Journey of Joy

Nov. 1, 2024

Supreme Officers witness firsthand the evangelizing charity and vibrant growth of the Order in the Philippines

By Columbia staff

Nov. 1, 2024

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly gives a young boy a meal during a parish food distribution sponsored by Santo Niño de Baseco Council 16245 on Aug. 20. Pictured center, in red, is Supreme Director Rene Sarmiento, former deputy of Luzon North. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

Steeped in more than five centuries of faith, the Philippines is home to the third largest Catholic population on the planet, after Brazil and Mexico. Per capita, it is also the nation with the greatest number of Knights of Columbus in the world today. The Order has been present in the Philippines since 1905, and its four K of C jurisdictions — Luzon North, Luzon South, Visayas and Mindanao — now include more than a half million Knights in nearly 4,000 councils.

In late August, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori made their first visit to this dynamic Asian archipelago, where they were greeted with generous hospitality by the country’s Knights.

The Supreme Council delegation, which also included Supreme Master Michael McCusker and his wife and the supreme knight’s family, traveled throughout Metro Manila and several surrounding cities Aug. 20-24 before visiting Cebu City, in the Visayas region, Aug. 25-26. Along the way, they prayed and celebrated Mass at holy sites and visited charitable initiatives serving the most vulnerable, from abandoned children to the elderly.

Bishop Pablo David of Kalookan speaks with Archbishop Lori. — Bishop (now Cardinal-elect) Pablo David of Kalookan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, speaks with Archbishop Lori. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

The delegation also met with Church leaders, including Archbishop Charles Brown, papal nuncio to the Philippines; Cardinal Jose Advincula, archbishop of Manila; Bishop Pablo David of Kalookan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop emeritus of Manila and pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who was visiting his home country from Rome.

Speaking to a large national gathering Aug. 24, Supreme Knight Kelly commended Filipino Knights for both their tremendous growth and their wholehearted efforts to live out the founding mission of Blessed Michael McGivney.

“When we launch a new program, you’re always the first to embrace it. And when it comes to charity, you demonstrate a profoundly moving care for the poor and vulnerable. I saw that firsthand this week,” the supreme knight said. “Throughout the Philippines, councils are caring for their neighbors in many ways. … Filipino Knights are an example of leadership for the rest of the Order.”

MANILA AND PERIPHERIES

In Baseco, a densely populated neighborhood of Metro Manila, the Knights of Santo Niño de Baseco Council 16245 operate a soup kitchen and food distribution program that feeds hundreds of people each week. Filipino Knights gave the Supreme Council delegation an enthusiastic welcome when they arrived to Santo Niño de Baseco Parish on Aug. 20, and the supreme knight and his family worked with the council to serve meals to those in need.

“Seeing our supreme knight serving food and ice cream to the marginalized people together with us was special,” said Reynaldo Valencia, a district deputy in Manila. “It was really great to see our supreme leaders care for the people of Baseco.”

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori plays a game with children at one of ANAK-Tnk’s centers in Metro Manila. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

An estimated 250,000 to 1 million children live on the streets in Baseco and other slum regions on the peripheries of Manila. The Order has provided support to several Catholic organizations that serve these children, and the supreme knight, supreme chaplain and supreme master later visited two of them to see their work.

Celebrating Mass for the delegation and local K of C leaders Aug. 22, the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Cardinal Jose Advincula urged the Knights to be “agents of communion” by imitating Our Lady’s example. “Dear brothers, like Mary our queen and helper, let us also accompany one another in charity,” he said in his homily. “Let our acts of devotion to Our Lady flow into acts of charity for one another, especially those who are needy and underprivileged among us.”

Following Mass and a meeting with the cardinal, the delegation paid tribute to the Order’s roots in the Philippines with a visit to Manila Council 1000, the country’s first council. Walking up to its historic hall, the delegation was greeted by a corps of drummers. Supreme Knight Kelly met with Grand Knight Santy Morante Jr. in his office, which once belonged to the Servant of God George Willmann, a Jesuit priest and fraternal pioneer who helped the Order spread throughout the Philippines.

“I am so happy to be here at Council 1000 in Manila, the mother council of the entire Philippines,” Supreme Knight Kelly said. “There’s a tremendous spirit and a joy among the men. They really love being Knights, and that is an inspiring thing to witness.”

The supreme knight and supreme chaplain stand together with K of C leaders and members of Manila Council 1000 during the Supreme Council delegation’s visit to the council hall. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

The next day, Archbishop Lori celebrated Mass at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, a Chinese parish in Binondo that is home to St. Lorenzo Ruiz Council 7344. In his homily, he shared how patron saints of the Philippines — St. Rose of Lima, whose feast was being celebrated, as well as St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod — offer examples of living “on mission.”

“As the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world, we the Knights are uniquely positioned to help the Church fulfill that mandate which the Lord entrusted to the Church and to all the baptized: to be disciples and to make disciples,” the supreme chaplain said.

The Supreme Officers then visited the headquarters of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, or KCFAPI, in Intramuros, where they toured a museum dedicated to Father Willmann with Msgr. Pedro “Pepe” Quitorio, a longtime Knight who serves as postulator of Father Willmann’s cause for canonization. That afternoon, the delegation and Filipino K of C leaders met with Bishop Pablo David of Kalookan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, to present him with earnings from a KCFAPI charitable fund that benefits the bishops’ conference. On Oct. 6, Pope Francis announced that Bishop David would be elevated to the College of Cardinals on Dec. 7.

NATIONAL DINNER

The visit to the Luzon region culminated Aug. 24 in a festive dinner in Manila, attended by more than 1,250 Filipino Knights from all four jurisdictions. The event featured cultural performances, a preview of a new mini-documentary on Father Willmann, and the screening of a video highlighting a new council formed by Indigenous Knights.

In his keynote address, Supreme Knight Kelly told the Knights, “My message to all of you tonight is very simple: Thank you for all you do for the Knights of Columbus and for the Catholic Church. I want to acknowledge the breadth and depth of your work, and the difference you are making in the lives of others.”

The supreme knight addresses the more than 1,250 Knights present at the National Dinner in Manila on Aug. 24. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

Supreme Director Rene Sarmiento, a former Luzon North deputy, likewise expressed thanks to the Supreme Officers for their visit and their efforts to see in person the challenges and concerns of Filipinos living on the peripheries.

He added, “Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us … that we are blessed and we should be a blessing to others. It is a gratitude that evangelizes in the spirit of compassion and charity.”

Archbishop Charles Brown, appointed by Pope Francis in September 2020 to serve as his representative to the Philippines, also delivered remarks, commending the Order for its charitable work and, in particular, for efforts to support faithful marriage and family life.

“Everything that you as Knights can do to strengthen marriage is greatly appreciated by me and by the Holy See and by the Holy Father, Pope Francis,” the nuncio said. “How beautiful that is, how wonderful that is, how important that is for the life of the Church, because the family is the domestic church.”

During the event, Supreme Knight Kelly presented Former Supreme Director Jose Reyes Jr. with the St. Michael Award in recognition of his exemplary service to the Knights of Columbus.

Knights and family members from Visayas and Mindanao fill the Basilica of Santo Niño in Cebu City for a Mass celebrated by Supreme Chaplain Lori on Aug. 26. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

A retired justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and a Knight for more than 40 years, Reyes served as Luzon North Deputy 2015-2019 and supreme director 2016-2022. The award citation, read by Supreme Master McCusker, described Reyes as “a man of great learning and accomplishment,” adding that “he remains a humble disciple of the Lord, placing all of his gifts at the service of God and the Catholic Church, and putting faith and family first.” It further acclaimed Reyes’ efforts to uphold the dignity of the human person, the right to life of the unborn child, and the sacred institutions of marriage and the family.

Accepting the award, Reyes said, “Your appreciation of my modest contribution to the Order is humbling and at the same time inspiring to me and to all of my brother Knights in the Philippines and beyond.” He added, speaking to his brother Filipino Knights, “I share the honor with of all of you, and I pray that you will reach even greater heights of service to God and our country.”

VISITING VISAYAS

For their last days in the Philippines, the K of C delegation traveled to Cebu City in Visayas, where they were welcomed Aug. 25 by Visayas Deputy Odelon Mabutin, Mindanao Deputy Rogelio Tadura and other state officers.

The next day, the supreme knight, his wife, Vanessa, and Archbishop Lori visited the Bidlisiw Foundation — a frontline partner of the Arise Foundation, with which the Supreme Council is working to combat human trafficking in the Philippines. They also spoke and prayed with several young people who survived human trafficking.

In the afternoon, the delegation proceeded to the Basilica of Santo Niño de Cebu, the oldest church in the country, to venerate the miraculous statue of the Holy Infant. Archbishop Lori celebrated a special Mass there for Knights from Visayas and Mindanao, featuring a Fourth Degree honor guard and Knights’ choir.

“Our greatest calling, received in baptism, is to be adopted children of God, sons and daughters of our heavenly Father,” the supreme chaplain said in his homily. “We can acquire many titles in life, but our greatest dignity and greatest calling is to be children of God, those whom the Father loves and cherishes beyond all measure because he sees and loves in us what he sees and loves in Christ.”

The Supreme Council delegation and K of C leaders from the Philippines visit the pavilion next to the Basilica of Santo Niño in Cebu City, — The Supreme Council delegation and K of C leaders from the Philippines visit the Magellan Cross in Cebu City, Visayas. Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross on the site in 1521; the present cross is believed to encase fragments of the original. Pictured, from left, are Mindanao Deputy Rogelio Tadura, Visayas Deputy Odelon Mabutin, Supreme Director Rene Sarmiento, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, Supreme Master Michael McCusker, Luzon North Deputy Pascual Carbero and Luzon South Deputy Danilo Sanchez. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

A “Fraternal Fiesta” was celebrated that evening in Cebu City, with about 400 guests enjoying a dinner, songs and cultural performances. Both the supreme knight and supreme chaplain delivered farewell remarks.

“From start to finish, you — the Knights of Columbus and your wives in this beautiful land — have outdone yourselves in your wonderful hospitality. Salamat! Thank you so much,” said Archbishop Lori. “Pope Francis is challenging you and me to move ahead, full speed, with the Church’s mission and not to be discouraged, not to be distracted, not to be stymied by obstacles. Full speed ahead!”

Before the event concluded with benediction and an invocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is patron of both the Knights of Columbus and the Philippines, Supreme Knight Kelly expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and the witness of the Knights of the Philippines one final time.

“Every day that we have been here, Father McGivney has been with us in the spirit of the brotherhood of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines,” he said. “If ever there was a group of men and their ladies and their families who are ‘on mission,’ it’s you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Pope Leo XIV speaks with Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori.

Journey of Joy

MANILA AND PERIPHERIES

NATIONAL DINNER

VISITING VISAYAS

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