Copied from Knight Line, July 26.2001, vol 18, No 10, published by Knights of Columbus Supreme Council.
"I am grateful, proud of Knights," says Mississippi bishopWriting in the May 4, 2001, edition of Mississippi Catholic, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Jackson. Bishop William R. Houck says membership in the Knights of Columbus offers Catholic men and their families a way of being "committed to living our Catholic faith fully and sharing it freely with others in all aspects of our lives."
Bishop Houck, the Mississippi Knights' state chaplain, has been a Knight for more than 55 years and a member of the Fourth Degree for more than 47 years. In his column, Bishop Houck urges prayers for the canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights. "Father McGivney had a wonderful purpose in mind" in starting the Order, Bishop Houck writes. "He wanted to gather Catholic men who would be committed to their Catholic faith and would band together to help serve the Church and especially take care of widows and orphans in those days." Father McGivney founded the Knights to help Catholic immigrants maintain their faith, find good jobs and help their families, Bishop Houck writes. "Here we are over 100 years later and we know we are in another period of time when immigrants are coming into this country. ... I encourage the Knights also to be concerned about the Hispanic and Asian immigrants."
Bishop Houck also applauds the efforts of the Knights in Mississippi and Order-wide to promote and support a variety of Church and civic causes. He noted especially funds established by Mississippi Knights for vocations and pro-life education. Bishop Houck concludes his column by challenging the Knights to "continue to foster and further develop the distinctive marks" of the Order.
Responding to Bishop Houck's column, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson noted that bringing more Hispanic and other immigrant Catholic men into the Order is a priority. "We welcome the support of Bishop Houck and all our bishops in all our programs, and especially in membership recruitment. Growing the Knights will only benefit the Church,"