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Celebrating 125 Years Witnessing to the ‘Yes’ of Jesus Christ |
Vatican Secretary of State Speaks on Variety of Issues
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone spoke to members of the media at the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention on Wednesday. In the United States for the first time as Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone travelled to Nashville for the Knights of Columbus 125th Annual Supreme Convention. He addressed the media on a variety of issues concerning the Knights and the Catholic Church in the United States.
Knights Reaffirm Stand on Life Issues |
Major Address Delivered on Convention Theme
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, delivered the major address of the 125th Supreme Convention Wednesday night. He outlined the primary characteristics of the lay vocation within the Church and in society at large, and the particular challenges facing the laity today.
Vatican Cardinal Will Bring ‘Excellent Report’ Back to Holy Father
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said that he will give “an excellent report” to Pope Benedict XVI on his trip to the United States to attend the Knights of Columbus 125th Supreme Council Meeting in Nashville.
Supreme Chaplain Lori Celebrates Mass for Deceased Knights
The Knights of Columbus remembered its deceased members at a Memorial Mass on the final day of the 125th Supreme Council Meeting in Nashville, praying in a special way for the Knights who died during the previous fraternal year.
Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori, the main celebrant and homilist, invoked the names of the seven canonized saints of the Knights of Columbus and the four blesseds, whom “we recognize as our own.”
He also said that the name of the Order’s founder, the Servant of God Father Michael J. McGivney, should “always remain in our hearts,” as Knights pray for his beatification and canonization.
In a moving portion during Mass, Supreme Secretary Robert J. Lane read from the necrology of the Order for the past fraternal year, mentioning members of the Church’s hierarchy, supreme officers, supreme directors and past state deputies.
The Mass began with a procession of a Fourth Degree honor guard, followed by 65 concelebrating priests and 29 bishops. The Litany of the Saints was chanted by the schola of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia of Nashville, accompanied by the St. Joseph Church Handbell Choir of Madison, Tenn.
Bishop Lori said that Knights gathered to “pray for the deceased members of the Knights of Columbus who have gone before us in faith, asking God to fill them with the light of his presence.”
“May their names be inscribed not only in the annals of the Order,” he added, “but indeed in the Book of Life.”
Cardinal Bertone Expresses Interest in Father McGivney’s Cause
More than 2,700 Knights and family members greeted with applause the statement from a high-ranking Vatican official that he was personally interested in the cause for sainthood of K of C founder, the Servant of God Father Michael J. McGivney.
‘Blessing From God’ – Tennessee State Deputy Looks At Convention
Reflecting on the 125th Supreme Council Convention, Tennessee State Deputy William Wicke said the key to the event’s success was “the 440 volunteers from our state who worked above and beyond the call, all in the true spirit of the Knights of Columbus – charity, unity and fraternity. We have been working on this convention for more than three years, and we all pulled together for that big push at the end when everything had to get done.” was a divine appointment, and God has been with us.”
Archbishop Offers Knights Heartfelt Thanks for Help in Holy Land
Coadjutor Archbishop Fouad Twal of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem thanked the Knights of Columbus for support dating back to his days as a seminarian in the Holy Land, and for the assistance which continues today through the Order’s Pacem in Terris Fund. The fund provides an annual grant for the pastoral activities of the Patriarchate.
Another Mexican Knight Among Blesseds
In his annual report, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson announced that one more Knight has been identified among the dozens of Cristeros martyrs beatified in 2005. He is the layman, Leonardo Perez, who was arrested while he was praying in church with Fathers José Rangel Trinidad and Andrés Sola y Molist. He was shot alongside Fathers Rangel and Sola, who were also Knights. There are currently six priest saints among the Mexican Knights who were killed during the Church persecution. An additional Mexican Knight, Bishop Rafael Guízar Valencia of Veracruz, was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI Oct. 15, 2006.
Marian Program Launched
The new Knights of Columbus Marian Hour of Prayer program, dedicated to Our Lady of Charity, was inaugurated during morning Mass on Wednesday, August 8th. The inauguration ceremony was led by Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana, who blessed framed images of Our Lady of Charity being held by all the state deputies attending the convention. Our Lady of Charity is the patroness of Cuba.