P.S.D. William J. Briere — Tradition. Vision. Fraternity. In it for life

By now, nearly all of the delegates and their guests have arrived. Most of them have settled in for the work ahead, beginning with the first business session, which starts in a few minutes.

But it´s not all work. After all, each of us is here with a few thousand of his closest friends. And today may be the fraternal highlight of the week.

We came together for Mass this morning, with a significant portion of the Church´s hierarchy concelebrating. An ensemble of brass, strings, and talented voices added to the dignity that the Mass always holds, while a large Fourth Degree color corps contributed a sense of pomp and pageantry to the event.

The international flavor of the Knights of Columbus was unmistakable this morning. Members from all of the countries in which our order exists were present. The languages used during the Liturgy itself were numerous. (I heard Italian, Latin, Greek, Spanish, Polish, French, Tagalog, and even a little English.)

The Church uses foreign languages as a vehicle for evangelization – a way to establish a presence and to communicate. And the Knights of Columbus does the same. We don´t view foreign languages as communications obstacles; we see them as communications tools.

Tonight´s States Dinner will conclude the day with an even more lively spirit of diversity and fraternity. A representative sampling of photos will be posted on the home page of this Web site by tomorrow morning, so check back. Be sure to spread the word to your family and friends, too.

Also, don´t miss the supreme knight´s annual report on the Knights of Columbus, which will be delivered shortly. You´re going to learn a little history, catch a bit of vision, sense a bond of fraternity, and shore up that gut feeling you´ve got that you´re in it for life.

The spirit of fraternity that we feel here in Nashville is too much to keep to ourselves, so we´d really like to share it with you. If you´re following this supreme convention from home (or work), check in by posting a comment and letting us know where you´re from. Each one of you is represented by the delegates here, and you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Vivat Jesus, brothers!

Comments

[jerry]

OK

[P.S.D. William J. Briere]

Thank you, "Visitor," for your 4:15 comment and question.

That's an interesting idea you proposed (about accumulating stock in companies that promote products or services that are in violation of Church teaching, in order to steer them toward a more favorable position).

Earlier today, we heard from a member who decided to stay in Hollywood for just that purpose; to influence and improve the movie industry from the inside; although an obvious distinction is that his is an independent film company and one that will be in competition with the mainstream media.

However, investing in companies that directly or indirectly put money to work against our Church doesn't seem like a morally acceptable option, especially given the fact that our current policy appears to be an effective means of reaching our goals without compromising our high ethical standards.

Thanks, again, for your question. It's good to know that people on our side of this battle are thinking outside the box.

[Ortelio Antonio Fernandez Cruz]

I have been very impressed with the convention as I follow it in Television. Personally I am a 4th degree knight and this year I will be 25 years as a Knight.Now I am living in Peterborough Ontario where am a founding member of council 10789. I also have been an Insurance Agent for 9 years. Having been born in Cuba and having been a fellow seminarian with Cardinal Jaime Ortega here in Canada I am also extremely proud that you have selected La Virgen de la Caridad Patroness of Cuba and of the Diocesis of Thunder Bay Ontario Canada as the traveling Virgin for the next year.For it was exactly 25 years ago that the Virgen de la Caridad was donated by the Cuban Knights of the United States and particularly the Our Lady Of Charity Council to the Bishop Of Thunder Bay on the 12th of October 1982 as a Centennial project of the Knights of Thunder Bay. I send my greetings to Cardinal Jaime Ortega who I haven't seen since he was studying in Montreal Sincerely Vivat Jesu
Sir Ortelio (Tony) Fernandez FIC.

[Visitor]

Yesterday, Carl Anderson mentioned, regarding KofC investments in stocks, that "The stocks are carefully screened, not only for minimizing risk, but also to ensure that we do not invest in companies that violate Catholic teaching." I understand the desire to be guided by the second half of that quote when selecting stocks, however, would it not also be a worthy strategy to do the opposite – accumulate stock in companies that promote abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia and so forth – in order to eventually influence the direction of those companies?

[P.S.D. William J. Briere]

Thank you, "carmelino," for your 10:24 a.m. comment.

Indeed, the supreme knight has said that the Knights of Columbus needs to be "everywhere that the Church is."

I am confident that your hope for a Philippines-based K. of C. hub in southeast Asia will become a reality.

Wherever the Church is, there is a need for our presence; and the Filipino Knights are well–situated – historically and geographically – to take the lead in your part of the world.

[carmelino]

Foreign languages are indeed communication tools that will bring the Order to greater heights especially in non-native english speaking nations where the Order has the potential to expand. They bring a "sense of belonging" to the brother knights as well as would-be knights in the nations concerned. In a related development, we Filipino Knights appreciate the designation of one of our own (past Visayas Deputy Ed Laczi-who acted as one of the membership seminar´s facilitators in the ongoing 125th convention) as the New Haven-based Supreme Council liaison for Philippine Affairs. In the not so distant future we are hopeful that the noble work of the Knights of Columbus will expand to the rest of Asia, with the Philippines as the "hub".