We gather at this year’s convention in the beautiful city of Quebec, which is celebrating the 400th anniversary of its founding, and history is all around us. Quebec – the city and the province – has played an important part in the life of the Catholic Church and of the Knights of Columbus.

Just two months ago, the 49th International Eucharistic Congress met here. It was an event that we strongly supported. In fact, the very first International Eucharistic Congress ever held outside of Europe took place in Montreal 98 years ago. That year the Mayor of Montreal, who welcomed participants from around the world on behalf of his city back in 1910, was none other than James J. Guerin, who had earlier served as the first Grand Knight of the first council of Knights of Columbus in Canada. Although his name might suggest otherwise, Mayor Guerin was an Irishman, whose family was among the four million immigrants who first set foot in North America here in Quebec City, or on Grosse-Île, the Canadian equivalent of New York’s Ellis Island.

And located between Montreal and Quebec City is Saint-Hyacinthe, where our founder, the Venerable Servant of God Michael J. McGivney, attended seminary in preparation for his career as one of the most extraordinary parish priests in the history of North America.

Quebec is our largest jurisdiction in North America, and second-largest overall. It has counted among its members many leaders of Canada. The 12th Prime Minister of Canada, Louis St. Laurent, was a Knight from Quebec. He was born the year the Order was founded, in 1882.

We also honor a man who is one of the greatest leaders of the Knights of Columbus in the history of Canada, Jean Migneault. He served as state deputy of Quebec from 1983 to 1985 and as supreme director from 1984 to 2006. During his 14 years at the Supreme Council, he served as Assistant Supreme Treasurer, Supreme Treasurer and Deputy Supreme Knight. This week, Jean and his wife Giselle are in our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers in a very special way.

Yes, history is all around us this week. And we are very grateful to our brother Knights from Quebec for their hospitality and dedication.