Save Columbus Day in DC

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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

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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…

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Faith Day @ Nats Park

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

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137th Supreme Convention in Minneapolis

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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…

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Archbishop Gregory urges an end to divisive, disrespectful speech

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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

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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

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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.

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

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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

Memorial Mass – Dr. Edward M. Sullivan, PSD

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EVENT: Memorial Mass for SK Dr. Edward M. Sullivan, PSD, FDD, PGK
DATE: Wednesday, January 23, 2018
LOCATION: St. Mary Mother of God Church, 727 5th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
MASS TIME: 7:30PM
NOTES: SK Edward M. Sullivan was the State Deputy of the District of Columbia from 1989-1991, a member of many DC Councils, Assembly 151, and the Archdiocese of Washington J. Kemp Cook 4th Degree Memorial Choir 

Priests wishing to concelebrate and Deacons and seminarians wishing to assist may e-mail [email protected] for coordination.

The DC State Council of the Knights of Columbus and the DC Knights of Columbus Charities are accepting donations in Ed’s honor for scholarships for seminarians. Learn more here: charities.dcknights.org/seminarians

OBITUARY

EDWARD M. SULLIVAN
JULY 1931 – JANUARY 2019

Edward Malcom Sullivan left us on Jan. 4, 2019.  His was a life of love for our Lord, Jesus Christ and an outspoken devotion to His Blessed Mother, Mary.  If ever there was a model for the “faithful departed”, it surely is our brother Ed. He was born in July of 1931 in Pensacola, FL, in the old Sacred Heart Hospital on 12th Ave., to Bernard and Elizabeth Sullivan.  Ed’s brother Jerry, whom he was very close to, preceded him in death also here in Pensacola.  Both Ed and Jerry were very devout Catholics and had an enviable knowledge of our faith and biblical history.  This was most evident in their participation in many of the parish’s bible study classes.  Ed attended the original Sacred Heart Church and School in Pensacola; then on to Pensacola Catholic High, graduating in 1948.  He completed undergraduate work at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL and graduate work at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He then entered Naval Officer’s Candidate School earning a commission and served as a Civil Engineering Corps Officer from 1955-1958. 

After serving his country, Ed enrolled in Northwestern University, earning a PhD in Applied Management Research and Science.  Following this Dr. Ed moved to Washington, D.C.  working for the Society of the Divine Word from 1964-1972, then moving to the Center for Applied Research of the Apostolate (CARA), at The Catholic University of America where he worked from 1972 – 1985.  While in D.C.  he served the Knights of Columbus as a Grand Knight, Faithful Navigator, District Deputy, and State Deputy for the District of Columbia.  Ed was adamant about the establishment of Knights of Columbus Council’s in the D.C. area colleges.  He was responsible for the establishment of the councils at The Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, and George Washington University.  Further, his work thru the pontifical organization, John Paul II Institute on the Family, was well known throughout the D. C. metroplex. 

Of particular note was his ability to get college Knights to consider, and in many cases, enter the priesthood.  He was an ardent member of the National Christopher Columbus Association and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  When his brother Jerry, passed on, Ed decided it was time to return to his Pensacola roots and live what we here refer to as “the good life”.  He moved into his family’s home on the corner of Hernandez and 10th Ave.  Ed immediately became very active in his old Sacred Heart Church, now Cathedral, Parish. He frequently attended daily mass, served as Advocate in the cathedral’s new Knights of Columbus Council, provided his eloquent voice to the parish music ministry, and was an active member of the small but dynamic Cathedral Men’s Association. 

These accolades can’t begin to describe the magnitude of this renaissance man’s contribution to his church and nation.  He will be truly missed.  However, we know that the reward he now possesses is filled with a love beyond all our understanding.

Call Trahan Funeral Home/850-438-3265 or Sacred Heart Cathedral/850-438-3131 for funeral specifics.

March for Life

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March for Life

The March for Life will occur in Washington DC on Friday, January 18. There are a number of volunteer needs and opportunities. Please click on the following link to see the volunteer opportunities and register for that event. Please feel free to share this email with any brother Knight who might be interested. 

To sign up, please click here .

Want to be involved with the March but can’t attend? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is hosting 9 Days for Life – a ‘digital pilgrimage’ of prayer and action from January 14-22, 2019. Sign up here. 

While you have the opportunity to make signs for the March for Life, the Incorruptible Heart of St. Jean Vianney will be available for Veneration at the St. John Paul II National Shrine Thursday, Jan. 17, 7:00pm-9:00pm. 

Download the flyer here.