Membership

As we approach the end of the year, we should remind ourselves why we wish to extend the gift of Knights of Columbus membership to all Catholic men in Texas. We get accused of “just being about the numbers” – but it’s really something much deeper we’re trying to achieve.

It is evident that being a Catholic man in today’s world is not easy. Indeed, we are surrounded and awash in messages contrary to our faith. If you believe marriage is a sacrament between one man and one woman, you are a “bigot”. If you believe life begins at conception and should be protected, you are called a “misogynist”. We are encouraged to embrace “diversity” – which sounds innocuous, until you realize much of what is bundled into “diversity” is anathema to our Catholic faith.

We find it’s easier to just keep our mouths shut – don’t rock the boat – and let these things slide. In fact, we may rightfully fear for our jobs if we speak up for what we believe. And with this silence starts our own personal slide into apostasy. “Go along to get along” leads eventually to an abandonment of our faith. And we see this exhibited in our church by reduced Mass attendance and falling membership.

But we know that, as Knights of Columbus, we are not the single strand of fiber, easily broken. We are woven together with other fibers to create a strong cable, able to withstand tremendous force. To make this cable stronger, we need more fibers. And we need to extend to every fiber the opportunity to become part of a strong cable.

By asking men to join the Knights, we are giving them the opportunity to bond together with like minded Catholic men in order to withstand the forces of today’s society working to demean his faith. We do not ask men to join in order to make Star Council, or Circle of Honor. We ask them to save souls and build Christ’s church here on Earth! When we focus on THAT goal, all the other stuff takes car of itself.

So throughout November and into Advent, go up that Catholic man you see at Mass and engage with him. Ask him if he’s a Knight. If not, get him to go to kofc.org/join and join there on the spot. Then get him to a CUF so that he can become another thread joining the strong cable that is our beloved Order – the strong right arm of the Church – the Knights of Columbus.