Each month, Archbishop William Lori – Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus – selects a brief passage from the Gospel reading of one of the Sunday Masses of the month.
Archbishop Lori shares a brief reflection on the passage and issues a challenge for men to live for the month.
The next month, men undertaking the challenge as a group gather and share their experiences living the challenge.
The Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge is ideally done during monthly Knights of Columbus meetings, but can be done in a separate group or individually.
By taking up the Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge, men take direct, concrete action to grow in their faith and help their brothers do so as well.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Gospel for March 5, Mt 17:7)
“Do not be afraid” — we read these words often in Scripture. Here, Jesus speaks to the apostles, awestruck at his Transfiguration. In a similar way, the angel told St. Joseph, “Do not be afraid” to take Mary, who had conceived the Christ Child, as his wife. The knowledge that God is with us should encourage and strengthen us. Sometimes, as with the apostles, we are overwhelmed by the mysteries of faith; at other times the challenges of living our faith in a secular culture seem daunting. Yet Christ continually empowers us as he calls us: “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, in which we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, I challenge you to watch the documentary St. Joseph: Our Spiritual Father (available for free at kofc.org/stjoseph), reflecting on St. Joseph’s courage. Second, I challenge you to participate in the Faith in Action Pilgrim Icon program, which features an icon of St. Joseph.
Questions for Reflection:
What are you afraid of? Do your fears prevent you from fully following God’s will in your life? How can you imitate the courage of St. Joseph?
The Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge for the month will be available in a number of places:
• KofC.org
• Columbia
• Knightline
• Chaplain's Report
• Knights of Columbus social media
To conduct the Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge, during a Knights of Columbus meeting (ideally during the Chaplain's Message or the Grand Knight's Report) or other gathering:
1) Open with the Sign of the Cross and perhaps a brief prayer.
Example Opening Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. We thank you for guiding our lives and pray that we may have the courage exemplified by Venerable Fr. McGivney to live our faith to the fullest through our council, our families and in society. May our words today give glory to your Sacred Heart and if we struggled this past month in living our faith, help us to never stop turning to you and always try again.
2) Re-read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge from the previous month.
3) Open the floor for discussion on what it was like to try and live last month's challenge. Every month has a number of Questions for Reflection that may help facilitate discussion. Don't worry about what order the men speak in or if there is silence in between men speaking. Not everyone has to speak and it is not a problem if the discussion is brief. Men are welcome to comment on others’ contribution to the discourse.
4) When finished, read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge for the next month.
5) End by asking if there are any intentions and close with prayer and the Sign of the Cross.
Example Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time together with our brothers. We ask you to have mercy on all those people and intentions we prayed for. Give us the perseverance to live next month's challenge and to remember that we are united with our brother Knights around the world in doing so.
April 2023
May 2023
June 2023
July 2023
August 2023
September 2023
October 2023
November 2023
December 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Gospel for March 5, Mt 17:7)
“Do not be afraid” — we read these words often in Scripture. Here, Jesus speaks to the apostles, awestruck at his Transfiguration. In a similar way, the angel told St. Joseph, “Do not be afraid” to take Mary, who had conceived the Christ Child, as his wife. The knowledge that God is with us should encourage and strengthen us. Sometimes, as with the apostles, we are overwhelmed by the mysteries of faith; at other times the challenges of living our faith in a secular culture seem daunting. Yet Christ continually empowers us as he calls us: “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, in which we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, I challenge you to watch the documentary St. Joseph: Our Spiritual Father (available for free at kofc.org/stjoseph), reflecting on St. Joseph’s courage. Second, I challenge you to participate in the Faith in Action Pilgrim Icon program, which features an icon of St. Joseph.
Questions for Reflection:
What are you afraid of? Do your fears prevent you from fully following God’s will in your life? How can you imitate the courage of St. Joseph?
The Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge for the month will be available in a number of places:
• KofC.org
• Columbia
• Knightline
• Chaplain's Report
• Knights of Columbus social media
To conduct the Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge, during a Knights of Columbus meeting (ideally during the Chaplain's Message or the Grand Knight's Report) or other gathering:
1) Open with the Sign of the Cross and perhaps a brief prayer.
Example Opening Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. We thank you for guiding our lives and pray that we may have the courage exemplified by Venerable Fr. McGivney to live our faith to the fullest through our council, our families and in society. May our words today give glory to your Sacred Heart and if we struggled this past month in living our faith, help us to never stop turning to you and always try again.
2) Re-read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge from the previous month.
3) Open the floor for discussion on what it was like to try and live last month's challenge. Every month has a number of Questions for Reflection that may help facilitate discussion. Don't worry about what order the men speak in or if there is silence in between men speaking. Not everyone has to speak and it is not a problem if the discussion is brief. Men are welcome to comment on others’ contribution to the discourse.
4) When finished, read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge for the next month.
5) End by asking if there are any intentions and close with prayer and the Sign of the Cross.
Example Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time together with our brothers. We ask you to have mercy on all those people and intentions we prayed for. Give us the perseverance to live next month's challenge and to remember that we are united with our brother Knights around the world in doing so.
April 2023
May 2023
June 2023
July 2023
August 2023
September 2023
October 2023
November 2023
December 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019