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.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” (Gospel for Sept. 19, Mk 9:34-35)
Naturally, in every good undertaking — whether doing one’s job, helping another or playing a sport — we ought to strive for excellence, for greatness. But here, Jesus gives that thinking a twist: If we want to be great in the kingdom of heaven, we must embrace humility and become servants. We must not seek headlines, but rather give of ourselves for the sake of others, for the common good. My brothers, let us forgo seeking earthly glory in favor of being selfless “team players” in building the kingdom of heaven.
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, I challenge you to watch the “Leadership” episode of the Into the Breach video series and use the study guide to reflect on what true humility and service look like. Second, I challenge you to participate in the Faith in Action Soccer Challenge or Free Throw Championship program.
Questions for Reflection:
Do you seek personal glory at the expense of others? Do you put your gifts at the service of God and your neighbor, or do you use them primarily to achieve praise and gain in this life? What is one concrete act you can do to grow in humility and give of yourself to 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.
October 2021
November 2021
December 2021
January 2022
February 2022
March 2022
April 2022
May 2022
June 2022
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
They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” (Gospel for Sept. 19, Mk 9:34-35)
Naturally, in every good undertaking — whether doing one’s job, helping another or playing a sport — we ought to strive for excellence, for greatness. But here, Jesus gives that thinking a twist: If we want to be great in the kingdom of heaven, we must embrace humility and become servants. We must not seek headlines, but rather give of ourselves for the sake of others, for the common good. My brothers, let us forgo seeking earthly glory in favor of being selfless “team players” in building the kingdom of heaven.
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, I challenge you to watch the “Leadership” episode of the Into the Breach video series and use the study guide to reflect on what true humility and service look like. Second, I challenge you to participate in the Faith in Action Soccer Challenge or Free Throw Championship program.
Questions for Reflection:
Do you seek personal glory at the expense of others? Do you put your gifts at the service of God and your neighbor, or do you use them primarily to achieve praise and gain in this life? What is one concrete act you can do to grow in humility and give of yourself to 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.
October 2021
November 2021
December 2021
January 2022
February 2022
March 2022
April 2022
May 2022
June 2022
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