2023 Annual Report of the Supreme Knight

Oct. 1, 2023

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly’s annual report was broadcast worldwide Aug. 1 following the Supreme Convention’s opening Mass in Orlando, Fla.

By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

Oct. 1, 2023

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly — Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly. (Photo by Michael Collopy)

It’s a pleasure to celebrate another great year. We had a year of faith in action — and heroic charity. My brother Knights, thank you for everything you did and everyone you served!

We stepped up in so many ways — all 2 million Knights of Columbus. We donated $185 million to charity and devoted 49 million hours to volunteer service. We protected Catholic families with a record $121 billion of life insurance in force.

And around the world, we rose to meet the biggest challenges — from saving unborn children to supporting the people of Ukraine.

I’m grateful to God for the way he has worked among us and through us, and as we look back at the past year, I am confident Father McGivney is proud of us.

FIRST IN FAITH

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly delivers remarks before reconsecrating the Order to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the basilica named in her honor in Mexico City, Feb. 3. Looking on is Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori and Past Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who originally consecrated the Order to the Virgin of Guadalupe 22 years earlier to the day. (Photo by Stephen Feiler)

Our actions reflect the best of our history. They spring from the truth we hold in our hearts. As Knights, what we do reflects who we are. We are faithful Catholics — and disciples of Jesus Christ. We carry on a tradition that was planted in this land more than 450 years ago.

The first Catholic settlement in the future United States was established right here, in Florida, in 1565. The first person to step ashore was a Catholic chaplain — Father Francisco López. Many have called him America’s “first parish priest.” To this day, the city of St. Augustine is a testament to the Catholic Church’s enduring influence on this continent.

Three centuries later, another parish priest extended that influence. In 1882, while serving an immigrant parish in New Haven, Connecticut, Father Michael McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus. He gave us one mission — to follow Christ. And he called us to fulfill it through faith and charity. For Father McGivney and the first Knights, faith and charity went hand in hand. They knew that spiritual poverty and material poverty both diminish human dignity — and both demand a strong response.

Our forefathers met this challenge by keeping families together. They helped men grow in virtue, and they helped parents raise their children in the faith. They cared for families when disaster struck, especially when young fathers died. Father McGivney and the first Knights proved that faith and charity grow together. For as Christ himself commanded us, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … soul … mind, and … strength” and “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mk 12:30-31). In these words, we hear the call of the Knights of Columbus. Our fidelity to this mission has taken us from a small group of men in a parish basement to a global Catholic brotherhood. And today, our mission is more urgent than ever.

Times have changed. The culture is growing more hostile to our faith. The two institutions that are most essential to human flourishing — the family and the Church — are facing mounting threats. In these difficult times, so much depends on our commitment to our mission. Will we be credible witnesses to a living faith? Will ours be a charity that evangelizes? Will we stand for the truth without apology and without counting the cost? Our answer is the same as Father McGivney’s: Yes! We will point the world to Jesus Christ. He is the light that shines in the darkness. And he will shine through the Knights of Columbus.

Pope Francis greets Missionaries of Charity and a Knights of Columbus delegation Aug. 31, prior to the world premiere of MOTHER TERESA: NO GREATER LOVE at the Filmoteca Vaticana. — Pope Francis greets Missionaries of Charity and a Knights of Columbus delegation Aug. 31, prior to the world premiere of *MOTHER TERESA: NO GREATER LOVE* at the Filmoteca Vaticana. (Photo by Vatican Media)

The challenges we face are many and serious. In this new era, forming Catholic men must be our top priority. I have said it before and I will say it again: If we get the man right, we get everything right — the marriage, the family, the parish, the community. We need men who say “yes” to their God-given vocation. We know what happens when men respond in faith.

Consider St. Juan Diego. We are preparing for the 500th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparition on Tepeyac Hill. In December 1531, she entrusted the message of her son’s love to a humble layman. St. Juan Diego’s “yes” set in motion the greatest conversion of the New World.

For more than 20 years, the Order has been consecrated to Mary under her title Our Lady of Guadalupe. Earlier this year, the board of directors made a pilgrimage to her shrine in Mexico City. There, kneeling before the tilma, I reconsecrated the Order to Santa María de Guadalupe. And today, I ask the delegates here assembled to stand and join me in once again saying “yes” to Our Lady’s message of God’s love.

Last year, I announced a new initiative focused on prayer, formation and fraternity. It’s called Cor, and I believe it’s laying a foundation for our future.

Cor will be a game changer. The name is Latin for heart, and it reflects the reality that faith and fraternity are the heart of who we are. Cor is designed for Catholic men. It provides much-needed fellowship, drawing us closer together. As Scripture says, and as every Knight knows, “a three-ply cord is not easily broken” (Eccl 4:12). And Cor will deepen our relationship with Christ, making it easier to profess and defend what we believe.

Cor is practical — and it’s proving effective. It’s already helping men be better husbands and fathers. It’s also turning non-Knights into new Knights — because Cor is open to any Catholic man in the parish.

Young Catholic men, in particular, are hungry for faith and fraternity. Cor gives them what they’re looking for. And it opens their eyes to everything we offer.

After a very successful pilot program in 21 jurisdictions, we’re preparing to roll Cor out to the entire Order. Every Knight and every Catholic man, of any age, can find value in Cor. I encourage you to make it a priority and invite the men of your parish. We have many resources to help you launch Cor.

To that end, we’re introducing our first-ever Bible study designed specifically for Catholic men. It’s called Men of the Word, and when it comes to deepening our faith, nothing is more effective than the Word of God. This Bible study has the power to transform our lives.

We’re also preparing to debut a new video series on marriage, family and fatherhood. It follows the model of Into the Breach, which has been viewed nearly 1.5 million times. You’ll find powerful testimonies and practical advice for living the faith as a family.

I’m excited about this new series. Vanessa and I have three young daughters. Nothing matters more to us than raising them with a love for the faith. The same is true for so many Catholic families. And it’s an urgent need in the Church.

A recent poll found that only a third of Catholic parents care if their children keep the faith (Pew Research Center, January 2023, “Parenting in America Today”). Think about that — only a third of parents care if their kids stay Catholic. This is one reason why so many young people have drifted away from the faith. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

A relationship with Christ is the greatest gift we can offer to the next generation. The Knights of Columbus has a duty to help parents grow in their faith and pass it on to their children. Our new video series will help. Each of these new initiatives will further strengthen us in our Catholic faith — especially Cor. And they’ll complement the already robust offerings of our Catholic Information Service which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Since 1948, CIS has helped millions of Catholics deepen their understanding of the faith.

We embrace this mission in many ways. On the day I was installed as supreme knight, I urged all of us to become Knights of the Eucharist. We are leading sponsors of the National Eucharistic Revival in the United States. As part of this effort, councils across the country have held Eucharistic processions. Just two months ago, the supreme officers and state deputies joined a special procession that began at St. Mary’s, the birthplace of the Order. Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, led the way. Together, we brought Christ to the streets of New Haven — just as Father McGivney did before us.

This is not the first procession to start at St. Mary’s. Nor will it be the last. Next May, one of the Revival’s four cross-country processions will start at the tomb of Blessed Michael McGivney, “America’s parish priest.” It will culminate in Indianapolis, where the National Eucharistic Congress will take place next July. I encourage every Knight to embrace the Revival and deepen his faith in our Eucharistic Lord.

FIRST IN CHARITY

Reaching new depths of faith will take us to new heights of charity. Father McGivney showed us the way. His love for Christ led him to care for widows and orphans. More recently, we had the extraordinary witness of St. Teresa of Calcutta. Like Father McGivney, her charity sprang from a love of Christ. I often think of one story that’s told about her.

Mother Teresa was caring for a leper in his final hours. As he was dying in her arms, she asked if she could tell him about Jesus. He was silent for a moment. Then he asked her: “Is this Jesus like you?” She responded: “No. But I am trying to be like him.” The dying man replied: “Then I want to be a Christian.”

Mother Teresa shows us that faith leads to charity — and charity leads to faith.

Last year, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death, we produced a documentary celebrating her life. The film premiered at the Vatican, and I was honored to present a copy to Pope Francis. The Holy Father thanked us for bringing Mother Teresa’s heroic witness to a new generation.

Mother Teresa: No Greater Love has played in more than 1,000 theaters — from North and South America to Europe and beyond. It aired nationwide on PBS and EWTN, and next month it will air on ABC. The response has been tremendous. The film was the most popular faith documentary of 2022, and it was the second most popular documentary of any kind. Twenty-five years after her death, Mother Teresa is inspiring the world all over again!

Like St. Teresa of Calcutta, the Knights are committed to lives of service. Last year, in countless ways, we channeled our faith into charity.

In the Middle East, we continue to aid persecuted Christians. Without our work, some of the most ancient Christian communities might have disappeared forever. But they’re still here, and since 2014, we’ve provided more than $33 million to help them not only survive, but build for the future.

Closer to home, we continue to stand with Catholics in Indigenous communities. At the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Kateri Tekakwitha’s canonization. John Paul II beatified her and renewed the Church’s commitment to Indigenous communities.

Pope Francis has continued this work in a personal way. Last summer, we helped the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops welcome the Holy Father to Canada, in order to foster healing and reconciliation with Indigenous people. This historic journey was broadcast throughout Canada by our friends at Salt + Light Media. Through our Native Solidarity Initiative, the Knights of Columbus will continue to walk in faith with our Indigenous brothers and sisters.

Our mission calls us to reach out to others in a spirit of love. And with the pandemic over, we redoubled our support for the least fortunate. This year marks the 20th anniversary of our wheelchair initiative. We started in 2003 by helping landmine victims in Afghanistan. Last year, in partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission, we gave the gift of mobility to more than 10,000 people. All told, in the past two decades, we’ve given more than 127,000 wheelchairs to those in need.

We also gave more than $5.3 million in the wake of natural disasters in the past year. That includes our response to Hurricane Ian, the deadliest storm to strike Florida in a century. We also responded to Hurricane Fiona, the most destructive in Canadian history. Wherever disaster strikes, our brother Knights are on the ground, helping families and communities recover.

During the past year, we helped our priests and seminarians with more than $3.7 million in scholarships and support. It shows our enduring commitment to being the strong right arm of the Catholic Church.

With that same strength, we teamed up with disabled athletes from around the world. In the last five years alone, brother Knights have contributed over $21 million to Special Olympics. And at competitions from coast to coast, we were there, with helping hands and encouraging words.

Finally, there’s Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids. We launched Coats for Kids in 2009 with a simple goal: to give children the gift of warmth in the coldest months. This winter, we’ll reach a historic milestone. We will distribute our one-millionth coat to a child in need.

When it comes to charity, we do much more than just donate money and goods. The time we give is even more meaningful.

In Virginia, brother Knights didn’t just buy wheelchairs for veterans. They delivered them in person. At one VA facility, they showed up with 20 wheelchairs for disabled heroes.

In Puebla, Mexico, Knights bring blankets and food to the homeless of their city every month. And in Angers, France, Knights do something similar. Before the sun rises, they take to the streets to give food to the homeless.

Alongside Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki, Supreme Knight Kelly serves soup at a shelter operated by the Albertine Brothers in Lviv, Ukraine. — Alongside Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki, Supreme Knight Kelly serves soup at a shelter operated by the Albertine Brothers in Lviv, Ukraine, Dec. 6. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, men from St. Katharine Drexel Council 14212 packed their vans, drove across the state, and set up shop at a flooded gas station. In three hours, these Knights gave away pallets of water, 300 meals and 250 rosaries.

In the Philippines, Knights took disaster response to a new level. They gave food and clothes to flood victims, while planting new trees in devastated areas. Filipino Knights are rebuilding what Pope Francis has called “our common home.”

There are so many other acts of service I could name. To every brother Knight who volunteered last year: Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

One charitable effort deserves special mention. I speak, of course, about our support for Ukraine. Last year, within 36 hours of Russia’s invasion, we established the Ukraine Solidarity Fund^®. We called on councils to host fundraisers and rallied others to support this worthy cause. Eighteen months later, we have raised over $21 million. I cannot think of another time in our history when so many gave so much, so fast. Ukraine reminds us of the words of St. Paul: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).

In a very real sense, our support for Ukraine started in Poland. While our Ukrainian brothers are on the front lines of war, our Polish brothers are right beside them, on the front lines of charity. Since the beginning of the war, they have run Mercy Centers for Ukrainian refugees — mostly women and children. They offer food and water, as well as counseling and spiritual care. And through our K of C Charity Convoys, Polish Knights have delivered truckloads of supplies directly into Ukraine — into the middle of a war zone.

I traveled to Poland in December, where I met with President Andrzej Duda. I presented him, and his nation, with our Caritas Award. It recognizes extraordinary works of charity for the sake of others. That’s certainly true of the Polish people, and it’s especially true of our Polish Knights.

We are joined today by our state deputy from Poland, Krzysztof Zuba, as well as our new supreme warden, Andrzej Anasiak, the first-ever Supreme Officer from Europe. We are also grateful to welcome the Ukraine delegation led by State Deputy Youriy Maletskiy. Our brother Knights from Ukraine and Poland are a sterling example of “first in faith and charity.”

After my trip to Poland, I traveled into Ukraine itself. I wish every Knight could see what I saw. It was Advent. Normally, there would have been Christmas lights everywhere. But not last year. Russian missiles had taken out much of Ukraine’s power grid. The electricity that was left was needed for hospitals and humanitarian relief.

Everywhere I went, I met with families who had lost their belongings, their homes, and yes, their loved ones. But I also saw something else — something profound. Despite all they’ve been through, the Ukrainian people still have hope — a hope that springs from faith. Amid the darkness of war, the Catholic Church continues to be a ray of light.

I traveled with the leaders of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. We visited parishes, convents and seminaries that have opened their doors to refugees. To this day, I am struck by the words of Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Reflecting on Russian atrocities, His Beatitude spoke of the duty to cultivate love. For as he said, “hatred gives birth to criminals, but love gives birth to heroes.”

My friends, Ukraine is becoming a nation of heroes. And we are joined by two of them today — Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki of Lviv and Bishop Mykhaylo Bubniy of Odessa. Your Excellencies, thank you for being courageous shepherds!

While in Ukraine, I spoke with many refugees. Their courage was striking. I will always remember meeting a mother and her two daughters, one of whom was paralyzed. They cried as they described the violence they left behind, and they thanked the Knights for helping them find a path forward. Without that refugee center, they would have been on the streets. They might not have survived the brutal winter. But they did survive. Because they had a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, and faith in their hearts.

On behalf of the entire Order, I made a promise to that family and every refugee I met: You are not alone. We are with you. And the Knights of Columbus is not going anywhere!

Our support for the Ukrainian people takes many forms. That includes a partnership with the Pontes Association to protect Ukrainian women and girls from human trafficking. This crisis is real — and it’s global. Worldwide, more than 27 million people are victims of human trafficking. I am grateful for the remarkable success of the recent movie, Sound of Freedom, which has drawn greater attention to it.

The Knights of Columbus is fighting human trafficking for a simple reason. As Catholic men, we protect vulnerable women and children. Every human being is made in God’s image, and no human being should ever be bought or sold.

Beyond Ukraine, we’re tackling this crisis in the Philippines. In partnership with the Arise Foundation, Filipino Knights are working with religious sisters to help young women and girls recognize this danger. They’re also building a national network to support victims. I would especially like to thank our supreme director emeritus from the Philippines, Justice Jose Reyes, for his strong leadership. Human trafficking is a pervasive evil that lurks just beneath the surface — and I am proud of our efforts to combat it.

Members of Blessed Noël Pinot Council 16722 in Angers, France , serve breakfast to a man experiencing homelessness. Inspired by a saying of St. Vincent de Paul — “the poor are your masters” — the Knights bring breakfast to homeless people every Saturday at dawn. (Photo by Arnaud Bouthéon)

PATRIOTISM & FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP

Our principle of charity compels us to serve the most vulnerable. And our principle of patriotism leads us to serve our countries.

Since our founding, brother Knights have fought to defend freedom wherever we live. We’ve stood strong to uphold foundational principles like human dignity and religious freedom, and we’ve advanced equal justice — regardless of race, religion or nationality.

Our love of country compels us to be faithful citizens — of whatever country we call home. And our work is far from done. In the United States, the anti-Catholic bigotry of the 19th and early-20th centuries is re-emerging in new ways. Some 60 years after the election of John F. Kennedy, our first Catholic president and a brother Knight, we are once again being intimidated and excluded. Our religious liberty is under threat, and our deepest beliefs are being labeled as “hate speech.”

Let me be clear: There is nothing hateful about the sanctity of marriage, the reality of biological sex, or the humanity of the unborn child. And the Knights of Columbus will never apologize for defending the truth!

We stand for the truth because it’s right — even when it leads to ridicule and scorn.

Like all of you, I was shocked to see a professional baseball team honor an anti-Catholic hate group that masquerades as nuns. This group mocks Our Lord and Our Lady in the foulest ways. They insult the courageous women religious who have dedicated their lives to prayer and service. I can think of no more blatant example of the new anti-Catholic bigotry.

We are joined today by members of the Missionaries of Charity, the Sisters of Life, the Nashville Dominicans and the Sisters of the Company of the Savior. We are also very honored to welcome the secretary general of Vatican City, Sister Raffaella Petrini of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. To every sister who’s with us today — thank you for standing taller than those who mock you! We love you!

We’ve long defended our fundamental right to practice our beliefs and participate in society. That was true a century ago, when we fought the Ku Klux Klan and anti-Catholic nativism. As part of that effort, we endowed a Chair of American History at The Catholic University of America.

And a hundred years later, we’ve endowed a new chair at CUA’s Columbus School of Law. Kevin Walsh is now the Knights of Columbus Professor of Law and the Catholic Tradition. I’m proud to call him a brother Knight. This distinguished scholar is already making important contributions to the defense of our religious liberty.

Such efforts spring from our commitment to patriotism. That same spirit moves us to support the men and women of the armed forces. Whether it’s our military prayer book or Warriors to Lourdes, we stand with those in uniform. As a veteran myself, I know firsthand the stress and difficulties of military life. I also know the lifesaving difference that a Catholic chaplain can make. That’s why I’m proud of our continued partnership with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. With our support, the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program has trained 63 military chaplains.

For more than 17 years, our outreach to the military has been the passion of one man in particular. He served three decades in the Marine Corps, including four tours in Vietnam. Since 2006, he has served as our advisor for military and veterans affairs. Col. Chuck Gallina is preparing to retire later this year. Colonel, we thank you and we salute you!

David St. Hilaire, a field agent with the Swanson Agency in Hastings, Neb., visits with a K of C family about their insurance needs.

INSURANCE & INVESTMENTS

We stand with our troops because they keep our families safe. Yet as Catholic men, we all have a duty to protect families. Father McGivney built the Knights around this truth, and he charged us with caring for widows and orphans through our life insurance program. When the first Knights pooled their money for mutual aid, they put their faith into action. So do we, and we’ve taken our founding vision into bold new territory.

We’ve been a Fortune 1000® company for 14 years in a row. We continue to earn superior ratings from AM Best (A+) and Standard & Poor’s (AA+). And for the second year running, Forbes has recognized us as one of America’s best life insurance companies. For us, being first in faith and charity also means being first in Catholic finance.

We answer God’s call to protect families and care for mothers and children, and we help families secure their financial future. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors empowers Catholics to invest in line with our faith. We started offering our investment services to Catholic institutions in 2015, and two years ago we made our mutual funds available to members and nonmembers alike. Today, we manage more than $2.3 billion for Catholic families, religious communities and dioceses.

It’s clear that Catholics want to carry their faith into their finances. And the same is true of their charitable giving. Generous individuals and families have now entrusted more than $100 million to the Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund. KCCF donor-advised funds help you support the charitable causes that matter to you — while fully upholding the Catholic faith. Last year alone, donors to the Charitable Fund distributed nearly $21 million to worthy charities.

There is much more I could say about the faith foundation of our business. But this year, I want to do something different. I want to describe the faithful men who personify our business. Behind every purchase of a life insurance policy, and every sale of an investment product, is a brother Knight. We have nearly a thousand agents who strive every day to be first in faith and charity. This isn’t just their job. It’s their calling.

A recent story reminded me of this. One of our agents came to the job late in his career. He was tired of business as usual, and he wanted to put his faith into action. It wasn’t long before he got the worst kind of call. A brother Knight had died, and his grieving widow was desperate for help. He dropped what he was doing and went to her house. She needed help with her husband’s K of C insurance policy. Then she told him that her husband had four policies with other companies. She didn’t know what to do, or where to start. Our agent spent the rest of the day calling those companies and completing the paperwork. He lifted a burden from her shoulders and carried it himself. This agent is here with us today. Bob Gordon, thank you for embodying the best of the Knights of Columbus. You and all our agents make us proud.

Father Vincent Curran gives a presentation on lectio divina, the prayerful reading of Scripture, to members of San Salvador Council 1 at a *COR* session in the basement of St. Mary’s Church. (Photo by Paul Haring)

MEMBERSHIP

Our insurance program is thriving because it’s built on faith. The same is true of our membership — and last year’s growth was strong.

We now have more than 2,084,000 Knights around the world in 16,672 councils. And I’m pleased to report that we’ve hit a major milestone. More than 100,000 men have joined the Knights through online membership. We are reaching a new generation — and we’re setting the stage for a new era of impact.

Why do we continue to grow? Why, at a time when the Catholic Church faces serious demographic challenges, is the Order expanding year after year? I believe the reason is simple. In this age of mediocrity, the Knights of Columbus invites men to greatness: to sacrifice themselves for the good of others; to commit to a higher call with a band of brothers; and to stand strong in the breach, side by side, instead of being swept away by the culture, one at a time.

We’re seeing with Cor that faith is drawing more men to the Knights. We will continue to grow our membership so long as we grow together as husbands, fathers and Catholic men.

Every Knight is committed to this mission. And our College Knights deserve special mention. I joined the Knights at Marquette University when I was 19. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Back then, it wasn’t as hard to be a Catholic on campus. But it’s far more difficult today. That’s why our nearly 300 college councils are so important. At this very hour, a delegation of college Knights is in Lisbon attending the opening Mass of World Youth Day.

College Knights are making a deliberate decision to embrace the faith together, and their witness on campus is especially needed in this day and age. The U.S. surgeon general recently reported that we are living through an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. I submit that the Knights of Columbus offers a cure. In this time of loneliness, we offer fraternity. In this era of isolation, we extend the hand of friendship. In a world that offers apathy and anger, we invite men to lives of meaning and mission.

Every day, our brother Knights do just that. And our defense of life is especially inspiring.

Members of the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court Jan. 20 during the 50th annual March for Life, the first since *Roe v. Wade* was overturned. (Photo by Matthew Barrick)

PRO-LIFE

It’s been 13 months since Roe v. Wade was overturned. From the moment the Dobbs decision came down, we’ve stepped up with even greater leadership and resolve.

In the last year, Knights delivered countless boxes of supplies to pregnancy centers and maternity homes. And we’ve now donated 1,745 ultrasound machines. Each one helps mothers choose life.

At our convention last year, I announced a major new pro-life initiative called ASAP — Aid and Support After Pregnancy. We set a bold target of $5 million dollars going entirely to pregnancy centers and maternity homes. We didn’t meet that goal. We exceeded it — by more than $1 million!

Last January, we gathered for the 50th annual March for Life. But it was the first March for Life in post-Roe America. Knights from across the country traveled to Washington, D.C., for this historic moment. That morning, we co-hosted the first-ever Life Fest with the Sisters of Life. This new rally for high school and college students drew more than 4,000 young people.

We are grateful for our long-running partnership with the Sisters of Life. And few have done more for unborn children and their mothers than their founding superior general. Tonight, we will joyfully present the Order’s highest honor, the Gaudium et Spes Award, to our very dear friend, Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, S.V.

Together with the Sisters of Life, thousands of Knights joined the national March for Life. Thousands more joined state marches throughout the year. And from France to the Philippines, from Canada to South Korea, we stood for life around the world.

Our goal is the same with every march: Win more hearts, change more minds, and enshrine the right to life in the laws of the land. I’d like to acknowledge the outstanding leadership of the March for Life president, Jeanne Mancini — we stand with you, and we will march with you until abortion is unthinkable!

Now that Roe has been overturned, some fear that the pro-life movement is losing steam. But the opposite is true.

As I marched with my brother Knights in January, I felt a renewed sense of hope. It came, in large part, from the people who filled the streets in every direction. Our movement is young and passionate and filled with energy. We have justice on our side. My hope hasn’t dimmed since then. In fact, it’s grown even stronger.

Since the end of Roe, nearly half of our states have taken new steps to protect life. As I stand before you today, 14 states have ended abortion altogether — and more are on the way! We’ve supported this progress at every step. And we’ve fought efforts that would endanger more babies and their mothers.

Despite our victories, we’ve suffered some hard losses. But we need to remember: The fight for life is far from over. Life will be on the ballot in many states over the next two years. This November, Ohio will vote on whether to put the so-called right to abortion into its constitution. Radical activists are already pouring millions of dollars into this battle. They think it will be the beginning of the end of the pro-life movement.

But we will prove them wrong. Think back to where we were, just a few years ago. The powers that be said Roe was settled law. They said it would never be overturned. But the pro-life movement kept the faith, and we carried the day. And the Knights of Columbus will continue to fight — until the right to life is fully restored!

Pope Francis receives Supreme Knight Kelly and Archbishop Lori in a private audience at the Vatican. — Pope Francis receives Supreme Knight Kelly and Archbishop Lori in a private audience at the Vatican, April 20. (Photo by Vatican Media)

CONCLUSION

For 141 years, by God’s grace, we have risen to meet the biggest challenges. Our hearts are filled with gratitude and we make our own the ancient prayer of the Church: “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory” (cf. Ps 115). And with God’s help, we will continue to lead the way in faith and charity.

Father McGivney did exactly that. He empowered Catholic men to achieve great things, growing together in love of God and love of neighbor. And it all began in the basement of a church in Connecticut. That church has always been our spiritual home. It’s the resting place of our Founder, and its ties to the Order are only growing stronger. Just last month, Archbishop Leonard Blair of Hartford merged St. Mary’s with New Haven’s seven other churches to form a citywide parish. It’s the first in the world named after our Founder. Archbishop Blair, on behalf of all your brother Knights, thank you for making St. Mary’s Church part of the new Blessed Michael McGivney Parish!

Father McGivney was ahead of his time. And the last three popes have all recognized it. St. John Paul II said that his vision “remains as relevant as ever in the changed circumstances of today’s Church and society” (Papal Message to the 121st Supreme Convention, Washington, D.C., July 25, 2003).

Pope Benedict XVI spoke of “the remarkable accomplishment of that exemplary American priest” (Homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, April 19, 2008). And he confirmed Father McGivney’s heroic virtue, putting him on the path to beatification.

I reflected on this in January at Pope Benedict’s funeral. I was there with the Supreme Officers to bid farewell to this extraordinary servant of Christ and his Church. We were far from the only ones. For three days, from early morning until late at night, hundreds of thousands of people waited for hours to enter St. Peter’s Basilica. They came to pay their respects to a pope who only aspired to be “a humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.”

Today, the Knights of Columbus thanks and honors that great and holy man — Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Benedict advanced our Founder’s cause, declaring him Venerable. And Pope Francis named him Blessed, describing Father McGivney as “an outstanding witness of Christian solidarity and fraternal assistance” (Decree of Beatification, Oct. 31, 2020). We will always be grateful to Pope Francis for bringing our Founder one step closer to canonization.

Archbishop Lori and I personally thanked the Holy Father in a meeting earlier this year. The Pope once again expressed his esteem for Father McGivney, and he told us just how much he appreciates the Knights of Columbus.

We spoke at length about our work, including our new Cor initiative. We also discussed our charity, especially our support for Ukrainian refugees. Pope Francis was grateful for everything we’re doing, and he called on the Knights of Columbus to continue advancing the Church’s mission.

This is a challenge we gladly accept. We will continue to take up the mission of evangelization — in our hearts and in our communities. And we will continue our mission of charity — a charity that evangelizes.

When Father McGivney created the Order, he called us to this life of service. Catholic men rallied to the cause in his time. And in our time, we will inspire a new generation of men on a mission — first in faith and charity.

Vivat Jesus!

2023 Annual Report of the Supreme Knight

FIRST IN FAITH

FIRST IN CHARITY

PATRIOTISM & FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP

INSURANCE & INVESTMENTS

MEMBERSHIP

PRO-LIFE

CONCLUSION

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