COVID-19 Coronavirus Response

/in
State Deputy Brandon J. Brown of the District of Columbia State Council sent this message to Grand Knights in response to calls from the Supreme Knights and CDC.
 
Yesterday afternoon the Supreme Knight sent out guidance and recommendations on how Councils should proceed during the pandemic of the Coronavirus. As State Deputy of this Jurisdiction, it is my responsibility to ensure that all brother Knights are being as safe as possible during these times. The State Officers & Staff care for the health and safety of all our Knights and their families.
 
With the suggested recommendations below, I would ask the following-
  • Hold all Council meetings via conference call. The State Council uses freeconference.com to hold executive meetings and will continue using this method for the near future. I suggest Grand Knights sign up for an account. The use of freeconference.com is free and there are no charges unless you want to use an 800 number.
  • Any Council that have upcoming Fish Fry, please meet with your Pastor to access the situation and consider cancelling it. This should be a decision between the Council and the Pastor. I am not telling you to cancel, but seek guidance. I understand how much these Fish Fry’s mean to the Council, Parish and local community but consider the risks, and have that conversation with your Pastor. [Please notify [email protected] if you cancel a Fish Fry]
  • The upcoming State Combined degree scheduled for Saturday March 20th is cancelled. We had great momentum with the last month’s degree but the JPII Shrine has reduced its staff to essential personnel and I wouldn’t want anyone getting sick from attending. If you have candidates please visit them at their home and conduct the Combined Degree via video. Please notify IPSD/State Ceremonials Otto Heck if you use this method or need assistance. You can also have new members sign up via the online method.
 
If there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or the State Officers to answer any questions. If there are any brother Knights or their family who become sick, please let me know so I can notify the State & Associate Chaplains for prayer and possible anointing of the sick.
 
I entrust our jurisdiction to Our Lady of Lourdes during this difficult time. May Our Lady heal all those that are sick and give their family the strength to care for them.
 
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us.
Mary Queen of the Knights, Pray for us.
 
 

Below you will find compiled resources from various governmental resources in regard to responding to and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Please use them as you need. 

 
 
 
Information for Families and Households:

2020 Lenten Fish Frys

/in

Join Knights of Columbus throughout the District of Columbia as we prepare to turn on the deep fryer and welcome in hundreds of families with a plate of fresh, batter-fried fish and a side of fries. St. Anthony Council #417, Keane Council #353, St. Martin de Porres Council #9386, and St. Cyprian Council #10008 will all be hosting Fish Fries, check the map and list below to see where and when they’ll be serving up the classic Friday Lenten Meal.

St. Anthony’s Council #417 – 1029 Monroe St NE

Located within St. Anthony’s Church                       
April 3, 2020, 12:00pm – 6:00pm 

 

Keane Council #353 – 6001 13th St NW

SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE (Covid-19 Concerns)

Located within Nativity Catholic Church
March 6, 2020, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
March 13, 2020, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
March 20, 2020, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
March 27, 2020, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
April 3, 2020, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

 

St. Cyprian Council #10008 – 320 21st St NE

Located within the Imperial Room Annex of St. Benedict the Moor
April 3, 2020, 11:00am – 3:00pm
April 10, 2020 (Good Friday), 11:00am – 3:00pm

 

St. Martin de Porres Council #9386 – 4925 E Capitol St SE

Located at St. Luke Catholic Church
March 13, 2020, 11:00am – 3:00pm
March 27, 2020, 11:00am – 3:00pm
April 3, 2020, 11:00am – 3:00pm

Save Columbus Day in DC

/in
The ongoing debate in communities throughout our country about the celebration of Columbus Day often centers on efforts to recognize the important contribution of Native Americans to the United States and the terrible way in which these peoples were treated by early settlers.  Instead of pushing aside the contributions of Columbus and the importance he holds in immigrant, Catholic, and Italian-American communities, efforts should be made to find another day or a separate, standalone opportunity to honor indigenous peoples.
 
We have just received word that the District of Columbia City Council has fast-tracked legislation to change Columbus Day to “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in the District.  The Council will consider this bill at its meeting tomorrow, October 8, at 10:00 a.m. at the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW).
 
I would ask every Knight and their family living in the District of Columbia to contact both their City Councillor and the at-large Councillors to voice your opposition to this bill TODAY. 
 
 
Thank you for your service as Knights and for taking the time to ensure your voice is heard on this important issue in DC.
 
If you or anyone you know is curious as to the truth behind Columbus and his legacy, we would encourage you to visit www.truthaboutcolumbus.com and to read this article by Patrick Mason, a member of the Osage Mason. The Supreme Council also has a webpage “Honoring our Namesake” with additional resources and articles. 

Walk with John Paul II

/in

Become a pilgrim in your own city and join us in walking from Our Lady Queen of Poland in Silver Spring to the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. This 12-mile journey will take us through Rock Creek Park for prayer and fellowship and will end with mass at the St. John Paul II National Shrine…

Read more

Faith Day @ Nats Park

/in

Join your Brother Knights of Columbus at Nationals Park for the 2019 “Faith Day”…

Read more

137th Supreme Convention in Minneapolis

/in

The Supreme Convention a chance for us to see the breadth and richness of the Order. This year’s 137th convention was no exception! Over five full days, the DC delegation was able to welcome Knights from around the world…

Read more

Archbishop Gregory urges an end to divisive, disrespectful speech

/in
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington preaching at the liturgy celebrating the Installation of Officers of the DC State Council of the Knights of Columbus.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington preaching at the liturgy celebrating the 2019 Installation of Officers of the District of Columbia State Council of the Knights of Columbus on July 20, 2019 at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Northeast Washington. (DC KofC/Alex Cranstoun)

In an August 1 article, Archbishop Gregory speaks about divisive and disrespectful speech and specifically mentions his meeting with the leadership of the Knights of Columbus within the Jurisdiction and his call to us at our recent installation to be caretakers of unity and fraternity. 

The full article from Archbishop Gregory was featured in the Catholic Standard. Here we have placed a few excerpts. Read the full article here. 

 

Our faith teaches us that respect for people of every race, religion, gender, ethnicity and background are requirements of fundamental human dignity and basic decency. This include newcomers to our country, people who have differing political views and people who may be different from us. Comments which dismiss, demean or demonize any of God’s children are destructive of the common good and a denial of our national pledge of “liberty and justice for all.”

 

I have recently met with leaders of the Knights of Columbus and many lay ecclesial movements in the Archdiocese. We discussed what we can do together to advance our Gospel mission. I encouraged them and their members to seek to promote respect for all, the common good and humble dialogue in a time of growing and destructive divisions. This request builds on the good work and outstanding service of the Knights and these exemplary lay movements in our family of faith and our Washington community. I asked their help in lifting up and defending the dignity of every person, promoting respect, civility and principled discussion of what unites us and where we may differ. We all need to reject racism, disrespect or brutality in speech and action.

 

I want to share this appeal with all of the faithful of this local Church and with our neighbors in this community we share. We must all take responsibility to reject language that ridicules, condemns, or vilifies another person because of their race, religion, gender, age, culture or ethnic background. Such discourse has no place on the lips of those who confess Christ or who claim to be civilized members of society. Speech that vilifies or denigrates another is a violation of the humanity of the speaker and those to whom it is directed – and deprives each of us of our God-given dignity. We must reclaim, reshape and refocus the national conversation on how we protect and promote the lives and dignity of all, especially, the least of these” (Matthew 25.)

 

 

2019 Installation of Officers

/in

On July 20th, 2019, members of the DC State Council and their families came together for Mass and the Installation of Officers. The main celebrant was Archbishop Wilton Gregory, a brother Knight and Archbishop of Washington. He reminded us to always be hospitable to our neighbors especially in today’s sometimes hostile world. After Mass, the State Chaplain, Fr. Pawel Sass, presided over the Installation ceremonies where all the State Officers were installed along with Grand Knights from the councils present.

Fourth Degree Color Corps provided a special solemnity to the occasion along with the musical stylings of the J. Kemp Cook 4th Degree Choir. Also present were representatives from the Knights of St. John and the Knights of Peter Claver.

 

State Convention and Newly Elected Officers

/in

On April 27th and 28th, 2019, the DC State Council met in Convention to discuss the business matters of the State Council and elect its new officers for the 2019-2020 Fraternal Year.

Read more

Knights of Columbus to Fry-up Fish on Fridays during Lent

/in

Join Knights of Columbus throughout the District of Columbia as we prepare to turn on the deep fryer and welcome in hundreds of families with a plate of fresh, batter-fried fish and a side of fries. St. Anthony Council #417, Keane Council #353, St. Martin de Porres Council #9386, and St. Cyprian Council #10008 will all be hosting Fish Fries, check out the calendar or the map and list below to see where and when they’ll be serving up the classic Friday Lenten Meal.

St. Anthony Council #417 (St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 1029 Monroe St NE)

          March 1, 2019, 12:00pm – 6:00pm
          April 5, 2019, 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Keane Council #353 (Nativity Catholic Church, 6000 Georgia Ave NW)

            March 8, 2019, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
           March 15, 2019, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
            March 22, 2019, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
            March 29, 2019, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
            April 5, 2019, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
            April 12, 2019, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

St. Cyprian Council #10008 (St. Benedict the Moor, 320 21st St NE)

            April 12, 2019, 11:00am – Until Sold Out
            April 19, 2019 (Good Friday), 11:00am – Until Sold Out

St. Martin de Porres Council #9386 (St. Luke’s, 4925 E Capitol St SE)

          March 22, 2019, 11:00am – 3:00pm