Issuu

Columbia KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG COVERS 10_19 C.indd 1

10/21/26 9:32 AM

KCCF_Ad_Charitible_Funds_Nov_Final rev.pdf

10/16/26

9:03 PM

Faithful STEWARDSHIP. Lasting IMPACT.

For generations, Catholics have understood that wealth is not simply something we possess; it is something we steward. Financial success creates an opportunity to make a lasting impact on families, communities and the Church. Why choose Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund? • • • •

Thoughtful giving strategies tailored to your charitable goals. Investments and grants aligned with the truths of the Catholic faith. A streamlined way to support all your favorite causes from one simple platform. The largest facilitator of Catholic philanthropy in the world, directing more than $300 million in grants over the past five years.

GET STARTED TODAY. (833) 877-0728

knightscharitable.org

Inspiring Catholics, Empowering Catholic Organizations.

KCCF is an independent, nonprofit, public charity with a donor-advised fund program. Various entities affiliated with Knights of Columbus provide certain investment management and administrative services to KCCF. For additional information, visit knightscharitable.org. © 2025 Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund. All rights reserved. Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510

CONTENTS

Columbia N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 6 B VOLUME 106 B N U M B E R 9

Departments 3 For the greater glory of God As a growing number of men embrace the Catholic faith, the Knights can help them better serve their families and the Church. By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

4 Learning the faith, Red poppies bloom in a field below Italy’s Abbey of Monte Cassino, founded by St. Benedict of Nursia in 529. Canada observes Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 (see page 15).

10 Guided by the ‘Breath of God’

Medal of Honor recipient Patrick H. Brady reflects on courage, faith and sacrifice during the Vietnam War. PLUS: Remembrance Knows No Borders – An assembly in Airdrie, Alberta, helps Italian students honor Canadian soldiers buried in Cassino.

16 A Blessed Witness to the Gospel

Knights of Columbus and their families celebrate the beatification of U.S.-born bishop and brother Knight Fulton Sheen. By Cecilia Engbert

living the faith The Holy Spirit is drawing people to Christ amid today’s cultural turmoil, and we are called to share in this work of evangelization.

By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

6 Knights of Columbus News College Knights Called to Be Faithful Citizens and Patriotic Leaders • Board Names New Supreme Treasurer, Warden and Master • Knights Celebrate Columbus Day in New York, Washington • St. Margaret Mary Relics Draw Pilgrims • McGivney Shrine Dedicated in Poland 8 Building the Domestic Church A series of columns on family life, leadership and financial stewardship

26 Knights in Action Reports from councils and assemblies, representing Faith in Action

18 Made for Friendship

ON THE COVER

In an age of loneliness, true friends help one another grow in virtue and holiness through a shared commitment to the good.

A wounded soldier is rushed into a U.S. Army “Dustoff” ambulance helicopter in 1965 during the Vietnam War.

TOP: Photo by COLORVISION / ullstein bild via Getty Images — ON THE COVER: AP photo

By John Cuddeback

20 Family From Away

When U.S. and Canadian airspace shut down on 9/11, Newfoundland Knights opened their hearts and homes to scores of stranded passengers. By Elisha Valladares-Cormier

24 Forged in the Blast

A Ukrainian Knight who served as a Chernobyl “liquidator” bears witness to profound healing, faith and service. By Kateryna Kolodii

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. This means that an applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church.

kofc.org/join

NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 1

10/21/26 11:25 AM

EDITORIAL

Columbia

Memory and Identity “THOSE WHO PRECEDED you in the faith built

it for you.” These words of Pope Francis, written for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2024, were recently recalled by Pope Leo XIV in an address to French bishops in Lourdes on Sept. 27. In the same remarks, Pope Leo likewise called for Catholics in France to “reclaim their faith heritage.” The following day, addressing a conference in Metz, he reflected on Europe’s historical and spiritual identity. Quoting Venerable Robert Schuman, a principal architect of postwar European unity, the Holy Father cited Christianity’s affirmation of “the equality of all people by nature, as children of the same God, redeemed by the same Christ, without distinction of race, color, class or profession,” as well as its “universal law of love and charity.” Europe’s relationship with its Christian inheritance has long been contested, from the Enlightenment and French Revolution in the 18th century to growing secularization in recent decades. Even so, the historical influence of Christianity extends far beyond those who profess the faith. As British historian Tom Holland argues in Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World (2019), “To live in a Western country is to live in a society still utterly saturated by Christian concepts and assumptions.” Preserving and building upon this inheritance, however, requires a conscious awareness of the past. Writing in 1905 about the importance of memory to human progress, philosopher George Santayana famously observed, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Without learning from experience, he added, people remain in “the condition of children and barbarians.”

For St. John Paul II, who witnessed the Nazi occupation of Poland and decades of communist rule, the importance of history and cultural identity was no abstraction. Reflecting on the collapse of communism in his 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus, he wrote: “It is not possible to understand man on the basis of economics alone, nor to define him simply on the basis of class membership. Man is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture through his language, history, and the position he takes toward the fundamental events of life, such as birth, love, work and death. At the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God.” John Paul II further observed that the “spiritual void brought about by atheism” had led many young people to rediscover their religious roots and “the person of Christ himself” (24). In an age of political polarization and recurring violence, such rediscovery bears directly on the challenges of the present and our responsibilities toward the future. In Memory and Identity (2005), published shortly before his death, John Paul II described the Church as the “living memory” of Christ, accomplished through the Eucharist. At every Mass, the Lord’s command “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19) is fulfilled as his sacrifice is made present. Here, too, is the deepest meaning of the heritage Pope Leo urged Catholics to reclaim. As he emphasized Sept. 30, reflecting on his journey to France, “For God alone, through his grace, can restore the Church and renew humanity.” B Alton J. Pelowski, Editor

Cor Resource: Heart of the Gospel Retreatant Guide Heart of the Gospel is a ready-to-use retreat experience for men developed by the Knights of Columbus with ACTS XXIX: Mobilizing for Mission. Five video talks by Father John Riccardo guide men through salvation history and help them grow as disciples of Christ. Adaptable to one-, two- or three-day schedules, the retreat is facilitated by Cor leaders and includes discussion, lectio divina, Eucharistic adoration and opportunities for confession. For information and free resources, visit kofc.org/gospel. 2

PUBLISHER Knights of Columbus SUPREME OFFICERS Patrick E. Kelly Supreme Knight Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. Supreme Chaplain Arthur L. Peters Deputy Supreme Knight John A. Marrella Supreme Secretary John S. Appelbaum Supreme Treasurer Anthony R. Picarello Jr. Supreme Advocate EDITORIAL Alton J. Pelowski Editor Matthew Kirby Editorial Director Andrew J. Matt Managing Editor Elisha Valladares-Cormier Senior Editor Megan Stibley Associate Editor Paul Haring Manager of Photography Cecilia Engbert Content Producer

Blessed Michael McGivney (1852-90) – Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Intercede for Us.

HOW TO REACH US COLUMBIA 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510-3326 columbiamagazine.org columbia@kofc.org Address changes 203-752-4210, option #3 addresschange@kofc.org Columbia inquiries 203-752-4398 K of C Customer Service 1-800-380-9995

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL2.indd 2

10/20/26 11:05 PM

F O R T H E G R E AT E R G LO R Y O F G O D

Meet This Moment As a growing number of men embrace the Catholic faith, the Knights can help them better serve their families and the Church

Photo by Michael Collopy

By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

AS CATHOLICS, we are experiencing a unique moment — a moment of promise and hope, but also a moment of challenge that will require hard work. This came into focus during Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France, Sept. 25-28. Bill McGurn offered an excellent analysis of the pope’s journey in his Wall Street Journal column “Pope Leo’s French Resistance.” He mentioned the enormous crowds at the pope’s Mass in Paris — 800,000 people, all told — and he described what he called a “Christian resurgence.” He noted that over 13,000 adults were baptized in France at Easter this year — more than three times the number in 2019. And it’s not only adults turning to our faith. Teenage baptisms are also on the rise. This outpouring of faith led many people to wonder: What’s going on? What has changed in this famously secular country? A 24-year-old French student told Vatican News that his conversion was “part of a broader sociological trend.” He explained, “The Church in France is experiencing something very unique: It is transitioning from a Christianity that was once inherited to a Christianity that is chosen.” Think about that — transitioning from an inherited faith to a chosen faith. It’s not only happening in France. It’s also happening in the United States, Canada and many other countries the Knights of Columbus calls home. It’s happening within the Order, too. Last year, we welcomed over 105,000 new Knights. That is the largest number in over a century — since the years following World War I. Young men, in particular, are choosing the Knights. I think it’s fair to say that, for many men, the days of simply following their fathers and grandfathers into the Knights are largely over. What’s happening in the Church and the Order is exciting, but it’s also a challenge —

and it’s a call to action for us as members of the world’s largest lay Catholic fraternal organization. We have a responsibility to meet this moment. Now is not the time to be complacent or to rest on our laurels. Now is not the time for business as usual. Our duty is to do all we can to inspire more men to join the Knights — and to help them put their faith into action for the sake of their families and the Church. The Church needs our very best — just as it did in generations past. In September, I had the privilege of attending the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, a brother Knight. It was deeply moving, as it brought back memories of his visit to my family’s parish — as well as our home — when I was 9 years old. It also brought to mind his addresses to the Knights of Columbus. At the 88th Supreme Convention in Houston in 1970, Sheen challenged the Knights to read the “signs of the times” and respond to the social upheaval of the day. He urged us to embrace a “theology of the laity” grounded in Christ-centered action. We have carried that mission forward for more than half a century — defending human life, caring for those in need, and bearing witness to the Gospel in our communities. Blessed Michael McGivney called us to this same mission. He founded the Order at a time of great upheaval. He motivated Catholic men and families to rise to the occasion. He showed us how to strengthen our faith and protect our families. And his vision has stood the test of time. Much has changed over the past 144 years. But the most important things remain the same: our Catholic faith, our commitment to one another, and our determination to meet the moment we are in with faith and courage. Blessed Michael McGivney and Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us. Vivat Jesus!

Now is not the time to be complacent or to rest on our laurels. Now is not the time for business as usual. ... The Church needs our very best — just as it did in generations past.

NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 3

10/21/26 11:25 AM

LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

Carpe Diem Pro Deo The Holy Spirit is drawing people to Christ amid today’s cultural turmoil, and we are called to share in this work of evangelization By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

Nonetheless, questions about the Church have not disappeared. Nor have controversies and scandals evaporated. We may think of the culture that surrounds us as hardened against the Gospel. And often, it is — partially because it has followed the path of secular humanism and partially because of our own folly and sinfulness. But the words of the Easter Vigil resound: “Christ has conquered, glory fills you!” These words pierce my heart, and I hope they pierce yours. Christ is wiser than our doubts and questions. Christ is not deterred by our folly. His love is stronger than any resistance a culture can muster. Underneath the questions and hardness of heart lies an intense hunger. Our culture has extraordinary technological power yet struggles to answer basic questions of meaning. We communicate constantly yet experience profound loneliness. We have unprecedented access to information but too often find ourselves uncertain about truth. As I wrote in my June column, our political culture is wounded. People define themselves by opposition. Public discourse becomes anger rather than argument. Disagreement becomes suspicion. Relationships are fragile. The result is not just political dysfunction but spiritual exhaustion. The crisis is not so much ideological as it is anthropological. We have forgotten who we are. People hunger and thirst for Christ, the One who reveals us to ourselves. More souls than we realize long for what the Lord has entrusted to his Church. Just as the Lord sent his disciples, so he sends us, his Knights, to evangelize and bear witness. Let us seize this opportunity to invite men seeking to live their faith to join us — not simply to meet membership quotas but, like Fulton Sheen, to bring souls to Christ. B

The crisis is not so much ideological as it is anthropological. We have forgotten who we are. People hunger and thirst for Christ, the One who reveals us to ourselves.

Photo by Paul Haring

AS A CHILD, I was among the 30 million people who watched Bishop Fulton J. Sheen on television. I sat on the f loor in front of the TV with rapt attention. I was mesmerized by how he spoke and looked. I didn’t understand everything he said, but I noticed his piercing eyes. I thought he had X-ray vision. I knew he was speaking for God. I was a fan. So were my mom and dad. Years later, they prayed every night for his beatification. I could not miss Archbishop Sheen’s beatification Mass. In late September, I joined the Supreme Officers and 50,000 others in St. Louis. As his relics were carried in procession, my heart stirred. I thought of how he inf luenced my priestly vocation and the lives of countless others. The honor paid to him was more than “a blast from the past.” His beatification coincides with what is happening the world over. The Spirit is moving across the face of the earth. Look at France and other countries where, only a short time ago, it seemed unlikely that the faith would revive. To say nothing of the many people who are quietly embracing the faith in the midst of war, exile and oppression. In my own Archdiocese of Baltimore, nearly 2,000 entered the Church last Easter. Many were young adults. Dioceses around the world reported similar record numbers. Campus ministries are booming. Urban parishes are often filled by young adults. The growth of the Knights of Columbus is another sign of the Spirit at work among us. Many new members belong to college councils; others are young married men getting started in their adult lives. They are discovering in the Knights a pathway to following Christ, growing in their understanding of the faith and serving those in need. They are finding support for living their vocation in a culture sometimes hostile to God and the things of God. C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 4

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Supreme Chaplain’s Challenge A monthly reflection and practical challenge from Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

“He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’” (Gospel for Nov. 22, Mt 25:45)

FROM TOP: Courtesy of Dr. María Victoria Hernández Rodríguez, postulator / Archdiocese of Madrid — Photo by Melissa Morgan — CNS photo / Vatican Media

Sin can be categorized in two ways, sins of commission and sins of omission. We ask God to forgive us of both kinds of sins in the main form of the Confiteor at Mass — “in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do.” It is a sin to do evil, and it is a sin to neglect one’s moral obligations. The true disciple sees the suffering Jesus in the poor, the sick, the oppressed and the lonely — and offers what he can to help.

Catholic Man of the Month Venerable Liberato Moralejo Juan (1875-1936) SHORTLY AFTER the Spanish Civil War

broke out in 1936, militia members came to Liberato Moralejo Juan’s home to arrest his youngest son, a seminarian. He insisted that he would accompany his son wherever they took him. Born in Valencia, Spain, Moralejo Juan was orphaned at 10 when his mother died of cholera; his father, a Civil Guard officer, had died while stationed in Cuba. After two years in the care of a retired captain, he entered a school for Civil Guard orphans in Valdemoro, near Madrid. He rose through the military ranks, receiving decorations during the reign of King Alfonso XIII. He married Serafina Fernández Shaw, and the couple had four sons and a daughter, eventually settling in Madrid. Amid growing anti-religious hostility in 1936, Moralejo Juan refused to sign a declaration supporting the left-wing Popular Front government against the military uprising. His youngest son, Antonio Moralejo Fernández-Shaw, 19, had also drawn

Liturgical Calendar Nov. 1 Nov. 2

Challenge: This month, I challenge you to be aware of those in need around you, just as Blessed Michael McGivney did, and take action to serve those in need, perhaps by participating in your council’s Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program. To view future challenges, visit kofc.org/monthlychallenge

All Saints The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) Nov. 4 St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop Nov. 9 The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Nov. 10 Pope Leo the Great, Doctor of the Church Nov. 11 St. Martin of Tours, Bishop Nov. 12 St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr Nov. 13 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (USA) Nov. 17 St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious Nov. 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Nov. 22 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Nov. 24 St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs Nov. 30 St. Andrew, Apostle

attention by trying to prevent a group from desecrating the Eucharist in a church. On Sept. 28, 1936, militia members arrested them at their home, citing their possession of religious and patriotic documents. During interrogation, Antonio acknowledged being a seminarian. The father and son were taken to Madrid’s Modelo Prison, where they remained for more than a month. They were then transferred to Aldovea Castle in Torrejón de Ardoz, where they were executed together Nov. 8. Their remains were never identified, but they are believed to be buried in a mass grave in the Cemetery of the Martyrs of Paracuellos del Jarama. Both men are set to be beatified alongside nine other martyrs of the Spanish Civil War on Nov. 28 at Madrid’s Almudena Cathedral. B

Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intention

Let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity of those who have less. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 5

10/21/26 11:25 AM

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

College Knights Called to Be Faithful Citizens and Patriotic Leaders

Board Names New Supreme Treasurer, Warden and Master THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Board of Directors named a new supreme treasurer, supreme warden and supreme master of the Fourth Degree during its October meeting.

MORE THAN 200 REPRESENTATIVES

of 90 college councils gathered in New Haven, Connecticut, for the 61st annual Knights of Columbus College Councils Conference Sept. 25-27, under the theme “One Nation Under God.” The theme highlighted the nation’s 250th anniversary and 75 years since the Order began its successful campaign to add “under God” to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. The conference opened with an awards dinner Sept. 25 and continued through the weekend with daily Mass, panel discussions, guest lectures and opportunities for prayer and fraternity. A Fourth Degree exemplification took place Sept. 26 at St. Mary’s Church, the birthplace of the Order. In his keynote address at the dinner, Andrew Darcy, a Knight and former U.S. Navy officer and Navy SEAL, emphasized patriotism as a call to grateful service. “You serve because you’ve been given something so great that the only fitting response is to give yourself in return,” Darcy said. 6

Supreme Secretary John Marrella presented the Outstanding College Council Award to South Dakota State University Council 15457 for its fraternal spirit and dedication to the Order’s mission. Through community prayer and participation in Cor, the council fosters Catholic brotherhood on campus. Members also made a pilgrimage up Black Elk Peak, carrying a cross in devotion to Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk, a Lakota missionary and catechist. University of Notre Dame Council 1477 placed second, and St. Mary’s University Council 18327 in San Antonio placed third. The conference concluded Sept. 27 with remarks from Supreme Master Michael McCusker, who encouraged college Knights to trust in God’s plan and embrace their responsibilities as Catholic citizens. “The most important time is the time that is allotted here in this moment, for you to be true patriots, for you to be sons of God committed to doing his work here on earth,” he said. B

Arnaud Bouthéon was elected supreme warden, succeeding Andrzej Anasiak, who had served since February 2023. A French military veteran, Bouthéon has led the Order’s territory of France since 2014, overseeing the establishment of 70 councils in more than 30 dioceses. He and his wife, Nathalie, have five children. Jeffrey M. Crouch was elected supreme master effective Nov. 1, succeeding Michael McCusker. A supreme director and past state deputy of South Carolina, Crouch is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He and his wife, Rebecca, have two daughters. B

TOP LEFT: Photo by Paul Haring — OTHER: Photos by Tamino Petelinšek

College Knights gather at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., on Sept. 26 during the annual College Councils Conference.

John S. Appelbaum was appointed supreme treasurer effective Oct. 9, succeeding Ronald F. Schwarz, who retired Sept. 30. An attorney and past state deputy of Missouri, Appelbaum was first elected to the board in 2020 and has chaired its Audit Committee. He and his wife, Carol, have three children.

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 6

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Knights Celebrate Columbus Day in New York, Washington SUPREME KNIGHT PATRICK KELLY,

other Supreme Officers and more than 200 Fourth Degree Knights from several jurisdictions marched in the 82nd annual Columbus Day parade in Manhattan on Oct. 12. The Knights’ participation highlighted the nation’s 250th anniversary. “It’s a great day to celebrate our American heritage, that is to say, the heritage of all immigrants,” Supreme Knight Kelly said. “This is the great melting pot, and the Knights of Columbus play a particular role in that.” Before the parade, Knights attended Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop emeritus of New York. Archbishop Charles Balvo, apostolic nuncio emeritus to Australia and a longtime Knight, delivered the homily, emphasizing immigrants’ contributions to the United States. The same day in Washington, D.C., Knights of Columbus leaders participated in the annual National Columbus

TOP: Photo by Tamino Petelinšek — LOWER LEFT: Photo by Sebastian Nycz — LOWER RIGHT: Photo by Jeffrey Bruno

McGivney Shrine Dedicated in Poland

The Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Radom, Poland, is pictured Sept. 6, when it became a diocesan shrine dedicated to Blessed Michael McGivney. Knights of Our Lady of Częstochowa Council 14004 have fostered devotion to the Order’s founder since it was established in 2006. In a letter read at the dedication, Supreme Secretary John Marrella said the shrine would become “a new place of pilgrimage for Polish Knights” and “the anchor of the Order in Central Europe.”

Fourth Degree Knights march up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral during the 82nd annual Columbus Day parade in Manhattan on Oct. 12.

Day Ceremony at the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain, sponsored by the National Christopher Columbus Association and the National Park Service. Auxiliary Bishop Gary Studniewski

of Washington, a past District of Columbia state chaplain, led the opening prayer, and Supreme Director Stephen Kehoe read President Donald Trump’s Columbus Day proclamation. B

St. Margaret Mary Relics Draw Pilgrims THE MAJOR RELICS of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, brought from France to the United States by Knights of Columbus in June, continued to draw thousands of pilgrims during visits to churches across the Northeast in September and early October. The 17th-century French Visitation nun received apparitions of Jesus, who revealed the love of his Sacred Heart and asked her to spread devotion to it. Knights transported the relics, assisted with public veneration and provided Fourth Degree honor guards. September stops included the Cathedral Basilica of

the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey; the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia (pictured); and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Between visits, the relics were venerated at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center in New Haven, Connecticut. B NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 7

10/21/26 11:25 AM

BUILDING THE DOMESTIC CHURCH

LEAD WITH FAITH

MISSION OF THE FAMILY

The Hidden Work of Administration

Between Wonder and Worry

By Father Anthony Stoeppel

Married saints and blesseds show us how to entrust our children to God amid life’s battles By Kent and Caitlin Lasnoski

The Latin word administrare combines ad (“toward”) and ministrare (“to serve”) — literally “serving toward” ministry. In practice, administration is the groundwork of clearing the field; it is not the ministerial work of planting seeds, tending the crop, or gathering the harvest. The administrator — whether the father, pastor, grand knight or executive — handles the quiet work of planning, organizing and coordinating so that those under his charge can flourish in their lives and mission. Weak administration hampers ministry. Excellent administration expands the capacity for the grace of God to flow through, with and in our ministry — drawing souls closer to God. Much administration remains hidden, seen only by the Father in heaven. By carrying out these quiet duties with courage and diligence, administrators cooperate with the grace of their state in life, making them good and faithful servants. The fruit of this labor is peace, and Jesus Christ calls peacemakers the children of God. To excel in administration, reframe your routine. Treat administration not as a distraction from the “real work” of ministry, but as the hidden spiritual labor at the heart of saving souls. B — Father Anthony J. Stoeppel is associate professor of church management at The Catholic University of America’s Busch School of Business. He is a former chaplain of St. Patrick’s Seminary Council 16688 in Menlo Park, Calif., and Our Lady of Victory Council 7696 in Paris, Texas. 8

wonder and worry. It begins as you count your baby’s tiny toes — wondering at their perfection, worrying that they won’t add up to 10. It continues as children grow — wonder at their God-given talents, worry that you aren’t giving them enough to excel. In adulthood, we marvel as they flourish without us, yet worry that we failed to impart essential wisdom for a virtuous life. Thankfully, married saints and blesseds navigated this labyrinth, leaving a thread to follow. St. Monica marveled at Augustine’s intellectual brilliance and rhetorical power, yet worried that he was using those gifts to stray from God. She prayed unceasingly and sought out people who could help him. A bishop reassured her, “It is impossible that the son of these tears should perish” (Confessions, 3.12). Her persistent prayer and trust in God helped bring about one of history’s greatest conversions. St. Thomas More delighted in time with his children, from writing poems together to enjoying their many pets. But as he awaited execution for his defense of Catholic marriage, he worried about their perseverance in the faith. Rather than succumb to worry, he turned to letter-writing, and his good humor endured. The wit and wisdom of his letters to his wife and children strengthened them against despair over his death. Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi (pictured above), whose Nov. 25 feast day marks their wedding anniversary, also knew

the tension of wonder and worry. During her fourth pregnancy, Maria developed placenta previa and was given only a 5% chance of survival. Refusing the suggested abortion, Maria and Luigi continued what their family did best: trustful prayer. As their son Father Paolino reported, “No matter the issues facing us, they always resolved it by saying that it had to be appealed ‘to the heavens.’” Both mother and baby survived. These saints and blesseds show how trust can overcome worry. They embraced the wonder, trusting that God knew, cared for and could do more for their children than they could. With this faith, they pursued their children’s good in simple ways. May we embrace the wonder and do likewise! Sts. Monica and Thomas More and Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi, pray for us! B KENT AND CAITLIN LASNOSKI have 11 children and are the authors of 30 Days With Married Saints (Pauline Books & Media, 2021). Kent is president of San Damiano College for the Trades in Springfield, Ill., and a member of Father Martin Kennedy Council 5447 in Lander, Wyo.

FROM LEFT: Photo by Wasan / Adobe Stock — OSV News photo / CNS archives

PARENTING IS A struggle between

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 8

10/21/26 11:25 AM

FAMILY FINANCE

What should I know about investing as I near retirement? By Thom Duffy

As you approach retirement, it is wise to reduce risk while still giving your money a chance to grow. The most important thing is to protect the nest egg you have worked so hard to build. The goal is to balance preserving your savings with ensuring they can support you for years to come. Plan for how you’ll spend your money in retirement. Consider your monthly expenses, healthcare costs and goals for travel and charitable giving. Your investments should reflect

both the money you will need soon and your longer-term goals. Review them at least once a year to check that they still match your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. Statistically, 55-year-olds are likely to live beyond age 80. While it may be wise to reduce stock exposure in favor of generally more stable investments such as bonds and cash, maintaining a smaller allocation to stocks gives your money a chance to grow over a potentially long retirement. Continued growth can help your savings keep pace with rising costs over time. Choosing and managing the right mix of assets before and during retirement can be challenging, especially when you’re evaluating investment options on your own. Find a trusted financial

advisor who can help you understand your options and build a plan suited to your circumstances. Be disciplined and don’t let fear or excitement distract you. Then sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. For more resources, visit kofc.org/familyfinance. B — Thom Duffy is head of investment advisory services for the Knights of Columbus and a member of St. George Council 3928 in Guilford, Conn.

FOR YOUR MARRIAGE

A Gift to Society What we share online should reflect our love for our spouse and bear witness to the dignity of marriage

FROM TOP: Photo by Faceless / Adobe Stock — RealPeopleGroup / E+ via Getty Images

By Trevor Williams and Lizzie Reezay SOCIAL MEDIA OFTEN brings enjoyment to our marriage. We love sending reels to one another and frequently watch the best ones together. However, we have noticed a concerning trend in marriage “content” online. Some of the worst examples involve men and women posting compromising or even humiliating videos of their spouses to generate engagement. These videos almost always focus on a spouse’s particular fault: A husband posts a video complaining about his wife’s “unrestricted” spending habits, or a wife records her husband’s “undeserved” nap. These attempts at humor can damage a marriage by turning a spouse’s perceived faults into public entertainment. Beneath many of these disputes — and the responses they generate — is a genuine question about what it means to love one another. Pope Benedict XVI proposed that we must move beyond private conceptions of love that are centered on the individual. Instead, we are called to be in communion with the Trinity. “Authentic love is transformed into a light that guides the

whole of life toward its fullness, generating a society in which human beings can live,” Benedict said. “The communion of life and love which is marriage thus emerges as an authentic good for society.” The tricky thing about social media is that it can create a distorted picture of real life and present a false society, where the practical goods of love and life take a back seat. Such portrayals can make the private conceptions of love that Pope Benedict warned about seem more real than the love we experience in our own marriages. For us, telling the truth about our marriage encourages us to embrace what we have to give to society. That begins with the conviction that honoring one’s spouse is a gift to all. B TREVOR WILLIAMS is a visiting assistant professor of theology at DeSales University and a member of Nashville (Tenn.) Council 544. His wife, LIZZIE REEZAY, hosts the popular YouTube channel LizziesAnswers. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 9

10/21/26 11:25 AM

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 10

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Guided by the

‘BREATH OF GOD’

A wounded U.S. soldier is carried to a Huey “Dustoff” ambulance helicopter during the Battle of Hamburger Hill in South Vietnam’s A Shau Valley in May 1969.

Medal of Honor recipient Patrick H. Brady reflects on courage, faith and sacrifice during the Vietnam War

Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Patrick H. Brady seemed an unlikely candidate for a decorated military career. “I hated the idea of the military,” he recalled of the mandatory ROTC program at Seattle University. “I couldn’t believe they would make me wear a uniform and march ... and say ‘sir’ to these jerks.” Less than 15 years later, Brady was on his second tour in Vietnam as an Army UH-1H Huey “Dustoff” helicopter ambulance pilot. Through dense fog and enemy fire near Chu Lai, he evacuated 51 seriously wounded men in a single day — Jan. 6, 1968, the feast of the Epiphany. For those rescues, President Richard Nixon presented him with the Medal of Honor on Oct. 9, 1969. Across his two tours in Vietnam, Brady flew more than 2,500 combat missions and evacuated more than 5,000 wounded people. He retired from the Army in 1993 as a major general. Brady and his late wife, Nancy Lee Parsek, were married for more than 60 years and had six children. Their daughter Meghan served in the Army Medical Service Corps and co-authored his book, Dead Men Flying, first published in 2010. A Knight since 1998, Brady is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Council 6856 in Selma, Texas, and Msgr. Bruno Hubertus Assembly 1791 in nearby New Braunfels. On Sept. 19, he delivered the keynote address at his council’s 50th anniversary celebration. “The key to happiness in life is sacrifice; I define it as love in action,” said Brady, who turned 90 on Oct. 1. “It’s the sacrifice of veterans, of parents, of first responders, of coaches, of people in our society who take care of us. There’s nothing in it for them. All it will do is increase our capacity for more sacrifice and for leadership — indeed for happiness itself.” The following is excerpted and adapted from a Knights of Columbus interview with Brady recorded in 2020.

went to an all-boys Catholic high school in Seattle with the Christian Brothers of Ireland, and my future wife went to an all-girls Catholic high school. The only time our schools got together was on Friday nights, when the Knights of Columbus held a dance. At one of those dances, I met Nancy Lee. At school, sports were our life. I came out of high school with several scholarships to play football out West, with tuition taken care of. But Nancy Lee was going to Seattle University, a Jesuit university with mandatory ROTC NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 11

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Retired Army Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady is pictured following his Sept. 19 keynote address at the 50th anniversary celebration of his council — Our Lady of Perpetual Help Council 6856 in Selma, Texas.

and no football team. I had to figure out whether I wanted to follow her or give up my scholarship. She won, and I went to Seattle University. But I thought, “ROTC is not for me.” They kicked me out after my second year, and I went to Alaska to work on the railroad. Then we got married, and I came back to finish my education. If it hadn’t been for my wife, I’d still be in Alaska. A new cadre at the university said, “Brady, we’ll take you back.” I said, “Have you looked at my record?” They said, “Yes, we have.” ROTC paid about $27 a month, enough for my housing. So I went back into advanced ROTC at the lowest rank in the university’s history. But I graduated as a distinguished military graduate and was president of Scabbard and Blade. I did all right. I still wasn’t sold on the military. In 1959, my first assignment in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps was Berlin. I was there before and after they built the Berlin Wall. That woke me up. Plus, I served with incredible soldiers, the cream of the crop, because we were face to face with the Russians. Norman Schwarzkopf was one of them. I thought, gee whiz, it’s not a bad idea to grow up and be like one of these guys. That’s where I changed my opinion. Our babysitter was engaged to a man who lived in East Berlin. After the wall, she never saw him again. Our maid’s parents were in the east. She was not allowed to go to their funeral. I was a medical platoon leader. They were shooting these guys off the wall — you build a wall to protect yourself from the outside, not to keep people inside. So I thought, holy cow, this is horrible. 12

In combat, you have radio call signs. The commander picked the word “Dustoff.” Charles Kelly made it famous. It is still the call sign for helicopter ambulances. We were all known as Dustoff. I was Dustoff 55. The missions were dangerous because casualties occur near the enemy. To save his life, you have to get him to a hospital, hopefully within the golden hour — the first hour after he’s been shot. You’ve got this great big helicopter, very visible, very vulnerable, no armor, nothing on it. Our Dustoff aircraft suffered more damage than other aircraft, and about one in three crewmen became a casualty. The other part was night and weather missions. The communists liked to fight in those conditions because gunships and aircraft couldn’t get at them as easily. It’s very challenging to make an approach into a confined area in the jungle at night. But we found ways to do it. After some early disasters, Kelly, our commander, was killed. We became very hard to kill. Each pilot was kind of an entrepreneur, and you developed ways to get into the area and get out alive, or you didn’t. You had to have accurate information from the guy on the ground. Sometimes he would lie to get you to come in when his buddy was lying there bleeding to death. It was not unusual to hear a guy whisper over the radio, “Dustoff secure.” Well, you knew that somebody just shot that guy. He wouldn’t be whispering if they were a long ways away. I developed techniques that worked for me and taught the guys in my unit. My second tour in Vietnam began in August 1967 with the 54th Medical Detachment. We had 40 men in that detachment and 26 Purple Hearts, but none of them were killed. We had lots of low valley fog, like a snowbank extending about 500 feet up from the ground. You were totally blind in it. Clouds also built up around the mountains. I get a call one day to pick up a kid bitten by a snake on a mountaintop fire support base. I head out after him, and boom, the mountain is in the clouds. You couldn’t navigate into those mountains by instruments in the clouds. If I got disoriented, I wouldn’t know if I was right side up or upside down except by my instruments. So I knew I could fall off into the valley, break out and be safe. I try again. Boom, totally disoriented. I fall off into the valley and break out. The crew’s getting nervous. The guys on the mountaintop are screaming at us. The kid’s going into convulsions.

ABOVE: Photo by Scott Ball — OPPOSITE PAGE: Photos courtesy of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

FAITH IN FLIGHT After earning his wings in late 1963, Brady began his first Vietnam tour in January 1964 with the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance).

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 12

10/21/26 11:25 AM

All the time, I’m praying: “God, why are you doing this to me? How are we going to get in there?” Boom, I fall off. I said, “One more time, guys.” I start up the mountain again. I always had my window open on the right. A gust of wind hit and blew me sideward. I looked out the window for a hole in the jungle and could see the top of the trees and the rotor blade. So guess what? I got two reference points. I know I’m right side up. I turned that Huey sideward, and we hovered right up to the guy, got that kid, took him to the hospital, and I think he lived. I used that technique all the time from then on. THROUGH THE FOG The mountain rescue preceded Brady’s Medal of Honor mission in January 1968. He used the sideward approach again to reach wounded men in a fogbound valley. On Jan. 6, 1968, they called me out. I wasn’t on duty. They got me out of bed and said, “We’ve got some Vietnamese in an outpost in the ground fog. Go get them.” So we got them. Then I get a call about patients in a valley below an outpost called LZ West. It had been a horrible fight the night before, and several aircraft had been shot down. I said, “Give me the frequency of the guy on the ground.” The brigade commander wouldn’t give it to me. He said, “You can’t get in there. We’ve got aircraft shot down. I’m not going to lift the artillery for you.” I said, “I don’t care about the artillery. It’s like throwing a rock at a bird. Just give me the frequency.” He made me land and get out

of the aircraft to talk to him. The guys at the base of the mountain were bleeding to death. Finally he says to my copilot, “Can he do it?” My copilot says, “We just did it. We’ve been doing it. Just give us the frequency.” So he gave me the frequency. They initially lined up four aircraft because there were so many patients down there. I used the sideward approach and took in a medical team. The other aircraft turned back because they didn’t know how to do it. I got the first load and came up out of the fog. They saw the helicopter come up out of the fog from where they knew the patients were, and they told me they all started to clap. They had an aircraft to take them to the hospital. I went in four times and got them out. There were other missions that day. We went into a minefield, and a couple of our aircraft were shot up later that day. They put it all into one citation. But the sideward approach began earlier, with the kid bitten by the snake and me praying on the way up the mountain. The gust of air that blew me sideward — which was the breath of God — allowed me to find that technique, which we used to rescue people who could never have been rescued had we not found out how to do it. BROTHERHOOD AND SERVICE The Knights of Columbus was very prominent in our lives. I think the first award I ever got was a football award from the Knights. At the end of the season, they held a banquet for the Catholic high schools and selected the most inspirational player at each school.

Left: Patrick H. Brady, pictured in Vietnam circa 1964, served two tours of duty as a “Dustoff” medevac helicopter pilot. Above: Brady wears the Medal of Honor he received in 1969. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 13

10/21/26 11:25 AM

FOR THE LIVING I teach children that faith is the foundation of courage. Fear is an emotion; courage is a decision. It’s difficult to make a decision if you’re afraid, but if you rely on your faith, it makes it easy. We talk about fear in combat. I tell guys I never experienced fear. Anxiety, absolutely. Sense of urgency, yes. What better way to die than saving the lives of your fellow soldiers? My faith was a substitute for fear. It was a source of calm and confidence. It allowed me to do things that for me would have otherwise been impossible. I’ve seen fear in combat. It’s a debilitating, horrible thing. You have to have some way to control it. In my judgment, the way you do it is through your faith. I think the spiritual needs have always been as important as the physical needs of a soldier. Two things give a soldier confidence going into battle. One is knowing he’ll be taken 14

Retired Maj. Gen. Brady salutes alongside fellow Fourth Degree Knights during the 2025 Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage in Lourdes, France.

care of if he gets hurt. The second is having somebody to take care of spiritual needs. He can go to Mass or talk to a chaplain before battle. We are a country that takes care of the physical and the spiritual needs of our soldiers. Getting Catholic priests to join the military has always been difficult. When I served, the Catholic chiefs of chaplains in the Army would lament that they had so few priests who wanted to do it. Bishops need every priest they’ve got to take care of their people. So it’s hard to find a priest willing to do it and a bishop who can spare him. That’s the issue. The more we can get men together and get them to realize how important they are in society, the better. Guys can be flaky about this sentimental prayer stuff. Getting them together to pray for the country and understand their responsibilities in their families is a great thing. The Knights do it. Other fraternal organizations do it too. Many of our problems are a result of fatherless communities, fatherless children. The more we join together, pray together and talk about our responsibilities, the better this country will be. When you’re in combat with other men, you become very close. That’s a closeness that never goes away. I’m still in communication with soldiers that I fought with 50 years ago. There’s hardly a day goes by that I don’t hear from one of them. In the Knights of Columbus, you have that same kind of closeness. It’s a glue that brings you together and forms a friendship that’s hard to describe, but it’s almost impossible to break. I don’t care if I haven’t seen one of my troops in 40 or 50 years. It’s just like we left each other yesterday. B

Photo by Tamino Petelinšek

We looked up to the Knights. These were very accomplished men. I thought you had to be really something special to get in. I never thought about joining. Many years later, I was chairman of the Citizens Flag Alliance. Under the leadership of the American Legion, our goal was an amendment that would allow people to protect the flag. The Knights were among the organizations in the alliance. I got to know the man who was then the third-ranking officer of the Knights of Columbus. When we’d go to Congress and testify, I got to talking to him. He says, “You want to be a Knight?” I said, “Well, hell yes. How do I become a Knight?” He says, “Sign this paper.” I signed it, and I was a Knight. Then I went through the stages and became a Fourth Degree Knight. The flag and the medal are symbols. A symbol has no physical use, but if you get into what each stands for, it means everything. The flag stands for the Declaration and the Constitution; the medal stands for courage, sacrifice and patriotism. A wedding ring is not just a piece of gold. The symbolism of that ring is perpetual. To desecrate a symbol is a horrible thing to do. When you look at what the Knights of Columbus do for veterans, they’re kind of a mini VA. They go into VA hospitals and take care of veterans. They provide transportation for treatment and prescriptions. One of the great thrills of my life was when President George W. Bush appointed me to the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission takes care of our cemeteries and builds memorials to our dead around the world. There was no memorial to the World War II guy on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Good Lord, imagine that. Thanks to Senator Dole and others, they raised the money. I was on the commission when they finished the World War II Memorial. Guess who helped fund it? The Knights of Columbus gave a considerable amount of money to build it. I think it’s one of the most beautiful memorials in Washington, D.C.

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 14

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Remembrance Knows No Borders An assembly in Airdrie, Alberta, helps Italian students honor Canadian soldiers buried in Cassino

Photo by Pino Valente

By Megan Stibley AT 11 A.M. on Nov. 11, 2025, silence fell over Cassino War Cemetery in Italy as about 150 students laid red poppies at the graves of soldiers who died during World War II. More than 4,200 Commonwealth servicemen are buried there, including 855 Canadians. The Cassino Red Poppy Association organized the remembrance to help students understand the sacrifice of those who fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino. The four Allied assaults between January and May 1944 broke through German defenses on the road to Rome and left the historic abbey founded by St. Benedict in ruins. Older students guided their younger peers in honoring the fallen, with help from SK John G. Timmermans Assembly 2632 in Airdrie, Alberta. “Watching the young kids [walk] around the cemetery and lay poppies at each grave — it was touching to look at,” said Mike Drewniak, a past faithful navigator of Assembly 2632 and former district master, who watched the ceremony on video. “There was no talking, no noise, just silent remembrance.” The connection began in October 2025, when Drewniak came across a Facebook appeal from Pino Valente, president of the Cassino Red Poppy Association, for donations of poppies, crosses or Canadian flags. Drewniak often visited the Facebook page about Monte Cassino because his father, Jan, was a Polish soldier who fought and was wounded in the battle. “If we really want to honor these soldiers properly, the gesture couldn’t just be local — it needed to come from their own countries as well,” Valente said. “This international outreach is our way of rebuilding the bridge of the soldiers to their families.” Drewniak approached Faithful Navigator Bryan Coey about putting the Fourth Degree’s principle of patriotism into action. “As Knights, we need to act on that patriotism,” Drewniak said. Coey, a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 288 in Airdrie, asked the branch for 100 poppies. It donated 250, which the assembly sent to Cassino in time for Remembrance Day. “I have a family history of military involvement, so honoring the fallen has always been part of my makeup,” said Coey, a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer whose grandfather served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. “Mike was the very first to answer our call, which meant everything,” Valente said. “Knowing the history of his own father made it feel like more than just generosity.”

Poppies and Canadian flags mark soldiers’ graves at Cassino War Cemetery in Italy, with the rebuilt Abbey of Monte Cassino in the background.

On Nov. 1, 2025, Valente visited the Polish war cemetery at Monte Cassino and laid a poppy in remembrance of Drewniak’s father and all Polish soldiers. The assembly did not want its contribution to be a one-time effort. In 2026, Coey and Drewniak were overwhelmed when the Legion branch offered 1,000 poppies for the Canadian graves and in remembrance of soldiers with no known grave. Local Member of Parliament Blake Richards’ constituency office also donated 855 miniature Canadian flags. Traveling to Italy for a cousin’s wedding, Drewniak personally delivered the poppies and flags to Valente on May 7 for this year’s Remembrance Day commemoration. “We cannot just honor the Canadian soldiers buried in Canada,” Drewniak said. “We have to keep showing our respects to our fallen Canadian soldiers wherever they are in the world.” People in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and India, among others, have also donated poppies to honor their fallen. “This international participation confirmed something we’d hoped was true,” Valente said. “These soldiers are still remembered, and their countries care enough to reach across the distance.” Drewniak encourages other Knights to seek out opportunities to honor the fallen beyond their borders. “The invitation that Pino extended, it was an appeal to everyone to dive deeper into history,” he said. “We need to support these patriotic opportunities when they come our way.” B MEGAN STIBLEY is associate editor of Columbia. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 15

10/21/26 11:25 AM

A BLESSED WITNESS

TO THE GOSPEL Knights of Columbus and their families celebrate the beatification of U.S.-born bishop and brother Knight Fulton Sheen

nights of Columbus and their families — including Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori and other Supreme Officers — were among approximately 50,000 people who attended the beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton Sheen on Sept. 24 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and a Knight of Columbus, presided at the Mass. The internationally broadcast event included the reading of an apostolic letter from Pope Leo XIV declaring Sheen blessed and setting his feast day for Dec. 9, the anniversary of his death. In his letter, Pope Leo described Sheen as “a tireless preacher of the Gospel through the modern means of communication and a diligent shepherd animated by missionary zeal.”

The first U.S.-born bishop to be declared blessed, Archbishop Sheen was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, having joined the Order in 1968. His beatification followed that of the Knights’ founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, in 2020. As an internationally acclaimed media personality, Archbishop Sheen spoke with clarity, wit and warmth on contemporary issues, challenging American Catholics to bear confident and joyful witness to Christ. He also served as U.S. national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith — one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies — from 1950 to 1966. In his homily, Cardinal Tagle identified the source of Sheen’s holiness as his deep relationship with Christ, fostered in part by a daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.

Photo by Sid Hastings

By Cecilia Engbert

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 16

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Photos by Sid Hastings

Above, from left: Supreme Secretary John Marrella, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, Deputy Supreme Knight Arthur Peters and Supreme Advocate Anthony Picarello gather at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis before the Sept. 24 beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton Sheen. • Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pope Leo XIV’s representative at the Mass, waves during the recessional. • Opposite page: Fourth Degree Knights stand guard during the veneration of a relic of Blessed Fulton Sheen following his beatification Mass.

“It is for being a zealous and creative evangelizer and advocate for mission that Fulton Sheen is called blessed — or ‘fortunate’ or ‘happy,’” the cardinal said. “The missionary evangelizer is truly blessed, fortunate and happy because of the gift of communion with Jesus. That’s the root of blessedness: communion with Jesus.” Cardinal Tagle also emphasized Archbishop Sheen’s missionary heart. “The risen Lord sends his disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature — not to an abstract world or society — every creature,” he said. For Sheen, the cardinal added, caring for the poor was “an imperative for the following of Christ” and sharing in the Church’s mission. Archbishop Sheen spoke at numerous K of C events and collaborated with the Order in Catholic education and evangelization. In 1930, the Supreme Council contributed $5,000 to help launch the national Catholic Hour radio program. He later addressed Supreme Conventions in Houston in 1970 and Miami Beach, Florida, in 1975. Blessed Fulton Sheen’s emphasis on the “theology of the laity” was particularly relevant to his brother Knights, Supreme Knight Kelly said in an interview with EWTN before the beatification Mass. “It was a perfect thing for him to talk to the Knights of Columbus about, as a large lay organization: to be believers, to be Catholic, to be well-formed, but then to take action with that,” he said. “That was his crucial message to us. He talked a lot about keeping Christ … at the center of everything we do.” For Dominican Father Gabriel Mosher, Utah state chaplain and chaplain of Father Thomas D. Kraft, O.P. Council 14764 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, attending the beatification was an opportunity to thank Blessed Fulton for his vocation. “When I entered the Dominican Order, I entrusted my priesthood to him and asked his intercession that I would persevere and be accepted as a friar and a priest,” Father Mosher said. “Well, here I am. I feel like I owe that to him, and so I came on a pilgrimage of thanksgiving to his beatification.” To be canonized, Blessed Fulton Sheen needs one more

approved miracle attributed to his intercession. The miracle recognized for his beatification was the complete recovery of James Fulton Engstrom, who was born without a pulse in September 2010 and remained without one for 61 minutes. Accompanied by his family, James presented Cardinal Tagle with a reliquary containing Blessed Fulton’s jawbone, chosen to reflect his gifts as a preacher and evangelist. His father, Travis, is a member of Father John Menco Council 6707 in Washington, Illinois. Illinois State Deputy Lloyd Reinkensmeier, who attended with a delegation of Knights from Illinois and Missouri, recalled that moving moment. “Here was the young man whose revival as a newborn, attributed to Blessed Fulton J. Sheen’s intercession, had helped bring us to this day,” Reinkensmeier said. “Seeing him there made the miracle deeply personal.” Reinkensmeier shares a connection with Blessed Fulton as a fellow Illinois native and Knight. His devotion began years ago when he tuned in to Archbishop Sheen’s television programs after work. “His chalkboard caught my attention, but what kept me watching was his ability to explain a subject simply and clearly. He made the faith understandable,” he said. “When I first watched his programs, I was simply looking for help understanding my Catholic faith. I could not have imagined that I would one day attend his beatification.” Reinkensmeier said Blessed Fulton’s witness reminds him of his responsibility as a Knight to reach people where they are. “For me, that happened through a television program late at night after work. For someone today, it may happen through a weekly reflection, a conversation or an invitation to a parish gathering,” he said. “Blessed Fulton J. Sheen’s example encourages me to keep learning, keep serving and keep sharing the faith. We may never know the full effect of a faithful act, but God can use it in ways we never imagined.” B CECILIA ENGBERT is a content producer for the Knights of Columbus communications department. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 17

10/21/26 11:25 AM

MADE FOR FRIENDSHIP In an age of loneliness, true friends help one another grow in virtue and holiness through a shared commitment to the good By John Cuddeback

t is no exaggeration to speak of an epidemic of isolation and loneliness today. Several studies in recent years have documented widespread loneliness among young Americans, particularly young men. At the heart of the problem is a lack of true friendship — relationships grounded in love and a shared commitment to living a truly good life. According to Aristotle, true friendship is rare because it demands virtue, and virtuous men are rare. Such friendship is demanding in any age, but especially today, when we give little thought to its importance. In The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis wrote, “To the ancients, friendship seemed the happiest and most fully human of all loves; the crown of life and the school of virtue. The modern world, in comparison, ignores it.” Christians, too, have long emphasized the central role of true friendship. In his 12th-century masterpiece Spiritual Friendship, the English Cistercian abbot St. Aelred of Rievaulx speaks powerfully to our age: “Wholly alone is one who is friendless.” He explains how the friendship so valued by the ancients finds its fulfillment when rooted in Christ. Such friendship demands faith and other virtues even as it is a school of virtue. St. Aelred calls it “the highest step toward perfection,” expressing its crucial role in the pursuit of holiness. With fraternity at the heart of its mission, the Knights of Columbus seeks to foster such friendships. Drawing on the classical and Christian understanding of friendship can help us cultivate these relationships and, through them, bring Christ’s love to a world yearning for authentic friendship. FELLOW TRAVELERS Wanting friends is not enough. In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explains that the true friendship we crave demands virtue: it is “the friendship of men who are good, and alike in excellence” (VIII, 3). We were made for virtue — an abiding disposition to do good. Only by growing in virtue do we approach a fully human — and thus, happy — life. Consequently, true friendship, which means sharing such a life, is rooted in virtue. Friendship both demands virtue and cultivates it. This bracing and beautiful truth is part of the plan written into human nature. Such is the challenge and glory of being made in the image and likeness of God. C.S. Lewis highlights the shared pursuit at the heart of friendship when he writes, “The very condition of having

friends is that we should want something else besides friends.” He adds, “Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow travelers.” In calling us to be the men we are made to be, God intends that we have fellow travelers: friends who share our burdens and joys. True friends both help us grow and accompany us in that growth. It is no wonder, then, that Aristotle says virtuous friends are at once most useful and most delightful. Friends help one another grow especially by holding one another accountable. Here we see the everyday work of growing in virtue together. St. Aelred explains that since a friend is like another self, we should see our friend’s fault as though it were our own. He offers concrete advice: “His friend should not only see but feel that the correction comes not out of rancor but out of love.” He adds, “A friend owes a friend the truth, without which friendship is an empty title.” Men can serve as accountability partners in everything from practicing chastity to keeping a regular prayer schedule. The gentle but firm words of a friend are often precisely what we need to persevere in living our faith. Being there to help our friends is an added incentive to grow in virtue ourselves. This sets a high bar for friendship. If the ideal seems beyond our reach, we can begin by learning what it asks of us and setting our sights on it. This calls us to be intentional and prayerful, as well as discerning in choosing our friends.

The gentle but firm words of a friend are often precisely what we need to persevere in living our faith. Being there to help our friends is an added incentive to grow in virtue ourselves.

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 18

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Photo by Zach Chambers

Members of the College Councils Advisory Board converse during a retreat in Colorado earlier this year.

FROM COMPANIONS TO FRIENDS C.S. Lewis explains how men have always gathered for worship, recreation and work. Deeper friendship can grow out of the companionship experienced in these activities. He writes, “All who share it will be our companions; but one or two or three who share something more will be our friends.” Wise writers on friendship emphasize care in choosing our friends. The term “friends” is often used loosely for people with whom we spend time. Following Lewis, we might better call these “companions.” While we should exercise discernment in choosing companions, deeper friendship calls for greater care. St. Aelred writes, “Surely you must first choose, then test, and finally admit someone considered right for such a trust.” St. Aelred cautions that our desire for friendship can outrun our discernment. He describes the danger for a man who rushes into friendship: “Too eager for friendship, he risks being deceived by its likeness, accepting false for true, feigned for real.” The pursuit of friendship calls for patience, self-knowledge and an ongoing examination of our capacity for deeper friendship. We also need opportunities for companionship to grow into friendship. An often overlooked challenge today is the lack of settings conducive to friendship. At a time when men too often gather only in stressful work environments or for recreation that lacks substance or is morally dubious, the Knights of Columbus is making a significant difference. Knights gather for charitable works, recreation and prayer, while Cor unites men in study and engagement with

the truths of faith. These settings are fertile soil for the growth of the virtuous friendships honored by ancients and Christians alike. During the Jubilee of Youth in Rome in August 2025, Pope Leo XIV observed, “How difficult it is to find true friendship!” Yet he pointed to the example of St. Augustine of Hippo: “How did he find true friendship and a love capable of giving hope? By finding the one who was already looking for him, by finding Jesus Christ. How did he build his future? By following the one who had always been his friend.” When true friendship is difficult to find, St. Aelred likewise encourages us to recall Our Lord’s words: “Ask and you shall receive” (Mt 7:7). Through prayer, the pursuit of virtue and the intentional cultivation of friendship, we can make progress in forging the friendships for which we were made. In his 2026 Annual Report, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly noted a sign of hope amid the challenges facing young men. Citing a significant increase in conversions, he said, “They need real friendship and real connection — and they are finding it in the Catholic Church.” In authentic friendship, we can discover for ourselves the truth of the words in the Book of Sirach: “There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence” (6:15). B JOHN CUDDEBACK is the author of True Friendship (Ignatius, 2021) and The Intentional Household (Ignatius, 2026). He is also the founder of LifeCraft, a project for renewing households, and a professor of philosophy at Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., where he is a member of John Carrell Jenkins Council 7771. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 19

10/21/26 11:25 AM

FAMILY FROM AWAY When U.S. and Canadian airspace shut down on 9/11, Newfoundland Knights opened their hearts and homes to scores of stranded passengers By Elisha Valladares-Cormier

t the start of Sept. 11, 2001, the biggest crisis facing Gander, a sleepy town in the northeastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador, was the ongoing strike of its school bus drivers. Pat Woodford was preparing to rest before his afternoon shift as an air traffic controller at Gander International Airport when his wife, Glenda, called. “Turn on the TV,” she said, just after 10:15 a.m. Gander time (90 minutes ahead of Eastern time). That’s when Woodford, a veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force, first learned that a plane had inexplicably crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. Upon seeing the second plane hit soon after, he knew his day would not be business as usual. Over the next several hours, more than 220 aircraft, mostly U.S.-bound, carrying over 33,000 passengers were rerouted to 17 airports across Canada as airspace in both countries

was shut down to prevent any further threats. In Gander, a town of fewer than 10,000 residents, 38 planes carrying nearly 6,600 passengers and crew members had landed at its international airport by the time Woodford arrived for his shift around 4 p.m. As passengers and crew deplaned on Sept. 12, the immediate and generous hospitality of Gander’s residents was on full display for the “come from aways,” as outsiders are colloquially called in the region. Passengers received free room and board at countless homes, churches and community organizations, including Father McCormack Council 5769, which hosted more than 150 passengers from American Airlines Flight 49 until they departed Sept. 15. Twenty-five years later, the hands-on response of Canadian communities in welcoming stranded passengers continues to speak volumes about the solidarity shared between Canada

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 20

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Opposite page: Planes line a runway at Gander International Airport in Newfoundland after being diverted there following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. • Right: Pat Woodford (right), Newfoundland and Labrador state warden and a Gander town councillor, greets Pete Hoekstra, U.S. ambassador to Canada, following a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in Appleton, Newfoundland, in September.

TOP: Photo by Scott Cook — OPPOSITE PAGE: Photo courtesy of the Town of Gander

and the United States after 9/11. The charitable efforts in Gander, in particular, were later immortalized in the Broadway musical Come from Away, and Council 5769 would receive the 2002 International Service Award for Community Activities for its contribution. “We commemorate what happened on Sept. 11,” said Woodford, who served as Council 5769’s deputy grand knight in 2001. “We celebrate what happened from Sept. 12-15. The people of Gander stepped up, and it was really special.” UNEXPECTED ARRIVALS Gander was once a popular refueling hub for transatlantic flights. But most of the passengers on American Airlines Flight 49 from Paris, France, to Dallas-Fort Worth had likely never heard of it before their flight made a sudden course change. Rose Reyes was traveling back to Texas after vacationing in Paris with her best friend, Anna de Haro, to celebrate their 40th birthdays — de Haro’s was in June, and Reyes’ on Sept. 13. Reyes was looking forward to celebrating with her family after her arrival, but all that changed with a sudden and rather direct announcement from the cockpit: “Due to a crisis in the United States, we are landing in Gander, Newfoundland.” Passengers began speculating about what the crisis might be — had the president been assassinated, or was the United States at war? Even after landing in Gander, they were largely in the dark. Information was slow to trickle in, and passengers on the 38 aircraft could not deplane until their flights were cleared by security and local accommodations for passengers and crew were identified. “There were people running out of medication, babies that needed formula,” Reyes recalled. “We were all anxious to get off the plane, but we were also freaked out about what was going on.” With the tarmac packed with planes, Woodford had resumed his air traffic controller duties. Pilots constantly radioed controllers to request information about the attacks, but Woodford and his colleagues were ordered to say nothing for the time being. Still, requests for food, water — and especially for their lavatory tanks to be emptied — poured in. “At one point, I lost communications with one or two of the aircraft on the field,” Woodford said. “We reported that to the emergency command center, and they treated it as possible hijacked aircraft.” During his scheduled breaks, Woodford volunteered as a disaster manager with the Canadian Red Cross. He’d go

down into the airport and help register deplaning passengers and set out food brought by locals — whatever was needed. As midnight approached, Woodford met Captain Beverley Bass, pilot of American Airlines Flight 49, which had just received word that it would soon be able to deplane its passengers. Bass was searching for a rental car to transport herself and the crew to a hotel, but none were available. Without hesitation, Woodford offered his new pickup truck — a gesture that would become commonplace throughout Gander over the next few days. “Are you crazy?” Bass asked him. “Aren’t you afraid I might steal your truck?” “Well,” replied Woodford, “I live on an island, so where do you plan on going?” Before the sun rose on Sept. 12, plans were in place for Bass’ 156 passengers to be housed at Council 5769’s home corporation building. Knights had already spent hours preparing the space, and school bus drivers paused their strike to help transport passengers to the council home. By that time, the passengers had been on the plane for about 28 hours. NEWFIE HOSPITALITY The Flight 49 passengers were tired and hungry, and their only official source of information about the attacks was BBC radio. Though they had carry-on items, their checked luggage — clothes, toiletries and more — had to stay on the plane. To lighten the mood, Reyes and de Haro sang “Refugee” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: “You see you don’t have to live like a refugee.” “But then the Red Cross greeted us with bags filled with shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and shaving razors,” de Haro recalled. “It was like, ‘Oh, we are like refugees.’” As soon as they arrived at the council hall, the passengers huddled around two TVs to watch news coverage in French and English. It was the first time any of them had seen footage of the attack and destruction. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 21

10/21/26 11:25 AM

“On 9/11, we didn’t ask anyone what their political patronage was, or their religious beliefs. We just welcomed them into our town and our homes. And today, we’d do the exact same thing.” 22

Art Mullaly, a member of Council 5769 in Gander, embraces American Airlines Flight 49 passenger Anna de Haro while they prepare breakfast for other passengers at the council hall in September 2001.

“I need to get to Germany,” she said. “But there’s no flights,” Woodford responded. “Yeah, but I really need to get to Germany,” she said. The passenger was U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Barbara Fast, intelligence director for the joint U.S. European Command, who oversaw information gathering in more than 90 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. She had been traveling to Dallas to visit family but now needed to return to her critical post. Woodford made inquiries on her behalf, and that evening, Canadian military officials contacted Gen. Fast to arrange for her transfer to a secure location before she took a secret flight back to Germany. FAMILY DEPARTURE As Fast departed with the Canadian military, she sent back a note thanking the Knights for their hospitality. “In a moment when terrorism and madness held court,” she wrote, “you and the citizens of the greater Gander area proved that there is a greater good in our world. ... In this hour of tragedy, our bright light will be the memories of our warm reception in Gander.” The remaining passengers made the best of the situation, unsure when they could fly home. De Haro, then a morning radio personality in Dallas, called her station with live news

Photo courtesy of Anna de Haro

“It was a slap in the face,” de Haro said. “You could hear what happened (on the radio), and then you see the images, and it was heartbreaking.” While passengers got their bearings, Knights helped them feel at home. Grand Knight Joe Philpott, a teacher at St. Paul’s Intermediate School, was helping receive passengers at the school and came to the council hall when he could, so Woodford helped coordinate the K of C efforts. Eugene Broderick, a chef at James Paton Memorial Hospital, led members of the Catholic Women’s League and other volunteers in the kitchen, and other Knights provided musical entertainment in the following days. “We had people coming to the building with sleeping bags and pillows and blankets and everything you could imagine that was needed by these unexpected visitors,” said Philpott. The same hospitality was evident all over Gander. The town’s community center was opened for people to shower, and phone banks were set up so passengers could reassure loved ones at home. Thousands of prescriptions were filled at local pharmacies at no cost, and Gander’s ovens worked around the clock to provide meals. The community ice rink essentially became a walk-in fridge to store perishables. Seeking some normalcy, Reyes and de Haro went to a local salon for a mani-pedi, where the staff treated them like royalty and even drove them to Walmart for pajamas. That evening, they joined hundreds of others at St. Joseph Parish for a special Mass that Council 5769 helped organize. Father David Heale, pastor and council chaplain, preached on peace and forgiveness. “This little church was jam-packed,” said de Haro, whose father and several uncles were members of the Knights in Texas. “At the end of Mass, they sang ‘God Bless America,’ and there was not a dry eye at all.” That night, Council 5769 prepared a stuffed chicken dinner for the hungry passengers. Woodford was making the rounds and began conversing with a woman traveling alone.

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 22

10/21/26 11:25 AM

Photo courtesy of the Town of Gander

Crew members, passengers and Red Cross volunteers gather before the last of the diverted flights departs Gander on Sept. 16, 2001.

reports. Others explored the surrounding area or shared wine they had brought back from France. Passengers from other flights expressed lighthearted jealousy upon meeting them, having heard of the generous meals prepared by the Knights. At dinner on Sept. 13, the second full day in Gander, the Knights served another abundant feast. They also prepared a birthday cake and sang for Reyes, who turned 40 that day. Separated from her husband and three children, Reyes was touched by the gesture. “They threw me the sweetest birthday party,” she said. “It was just a beautiful experience during a very difficult time.” Many Knights and parishioners — among other Ganderites — opened their own homes to passengers who didn’t want to stay in the hall or who just wanted a private shower and change of scenery. “I took six people into my home, and another Knight took 11,” said Woodford. “All of our members — not only did they take people in, but they kept coming back to serve at the council home.” Captain Bass and her crew visited the hall twice a day to check in and provide updates on when the flight could take off for Dallas; it was one of the last to arrive, so it would be among the last to leave. Finally, on Sept. 15, American Airlines Flight 49 was cleared to depart Gander. As Woodford and others noted at the time, it was like saying goodbye to family members.

Woodford stayed in touch with a few passengers he had hosted, but he and his wife built an especially close bond with Bass — American Airlines’ first female captain — and her husband, Tom, even vacationing at each other’s homes. They reunited, as did many others, during events in Newfoundland this September commemorating 9/11. The ceremonies were held amid increased tension between the U.S. and Canadian governments, and some protested the presence of the U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. But for Woodford, now an elected Gander town councillor and Newfoundland and Labrador state warden, the legacy of Gander’s 9/11 response transcends politics. “On 9/11, we didn’t ask anyone what their political patronage was, or their religious beliefs,” Woodford said. “We just welcomed them into our town and our homes. And today, we’d do the exact same thing.” As they boarded the flight out of Gander in 2001, each passenger received miniature U.S., Canadian and Newfoundland flags. Anna de Haro also grabbed a stuffed moose named Gander from the airport gift shop. Twenty-five years later, that moose is still displayed in her room, a daily reminder of the compassion complete strangers can have for people in need — especially on a nation’s hardest day. B ELISHA VALLADARES-CORMIER is senior editor of Columbia and a member of Fremont (Ohio) Council 591. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 23

10/21/26 11:25 AM

FORGED IN THE BLAST A Ukrainian Knight who served as a Chernobyl “liquidator” bears witness to profound healing, faith and service

ronislav Futomskyi still remembers the morning of April 26, 1986. The weather was exceptionally pleasant. “It was warm, sunny; all the cherry trees were blooming — they stood there looking like brides, so beautiful,” he recalled. The scene contrasted with the rumors circulating among members of the Soviet emergency-response regiment where the 29-year-old served. “I heard in backroom conversations that something had exploded in Chornobyl,” Futomskyi recalled. “But we didn’t assume that it was something so massive and terrifying.” Within hours, he would be deployed to the area affected by one of the most severe nuclear accidents in history — the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster. The plant, near the Ukrainian city of Chornobyl (in Russian, Chernobyl), lies about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Kyiv. The military and civilian personnel charged with cleanup, security and evacuation became known as “liquidators.” Dozens of plant workers and emergency responders died of acute radiation sickness within months of the accident. Ten years later, Futomskyi was diagnosed with cancer during a routine checkup. “The head of the department called me in to say, ‘I must inform you that you have cancer,’” Futomskyi recalled. “You go to sleep with this; you wake up with this — knowing that you have cancer.” The experience ultimately led Futomskyi — past grand knight of St. Charbel Council 16417 in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine — to a profound spiritual conversion. Today, he organizes emergency medical training for his fellow Knights and has volunteered for night shifts in the parish shelter during Russian missile and drone attacks. “For me today,” Futomskyi said, “this brotherhood is like medicine.”

AN INVISIBLE KILLER Born in 1957, Futomskyi grew up under a Soviet regime that suppressed religious life. His family practiced their Catholic faith in secret, evading the watchful eye of the authorities. “My mother was deeply religious, and my father was too,” Futomskyi said. “She used to take my sister and me to confession in secret. We hid from the authorities, from the eyes of outsiders, because there could have been trouble.” Despite his family’s example, Soviet propaganda and schooling drew Futomskyi away from the faith. Yet after the disaster, he recalled seeing the men of his unit secretly cross themselves, praying for protection. “During the night between the 26th and 27th, we were mobilized by an alarm. Duffel bags, gas masks. And around one o’clock in the morning, we were already in the area of the nuclear power plant.” The disaster occurred during a planned safety test, when a power surge triggered explosions and a fire that contaminated some 150,000 square kilometers (58,000 square miles) of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, sending radioactive particles as far as Sweden. Soviet authorities delayed warning the public about the disaster. Evacuation of the nearby city of Pripyat did not begin until the afternoon of April 27, about 36 hours after the explosion. Futomskyi’s unit was tasked with guarding oil depots and warehouses around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and in Pripyat, as the Soviet leadership feared sabotage and looting. The unit also maintained order during the evacuation. The authorities took steps to downplay the magnitude of the tragedy to civilians. “We were forbidden from wearing gas masks so as not to cause panic among the population,” Futomskyi said. “Only later did they start giving us protective fabric masks and respirators, but no gas masks at all.” He recalled one colleague who had been exposed to radioactive dust around Pripyat and later died.

Photo by Andrii Horb

By Kateryna Kolodii

C O L U M B I A B NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 24

10/21/26 11:25 AM

From left: Ivan Pravorskyi, Ukraine state membership director; Bronislav Futomskyi, past grand knight of St. Charbel Council 16417; and District Deputy Viacheslav Maidan visit the monument to the heroes and victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, on April 17. • Opposite page: Futomskyi is pictured at his home in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, with Star Council awards earned while he served as grand knight.

Photo by Andrii Horb

“The autopsy showed that he had breathed in so many of these particles that his lungs and internal organs were burned through and riddled with holes,” Futomskyi said. The unit’s contaminated vehicles were abandoned in the disaster zone. The servicemen were evacuated to Kyiv under cover of night and taken to a decontamination facility. The men and their equipment had been so heavily contaminated that, according to Futomskyi, the facility was later demolished. “During this washdown, they took all of our clothes and gear,” Futomskyi recalled. “They even shaved off my mustache, because when they checked me a second time, it turned out that radiation was still trapped in it.” ‘TURN TO THE LORD’ Futomskyi recalled that, as the liquidators left Chernobyl, medics warned of serious illnesses that could emerge a decade later. The warning took on eerie significance in 1996, when he was diagnosed with a tumor on the lining of his bladder. Doctors suspected radiation exposure as the most likely cause. “I wouldn’t wish the pain I had to endure even upon my enemies,” Futomskyi said. “I am a fairly patient person, but I had to undergo surgeries three times a year.” The cancer not only drained Futomskyi’s physical strength but also became a severe spiritual trial. Repeated recurrences forced him back to the hospital for a total of 18 surgeries. “I felt that my mind simply couldn’t take it anymore,” he said. “It was incredibly difficult emotionally; I didn’t have enough time to recover between hospitalizations.” Futomskyi turned to a psychotherapist with the question, “How am I supposed to go on living?” “She lowered her eyes and said, ‘You need to go to church. Turn to the Lord; he will help you,’” Futomskyi recounted. “So, I went to the church. I walked in, fell to my knees, and I just broke down. I sobbed so hard; I wept, praying in my own words as best as I knew how.” In 2014, an ultrasound showed a new growth, and doctors

told him his bladder had to be removed. But during a subsequent procedure, he recalled, the doctor said, “You have nothing there. The bladder is traumatized from past surgeries, but it’s recovering.” A checkup three months later found no evidence of cancer. Futomskyi says he has remained cancer-free since 2014 and believes that the Lord gave him a second chance to serve others. His recovery spurred a renewed desire to live out his faith, leading him to join the Knights of Columbus in February 2020. “When the [COVID-19] pandemic hit, Brother Bronislav truly demonstrated his organizational skills,” said Ivan Pravorskyi, Ukraine state membership director. “And when the full-scale war began, when we organized round-the-clock shifts at our church’s bomb shelter, he pulled shifts for three nights in a row.” Despite his anxieties over the country’s future, Futomskyi’s confidence was restored through his brother Knights’ solidarity, especially when they answered his call to train with veterans in wartime first aid. “I put out an announcement and didn’t expect it to interest anyone that much,” he said. “Yet a lot of Knights gathered, incredibly many! They are patriots to their core.” “Patriotism is something you cannot buy, especially in adulthood: Either it’s there, or it isn’t,” noted District Deputy Viacheslav Maidan. “And this patriotism can be traced back 40 years, when, as a liquidator after the Chornobyl disaster, he served his homeland according to his conscience. He has carried this throughout his entire life.” Futomskyi views the Order in Ukraine as a powerful anchor in this time of crisis. “We are holding on. The Knights of Columbus must be the backbone,” Futomskyi said. “We are together, and each of us must be in our proper place, doing whatever we can, and never give up.” B KATERYNA KOLODII writes from Lviv, Ukraine. NOVEMBER 2026 B C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG 10_21 FINAL.indd 25

10/21/26 11:26 AM

K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N ✢ F A I T H I N A C T I O N

Faith

Fourth Degree Knights from Père Chaumonot Assembly 3404 in LʼAncienne-Lorette, Québec, carry a statue of Our Lady of Loreto blessed by Pope Leo XIV as they lead a procession through the city. Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, archbishop of Québec, celebrated Mass following the procession. About 150 people participated, including Knights from several councils in District #62.

SWEET REWARD Sacramento (Calif.) Council 953 sold more than 1,300 cookies during its annual cookie drive, raising $1,500. Proceeds benefited Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish’s Altar Society and supported two Diocese of Sacramento seminarians through the Order’s Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP). SECOND TO NONE More than 70 women religious in the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb., attended the annual appreciation luncheon organized by Father Flanagan of Boys Town Council 652 in Omaha.

In addition to a meal prepared by the Knights, the sisters each received a rose and a gift to thank them for their ministry. WELLSPRING OF HEALING Councils and assemblies across the Diocese of Camden, N.J., worked with Lourdes Volunteers to help local churches host virtual pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. More than 1,300 people participated, each receiving a bottle of water from the grotto. More than $9,000 was collected to support travel to Lourdes for people seeking healing. SEMINARIAN SUPPORT Since 2016, Bishop Evans Council 10122 in Aurora, Colo., and its ladies’ auxiliary have organized an annual barbecue for seminarians at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. The council has supported seminarians through the Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) for more than 25 years, contributing more than $100,000.

Dustin Young of Pope St. Pius X Council 6871 in Lebanon, Mo., carries the pilgrimage cross honoring Father Emil Kapaun, a U.S. Army chaplain who died in a North Korean prisoner-of-war camp in 1951 and was declared venerable in 2025. Nearly 400 pilgrims, including Knights from across the country, joined the annual four-day, 60-mile Father Kapaun Pilgrimage from the Church of the Resurrection in Wichita, Kan., to St. John Nepomucene Church in Pilsen, Kapaun’s home parish.

LEFT: Photo by Jacques Proulx

HONORING OUR FOUNDER Rev. Gerald T. Corrigan Council 3544 and Rev. Francis J. Finn Assembly 131 in Plainville, Conn., organized a Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Church to commemorate the feast of Blessed Michael McGivney, Aug. 13. An icon and third-class relic of Father McGivney were displayed in front of the altar, and Father M. David Dawson, pastor and council chaplain, celebrated the liturgy.

A HALL FOR ALL Rantoul (Ill.) Council 4450 donated $35,000 to St. Malachy Catholic Church to support the church’s capital campaign for St. Dominic Hall. The new hall will provide an accessible church entrance, additional bathrooms and meeting space.

2 6 C O L U M B I A ✢ NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG KIA 10_20 FINAL.indd 26

10/20/26 1:19 PM

Family

BOTTOM: Photo by Robert Allen

Grand Knight Ben Traczyk (left) of St. John Neumann Council 973 in Kenosha, Wis., presents Bibles to students and staff from All Saints Catholic School. The council purchased more than 80 Bibles valued at $2,000 for the kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms at All Saints and St. Joseph Catholic Academy.

FAITH IN SESSION St. Michael Council 7067 in Needville, Texas, donated $3,000 to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church’s Vacation Bible School program. The council’s donation — the third time it has supported the program — allowed nearly 100 children to attend the weeklong camp this past summer free of charge.

BREAD OF LIFE Every week, members of Holy Cross Council 7904 in Mesa, Ariz., deliver surplus bread from a local bakery to the food pantry operated by Holy Cross Parish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference. The council has collected more than 12,600 loaves over the past two years.

FORWARD THINKING Since 2015, The Fisherman Council 7353 in Mountain Home, Ark., has awarded more than $73,500 in scholarships for postsecondary education to 70 students from St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home and St. Andrew Church in Yellville.

PARISHIONER CARE Sacred Heart Council 11818 in Erie, Pa., raised $2,500 to support parishioners experiencing financial hardship. Over the past decade, the council has raised more than $20,000 for parishioners in need.

MOBILITY ASSISTANCE Msgr. John C. Seidenschwang Council 11836 in Garden City, N.Y., donated $25,000 to Larry Marquino, a brother Knight who has used a wheelchair since a skiing accident, to help cover his medical expenses and home modifications to improve accessibility.

CHARITY ON ICE San Antonio de Padua Assembly 1102 in San Antonio partnered with Military Veterans for Christ to replace a broken freezer used by St. Timothy Catholic Church’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. The group covered the cost of the new freezer, which Knights installed after removing the old unit.

TABLES FOR STUDENTS Sacred Heart Council 8927 in Prince George, British Columbia, obtained wood from a local lumber mill to build five picnic tables for Sacred Heart Elementary School. Workers from Kopar Administration Ltd., a local employment center, built the tables, which the Knights delivered to the school.

Members of Holy Spirit Council 11548 in Meridian, Idaho, collect donations from a parishioner’s car during the council’s annual Food for Families drive at Holy Apostles Catholic Church. More than 12,300 pounds of food and $620 were collected for the Meridian Holy Apostles Food Pantry. Since 2012, the drive has collected about 184,000 pounds of food and $8,000. NOVEMBER 2026 ✢ C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG KIA 10_20 FINAL.indd 27

10/20/26 1:19 PM

K N I G H T S I N AC T I O N ✢ F A I T H I N A C T I O N

Community

Deputy Grand Knight Gary Ward (left) and Mike Bascon of Our Lady of the Valley Council 10780 in Pahrump, Nev., cut wood for a chicken coop at the home of a local veteran. For the past year, council members have worked with Veterans Service Alliance for Unmet Needs to restore the property, including upgrading plumbing and repairing the roof.

BUILDING ACCESS Four members of St. Joan of Arc Council 11779 in Elkhart, Kan., built a ramp at the home of a community member who has Moersch-Woltman syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes muscle spasms and stiffness. The ramp cost about $1,500 and was the 12th the council has built for people in need. PITCHING IN Santa Lucia Council 3648 in Atascadero, Calif., raised more than $4,000 for local charities during its cornhole tournament

at Sunken Gardens, a community park. In the past decade, the event has raised nearly $25,000. A HELPING OF GRATITUDE Bishop Verot Assembly 166 in St. Augustine, Fla., prepared and served lunch to 170 veterans and staff members at the Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans’ Nursing Home. A brother Knight played the bagpipes, and the assembly donated books, magazines and other supplies to the home. CAMP CARE Bishop Denis J. O’Connell Council 12366 in Fort Mill, S.C., donated $2,250 to Camp CARE, which provides programming for children with cancer and their families. The council also donated $1,000 to Birthright of Charlotte, a pregnancy resource center. KEEP THE HEAT ON St. Francis Council 2011 in North Kingstown, R.I., donated $2,000 to the Diocese of Providence’s Keep the Heat On initiative, which helps people in need pay winter heating bills.

Doug Leo, Mississippi State Council family director and a member of St. Francis of Assisi Council 9543 in Madison, grills during the council’s annual charity golf tournament. Nearly 90 people participated, raising $26,000 for the formation of Diocese of Jackson seminarians.

FAITHFUL TESTIMONY St. Mary Council 14224 in Holliston, Mass., and Father Daniel J. Kennedy Council 1611 in Needham hosted Joe McGivney, a distant relative of Blessed Michael McGivney and a brother Knight, at St. Mary Parish in Holliston, where he spoke to nearly 60 people about his recovery from alcoholism and return to God, crediting the intercession of the Order’s founder.

FROM LEFT: Photo by Jacob Kepler — Photo by Barrett Photography

HOCKEY (K)NIGHTS Our Lady of the Rosary Council 13272 in Oro Valley, Ariz., partners with the Tucson Roadrunners, a minor league hockey team, for charity nights, with half the proceeds from tickets purchased through the council going to charity. Six local councils have joined the effort, helping generate more than $50,000 for charity since 2019. Last season, Council 13272 raised $2,200 for special education classroom supplies at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and the council’s ultrasound fund.

2 8 C O L U M B I A ✢ NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG KIA 10_20 FINAL.indd 28

10/20/26 7:22 PM

Life DANCING FOR LIFE Father Dan Clarke Council 13109 in Altoona, Iowa, organized the 16th annual dinner dance fundraiser for InnerVisions HealthCare, a pregnancy resource center, at Sts. John and Paul Parish, raising more than $60,000. Over the years, more than 25 councils in central Iowa have supported and hosted the event, which has raised more than $547,000 for the center.

Members of St. Anthony de Padua-Koronadal (Mindanao) Council 17256 walk in the Diocese of Marbel’s March for Life through Koronadal City. About 500 people participated in the demonstration.

BOUTIQUE MAKEOVER Knights from St. Bernadette Council 16376 in Westlake, Ohio, and their families helped renovate the baby boutique at Lilli Women’s Center in Cleveland. The center provided supplies, and volunteers repainted walls, built furniture and installed shelves. HOSPITAL PRAYER WATCH Knights from Father Victor C. Cote Council 9671 in Tecumseh, Ontario, prayed outside Windsor Regional Hospital for an end to abortion as part of the area’s 40 Days for Life initiative.

Members of Father John Rocus Council 7891 in Brighton, Mich., package homemade pierogi at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The council’s fundraiser raised $1,000 for the Pregnancy Help Clinic in Brighton, and an additional $200 was donated by the Supreme Council through the ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program.

featuring a Knights of Columbus Silver Rose. Msgr. Roger Arnsparger, the pastor and a brother Knight, led the service for more than 60 people. CHAMPION FUNDRAISING St. Peter Council 6602 in Newberg, Ore., sponsored its annual fund drive for people with disabilities, raising $5,000 for Special Olympics Oregon in Yamhill County. The council has held the drive for more than 15 years, raising more than $35,000. Several Knights also volunteer at Special Olympics events throughout the year.

LIFESAVING MILESTONE Since 2000, Calvert Council 7870 in North Beach, Md., has partnered with the American Red Cross to organize blood drives at St. Anthony Church’s Padua Hall. The council holds drives every other month and surpassed 10,000 units of blood collected earlier this year.

LIFE CONNECTIONS Ave Maria of the Runestone Council 4718 in Alexandria, Minn., donated $3,600 to Life Connections, a local pregnancy resource center. The Supreme Council donated an additional $400 through the ASAP program.

HEARTS UNITED St. Lawrence Council 1695 in Asheville, N.C., organized a pro-life prayer service at the Basilica of St. Lawrence,

See more at www.kofc.org/knightsinaction Please submit your council activities to knightsinaction@kofc.org NOVEMBER 2026 ✢ C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG KIA 10_20 FINAL.indd 29

10/20/26 1:19 PM

S TA R C O U N C I L S 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6

Star Councils Awarded For the 2025-2026 fraternal year, 3,468 councils earned the Star Council Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and programming. Of these, 577 earned the Double Star Council Award (200% of membership quota), and 322 earned the Triple Star Council Award (300% or more). Additionally, 5,193 councils earned the Columbian Award, 5,640 attained the Father McGivney Award and 4,337 earned the Founder’s Award.

764 1484 2737 3227 3568 3986 3989

ALABAMA 4080 10731 12618 7584 10903 13125 8696 11215 13152 8740 11480 13163 8959 11537 13339 9550 11672 13415 10232 12011 13446

4859 5011

9830 11745

1186 3241 4251 4748 6083 6563

ALBERTA 6839 7725 8870 6994 8045 9502 7070 8146 10065 7092 8258 10986 7432 8325 12446 7599 8470 12658

ALASKA 11757 12290 13566 11816 12431 17517

ARIZONA 1032 7243 10070 12246 1200 7306 10540 12313 1229 7465 10762 12345 3121 8077 10832 12449 3136 8813 11440 12696 3419 8854 11536 12851 3510 9287 11675 13272 4737 9446 11738 13278 5133 9485 11809 13286 5221 9678 11999 13779 6442 9801 12078 13836 6858 9838 12144 13841 6933 10062 12164 13895 1153 2650 4143 6398

13513 16400 17040 17202 17519

12904 14497 15290 15871

14089 14101 14230 14804 15001 16277 17036 17893 18065 18389

ARKANSAS 6419 7353 9514 11604 6834 8410 10167 12458 6969 9396 10208 18219

1256 1283 1560 2552 2558 3435 4767 4949

BRITISH COLUMBIA 5423 7934 10500 5468 7991 10681 5540 8520 11359 5792 8943 11916 6855 9246 12861 7015 9534 13072 7276 9844 13252 7916 9846 14225

874 953 958 971 977 1174 1324 1349 1615 1638 1898 1990 2268 2382 2384 2557

CALIFORNIA 2938 3744 4840 3016 3772 4922 3052 3926 4926 3073 3978 4970 3148 4038 5007 3368 4060 5012 3429 4112 5216 3449 4228 5272 3517 4229 5300 3522 4258 5322 3545 4305 5392 3571 4436 5650 3585 4488 5696 3601 4523 5749 3648 4581 5978 3687 4588 6004

14994 15073 15564 16076

6020 6038 6043 6092 6149 6197 6332 6979 7116 7142 7241 7390 7773 7792 7846 7902

7985 7987 8177 8207 8397 8599 8627 8728 8786 8879 9076 9195 9206 9332 9402 9410 9445 9481 9487 9511 9530 9590 9594

CALIFORNIA (CONT.) 9648 11393 13899 9659 11612 14158 9714 11632 14550 9740 11653 14554 9897 11804 14754 9969 11837 14772 9986 12213 14818 10094 12394 14836 10140 12451 15065 10180 12489 15076 10234 12542 15339 10248 12555 15494 10378 12587 15589 10469 12749 15625 10623 12805 15632 10667 12834 15671 10802 12887 15679 10925 13007 15719 10981 13124 15750 11033 13180 15812 11137 13311 15874 11260 13403 16185 11335 13518 16255

539 625 1062 1183 1214 1225 1313 1498 2096 2160 2308 2731

COLORADO 3340 9597 12145 3434 9993 12228 4636 10122 12335 4732 10205 12336 4844 10275 12567 5064 10937 12979 5757 10961 13131 7502 11575 13205 7520 11730 13221 7560 11732 13253 7880 11803 13301 9349 11918 13961

1 2 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 23 24 31 35

CONNECTICUT 36 2370 4460 39 2533 5467 48 2616 5806 50 2968 5833 61 2978 6107 185 3181 6199 245 3544 6376 270 3594 8013 573 3600 10537 1140 3675 10657 1155 3928 11077 1350 3961 11513 1943 4096 11835 2287 4313 11913

195 3182 3792

4075 4182 4548

224 433

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 6375 11302 13242 17611 9542 11496 15795

8000 9455 9593 9614

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10708 12333 13545 14787 11153 12614 14253 14841 11870 12744 14532 15120 12247

DELAWARE 6543 7517 6768 11285 7297 11796

16256 16293 16452 16570 16584 16687 16701 17048 17203 17904 17933 17951 18182 18221 18297 18585 18835 18877

13981 14338 14436 14785 14806 14898 15269 15751 15857 17142

12615 12968 13459 14014 14017 14360 14664 15734 16347 17166

13348 16771

FLORIDA 611 7109 10626 12240 648 7121 10718 12376 667 7166 10757 12402 778 7210 10853 12456 1768 7282 11079 12569 2075 7399 11125 12956 2105 7402 11189 13018 2112 7420 11211 13042 2505 7514 11220 13047 2596 7667 11226 13051 3080 7672 11241 13116 3416 7826 11281 13118 3521 7968 11295 13139 3580 7997 11348 13153 3599 8009 11410 13172 4357 8012 11421 13207 4444 8048 11425 13240 4726 8074 11448 13243 4826 8086 11483 13277 4851 8104 11488 13300 4934 8419 11497 13307 4955 8440 11553 13337 4999 8450 11566 13338 5131 8510 11651 13341 5357 8791 11668 13355 5407 8838 11669 13525 5618 8910 11680 13527 5629 9649 11784 13571 5635 9720 11850 13624 5958 9916 11877 13639 6108 9924 11878 14084 6265 10157 11893 14132 6569 10169 11961 14202 6590 10377 12110 14203 6724 10415 12155 14212 6988 10498 12159 14217 7027 10514 12165 14222 7052 10572 12178 14295 GEORGIA 631 7662 10632 12580 660 8081 10633 12862 677 8376 10687 12883 1019 8495 10821 12942 3607 8731 10866 13052 4358 8972 11058 13161 4599 9458 11340 13204 5484 9515 11402 13229 6514 9792 11458 13376 6517 9915 11461 13437 6532 9923 11637 13440 6622 9975 11676 13491 6918 10210 11746 13808 6920 10355 11768 14122 7416 10362 12126 14181 7601 10497 12287 14275

14390 14456 14485 14573 14697 14730 14839 14866 15132 15231 15332 15366 15425 15619 15779 15821 15836 16018 16080 16492 16536 16724 16980 17029 17161 17162 17182 17249 17480 17531 17689 17915 17931 18557

14348 14425 14488 14773 14944 15238 16534 16870 17969 18154 18218 18427 18717

GUAM

14434

HAWAII 6906 11743 14620 16002 17042 10475 12045 15124 16741 17802 11636 12733 892 1363 1663 2792

2888 3086 3703 3762

IDAHO 8283 12172 12953 10581 12531 15304 11548 12560 18509 11623

182 460 574 583 776 845 1143 1176 1444 1567 1599 1911 2076 2191 2601 2782 2869 2874 3060 3582 3602

3674 3738 3788 3934 3954 4024 4194 4330 4698 4741 4836 4849 4977 5516 5573 5591 5918 6090 6498 6625 6964

ILLINOIS 6993 11232 7331 11358 7624 11666 8002 11981 8022 12005 8365 12120 8366 12152 8596 12407 8699 12863 9770 12882 9806 13123 9893 13436 10025 13476 10637 14008 10678 14057 10884 14171 10926 14283 10944 14463 11027 14562 11112 14649 11149 14929

15022 15037 15119 15168 15198 15296 15324 15584 15746 15806 15822 16011 16062 16350 16369 16660 16720 17080 17253 17360 18037

ILLINOIS (CONT.) 18043 18622 18889 INDIANA 5570 11276 6138 11353 6323 12177 7053 12951 8746 14214 9706 14673

437 451 738 1014 1131 1221

1347 1477 1584 1790 2215 5521

644 780 959 1045 1164 1354

IOWA 1409 7506 2001 8178 3900 8650 4009 9574 4308 10282 4403 10558

862 1029 1370 1913 2332 3033 3146 4166

11162 11296 11592 12422 12432 13109

15144 15859 17043 17446 18497 18574 14393 14481 14695 15049 15060 15430

KANSAS 4458 8488 11534 12960 4708 9699 11661 13012 6673 10407 11692 13354 6781 10755 11853 16027 7485 10932 12546 16168 7909 11067 12577 16595 8411 11352 12932 18092

KENTUCKY 390 7831 12623 15452 1315 7847 12774 15525 2282 10263 12852 15699 2499 11132 12965 15841 3908 12354 14372 15914 4665 12502 15181 LOUISIANA 6357 8878 6753 9000 7033 9007 7275 9107 7350 9240 7355 9247 7557 9260 7657 9347 7856 9623 8058 9769 8322 9973 8342 10057 8442 10080 8601 10176 8615 10178 8743 10293 8770 10455 8779 10645 8840 10744

969 1208 1286 1317 1337 1425 1724 1905 1998 2012 2436 2657 2732 2807 2878 2913 3054 3061 3088

3208 3465 3622 3642 3662 3743 3854 4085 4508 4562 4663 4873 5352 5499 5530 5747 5755 5935 6326

3692 3710 3711 3722 3888 3939 3941 4073 4074 4091 4206 4233 4268 4275 4277 4278 4317 4319 4353 4506 4860 5018 5120 5533 5739 5891 5994 6071 6075 6085 6105 6116 6146 6171 6303

LUZON NORTH 6613 9008 11124 6655 9011 11297 6704 9054 11699 6732 9087 11754 6745 9101 11900 6775 9116 11990 6829 9119 12042 7178 9345 12052 7653 9353 12125 7666 9366 12204 7731 9390 12369 7843 9449 12388 7876 9459 12399 7919 9489 12461 8007 9491 12462 8226 9582 12548 8235 9691 12648 8254 9750 12714 8432 9763 12770 8439 9866 12794 8485 9878 12810 8581 9934 12890 8593 10073 13218 8691 10104 13292 8693 10173 13344 8722 10187 13725 8751 10227 13742 8753 10268 13751 8754 10345 13774 8757 10353 13852 8801 10399 13853 8825 10550 13919 8833 10582 14177 8834 10639 14258 9006 10695 14353

15979 16179 16424 18126 18284

10911 12061 12072 12245 12529 12906 12989 13819 14614 14822 15006 15133 17205 18108 18701

14419 14569 14592 14594 15221 15273 15311 15387 15402 15432 15542 15554 15559 15560 15580 15628 15898 16149 16272 16302 16323 16416 16445 16542 16564 16597 16651 16789 16847 16894 16998 17004 17012 17053 17283

17297 17344 17428 17452 17455

LUZON NORTH (CONT.) 17632 17936 18413 17736 17971 18465 17801 18000 18500 17873 18137 18584 17894 18181 18587

18596 18619 18632 18854

LUZON SOUTH 3469 8451 11894 14957 17547 3610 8513 11923 15013 17551 3937 8565 11945 15077 17553 4290 8724 11953 15080 17655 4640 8942 12041 15115 17656 5124 9081 12318 15139 17788 5507 9160 12464 15140 17935 5575 9163 12561 15369 18038 5579 9189 12625 15427 18039 5622 9620 12762 15508 18042 5741 9636 13175 15529 18095 5774 9877 13213 15541 18141 5896 9926 13298 15572 18165 5937 10166 13538 15758 18261 5973 10225 13548 15875 18346 6060 10397 13618 16025 18375 6122 10438 13668 16138 18379 6141 10476 13690 16141 18387 6167 11030 13855 16282 18520 6178 11249 13882 16360 18537 6181 11322 14072 16439 18549 6387 11455 14160 16484 18705 6677 11519 14314 16637 18712 6843 11594 14708 16661 18714 6932 11624 14766 17001 18832 7147 11705 14779 17087 18838 7344 11711 14800 17244 18890 7594 11791 14904 17451 8176 11847 14907 17496 MAINE 10020 13181 15791 10221 13486 18918

136 249 320

1299 2091 9782

1107 1435

MANITOBA 5870 11005 15596 18649 10551

1384 1393 1442 1622 1771 2002 2203 2293 2427 2521 2605 2942 3489

MARYLAND 3960 8736 11214 4714 9053 11259 5208 9127 11341 5482 9302 11372 6021 9462 11422 6188 9638 11511 6901 9808 11616 7025 9815 11618 7559 10100 11787 7612 11024 11898 7941 11105 12054 8159 11106 12127 8251 11171 12524

69 85 87 94 109 183 202 231 252

MASSACHUSETTS 287 2525 5027 314 2536 5585 498 2911 6063 508 3384 6064 1078 3745 7312 1116 4044 9275 1232 4181 9444 1319 4822 10049 1847 5004 10195

13008 13294 13859 14099 14297 14534 14612 14775 15985 16611 17990 18156 18170 10698 11178 12380 15280 15829 16243 16437

MEXICO CENTRAL 2062 5107 14720 16799 17958 3337 12062 15570 16955 18633 4674 13788 15888 17311 18753 MEXICO NORTHEAST 2312 14854 16139 16932 18590 4573 15103 16296 17920 18614 13570 15218 16378 2419 3996 11751

MEXICO NORTHWEST 12097 15668 17009 18558 15555 16340 17336 18659 15581 16603 18279 18737

1050 4214 4423 5877

MEXICO SOUTH 11849 14992 17761 18742 13330 15245 18211 18829 13963 15891 18689 18873 14897

3 0 C O L U M B I A ✢ NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG Star Councils 10_20 FINAL.indd 30

10/20/26 1:18 PM

4344 4637

MEXICO WEST 5593 15284 17286 18245 14374 16581 17964

414 600 609 744 788 923 1266 1297 1492 1541 1982 2026 2141 2515 2569 2632 2659 2660 2690 2733 2781 3029 3078 3092 3111 3221

3257 3292 3774 3860 3956 3959 4090 4188 4401 4764 5280 5436 5452 5460 6223 6314 6447 6549 6667 6674 6824 6980 7018 7200 7304 7341

MICHIGAN 7418 11811 7444 12121 7545 12258 7719 12295 7891 12808 7918 12985 7945 13305 8117 13319 8169 13362 8284 13432 8291 13450 8605 13453 8659 13485 8669 13499 8687 13526 8710 13579 9182 13633 9523 13641 9979 13645 10501 13673 10542 13863 10724 13930 11099 13950 11694 13958 11761 13980 11772 14018

14056 14206 14366 14427 14598 14642 15135 15204 15352 15495 15889 15967 16169 16199 16630 17509 17772 17970 18672

MILITARY OVERSEAS 10292 11987 3108 5862 5863 5907 6535 6982 7391 7690 7892 8006 8587 8764 9074

MINDANAO 9621 15537 17515 11863 16162 17523 12357 16219 17589 12608 16330 17705 12723 16429 17764 13208 16614 17863 13858 16639 18214 14153 17011 18401 14286 17071 18459 14288 17138 18479 14370 17306 18541 14843 17373 18573 15148 17423 18607

945 1076 1516 2400 2506 3278

MINNESOTA 3758 5141 7750 3827 5202 9096 4174 5318 9139 4718 5647 9141 4967 6374 10138 5115 6791 10238

802 1522 1583

MISSISSIPPI 1605 6872 8848 11934 5654 7910 9543 11995 6765 7915 10901 15131

698 742 831 876 979 1037 1111 1171 1230 1321 1587 1896 2027 2117

2273 2333 2440 2457 2526 2627 3414 4454 5359 5586 6018 6470 6780 6794

MISSOURI 6871 9273 7064 9522 7119 9533 7198 10136 7199 10200 7231 10794 7588 10844 7680 11182 7841 11382 8620 12022 8887 12288 8920 13604 8931 13681 9272 13682

13748 13901 14097 14402 14489 14719 14745 14906 14972 15294 15935 16189 17355

844 1259

1328 1413

MONTANA 1508 9395 2464

10576

1723 1793 1966 8010 9704

NEBRASKA 9771 10795 13576 14077 10047 10909 13584 14914 10108 11879 13956 15101 10285 12086 14070 18817 10412 13015

978 4781 4828

NEVADA 7322 13842 14544 16207 10780 13897 14820 18256 12877 13944 15061

18610 18692 18698 18706 18731 18736 18751 18754 18849 18860

12520 13096 14616 15761 16016 16106

92 428 807 1624

NEW HAMPSHIRE 2048 4442 7572 13904 2078 4983 7575 17027 3023 5163 13026 17141

335 359 405 426 514 525 570 588 589 636 816 836 1179 1280 1436 1443 1672 1711 1863 1910 2086 2248 2355 2393 2396 2544 2560 2572 2607

NEW JERSEY 2976 5427 7046 3187 5486 7316 3231 5611 7333 3272 5714 7526 3294 5903 7581 3397 5959 7647 3402 6100 7677 3428 6173 7784 3451 6202 7926 3495 6212 8415 3512 6245 8733 3546 6284 8982 3550 6296 9021 3560 6336 9113 3665 6342 9193 3680 6364 9852 3801 6392 9914 3814 6424 9925 3826 6520 10281 3969 6522 10419 4066 6551 10627 4154 6571 10899 4486 6575 10900 4524 6735 11017 4907 6904 11349 4969 6928 11378 5015 6930 11386 5114 7020 11415 5410 7032 11498

1707 4227 8304 9504

NEW MEXICO 9527 14999 15788 16465 13969 15062 15850 17083 14254 15183 16196 18863 14410 15199

126 272 281 309 311 338 343 381 394 462 486 497 545 566 794 821 1012 1177 1662

1675 1694 1992 2079 2147 2320 2345 2502 2520 3481 3581 3676 3689 3701 3958 3993 3995 4012 4299

NEW YORK 4422 7085 4618 7104 4651 7460 4783 7551 4884 7707 4952 8250 5091 8637 5103 9254 5252 10332 5753 11160 5814 11168 5872 11227 5917 11449 5983 11590 5989 11836 6243 11950 6526 12006 6652 12361 6802 13378

11529 11585 11660 11873 11889 12004 12092 12184 12232 12503 12592 12649 12700 12940 13264 13678 14493 14615 14675 14716 15217 15540 15964 17254 18825

13635 14269 14520 14578 14687 15446 15694 15698 15809 15917 16134 16519 16674 17086 17379 17530 17652

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR 11776 939 2546 2829 3498 3574 4507 4660 5487 6451 6528 6648

NORTH CAROLINA 6700 8664 11101 6717 8759 11103 6970 9039 11180 7024 9492 11234 7152 9499 11817 7186 9560 11946 7343 9709 12017 7406 9847 12025 7547 10504 12266 8143 10891 12281 8509 11076 12455

1779 1883 2760

NORTH DAKOTA 4495 6540 9589 5451 6570 9642 6446 9126 9839

3133

NOVA SCOTIA 16817

310 341 478 500 546

554 721 752 910 1056

OHIO 1195 1246 1716 1756 1800

1801 2050 2158 2299 2362

12537 12654 12921 13220 13236 13488 13511 13812 15265 17125 17501 11930 13533

2565 2726 3123 3213 3269

OHIO (CONT.) 3324 5297 11208 13813 3724 5405 11224 14344 3730 5582 11311 14400 3873 5776 11355 14406 3890 6144 11445 14408 3970 7978 11450 14416 4022 7981 11550 14504 4424 8115 11665 14551 4498 10003 11831 14563 4664 10215 12359 14834 4847 10765 12772 14891 5128 10863 13429 14959 5286 10936 13608 15458 1018 4598 5440

15533 15569 15573 16137 16279 16373 16376 18195 18565

OKLAHOMA 6477 7395 10388 13313 6478 8633 11959 16367 7392 9333 12819 17383

ONTARIO 485 6579 10416 12214 1387 7689 10614 12372 1388 8092 10617 12401 1429 8233 10619 12706 1626 8339 10631 12782 2438 8611 10873 12996 3881 8668 10874 13094 3909 8919 11098 13244 4895 9005 11123 13345 4915 9143 11164 13404 4973 9235 11268 13781 5073 9557 11332 13785 5420 9742 11337 14411 5957 9989 11531 14446 6091 10236 11886 14727 6161 10370 12067 14749 6361 10402 12124 14969

15333 15612 15922 15999 16005 16746 17065 17273 17394 17397 17476 17725 18384 18772

OREGON 9137 11682 15605 9263 13700 15773 10838 15295 18062

1261 1594 1634 1785

1872 2325 3378 3818

283 388 492 512 519 866 867 954 1222 1333 1530 1603 1774 1807 2201 2256 2522 2551 2555 3026 3291 3327 3501 3633 3635 3658 3673 3753

PENNSYLVANIA 3858 8921 12043 3862 9019 12089 3876 9164 12391 3907 9736 12572 4050 9832 12573 4084 9875 12788 4159 10194 12811 4191 10474 13100 4215 10502 13141 4226 10685 13241 4282 10729 13451 4397 10812 13710 4518 10827 13832 4649 10921 13935 4678 11013 13943 4925 11051 14103 5671 11144 14210 5826 11279 14333 5940 11319 14395 6353 11356 14397 6611 11388 14474 6693 11434 14626 7141 11454 14654 7208 11564 14722 7515 11782 14731 7622 11872 14786 7925 11887 14840 8530 11935 14847

14000 14001 14566 15128 15267 15420 15672 15708

15759 15940 16038 16105 16128 16266 16405 16650

824

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 6917 10808

5928

PUERTO RICO 17966 18463

1001 1180

QUÉBEC 1813 2762 3258 2015 3072 3483

POLAND 16709 17645 17030 17667 17137 17730 17316 17865 17327 17924 17607 18023 17617 18222 17637 18320

14865 14880 14990 15171 15346 15351 15456 15590 15658 16071 16656 17028 17145 17262 17417 17784 17887 17997 18200 18239 18392 18424 18630 18852

18403 18498 18711 18745 18759 18773 18778

5321 5661

6874 7044 7161

QUÉBEC (CONT.) 7477 8193 10278 12460 7893 8203 10634 17555 8175 10171 11929

REPUBLIC OF KOREA 16000 17799 18513 18644 18786 57 113 322

RHODE ISLAND 379 3618 5295 2385 4005 5787 3563 5273 7110

2031 2695 4704 5259

SASKATCHEWAN 5707 8338 9761 11888 5914 8896 10587 13214 8215 8905 10797 18012 8279 9539 11429

724 2207 3067 5026 5086 5194 6629

SOUTH CAROLINA 6726 8295 10819 6847 8502 11028 6884 8980 11325 6892 9184 11471 7122 9475 11991 7289 9575 12263 7531 9576 12366

12472 12554 13713 14475 16903 17824 18507

815 1489 1536 2686

SOUTH DAKOTA 2705 6341 10328 2977 6605 10546 4806 8025 11739 5029 8844 12617

13302 13400 15457 15748

610 645 1101 3175 4264 4572 5207

TENNESSEE 6099 8576 12256 6321 8781 12633 6645 9168 12838 6992 9787 14341 7447 10743 14482 7764 11925 15020 8396 12012 15585

759 786 799 803 830 951 1003 1235 1323 1422 1450 1502 1680 2045 2136 2304 2433 2461 2574 2592 2687 2767 2778 2785 2788 2810 2917 3008 3071 3201 3203 3204 3205 3217 3229 3253 3313 3404 3406 3412 3421 3452 3491 3793 3867 3910 4101 4183 4204 4298

4315 4550 4577 4724 4786 4868 5035 5052 5096 5145 5192 5211 5232 5262 5538 5598 5656 5678 5967 6065 6234 6358 6402 6409 6413 6527 6557 6699 6711 6763 6782 6812 6833 6856 6878 6950 7058 7067 7099 7153 7175 7196 7197 7206 7230 7264 7323 7347 7382 7438

TEXAS 7445 9759 7553 9765 7563 9794 7600 9868 7613 9903 7696 9967 7728 9997 7736 10090 7840 10181 7850 10207 7965 10209 7983 10240 8024 10333 8085 10373 8142 10390 8156 10420 8157 10463 8170 10523 8225 10524 8298 10562 8306 10593 8388 10624 8482 10646 8493 10660 8494 10677 8512 10720 8572 10861 8738 10872 8771 10879 8788 10930 8789 10939 8806 10940 8954 10959 8960 10998 8975 11023 9088 11070 9151 11151 9215 11169 9220 11238 9291 11293 9299 11343 9368 11351 9393 11462 9394 11472 9564 11530 9626 11695 9650 11716 9681 11721 9698 11807 9708 11862

10557 12312 12613

15706 16088 16523 17578

11865 11866 11933 11978 11980 12040 12084 12091 12148 12153 12300 12320 12327 12337 12385 12480 12484 12535 12553 12558 12657 12661 12697 12711 12748 12803 12809 12866 12869 12927 13005 13044 13136 13151 13158 13166 13357 13363 13408 13498 13514 13523 13825 13838 13876 13927 14025 14413 14426 14512

14568 14584 14617 14636 14674 14679 14690 14700 14810 14943 15017 15033 15105

TEXAS (CONT.) 15174 16078 17225 18262 15240 16103 17304 18277 15262 16375 17404 18311 15301 16390 17492 18327 15343 16393 17583 18612 15362 16451 17653 15448 16464 17708 15783 16663 17762 15789 16665 17769 15876 16748 17812 15882 16820 17991 16041 16917 18101 16047 17196 18179

15800 16679 16848 16890

16967 17258 17293 17487

UKRAINE 17651 18271 18575 18045 18321 18624 18189 18420 18693 18243 18499

602 1129 1136 2611 5214 5502

6010 6147 6739 6966 7961 9561

UTAH 9849 10304 10733 11246 11479 12181

12959 16127 13297 18695 14239 18795 14399 14764 15418

VERMONT

7525 367 418 459 562 595 2473 4034 5332 5476 5561 5998 6292 6372 6538

VIRGINIA 6546 9285 11678 6747 9286 11958 6828 9428 11984 6831 9488 12378 7363 9655 12589 7538 9781 12791 7877 10015 12846 7992 10515 12982 8116 10804 13467 8183 10947 13468 8403 10979 13599 8600 11136 14129 9056 11323 14516 9259 11639 14523

3106 3348 5308 6179 6235 6240 6256 6807

VISAYAS 6990 9359 11920 7651 9430 12779 8148 9466 13189 8185 9945 13695 8584 10101 14152 8929 10106 14447 9009 10164 14782 9091 11860 14913

1629 1643 2260 3307 3645 6686 6706 6806

WASHINGTON 7117 9434 11780 7528 9617 11789 7908 9833 12002 8079 9910 12175 8102 10652 12583 8150 11134 12889 8297 11642 13238 9238 11736 13364

594 8288

15244 15256 16234 16793 17630 17995 18572

16114 16818 17840 18431 18487

13374 15143 15462 15730 15968 16361

WEST VIRGINIA 12036 12195 16224 18683

499 524 531 710 746 973 974 1257 1478 1647 1709

WISCONSIN 1799 4648 6754 17889 1909 4706 7048 18395 1957 4879 7096 18811 1964 4897 7342 18834 2055 5127 9360 2487 5438 10715 3562 5798 12269 3702 6547 12491 3955 6554 16171 4520 6568 16280 4580 6587 16821

1563 2104

2441 2720

WYOMING 3237 3551 3332 5447

9917 11291

For a complete list of 2025-2026 Star Councils and for more information on these awards, visit kofc.org/starcouncils.

NOVEMBER 2026 ✢ C O L U M B I A

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG Star Councils 10_20 FINAL.indd 31

10/20/26 1:18 PM

The official trusted partner of the Knights of Columbus

Christmas Gifts

That Show What You Stand For

Celebrate Christmas with gifts of faith, fraternity and tradition.

OFFICIAL NOVEMBER 1, 2026: To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Laws of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the policy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MATTER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: COLUMBIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-9982. REJECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PURCHASED MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS BY WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SUBSCRIPTION RATES — IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CURRENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-9982. COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326. PHONE: 203-752-4000, kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2026 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 554, ELMSFORD, NY 10523. CANADIAN POSTMASTER — PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 1473549. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 50 MACINTOSH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, ONTARIO L4K 4P3. PHILIPPINES — FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAIL AT THE MANILA CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURN COPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1511, MANILA.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

(Act of August 1, 1970: Section 3685, title 39, U.S. code) 1. Publication Title: Columbia 2. Publication Number: 12-3740 3. Filing Date: October 1, 2026 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 10 6. Annual Subscription Price: $6 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters of Publisher: 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher and Editor: Publisher: Patrick E. Kelly/Knights of Columbus 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510 Editor: Alton J. Pelowski 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510 Managing Editor: Andrew J. Matt 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510 10. Owner: Knights of Columbus, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510 11. Known Bondholders: None 12. Tax Status: (X) Has not changed during the preceding 12 months

( ) Has changed during the preceding 12 months

13. Publication Title: Columbia 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: SEPTEMBER 2026 15. Extent and nature of circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months

QUALITY GIFTS FOR KNIGHTS

MEANINGFUL WAYS TO KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

GIVE BACK

A portion of online purchases supports Knights of Columbus Charities

Enjoy 10% OFF your order* at KnightsGear.com *When you subscribe to knightsgear.com. First-time subscribers only.

No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date

a. Total no. copies (net press run) b. Paid and/or requested circulation 1. Outside-county mail subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 1,331,706 1,348,978 2. Paid in-county subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 0 0 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non-USPS distribution: 0 0 4. Other classes mailed through the USPS. 0 0 c. Total paid and/or requested circulation: 1,331,706 1,348,978 d. Free distribution by mail (samples, complimentary and other): 1. Outside-county as stated on Form 3541: 2,774 2,774 2. In-county as stated on Form 3541: 0 0 3. Other classes mailed through the USPS: 0 0 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution outside the mail (carriers or other): 0 0 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate distribution: 2,774 2,774 f. Total distribution: 1,334,480 1,351,752 g. Copies not distributed: 1,408 1,400 h. Total: 1,335,888 1,353,152 i. Percent paid and/or requested circulation: 99.8% 99.8% 16. Paid electronic copies 0 0 I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. ALTON J. PELOWSKI, Editor 11/1/2026

3 2 C O L U M B I A ✢ NOVEMBER 2026

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG Star Councils 10_20 FINAL.indd 32

10/20/26 7:20 PM

KNIGHTS OF CHARITY

Photo by Roy Lagarde

Knights of Charity Every day, Knights all over the world are given opportunities to make a difference — whether through community service, raising money or prayer. We celebrate each and every Knight for his strength, his compassion and his dedication to building a better world.

Scores of Fourth Degree Knights provide an honor guard while Knights process an image and first-class relic of Blessed Michael McGivney into the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Pasay City, Luzon South, launching the relic’s national pilgrimage. The procession was preceded by a motorcade and followed by Mass and public veneration. The relic will travel to dioceses throughout the country over the next year.

To be featured here, send your council’s “Knights in Action” photo as well as its description to: Columbia, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 or email: knightsinaction@kofc.org COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG COVERS 10_19 C.indd 3

10/21/26 9:32 AM

KOC PLEASE, DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PRIESTLY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

‘I could be close to the Lord daily.’

Father Nathan Scheidecker Diocese of Helena Helena (Mont.) Council 844

COLUMBIA NOV 26 ENG COVERS 10_19 C.indd 4

Photo by Mark E. LaRowe

Growing up Catholic, I always appreciated the Church and the priesthood. The first big nudge in my discernment came the summer after my freshman year at Carroll College, where I encountered priests near my own age for the first time. That summer, I volunteered at Legendary Lodge, the Diocese of Helena’s beautiful summer camp, and attended World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. Both were amazing experiences, but the summer as a whole felt spiritually dry. When I reflected and prayed about it, I realized that the Mass had made the difference in those two experiences. I asked the Lord: “What job could I get where I would have a priest there to celebrate Mass for me every day?” Immediately, I realized the obvious answer: I could be close to the Lord daily in the Mass as his priest! Many more nudges were needed to get me to seminary and ordination, but the Mass has remained a source of great joy throughout my discernment, my formation and my seven years as a priest.

10/21/26 9:32 AM