By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-16 00:36:07 | Updated at 2024-11-21 13:01:44
5 days ago
CV NEWS FEED // At the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Fall Plenary Session this week, Patrick Kelly, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, presented the organization’s commitment to evangelization and parish life through its new initiative, COR.
Rooted in the Knights’ longstanding mission of defending the faith, COR aims to address the particular modern challenges of faith retention and spiritual isolation by fostering small groups for Catholic men in parishes, helping men to deepen their own faith and hand it on to their children. Through COR, the Knights aim to provide spiritual assistance to Catholic men, equipping them to grow in holiness and lead their families in faith, ultimately strengthening parishes across the nation.
Kelly emphasized the Knights’ foundational mission of defending the faith, tracing it back to their founding by Blessed Michael McGivney in 1882. Initially focused on providing support for Catholic families and offering alternatives to secret societies, the organization has grown into one of the most prominent charitable organizations in the Church.
“Last year, we set a new record with our members giving more than $190 million to those in need,” Kelly noted, highlighting how their charity serves as “a sign of the love of Jesus Christ.”
The Supreme Knight also pointed to the Knights’ support for the National Eucharistic Revival and other major evangelization efforts, calling these moments “profound moments of grace.”
The COR initiative — named after Cardinal Newman’s motto, “Cor ad cor loquitur” (“heart speaks to heart”) — is designed to meet the spiritual and social needs of Catholic men through regular small group meetings that emphasize prayer, formation, and fraternity.
“We see that Catholic men are struggling to be the husbands and fathers God calls them to be,” Kelly said. “This is no small thing, since we know that the single most important factor in a child growing up and staying Catholic is the faith life of their father.”
He also cited alarming trends, such as the fact that “at least 85% of Catholics leave the faith, usually by their college years.”
The initiative is already active in more than 3,000 parishes, with another 2,300 groups in development. Kelly shared success stories, including the revival of his own parish council in Stamford, Connecticut.
“Two years ago, the council was struggling,” he said. “But after introducing COR, men of all ages became involved, and the council is now thriving.”
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Acknowledging the decline in Catholic affiliation among U.S. Hispanics, the Knights have tailored COR to reach this community through culturally specific resources and leadership development. “We’ve taken to heart the conference’s effort to reach that community through evangelization, faith formation, and the accompaniment of families,” Kelly affirmed.
In a shift from traditional Knights of Columbus programming, COR is open to all men in a parish, not just members of the Knights. The initiative is pastor-led, ensuring alignment with the unique needs of each parish.
“Many pastors have welcomed COR because it’s not just another program,” Kelly said. “It’s a forum for growing in discipleship.”
He closed by highlighting ongoing investments in COR, including collaborations with the Augustine Institute to produce resources like Men of the Word, a Bible study, and Into the Breach, a video series on family mission. He described COR as an initiative that allows the Knights to fulfill the vision of their founder.
“Blessed Michael McGivney would say COR is made for this time,” Kelly said. “As a blessed in heaven, he’s interceding for us in this work. This is his work.”
