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Knights
for Christ By Steve Gust When thousands attend the Centennial Mass Aug. 14 at the Cox Convention Center, look for the presence of Knights of Columbus. Knights have been part of the journey the last 100 years and are committed to the future of Archdiocese and faith. The famed Honor Guard of the Knights are scheduled to be at Mass. With swords and other regalia, the Fourth Degree is the most noticeable of the Order. However, thousands of others, including most clergy, are part of the fraternal, service family organization dedicated to Catholicism and their community. Unlike the Honor Guard, a lot of the work is done behind the scenes. The Knights predate statehood and the Diocese with El Reno and Council No. 767 receiving a charter in 1903. Not long after that, McAlester started its own group of Knights or Council. El Reno celebrated its 100-year anniversary by hosting the annual convention of the Oklahoma State Council in 2003. El Reno’s 1903 founding came only 21 years after the national start of the Knights at St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven, Ct. by a young parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney. He grew up in a post-Civil War era and wanted a group of Catholic men who would care for widows and families, left without their breadwinner. That also gave birth to the Knights of Columbus insurance program, which today is a solid multi-billion dollar entity, which helps to support many Catholic projects. Father McGivney died in 1890 at age 38 and by then, only 57 councils existed. Today, there are more than 13,000 councils internationally. In Oklahoma this was the year the State Council entered its second century of service and commitment to the faith. The 100th state convention was held in Oklahoma City in April and hosted by Council No. 1038, the first such group in Oklahoma City. Also marking 100 years were Knights in Guthrie, Ponca City, Chickasha, Shawnee, Enid and Perry. The establishment of Knights in Oklahoma City in 1905, didn’t go unnoticed. As the Oklahoman newspaper reported of the pending establishment of the Knights Council in Oklahoma City. “A council of what is reputed to be numerically the largest, as well as the most influential Catholic fraternal organization in America, will be instituted in Oklahoma City.” That was the start of the Knights in Oklahoma City with 48 members initiated in Downtown Oklahoma City. The council would change homes before settling on its current hall at 6501 N. Classen. Over the years, some members of 1038 have transferred to start Knights Councils in other parishes, including Midwest City, Christ the King and St. Eugene’s. Today in Oklahoma, there are more than 70 councils and an estimated 7,000 men, who are Knights. If a chart were available, it would show steady and stunning growth for the Oklahoma Knights in the past 50 years, with more than 40 councils founded since 1955. In fact, more than 30 of them have established since 1973. The latest group of Knights is Council No. 13828. State Deputy Jose Jimenez said No. 13828 is the second Spanish speaking council in Oklahoma. Coincidentally, Jimenez is from Council 1038. One of the men, who has seen decades as a Knight is George Denelsbeck of St. Francis Parish. As a member of what has been called the greatest generation, he joined in 1947 and became active in the state council during the 1970s, when membership was probably half of what it is now. He rose through the ranks to become State Deputy from 1991-1993, serving as state leader during the 500th anniversary of the Order’s namesake, Christopher Columbus and Columbus’ voyage. Columbus not only discovered the Western Hemisphere, but brought Catholicism to untold millions. “We continue to grow and and have good leaders,” he said. “The Knights have more to offer now.” He credits that to the 12th Supreme Knight of the Order, Virgil Dechant, who served from 1977-2000. “I think he placed a lot of the emphasis on family and faith and that’s made a big difference,” That may be one of the reasons, membership in the Order is encouraged by both Archbishop Beltran and Bishop Slattery of the Tulsa Diocese. Knights have a commitment to the faith, sponsoring vocations and giving each member a rosary and asking them to pray as much as possible the sacred rosary of the patroness of the Knights, the Blessed Mother. Knights make generous donations to Vatican projects and Pro-Life causes. In the 1950s, the Knights also were a major lobbying force to add the words “Under God,” to the flag pledge. Congress approved the measure and President Eisenhower signed it into law. In Oklahoma, Knights generally agree one of the crown jewels of charity work in the past 100 years has been the Center of Family Love in Okarche. Denelsbeck said planning for it started in the late 1970s, with the dream becoming reality in 1981. Through major support by the Knights, the center opened to help adults with developmental disabilities. Today, the CFL is serving an estimated 150 people residentially and vocationally. There is an intermediate care facility, a geriatrics facility, four group homes, an assisted living program, two sheltered workshops, two retail stores and a community integrated employment program. The center requires money for its operating expenses and for that reason, Knights each spring put on the yellow apron and do a candy drive to help the Center of Family Love. The facility has been featured in Columbia Magazine, the official publication of the Knights. “I know there have been Knights from other states, with more resources than us, visit the Center to see what we’re doing,” Denelsbeck said. All of this, and much more, only scratches of the surface of what Knights are doing today in Oklahoma and have done in the past. Knights also are involved in: n Annual Men’s Ministry conference. n Honor guards for funerals, graduations, parades and other special Masses and events. n Participation in religious events, such as a Pilgrimage to Prague and n Knights retreat. n Special Olympics support. n Raising scholarships for St. Gregory’s University. n An annual dinner to honor and thank the clergy. n Helping veterans and supporting military members as well as touting patriotism. n Supporting Catholic education. Various charitable requests are made of individual councils across Oklahoma almost every day. If Knights can help, generally they will. After terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, Knights were one of the first groups to donate. “I think we’re going to have a good future,” Denelsbeck said. There are also the fund-raisers as well as the picnics and other social functions, which bring together families and forge lifetime friendships. Little did Father McGivney know the legacy of his group, which should continue to grow, especially in Oklahoma. In April, the Knights welcomed their 1.7 million member in Missouri. Last year the Order donated almost $136 million to charity at all levels and 63 million hours. Noteworthy The 100th anniversary of Council No. 1038, was also recognized by a special dignitary, President George W. Bush. In a letter to the Council in March, President Bush wrote. n “I appreciate your commitment to serving a cause larger than yourself and your example of compassion and decency. Your good works add to the character of our country and help change America for the better, one heart at a time.” nThe President was also a guest at the international Knights Convention in Dallas last year, where he noted his brother and Florida Governor, Jeb, was a third-degree member of the Order. n Other past famed members of the Knights, include President John F. Kennedy and Yankee baseball slugger Babe Ruth. |