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Rome's Love for Her Knights

Exhibit Details Charity Group's 90 Years in Eternal City

ROME, JUNE 11, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The Capitoline Museum overlooking the Roman Forum is known for housing a magnificent collection of Roman art and artifacts. Since Wednesday, however, a very different exhibit is interspersed among the museum's ancient columns and medieval art -- one that details the relationship between the city and a U.S.-based organization.

"Over 90 years it has become clear that the people of Rome love the Knights of Columbus, and we love the people of Rome," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who opened the conference on the Knights that made up part of the opening ceremonies for the exhibit. "That is the secret to the success of this relationship."

The photos and artifacts that chronicle this friendship will be on display until Oct. 31. The exhibit is titled "Everybody Welcome, Everything Free: The Knights of Columbus and Rome, 90 Years of Friendship."

Rome-coming

The Knights were first brought to Rome on a short-term basis at the request of Benedict XV during World War I. Their mission was to help American troops by establishing a service center in Rome like those they'd founded throughout Europe.

Their work soon expanded however, and in 1920, Benedict XV asked the Knights to return to Rome, this time on a long-term basis, taking responsibility for providing athletic facilities for the youth of the city.

That work continued even during World War II, when the United States and Italy fought on opposite sides. During that time, approximately 400,000 people a day were fed by the papal charity, which was run for some time from the Knights' St. Peter's Oratory next to the Vatican.

And after the war ended, the Knights worked with the U.N. Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to feed children, again utilizing their facilities in the city, while also working actively with other Catholic organizations on Italian relief efforts.

Profile

Founded in 1882, the Knights of Columbus today is the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization with over 1.8 million members in 13 countries. One of the most active charitable groups in the United States, the Knights last year provided a record-setting 69 million hours of charitable service and more than $151 million in donations, despite the weak economy.

Examples of the organization's Rome initiatives in the years since World War II include the sponsorship of Vatican satellite communications; major restoration projects, including the façade of St. Peter's Basilica completed in 1987; the continued maintenance of five athletic centers available to youth and others, including the intellectually disabled; and the sponsorship of conferences on social issues, such as pastoral outreach to those hurt by experiences with divorce and abortion.

Discussing what he termed the Knights' "fruitful permanence in Rome," Benedict XVI's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said at the opening of the exhibit: "I would like to join in with this universal expression of public applause and thank the Knights of Columbus, who in the world, and especially in Rome, witness the love of Christ and his Church for the weak and defenseless."

He described the group as a "meaningful expression of the evangelical requisite of charity."

The mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, also participated in the exhibit's opening.

"The Knights of Columbus are rightfully part of the Rome of the third millennium, which we want to build together without detaching ourselves from our true cultural and spiritual roots," he said.

The mayor went on to commend the legacy of the Knights of Columbus sports centers, whose former patrons include 1960s Italian soccer star Giancarlo "Picchio" De Sisti. Today, Alemanno said, the centers are "the flower on the lapel of our city" for their free services to parishes, schools and institutes for the disabled, hospitals, centers of rehabilitation, needy children and seminarians.

The mayor also praised the quiet diplomatic work done on behalf of the city by the Knights' representative in Rome during World War II, Count Enrico Pietro Galeazzi, in an era before formal Vatican relations existed with the United States.

The Knights' role in diplomacy between the Holy See and Washington would come full circle in 1982, at the organization's 100th international convention. There, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Agostino Casaroli met with President Ronald Reagan and discussed the transition to full diplomatic relations.

Feeding the hungry

The relief efforts undertaken by the Knights of Columbus during and after the Second World War are featured prominently in the new exhibit. A black and white photo taken by a U.N. photographer on a Knights of Columbus playground depicts the Knights' collaboration with the U.N. Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to aid in the distribution of food -- especially to children -- during a time of severe shortages after the war.

Likewise, a news article from 1944 describes St. Peter's Oratory as the headquarters of Pope Pius XII's personal food distribution program, which fed upwards of 400,000 people daily.

The exhibit also traces the Knights of Columbus' contribution to arts and communications projects in Rome and the Vatican.  

Since 1975, the organization has financed the satellite transmission of major Vatican events, such as Christmas and Easter liturgies and the funeral Masses of Popes John Paul I and John Paul II, as well as satellite downlink costs for poor nations. In another boost for Vatican communications, the Knights funded the Vatican Television Center's purchase of a mobile television studio in 1985.

Cardinal John Foley, the former president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said these actions have marked a pivotal step forward for the Church's mission of evangelization.

"For many countries, that signal would not have reached them without the help of the Knights of Columbus," Cardinal Foley said. "So there was a consciousness of the importance of this work, and it has helped create a real sense of the unity of the Church, the universality of the Church."

The Knights of Columbus have also assisted with some of Rome's greatest treasures, supporting Vatican restorations through a close partnership with the Fabbrica di San Pietro. Projects funded by the Knights at St. Peter's Basilica alone include the restoration of the façade, the Maderno Atrium, the dome of the Blessed Sacrament chapel, several grottos and the statues of Sts. Peter and Paul in the Square.

"Some of the greatest works of spiritual beauty and creativity that humanity has produced are in the safeguarding hands of the Vatican," Anderson said in a video shown at the event. "The Knights have felt very proud that we've had the opportunity to preserve and enhance what really is a patrimony of humanity."

I Was in Prison … and You Visited Me

“Knights have the opportunity to reach out to offenders. The Prison Ministry can be a transforming experience” says Sir Knight Stan Pidsadny of Monsignor F.A. Clinton Assembly 2307.

When Jesus walked the earth, he encouraged his followers to reach out to those in prison. He spoke of his kinship with men and women who were incarcerated: “… I was in prison and you came to visit me…. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:36, 40).

The Light of Christ Shines Brightly In The Knight

The Prison Ministry is a movement of faith because of Knights like Stan Pidsadny and his wife Lady Marilyn who heeded the Lord’s words. They sought out the undesirables who were hard to love; people whom society had marginalized. Just as Jesus saw the value in people, so, too, do the Knights of Columbus.

The prison ministry is growing, and The Knights of Columbus have become a respected and visible presence in the justice system. In Canada, Knights visit federal and provincial institutions to provide services to people in the correctional system. These services are a much-needed and important part of our ministry as one of Canada’s largest fraternal social service organizations.

While much of corrections work is best done by trained professionals, Knights can support this ministry in a variety of ways. You see, being visited by someone whose “job” it is to do prison work is not the same as being visited by someone who is there simply because they have made a conscious decision to care. The impact on both the visitor and the offender can be life-changing. The heart of a volunteer—especially one whose love for the unloved comes from the very core of our Catholic faith—is a powerful force for good.

For centuries, ordinary people with a heart for the unloved have reached out to offenders. The power of this ministry can change the lives of so many people and it may even be a transforming experience for you.

A Letter To The Knights & Ladies Form Lady Marilyn Pidsadny

RESPONDING TO HUMAN NEEDS

I read a passage from Scripture sometime ago before I was a Volunteer in Prison Ministry. Matthew: 25 “I was in Prison and you visited me” This kept me thinking is this what God wants me to do? I prayed about volunteering to this ministry. The moment of commitment was when I was approached by my husband. I said yes. My husband had already committed to volunteering earlier. Yes, there is fear and yet there is something inside that says Please Go and See.

This ministry of volunteering has been more than I would ever dream could be possible, to give God's Love, Hope and Forgiveness to Prisoners. We are not there to Judge them but to support them that they will never offend again. It helps change their lives, reducing the likelihood of not returning to Prison and restore them back into the community. The ministry is important if these men are to have HOPE for their future and an opportunity to change their lives based on personal knowledge and experience of the Love and Forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

The transformation one sees in Prison effects your life and your heart it’s hard to explain everyone is different. They love us to come and visit them, they treat us so good like a family, the outside world does not know the changes that are taking place in our institutions - We Do As Volunteers. It is so touching to hear their prayer intentions in Chapel for their families and for themselves. Those serving time in Prison deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

As a volunteer this Prison Ministry has been the most fulfilling experience and I am privileged to be able to bring God's Love, Compassion and Mercy to the inmates, I thank God each day for hearing his call. To Say Yes.

I am open to any questions you may have, call (604) 538-8017 or email pidsadny@telus.net

Lady Marilyn Pidsadny

Ark of the New Covenant

Pope John XXIII Assembly in Penticton provided an Honour Guard for the Ark of the New Covenant during its visit to St. Ann’s Church. The Ark is traveling throughout Canada, prior to the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City. (Photo courtesy of The B.C. Catholic)

 

Members of Henry Maurice Assembly in Chilliwack process with the Ark of the New Covenant during its visit to St. Mary’s Church. Dozens gathered to watch the procession, including parish elementary school students and representatives from the Catholic aboriginal community.

Jewish Sam Miller on Catholics

Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman-- who is NOT a Catholic.

Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know--the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people--not just Catholics--in the United States today

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States . Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Be proud that you're a Catholic.