- What is the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge
- Instructions
- This Month's Challenge
- Previous Challenges
What is the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge
1. Archbishop Lori choses a line or two from scripture (in the upcoming month) from one of the readings at Sunday Mass.
2. There is a brief reflection on the reading from the Archbishop
3. The Archbishop gives them a challenge or 2 to live for the upcoming month
4. The next month, the council reconvenes and shares what it was like living the challenge (see enclosed directions)
5. Delivery vehicles:
a. Monthly email blast to Grand Knight and Chaplain
b. Social Media
c. KNIGHTLINE
d. Columbia
e. Chaplain's Report
f. BDC webpage
6. Monthly reflection during council meeting (options):
a. During Chaplain's Message (preferred)
b. During Grand Knight Report
Instructions
During the Chaplain's Message or the Grand Knight's Report:
1) Begin with a prayer of your choosing or use the following:
a. Make the Sign of the Cross
b. 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) Invite the men to talk about what it was like to try and live last month's challenge from the Supreme Chaplain.
a. Don't worry about what order the men speak in
b. If there is silence in between men speaking, it's ok
c. Try to make sure that when one man is speaking that the others are listening
d. If someone doesn't want to speak that's ok
4) The men are welcome to give (encouraging) comments to each other if they want
5) When finished, read Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge the for next month
6) End with this prayer
a. Ask the men if there is anything they would like the group to pray for
b. 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.
c. Make the Sign of the Cross
This Month's Challenge
November 2018
Jesus said to his disciples, “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened…and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Gospel for Nov. 18, Mk. 13:24, 32)
There’s an old country Gospel song with a catchy refrain that asks this question: “What would you do if Jesus came to spend the day with you?” As Advent quickly approaches, the Church invites us to ponder this question—and prepare our hearts and souls accordingly. We frantically prepare for Christmas, buying gifts and decorating our homes. But will we prepare our soul with the same sense of urgency, purpose, and care? Advent is a sobering time of reflection on the second coming of Jesus. “What would you do if Jesus came to spend the day with you?” Soon he will. May we meet him with open arms and pure hearts.
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, recalling that we do not know the “day or the hour,” I challenge you to go confession, and make a commitment to go monthly thereafter as a means of maintaining vigilant care over your soul. Secondly I challenge you in the coming month to forgive someone who has hurt you in some way.
