WHEREAS, the Catholic Church has deep historical roots in France beginning with the 5th century baptism of the Frankish King Clovis I, continuing through the declaration of Charlemagne as the first Holy Roman Emperor, exemplified in the saintly example of King Louis IX, hailed through the heroic life of St. Joan of Arc, recognized the world over following apparitions of Our Lady in Cotignac and Lourdes, and made manifest for the whole Church by the virtue of St. Jean Vianney; and
WHEREAS, during the proceedings of the 134th Supreme Convention held in Toronto in 2016, the Supreme Knight announced the expansion of the Order into France with the establishment of St. Jean Vianney Council 16500 in Dardilly, St. Louis King of France Council 16501 in Saint Cyr-su-Mer, and the additional chartering of three other councils throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, French Knights have dutifully responded to the needs of the Church in France by organizing the faithful in prayer following attacks on several parish churches in 2019 and the devastating fire at the historic Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris; and
WHEREAS, over the past four years membership in France has continued to grow in communities across the country, leading the Board of Directors to designate France as a territory of the Knights of Columbus pursuant to Section 14 of the Constitution and Laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we welcome the Knights of Columbus of the French Republic and pray that they may, like the Curé of Ars, be “devoted in winning over young people and bringing families back to the standards of Christian morality.”