Building the Domestic Church

Greetings Brothers! With just four months left in the fraternal year, now is the time to review your council’s programs for the year. Are you tracking toward four programs in each of the six categories? Has your council conducted at least four of the Domestic Church programs? If so, or if they are planned, you are on target to qualify for the Columbian Award. If not, there is still time to plan. Successful programming is what attracts Catholic men to our Order. For more information on the various programs in the new Building the Domestic Church initiative, refer to http://www.kofc.org/un/en/domestic-church/index.html Remember this initiative is not just another group of programs. It is an outline to become better Catholic fathers, grandfathers, sons, and brothers. And it is how we will grow our order. Have fun this year!!!

January is always an important month in the pro-life community. Hundreds of thousands of people marched in Washington DC to commemorate the tragic Roe vs. Wade decision. Tens of thousands of others gathered locally for marches and rallies across our state. What always amazes me at these events is the number of teen-agers who march for life. This generation is truly committed to ending abortion and to caring for life in all stages, from conception to natural death. The Knights of Columbus are in a prime position to help this effort. As I type this, we are working with Supreme to bring two more ultrasound machines and one bus to carry a mobile ultrasound to Texas.

Lent is approaching, and I want to call your attention to a program that is easy to conduct, 40 Cans for Lent. The concept is simple; each member of the council sets aside one item of non-perishable food each day during Lent which is then donated to any number of food banks or charities. The councils can also collect food at fish fries, after Mass, or in conjunction with any other program. Please ask the councils to report it on Form 10057, the Food for Families form. Men did not join our ranks to learn how to cook pancakes. Each member joined with the promise that they would be able to participate in charitable outreach. This is a practical way for our councils to raise awareness of the hungry in the community. Oftentimes, families with young children will have the children pick out the food to be donated.

In closing, remember to have fun. Programs are the lifeblood of membership. They are what attract men and their families to our order. Our families want to be active. They want fellowship with other Catholic families. They want the freedom to serve others, and they want to serve the body of Christ. There is no better place to do that than in the Knights of Columbus. Invite men with young families to help with activities. When practical, invite the children to help too. You never know when that rambunctious little boy today will be inspired by a Knight to be a priest tomorrow. God bless all of you and your families!

Vivat Jesus! Viva Cristo Rey!

Ed Tydings and his son Liam after volunteering at the Special Olympics Winter Games.