At the personal invitation of Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly, Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, CNEWA president, attended the 142nd Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Quebec City, Canada, 6-8 August.
CNEWA and other specially invited guests were recognized by Mr. Kelly during the report of the supreme knight on 6 August.
“For me to be present at their major annual event, I just felt the Knights of Columbus were really bestowing quite an honor on CNEWA,” said Msgr. Vaccari.
It is Msgr. Vaccari’s hope that his presence at the convention will facilitate further collaboration and conversation between CNEWA and the Knights of Columbus, a global benevolent fraternal organization founded in 1882 by Blessed Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. At its first gala dinner, CNEWA honored past Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson with its first Faith & Culture Award for his work in support of vulnerable communities in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq.
In his report, Mr. Kelly discussed the current endeavors and priorities of the Knights of Columbus, including disaster relief, seminarian support, religious liberty, relief funds for Ukraine and renovations in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“We’re trying to find more and more ways in which we can collaborate, because … we have so much in common in terms of how we are serving,” said Msgr. Vaccari.
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, gave the keynote address, in which he called on those present to “be on guard against … ‘global indifferentism,’ ” according to Msgr. Vaccari.
To do so, Cardinal O’Malley asked the audience to be grateful and invoke the attitude of the Good Samaritan, which Msgr. Vaccari said is “not unfamiliar to us at CNEWA.”
While there, Msgr. Vaccari met with Archbishop-elect Richard G. Henning, who will succeed Cardinal O’Malley as archbishop of Boston. Bishop Henning, as bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, has previously welcomed CNEWA to Providence.
“I assured him of not only my personal prayers and support, but of CNEWA’s prayers and support.”
At the convention’s opening Mass on the Feast of the Transfiguration, 6 August, Cardinal Gérald C. Lacroix, I.S.P.X., archbishop of Quebec, primate of Canada and member of the board of directors for CNEWA in Canada, concluded his homily by relaying the responsibilities of those present at the convention.
“Brother knights, dear families and friends, as we ‘come down the mountain’ in a few days after this convention and go home to where we live, work and serve, may we listen to Jesus and follow him.
“In him is our salvation. In him, we, too, will discover how to bring the good news of the Gospel to our brothers and sisters.”