For Chaplains

Build an Emphasis on Spiritual Development

This Month’s Chaplain’s Report

Faith Formation Program

Father John P. Grace, O.S.A.

December is always a busy month. Like Martha, the Christian world becomes “busy about many things.” The central truth of our Faith is the fact that the Word of God took flesh and Jesus Christ came down to our level. Our lives depend on the reality of the Incarnation and our whole existence revolves around it.

May we be renewed through fresh insights into this truth and share the good news with everyone. May the feast of Christmas be one of abundant blessings for all of us.

A number of chaplains have asked about the possibility of promoting the role of the Knights of Columbus chaplain during this “Year for Priests.” Would you agree that a major goal of the Chaplain’s Program during 2010 should be to give a greater emphasis to spiritual development at meetings of the councils and assemblies? As I said in a previous column, there is a great spiritual hunger everywhere, and maybe now is the right time to satisfy that longing.

While it is true that many chaplains are able to set aside time to plan for their presentations at council meetings, it is not always possible. And so I’d like to suggest that you consider using as a guide the columns Bishop William E. Lori, Supreme Chaplain, has carefully crafted over the past two years. His monthly Chaplain’s Report columns are available online in the Chaplain’s Report archive section of www.kofc.org/chaplains, and form a ready-made source of topics and discussion material that will save you the trouble of coming up with your own when time is short and the demands of parish life are many.

Since January 2008, Bishop Lori has outlined the basic tenets of our Faith as he explains the Apostles’ Creed one phrase at a time. This might be a profitable way to offer spiritual enrichment and faith formation as we begin the New Year.

Seeing that our supreme chaplain continues on his four-year program, a fresh set of monthly columns in this newsletter, designed to coincide with events on the liturgical calendar or other timely events or mileposts, will arrive in your mailbox by the first of each month during 2010. Feel free to use either set of columns as a resource during the coming year, and help to make council meetings a time when Knights not only do the charitable and other work of the Order, but also receive the spiritual nourishment that adds deeper meaning to performing those acts of charity.

Have you been receiving the Chaplains Report electronically? This is easily accessible and will arrive by e-mail each month. If you are not currently receiving this newsletter electronically, you can sign up for it at  www.kofc.org/chaplains and follow the directions given.

Some councils have already embarked on this road to faith formation and are dedicating between 10 and 15 minutes at every business meeting in order to implement it. This may seem a long time, but we feel the opportunity for spiritual advancement would surely outweigh any disadvantage. I would appreciate your thoughts and comments!

May you have a happy and peaceful Christmas!

Father John Grace, O.S.A.
Director of Chaplain Programs and Development
john.grace@kofc.org
(203) 752-4263