This Week on Knight Life
Fraternal focus ….keeping our focus on the vision set out by our Founder Fr Michael J. McGivney requires putting aside our wants for the needs of others starting with our family and extending to our pastor, our parish and our community. It cannot leave out our brother Knights who need our support.
Hello, I’m Mike Gaspers back with you for a half hour of information, inspiration and invitation around the activities of this band of brothers the Iowa Knights of Columbus.
This is Knight Life…our Mission: to Be Men of Courage as we step into the breach to lead our families in loving service to our fellow man, woman, child and unborn child.
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Overview of the Podcast – Fraternal Focus
The 2016 Knights Supreme convention is being held in Toronto Aug 2-4. We will be hearing more details of the convention in coming weeks but for today we turn to prayer with and for our Founder Venerable Fr Michael J. McGivney.
Conventions are a time to celebrate achievements, lay foundations for future growth and build fraternal bonds. Reflecting upon who we are can reveal what and how we should act toward others and each other. For Knights this ought to mean partnering with our Parish priest to be his strong right arm. Gary Nolan address the Iowa State Convention delegates on this point recently. For any of us striving to be parish leaders Gary gives some insight into our best response – lead with a humble servant heart.
I am reminded of a scripture passage that all plans of this world are vanity and are of little worth. To be recognized as the premier catholic men’s organization in any parish or diocese is a matter of distinction but more importantly a reminder that our role is to serve the parish’s needs under the leadership of the pastor.
Gary Nolan with John Zweibahmer
This is Mike Gaspers for the Knight Life. We have been listening to Gary Nolan Vice President for Ceremonials and Fraternal training addressing the delegates at the 2015 State Convention on the most effective perspective councils should have about their role in parish life.
I invite you to learn more by visiting www.kofc.org where you will find information on how to be involved. I also encourage you to listen again to this week’s interview and those previously aired as easy to play podcasts at http://iowaknightlife.org/. You can share the podcast link on Facebook or email it to your friends. All of you can be inspired by the story of Iowa Knights as you listen online.
PSD Patrick M. Maloney of Washington State loves working for the Knights of Columbus. He is a Membership Program consultant and in that capacity works with a handful of jurisdictions to assist the state officer’s overall success and alignment with the goals of Fr McGivney. Although he doesn’t cover Iowa I did have the opportunity to visit with Brother Mulroney about his passion for the Knights of Columbus and his insights on membership recruitment and involving members.
Several comments by Pat struck me as notable. One is that we are not asking family men to give up time with their families; rather we are asking them to allow the Knights to spend quality time with that man’s family. The second thought I’m taking away is to be patient – continue to encourage and support and each man will give of his time in due season.
This is Mike Gaspers and you are listening to the Knight Life show where each week we strive to tell the story of the Iowa Knights from an insider’s point of view. This week we’ve heard from Gary Nolan on council charitable focus based in servanthood and from Pat Maloney on the dynamics of membership in the Knights of Columbus.
PSD Mike Gaspers
Where the rubber meets the road is the council itself. After listening to stories of frustration and concern, I addressed a group of KC leaders in Dubuque at one of our statewide huddles. In it I outline parallels between church attendance and meeting attendance and how we may consider approaching a resolution to engaging our brother Knights more effectively.
Really it all boils down to nurturing and growing our fraternal bonds so that they are not only our boast but our reality in each council. Our principles do not appeal to everyone, however we need to embrace as a true brother anyone who comes into our ranks and welcome that diversity while attending to each one’s needs.
To find out more on the Iowa Knights visit our website www.iowakofc.org. You can follow Iowa Knights of Columbus on Facebook or on Twitter @IAKnights for the latest news and updates.
I’m Mike Gaspers, thank you for listening. Feeling inspired? Then act courageously and with love to put your faith into action by word and by deeds starting in your own family.
Interested in this Band of Brothers? Contact a Knight or your parish priest and we will bring you into this fraternity of Catholic men. Be Strong. Be Courageous. Step into the Breach with Us.
Knight Life is a production of the Iowa Knights of Columbus.