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.
“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Gospel for May 3, Jn 10:9-10)
We’ve all gone through times when it seems like we’re just keeping our head above water, or moments when we feel overwhelmed by life. So what does Jesus mean when he says that he came in order that we might have life “more abundantly”? Some think that Jesus is offering a “prosperity gospel” that awards the faithful with happiness, good health and financial success. Yet Christ experienced suffering, as do his followers, so an “abundant life” must mean something else. Whether a given day brings health and success, or trials and suffering, we experience all these things with Christ. By living our lives for Christ, he shows us the way to fullness of life.
This month I challenge you to write down Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is my light and my salvation” — put it up where you’ll see it daily (on the fridge, on your mirror, etc.), and recite it regularly. Second, I challenge you to promote the cause of life by participating in the Faith in Action Ultrasound or Pregnancy Center Support programs or by making a donation to a pregnancy center.
What obstacles do you face in living with more abundance, generosity and magnanimity? Has reminding yourself that God is your light and salvation helped you to live more abundantly? How does supporting the pro-life cause help you, others and our society live more abundantly?
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.
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
“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Gospel for May 3, Jn 10:9-10)
We’ve all gone through times when it seems like we’re just keeping our head above water, or moments when we feel overwhelmed by life. So what does Jesus mean when he says that he came in order that we might have life “more abundantly”? Some think that Jesus is offering a “prosperity gospel” that awards the faithful with happiness, good health and financial success. Yet Christ experienced suffering, as do his followers, so an “abundant life” must mean something else. Whether a given day brings health and success, or trials and suffering, we experience all these things with Christ. By living our lives for Christ, he shows us the way to fullness of life.
This month I challenge you to write down Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is my light and my salvation” — put it up where you’ll see it daily (on the fridge, on your mirror, etc.), and recite it regularly. Second, I challenge you to promote the cause of life by participating in the Faith in Action Ultrasound or Pregnancy Center Support programs or by making a donation to a pregnancy center.
What obstacles do you face in living with more abundance, generosity and magnanimity? Has reminding yourself that God is your light and salvation helped you to live more abundantly? How does supporting the pro-life cause help you, others and our society live more abundantly?
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.
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