FAITHACTIONIN

Guidebook

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HigHer PurPose ......................................................... 3FaitH in aCtion ......................................................... 3

Planning tHe Program...................................... 4serviCe Program Personnel rePort ............. 4imPlementing tHe serviCe Program.............. 4CounCil organizational meeting ............... 4BeFore tHe organizational meeting .......... 4ParisH Pastor, CounCil CHaPlain................. 4DraFt news artiCle ........................................... 5Program Portion oF tHe CounCil

organizational meeting............................. 5aFter tHe organizational meeting ............ 5KeePing Program Personnel motivateD..... 5

star CounCil awarD................................................ 6ColumBian awarD................................................ 6FatHer mCgivney awarD................................... 6FounDers’ awarD.................................................. 7state CounCil serviCe Program awarDs..... 7international serviCe Program awarDs .... 7saFe environment —

oFFiCe oF youtH ProteCtion ..................... 8orDering suPPlies................................................ 9online Fraternal training............................. 9weBinars ................................................................. 9

Program Categories ............................................... 10suPreme-reCommenDeD Program

Category matrix ............................................ 10FeatureD Programs.................................................. 11requireD Programs.................................................. 11

FaitH ......................................................................... 12reFunD suPPort voCation

Program (rsvP) ......................................... 12into tHe BreaCH.............................................. 12marian Prayer Program............................... 12BuilDing tHe DomestiC CHurCH

KiosK ............................................................... 12rosary Program .............................................. 13sPiritual reFleCtion ..................................... 13Holy Hour ........................................................ 13

saCramental giFts.......................................... 13Family ....................................................................... 14

FooD For Families............................................ 14Family oF tHe montH/year ......................... 14KeeP CHrist in CHristmas ............................ 14Family Fully alive .......................................... 15Family weeK ...................................................... 15ConseCration to tHe Holy Family ........... 15Family Prayer nigHt ...................................... 16gooD FriDay Family Promotion ................ 16

Community ............................................................ 17Coats For KiDs.................................................. 17gloBal wHeelCHair mission ...................... 17HaBitat For Humanity.................................. 17Disaster PrePareDness ................................... 18Free tHrow CHamPionsHiP.......................... 18CatHoliC CitizensHiP essay Contest ...... 18soCCer CHallenge .......................................... 18HelPing HanDs................................................. 19

liFe ............................................................................ 20marCH For liFe................................................. 20sPeCial olymPiCs.............................................. 20ultrasounD Program ................................... 21CHristian reFugee relieF............................. 21silver rose ......................................................... 21mass For PeoPle witH sPeCial neeDs........ 21PregnanCy Center suPPort ........................ 21novena For liFe ............................................... 22

suPreme CHaPlain’s FaitH in aCtionmontHly CHallenge .......................................... 23FaitH in aCtion montHlyCHallenge instruCtions .................................. 23

saFe environment Program training anDBaCKgrounD CHeCK requirements — taBle 1................................................................. 8

FaitH in aCtion Programs — taBle 2 ............... 10FeatureD Programs — taBle 3............................. 11requireD Programs — taBle 4............................. 11

Contents

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HiGHer PurPosein the opening lines of Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of theGospel), His Holiness Pope Francis invites “Christians,everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personalencounter with Jesus Christ” (3). The Faith in actionprogram model extends that same invitation to Knightsof Columbus members and their families. it is a renewedpersonal invitation to live out the calling of their faith,the call to service of their neighbor and to answer the age-old question, “am i my brother’s keeper?” (gn 4:9).

today, a man’s work can follow him home through hissmartphone. at the same time, he is picking up a largershare of household responsibilities and striving to meetmore intense demands of fatherhood as the pace of kids’activities has accelerated. Despite this, many men aredrawn to opportunities to be hands-on and to expresstheir faith by working alongside peers in service to others.They want to spend precious free time involved withtheir families while also building bonds of friendship andfraternity that will last a lifetime.

as supreme Knight Carl anderson said, “if we can’tmeet young Catholic men where they are, they will gosomewhere else. and in this era, it is too easy to gosomewhere else when we need them to be home. Homein the Catholic Church, home in their parishes, andhome with their families.” as leaders and brotherKnights who care about the long-term sustainability ofthe order, we are excited about men’s desire to serve andthe opportunity to consistently adapt to meet thedemand of a changing world and the needs of futuremembers. we know that the chance to roll up our sleevesand demonstrate our faith through service is as powerfulas it is rewarding. The calling is a fundamental part of the order’s history and genesis for our new program model, Faith in action. This mission-driven platform isan excellent way to express our service program, as itspeaks to our own efforts and to the interests ofprospective Knights.

The Faith in action model is a realization of the changingneeds of men in the twenty-first century. it seeks tobalance all of our key priorities with theirs — Faith,Family, Community and life — and present them in a

way that is clear to our leaders, members and prospectiveKnights. The simplicity of Faith in action is that it fullyintegrates Building the Domestic Church programs as afoundational part of the model, limits the number ofrequired programs to earn the Columbian award and,most importantly, allows councils to concentrate onimplementing quality faith-filled family programs. ourgoal is for men to lead their family in service — not leavetheir family for service. The focus of this streamlinedprogram is quality, not quantity.

FaitH in actionThis Faith in action manual provides you and yourcouncil with information to both implement supreme-recommended programs and create unique programsthat help men to live out their commitment to theCatholic faith and their desire to serve family, parish and community.

woven within these four categories is the opportunity toshare something that all generations and cultures withinour organization seek in their membership in theKnights of Columbus. The Faith in action model allowsus to come together to share our faith, celebrate fraternitywith our families, and do what we do best — standshoulder to shoulder in service to our community and todefend life at all stages and in every condition.

Faith in action

this manual fully explains the Faith in actionprogram model, its four categories, and associatedsupreme-recommended programs for each. additionalservice program resources and recommendations canbe found at kofc.org.

The resources included in this guide and online aremeant to serve as guidelines and not intended to be prescriptive or exacting. your council should adapt the information for each program to meet theneeds and resources of your local parish and community.By conducting well-run programs, your councilcontinues the vision of our founder by assisting peoplein need, strengthening the bonds that unite ourmembers, and continuing the strategy of Building theDomestic Church.

Planning the Programstart planning immediately after the election of councilofficers. at that time, the grand knight should appointprogram and membership directors. remember thatprograms and membership go hand in hand. a councilcannot conduct successful programs without membersupport, but without quality faith-filled family programs,prospective members will not be interested in joiningyour council.

after the appointment, the program director works withthe grand knight to name committee chairs for each ofthe four program categories.

service Program Personnel reportonce the directors and committee chairs are appointed,complete and submit the Service Program PersonnelReport (#365) through the member managementapplication — located in the officers online section ofkofc.org — no later than aug. 1. The report is also foundat kofc.org/forms.

submitting this report allows the directors andchairpersons to receive important information from thesupreme Council and the state council.

if there are changes in committee chairs during thefraternal year, you may also use the membermanagement application to make updates or submit anew Service Program Personnel Report (#365) to the

supreme Council Department of Fraternal mission withonly the new or changed information.

implementing the service Programit is critical that the grand knight have an organizationalmeeting with the council’s appointed directors and chairsin advance of the new fraternal year: before July 1. Thismeeting sets the groundwork for the entire fraternal yearand is essential to the success of the council.

council organizational MeetingCouncil officers — including the program and member -ship directors with their respective committee chairs andyour council’s financial secretary and chaplain — shouldattend. use it to help set the program calendar,membership and insurance goals, budget and socialcalendar.

before the organizational Meetingreview the programs that were conducted in the pastyear and examine the reasons for success or failure of eachproject. Develop a brief summary on each and beprepared to discuss the analysis during the programportion of the Council organizational meeting.

Parish Pastor, council chaplainConsultation with the pastor and his staff is critical. wellin advance of the Council organizational meeting,discuss your council’s tentative plans for the new fraternalyear on programs that may come out of the meeting.Personally invite him to the Council organizational

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meeting with ample time for him to plan his attendance.obtain his guidance and permission, an important andfundamental aspect of our relationship with our pastors/chaplains and our ability to serve the parish community.

draft news articleassign a public relations chairman to write a draft newsarticle updating the parish and community on the successof the council’s activity in the previous year and askingfor parish and community support in the coming year.

Program Portion of the council organizational MeetingDuring the programming portion of the Councilorganizational meeting, your council officers should:• review the programs that were conducted in the past

year▫ Discuss the summary analysis of each project▫ review and approve the draft of the news article

prepared by the public relations chairman.• Based on the review, decide which programs should

be repeated in the current fraternal year and whichnew programs should be included▫ assign directors and chairmen responsible for

each program▫ assign tentative dates for each program and when

each program will conclude. establish a meetingschedule for the program committee chairs.

▫ Consider the parish calendar before finalizingthese dates and review with the pastor and hisparish staff

▫ set a budget for each program▫ Prepare a list of programs to present to your

council for approval▫ Communicate the date of each program to the

public relations chair to ensure that your council’sprograms are communicated to the parish andcommunity in a timely fashion using the sampleannouncements prepared for many of the programs

after the organizational Meetingif the pastor or chaplain was not in attendance, the grandknight should arrange to follow up with him on theoutcome of the Council organizational meeting andobtain final approval of programs (and associated dates)that the council seeks to conduct within the parish. The

council leadership should work with the parishleadership to secure required facilities as needed.

keeping Program Personnel MotivatedThe program director and committee chair are responsiblefor keeping volunteers motivated. recognition for a jobwell done can go a long way to keeping morale high. Hereare some suggestions:• Publish the work the council is doing in the parish

and community. use the various resources available toyou to help with this and refer to the Public Relationsand Publicity Guide (#2235) for assistance.

• Be sure that each Knight gets full credit andrecognition for his work. an occasional personalnote may mean a great deal to the recipient.

• Consider presenting a Certificate of Appreciation(#1462) to the directors, chair and other individualswho were instrumental in the success of the program.

Faith in action

• listen to the suggestions of your council membersand acknowledge good advice. tell your brotherKnights that you appreciate their interest and willconsider their ideas.

• Be prepared to listen when a member has a questionor problem. guide him but allow him to do most ofthe thinking. This indicates respect for his judgment,giving him confidence and a feeling of importance.

• accept responsibility for your mistakes. This showsyour team that you know you are human and fallible.

star council awardThe goal of every council is a commitment to obtain thestar Council award. Councils that conduct well-rounded Faith in action programs will find that theiractivities are attractive to men of the parish. recruitmentand retention are far easier when programs invite menand their families to live their faith in service to oneanother, their parish and the communities in which theylive and work.

The star Council award recognizes the efforts thatcouncils put forth in continuing venerable michaelmcgivney’s mission. in order for your council to earn thestar Council award, it must:• earn the Columbian award for well-rounded

council programs▫ submit the Columbian Award Application (#sP-7)

— due by June 30• earn the Father mcgivney award for membership

growth• earn the Founders’ award for insurance growth• submit the Service Program Personnel Report (#365)

— due by aug. 1• submit the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728)

— due by Jan. 31• Be compliant with training and background checks• remain current with assessments from the supreme

Council headquarters

There are opportunities for your council to earnadditional stars on the star Council award. earn the starCouncil award and attain 200 percent, 300 percent, 400

percent, etc., of your council’s membership quota. Foradditional information on how your council can earn thestar Council award, visit kofc.org/star.

columbian awardearn the Columbian award for well-rounded councilprograms. There is no reason why every council in theKnights of Columbus should not earn the Columbianaward. it recognizes your council’s quality faith-filledfamily programs in each of the four Faith in actionprogram categories. in order for your council to earn theColumbian award, it must:• Conduct at least four major programs in each of the

Faith in action categories of Faith, Family,Community and life

• Complete the Columbian Award Application (#sP-7)— due by June 30

• submit the Service Program Personnel Report (#365)— due by aug. 1

Father McGivney awardThe Father mcgivney award recognizes excellence inmembership growth. each year, your council is assigneda membership quota from the supreme Council. Foraward purposes, growth is considered net increase overloss through suspension or withdrawal. Deaths do notcount against your quota, and transfers in or out of your

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council do not count for or against your quota. yourcouncil quota can be found under the membership tabin officers online, which is updated daily. There is noapplication for the Father mcgivney award, as thesupreme Council automatically determines eligibility.

again, conducting well-rounded faith-filled programswill aid in attracting and retaining members. Do notforget that programs play an integral part in earning theFather mcgivney award. to earn the Father mcgivneyaward for excellence in membership growth, councilsmust:• Conduct frequent church drives. visit kofc.org/drive

for additional information on how to conduct achurch drive.

• recruit at all levels. everyone can recruit — all membersof the council should be part of your recruitmentteam. visit kofc.org/recruit1 for more resources.

• schedule monthly First Degree ceremonials. aconsistent schedule enables recruiters and futuremembers to know when they can become Knights of Columbus.

• invite non-members to volunteer in one of yourcouncil’s programs. after the program, invite thenon-member to join your council.

• members and leaders can learn more about how torecruit, by visiting kofc.org/trainingmicrosite andtaking the Personal recruiting skills course.

Founders’ awardThe Founders’ award recognizes excellence in yourcouncil’s promotion of our insurance products. eachyear, your council is assigned an insurance quota fromthe supreme Council. For award purposes, growth isconsidered net gain above loss through suspensions,withdrawals and transfers from insurance to associatedmembership. Deaths do not count against your quota,and transfers in or out of your council do not count for or against your quota. your council quota can befound under the membership tab in officers online,which is updated daily. There is no application for theFounders’ award, as the supreme Council automaticallydetermines eligibility.

to earn the Founders’ award for excellence in thepromotion of our insurance and fraternal benefits:

• appoint an insurance promotion chairman to workclosely with the field agent to help the council obtainthe Founders’ award

• ensure that completed Membership Documents(#100) are promptly delivered to your council’sinsurance agent

• Conduct Fraternal Benefit nights• invite your council’s insurance agent to speak at

council meetings

state council service Program awardseach year during a jurisdiction’s convention, the statecouncils should recognize the best program conductedby the councils in each of the four program categories. asubordinate council must complete and submit the stateCouncil Service Program Awards Entry Form (#stsP) —one form per entry per program, along with supportingdocumentation for each entry — directly to thedesignated state council program chair. any entriesreceived by the supreme Council from a subordinatelocal council are not sent to the jurisdiction.

entries are judged first and foremost on programeffectiveness. award application content is also extremelyimportant in conveying the effectiveness of the program.submitting a quality entry will improve your council’schances of being selected as a state or internationalwinner.

to assist your council in preparing its entry for the stateCouncil service Program awards, please refer to theService Program Awards Booklet (#10173). The bookletcontains helpful suggestions and examples of how yourcouncil should submit its entry.

winning entries — with the endorsement of the statedeputy — are submitted to the supreme Council forconsideration as an international service Program awardwinner.

international service Program awardsonce the jurisdiction has chosen its winners for eachcategory, they should promptly forward the submissionto the supreme Council Department of Fraternalmission. Please note: there is only one entry per category.The entry must include:

Faith in action

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• State Council Service Program Award Entry Form(#stsP)

• executive summary of the winning program preparedby the state council, highlighting why it was chosenas the winner

• original submission from the winning subordinatecouncil

• supporting documentation of the winning program

winning programs at the international level arerecognized at the annual supreme Convention inaugust. The grand knights of the winning councils, alongwith their wives, are invited to the convention as guestsof the supreme Council. any council that is in goodstanding is eligible and encouraged to compete for thisdistinguished honor.

safe environment — office of Youth Protectionunder Faith in action, certain state and council officers/chairmen are required to take safe environment trainingand may also be required to provide authorization for a background check. some positions also have access to Praesidium’s armatus administration dashboardto view member compliance within their council orjurisdiction.

if members in certain positions are not compliant within30 days of notification, they are subject to removal fromthose positions.

as the Service Program Personnel Report (#365) is beingcompleted, ensure that all member email addresses areaccurate. Praesidium, the order’s safe environmentpartner, will use these email addresses to send emailnotifications to the program directors and chairs who are required to complete safe environment training andto provide authorization for a background check.Directors and chairs should look for email notificationsfrom Praesidium in their inbox or spam folder. These will provide assigned username and password tocomplete the required training and the link necessary toprovide background check authorization. The Knightsof Columbus covers all costs associated with theserequirements.

email notifications are unique to each recipient andcannot be forwarded or used by another director or chair.The time-sensitive notifications require the recipient tocomplete training and background check authorizationwithin 30 days of receipt.

Faith in action

backGround arMatusroles traininG cHeck adMinistration

state councilstate Deputy 3 3

state advocate 3 3

state Program Director 3 3

state youth Director 3 3 3

state Family Director 3 3 3

state Community Director 3 3 3

state squire Chairman 3 3 3

subordinate councilgrand Knight 3 3

Faithful navigator 3

Program Director 3 3

Family Director 3 3

Community Director 3 3

Chief Counselor 3 3

adult Counselor 3 3

Safe Environment Program Training and Background Check Requirements — Table 1

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For more information, please visit kofc.org/safe or theofficer Desk reference in officers online.

ordering suppliesThe supreme Council has many materials available tohelp your council promote and conduct supreme-recommended programs. Programming and printsupplies can be ordered through supplies online, thesupply-ordering portal available on officers online. allKnights of Columbus-related gift and clothing needs,including Knights of Columbus apparel, accessories,books, religious supplies and liturgical items, can beordered through Knightsgear. included below are tipsto ensure that your order is processed and shipped in timefor your programs:• all council supplies must be ordered through your

council’s grand knight or financial secretary. tocharge orders against your council’s account, eachgrand knight and financial secretary must first log into officers online. once logged in, officers mayaccess the link to supplies online and Knightsgear.

• Fraternal mission will no long place orders fordistrict deputies or council officers, except in rare circumstances.

• There is no longer a need to complete a Requisition(#1) when ordering council supplies throughsupplies online or Knightsgear.

• order materials at least four to six weeks in advanceof your program date. materials that are neededsooner will be shipped in an expedited manner;however, extra shipping charges will be applied tothe order.

online Fraternal trainingincoming fraternal leaders and all brother Knights arewelcome to the open enrollment microsite! Part of theFraternal training Portal, this website gives you theopportunity to take customized training courses for theseexciting and important roles. once you start, you canproceed at your own pace. Please remember that thecontent is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Through this training site anyone can take the following:• District Deputy Course• grand Knight Course• Financial secretary Course• Deputy grand Knight Course• Council officer training • Personal recruitment skills

visit: Kofc.org/trainingmicrosite

webinarsJoin the staff of the Fraternal mission Department live, aswe discuss relevant topics for effective council operation,membership recruitment, and charitable outreachprograms that engage council members and build astronger council. all Knights of Columbus members arewelcome to join us for these fun, engaging andinformative webinars.

offered approximately once a month on an ongoingbasis, these interactive webinars allow participants toview, ask questions and receive answers related to thetopic being discussed in real time. you can register evenif you are unavailable for the live presentation. eachwebinar is recorded and archived, so fraternal leaders canparticipate at a time and place convenient to them.

For further assistance, please contact the Fraternalmission department. Phone: (203) 752-4270 or email:fraternaltraining@kofc.org

to sign-up and see the upcoming webinar or view thearchived webinars, visit kofc.org/webinar.

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ProGraM cateGoriesa well-rounded council program will have activities in each of the following categories: Faith, Family,Community and life.

This manual highlights the 32 supreme Council-recommended programs, inclusive of existing and newprograms. your council is encouraged to implement anyprogram(s) that will help make a difference in your parishand community. obtaining a maximum of 16 programcredits qualifies the council to earn the Columbianaward. For additional information on the Columbianaward, visit kofc.org/star.

The programs highlighted here are meant to inspire yourcouncil to put their faith into action. your council maychoose to conduct one or more of the programs in thismanual, or it may develop programs unique to the parishor community. The goal is for the council to be active andconduct programs that draw men closer to their faith,families and communities — and defend life in all stagesand in all conditions.

Faith in action

FaitH coMMunitY

rsVP coats for kids into the Breach Global wheelchair Missionmarian Prayer Program Habitat for Humanity Building the Domestic Church Kiosk Disaster Preparednessrosary Program Free Throw Championshipspiritual reflection new Catholic Citizenship essay Contest Holy Hour new soccer Challengesacramental gifts new Helping Hands newFaMilY liFe

Food for Families March for life Family of the month/year special olympicsKeep Christ in Christmas ultrasound Program Family Fully alive Christian refugee relief Family week silver roseConsecration to the Holy Family mass for People with special needs newFamily Prayer night new Pregnancy Center support newgood Friday Family Promotion new novena for life new

Bold denotes Featured ProgramsFaith in Action Programs — Table 2

supreme-recommended Program category Matrix

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Featured ProGraMsThe supreme Council has designated select programs asfeatured programs in each of the program categories.when your council conducts a featured program andsatisfies the associated requirements, it will receive twocredits toward that program category.

required ProGraMsadditionally, a council must conduct one requiredprogram in each category to be eligible for theColumbian award. The vast majority of councils arealready doing one or more of these programs, which aredesigned to enrich the spiritual life of the council, familyand community. required programs are incrediblysimple to implement, often complementing otheractivities the council is already doing.

Faith in action

FaitH coMMunitY

rsvP Coats for Kids global wheelchair missionHabitat for Humanity

FaMilY liFe

Food for Families march for life special olympicsultrasound Program

Featured Programs — Table 3

FaitH coMMunitY

spiritual reflection Helping HandsFaMilY liFe

Consecration to the novena for lifeHoly Family

Required Programs — Table 4

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our goal is to strengthen our men andtheir families in the faith. when weentered the order, we were reminded toconstantly inform ourselves in theCatholic faith. This formation goesbeyond mere facts or religious practice

to an authentic connection with a loving god and his sonJesus Christ. Programs in this category are designed to drawus closer to god and the Church in a tangible andmeaningful way — whether through helping the futureshepherds of the mother Church, quiet contemplation in aspiritual reflection program, or honoring mary, mother ofgod. These programs should strive to arm us for the spiritualbattle that our men and families face daily.

refund support Vocation Program (rsVP)Keep the faith alive by supporting our seminarians and postulants.

as the strong right arm of the church, Knights ofColumbus are committed to providing moral, financialand spiritual support to our future priests and religious atall stages of their formation. a featured program, rsvPcounts for two credits toward the Columbian award.

Through this program, council and parish families willraise funds to support seminarians or religious information, in their area. For every $500 given to anindividual, the supreme Council will refund the council or assembly $100. The maximum refund a council orassembly can receive is $400 per individual supported.Though financial support is vitally important, it is notthe only aspect of the rsvP program. Councils are alsocalled to provide their “adopted” seminarian or religiouswith moral support and prayers for their success.

into the breachDeepen member spirituality and formation to combatcrisis of religious faith in our world.

in his apostolic exhortation, Into the Breach, BishopThomas J. olmsted outlines the challenges faced by menof faith in the world today. Into the Breach is a call tobattle for Catholic men which urges them towholeheartedly embrace masculine virtues in a world atcrisis. Councils will institute men’s study groups to readthe apostolic exhortation Into the Breach and use copiesof the Into the Breach Booklet and Study Guide as aresource. By reading and discussing Bishop olmsted’sinspirational words and the accompanying study guidewith like-minded men of faith, councils will prayerfullyexamine the enormous breach in the battle line that liesbefore them. in doing so, they will begin to devise apersonal plan of spiritual battle.

Marian Prayer Programspread devotion to our lady and pray for our brothersand sisters of faith who are at risk around the world.

the 2018-2019 marian Prayer Program presents the 18thmarian image sponsored by the Knights of Columbus,this time of our lady Help of Persecuted Christians.each Knights of Columbus jurisdiction receives severalmarian images, which serve as the centerpieces for prayerservices conducted in churches and council meetingplaces throughout the order for the duration of theinitiative. since its inception in 1979, the Knights ofColumbus’ marian Prayer Program has held more than166,900 local council and parish prayer services withsome 20 million participants. This year, the prayer serviceis intended to raise awareness of the plight of Christianspersecuted for their faith and to stand in prayerfulsolidarity with them.

building the domestic church kioskHelp strengthen the domestic church (our families) by providing exceptional religious education materials toall Catholics.

Building the Domestic Church Kiosks (#BDC-K) containengaging, faith-based literature and are available forcouncils to distribute to members, parishioners, and thegeneral public. By organizing activities in their parishes,councils will educate and evangelize using the richresources found in the Catholic information service(Cis) Building the Domestic Church series of booklets.

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since 1948, Cis has been the major evangelical arm ofthe Knights of Columbus. Through multiple bookletseries and various media formats, Cis makes ourCatholic faith accessible and continually provides toolsfor catechesis and faith formation. For $150, councilswill receive a Building the Domestic Church Kiosk(#BDC-K) and the first set of 225 booklets of the mostpopular Cis resources, aimed at helping Catholics to liveout the Church’s vision for our families.

rosary ProgramBuild faithful families and communities by praying the rosary.

This program encourages devotion to mary, the patronessof our order, and emphasizes the importance of prayer incommunity and as a family. The rosary Programencourages councils to schedule regular rosary prayerservices on any day of the week, at any time of the year,with the guidance of their pastor. Councils shouldpersonally invite each family of the parish and offerattending families a copy of the Knights of ColumbusCatholic information service’s A Scriptural Rosary for theFamily (#319). encourage families to read this bookletand learn how their faith can be strengthened through adevotion to our lady, while praying the rosary at hometogether regularly. Kits with rosary rings, rosary prayerguides, and leader books are available for councils toorder by visiting supplies online through the officersonline Portal.

spiritual reflection Create annual opportunities for prayer and reflection asa fraternity.

many Catholic young people can attest that religiousretreats are radically rejuvenating spiritual events thatoften leave a lasting impact on participants’ relationshipto their faith. yet, so often, retreats seem only to be opento students and youth. under the guidance of theirchaplain, councils can attend a retreat or day of reflection

together or perhaps organize their own event for the menof their parish. Councils and jurisdictions can also holdlow-cost retreats of their own. These events might be openonly to council members or men of the parish — or maybe open to entire families. if councils are unable toorganize these events themselves, they could go as a groupand attend a retreat in their area to satisfy the requirement.additionally, councils are strongly encouraged to considervisiting The saint John Paul ii national shrine inwashington, D.C. as part of this program. Councilparticipation in spiritual reflection is required to qualifyfor the Columbian award.

Holy Hourencourage deep personal encounter with god.

The chivalric character of the Knights of Columbus andthe Church’s long tradition of spiritual combat resonatewith men today — especially as threats from the worldand the devil are so keenly felt. eucharistic adoration inthe form of a regularly scheduled Holy Hour is a simple,direct, and meaningful way to address these needs. it isfamiliar to many, easy to organize, and somethingeveryone can participate in together regardless of age,vocation, stage of life or membership status. Councils canorganize their Holy Hours in a variety of ways andincorporate aspects such as: perpetual adoration, thesacrament of reconciliation, prayer for particularintentions and more. a Knights of Columbus HolyHour, prepared for the men of the parish, could includea reflection, communal rosary, prayers for intercession byFather mcgivney or st. Joseph, and various other aspectsas decided by the council.

sacramental Giftssupport families during the most important events in thelife of the domestic church: the sacraments.

The sacraments stand as the most significant events in thelife of the domestic church. The Knights of Columbuswill be there to support and embrace our parish familiesat these essential moments of encounter with Christ.Councils will play an integral role in these momentousfaith events and the lives of our families and parishcommunity through prayer and the presentation ofsymbolic gifts. as children and adult members becomemore integrated into the life of the church and theirparish, they should know that members of the Knightsof Columbus will always be present in a tangible andmeaningful way, regardless of who else is there for them.

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Put simply, programs in this category aredeveloped for families, by families.Father mcgivney sought to strengthenthe familial bond of father to motherand children to parents. Catholics oftenstruggle with the reality that they do not

have the opportunity to socialize and/or pray with otherfaith-filled Catholic families. it can be quite a challenge tocontinue to ground ourselves and raise our children in thefaith when there is such limited exposure.

our family programs are an evolution and response to asociety that seeks to weaken the bonds of family. we mustmake it clear that society should value a family that is faithfulto god and each other. Father mcgivney’s vision for familylife was not only financial and material aid but also spiritualstrength, as holiness is the calling of all baptized Christians.Put plainly, the majority of our time is easily spent in secularcircles unless we intentionally create ways to live the domesticchurch. These programs help us to live this call.

Food for FamiliesHelp end hunger in communities across north americaand around the globe.

The goal of Food for Families is to ensure that as few aspossible go to bed hungry each night. many in ourcommunities are struggling through hardship and unableto provide food for their families. Knights of Columbusare committed to helping end hunger through the Foodfor Families program which has donated millions ofdollars and millions of pounds of food toward this end.

a featured program, Food for Families counts for twocredits toward the Columbian award. Council andparish families will raise funds to support their local foodpantries, food banks and soup kitchens. For every $500or 1,000 pounds of food donated, the supreme Councilwill refund $100 back to the council — up to a maximumof $500 per council per fraternal year. Though in-kinddonation of food is valuable, leaders of hunger-relieforganizations often comment that financialcontributions can be stretched even further and allownonprofits to procure the exact items needed by theorganization and its clients.

Family of the Month/YearPromote and support the development of strong andvibrant families.

each month, the council Family of the month committeeselects one parish family that models Christian familyvalues and visibly lives them every day. each councilestablishes a committee to recognize a deserving Familyof the month and Family of the year with potential forrecognition on the international level. once a year, eachparticipating council also selects one of the previoustwelve Family of the month winners to represent thecouncil/parish as the potential international Family ofthe year. The Knights of Columbus Family of the year ischosen by the supreme Council and recognized each yearat the annual supreme Convention.

keep christ in christmasPromote the true spirit of Christmas in our homes,schools, parishes and communities.

Councils will evangelize society through their faithfulacts, celebrations and a variety of activities. The Knights

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of Columbus offers multiple activities that promoteChristmas and the season of advent in their propercontext: Journey to the inn, light up for Christ, Crècheor advent wreath Blessing, and the Christmas PosterContest. These programs are centered on the example ofthe Holy Family and the nativity of our lord andsavior, Jesus Christ.

The new Keep Christ in Christmas (KCiC) programbrings all KCiC activities together under one umbrella.it encourages councils to compel their neighbors to shiftfrom a preoccupation with materialism to the light ofChrist and the spirit of giving. KCiC activities includewhatever efforts best suit the parish and community of aparticular council and do not need to originate from thesupreme Council.

Family Fully aliveDuring his visit to the Philippines, Pope Francis cited theneed for “holy and loving families to protect the beautyand truth of the family in god’s plan and to be anexample for other families” (address to Families at themall of asia arena, 2015). The Family Fully alivemonthly devotions are concrete ways that Knights ofColumbus, in solidarity with Pope Francis, can supportthe growth of holy and loving families in the Church.

The Family Fully alive program asks families to invitegod into their homes and cultivates each family as aminiature domestic church. using the Family Fully AliveBooklet as a devotional guide, this program providesmonthly themes, reflections, meditations and group

projects. Through prayer and reflection, each family hasthe opportunity to grow in holiness together. This is aflexible program that can be started at any time of theyear and continues year-round. Councils will orderbooklets to distribute or direct parish families toprogram resources on kofc.org, all available at no cost.

Family weekHelp families place god and the Catholic faith at thecenter of their lives, year-round.

Knights of Columbus councils will dedicate a specialweek of the year for their parish to recognize the vitalimportance of families as the foundation of our domesticchurch and to promote Catholic family values. activitiespresented in this program seek strengthen the parishcommunity and affirm the central importance ofCatholic family life.

when choosing a week, councils should consider factorsthat might affect parishioner schedules such as schoolvacations, holidays and other local events. Thoughtraditionally celebrated in the summer to commemoratethe birth and death of our founder, Father mcgivney,this program can take place anytime during the year.

consecration to the Holy Familystrengthen families and revitalize our parishes.

to help families live out the joy of Christ, supremeChaplain archbishop william lori has composed aprayer through which families will come together toconsecrate themselves under the protection of the HolyFamily. in this prayer, we ask for the aid or intercession ofthe perfect son Jesus Christ, mary the perfect mother,and Joseph who is a model for every father.

seeking to strengthen families and revitalize our parishes,councils will guide their parishes and community tounderstand and offer this important and impactfulprayer. Preparing for the Consecration to the HolyFamily is not a single event. it is choosing a way of life foryour family. Through this consecration, each participantis consciously choosing to be a beacon of god’s lovethrough his Church. Council participation inConsecration to the Holy Family is required to qualifyfor the Columbian award.

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Family Prayer nightstrengthen the bonds within our parishes and buildfaith-filled families.

Catholics often struggle with the reality that they do nothave the opportunity to socialize and/or pray with otherfaith-filled Catholic families. it can be quite a challengeto raise our children in the faith when their only exposurecomes from mom and Dad. Family Prayer night is anopportunity for children to be exposed to regular peopleliving their faith in a casual setting. This is an opportunityfor council members, their families, and the whole parishcommunity to come together once a month for anevening of prayer, dinner and fellowship.

Families of council members, as well as other Catholicfamilies within the parish and community, will gather forprayer, dinner and fellowship. multiple groups can beformed and families are encouraged to rotate betweenthese groups.

Good Friday Family PromotionBring families into more robust practice and betterunderstanding of our Catholic faith and the triduum.

Despite good Friday’s central role in the heart ofChristianity, attendance at services remains low. in aneffort to change this, councils will encourageparticipation in good Friday services through apromotional campaign. in an effort to increase parishattendance and involvement, councils will conduct apromotional campaign to educate their parishes on thevital importance of good Friday.

setting an example for their community, Knights willattend good Friday services with their families and workwith their pastors to encourage increased parishionerinvolvement at these liturgies. in conjunction with theseefforts, councils will also work to educate their parishesabout the plight of Christians in the Holy land andother areas around the world where Christians arepersecuted for their faith.

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as Knights of Columbus, we are calledto serve our family and our god. ourfirst principle is Charity, at home withour families or in our communities. Thisis a critical part of our Knights ofColumbus mission. Have you ever

wondered, “How can i make my community better?”individuals can do great things on their own but there issomething bigger than self when Knights of Columbusmembers come together as one through their council andaccomplish great things. Councils that conduct theseprograms are positively shaping their communities byaddressing the needs of its citizens.

coats for kids Provide warmth for deserving children during coldwinter months.

Families struggling to make ends meet use their scarceresources to meet the most basic needs and cannot alwaysafford the vital essential of a new winter coat. The goal ofthe Coats for Kids program is to ensure that no child innorth america goes without a coat during the winterseason. Through the dedication of councils across theunited states and Canada, hundreds of thousands ofnew winter coats have been distributed to children sinceprogram inception.

Councils across north america can purchase new wintercoats for children in need at a discount and distributethem in their local communities. a featured program,Coats for Kids counts for two credits toward theColumbian award.

Global wheelchair MissionChange the lives of people with disabilities worldwide.

since 2009, the Knights of Columbus has partnered with the american wheelchair mission and Canadianwheelchair Foundation, which fall under the umbrellaof the global wheelchair mission. The goal of thisinitiative is to provide aid to those who lack the freedomof mobility in our communities and around the world.whether councils are presenting wheelchairs to localveterans and neighbors in need or donating funds to benefit those abroad, mobility brings with itindependence and dignity.

obtained at deeply discounted prices, these wheelchairschange the lives of their recipients. working with theglobal wheelchair mission is a perfect opportunity toput your faith into action and involve the entirecommunity in the rewarding charitable work done byyour council.

Habitat for HumanityBuild homes for families in need.

Knights of Columbus councils work closely withHabitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Christianorganization, to build homes for families in need atsubstantially reduced costs. each year, councilsthroughout the order donate a considerable number ofvolunteer hours and dollars to this worthy cause. inorder to satisfy program requirements, councils areasked to donate a minimum of $1,000 — or 200 servicehours — to Habitat for Humanity projects in theircommunity. a featured program, Habitat for Humanitycounts for two credits toward the Columbian award.

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disaster PreparednessPrepare your community before disaster strikes.

Communities can be brought to a halt when disasteroccurs — from large natural disasters to local crises. ascommunity leaders, Knights of Columbus will ensurethat their members, families and parish communities areprepared through a campaign that promotes planningand education. This program motivates councils to takea holistic approach to emergency situations by promotingreadiness in times of crisis, assessing response capabilities,and learning how to properly respond well ahead of adisaster. Councils will engage their parish and communityin disaster preparedness exercises by organizing trainings,fundraisers and various awareness activities.

Free Throw championshipProvide an athletic outlet for youth ages 9 to 14 in yourcommunity.

since 1972, councils have sponsored the Knights ofColumbus Free Throw Championship for boys and girlsbetween the ages of 9 and 14 to provide an athletic outletand encourage the values of sportsmanship and healthycompetition. Kids compete within their own gender andage and progress from local level to district, regional andstate/province competitions. This program is a great wayto introduce the order to your community and recruitfaithful family men of service. Councils can sponsor acompetition by ordering a Free Throw ChampionshipKit, or volunteer to host and/or support the district,regional and state/province championships.

catholic citizenship essay contest encourage youth in your community to become citizensgrounded in their faith through creative writing. opento all Catholic students (public, private, home, orparochial schools) in grades 8 to 12 during the currentschool year.

This contest encourages today’s youth to be moreconnected to their community and their faith. The goalof this program is to involve young Catholics in 8th through 12th grade (public, private, parochial orhome schools) in civic discourse and instill in themreligious and life-affirming values. The essay should beapproximately 500-750 words on a specific subject,

changing every other year. entrants will be judged ongrammar, style, and how clearly they present the theme— which should showcase creativity, imagination andoverall development of the topic.

soccer challengeProvide an athletic outlet for youth ages 9 to 14 in yourcommunity. Designed for players to demonstrate theirskills in the penalty kick. Councils can sponsor acompetition by ordering a soccer Challenge Kit, orvolunteer to host and/or support the district, regionaland state/province championships.

The soccer Challenge is a great way for councils toengage in their communities with an athletic event foryouth that encourages the values of sportsmanship andhealthy competition. Children demonstrate the mostimportant skill in soccer — shooting accuracy on thepenalty kick — and compete to reach the internationallevel of competition. The program is a great way tointroduce the order to your community and recruitfaithful family men of service.

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Helping HandsPope Francis writes in Evangelii Gaudium, “our faith inChrist, who became poor, and was always close to thepoor and the outcast, is the basis of our concern for theintegral development of society’s most neglected

members” (186). He goes on to say, “in this context wecan understand Jesus’ command to his disciples: ‘youyourselves give them something to eat!’ (mk 6:37): itmeans working to eliminate the structural causes ofpoverty and to promote the integral development of thepoor, as well as small daily acts of solidarity in meetingthe real needs which we encounter” (188).

in the model of our founder, Father mcgivney, councilswill lead efforts to assist those most in need. The HelpingHands program is designed to recognize the importantwork many councils already do to care for the mostdisadvantaged members of our communities — thehomeless, the addicted, the elderly who may feel isolatedand abandoned, and many others. Through this program,councils will aid the needy through the activities they feelbest suit their community, such as serving at or runninga soup kitchen, repairing the facilities of a local serviceorganization or something entirely unique. Therequirements for this program are very broad in order toallow councils to serve their community in whatever wayis most needed. Council participation in Helping Handsis required to qualify for the Columbian award.

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The urgency of the threat to a culture oflife cannot be misunderstood. respectfor the dignity of life demands acommitment to human rights across abroad spectrum. Both as Knights ofColumbus and as followers of Christ,

“Catholics must be committed to the defense of life in all itsstages and in every condition” (st. John Paul ii, 1995).

The Knights of Columbus defends the dignity of each humanbeing at every stage of life. Knights work together to build aculture of life and a civilization of love. your council shouldstand ready to assist any pregnant woman in need, care forthe elderly, aid the handicapped, empower those with specialneeds to realize their full potential and bring attention to theinjustices of abortion, embryonic stem cell research,euthanasia and assisted suicide.

March for life show public support for the right to life.

The Knights of Columbus encourages others to chooselife through public support of the pro-life cause. Knightscan organize and participate in local/state/province/regional marches for life and/or organize participationof Knights/parishioners/students/etc., in bus trips to the

national marches in washington, D.C., ottawa, mexicoCity, throughout the Philippines, or in other countries.

showing unwavering public support for the right to life.Councils are encouraged to participate in or sponsorlocal, state/province, regional or national marches forlife. Councils that coordinate at least 50 participants orwho organize a local march for life will receive creditfor this program. a featured program, march for lifecounts for two credits toward the Columbian award.

special olympicsCelebrate the intrinsic worth and dignity of every singlehuman being through the special olympics.

The Knights of Columbus has a unique partnership withthe special olympics and has helped disabled athletestrain for and compete in games around the world.Knights of Columbus councils have assisted with allaspects of the program from fundraising to feeding theathletes, organizing and judging events, and providingequipment and awards. without the support of theKnights, participants would not be able to train for theevents that they love.

work with special olympics affiliates to determine howbest to fund, sponsor or volunteer for events in the localcommunity. Featured program credit is awarded tocouncils providing at least $2,000 in donations or 200service hours in a fraternal year. as a featured program,special olympics counts for two credits toward theColumbian award.

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ultrasound Program save lives by helping each abortion-minded woman whovisits a pro-life pregnancy care center to choose life byviewing her unborn child on an ultrasound machine.

This initiative is funded by state and local councils andmatching grants from the supreme Council’s Culture oflife Fund. The Knights of Columbus works together topurchase ultrasound machines for qualifying pregnancycenters. after the state and/or local council raises 50% ofthe cost, the supreme Council will provide the other 50%to complete funding for purchase of an ultrasound. or, ifthe council raises 100% of the cost of a vehicle outfittedto serve as a mobile medical unit for a pregnancy center,the supreme Council will provide 100% of the funds foran ultrasound machine to be used in that vehicle. afeatured program, ultrasound Program counts for twocredits toward the Columbian award.

christian refugee reliefHelp save persecuted and at-risk Christians facing geno -cide all over the world, particularly in the middle east.

Knights of Columbus are called to bring awareness andsupport to those who have suffered for their faiththrough various parish-based programs and fundraisers.The Knights of Columbus Christian refugee reliefFund, which has provided humanitarian assistance,primarily in iraq, syria, and the surrounding region.Councils will aid this cause by collaborating with theirparishes to spread awareness and raise funds to help theseChristians and those in their care. in particular, councils

are encouraged to utilize solidarity Crosses as afundraiser and prayer campaign in their parishes.

silver roseshare the message of our lady of guadalupe andpromote respect for life by participating in thismeaningful pilgrimage.

The silver rose program demonstrates the unity betweenKnights of Columbus in Canada, the united states, andmexico, through a series of prayer services promoting thedignity of all human life and honoring our lady. eachyear, from early march through mid-December, silverroses are stewarded by councils along routes fromCanada to mexico. every stop the silver rose makesthroughout the pilgrimage is a rosary-centered occasionfor Knights, parishioners and community members topray for respect for life, for the spiritual renewal of eachnation, and for the advancement of the message of ourlady of guadalupe.

Mass for People with special needswelcome individuals or families who might not normally feel comfortable participating in a regularlyscheduled mass.

People with special needs resulting from physical,emotional, mental or cognitive conditions are all aroundus in society, at school, at work and in our families. it canbe challenging for these important members of oursociety to participate in church due to physical and socialbarriers — or even family member anxiety. Councils willsponsor a distinct mass, conducted annually, for peoplewith special needs. Celebrating a mass for People withspecial needs can be the first of many steps towardintegrating them into regular weekly or even daily mass— and more deeply into all of the sacraments and otheraspects of parish life. Holding this mass sends themessage that all of god’s children are welcome under theparish roof and that every person is an integral part ofthe parish family.

Pregnancy center supportChange the hearts and minds of society about abortionby showing that we love both mother and child beforeand after birth.

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more than three thousand pro-life pregnancy centersnow operate in jurisdictions throughout the order. Bythe very nature of our founding, Knights of Columbusare called to care for the widow and orphan. abortionvulnerable unborn children and mothers experiencingunexpected pregnancies certainly fall within ourmandate. with our aid, pregnancy centers can offersupport to help them choose life. Councils can providematerial, financial, labor and other support to pro-lifepregnancy centers that help pregnant women duringpregnancy and following the birth of their newbornchildren. Councils can “adopt” a pregnancy center andprovide material, labor, and spiritual support throughoutthe year.

novena for lifelead your community in the spiritual fight to establish aculture of life in our nations.

The protection of life is a sustained prayer intention ofthe Church, and in particular of the Knights ofColumbus. Knights remain firmly committed todefending the right to life of every human being — fromthe moment of conception to natural death. tocommemorate and bolster this important cause, councilswill promote a novena, nine days of sustained prayer, tobuild up a culture of life in our parishes, homes and widercommunity.

Knights and their families will come together in bothpublic and private acts of prayer to promote theprotection of life. Council participation in novena forlife is required to qualify for the Columbian award.

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suPreMe cHaPlain’s FaitH inaction MontHlY cHallenGe

Few if any organizations can unify nearly two millionCatholic men and coordinate their efforts to live theirfaith in their councils, homes, parishes and communities.Through this challenge, all Knights of Columbus aroundthe world will grow in their faith and be united with theirbrother Knights doing the same. They will be personallyblessed by their efforts and equally reassured not to giveup if they struggle to live the challenge.

The supreme chaplain’s monthly challenge is a councilactivity in which each member of the council ischallenged to read and then fulfill the activity. Thechallenge is simple and consistent. The supreme chaplainchooses a few lines from scripture that will be heard at asunday mass during the upcoming month. He thenshares a brief reflection on the scripture verses. Finally,he gives his monthly challenge to all Knights ofColumbus, and they are instructed to live that challengefor the month.

at the next month’s council meeting, during thechaplain’s message, the chaplain will lead a discussionabout what it was like living the challenge for the month.if the chaplain is unable to attend the meeting, thisdiscussion is to take place during the grand knight’sreport. The monthly challenge will be found primarily in:• monthly email blast to grand knight, chaplain

and lecturer• social media• Knightline• Columbia Magazine• kofc.org/domesticchurch

Faith in action Monthly challenge instructions1. Begin with a prayer of your choosing or use the

following:• make the sign of the Cross• Prayer: Come Holy spirit. we thank you for

guiding our lives and pray that we may have thecourage exemplified by Father mcgivney to liveour faith to the fullest through our council, ourfamilies and in society. may our words today giveglory to your sacred Heart and if we struggledthis past month in living our faith, help us tonever stop turning to you and always try again.

2. re-read the Faith in action monthly challenge fromthe previous month• invite the men to talk about what it was like to try

and live last month’s challenge from the supremechaplain

• Do not be concerned about the order that menspeak in

• it’s oK if there is silence in between men speaking• try to make sure that others are listening when

one man is speaking • it is fine if someone doesn’t want to speak• The men are welcome to give encouraging

comments to each other3. when finished, read the Faith in action for the

next month4. ask the men if there is anything they would like the

group to pray for and end with this prayer:• Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this

time together with our brothers. we ask you tohave mercy on all those people and intentions weprayed for. give us the perseverance to live nextmonth’s Faith in action and to remember that weare united with our brother Knights around theworld in doing so.

• make the sign of the Cross

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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS1 COLUMBUS PLAZA NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326

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