Montana Knights News

Homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral cites his “vision and zeal”

(NEW YORK, NY) – During his homily at this morning’s Mass for Clergy and Religious at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Pope Benedict XVI made special mention of “the remarkable accomplishment of that exemplary American priest, the Venerable Michael McGivney, whose vision and zeal led to the establishment of the Knights of Columbus.” McGivney’s cause for sainthood is being considered at the Vatican, and the Pope declared him a venerable servant of God in mid-March.

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson made the following statement regarding the Pope’s remarks:

“This morning, Pope Benedict reminded America’s clergy that the ’secret of the impressive growth of the Church’ in the U.S. was a ‘unity of vision and purpose – rooted in faith and a spirit of constant conversion and self-sacrifice,’ and held up as a prime example our founder, Fr. McGivney.

“The Pope’s selection of Fr. McGivney as a role model for today’s priests and religious is very important for us. Thousands of priests are among the 1.7 million members of the Knights of Columbus, including Cardinal Egan and hundreds of others in the Archdiocese of New York. Each and every day, all of us in the Knights of Columbus look to Fr. McGivney’s vision and example as a guide to our work of charity and evangelization. At a time when our priests are in need of our support more than ever, the Pope’s promotion of Fr. McGivney as a role model for clergy everywhere is both timely and enormously appreciated. We pledge our fervent support for his call to revitalize and renew the Catholic Church here and around the world.”

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Elected this afternoon as the new officers for the 2008-2009 fraternal year were the following Brother Knights:

State Deputy – Bill Burke (Stevensville)

State Secretary – Rod McElwee (Polson)

State Treasurer – Art Malisani (Great Falls)

State Advocate – Dave McLean (Ananconda)

State Warden – Bob Howard (Hamilton)

Delegates to the Supreme Convention

The Insurance Delegate will be Bernie Adams (Helena) and Associate Delegates are John Beck (Billings) and Terry Cody (Wolf Point). Their alternates are James O’Leary (Havre) for insurance and the Associate delegate alternates are Kevin Holland and Andy Mikes (both of Billings).

Congratulations to all of our Brother Knights who have answered the call to serve and we wish them well.

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Our State Chaplain, Fr. Leo McDowell, is preparing to be deployed to Kyrgyzstan. This is a short article describing what he is looking to expect. Please remember to keep Fr. Leo is your prayers as he serves our brave men and women overseas.

Around the 7,000 square mile parish he calls home, he is referred to as Father Leo. To the 185 families in Circle, Richey and Jordan, Montana, where he has served the past ten years he is a spiritual father and guide, celebrating with them weddings, baptisms and funerals. To the United States Air Force, he is Chaplain, Major, Leo McDowell, IMA (Individual Mobilization Augmentee) Chaplain.

This summer, Chaplain McDowell will be serving as the Catholic chaplain at Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan. Chaplain McDowell, and an accompanying Protestant chaplain, will serve the needs of the 1,200 airmen assigned to the base as well as the many Marines and Soldiers who will transition through the base on their way to their deployments closer to the war zone. (more…)

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