Shoulder to Shoulder With St. Joseph

April 29, 2026

Around the world, Knights process through the streets to honor the patron and protector of families

By Kateryna Kolodii

April 29, 2026

Participants in the March of St. Joseph arrive at the Shrine of St. Joseph in the Podgórze district of Kraków. — Participants in the March of St. Joseph arrive at the Shrine of St. Joseph in the Podgórze district of Kraków after walking from different areas of the city on March 21. (Photo by Sebastian Nycz)

On the morning of Saturday, March 21, the streets of Kraków, Poland, filled with prayer as approximately 150 men set out from different parishes throughout the city in procession to the Shrine of St. Joseph in the city’s Podgórze district.

The groups covered routes of varying lengths — from 1.5 to 5.5 miles — drawing the attention of passersby as they walked along tram tracks, busy streets and the Vistula riverbank. As they walked, they prayed the joyful mysteries of the rosary and the Litany of St. Joseph.

The March of St. Joseph in Kraków was one of several similar events organized and attended by Knights of Columbus around the world, including in Paris and Chicago, to honor St. Joseph, whose feast days are observed March 19 and May 1.

As an increasing number of Catholic men seek to express their faith more publicly, St. Joseph processions offer a visible and communal witness. They move beyond the usual framework of parish life, drawing men out of their comfort zones while pointing to a saint who models faithful, practical leadership.

“There is an axiom: When you pass on the faith, you actually expand it within yourself,” said Father Piotr Studnicki, a member of Emilia and Karol Wojtyła Council 18349 in Kraków, who participated in the procession. “St. Joseph is so inspiring to me because he’s very grounded, very concrete in his actions and in his search for God’s will. Because of that, he can be super relevant for men today.”

KRAKÓW: A MARCH OF BROTHERHOOD

The public witness to St. Joseph in Kraków was the result of close cooperation among several local councils, with much of the logistical effort provided by members of Blessed Father Michał Sopoćko Council 17667.

Knights walk past Wawel Royal Castle during the St. Joseph March in Krakow, Poland. — Knights walk past Wawel Royal Castle as they process with their council banner during the St. Joseph March in Krakow, Poland, on March 21. (Photo by Sebastian Nycz)

In the morning, men gathered for breakfast at the Dominican monastery, where they shared conversations about how St. Joseph inspires them, reflecting in particular on Patris Corde, the apostolic letter of Pope Francis commemorating the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Knights also departed from the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków’s Łagiewniki district and from two other parishes, eventually meeting at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Podgórze.

The march served as an opening for men who were not yet involved in specific Church communities, said Supreme Warden Andrzej Anasiak, a past state deputy of Poland.

“Brotherhood is what gives us the strength to carry out our goals in life, to fulfill the tasks set before us as men, fathers, grandfathers, as well as citizens, employees or employers,” said Anasiak, who participated in the procession. “We do not run away from this.”

Upon reaching the Shrine of St. Joseph, participants listened to the testimony of Capt. Karol Cierpica. A veteran of the Polish Army, he served in Afghanistan and was saved by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, who gave his life during a Taliban attack in 2013.

“What inspires me is that in the Gospel, St. Joseph does not say a single word,” Capt. Cierpica said. “How much more beautiful our world would be if we spoke less and acted more.”

The day’s events included Eucharistic adoration, opportunities for confession, and a concluding Mass celebrated by Father Studnicki. In his homily, he pointed to St. Joseph as a protector against the snares of modern comfort.

“It is very easy to focus on oneself … and to lose sight of those whom God gives us as a responsibility, those whom he places beside us,” Father Studnicki warned. “That is why I need to learn sensitivity toward those around me.”

FRANCE: WALKING IN FAITH

In Paris, a March of St. Joseph also took place March 21, bringing around 900 men together in devotion, including many Knights. The march, which began 15 years ago, is part of the country’s broader tradition of men’s pilgrimages. Most last several days, but the one-day format keeps this procession accessible to those new to the experience.

French Knights and other participants in the March of St. Joseph in Paris process through the city. — French Knights and other participants in the March of St. Joseph in Paris process through the city with a statue of St. Joseph on March 21.

This year, participants gathered at Place des Abbesses in Montmartre and walked to the nearby Basilica of Sacré-Cœur before making the nearly 5-kilometer (more than 3-mile) trek to the Church of Saint-Sulpice for a concluding Mass.

The shift in how faith is perceived in France is evident in the experience of participants. While in the early years such events were met with negative reactions, the situation has gradually changed, explained Matthieu Noli, a member of St. Martin Council 16910 in Paris.

“When the march started 15 years ago, we were mocked,” he said. “People shouted at us in the streets. When we walked through busy parts of Paris, people insulted us. … But now it is much more appreciated.”

This change does not mean that challenges have disappeared, but it does point to a growing acceptance of public expressions of faith. The Knights of Columbus play an important role by supporting and helping organize such initiatives.

“We place ourselves at the service of the organization and mobilize our families around our parish churches,” said Territorial Deputy Arnaud Bouthéon. “Our involvement is significant, but fairly discreet, because we want to remain in service to others.”

In France, the March of St. Joseph is often organized around parish communities — as are K of C councils themselves — creating a natural point of connection.

“Everything begins with meetings at the parish level,” Noli said. “It is a very good way to get to know the Order.”

The one-day march stems from a broader tradition of multi-day pilgrimages, some with long histories, such as the Pilgrimage of Fathers to Cotignac, which dates back to 1976 and gathers more than 2,000 men annually.

“Our goal is to have more places across France and the world where men can walk together,” said Dominique Chevillard, a member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Council 16911 in La Garenne-Colombes, who coordinates the Pilgrimage of Fathers.

Pilgrimage creates a space where men can step beyond their usual roles, Chevillard explained. “It is one of the few places where we allow ourselves to speak about who we really are, without mask. Here we say: ‘I’m struggling.’ This is a place where we can open our hearts.”

CHICAGO: A LIVING WITNESS

A similar initiative has taken shape in the United States, where St. Joseph Patron of the Church Council 18037 in Rockdale, Illinois, will host its second March of St. Joseph in Chicago on May 3.

Chicago Knights pause for prayer at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, Illinois. — Members of St. Joseph Patron of the Church Council 18037 in Rockdale, Illinois, and other participants in the March of St. Joseph pause for prayer at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, midway along their route in the Chicago area May 4, 2025.

Held in honor of the May 1 feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the 3.6-mile procession extends between two churches dedicated to St. Joseph — beginning in Rockdale and concluding in Joliet. In its first year, the march drew more than 60 men who walked together with an image of St. Joseph, praying the rosary and the Litany of St. Joseph.

The event drew inspiration from the tradition in France, explained Brian Holuj, a member of Council 18037 and past grand knight of St. Josaphat Council 7530 in Washington, D.C. Having experienced the Paris procession while living in France, Holuj introduced the idea to his council in Rockdale.

“We wanted to create something that would truly engage people, allowing them to publicly share their faith, not limiting it to where we normally pray,” Holuj said. “It was a chance for us to honor St. Joseph and to walk between the two churches that glorify this great saint.”

This year, Council 18037 has invited other local councils to participate and anticipates a larger turnout. The event is not only about public witness, but also about rethinking the role of men in contemporary life, Holuj said, with St. Joseph emerging as a quiet yet concrete model.

“He was not loud or boastful,” Holuj said, “but he had a quiet strength … in his daily work to provide for and protect his family, and in his faithful service, whatever it required.”

In an age of distraction, Holuj added, people are often too busy to focus on what matters most. He hopes the march will help redirect men to take a stand for their beliefs.

“Traditional masculinity is not valued or encouraged,” he said. “It is important that people stay together in communities, learn from one another and support each other. This march is a way to reflect on the sacrifice of St. Joseph. … He did simple things every single day as a dedicated father, and I think we can all learn from that.”

*****

KATERYNA KOLODII writes from Lviv, Ukraine.

Francisco Sanchez Jauregui portrays Simon of Cyrene as he carries the cross during his council’s reenactment of the Stations of the Cross in 2025.

Shoulder to Shoulder With St. Joseph

KRAKÓW: A MARCH OF BROTHERHOOD

FRANCE: WALKING IN FAITH

CHICAGO: A LIVING WITNESS

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