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.
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gospel for Oct. 25, Mt 22:37-39)
The connection between these two commandments is unmistakable: We must love both God and our neighbor. They are in keeping with the “new commandment” that Jesus gave us at the Last Supper: “Love one another as I love you” (Jn 15:12). What does it mean to “love one another” as Christ has loved us? Jesus further told his disciples at the Last Supper, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). May we lay down our lives daily in love of God and neighbor.
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, I challenge you to make a small financial sacrifice (such as forgoing a daily cup of coffee, a subscription to a streaming service or eating out one night) and donate the money you save to the poor. Second, I challenge you to show your love for your neighbors by participating in the Faith in Action Coats for Kids program with your council.
Questions for Reflection:
What are some specific ways you can love God with your heart, your soul and you mind? How does laying down your life for another show you love them? What are some small, everyday ways you can lay down your life for God and others?
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.
November 2020
December 2020
January 2021
February 2021
March 2021
April 2021
May 2021
June 2021
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
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gospel for Oct. 25, Mt 22:37-39)
The connection between these two commandments is unmistakable: We must love both God and our neighbor. They are in keeping with the “new commandment” that Jesus gave us at the Last Supper: “Love one another as I love you” (Jn 15:12). What does it mean to “love one another” as Christ has loved us? Jesus further told his disciples at the Last Supper, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). May we lay down our lives daily in love of God and neighbor.
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, I challenge you to make a small financial sacrifice (such as forgoing a daily cup of coffee, a subscription to a streaming service or eating out one night) and donate the money you save to the poor. Second, I challenge you to show your love for your neighbors by participating in the Faith in Action Coats for Kids program with your council.
Questions for Reflection:
What are some specific ways you can love God with your heart, your soul and you mind? How does laying down your life for another show you love them? What are some small, everyday ways you can lay down your life for God and others?
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.
November 2020
December 2020
January 2021
February 2021
March 2021
April 2021
May 2021
June 2021
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