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| Esto Dignus - Be Worthy
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There is probably no greater challenge to any fraternal society than the need to recruit young members. In the Knights of Columbus, we pay particular attention to junior high and high school studentSquires and College Knights through our Columbian Squires program, and we welcome college students through our college council program.
Over the past year, we have undertaken a major initiative for our Squires – implementing our new Squire Advancement Program. Squires are being challenged to move through five levels of advancement with a total of 160 activities. Our new approach provides a variety of faith-connected activities that guide our young men toward a lifetime of Christian living. As of June 30, there were 1,378 active Squire circles – the highest number ever.
College-age Catholic men are welcome to join one of our 120 active college councils that have 16,790 members. Eleven new college councils were formed during the past year. We are proud of the witness and leadership demonstrated on so many college campuses by these brother Knights, and that is why when Pope Benedict declared the theme of next year’s World Youth Day as “You will be my witnesses,” we decided that our college Knights should be participating more actively than ever in World Youth Day.
The Knights of Columbus also continues to be one of the leading sponsors of the Boy Scouts. Local councils in the United States now sponsor 41,043 Scouts in 1,313 Scouting units. In Canada, councils sponsored 1,340 Scouts in 69 units.
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