"One Rope"

Inspired by St. Andrew Kim Taegon words about “ one rope”, (See Columbia 9/1/16 article below) Knights and Catholic Daughters of St Joseph- Honey Creek in Spring Branch, Texas gathered to celebrate their unity on July 11, 2017.

Fr Francis McHugh, Pastor and Faithful Friar, requested that a rope be installed above the door at St John Hall signifying that Council 8521, Assembly 3439 and Catholic Daughters Court 2260 are joined together by faith, unity and charity.

http://www.kofc.org/en/columbia/detail/korea-church-martyrs.html

Visitors to Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine pose for photos alongside a towering statue depicting St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the country’s first indigenous priest. Beheaded at the age of 25 in 1846, he and 102 fellow martyrs are honored annually during the Korean Martyrs’ feast day Sept. 20.Days before his execution, the young priest addressed one of his final prison letters to fellow Catholics.

“My friends! In this difficult time, we must be steadfast like brave soldiers fully armed in the battlefield,” he wrote. “Though you are separated, make one rope. … God will soon send you a much better pastor than I. So do not grieve but practice greater charity and serve the Lord so that we may meet again in God’s eternal mansion.”

The saint’s legacy of charity continues to grow, as the first nonmilitary Knights of Columbus council in South Korea was named after him.

Paul Moon Chan-woong, financial secretary for Council 16000, helps to oversee the council’s wide range of local charitable efforts.

“Two-hundred years ago, Rev. Kim inspired strong faith, unity and charity in his people,” he said. “His words about ‘one rope’ remind us of the Order’s principle of unity, and our council members are always armed with these wonderful spiritual values.”