Report of the Supreme Knight 2009

Vocations

As a priest, Michael McGivney was a spiritual father with many sons in faith who have followed him into the priesthood. Each year brings the ordination of a new group of brother Knights who have chosen to follow in his footsteps, many of them with the financial support of the Order.

Among this year’s newly-ordained priests are 12 who studied for the priesthood with the help of Bishop Thomas V. Daily Vocations Scholarships, and 24 who were recipients of Father Michael J. McGivney Vocations Scholarships. Last September, we awarded 11 new Bishop Daily Scholarships and renewed 19. We awarded 33 new McGivney Scholarships and renewed 47. This fraternal year will witness the ordination of the 600th beneficiary of our vocations scholarship programs.

Hundreds more of our newly-ordained priests received financial support during their seminary years from the 2,600 councils that participate in our RSVP vocations program. Last year 4,758 men and 148 women received financial support through this program in the course of their studies to become men and women religious.

Father Luke Strand, ordained this year for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary with the help of a Father McGivney Vocations Scholarship.

I’d like you to meet a few of the men who have begun their lives as priests this year with the help of the Knights of Columbus:

In May, Archbishop Timothy Dolan returned from his new post in New York to ordain six new priests in his former archdiocese, Milwaukee, including Daniel Janisik, who attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary with the help of a Bishop Daily Scholarship; Luke Strand, who attended St. Francis de Sales with the help of a Father McGivney Scholarship; and Mark Brandl, who attended St. Francis with help from RSVP donations from Councils 3562, 4240, 6645, and 7798 in Wisconsin.

Shortly before his move to New Orleans this year, then- Austin Bishop Gregory Aymond ordained Jonathan Raia, who attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Austin with the help of a Bishop Daily Scholarship. In Portland, Oregon, Father McGivney Scholarship recipient David Jaspers was one of seven new priests ordained this summer by Archbishop John Vlazny, after completing his studies at Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon.

Among the many new priests who received RSVP support while studying for the priesthood were Father John Hollowell, supported by Councils 245 and 1096 in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis; Father Dale Maxfield, supported by Councils 1334, 1666 and 6165 in the Diocese of Belleville; Father Carl Melchior, supported by Councils 7644 and 12165 in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and Father Clinton Pendleton, supported by Councils 1614 and 4866 in the Diocese of Kamloops, in British Columbia.

These men are among 4,906 seminarians, postulants and novices who received $2.9 million through the RSVP program this year in support of their studies. Since the program began in 1981, Knights of Columbus councils have used it to provide more than $44 million to over 70,000 seminarians, postulants and novices.

Support for vocations is some-thing that has been increasingly important to us. We’re not just providing financial support, as vital as that is. We also extend moral support and personal friendship, and encourage vocations within our own homes. Many priests and women religious have come from Knights’ families down through the years, and we make clear to our own children that we welcome and encourage them to consider carefully whether they might have a vocation, too.