Brother Knights

     Last Friday, May 25th, I was honored to be the guest of and to  join with the Saint Jude Council of the Knights of Columbus at the Annual Bishop's Dinner for the Diocese of Greensburg Chapter  held at the Bishop Connare Center.  This yearly event allows the local Councils of the Knights of Columbus to shine and to celebrate their commitment to fostering and promoting vocations to the priesthood.  Our bishop, Bishop Edward Malesic was the guest of honor, and he was presented with a check for $20,000 from the Diocesan Chapter for the vocation program of the diocese.
     The evening began with a social and culminated with a great dinner in the capacity filled dining hall.
     It has been my privilege to be a part of this great Catholic Fraternal Organization since the mid seventies, and to attain the rank of Fourth Degree.  Their charitable efforts locally, nationally and internationally are most impressive.  I am proud to say that I am a Knight of Columbus.

    ++++++++++++++

     Continuing to share my "lectio" from last Sunday's program on WAOB, my second reflection on the first chapter of the first letter of Saint Peter is as follows:

     "As the 1st chapter of the first letter of Saint Peter continues, beginning in verse 6 he tells them that blessed though they are, they will still have to suffer through various trials.  They will be tried by fire and tested so that they can be made pure and worthy of the covenant, of the promise given.  He says that the trials will come 

' ... so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested in fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor in the revelation of Jesus Christ.'

     It is commonly known that precious metals must be purified through fire and heat, so that all of the impurities and imperfections can be eliminated and that we have purity of heart and mind.  Like Job of old we are tested, tried in the unwanted and sometimes unjust challenges to our very existence.  Yet in those hardships and trials, in that purification process, we are made holy, joined with the very suffering of Christ, and transformed into the perfect, new creation that gives glory to God and in which we rejoice with indescribable and glorious joy, as verse 8 tells us.

     Take a moment to rejoice in that grace."