https://kofc9924.org RSS feeds for Council 9924 | Knights of Columbus 60 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10568/August-2026-Letter-from-the-Grand-Knight--The-Cross-Compass#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10568 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10568&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10568/August-2026-Letter-from-the-Grand-Knight--The-Cross-Compass August 1, 2026 Dear Brother Knights Welcome to the August issue of Cross & Compass, On Saturday August 15th we celebrate The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. The Assumption of Mary symbolizes the promise of the resurrection for all believers and Mary’s special role as the Mother of God. In the words of John Paul II: “When Mary was assumed into heaven: she is the first to receive the highest glory." She, a human creature, attains eternity in soul and body. And there she awaits us as a mother waits for her children to come home. Mary gives us hope that we too can reach eternal life in Heaven. Our Circle of Life Golf Tournament will be held September 25th at Plantation Golf & Country Golf Club. We encourage everyone go online to our website at www.kofc9924.org to make an individual 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. You can also obtain contributions or corporate sponsorships from local businesses. August 3rd Monday, Parish Bingo 5:00pm (Set-up) 7:00pm-8:00pm (Bingo) August 5th Wednesday, KofC Officers Meeting 9:00am-10:00am Library August 12th Parish Hall General Meeting: Rosary 5:30pm Dinner 6:00pm, Meeting 6:45pm-8:00pm August 15 & 16th Saturday & Sunday Membership Drive 20 minutes before & after all Masses at all doors. August 29th & 30th Saturday & Sunday Food Collection 40 minutes before all Masses August 29th & 30th Saturday & Sunday 5th Sunday Rosary 40 minutes before all Masses We also encourage everyone to go to our website at www.kofc9924.org and click on the Calendar link each month for a complete list of events and activities You can also pay your dues online for the Knights of Columbus Council 9924 that were due July 1st. Vivat Jesus! Eric Bisighini, Grand Knight Council 9924 Bob Rinda Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10568 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10566/Council-9924-Member-Anniversaries-for-August-2026#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10566 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10566&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10566/Council-9924-Member-Anniversaries-for-August-2026   Congratulations on Your Service Anniversary Name   YRS SVC           JAMES DAUGHERTY 28   JOHN LITKE 25   ROBERT LYONS 2   DONALD MASELLI 39   DENNIS TUSZYUSKI 14   Bob Rinda Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10566 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10565/Council-9924-Member-Birthdays-for-August-2026#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10565 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10565&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10565/Council-9924-Member-Birthdays-for-August-2026 Name   Anthony Lawrence Amorose Baranick Dennis Charles Ronald Courtney Dan Dacey Michael Davis Victor Vince Deloach Gelsomino Charles Glomb Lee Hendrickson Tom Kyle Herbst Hill John Kopinsky David Kristie Louis John Lamberto Le Duke Peter McNally Kirby Meagher Fred Joe Stefano Perry Porsella Ragozzino Ryan Richard Schell Sheldon David Smith Lee Smutz Joseph Stasolla Dowd Ray Tom  George Sullivan Tremblay Zacaroli Zammit   "Hoping your birthday brings you many happy reasons to celebrate!" Bob Rinda Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10565 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10563/The-Pill-that-Kills-Quietly-Part-1#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10563 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10563&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10563/The-Pill-that-Kills-Quietly-Part-1 The Pill That Kills Quietly: What Every Brother Should Know About Chemical Abortion By Ray Ross (Respect Life Team) Most Americans who oppose abortion picture a clinic. A waiting room, a procedure, a protest sign on the sidewalk outside. But that picture is out of date. Today, most abortions in America don't happen in a clinic at all. They happen in a bathroom, a dorm room, a bedroom — set in motion by two small pills that arrive in an unmarked envelope, no doctor in the room, sometimes no doctor even on the phone. This is chemical abortion, and it is now the dominant method of ending a pregnancy in the United States. Understanding how it works — and how it is being fought over in Congress, in statehouses, and at the Supreme Court — is essential for anyone who wants to defend the unborn and the women targeted by this industry. How the Pills Work Chemical abortion is a two-drug regimen: mifepristone followed by misoprostol. Mifepristone, first developed in France and often called by its old name RU-486, is an anti-progesterone drug. Progesterone is the hormone that sustains a pregnancy — it maintains the uterine lining so the developing child can stay implanted and nourished. Mifepristone binds to progesterone receptors and blocks the hormone from doing its job. Deprived of that support, the uterine lining begins to break down, cutting off the child's supply line. Misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, finishes the job. It triggers strong uterine contractions that expel the child's body, along with the placenta and lining, from the womb. The process is often compared to a miscarriage — because, medically speaking, that is exactly what it is designed to induce. Women typically pass their child at home: in the toilet, the shower, or wherever they happen to be when the contractions take hold. The FDA has approved this regimen only through 10 weeks of pregnancy, though it is frequently used off-label later, and a growing number of providers now offer a misoprostol-only protocol — usually because it doesn't require verifying a mifepristone prescription, though studies suggest it causes more pain, nausea, and bleeding than the standard two-drug regimen. What the Risks Actually Are Advocates for the drug — including the FDA itself, in public messaging — have long described serious complications as exceedingly rare, citing a rate below half of one percent. That figure traces largely to clinical trials from around the time of the drug's original approval in 2000. Newer, real-world data tells a more troubling story. In April 2025, the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) released the largest insurance-claims study of the abortion pill to date, analyzing 865,727 mifepristone abortions between 2017 and 2023. The researchers, Jamie Bryan Hall and Ryan T. Anderson, found that nearly 11 percent of women suffered sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days of taking the drug — a rate they calculate as at least 22 times higher than the FDA's own labeled figure. A companion EPPC analysis using the same dataset found that roughly one in twenty women needed a second abortion attempt within 45 days because the first one failed to work. The FDA's own post-marketing safety records add another grim data point: as of the end of 2024, the agency had logged 36 reports of patient deaths associated with mifepristone since its approval in 2000, including women who died from undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies and from sepsis. The agency is careful to note it cannot attribute every death to the drug with full certainty, given gaps in follow-up records — but the FDA has also confirmed it is now conducting its own dedicated safety study of mifepristone, at the direction of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It's worth being honest that these figures are contested. Groups that support legal abortion dispute the EPPC's methodology, and one medical commentator has placed the real complication rate closer to 1 in 200. That gap — whether it's 1 in 200 or 1 in 10 — is itself the scandal: a quarter-century after approval, there is no longer scientific consensus on how dangerous this drug actually is, in large part because the systems meant to track its harms have been loosened rather than strengthened. What is not contested is that mifepristone is contraindicated for women with an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, since it can allow a ruptured tube to go undetected until it becomes a life-threatening emergency. Under the current mail-order system, there is often no ultrasound, no blood test, and no in-person exam to catch that risk before the pills are ever taken. This is a two-part article. Next month in Part 2 I’ll cover Senate Hearings as well as actions by the Courts. Bob Rinda Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:04:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10563 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10562/Food-Collection-Results--July-2026#Comments 0 https://kofc9924.org/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=1399&ModuleID=3753&ArticleID=10562 https://kofc9924.org:443/DesktopModules/CM.NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10562&PortalID=17&TabID=1399 https://kofc9924.org/Resources/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10562/Food-Collection-Results--July-2026 July 25th & July 26th Collection Results: $1,826 Cash, Check & Online Donations Approximately 1,800 Pounds of Food Thanks to all the donors, and to our Brother Knights who volunteered! Bob Rinda Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:45:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10562 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