Local News Archive

Print Issue: May 2, 2002

Knights Of Columbus Maintain Volunteer Tradition As 'Right Arm' Of The Church

Grand Knight Randy Schroeder introduces special guests at the beginning of Mass at St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro. The special Knights of Columbus celebration was held for the 30th anniversary of the Tara Council 6352.

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

JONESBORO - Emelia Gavel jokes that being married to a member of the Knights of Columbus is "like being a golf widow."

It's no wonder. Her husband, John, has been a Knight for 43 years, and has held just about every office possible, beginning with Grand Knight and eventually serving as State Deputy. Gavel, a member of the Tara Council 6352, estimates that his commitment to the Knights can take up as many as 30-35 hours a week. It's a good thing he is retired, he said.

Retirement just ratcheted up his commitment, since even when he was working for Atlanta Gas Light, he still spent more than 30 hours a week volunteering with the Knights.

"I don't know how I did my job," he said, laughing.

Gavel's story is not uncommon. Fiercely committed to the church and to their brotherhood, members of the Knights of Columbus organization, which will celebrate its 120th anniversary this year, give of their time selflessly, performing acts of charity that often remain in the shadows of humility.

Founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn., today, more than a century later, the Knights of Columbus has become the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church. There are over 1.6 million Knights of Columbus, representing more than 12,000 councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. Famous Knights of Columbus include the late baseball great Babe Ruth, and president John F. Kennedy.

The order's original principles were charity and unity, while those of fraternity and patriotism were added later.

The principle of patriotism was especially important in 1954, when the Knights of Columbus campaigned to the U.S. Congress to add the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance, making the Pledge both a patriotic prayer and a public oath.

Although the Knights of Columbus are famous for their fish frys and pancake breakfasts, their charity work goes much further. In the past decade, the Knights donated nearly $1 billion to numerous charitable causes and nearly 400 million hours of volunteer service.

Howard Burch, also a member of Tara Council 6352, said that he became a Knight in 1962 because of "the influence of friends." He currently serves as the commander of the Fourth Degree Honor Guard, which attends to the archbishop at special Masses as well as perform functions at wakes and funerals for fellow Knights and their families.

"The Knights are there primarily to be the right arm of the church," he said. "I love to do things in support of the church."

Burch is a lector, a eucharistic minister and an usher at St. Philip Benizi, where their Knights help support 10 seminarians. He said that it is uplifting to see his fellow brethren involved in the parish.

"All your friends are there devoting their spare time to doing charity work in so many different ways," he said. "You know if you have to call on somebody for help it's always there."

Burch said that the "number one objective" of the Knights of Columbus is charity work and that he would like to see younger men become involved and often works to recruit them. A Knight of Columbus must be a practicing Catholic, and at least 18. Burch's recruitment pitch to a young Catholic is simple.

"I just tell him to look around at the people involved," he said. "They are Knights. This is how they are dedicated to their church."

After Mass, council members honor John Gavel by naming the council hall after him. Pictured are from left, John Gavel Jr., Emelia Gavel, Ed Bucsek, Jim Wagner and Tom McMahon.

They are also dedicated to each other. Emelia Gavel said that as a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary - wives of the Knights who support their husbands' as well as their own charities - she has witnessed firsthand the family that makes up the Knights of Columbus. When her sister was sick and Gavel was the main caretaker, the Knights and their families "brought meals every night for us."

"We're there for each other mainly," she said. "They really are your other brothers and sisters."

She said that being involved with the Knights of Columbus has helped her and her husband to be more outgoing.

"We were sort of like homebodies, but once we became involved, we met so many people...and have done so much traveling," she said.

Her husband agreed. After moving from Maryland, he was drawn to the brotherhood of the Knights.

"I was new down here, a stranger in a strange land, and this was a good way to meet people," he said.

"I have met Knights from all over the country," he said. "No matter where I've gone in the state, I'm never a stranger...or anywhere in the country for that matter."

The Knights of Columbus will hold their annual state conference in Savannah, whose council is celebrating its centennial anniversary, May 17-18. For more information on the Knights of Columbus, visit their official Web site at http://www.kofc.org/index.cfm.