Knights of Columbus rise again

What do Joe Paterno, Babe Ruth, and John F. Kennedy have in common? When they weren't winning football games, hitting home runs, or running for office, all three joined the Knights of Columbus.

This semester, some of your friends might be doing the same.

With 12 men confirmed as taking the first steps on the road to becoming a Knight, the Saint Joseph's University Chapter of the Knights of Columbus is being reactivated and rejuvenated.

The Knights of Columbus, famous for their honor guard complete with flashy attire and swords, was named after Christopher Columbus for his zealous Catholicism. The organization is a men's Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to the ideals of unity, charity, fraternity, and patriotism.

It was founded in 1881 by Fr. Michael McGivney to offer financial assistance to struggling members and their families in the form of a life insurance program while also offering a fraternal bond to young Catholic men. At the time, Catholic men were largely barred from labor unions and other fraternal organizations such as the Freemasons. The Knights of Columbus offered a Catholic alternative to struggling Catholic men.

The group dedicates itself to charitable works and donations along with social activities. The 1.7 million members worldwide have raised over a billion dollars and volunteered over 400 million hours of service in the last decade, according to the official website.

In addition to the commitment to service, the group prides itself on welcoming "practical Catholics" or Catholics united with the Pope and acting out their faith. This mission often combines with its commitment to patriotism. The Knights of Columbus are largely attributed with the addition of the phrase "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance by successfully lobbying Congress. In 1937, the similar political activity contributed to naming Columbus Day, October 12, a federal holiday.

It was this dual commitment to faith and service that first attracted St. Joe's students.

Prospective Knight Michael Matulewicz, '09, first approached Father Dan Joyce, S.J., about his interest in founding a chapter of the Knights on campus to "renew Catholic identity." The prospect of a men's Catholic service organization on campus had fascinated him for some time, and having seen their commitment to service in his hometown, he suggested founding a University chapter to Fr. Joyce.

"He was just like, 'let's do this,'" Matulewicz said.

Matulewicz was joined by the experience of Michael Gambone, '08 who was actually a member of the Knights of Columbus chapter in his hometown. He had been attracted to the group by their intense service, "ranging from blood drives to Hurricane Katrina to pro-life work," he said.

Together with the help of Fr. Joyce, Gambone and Matulewicz succeed in founding what is actually the resurrection of a pre-existing chapter at St. Joe's that has been in existence three times in the past according to Fr. Joyce.

In fact, the University's chapter is actually older than the chapter of the State Deputy who helped to restart the organization on campus.

In the past, a lack of interest had choked out the fledgling chapter, but Matulewicz is hopeful that this new reincarnation will be sustainable. With membership spanning all the class years, it appears that the new chapter is here to stay for at least four years.

The first step for the new chapter will be an induction, complete with secret ceremonies like any other fraternity. Next, the group will focus on getting recognition from the school, and jumpstarting some sort of service to the immediate community both on and off campus. In time, as members progress through the four degrees into full knighthood, the St. Joe's chapter hopes to expand, maybe eventually adding an honor guard.

The most important question of all-will they have swords? We can only hope.