Knights in Częstochowa, Poland, wanted to celebrate International Women’s Day in a unique way — not just by giving flowers and candy to their wives, but by honoring the vital role of women in the family.
To honor the women in their lives, the members of Council 15672 organized an event for local families. During the program, Marian songs were sung to musical accompaniment.
For council member Adam Broncel, the Blessed Mother offers a model for the indispensable role of the mother in a family. It’s a role worthy of praise.
“Just as the Holy Family is a model for the family, so is the Mother of God an ideal model for women,” said Broncel.
The Knights showed their appreciation for their wives through poems, flowers, sweets, and a blessing from the council’s chaplain, Father Radosław Rychlik.
“We want to emphasize that in our Knights of Columbus meetings, whenever there is Mass, whenever there is liturgy, there are also wives,” said Father Stanisław Iłczyk, a priest at Sw. Wojciech Parish where the event was held.
While the event was a joyous occasion, it also presented the opportunity to address challenges and threats facing families who profess the Catholics faith. Father Rychlik presented a lecture about modern-day obstacles facing Christian families and how to combat them.
“This is to emphasize that the Knights of Columbus express themselves, speak out in their piety through the family and express themselves in the concern that the family is in danger today,” Father Iłczyk said.
The Knights are no strangers to the challenges that families face. Just one week before the International Women’s Day event, the members of Council 15672 assisted a parish family in need. One of the children in this family is Kamil Bekus, an 8-year-old boy who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
“He does not walk alone, does not sit, does not speak, he can neither eat nor drink by himself,” said Kamil’s mother, Justyna. “He requires continuous daily rehabilitation, speech therapy, pedagogical therapy, vision therapy.”
The Knights raised nearly $1,000 for the Bekus family, collecting the funds after Masses celebrated on Sunday, March 8, at Sw. Wojciech Parish.
In recognition of both the International Women’s Day program and the support for the Bekus family, the council was selected as the first place winner in the Family Awards at the Knights of Columbus 138th Supreme Convention.
“Let us value our families. Let us find time to spend time with them regularly, thank them for being with us, thank them for dedicating themselves to us every day,” Krzysztof Zuba, a member of the council, said. “At the same time, let us observe around us who is more needy, who needs help, what help is needed. That is the mission of the Knights of Columbus.”
Poland’s first Knights of Columbus council was established in 2005 and marked the first major international expansion of the organization since 1905. The Knights in Poland now number more than 5,500 members operating through 110 local councils in 28 dioceses.
Share your story of how your council is helping strengthen people’s faith and offering support during this time. Email knightline@kofc.org.
Originally published in a weekly edition of Knightline, a resource for K of C leaders and members. To access Knightline’s archives, click here.
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