Knights walk the road of prayer

Spiritual activities highlight annual K of C convention

By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Calgary

For the first time, the Knights prayed the rosary during their convention. They also enjoyed the presence of two of Alberta's bishops - Calgary Bishop Fred Henry and Edmonton Archbishop Thomas Collins - each of whom celebrated a well-attended Mass during the annual get-together.

State deputy Leo Klein told the WCR that the Alberta-Northwest Territories K of C have never before taken time to recite the rosary during their convention. The Saturday afternoon time of prayer was offered for the intention of peace with justice.

"I think it was very well accepted," Klein said, and left a message that the Knights have to continue to do that. "People said the level of spirituality was very noticeably present this weekend."

The Knights are also restarting their program In Solidarity With Our Priests. Klein said he received strong applause when he told the convention, "We need to be bold and courageous in defence of our Church and priests."

The Knights need to stand up and defend the bishops when, as Bishop Henry recently experienced, they are "attacked and ridiculed" in public, he said.

They also need to respond to the attacks on the priesthood that are now occurring "because of the despicable actions of a very few priests," he said.

"We need to be bold and courageous in defence of our Church and priests." - Leo Klein

Nestor Barber of San Jose, Calif., supreme master of the Knights' fourth degree, noted the friendly atmosphere of the convention, Klein related. Barber complimented the assembly for "our fraternalism and almost family environment through all our activities."

Barber earlier told the convention the Knights are holding an international Eucharistic conference on June 22-23. Local councils are also being urged to hold similar conferences "to honour Our Lord's presence in the Eucharist."

The Knights also donated US$1 million to be used to develop Duc Altum Park in Toronto for use for the sacrament of Reconciliation during World Youth Day in July.

The order wants to encourage "a wide use of this sacrament which in our day and age has been somewhat deflected," Barber said.

During their convention, the Knights passed a resolution urging governments to ban abortion and euthanasia and also to "de-list" it from medical procedures covered by medicare.

Klein noted that opposition to abortion and euthanasia has been "a vital program for the Knights for many years." The order provides financial support and manpower for many pro-life groups.

They now also recognize the need to do a lot of lobbying with governments to stop abortion and prevent euthanasia from being legalized, he said.

The order also passed several other resolutions, including one calling for decency in the public media and another urging that government programs and laws ensure that basic human needs are met "based on the principle of serving the public good."

The main event of the convention, the State Deputy's Banquet, packed more than 600 people into the Westin Hotel ballroom. Klein said that was likely the largest-ever crowd for the event.

The Knights, an organization founded in 1882 to provide assistance to widows of deceased members, also made major gains in their insurance section.

Marc Bouchard, Alberta-NWT's general insurance agent, said the agency issued $151 million of insurance in the past year - a record for any of the 135 agencies in the entire order. It consistently ranks in the top three K of C agencies.

The Knights gave out numerous awards during the convention with Edmonton's one-year-old mainly Filipino council, Nazareno Council 12904, coming out the big winner.

It was named council of the year and its grand knight, Teddy Tuazon, won grand knight of the year honours.

Klein said the council has had a phenomenal number of activities. "It's really nice to see a new council like that."

Other major award winners were:

• Fraternal Council of the Year: Father Albert Newman Council of Calgary.
• District Deputy of the Year: Bong Estoque of Edmonton.
• Knight of the Year: Daniel Fortin of Calgary.
• Insurance Agent of the Year: Dan Dean of Edmonton.
• Family of the Year: Robert and Val Becker family of Fairview.
• Best All-Around Councils in a District: District 14 with district deputy Mike McGowan of Edmonton.

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