Indiana Knights / Robert Hartenstein

Opportunity will knock for many men to be a knight

There comes a time in every man’s life when opportunity knocks, and his life can be changed forever. These are the moments that challenge him to reflect on his life. Questions form in one’s mind: “What have I really accomplished with my life? Is this all there is?”

Well, gentlemen, consider yourself invited to join the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic, family, charitable, fraternal organization in the world. As a member of the Knights of Columbus, you will have the opportunity to live more fully as a Christian witness to defend our faith by word and deed.

You’re being invited to get up off the couch and have the courage to make a difference in the life of other Catholic gentlemen. You might have even been asked in the past without commitment. We’re asking again!

This March, members of the Knights of Columbus throughout the United States will be asking men to help strengthen our Church with the theme “Follow Me” to quote Pope Benedict XVI. This is your chance to say “yes” to any Knight who might ask you to join our ranks.

There is strength in numbers walking the walk of a Catholic gentleman following the Word of God. This March 29, we Knights are celebrating Founders Day—127 years of doing just that.

What’s in it for you? If you join for the right reasons, you will become part of an organization of more than 1.75 million men strong, of more than 33,000 in Indiana. You can become something greater than yourself and lead the association to new heights.

You can join an organization willing to face the challenges our Church is struggling with today. Would our parents have ever dreamed we would be facing the re-defining of marriage, divorce and euthanasia? How about the removal of “under God” from our Pledge of Allegiance, all religious reference from government, even our currency?

We Knights are proud of being considered the “strong right arm of the Church and our parish priests.” Every parish in Indiana can benefit from our programs, and every parish should have a Knights of Columbus council or at the very least be represented by a roundtable attached to a council.

Every parish can benefit from our works of charity, Marian and eucharistic devotion as well as promoting family life and vocations. The Knights of Columbus can be an unstoppable force with your help.

Contrary to popular belief, we do not want just anyone. It serves no purpose for a man to join our ranks and not become involved in our mission. God has given every man certain talents that he expects each man to use, to spread the Word through actions of love for neighbor. That’s the bottom line. Are you up to the task?

Through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist, we Catholics have been charged to witness and serve for our Lord. As members of the Knights of Columbus, we put into action that charge and need you to grow our ministry.

The Knights of Columbus was founded by a 29-year-old priest,

Father Michael J. McGivney, an assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish in New Haven, Conn., in 1882. Father McGivney dreamed of a council in every parish to protect family life.

The Knights of Columbus in Indiana and throughout the world are still working to protect family life and defend the Church.

This March, we hope that someone will ask you to join our ranks during our membership blitz that will be conducted nationwide. If there is no one to ask you to join, visit www.indianakofc.org and click on “find a council” or ask your parish priest for a contact.

Opportunity is knocking. Won’t you say “yes” to membership in the Knights of Columbus?

(Robert Hartenstein is state communications director for the Knights of Columbus. He is a member of St. Joseph Hessen Cassel Parish in Fort Wayne, Ind.) †