Anyone seeking a better understanding of Catholic faith and morality will find this series an essential resource. The Veritas course as the name signifies seeks to spread the truth on several topics related to the Catholic faith, as well as issues facing Catholics around the world today. This series includes guides to prayer, sacraments, and life issues, and provides Catholic insights on dating, and thoughts on angels and the saints.
Although not part of structured courses, other booklet series address topics such as the New Evangelization. Also available are devotional booklets including guides to saying the rosary, making a good confession and praying the Divine Chaplet, which can aid Catholics in deepening their faith and prayer life. The newest series, Building the Domestic Church, is a collection of popular booklets that focus on issues of vital importance for Catholic families seeking to build up and strengthen the Church within their homes. Titles in this series include Into the Breach, St. Benedict for Busy Parents, God’s Plan for Love and Marriage, and The Good Life. God’s Way.
To access any of these free booklets or sign up of the courses visit kofc.org/cis. For more information about the Knights visit our website at lasallekofc.webstarts.com or email us at knights@sainti.org.
