”Our Supreme Council has re-looked at; are we doing as much as we can to be involved in our parishes, to be as supportive of the ministry of our clergy,” said Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus (K of C) State Secretary Brian Schatz in a March 15 interview with the PM. He and Guy Precourt Membership and Program Consultant for the Supreme Council presented this re-focus to priests, members of K of C and guests who met at Holy Child Church the afternoon prior to the Chrism Mass celebrated that evening.
The idea of the special presentation came from Holy Child Pastor Reverend Danilo Rafael who heard Precourt at a priest gathering held in February and was so impressed he felt it should be heard by more priests.
It began with a 25-minute video of Supreme Knight Carl Anderson delivering a speech he gave at a K of C mid-term meeting in San Antonio late in 2015. He described the new initiative as a re-focus on traditional activities for the Knights.
“The Knights were founded on the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism but our unwritten mode of operation really is to be in solidarity with our priests,” said Schatz. “Are we doing as much as we can to be involved in our parishes, to be supportive of the ministry of our clergy. As we looked at it there were a number of things that maybe were not in align with what is happening within the parishes.” Some of the youth programs were separate from the parish, said Schatz, and some councils, not so much in Saskatchewan he said but throughout the Order some councils are separate and apart from the Parishes. He referred to Boy Scout programs and other youth programs that were not part of the parish. He emphasized family activities too were apart but the re-focus is to bring them more in align with the parishes. He noted however, that all Saskatchewan K of C Councils are parish based. He also noted that K of C councils have partnered with the Regina Archdiocese in several youth gatherings.
Precourt, also speaking with the PM echoed much of what Schatz said. “This is really getting our brothers and our families to sort of come home and make the parish the centre of all activity and that’s really the direction our Supreme Knight is showing.” After a 132 years since it’s formation it’s time to re-focus to bring young people back to Church, said Precourt. Many parish priests are Knights, said Precourt and getting on and are tired. “Maybe it’s time we contact more brother Knights and help our parish priests and really, our parishioners as a whole.”
