https://kofc9924.org RSS feeds for Council 9924 | Knights of Columbus 60 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10654/September-2026-Letter-from-the-Grand-Knight--The-Cross-Compass#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10654 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10654&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10654/September-2026-Letter-from-the-Grand-Knight--The-Cross-Compass September 1, 2026 Dear Brothers, Welcome to the September issue of Cross & Compass. On Monday September 7th, America (and Canada) celebrate Labor Day; a day for fairs and picnics in the waning days of summer.  Although many of us are retired we should give thanks for the many blessings the Lord has bestowed on our country. The following day September 8th the Catholic Church celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary, the Queen of our Order.   Monday September 21st celebrates St. Matthew, one of the four Gospel writers of the Bible.  Matthew is best noted for his challenging parables in his Gospel.  Matthew Chapter 21, Verses 28 to 31 is the Parable of the Obedient and Disobedient Son (who said he would work in the vineyard, but did not go). Jesus says to the crowd “Amen I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you”. On a lighter note, my wife was a tax collector for the State of CT and I would always nudge her when Matthew refers to “tax collectors and sinners” collectively. A reminder the Circle of Life Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday September 25th at Plantation Golf & Country Golf Club.  Please go online to make a sponsorship contribution to one of the three Circle of Life charities (1) Pregnancy Solutions, (2) Venice Area Pregnancy Care Center or (3) Catholic Charities Our Mothers House. Other activities in September include:   September 2nd Wednesday, KofC Officers Meeting 9:00AM-10:00AM Library September 7th Monday, Labor Day & Parish Bingo Set-up 4:30PM, Games 7:00PM-9:00PM. September 9th Wednesday, KofC General Meeting 5:30PM Rosary 6:00PM Dinner & 6:45PM-8:00PM Meeting in Parish Hall. September 11th Friday, Patriot’s Day September 13th Sunday Blue Mass (Noon) & Buffet in Parish Hall (1:00PM to 2:00PM) September 20th Sunday One Blood Drive 8:00AM to Noon by appointment September 20th Sunday Exemplification in Parish Library 2:00PM-3:00PM September 25th Friday, Circle of Life Golf Tournament at Plantation Golf & Club September 26th & 27th Saturday/Sunday Food Collection 40 minutes before Masses We encourage everyone to click on the Calendar link each month for a complete list of all events and activities.  Please go to www.kofc9924.org for more information. Vivat Jesus! Eric Bisighini, Grand Knight Council 9924 Bob Rinda Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10654 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10625/Council-9924-Member-Birthdays-for-September-2026#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10625 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10625&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10625/Council-9924-Member-Birthdays-for-September-2026   Name   Thomas Donald Ambery Armagnac Carl Sean Brown Candela Charles  Peter Canfield Casamento Leonard Danielewicz Paul Driscoll Vinnie Ferris Richard Richard Frohmiller Gray Donald John Harris Harrison Phillip John Jansen Kesich Gregory Paul Kirwin Krause Daniel Lanktree Robert Lyons Joseph Macarelli Michael Michael Mauti Milak James Palermo Stanislaw Pierog Dennis Putman Thomas Reno Gennaro Raymond Rondinelli Ross Isabelo Sanchez Gregory Young   "Hoping your birthday brings you many happy reasons to celebrate!" Bob Rinda Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10625 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10626/Council-9924-Member-Anniversaries-for-September-2026#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10626 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10626&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10626/Council-9924-Member-Anniversaries-for-September-2026   Congratulations on Your Service Anniversary Name   YRS SVC Member Class         KEITH CHASE 18   MICHAEL CLEARY 5   MICHAEL DIDYK 28 Honorary Life SAJI ELLICKAL 9   DAVID LALIBERTE 27 Honorary Life KIRBY MEAGHER 13   DON MORRA 5   DANIEL PRICKEL 18   RAY PRONKO 5   STEFANO RAGOZZINO 13   JON ROY 40 Honorary Life JAMES STEVENS 57 Honorary Life ROBERT WHITING 5   Bob Rinda Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:01:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10626 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10651/The-Pill-that-Kills-Quietly-Part-2#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10651 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10651&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10651/The-Pill-that-Kills-Quietly-Part-2 The Pill That Kills Quietly: What Every Brother Should Know About Chemical Abortion (Part 2) By Ray Ross (Respect Life Team) Last month I covered how the abortion pill works and what risks women face who take the abortion pill.  In this article I’ll cover recent Senate Hearings as well as actions by the Courts. The Senate Hearing: "Can Men Get Pregnant?" On January 14, 2026, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee — chaired by physician-senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) — held its first pro-life-oriented hearing of the new Congress, titled "Protecting Women: Exposing the Dangers of Chemical Abortion Drugs." Cassidy opened by arguing that a child's worth doesn't change based on whether she's in her mother's arms or still in the womb, and he pressed the FDA to finally complete the mifepristone safety review insisting that, at minimum, the old in-person dispensing rule be restored right away. Two witnesses anchored the pro-life case. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill testified about women and girls she said had been coerced or secretly drugged with abortion pills — cases her office has since prosecuted under state law. Dr. Monique Chireau Wubbenhorst, a board-certified OB-GYN and senior fellow at Notre Dame's de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, walked the committee through the clinical risks of the regimen — bleeding, infection, hemorrhage, and the potential need for a blood transfusion — and warned that taking the drugs while unaware of an ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening. She told senators the lack of in-person screening has turned the pills into a tool of abuse, describing documented cases of partners secretly slipping the drug into food or drinks, or forcing women to take it against their will. The hearing's most viral moment came when Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) turned to the Democrats' witness, OB-GYN Dr. Nisha Verma of Physicians for Reproductive Health, and asked her point-blank whether men can get pregnant. Verma declined to answer with a simple yes or no, saying she didn't want the question weaponized. Hawley pressed the point repeatedly, then tied it back to the hearing's purpose: the committee was examining the safety of a drug taken exclusively by women, he said, and a witness unwilling to affirm that basic biological fact raised doubts about whether politics was distorting the broader medical defense of the pill. Hawley followed the hearing with legislative action, introducing the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act in March 2026, which would revoke the FDA's approval of mifepristone outright. The Supreme Court, Round Two The legal fight over these pills didn't end with the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling that pro-life doctors lacked standing to challenge the FDA's approval of mifepristone. It simply moved to a plaintiff with a stronger claim: the state of Louisiana. Louisiana sued the FDA directly, arguing that the agency's 2021 and 2023 decisions allowing mifepristone to be prescribed via tele-health and mailed to patients — without any in-person visit — undermined the state's own near-total abortion ban, since out-of-state doctors can simply mail the pills across Louisiana's border. By one count cited in the litigation, mifepristone shipped into Louisiana enables nearly a thousand abortions a month despite the state's law. In a dramatic sequence in early May 2026, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals — composed entirely of Republican appointees — sided with Louisiana and ordered the in-person dispensing rule reinstated nationwide, not just within the state. The order would have immediately required women anywhere in the country to see a doctor in person before receiving the drug. The manufacturers, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, raced to the Supreme Court, and Justice Samuel Alito issued a series of short-term stays while the full Court deliberated. On May 14, 2026, the Court sided with the manufacturers, preserving the mail-order status quo while Louisiana's case proceeds at the Fifth Circuit. Justices Thomas and Alito dissented; Thomas argued separately that shipping mifepristone for use in an abortion is already a federal crime — a reference to the long-dormant 1873 Comstock Act, which bars mailing anything intended to produce an abortion, and which pro-life litigators are increasingly urging the courts and the Trump administration to enforce. The case is not over. It now returns to the Fifth Circuit for a full hearing on the merits and could land back at the Supreme Court for a final ruling within the next year or two. The Race to Get Around Restrictions While Congress and the courts argue over paperwork, the practical battle has already moved underground, into a patchwork of state shield laws and cross-border tele-health networks that pro-life advocates say render existing abortion bans nearly meaningless. Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. now have "shield laws" protecting abortion providers from out-of-state prosecution, and eight of those states explicitly extend that protection to clinicians who mail abortion pills to patients living under total bans elsewhere. Louisiana became the first state to test this system criminally, indicting a New York physician for allegedly mailing pills to a pregnant Louisiana teenager — but New York, invoking its own shield law, has refused to extradite the doctor. Texas has filed similar civil suits against out-of-state providers, including the Netherlands-based tele-health group Aid Access, which by its founder's own account now sends pills to thousands of American women a month regardless of their home state's law. The pharmaceutical industry has been just as aggressive in defending the current system, with Danco and GenBioPro filing emergency briefs at every level of the federal courts to keep tele-health access intact. What This Means The pattern here should trouble anyone who cares about women's safety: a drug regimen whose real-world complication rate is now seriously disputed, dispensed increasingly without a doctor ever laying eyes on the patient, shipped across state lines specifically to defeat the laws of the states that have banned it, and defended in court primarily by the companies that profit from its sale. For pro-life supporters, the task in the meantime is clear: keep making the case, plainly and honestly, that a woman deserves to see a doctor, not just a website, before she takes a drug that will end her child's life and carries real risks to her own. Bob Rinda Sat, 29 Aug 2026 22:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10651 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10652/Food-Collection-Results--August-2026#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10652 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10652&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10652/Food-Collection-Results--August-2026 August 29th & August 30th Collection Results: $1,772 Cash, Check & Online Donations Approximately 2,075 Pounds of Food Thanks to all the donors, and to our Brother Knights who volunteered! Bob Rinda Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:55:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10652 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10642/Pope-Leo-XIV-appoints-Supreme-Knight-Patrick-Kelly-to-Vatican-Dicastery#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10642 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10642&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10642/Pope-Leo-XIV-appoints-Supreme-Knight-Patrick-Kelly-to-Vatican-Dicastery Engage Software Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10642 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10525/Veneration-of-Major-Relics-of-St-Margaret-Mary-Alacoque#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10525 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10525&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10525/Veneration-of-Major-Relics-of-St-Margaret-Mary-Alacoque Knights of Columbus Offers Veneration of Major Relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque 17th century French Nun and Mystic Visionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus New Haven, Connecticut — The Knights of Columbus have announced a veneration schedule for major relics of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), a cloistered, contemplative nun known as the Apostle of the Sacred Heart. St. Margaret Mary’s relics traveled to the United States under the custody of the Knights of Columbus for the U.S. Catholic bishops’ June 11 consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The day following the consecration was the Catholic observance of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Thousands of faithful venerated the relics at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, and later at Orlando's St. James Cathedral.  Enclosed in an ornate reliquary, the first-class relics will be available for public veneration at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center at 1 State Street in New Haven, Connecticut, from Wednesday, June 24 through Saturday, June 27. The McGivney Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission and parking.  During the week of Independence Day, the relics will visit two cities significant to America’s 250th anniversary. First, they will visit the nation’s capital, where they will be available for veneration Monday, June 29, through Wednesday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and from Thursday, July 2 through Saturday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, 3900 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC.  On July 5 and 6, the relics will visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (commonly known as the Baltimore Basilica), 409 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD, the nation’s first Catholic cathedral. Public veneration will begin on Sunday, July 5, beginning with a 10:30 a.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop William Lori, and continuing until 7 p.m. On Monday, July 6, the relics will be available for veneration from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Baltimore Basilica.   The relics will return to the McGivney Center for veneration in New Haven, July 8-11 and July 15-18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.  Relics are either the mortal remains or possessions of holy persons. From the earliest period in Christianity, such earthly remains have been venerated (prayerfully honored) in respect for the saintly people associated with them. The practice has continued for two millennia with people praying devoutly before relics for their own earthly needs or those of loved ones.  St. Margaret Mary was a member of a religious community known as the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. Beginning in 1673, at her convent in France, she experienced multiple visions of Jesus during which he stressed his divine love for humanity and revealed devotion to his Sacred Heart. At Jesus’ instruction, and with the assistance of her priest spiritual director, the Jesuit priest St. Claude de la Colombiere, the nun introduced the series of spiritual practices to the world which continue to be observed today. She was canonized as a saint in 1920.  Additional opportunities for veneration will be announced once they are confirmed.  Engage Software Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10525 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10461/Knights-of-Columbus-Supreme-Knight-Patrick-Kelly-Joins-US-Delegation-at-Annual-International-Military-Pilgrimage-to-Marian-Shrine-at-Lourdes#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10461 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10461&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10461/Knights-of-Columbus-Supreme-Knight-Patrick-Kelly-Joins-US-Delegation-at-Annual-International-Military-Pilgrimage-to-Marian-Shrine-at-Lourdes Engage Software Sat, 30 May 2026 14:36:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10461 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10435/Knights-of-Columbus-Supreme-Knight-Patrick-Kelly-Delivers-Keynote-Address-at-Conference-on-Mensuram-Bonam#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10435 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10435&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10435/Knights-of-Columbus-Supreme-Knight-Patrick-Kelly-Delivers-Keynote-Address-at-Conference-on-Mensuram-Bonam Engage Software Sat, 30 May 2026 14:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10435 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10313/Poll-A-Majority-of-Americans-Continue-to-Support-Legal-Limits-on-Abortion#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10313 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10313&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10313/Poll-A-Majority-of-Americans-Continue-to-Support-Legal-Limits-on-Abortion NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The 2026 Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll results, released today, show that 64% of Americans support placing legal limits on abortion, and that 57% support limiting abortions to at most the first three months of pregnancy. This survey, conducted by the Marist Poll and commissioned annually by the Knights of Columbus, also found that 84% of Americans support pregnancy resource centers, which offer support to mothers both during their pregnancy and after their baby is born. Additionally, the poll found that 63% of Americans believe healthcare professionals with religious objections to abortions should not be legally required to perform them, while 88% of Americans believe that laws can protect both the mother and her unborn child. “Despite the publicly heated debates about abortion, there remains a consensus of opinion on this issue among Americans. Americans believe abortion should be limited yet include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” says Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll. “Despite the changes in practice that have occurred since the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision, public opinion has remained consistent.” “Once again, most Americans are steadfast in their belief that abortion should be significantly limited yet laws should include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” says Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll. “This clear trend found in the annual Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll has continued, nearly two years after the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision.” “The Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll continues to show that a majority of Americans support legal restrictions on abortion. At the same time, a growing majority support pregnancy resource centers, which provide assistance to mothers and their children in their time of greatest need,” said Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. He continued, “The Knights have supported vulnerable women and their children since our founding by Blessed Michael McGivney more than 140 years ago, and our commitment has never wavered. And now, we’re guided by the encouraging words of Pope Leo XIV, who recently mentioned in his “State of the World” address, ‘life is a priceless gift,’ and that, as Catholics, we have a ‘fundamental ethical imperative’ to ‘welcome and fully care for unborn life.’ The Knights of Columbus’ mission will continue to be guided by these principles until abortion becomes unthinkable.” Knights across the United States and Canada have raised more than $19 million to support vital pregnancy resource centers through our ASAP, or Aid and Support After Pregnancy program. Knights have also funded the purchase of over 2,000 ultrasound machines, which empower vulnerable mothers to see their unborn babies. For more information, please visit kofc.org/polls. Engage Software Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10313 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10293/Pope-Leo-XIV-Receives-K-of-C-Board-of-Directors-on-Pilgrimage#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10293 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10293&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10293/Pope-Leo-XIV-Receives-K-of-C-Board-of-Directors-on-Pilgrimage Pope Leo XIV received in private audience the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors Oct. 6 and commended the Order’s charitable work, including “efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all of its stages.” The audience took place in the Sala del Concistoro (Hall of the Consistory) of the Vatican Apostolic Palace during the board’s pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee Year of Hope. “Through a variety of initiatives undertaken by local councils,” Pope Leo said, “you and your brother Knights also seek to bring the compassion and love of the Lord into your local communities, including through your efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all of its stages, to assist victims of war and natural disasters, and also to support priestly vocations.” The Holy Father expressed his gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for its role in restoring two 17th-century works by Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini in St. Peter’s Basilica: the iconic baldacchino and the gilt bronze monument containing the Chair of St. Peter. The monthslong cleaning and preservation projects, underwritten by the Order, were undertaken by the Fabbrica di San Pietro in 2024 in anticipation of the Jubilee Year. “These masterpieces help all who look upon them to contemplate two of the principal tenets of our faith: the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the pope as successor of Peter, who unites and guides the Church,” Pope Leo said. “I would like to express profound gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for your generosity in making these projects possible. They are a visible sign of your continued devotion to the Vicar of Christ,” he added, noting the millions of pilgrims who would see the restored masterpieces over the course of the Jubilee Year. Pope Leo XIV meets with Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore before the Oct. 6 audience. (Photo by Vatican Media)   Pope Leo further noted, “Throughout its history, the Order has supported the charitable work of the Roman pontiff in a variety of ways,” enabling him “to express solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable throughout the world.” Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori met privately with the U.S.-born Pope Leo for the first time on July 4. During that meeting, they pledged the Order’s loyalty to the new pontiff and provided an overview of the activities of the Knights of Columbus. The supreme knight and supreme chaplain again met with Pope Leo shortly before the Oct. 6 audience with the board of directors. In addition to discussing K of C initiatives and sharing about their recent visit to the Holy Land, Supreme Knight Kelly presented the Holy Father with a bound copy of personal petitions submitted during the Order’s novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The novena, which was prayed for the intentions of the newly elected pontiff, began June 19, the anniversary of Pope Leo’s ordination as a priest. The supreme knight also presented a calligraphed copy of a resolution in honor of the Holy Father, adopted by the delegates to the 143rd Supreme Convention in August. “It was a wonderful meeting where we were able to express our thanks to him and what he means to us,” said Supreme Knight Kelly in an interview with Vatican News following the pope’s Oct. 6 audience with the board. “We were honored that he expressed his gratitude to the Knights of Columbus and the works that we do to support the Church, to support the Vatican and to support human life.” Engage Software Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:53:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10293 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10273/Papal-Video-Greeting-to-Knights-Annual-Convention#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10273 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10273&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10273/Papal-Video-Greeting-to-Knights-Annual-Convention Dear friends, I am pleased to greet all of you gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 143rd Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus. I also greet those who are participating virtually in these opening ceremonies. You are meeting during the Jubilee Year of Hope, which encourages the Universal Church, and indeed the entire world, to reflect on this essential virtue, which Pope Francis described as “the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring” (Spes Non Confundit, 1). I’d like to reflect briefly with you on this important virtue. As Catholics, we know that the source of our hope is Jesus Christ and he has sent his followers in every age to bring the good news of his saving Paschal Mystery to the entire world. The Church has always been called to be a sign of hope through the proclamation of the Gospel in words as well as in actions. In a particular way during this Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind. Your founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, understood this well. He saw the many needs of immigrant Catholics and sought to bring relief to the poor and suffering through his faithful celebration of the sacraments as well as through fraternal assistance, fraternal assistance which continues on to this day. This year’s Convention has the timely theme of “Heralds of Hope,” reminding all Knights of Columbus of the invitation to be signs of hope in your local communities, parishes, and families. In this regard, I commend your efforts to bring together men in your communities for prayer, formation, and fraternity, as well as the many charitable efforts of your local Councils throughout the world. In particular, your generous service to vulnerable populations, including the unborn, pregnant mothers, children, those who are less fortunate, and those affected by the scourge of war, brings hope and healing to many and continues the noble legacy of your founder. With these brief words, I offer my good wishes for the work of the Supreme Convention, which I entrust to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and to the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney. And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever. Amen. Engage Software Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10273 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10253/Hardwired-for-Mission#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10253 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10253&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10253/Hardwired-for-Mission Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly delivered opening remarks and participated in a panel discussion at the inaugural Symposium on Young American Men, held Nov. 3 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The daylong symposium, organized by the Lafayette Company, was a bipartisan gathering of lawmakers, researchers and leaders of men’s organizations convened to address the crisis of isolation and the search for meaning among young men in the United States. “It’s no secret that many young men in America today are struggling,” Supreme Knight Kelly said in his opening remarks. “Plenty of experts, scholars and observers have explored the reasons behind this crisis. At the Knights of Columbus, we’ve encountered the crisis firsthand, and I believe our experience shows a way to help young men move forward.” He noted that since its founding in 1882 by a Catholic priest in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus has united men in faith-based fraternity and helped them find purpose through charitable service. “We are hardwired, as men, for purpose and mission,” Supreme Knight Kelly said. “That’s why, last year, our members contributed more than 48 million hours of volunteer service. By serving shoulder to shoulder and making sacrifices to help those in need, men find the meaning they’re looking for.” The supreme knight stressed young men’s need for authentic human connection rather than its digital surrogates. “Many are drowning in the depths of the internet and social media,” he said, noting that many young men are now turning to artificial intelligence and “chatbots” for companionship. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly (right) is pictured beside U.S. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma during the Nov. 3 panel discussion at the National Press Club. (Photo by Matthew Barrick) “These are AI tools that tailor their responses to the emotional needs of the user, and they offer comfort, support and validation — but it’s not real,” he explained. “This isn’t the road to friendship and meaning. It’s the road to further isolation.” To overcome such isolation, Supreme Knight Kelly said, the Knights of Columbus helps men find authentic fraternity centered on their faith and identity in God. He highlighted Cor — Latin for “heart” — the Order’s faith-formation initiative that brings men together in more than 6,000 parishes worldwide. “It connects men with the truth about themselves, their world and their Creator,” he said. “Ultimately, these men grow together as friends, pursuing a life of virtue.” Survey data released in conjunction with the symposium by the polling firm Cygnal found that 48% of Gen Z males have two or fewer friends, with 11% reporting they have no friends at all. Of the 1,000 males ages 16 to 28 who were surveyed, half said they spend more than five hours a day streaming content, using social media, playing video games or engaging in other online recreational activities. Young men who participated in single-sex or coed organizations reported better mental health than their non-affiliated peers, and those who identified as religious were more likely to report stronger well-being than those who did not. In the afternoon, Supreme Knight Kelly took part in a panel discussion titled “The Role of Faith and Civic Institutions in Restoring Male Community,” together with U.S. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma; Larry Wiese, executive director of Kappa Alpha Order; and Michael DeVaul, national director of the YMCA’s Boys and Young Men of Color program. The panel was moderated by Michael Mayer, chief executive of Theta Chi Fraternity and a member of Father M. Joseph McDonnell Council 11044 in Carmel, Indiana. During the panel, the supreme knight emphasized that many young men are seeking an antidote to relativism in organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, which is on pace to welcome 100,000 new members this year. “A lot of young men are coming out of their parents’ relativistic view of life,” he said. “It’s those men who are yearning for more of an institution — and yearning for moorings.” In response to a question about changing attitudes toward organizational membership among Gen Z and millennial men, the supreme knight noted that the Order has expanded its digital presence and adjusted membership requirements to accommodate busy family schedules. Equally important, he said, is what has not changed. “We haven’t changed the fact that we’re a service organization — that we believe, based on our faith in Jesus Christ, that we are in service to others.” While culture changes, Supreme Knight Kelly explained, human nature remains fundamentally the same. “The organizing principle of the person,” he said, “is the longing for love and the longing to be part of something bigger than yourself.” Engage Software Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:47:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10253