Deputy Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly addressed the Feb. 5 meeting of the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors, during which he was elected the Order’s 14th Supreme Knight. Below are excerpts from his remarks.
THIRD-GENERATION KNIGHT
“Inspiring the next generation of Knights is personal for me. I am a third-generation Knight. My grandfather joined the Order in 1915 before he left for World War I. My father was a faithful member of the council at our parish up until his death. And I joined the Order as a College Knight. I know how much we have to offer young men. And I know the Order’s mission is the same now as its was more than 100 years ago, when my grandfather joined. Our mission is to strengthen Catholic men.”
STRENGTHENING FAMILY LIFE
“We are advancing this mission in difficult times. The family is under more intense pressure now than at any time in our history. Fathers are trying to build healthy marriages and raise their children in the faith amid a culture that is working against them. I believe the Lord is calling us to place an even higher priority on caring for the spiritual lives of men specifically as husbands and fathers. Blessed Michael McGivney established the Knights to strengthen Catholic families, and that is what we must do now in new ways.”
UNITY IN A TIME OF DIVISION
“The Order remains a symbol of unity within the Church. Now is the time to build on that reputation. We have long been known as the strong right arm of the Church, and with that strength, we can be a gentle but firm guide. … Unity is the Order’s second principle, and as Knights, we can, we must, and we will be a source of unity in these divided times.”
SUPPORTING COUNCIL ACTIVITIES
“We have a fundamental goal of supporting, strengthening and honoring every individual Knight and every council. The health of our Order lies there — in our brother Knights and in our councils. They are the ones who distribute coats to kids, sponsor free throw contests, raise money for ultrasounds and wheelchairs, and lead their parish in care for their neighbor. They are the core of our identity, the witness that serves as the foundation for everything else we do.”
OUR FOUNDER’S WITNESS
“I would like to turn to the witness of Blessed Michael McGivney. And I would like to acknowledge with gratitude the work of our Worthy Supreme Knight who skillfully led us to the moment of beatification. We are now actively engaged in praying and working to raise our founder to the dignity of the altar, if that be God’s will. His cause is a source of great passion and pride for all of us.”
A BROTHERHOOD OF FAITH
“It is often said the Knights have what men need. I believe it’s also true that the Knights are what men want. We are a community of purpose — a brotherhood of faith — and a force for good for the things that matter most. The Order was made for the moment we are in, as a Church, as a country, as families and as men.”