T h e K n i g h t s o f P e t e r C l a v e r

i n s i d e t h i s i s s u e

Message from the Supreme Knight & Lady • 2008 Award Winners District News • Marriage Matters • Theology 101

Volume 91 • Winter Issue 2008 • www.kofpc.org

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org in

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A Catholic fraternal magazine published by:

The National Council Knights of Peter Claverand

National Court Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary

Approbation

The Most Reverend Alfred C. HughesArchbishop of New Orleans

Gene A. Phillips, Sr., Supreme KnightGeralyn C. Shelvin, Supreme Lady

Paul C. Condoll, Interim AdministratorDebra A. Frazier, Claverite Coordinator

The Knights Of Peter ClaverFounded in Mobile, Ala. in 1909Headquarters in New Orleans, La.

All items intended for publication in The Claverite must be submitted by:April 10 for summer issue

September 10 for winter issue

“TRUST IN GOD” is our Password “ONWARD” is our war cry

ClaveriteThe

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The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org ��

also in this issue

message from the Supreme Knight

12 Spiritual Fitness

14 Theology 101

16 Parenting journey

Conflict resolution

17 Marriage matters

18 District news

31 2008 National Convention Award winners

32 2008 National Convention highlights

34 Board of directors

Claveritetable of co

ntents

See highlights from the 2008 National Convention – pg. 32

5 message from the Supreme Lady8 message

from the Supreme Navigators9 message

from Bishop Perry10

We hope you are enjoying The Claverite magazine’s new look and feel. We are excited about including more news and photos from the courts and councils around the country. Please send your news items to debraf@knightsofpeterclaver.org, and include a photo. When taking photographs for the magazine, please make sure your camera is set on the highest resolution setting possible. Photographs should be 300 dpi or higher at full size for them to print well. Thank you – we look forward to seeing more about what’s going on with the Knights of Peter Claver!

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Knights of Peter ClaverThe Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org

Fraternal Greetings:

t is indeed a pleasure to ad-dress the membership and provide to you an update on the status of our Noble Order.

I would like to express my profound apprecia-tion and heartfelt thanks to the membership for your confidence in re-electing me as your 15th Supreme Knight. Without your support and prayers, none of this would be possible. Thank you for your generous support and unwavering commitment to KPC.

Thanks to the KPC members, KPC sponsors and other attendees at the 93rd Annual National Convention in Jacksonville, Fla. from July 25-31, 2008.The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc., 93rd annual National Convention was a success. It provided an opportunity to renew acquaintances with those whom you may not have seen for more than a year.

I would like to thank the Jacksonville Local Hosting Committee, led by co-chairs Brother Athanase Jones and Lady Mary George, for their outstanding hospitality and commitment to assist the 2008 National Convention. A special thanks to the national office staff for working tireless hours to coordinate the various aspects of the convention. It is greatly appreciated. Also, I would like to thank National Chaplain Bishop Perry and the Liturgical Committee, who pro-vided the membership with inspirational Mass services and adoration time.

With the departure of Bronco Henderson as our executive director, Paul C. Condoll has been serv-ing as our interim administrator. Please give Mr. Condoll your full support in working for the order.

On Nov. 7, 1909, our organization was founded in Mobile, Ala. by four priests of the St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart from Baltimore and three laymen from the Diocese of Mobile. Later, we were incorporated on July 12, 1911. As we approach 100 years of existence, it is only fitting that we take time to reflect on the foresight and determination of these men, who laid the foundation and developed an organization that has lasted for these 100 years. This gratitude goes to our founders, Reverend Conrad F. Rebesher, S.S.J., Reverend John Harry Dorsey, S.S.J., Reverend Samuel J. Kelly, S.S.J., Reverend Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J. Honorable Frank Collins, Honorable Gilbert Faustina and Honorable Frank Trenier

As we embark on the 100th anniversary of our organization, Founders Day (Nov. 7, 2008) is the beginning of the 99th year of our existence. I am asking each local unit to plan a special KPC 100th anniversary event between November 2008 and November 2009 to cel-ebrate our anniversary. Such local events may include, but are not limited to, picnics, Masses, banquets, dances, and community service projects. This way, all members will be able to participate in the historic celebration. Once you have completed your event, please send in a report, pictures, programs, etc. that will be compiled into a commemorative book or CD for distribution.

I also would like to make a special request: If you are in possession of items passed on to you from your predecessors, such as a copy of the original “Shield” or pictures of some of our first Units, etc., Please make copies and forward them to the national office. It would be appreciated.

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As we approach 100 years of ex-istence, it is only fitting that we take time to reflect on the foresight and determination of these men, who laid the foundation and developed an organization that has lasted for these 100 years.

Message from the

Supreme KnightGene A. Phillips, Sr.15th Supreme Knight

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he last several months have been an extremely busy time for the order. I would like to inform you of some of my travels to attend the following events:

Insurance report •• All requirements are being met or addressed regarding the Insurance aspects of the order. We are now working on try-ing to obtain Certificates of Authority from the states where we are not insured. Please keep us in your prayers.

Reports from the

Supreme KnightGene A. Phillips, Sr.15th Supreme Knight

TDATE ACTIVITY PLACE

March 7-9, 2008 Gulf Coast Junior Conference Huntsville, ALMarch 13-16, 2008 Texas State Junior Conference Dallas, TXMarch 28-30, 2008 Central State District Senior Conference Kansas City, MOApril 18-20, 2008 Northern State District Senior Conference Lombard, ILApril 25-27, 2008 Louisiana State Senior Conference Westlake, LAMay 2-4, 2008 Texas State Senior Conference Beaumont, TXJune 8-9, 2008 Alabama Department of Insurance Meeting Montgomery, ALJune 20-22, 2008 Louisiana State Junior Conference Lafayette, LAJune 26-29, 2008 Executive Committee Meeting New Orleans, LAJuly 10-11, 2008 National Office Visit New Orleans, LAJuly 13, 2008 25th Anniversary Mass – Houston, Texas St. Benedict the Abbot Council & Court 248July 25-31, 2008 Senior National Convention Jacksonville, FLAugust 9, 2008 50th Anniversary CN & Ct 138 Houston, TXAugust 13-15, 2008 National Office Visit New Orleans, LAAugust 24, 2008 92nd Anniversary St. Nichols Houston, TXSeptember 6, 2008 10th Anniversary Brown Bag City-wide Celebration Houston, TXSeptember 7, 2008 St. Peter Claver Day Houston, TXNovember 2, 2008 Annual Memorial Day Mass for Houston, TX Deceased Members Council & Court #151

•• We have all seen the impact the market has had on the economy related to investments. KPC, Inc. has felt the im-pact. We are continuing to monitor our portfolio, with the help of our fund managers.

Whitney Trust and wealth management

Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. Asset Allocation Summary from July 2008- Sept. �0, 2008

54% Taxable fixed income ..................................$ 1,560,189.84 28% Cash and equivalents ...................................$ 806,441.15 11% Domestic equities ...........................................$ 325,136.22 7% Preferred stock .................................................. $ 199,677.50 100% Total Assets Value ...............................$ 2,891,444.71

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Membership count (as of September 2008)

•• The KPC Web site has been retooled to provide you with a great wealth of information on our order. Please visit our Web site at www.kofpc.org. I urge the membership to make use of this valuable tool. Many individuals spend a great deal of time to provide this service to our Noble Order. Let’s make use of it.

Yours in Claverism,

Gene A. Phillips, Sr.Supreme Knight

Expansion report

Third Quarter Census Summary 2008

Districts Active Units Inactive Units Knights Ladies Junior Knights Junior DaughtersCentral 69 13 365 628 35 88Gulf Coast 119 17 699 1313 138 230Louisiana 254 28 2153 3260 319 624Northern 219 44 910 2010 138 283Texas 109 13 1017 1767 309 369Western 77 13 375 922 23 109Total 847 128 5519 9900 962 1703Total Membership 18,084 Total Active Units 847 Total Inactive Units 128

•• I urge each member to reach out and invite a new mem-ber to join the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary. Let’s all promote the positive actions our units are involved in. We, as an organization, must continue to grow. Expan-sion continues to be a dominant factor for the future of Our

Noble Order. I, along with the State/District Deputies, can-not stress enough the importance of attracting new mem-bers. The best recruiters are you, the members. Please note the membership count as of September 2008.

Web site

•• 2009 Constitution/By-Laws Revision – Please begin intense study and examination of our existing Constitu-tion/By-Laws and prepare resolutions you wish to submit in 2009.

•• 2009 Junior National Convention will be held at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston. The dates are July 9-12, 2009. The room rates are $129 per night, plus tax. Our Junior Division is the future of our organization. Please support their conven-tion.

•• 2009 Senior National Convention will take place in New Orleans, La., July 31, 2009 – Aug. 6, 2009. All activities will take place in New Orleans.

•• 2009 International Alliance of Catholic Knights – The Knights of Peter Claver is hosting the International Alliance of Catholic Knights Conference, Aug. 1-7, 2009. We are a member of this organization and it is our time to host the meeting.

We should continue to keep in our prayers all those impacted by the recent hurricanes.

Finally, your determination and hard work, with the guidance of St. Peter Claver, our patron saint, will assure that the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. will stay connected and the future of our organization will be secured. Please keep in mind that positive programs and exposure will help market our organization and assist in maintaining strength within the ranks of our member-ship. Together, we must eliminate negative images and incorpo-rate positive images. We must bring respect, pride and Claver tradition back to our Noble Order.

Upcoming events:

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Message from the

Supreme LadyGeralyn C. ShelvinSupreme Lady

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I express my gratitude and thanks to my Claver Sisters for the confidence you demonstrated by re-electing me to the Office of Supreme Lady of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary. It is with our collective continuing prayers, love, efforts and support that we shall continue to experience suc-cess as we provide services to our communities and mankind.Many members of our Claver Family have shared wonder-

ful comments from the 93rd National Convention held this past summer in Jacksonville, Fla. We thank the Planning Committee of Zone V and the entire membership of the Gulf Coast District for their hospitality and a truly memorable 2008 National Convention. Sugges-tions for improvements or changes will be given consideration in planning the 2009 National Convention and all future conventions. We must also commend the members of the national office staff for their completion of the many tasks and demands involved in convening a national convention.On Nov. 04, 2008, history was made

in these United States of America by the election of the first African-American president. We, as Clavers, are on the verge of a history-making event with 2009 being the Centennial Anniversary of the Knights Division. The flagship of the Centennial Celebration will be the Centennial Pilgrimage to Cartagena, Feb. 17-22, 2009, led by our National Chaplain, the Most Reverend

Joseph N. Perry. We encourage the District/State Conference Presidents to incorporate the 100th anniversary during the 2009 Conference Cycle. It is our hope to see a large delega-tion of members at the 94th National Convention to be held July 31-Aug. 5, 2009 in New Orleans, La. Information regarding the 2009 National Convention is being compiled and will be distributed, with a target date of January 2009. Due to the extensive planning and preparations involved in a Centennial Celebration, in addition to a national conven-

tion, we ask that you please adhere to all deadlines indicated in the information you receive.The Ladies and Junior Daughter Divi-

sions will be focusing in 2009 to retain and reclaim current and past members and recruit new members. I have asked the District/State Deputies to adopt the following slogans as our membership goals for the coming year: “Each One Reach One” and “Nine in 2009.”During the last year, in an effort to recruit

new members and publicize the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc., the Ladies Division has focused on becoming more visible and involved with our affiliate organiza-tions, which include, but are not limited to, the National Black Catholic Congress,

the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, the National Council of Catholic Women and the National Council of Negro Women.

Warm Greetings to the Claver Family:

s we move past our celebration of Christmas and begin a New Year, it is my prayer that each of us prepare our hearts to continue to receive the gift of love for Jesus Christ. With his love in our hearts, we will affirm, respect, forgive, encourage and chal-lenge each other as we, in unison, serve him always by serving those most in need.A

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Each member of the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. should strive to be a glowing example of Christ here on earth. Each should exemplify the values and life of our patron – St. Pe-ter Claver – for the ability and privilege to continue to exist and be of service for another 100 years.

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org �

Greetings,

I would like to thank all of the Assemblies from around the country that elected me as your 14th Supreme Navigator of the Meritorious Fourth Degree of the Knights of Peter Claver.

Navigating the Fourth Degree for these past few months has been quite a learning experience for Me and my Supreme Board. I have been working closely with the Most Worthy Su-preme Knight, Gene A. Phillips, Sr., as well as the members of the national office.

The challenge of 2009 is to bring the Fourth Degree back to being “The Cream of the Crop.” With the help of the Supreme Board, we are on track to do just that. Best wishes to all of the Knights of Peter Claver! Fraternally Yours,

Sir Knight James A. NealSupreme Navigator, R.U.D.

message from

the supreme navigators

Message from the Supreme Navigators

James A. NealSupreme Navigator, R.U.D.

Greetings to the Ladies of Grace:

My heart is full of joy and humility as I greet you for the first time as your Most Faithful Navigator. Since the convention, I have been on a natural high. However, the honeymoon stage has come to an end. I have settled in and have begun to take care of Ladies of Grace business.

January is a unique month. It is an excellent month to reflect on everything that happened to you last year and to look ahead to the coming year. Give thanks to God for your accomplishments. Making plans to find solutions to mistakes you may have made. Mend fences you may have damaged. To me, looking forward is even more important. So let’s not dwell on what was or what could have been. Let’s move forward to a new beginning with the Lord. I am certainly looking forward to doing all I can to make our Division more meaningful to each of you. With your prayers, cooperation and dediction it will happen.

From my family to your family, I wish you a new year filled with good health, love and happiness. May we all be kept under God’s banner. God is good all the time. Amen,

Audrey B. Woods

Audrey B. WoodsSupreme Navigator

We are pleased to have been asked by the Most Reverend Martin D. Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, to serve as a consultant to the Subcommittee on African American Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church. On Dec. 5-7, 2008, I will be in Washington, D.C., for the Affiliates Assembly of the National Council of Negro Women, where I have been asked as Supreme Lady to do a presentation about our Noble Order by Dr. Dorothy I. Height, President Emeritus of the NCNW, along with other leaders of national women’s organizations. It will be an honor to be in attendance and fellowship with Bishop Mildred B. Hines, AME Zion Church, Marian Wright Edelman, President of

the Children’s Defense Fund, Donna Brazile of the Obama administration, and other notable African-American women.Each member of the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. should

strive to be a glowing example of Christ here on earth. Each should exemplify the values and life of our patron – St. Peter Claver – for the ability and privilege to continue to exist and be of service for another 100 years.May your new year be filled with lasting peace in his love.

Geralyn C. ShelvinSupreme Lady

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Counsel for

difficult timesMost Reverend Joseph N. PerryNational Chaplain, Knights of Peter Claver

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O ur world today has great need of living sermons – who are Christians living with fidelity, love, sacrifice and perseverance show forth. Life is fraught with problems, crises

and tragedies. Who could have imagined the tragic events of 9/11 or of Hurricane Katrina and their ramifications: loss of life, ruined fami-lies and displaced persons?

We spend our lives growing in understanding and faith. As Catholic Christians, we know that all things are blessed when wrapped in the warmth and wonder of faith and sealed in our discipleship with Jesus Christ. Yet we are not naïve regarding the condition of the world, the questions about life and the moral direction we desire for our children and ourselves. While “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” we were raised thinking, similarly, that our lives are supposed to flow smoothly with the application of hard work. And in this day and age, some education, added to hard work, makes life round off pretty well. When the inevitable struggles and mishaps come, we think there’s something wrong with us. Patterning our lives on the advice of hard-working ances-tors and forebears, who had little but dreamed great dreams for their children and grandchildren, we believed, naturally, nothing much would or could go wrong. Again, notwith-standing the bias and discrimination found in the strands of life, hard work prevented that type of suffering deemed the lot of the poor and unresourceful. It is difficult for us to accept the sober news that life is messy for almost all of us. We are formed by the images of our culture and the lure of the good life, such that messi-

ness is not supposed to be there. And, sometimes, we keep that illusion going for quite a while. Other societies live constantly with the threats of poverty, war, dictatorship, disease and famine. We believe American society is insured in degrees from all these. Recent events of a savage attack on this nation’s pride and resources have served to remind us that we are not quite immune from life’s bad turns. Sooner or later, the messes happen. When something goes wrong and mess knocks on your door, you want it to go away. It seems unreal. We are tempted to think God has abandoned us. A Catholic writer, Patricia Livingstone, authored, This Blessed Mess-Finding Hope Amidst Life’s Chaos, (Ave Ma-ria Press.) She provides a sober, yet hopeful, message for conscientious Christians trying to lead lives of faith and promise in a world where little is stable and secure. We Christians have the powerful image-lesson of Good Friday merging into Easter. When we examine our lives more closely, we see that very often new life comes out of the broken places and that the chaos was the raw material for this new life. Sunlight often follows the storm. Spring follows winter. This dynamic is all through Scripture and it’s all through life itself. Jesus promises each of us that he will meet us on the other side at Easter after our Good Fridays. For this reason, the cross looms large in our sanctuaries. The cross poses an enigmatic reminder of life’s pattern and life’s supreme example of a devoted life lived and sacrificed for others. Yet, it is a difficult image to gaze upon. Most times, we can glance at it for just a couple seconds and then deflect to something else. It is such a painful image, yet a sign of each

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and every life. Writing our own scripts, we would never have chosen much of what we have seen and experienced ourselves, and what our relatives and friends go through. Believers that we are, we know every day is a gift to us. Even this beloved son we embrace at Mass was asked to suffer and die for a great cause – the cause of new life only God can spell. So, no matter what is going on in our lives, we think of the victory that every single day is for us. There is great dignity and blessing in the struggles some of us have had to endure over time. Ultimately, God will reveal the meaning behind the upsetting events of our lives.

There’s a whole science of chaos theory that spells out how all this works. It is a drama found in nature. Nature loves order, but nature gets there though messes, miscar-riages, great emergencies and catastrophes. Chaos mixes everything up. There are countless books out now about chaos in orga-nizations, businesses, corpora-tions and the institutions that govern our lives. You just can’t read about this or watch talk shows on TV on the subject. You have to experience it. You have to experience the storms on the darkened lake and see Jesus walking toward you on the tumultuous waters (Matthew

14, 22-33). You have to find the pearl of great price on your own, (Matthew 13, 44-46) to use Je-sus’ words. This stuff does not just happen in nature; it is also true in life. Most of us can say we savor our joys much better now than before because we had that long season of trouble. We need a faith for troubled times and a hope that firms up endurance for life’s sudden turns. We need to hold on to Christ and each other as we walk through the chaos of life. I believe this to be wise, for we Christians find mean-ing in times of stability or instability in our God, who saves and who has mercifully secured our redemption. This is precisely the message of Christian faith and the counsel of the Pauline letters to the fledgling New Testament churches that were born in the midst of chaos and martyrdom. The Beatitudes Jesus taught carry secrets to finding the kingdom despite the mess of life. What is so good about being poor? Nothing. But when we are poor (Luke 6,20ff), or hungry, kindness means much to us. When we need food, then a piece of bread tastes wonderful. As our mothers used to say, “Hunger is the best sauce.” When illness just won’t go away, we become suddenly aware of God’s definite pull on us. It is time to pray. Simply put, if our religion is the organizing force of our

lives, we need a spiritual lens for the tasks of survival. We have been scripting our own journeys, right along, through our everyday choices. With bills to pay, emergencies to cope with and turns with our health, we can lose sight of God as our origin and end. Again, the culture preaches a different sermon. Our value has been constantly judged according to the measur-ing stick of the good life. Hard work and securing some of the material signs of success have been themes we set out with from the start. We ask for our daily bread and see that almost exclusively in monetary terms. Such an economic way of defining ourselves easily spills into our relationship with God when we project onto God the human standard of the great financier of the good life or

perceive the only blessings of God worth receiving are economic ones. We think since God is divine, he also must be the supreme physi-cian and, therefore, nothing but perfect health is accept-able. Here comes Jesus, owning nothing, wanting nothing, leaving nothing behind and, to our shock, he blesses our poverty and our want and our tears as maps along the way for finding the riches of the kingdom of heaven. We cannot afford to relate to God solely in terms of economics or, more broadly,

the good life. The life Jesus lived here was not comfy or secure. He constantly looked toward the kingdom with his Father and so wanted his disciples to be joined with him and the Father. “Let me tell you about my Father!” must have been a frequent saying of his when he wanted to teach something to his disciples. Successful Christians are praying Christians. And there has been a lot of public and private prayer these days. We were taught that prayer is raising our minds and hearts to God. I have learned that it is not all up to me, that God stuns me with generosity and creativity and sometimes glimpses of his cross. We have moments in the presence of God, which I think are mostly mediated by the love of other people. The times we feel closest are the times when we go through some kind of struggle together, for life is filled with struggle and struggle is filled with love. Struggle together tells us, finally, whether we really love a spouse or child or vocation or cause we are devoted to. The way we handle our struggles are telltale signs of whether we understand the life and person of Jesus Christ.

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There is great dignity and blessing in the struggles some of us have had to endure over time. Ultimately, God will reveal the meaning behind the upsetting events of our lives.

hen I was a little girl of 6, I began 10 years of public school education. (No Catho-lic school was available until I was 16.) Each morning, one of us would read from the Bible, then we would pray the Lord’s

Prayer, sing a hymn and, finally, we would salute the flag and sing the national anthem. So began each school day in the 1940s and ’50s. If we were Catholic, we were instructed to bring in a “Catholic Bible,” if Protestant, the version used by the church that student attended. If we were Jewish, we were instructed to read from one of the first five books of the Bible – that is the Torah. We were free to choose whatever reading we wanted. As a child, I was introduced to the word of God without really understanding or even appreciating the nourish-ment I was receiving at that time.

• This month, ask God daily to give you an increase of faith and hope.

• Get out your favorite Bible. (I will be using the RSV translation.)

• Look at your daily schedule and ask yourself where you could carve out 15 minutes a day to read his word, beginning now.

• Read these passages from Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Isaiah 66:1-2, Is. 55:10-11, Matthew 4:4, Colossians 3:1-4.

• Finally, over the next month, take time to ponder what our Holy Father said to us in October 2008 at the Synod in Rome on God’s Word:

Spiritual Exercise

Today, many years later, I can trace the beginnings of my love for God’s word to those years. Seeds were planted in my heart of love for God and his ways that I wasn’t even neces-sarily conscious of. But they grew, wa-tered by Mass and the sacraments until one day, as a 17-year-old “dropping into the Catholic school chapel for a quick ‘visit,’” I encountered the Lord himself, inviting me to give my whole life to him for the sake of his people. Yes, many factors through the years played a role in my vocation, but the more I reflect on it, the more I see the significant part that a daily feeding on God’s word had to nourish and ready my soul to say yes. What part does the word of God play in your daily life? What do you read most frequently? The word of God is not like any other book we pick up. In choos-ing a secular book to read, we choose what we like because of the author or the topic, and then we proceed to agree and disagree with the thoughts expressed. Magazines may entertain or inform, but rarely does a magazine offer real substance for serious reflec-tion. (A few do.) Newspapers should help us to understand the issues and needs of the world but, today, with good journalism rare, they are mostly a quick read for a few “facts” and then consigned to the recycling bin.

Sister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love

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15 minutes a day How do I make Scripture partof my everyday life?

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The world around us seems to be going at a faster and faster pace, so we can do more. More of what? We are becoming more frantic and frenzied, stressed and sometimes even burned out. How many of us ask the ques-tions: “Dear God: what is my life really about? Why am I here? What is your purpose for me? God, will you help me?” How many expect an answer? Part of God’s answer, and a big part, is contained in the decision to read his word – a word designed by God himself to teach, to challenge, to comfort, to strengthen and direct. How desperately our frenzied world needs nourishment: the wisdom and courage, the hope and understanding of our circumstances and God’s plan. The psalmist knew where to find help:

Oh, how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.Thy commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation.I understand more than the aged for I keep thy precepts.I hold back my feet from every evil way in order to keep thy word.I do not turn aside from thy ordinances for thou hast taught me.How sweet are thy words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:97-105

Most Catholics would have a hard time assenting to the truth contained in these words of the psalmist. They don’t reflect the daily experience of most of us. But they could! In all – and I do mean all – your circumstances, God’s word can give you a foundation of truth and wis-dom, of hope and courage, of ways to deepen faith and love. I don’t think anyone would deny that we need more of all those things. How do we learn? I hope, in the coming year, through this column – to illustrate how to read and understand the word of God in light of your daily circumstances. The word of God literally has power to change your life because it is Jesus Christ. His word, as it comes to you through the printed page, is “living, active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” (cf Hebrews 4:12) The grace (a share in the very life of God) streams through his word to your heart and mind and spirit. This is the mercy of God at work. He never abandons his children. He longs to help you in the difficulties and trials, the joys and blessings of daily life on this earth.

What is the word of God?

The Word of God is the foundation of everything, it is the true reality. And to be realistic, we must rely upon this reality. We must change our notion that matter – solid things we can touch – is the most solid, the most certain reality. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord speaks to us about the two possible foundations for building the house of one’s life: sand and rock. He who builds on sand only builds on vis-ible and tangible things, on success, on career, on money. Apparently these are the true realities. But all this one day will vanish. We can see this now with the fall of two large banks: this money disappears, it is nothing. And thus all things, which seem to be the true realities we can count on, are only realities of a secondary order. Who builds his life on these realities, on matter, on success, on appearances, builds upon

sand. Only the Word of God is the founda-tion of all reality, it is as stable as the heavens and more than the heavens, it is reality. Therefore, we must change our concept of realism. The realist is he who recognizes the Word

of God, in this apparently weak reality, as the foundation of all things. Realist is he who builds his life on this foundation, which is permanent. Thus the first verses of the Psalm 18 (19) invite us to discover what reality is and how to find the foundation of our life, how to build life.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Synod on the Word of God,

Oct. 5, 2008.

To die for Christ is to live – Saint Arcadius of Mauretania Feast Day: January 12Meaning of name: Arcadia is a region in Greece, derived from the Greek work “arktos,” meaning bear.

Claim to fame: At the begin-ning of the 4th century, Christian persecution prevailed in the Roman Empire.Citizens were required to sacrifice to pagan gods to prove devotion to the state. Arcadius re-fused and was put to trial. He said, “Jesus Christ is my life, and death is my gain. Invent what torments you please; but know that nothing shall make me a traitor to my God.” The governor, in a rage, vowed he would make Arcadius beg for death. “Take him, and let him see and desire death, without being able to obtain it.” Instead of beheading – the pun-ishment typical for Christians during this period – the judge punished Arcadius’ faithfulness to God with dismemberment.

Why he is a saint: Under-standing the severity of torture for crimes of Christianity, Arcadius re-fused to sacrifice his faith to uphold the state religion.

What did he say? As Arcadius felt each of his limbs severed from his body, he responded continu-ally, “Lord, teach me your wisdom.” Arcadius’ torturers had forgotten to remove his tongue.

How he died: Beginning with his fingers, the Roman soldiers slowly dismembered him. They cut Arcadius into bits until only his head and torso remained intact.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses the altar at the Synod in Rome

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Why do people need the Catholic Church?

When we ask the question, “Why do people need the Catholic Church?”, the question behind that is an even

more important: “Why do people need Jesus Christ?” The reason we need

the church is that we need Jesus Christ, who is the son of God who came into the world to reveal God’s love. And in coming into the world, he has created, established and founded this church through the Apostle Peter. So, the need for the Catholic Church is connected with God’s intention, with the work of Christ in establishing his church on Peter. Jesus says in the Gospel, “He who hears you, hears me” when he is speaking to the apostles, who represent him. So, the mission of the church is to continue the mission of Christ and our conviction is this profound conviction that Jesus established the church on Peter and that it has been going faithfully forward for 2,000 years as Jesus established it, notwithstanding the frailty of the Apostles and of all the human beings who make up the church. So, we need the church because this is Christ’s idea and this is how he leads us to the Father.

•• The power and vitality of the Christian faith here long inspired tremendous works of art on the part of believers. One has only to consider the beauty of many of our principal churches to realize the transcendent beauty of our faith. For example, consider:

•• Church of the Holy Sepulchre – Also called the Church of the Resurrection.

The ground on which the church stands is venerated by most Christians as Golgotha, the Hill of Calvary, where

Jesus was crucified. It is also said to contain the place where Jesus was buried (the sepulchre). The church has been an important pilgrimage destination since the 4th century. The primary custodians are the Eastern Orthodox, Ar-menian Apostolic and Roman Cathoic Churches, with the Greek Orthodox Church having the lion’s share (today it serves as the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem). In the 19th century, the Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox acquired lesser responsibilities. Times and places of worship for each com-munity are strictly regulated in common areas.

Origin:

Eusebius claims in his “Life of Constantine” that the site of the Holy Sepulchre, originally a site of veneration for the Christian community in Jerusalem, had been cov-ered with earth, upon which a temple of Venus had been

Main entrance Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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Cardinal Justin Rigali is the archbishop of Philadelphia. He serves on many committees at the Vatican, and attended the Second Vatican Council. FAITH is honored to ask this eminent Catholic church-man and scholar some questions about the Catholic Church in the new millennium.

Why do we need the

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This is how his work continues in time and space. Through the church, the work that Jesus personally did when he lived among us in Palestine continues.

How do you see tech-nology changing the church?

Technology is a wonderful thing. All the technology is a blessing – a help in or-der to evangelize. As so many people

have said, if St. Paul were to be alive to-day, he would use every means at his dis-

posal in order to proclaim the word of God. St. Paul had a great fervor for proclaiming God’s word; in his second letter to the Thessalonians (Thess. 3:1), he prays that the word of God may speed on and increase and be glorified. And so, the church finds an obligation, an incentive and an encouragement in all these wonderful means of communication that are sometimes not used for the glory of God. Sometimes they are used for other purposes, but they are available to the church and that means to everybody in the church. It means all people and families can have access to all kinds of wonderful tapes and DVDs that can bring them the

Words of wisdom – can you complete the proverb?

The Sacred Scriptures teach us “to get wisdom, to get under-standing!” (Proverbs 4:5) Now it is time to put yourself to the test to see how far along you are in this quest by completing this proverb. Remember, no peeking into your Bible!

The _____________ is the beginning of knowledge.

a. taking of the law to heartb. fear of the Lordc. submission to instruction

(Answer: b – Prov 1:7)

•• A theology professor once remarked that there were no new heresies, just old ones repack-aged. To test the truth of this state-ment, consider this recent real-life scenario and see if you can name the error involved:

Would it matter if Jesus got married?

A cradle Catholic reading the DaVinci Code remarks in conver-sation that it would not affect his faith in the least if Jesus had really married Mary Magdalene. In fact, it would just make Jesus more human and more related to the everyday person.

What is at stake? The divinity of Jesus

Error: This person is correct when he says that a more than platonic relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene would make Jesus more related to the everyday person. Instead of Jesus being like us in every way except sin, Jesus would have been like us in every way including sin. The relationship outside of marriage described above would have been an act of fornication, a sin. The existence of a sinful Jesus would effectively deny the divinity of Jesus – much like the two heresies of Deism and Adoptionism – since God does not and cannot sin (literally to miss the mark).

erected, probably as part of Hadrian’s reconstruction of Jerusalem in 135. Around 325-326, Constantine I ordered the site to be uncovered and instructed the bishop of Jerusalem to build a church. Some emphasize the role of Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, in the construction of the church, as she had been directed by him to build churches upon sites that commemorated the life of Christ.

Notable Features:

• The Stone of Anointing – be-lieved to be the spot where Jesus’ body was pre-pared for burial

by Joseph of Arimathea. • The Edicule – this con-

sists of two rooms. One holds the Angel’s Stone, a fragment of the stone believed to have sealed the tomb after Jesus’ burial. The second one is the tomb itself.

• The Stairway to Gol-gotha – believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion.

• The Rock of Calvary – this rock can be seen under glass on both sides of the main altar, beneath which there is a hole said to be the place where the cross was raised.

teachings of Christ and his church. So, yes, technology is a gift of God and, incidentally, the Second Vatican Council acknowledged this in its documents.

Are you a heretic?

The Stone of Anointing

The Stairway to Golgotha

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1� The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org

n the 1930s, teens would turn the radio dial to NBC and make up steps when Let’s Dance aired. They thronged to the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles to hear Benny Goodman. In

1938, the “King of Swing” played Carnegie Hall! But these dancers weren’t carefree, and life wasn’t as prosperous as their parents had envisioned it would be when their children were born.

Parenting: Always a journey into the unknown•• When the Great War ended, parents didn’t know it would eventually be called World War I. They envisioned a long period of peace. As families were blessed with children in the 1920s, few anticipated that each year crept closer toward the Wall Street crash. Yet World War II and the Depression shaped the lives their children would lead. The economic disaster built a generation’s sense of identity; children

learned the value of a dollar and strong intergenerational bonds were forged. Parents longed to provide more, and youth were determined to help out. Adolescents listened as Martha Tilton’s voice soared next to Goodman’s clarinet, “We kiss, and the angels sing and leave their music ringing in my heart.” They were poised for the future: Finding love and wondering if dreams for work and school could be fulfilled. To their parents, the future looked grim. Having been through the “war to end all wars,” they

too. They

can learn from the past. En-

courage them to ask older family members to pull out old photos and to share stories of the Depression and the war. There are so many stories that haven’t been heard that will make history and faith come alive for later generations. Visits with older relatives can be fascinating when the family comes eager to listen to a storyteller. Write down the stories and make family collections. As more members of the “Greatest Generation” reach the end of their lives, a song from their youth resonates the joy of the life of the kingdom of God: “We meet, and the angels sing, the angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard …”

My dry cleaner ruined one of my suits. I really think they should replace it, but they refuse. How do I ask for what I want in a way that is charitable, but

doesn’t make me a doormat?

sought comfort in prayer: “Do not be afraid, little flock.” (Luke 12:32) Parents couldn’t guarantee children rosy futures. Instead, they helped children grow in relationship with God, who would always be there for them.

‘He will call upon me, and I will answer him’ (Psalm 91:15)

•• Young adults of the World War II era answered the call of their nation. Many looked beyond themselves for the strength to endure. The depth of their faith was evident then and can still be seen among today’s elderly. To deal with uncertainty and fear, they called upon the Lord and listened for God’s answers. Today’s youth are making plans for their futures in the shadow of global unrest,

How do I ask for

what I want?

You paid for a service that the dry cleaner committed to performing – and then they didn’t. You have the right to receive restitution for damages.

The usual rules of communication are important: Listen to what the dry

cleaner is saying – “The suit came to us ru-ined.” “It’s an old suit.” Make sure he is lis-tening to what you are saying, “You didn’t note any flaws on the intake receipt.” If things get heated, it’s better to stop

and resume at a later date. You already have one refusal from them; you don’t want to slam the door on future negotiations. Plan to

come back in the next day or two with your thoughts clarified and your expectations outlined. Remember

to smile and don’t be either offensive or defen-sive. You really can get more flies with honey

than vinegar! If none of this works, you may have to consider alternatives like small-claims court – but that should be a last resort.

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Preserve your family history While your family is still around

By Dr. Cathleen McGreal

By Dr. Gelasia Marquez

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Oh yes – this brings back

memories; some good, some not so good! We have yet to meet any parent who has not expe-rienced this situation at least once. There isn’t just one issue here; there are multiple manifes-tations of the challenge faced by couples with the arrival of children into the family unit. Jo Anne says, “A new precious baby, a true gift of love from God, how could Joe be so selfish!” Tom says, “Wait a moment – there is another person in this new family other than Cathy and baby Kevin! All three have needs, wants and desires that must be met.” Even though baby Kevin

may require the bulk of energy expended by Joe and Cathy, baby Kevin should not be the foundation or center of the fam-ily unit. It is Joe and Cathy as a married couple who form the basic structure and core of the family unit. Yes, we both agree that for a new mother and father the responsibility of baby Kevin is enormous! Along that, Cathy has gone through physical, emotional and mental changes – then add the “less sleep” factor

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He said | She said what do they do?

He’s acting like a baby himself

oe and Cathy have been married for several years and just had their first baby. But now Joe is feeling as if he’s left out of the family.

We had a baby, and I lost my wife!

By Tom and JoAnne Fogle

Cathy says: I cannot believe how selfish Joe is being. I thought we both wanted children, and understood what that meant. If I learned anything from my parents, it’s that you put your kids first! My primary responsibility right now is taking care of our beautiful baby – he needs his mother more than Joe needs time to chat. After all, Kevin is only 6 months old and Joe is supposed to be an adult.

Joe says: When Cathy found out she was pregnant, I was pretty excited. I was looking forward to having a couple of kids, espe-cially a son I could spend some time teaching how to throw a football around. But I never thought having a baby would mean I would lose my wife! Ever since Kevin was born, Cathy spends every moment with him – and when he’s asleep, she’s too tired to have a conversation, much less any romance. If this is parenthood, count me out.

(of course this part goes for Joe also) – and it all adds up to quite a change for both of them. If there is ever a time for Cathy and Joe to be intentional about their relationship – this is the time. This is a time for extra tenderness and communication between Joe and Cathy. God has loaned them this child and the gratitude they show each

other in thanks-

giving is their gift back to God. By

making quality time for each other they are not only nurtur-ing their relationship but they are nurturing baby Kevin in a big way. To make any child (or children) the central focus of the parent’s relationship will tend to destroy the family and will most likely lead to a breakdown in the family unit.

We would suggest Joe and Cathy recapture the special-ness of each other. Six-month-old baby Kevin most likely is content for a few minutes or more in the crib or playpen. So we would suggest that Joe and Cathy have some couple-time, sharing the highlights of their day or some romance. It is im-portant that they “intentionally” keep each other special in their day. Plan for time together and do something special each day for each other no matter how small; i.e. a note in the lunch box, a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store or cook a spe-cial dinner and eat it in candle light. Joe and Cathy would do well to remember that the love that brought them together and produced baby Kevin is a di-mension of God’s unending love for the two of them. God will help them keep their coupleness at the center of their family unit if they ask him.

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Caregivers Prayer Service

What would you do if you were suddenly faced with the responsibility of caring for a loved one? When this situation occurs, it is often unexpected. Most often, we don’t know what to do or where to begin. There are no train-ing classes to prepare you in advance. Those needing the care may be elderly parents or rel-atives, grandchildren, the physically or mentally impaired or the dying who need comfort. Even though we may be willing to accept the chal-lenge, we may not know what questions to ask, who to ask, or where to go for answers.

In response to this need, on Sept. 6, 2008, the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary of Council and Court #383, Wilmington, Del., sponsored a symposium to provide information and resources. This event included an Interde-nominational Prayer Service and Caregivers Seminar. Our goal was to honor, support and encourage caregivers who give so much of themselves on a daily basis and often go unrecognized for their service. Prayers and hymns were offered for hope, perseverance, patience and continued blessings, with support from religious leaders from different denominations. Nothing is more powerful than community prayer. We wanted to lift the spirits of those who find themselves in the challenging role of

Knights of Peter Claver and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies AuxiliaryBishop Joseph Francis Council #383

St. Josephine Bakhita Court #383St. Joseph Church, Wilmington, Del.

care-giving. Music was provided by the Wilmington Diocese Gospel Choir.

There is a multitude of services available to help primary caregivers. Following the prayer service, representatives from several Delaware agencies described their services and an-swered questions and distributed information to the attendees. Some of the topics covered included medical transportation, respite care, money management and financial assistance, fam-ily counseling, adult day care and assisted living. A free lunch was served to all attendees.

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St. Paul of the Cross Council and Court #301celebrate 20th anniversary

•• On the weekend of June 28, 2008, St. Paul of the Cross Council and Court 301 celebrated their 20th anniversary. Ap-proximately 50 Knights and Ladies celebrated with a delicious Italian dinner at a local restaurant. Chartered Knight Deacon Hilliard Lee, Jr., led the prayer. Father Edward Branch, a Knight and director of the Lyke House Catholic Center at Atlanta University gave us an inspiring message, charging us to continue the service work of our patron saint, St. Peter Claver. Attendees celebrated by dressing in full regalia at Mass the next morning. Father Branch was the celebrant and gave an outstanding homily relating the virtues of St. Peter Claver to the Knights and fellow parishioners. Additionally, he encouraged the Knights and the Ladies to reactivate their programs for the youth of the Church so they could have a stronger connection with the Church and

Father Branch speaks to the Knights and Ladies at Dinner.

Community serviceSt. Martin de Porres, Court #304 – Milwaukee, Wisc.

• Milwaukee courts and councils hosted a 2008 Mardi Gras Fundraiser in February 2008 to award scholarships to stu-dents, elementary through college, for the 2008-09 school year.

• Court #304 held, and continues to hold, several fundraisers to help support our court, as well as our parish. Our Ladies volunteer for the Share program and St. Vincent de Paul program, as well as several other ministries.

• All senior courts in Milwaukee came together on Sept. 6, 2008, and had an initiation and workshop following the initiation.

• The 2008-09 scholarships were awarded to several recipients on Claver Day.

• Knights of Peter Claver Junior Daughters, Court #304, do volunteer service visiting nursing homes every third Sunday, after Mass. For the Fourth of July, they donated 25 Fourth of July bags to the Ronald McDonald House. Court #304 Junior Daughters also help serve the needy at St. Ben’s meal program.

– Lillie Holloman, Grand Lady, Court #304

News from Council and Court #381Chicago, Ill.: •• We have been members since 2005. On Sept. 7, 2008, we hosted the 99th annual St. Peter Claver Day Mass and Banquet at the second-oldest Catholic Church in Chicago. Holy Family Church is located at 1080 W. Roosevelt Road in Chicago. Our Mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Perry. The banquet was held at St. Ignatius High School dining hall, which is adjacent to the church. We had more than 400 at-tendees. It was a blessed event. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today, we begin in earnest the work of making sure the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.

– Deputy Grand Knight Odell Gordon, Council #381Holy Family, Court and Council #381

district newsprovide service to the community. Further, he challenged the youth to join these organizations. His appeal was so strong and well received that the Ladies have re-activated the Jr. Daughters and initiated 18 girls on Sept. 14, 2008. The Knights will be activating the Jr. Knights soon. Rather than presenting each Knight and Lady a 20th an-niversary souvenir, we decided to give a monetary donation to Father Branch for the Lyke House. Coordinators of this celebration were Deputy Grand Knight Joseph Goolsby, a deacon at St. Paul of the Cross, Grand Knight Jim Howard and Grand Lady Jacquelyn Daniel.

Knights of Peter Claver and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies AuxiliaryBishop Joseph Francis Council #383

St. Josephine Bakhita Court #383St. Joseph Church, Wilmington, Del.

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Charles Bright Council and Court #261Cure D’ Ars Catholic ChurchDenver, Colo. •• Deacon Charles Bright Council and Court #261 served hundreds of delicious Catfish dinners during the 2008 Lenten season to the Archdiocese of Denver, friends and parishioners of the Cure D’Ars Catholic Com-munity and St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church.

This annual event, together with the annual Mardi Gras (traditionally celebrated the Saturday before Ash Wednesday) raised thousands of dollars to fund many of the Council and Court’s programs and corporal works of mercy. A portion of the funds raised were allocated to: Easter Baskets for the needy; an Easter Egg Hunt; Sickle Cell; and the Court #261 Julia Greeley Scholarship Fund supported by Council #261.

Pictured from left to right: Sir Knights Lee Cady, Joseph Thomas (Founding Charter Member Deacon Charles Bright Council #261), and Austin Smith (Chairman) as they wind down the final 08’ Lenten Fish Fry,

which raised thousands for KPC/KPCLA #261.

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Junior Division of Charles Bright Council and Court #261, Denver, Colo.

New Junior Officers are:Presidents: .....................................Roman Mitchell, Nashville, TN, and Rosalyn Whitaker, Memphis, TNSecretaries:.....................................Matthew Robinson, Nashville, TN, and Ariel Oliver, Memphis, TN Treasurers: .....................................Emmanuel Woodruff, Nashville, TN, and Rosemarie Brooks, Kansas City, KSSergeant/ Mistress-at-Arms: ..........Kirby Sanders, Nashville, TN, and Elizabeth Mtshali, Nashville, TN

Central States District 2008 Jr. Conference held in Denver June 5-8.

St. Columbia, Court #127

racious Lady Evelyn Bernard celebrated her 100th birthday on May 19, 2008. For the occasion, family and friends gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn in Emeryville, Calif. Lady Bernard is a 50-year member of St. Columbia, Court #127.

Meet a loving Claver family – Cathedral Council #136, San Francisco, Calif.

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G•• Pictured left: Clifton, Joseph and James Ned. They have a combined 135 years as mem-bers – 35 years each – from July 1963 and photographed her in July 2008.•• Pictured right: The Clifton’s baby sister, Lady Wallina Jean Bush, who has been a charter member for 25 years (since 1983) of Court #248.

•• Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley celebrated the closing Mass at Cure d’Ars Church in Denver for the Central States 2008 Junior Conference.

Junior Division of Charles Bright Council and Court #261 (cont.)

Pictured: l-r: Knights Jerry Mann, Eric Taylor, Eugene Jackson, Austin Smith, Father Simon Kalonga, Chaplain, Deacon Clarence McDavid, and Knights Roger Owens and Lee Cady.

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KPC Unit #151 wins big at the 2008 National Convention

Hosea Harris, Jr. - Grand Knight, Council #151 won the Gold Medal of Merit Award at the

2008 National Convention in Florida.

Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary Court #151 Celebrate Mother’s Day and Pentecost on May 11, 2008.

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New KPC Building for local Council and Court #151

Bishop Rizzotto assisted the local Council and Court #151 as they dedicated their new KPC Building.

nit #151 garnered the following Na-tional Awards: National Family of the Year (second year in a row); Gold Medal of Merit - Grand Knight Hosea Harris, Jr.; and

National Financial Secretary of the Year - Lady Re-nee Fleming. This KPC family includes Jr. Supreme Knight E. Desmond Taylor, Jr., Vice Supreme Lady Brianna Batiste, Supreme Navigator Fourth Degree James Neal, Texas State Deputy Nan Arceneaux, Texas State President Adrian Adams, Texas State Vice President Judy Edwards, and Grand Knight and Grand Lady Hosea Harris, Jr. and Norma Woodson.

The Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary, Court and Jr. Court #151 celebrated Pentecost Sunday and Mother’s Day on May 11, 2008, in grand style when they attended Mass as a group. The senior ladies showcased red hats and, through a fundraiser, wore corsages – red for liv-ing mothers and white for deceased mothers. This was truly a grand day for the Unit #151 Ladies.

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Congratulations from Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court #182, Port Arthur, Texas

•• On behalf of Court #182, Grand Lady Tema Lewis extends sincere congratulations to mem-ber for all of their achievements. It is with great pride and pleasure to recognize 12 members of Court #182 who are the recipients of the Silver Certificate and 25-year pin. These members have 25 years or more of meritorious service in the Knights of Peter Claver. They are: Lady Rosella Thomas, Lady Barbara Barabin, Lady Annie Kennerson, Lady Marguerite Sinegar, Lady Virginia Chavis, Lady Lava J. Oliver, Lady Gladie Stelly, Lady Ethel Guilbeaux, Lady Joyce Zeno, Lady Enola Brooks, Lady Lena Shedrick and Lady Mary L. Nurse (Ct. #32).

Outstanding Lady and Knight were: Lady Mary E. Smith and Knight Arthur R. Pilette. They both exemplify the true meaning of Claverism

After their 2008 installation of officers they held their 22nd annual Mardi Gras Coronation and Zydeco Dance. During the year they had several fundraisers, including: the Knights and La-dies Fish Fry Lent Fundraiser, which benefits the maintenance of their KPC Hall and financial help to the church; 2nd annual Salad Parade for the Junior Daughters; and the second annual School Supplies Drive.

Court #182 is so enthused and glad to be of service to their Noble Order, to the Church and to their community.

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25th anniversary of St. Benedict the Abbot, Council #248 and St. Benedict, Court #248

Members in Court #248

Members in Council #248

Guest Speaker, Knight Philip Stiell

St. Benedict the Abbot KPC Council and Court # 248, in Houston, celebrated their 25th anniversary on July 13 with an anni-versary Mass and a banquet on July 19. The Council and Court were both estab-lished on July 10, 1983.

The anniversary Mass was celebrated by Most Rev. Joseph A. Fiorenza, DD, archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Co-celebrant

was Fr. Firmin Kiwalle, CSSp, parochial vicar of St. Benedict the Abbot. Celebrating with Council and Court # 248 were Past Supreme Lady Consuella Broussard, Texas State Deputies Knight James Ellis and Lady Nan Arceneaux, Texas State President Knight Adrian Adams, past state officers, Sir Knights and mem-bers of other Councils and Courts in the city. A fellowship brunch was held following the Mass, which allowed the special guests and visitors to “meet and greet” the Claver family at St. Benedict. The celebration ended on July 19 with a banquet commemorating the membership services to the Church, community and our Noble Order. Members received Certificates of Service, which focused on their years as Claverites. Charter members were recognized and received certificates for their commitment to the ideals of Claverism. The guest speaker for the event was Knight Phillip Stiell, KPC Na-tional Treasurer. The Grand Knight of Council #248 is Gary Patterson and the Grand Lady of Court #248 is Melina G. Harris.

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News from Court #385:

he Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary Court #385 was formed during the latter months of 2007.

An enthusiastic group of 13 women from St. John the Baptist of Waco and St. Joseph Catholic Church of Killeen combined their numbers to form our court.After initiation services and greetings from Lady Nan Arceneaux, Texas State Deputy, and the Grand

Ladies from Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, the court elected officers and chairpersons.Grand Lady Gwen Mickens is the first to officially hold this position in the newly formed Knights of

Peter Claver Court #385. She is a member of St. John Baptist Catholic Church. Our meetings will be held on the fourth Sunday of each month in Waco.

– Lady Sonia Wren, Lecturer, Court #385

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The Knights and Ladies of Unit #300 Celebrate 20 YearsThe Year of the Claver Family 1988-2008

•• April 2008 marked the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Knights of Lourdes Council #300 and the Our Lady of Lourdes Court #300 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Atlanta. Unit 300 decided to mark this anniversary in a number of ways, declaring it “The Year of the Claver Family.” There were events planned for the entire year.

Following the church’s liturgical year, the first event was held in November, with a community service project of collect-ing donations for several Thanksgiving baskets. The Knights, Ladies, Jr. Branch and Jr. Court worked together to fill and distribute Thanksgiving baskets to deserving families in the church community.

In January, the Knights and Ladies held the “First Annual

Our Lady of Lourdes, Court #300 celebrate 20 years

Miss Annabelle’s Egg Nog Sip” at the Atlanta Claver House. This event was named in honor of a charter member, the late Lady Annabelle Jones, who used to host an annual egg nog sip and invite the entire Lourdes church community. The Egg Nog Sip was an excellent op-portunity for fellowship with members of the Claver family and the greater Church community.

On April 19, the Knights and Ladies of Unit #300 hosted their 20th anniversary celebration. The celebration began with Liturgy at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, immediately followed by a reception with food and entertainment. All in attendance helped to mark the auspicious occasion of Unit #300’s 20 years of service to our Noble Order, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and our community. Special recognition was given to the charter members of the Knights and Ladies of Unit 300.

Continuing with the year-long celebration, Our Lady of Lourdes Court #300 held its annual prayer breakfast on Aug. 9. The focus continued to be on the family, with the prayer break-fast’s theme of “Changing Models in Challenging Times.” This year’s attendees were blessed with remarks from the keynote speakers, Rev. Dr. Fred Sambrone and Mrs. Connie Sambrone. The annual prayer breakfast benefits the Our Lady of Lourdes Court #300 scholarship fund.

As the year draws to a close, the Knights and Ladies are looking forward to many more years of service to our Noble Order and the Church community at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

– Lady Patrice S. Barton, Our Lady of Lourdes Court #300

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•• The Knights and Ladies of Unit 286 continue to make every effort to uphold the principles of our Noble Order by ministering to our church and our community.• Knights, Ladies and Jr. Daughters participated in the annual

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration sponsored by the Of-fice of Black Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham

• We supported the Holy Family School Annual Black His-tory Program.

• We hosted the Third Annual Valentine Scholarship Cham-pagne Brunch. (Proceeds go to scholarships for two gradu-ating St. Joseph High School seniors, a monetary award to graduating seniors and to the Holy Family School Tuition Assistant Program.)

• We organized and sponsored the annual Church Easter Egg Hunt.

• We hosted the 2007 St. Peter Claver Day Celebration for Gulf Coast District Zone IV – Councils and Courts 148 and 345 of Montgomery, AL, and Councils and Courts

140 and 272 of Birmingham.– We were entertained at the picnic by Virgil Gibson, a former

lead singer of the Platters.– We attended an Alabama A&M football game.– We ended our celebration with a great turnout to a Mass

celebration.• We donated snacks to the Floyd E. Tutt Veteran’s Home.• We made and distributed felt Christmas mice, with a candy

as tails, to each child attending one of the Masses on the weekend before Christmas.

• We assisted our juniors in all of their endeavors including financial support.

• The Ladies of Court 286 contributed funds to the Haitian Adopt a Child Program, the Rescue Mission Meal and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

The Knights & Ladies of Council #286 and Court #286 feel most blessed and thankful to have been able to render service to our church and community. – Brenda T. Brown, Grand Lady

Charles C. Smoot Council #286 and St. Francis of Assisi, Court #286St. Joseph Catholic Church – Huntsville, Ala.

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org 25

Standing left to right are: Sir Knights Dwight Sheehy of Birmingham, Ala., Claude Davis of Huntsville,

Ala., Walter Parker, III, John Bolling and Fred Bolling. Front row: Bennie W. Bonner and Jacky M. Rodger

both of Birmingham, Ala.

Martin Luther Assembly #19 Exemplification – Birmingham, AL

•• In July 2008, seven men were exemplified into the Fourth Degree Division of the Knights of Peter Claver As-sembly #19, under the leadership of the Faithful Naviga-tor Richard Harris. Fourth Degree members are selected by performing meritorious service to the community, to the order and to the Catholic Church. The member must have contributed over and above their formal duties to the Church and community.

– Knight Paul T. Todd

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Court #110Junior DaughtersCharleston, SC

•• The Junior Daughters of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Court #110 continue to make their presence known in the community and in their Church parish. In addition to serving as altar servers, singing in the choir and assisting with the children programs, they give time, service and talent to the Charleston community. Such activities include serving dinner at the homeless shelter, collecting and distributing toiletries to families at the Medical University of South Carolina, assisting with the Children’s Day Program at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and volunteering for the Moja Arts Festival. The highlight of the spring was attending the Gulf Coast District 2008 Juniors Conference in Huntsville, Ala. Four Junior Daughters, along with the Junior Daughter Counselor Lady Dondra Rodd, had a memorable and rewarding experience at the conference. Junior Daughter Brittany Washington served as Gulf Coast District Secretary and Junior Daughter Erin Cooke served as Gulf Coast District Mistress of Arms. Junior Daughters Teonna Breland and Davina Simmons assisted Lady Barbara Birds with the Spiritual Challenge. The Junior Daughters have taken their lead from the Ladies of Court #110 and are proving to be spiritual leaders of the Court and in their community. Thanks to the Junior Daughter Counselor, Ladies Barbara Birds, Edna Mitchell, Jane Wright and the Ladies of Court #110 for their support, and for making the trip to Alabama a reality.

– Yvonne Tolley Orr, Lecturer

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KPC Unit #15193rd Senior National ConventionJacksonville, Florida – July 2008

•• The Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, Senior and Junior Division of Unit #151 were well represented at the 93rd annual Senior Convention in Jacksonville, Fla., July 25-31, 2008. Some of the attendees at the Awards Banquet

included (from left to right): Jr. National Supreme Knight Desmond Taylor; Jr. National Secretary Brendolyn Andrus; Supreme Navigator, Fourth Degree, James Neal; Brother Hosea Harris, III; Brother Josea Hernandez; Brother Rev. Alphonsus; Lady Jan-ice Taylor; Faithful Navigator Ira Wade; Lady Sharon Slyde; Brother Gerald Arceneaux; Grand Knight Hosea Harris, Jr.; Jr. National Vice Supreme Lady Brianna Batiste; Texas State Vice President Judy Edwards; Texas State Deputy Lady Nan Arceneaux; Grand Lady Norma Woodson; Junior Daugh-ter Counselor Lady Gwendolyn Andrus; and (not shown in picture), Jr. Knight Commander Gerald Adams, Sr. and Lady Brandye Porter. Other Unit #151 members in attendance were: Brother Ralph Edwards, Lady Denise Chevalier, Lady Linda Timmons, Lady Patricia Hammonds and Jr. Daughter, Dasha Taylor. Unit #151 garnered the following National Awards: Na-tional Family of the Year (second year in a row), Gold Medal of Merit – Grand Knight Hosea Harris, and National Financial Secretary of the Year – Lady Renee Fleming.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Court #110 Charleston, SC

•• Our virtues – Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity – were reflected in a Community Baby Shower on March 29, 2008. The Ladies of Court #110 joined the South Carolina Catholic Women, Charleston Deanery in sponsoring a baby shower for first-time mothers, ages 18-25, who came from the Franklin C. Fetter Medical Center and the Charleston County community. Each of the 16 women in attendance was presented with a car seat, diaper bag, a baby carrier, diapers, a wide selec-tion of baby clothes, various baby items and the opportunity to win one of the four cribs donated. The shower included a program that featured speakers who gave words of advice to the young women and stressed the importance of a true Christian family. The afternoon ended with a delicious catered lunch. As a result of the generosity of the Medical University of South Caro-lina, members of the 11 churches included in the Charleston Deanery and the members of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a large donation of baby items was presented to Birthright. Thanks to Lady Elease Amos-Goodwin, who coordinated the event, and the committee from both organizations, the event was a memo-rable experience for all. In observance of our 45th Founders Day, the Ladies of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrated Mass as a group at St Patrick Catholic Church on May 18. The celebration was culminated with

a Charleston brunch at the Charleston Marriot Hotel.After a delicious meal and several musical selections, several Ladies were recognized for their service and dedication to the order. Awards and presentations included: • Claver Lady of the Year, 2008 - Lady Yvonne Gice • Lillian Magwood Lifetime Service Award - Lady Lugenia Marion • Youth Service Award - Lady Dondra Rodd • Community Service Award - Lady Patricia Mack • Church Service Award - Lady Doris Hamilton • 25 Years of Membership - Ladies Francena Rogers and Annabell Seabrook • Charter members - Ladies Ruth Duncan, Ida Pinckney, Amelia Taylor and Marjorie Steplight The 2008 Graduate Mass for St. Patrick Church and Our Lady of Mercy Church was held on June 1. Sixteen graduates, rang-ing from kindergarten, middle school, high school and college, were recognized on their achievement. All graduates received a certificate and a special gift. A reception was held in their honor immediately after the celebration of the Mass. Once again, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Court #110 took the spotlight at the National Convention in Jacksonville, Fla. Court #110 was named Court of the Year. We were also honored with the Area Counselor of the Year, presented to Lady Bar-bara J. Birds, and the Gold Medal Award, presented to Lady Vertelle A. Kenion. Congratulations are in order!

Attendees at 93rd Senior National Convention

– Yvonne Tolley Orr, Lecturer

2� The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org

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state of louisiana10th Annual CARC Party held by Unit #141 •• Immaculate Heart of Mary Council and Court #141 of Lake Charles, La., along with their Junior Divisions held their 10th Annual CARC (Calcasieu Association for Retarded Citizens) Party. The CARC organization is comprised of a group of devoted and caring individuals who strive to assist and meet the unique needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families. They also provide work opportunities for their clients to help them be productive members of our society, as well as change the

biases associated with mental retardation. This year, the Council and Court of #141 prepared for more than 400 people!The Grand Knight and Grand Lady of Council and Court #141 are Milton Bellard and Nellie Rideaux.

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org 2�

Junior Daughter Counselor of the Year

•• Gwendolyn McGill of Father Lawrence B. Watts Court #199, located in Jackson, Miss., re-ceived the honor of being named Junior Daughter Counselor of the Year at the National Convention in Jacksonville, Fla.

Lady Gwendolyn McGill has faithfully served as the Counselor for the Junior Daughter Court for the last nine years. Through the leadership and guidance of Lady McGill, the Junior Daughter Court has participated in projects designed to impact the environment, the sick and shut-ins of the parish and disadvantaged children.

The projects include the recycling of telephone books, making potpourri baskets, volunteering and contributing to the Salvation Army Toy Drive, and sponsoring a booth at the parish’s annual carnival.

In addition to providing leadership to the Junior Daughters on responding to the needs of the parish and community, Lady McGill actively insures the future ladies of Court #199 are educated by attending abstinence summits, providing instruction on Robert’s Rules of Order and attending events sponsored by the Jackson Diocese of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry.

Lady Gwendolyn McGill’s stewardship reaches beyond the leadership provided to the Junior Daughters and the Knights of Peter Claver organization. She has represented her parish at the National Black Catholic Congress. In her parish, she is the secretary for the pastoral council, serves as a lector, has chaired committees for the annual carnival, assisted in coordinating repast dinners, worked with the Kings Workers in sponsoring garage sales, and has even provided advice to the board of a non-Catholic Church on how it could identify sources of potential donors.

Lady McGill is the proud mother of two children – Darius and Tosha – and four grandchildren. Tosha is the recording secretary for Court #199. Lady McGill is a graduate of Grambling State University and currently serves as an office representative for a major insurance and financial services company.

Gwendolyn McGill

10th Annual CARC Party

Court #379 to receive Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

•• Lady Yvonne Nellum of St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Tampa, Court #379, will receive the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal, which means for Church and Pope, it is also known as The Cross of Honor. It is presented for distinguished service to the Church by lay people and clergy and is the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity by the papacy.

The medal will be presented to Lady Nellum by the Most

Reverend Robert N. Lynch, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Fla. at a – by invitation only – prayer service on Dec. 21, 2008, in the St. James Chapel at the beautiful Bethany Center of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Congratulations are in order for this most prestigious award for Lady Yvonne Nellum.

– Lady Giselle Johnson, Court #379

28 The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org d

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state of louisiana (cont.)

Help for the homeless – Unit #325New Orleans, LA

•• Recently, members of the Knights of Peter Claver Unit #325 and parishioners of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in New Orleans fed the homeless on the corner of Canal Street and Claiborne Avenue in the City of New Orleans. Members also distributed blankets and toiletries to the homeless. Under the leadership of Grand Knight Tilmon King and Grand Lady Cheryl Flotte, members from Unit #325 totally supported this proj-ect, including mem-bers from the Junior Division. In addition to serving food and

distributing clothing, members also minis-tered to the homeless through song. The homeless population prior to Hurricane Katrina was a ‘nor-mal’ occurrence; post Hurricane Katrina,

the homeless population is at a critical high in the city of New Orleans. Men, women and yes, children of all ages are part of the homeless population in the city. This was a very humbling and moving experience for all who participated. Our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we served were very thankful and ironically asked for God’s blessings on us. Mat-thew 25:31-46 reminds us that we are to serve and love all no matter what and when we serve the least of our brothers, we have served Jesus Christ, our savior. We thank all who participated and we ask the Knights of Peter Claver and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxil-iary to remember the homeless not only in the city of New Orleans but around this country. Respectfully submitted, Lady Cheralyn King Lecturer KPCLA Court #325

Rita and Clifford J. Lewis

Flag donated in Mem-ory of Staff Sergeant Clifford J. LewisSt. Martinville, LA – Court #54

•• A United States’ flag was presented to Trinity Catholic School (Lower Cam-pus) by Mrs. Rita Lewis in memory of her late husband, CLIFFORD JOHN

LEWIS, a World War II Army veteran who served his country from April 18, 1941 to Dec. 30, 1945. He was first sta-tioned at Camp Livingston, LA, then in Needles, CA, followed by battles and campaigns in Bismarch, Archipelago, New Guinea and Northern Solomon Philippines. While in the ser-vice he received numerous awards, citations and decorations.

He was affiliated with several groups and organizations after returning to St. Martinville, LA. He was in the Knights of Peter Claver, St. Martin, Council #54 and as a member he held the following offices: Grand Knight for 23 years, (4th Degree) Faithful Comptroller of St. Paul Assembly No. 3, chairman & co-chairman of the Credential Committee for the National Convention.

He was instrumental in organizing the KPC Junior Knights Branch #54 along with brothers Calvin Malveaux, Raymond Vavasseur, and many other brothers. He spearheaded the annual awards banquet for Council and Ct #54.

He received many accolades during his lifetime. Some of which are listed below:

• KPC Silver and Gold Medals • Fourth Degree Sir Knight of the Year • Several awards from Council and Court #54 • Listed in American Catholics Who’s Who Publication

1976-77 Edition Vol. 21 • U.S. Army – received many decorations and citations.The school extends their deepest appreciation to Mrs. Rita

Lewis for the donation of her husband’s flag to their lower campus school.

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org 2�

junior division news

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St. Catherine of Siena – Court #379 •• St. Catherine of Siena, Junior Daughter Court #109 was reinstated in 2007. Since then, we have worked as a team on the following: • fed the hungry• gave toiletries to the homeless• visited nursing homes• did community service• attended the Junior District Conference in Lombard, IL June ’08

Junior Northern District Conference Jr. Court #109 Participation:1st Place Essay/Poetry – Miranda Boler2nd Place Spelling Bee – Toni Temple

Additional spelling bee participants: Clarissa Boler and Serena Boler

Mya Terrell – recited poetryAllison Temple – sang “Tears from Heaven”Miranda Boler – danced to “Unfaithful” (broke her foot)

Recommendation Committee Participants:Jr. Daughter Counselor Patricia MurrellJr. Daughters: Allison Temple, Miranda Boler

Guard Committee: Catherine Casteal (during closed session)

Front row, l-r: Miranda Bolar (wheel chair), Clar-issa A. Boler, Toni TempleBack row, l-r: Serana Boler, Catherine Casteal, Allison Temple, Mya Terrell

state of louisiana (cont.)

•• The Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, Houston Area Junior Knights and Junior Daughters has contributed to the Houston area homeless as a group for ten years. The Knights of Peter Claver is a predominately African-Ameri-can Catholic fraternal organization celebrating 100 years of service to the community in 2009. The Houston Area Junior Knights and Junior Daughters are youth between the ages of 7-18 years old.

The youth collected toiletries from their respective parishes and donated to the homeless at the Bread of Life Center on Sat., Sept. 6, 2008. Following the distribution an anniversary celebration was held at St. Dominic Auditorium located at 2403 Holcombe.

The juniors participating in the program were Brown Bag Chairpersons, Leantrenell Gibson and Dominique Charles, Program Chairperson, Audra Jackson, Junior Texas State Presidents, Cortney Pichon and Donecia Valsin, Praise dancer, Janae Edwards, Jr. Supreme Knight, Desmond Taylor

and Jr. Vice-Supreme Lady Brianna Batiste. Deacon Andrew Malveaux, vicar for Catholics of African Descent, gave the opening and closing prayers. Mrs. JoAnne Henderson was the guest speaker and gave the history of the Brown Bag Project. Supreme Knight Most Worthy Mr. Gene A. Phil-lips, Sr. brought greetings and commended the Clavers on their years of service. Brown Bag Chairpersons Mr. Martin Lavergne and Mars, Pat Pellerin, along with jr. chairpersons, presented the Bread of Life a monetary donation of $300.00 on behalf of the youth and a basket of toiletries.

In attendance were: Supreme Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver Mr. Gene A. Phillips, Sr., Texas State Deputies, Mr. James Ellis and Mrs. Nan Arceneaux, Texas State Presidents, Mr. Adrian Adams and Mrs. Janae Tinsley, Texas State Direc-tor Mr. Christopher Pichon, Directress Ms. Cheryl Randle and other members of the state and national junior and senior boards. The chairpersons of the Brown Bag Project were Mr. Martin Lavergne and Mrs. Pat Pellerin.

Houston Jr. Knights and Daughters’ Youth Donate to the Bread of Life

•• Branch 278 is committed to the objectives of the Knights of Peter and attempts to carry them out to the best of their abilities. 2008, thus far, has been an active and productive year and we are happy with what Branch 278 has accomplished.

We continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters by peri-odically serving breakfast on Saturday morning at the Inner City

Night Shelter. We had a successful drive to collect toiletries and men’s undergarments for the Old Savannah City Mission.

We are certainly proud we won the Gulf Coast District Ju-nior Knight Expansion Award for two consecutive years and that 17 of our 19 members attended the Gulf Coast District Junior Conference in March 2008 in Huntsville, Ala.

Pierre Toussaint Branch 278 – Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church Savannah, GA

(cont. pg. 30)

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junior division news (cont.)

First-time experience for Junior DaughtersThe Gulf Coast KPC Junior Conference was held in

Huntsville, Ala. March 7-9, 2008. With the Huntsville Junior Daughter Court #286 being reestablished, just shy of a few months, and with all new members, plans were already under way for the Gulf Coast Junior Conference. The girls were supported by their counselor and assistant counselor, Pat Lomax and Bernita Briggs, and

the Knights and Ladies of Court and Council #286. The event was a first-time experience in planning and attend-ing a KPC conference but the girls did not shy away from doing their part. The girls attended and participated in meetings and in some of the decision making process for hosting the Gulf Coast Conference. This was a very excit-ing event and a great learning experience for the Junior

Daughters and their parents.

Huntsville, Ala. Junior Daughters sponsor “Think-Pink Weekend” Campaign

Rev. Gary New, S.D.S. pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church of Huntsville, Ala. signed the “Think-Pink Weekend” proclamation. The proclamation was signed in observance that members of Saint Joseph Parish join him by wearing pink on Oct. 4 & 5 2008, to help raise awareness of Down Syndrome and breast cancer. “Think-Pink Weekend” was sponsored by KPC, Junior Daughter Court #286. All proceeds from “Think-Pink Weekend” will be donated to the Down Syndrome Organization and the American Cancer Society. The Junior Daughters participated in the annual Huntsville’s Down Syndrome Walk held in October 2008.

St Francis of Assisi, Junior Daughter Court #286Huntsville, AL

We have spread the spirit of Claverism at our parish and we sponsored a membership Sunday, which resulted in 12 young men of the parish signing up and being initiated on June 1, 2008. Our goal is to have every eligible young man of the parish as an active member of Branch 278. We continue to support our parish, Resurrection of Our Lord, by financially supporting its capital campaign, “Resurrection Is Rising,” for our new church building.

Also, a number of our members visit the sick and shut-ins of the parish weekly and assist with their household tasks. We are always available and willing to assist the various activities of the

parish, including setting up and cleaning up after parish func-tions.

The members of Branch 278 are active at church as altar serv-ers, lectors, ushers and as members of the youth choir, youth group and the religious education ministry.

We want to sincerely thank our parish family, Council 278 and Court 278 for their guidance and ongoing support. We are who we are because of that village that continues to nurture us.

– Respectfully Submitted,Knights of Peter ClaverPierre Toussaint Branch 278

Junior Daughters pictured are (left to right): Jovita Ezeokafor, Isabella Rundini, Maya McDaniel, Lanie Briggs, Jessica Gregory and

Melissa Martin. Seated is Pastor Gary New.

Juniors attend work-shop at 2008 Gulf Coast Conference.

Junior Daughter Counselor Pat Lomax (left) assist with JEOPARDY workshop.

Gulf Coast Conference Mass with Altar Servers Nora and Chelsea Nwaneri and Father Vernon Hugely.

Left to right) Chelsea Ejimah, Lanie Briggs, Jessica Gregory and Maya McDaniel attend Mass at 2008

Junior Gulf Coast Conference.

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Gold Medal WinnersFather Rawlin EnettePastor of St. Peter Claver ChurchHouston. TX

Brother Hosea Harris, Jr.St. Monica, Council #151Houston, TX

Silver Medal WinnersState of Texas Brother Calvin Donatto St. Peter the Apostle, Council #238 Houston, TX

Brother Leonard JosephSt. Gregory the Great, Council #252 Houston, TX

Northern States DistrictNone submitted

Gold Medal WinnersLady Vertelle A. KenionOur Lady of Guadalupe, Court # 110Charleston, SC

Lady Demaris D. BrownMother Katherine Drexel, Court # 1Mobile, AL

Silver Medal WinnersGulf Coast DistrictLady Marilyn SmithSt. James Major, Court # 6Bay St. Louis, MS

Central States District Lady Gloria DouglasMonsignor John A. Shocklee, Court #213St. Louis, MO

Western States DistrictLady Rebecca Charles WattsChrist the King, Court # 371Sand Diego, CA

2008 award

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2008 award winners

State of Louisiana Brother Milton Bellard Immaculate Heart of Mary, Council #141 Lake Charles, LA

Brother Larry Dubriel Wilfred B. Ricard, Council #116 Baton Rouge, LA

Western States DistrictBrother Andrew Knox St. Brigid, Council #259 Los Angeles, CA

Central States District Brother Raymond C. Myers Benjamin Givens, Sr., Council #57 Kansas City, MO

Gulf Coast DistrictBrother Athanase Jones Msgr. Walter J. Darcy, Council #335 Jacksonville, FL

State of TexasLady Helen V. SamSt. Bernadette, Court #101Houston, TX

Lady Edwina Mc GeeSt. Peter the Apostle, Court #238Houston, TX

Northern States DistrictLady Dorothy Mae ThomasSt. Jude Court, #154Chicago, IL

Lady Marion Smith-ReynosoAugustine Tolton, Court #277Pittsburg, PA

State of LouisianaSt. Lucy, Court #79Church Point, LA

Lady Norma LewisWilfred B. Ricard, Court #116Baton Rouge, LA

Lady Gail Barnes JohnsonIona Berteaux, Court #240New Orleans, LA

Financial Secretary of the YearLady Renee FlemingSt. Monica, Court #151Houston, TX

Grand Lady of the Year Lady Mary J. HolleySt. Felicitas, Court #223Pensacola, FL

Court of the YearOur Lady of Guadalupe, Court #110Charleston, SC

2008 Gold Medal winners

Council of the YearFather John N. LaBauveHoly Cross, Council #284 Austin, TX

Grand Knight of the YearBrother Lawrence EdwardsSt. Francis De Sales, Council #325New Orleans, LA

National Claver Family of the YearSt. Monica, Unit #151Houston, TX

Gold Medal recipient Knight Harris

Knights of Peter Claver

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org

Ladies Auxiliary

Junior Daughters pictured are (left to right): Jovita Ezeokafor, Isabella Rundini, Maya McDaniel, Lanie Briggs, Jessica Gregory and

Melissa Martin. Seated is Pastor Gary New.

Left to right) Chelsea Ejimah, Lanie Briggs, Jessica Gregory and Maya McDaniel attend Mass at 2008

Junior Gulf Coast Conference.

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2008 Convention highlights Jacksonville, FloridaOur ��th anniversary of Claverism

Opening Mass

Photos at right:

Claire Mission Shelter presents a plaque to KPC. KPC presents check to Claire Mission Shelter.

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org

2008 Convention highlights Jacksonville, FloridaConclave Mass

Below:

Gold Medal recipient Father Rawlin Enette

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2008-2010 National Council & Court Board of Directors20

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Knights Of Peter Claver

Mr. Gene A. Phillips, Sr.Supreme Knight22911 Palomino Creek CourtTomball, TX 77375-7198H: 281-370-1757 Fax: 281-251-7920E-mail: GeneKPC231@aol.com

Mr. Paul Jones, Jr.Deputy Supreme Knight3123 Country Club Rd.Lake Charles, LA 70605H: 337-477-8565Fax: 337-477-8565E-mail: PJONESJR47@yahoo.com

Mr. James Kelley TerryNational SecretaryP. O. Box 56545New Orleans, LA 70156H: 504-913- 2110B: 504-587-9705Fax: 504-586-9178E-mail: JKelley@Klmcompany.com

Mr. Philip B. StiellNational TreasurerP. O. Box 7827Spanish Fort, AL 36577H: 251-621-1009E-mail: pstiell1@bellsouth.net

Mr. Omar K. MasonNational Advocate5219 Bathgate LaneHouston, TX 77084H: 281-858-1680B: 713-652-2525Fax: 281-858-1680E-mail: omason3900@sbcblobal.net

Mr. George J. WilliamsLay Board Member828 Latiolais DrP. O. Box 1267Breaux Bridge, LA 70517B: 337-291-8364Fax: 337-332-5331E-mail:gwilliams@lafayettegov.net

Mr. Tilman D. KingDirector General Jr. Knights3713 Edgewood Ct.Avondale, LA 70094H: 504-436-3066B: 504-452-4109E-mail: tdking12@bellsouth.net

Most Rev. Joseph N. PerryNational ChaplainAuxiliary Bishop of Chicago Post Office Box 733South Holland, IL 60473-0733 B: 708-339-2474Fax: 708-339-2477E-mail: jperry98@aol.com

Mr. Arthur C. McFarlandPast Supreme KnightP. O. Box 80609Charleston, SC 29416-0609H: 843-577-4889B: 843-763-3900Fax: 843-763-5347E-mail: cecilesq@aol.com

Mr. Garry BostickDistrict Deputy of Central States1804 N. W. 176th Place Edmond, OK 73012-6947H: 405-341-1033B: 405-736-2691E-mail: garry3@cox.net

Mr. Oscar J. BenoitState Deputy of Louisiana201 Rue Des EtoilesCarencro, LA 70520H: 337-886-8842E-mail:oscarbenoit@bellsouth.net

Mr. James EllisState Deputy of Texas7702 Chasecreek Dr.Missouri City, TX 77489H: 281-437-2136B: 713 824-3521E-mail: jellis2004@sbcglobal.net

Mr. Anderson F. ShawDistrict Deputy of Western States4115 Don Felipe DriveLos Angeles, CA 90008-4206H: 323-293-6904B: 323-777-2106Fax: 323-934-8039E-mail: ashaw4kpcwsd@aol.com

Mr. Howard CrawfordDistrict Deputy of Northern States1733 Patricia LaneFlossmoor, IL 60422-2057H: 708-957-2080Fax: 708-957-2081E-mail: hcrawford1733@att.net

Mr. Athanase J. Jones, Jr.District Deputy of Gulf Coast 11065 Castlemain Circle EJacksonville, FL 32256-2894H: 904-565-2317B: 904-357-4795 Ext. 74467Fax: 904-565-2317E-mail: ajones0962@comcast.net

Mr. James A. NealSupreme NavigatorFourth Degree, KPC14210 Torrey Village Dr.Houston, TX 77014H: 281-440-9665B: 713-893-1593E-mail: janeal1@sbcglobal.net

Mr. Paul C. CondollInterim Administrator1825 Orleans AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70116-2825B: 504-821-4225Fax: 504-821-4253E-mail: pcondoll@knightsofpeterclaver.org

2008-2010 National Council & Court Board of Directors2008-2010 natio

nal court

The Claverite | Winter Issue 2008 | www.kofpc.org �5

Knights Of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary

Mrs. Geralyn C. ShelvinSupreme Lady121 Rimwood Ave.Lafayette, LA 70501-6559H: 337-232-8510B: 337-706-3427 or 1-800-573-8772Fax: 337-232-8463 E-mail: gshelvin@bellsouth.net

Ms. Yvonne H. JacksonVice Supreme Lady8921 Shady Bluff Dr.Baton Rouge, LA 70818-4520H: 225-261-0959B: 225-928-9939Fax: 225-928-7388E-mail: yvonnehjackson@bellsouth.net

Ms. DeLise Coleman National Secretary2092 Mercer AveCollege Park, GA 30337H: 404-765-9056Fax: 678-306-0668E-mail: secretary@kpcla.info

Ms. Melissa SiasNational Treasurer124 Castle RowLafayette, LA 70506H: 337-989-8182Fax: 337-989-8182E-mail: treasurer@kpcla.info

Ms. Hilda WiltzLay Board MemberP. O. Box 752Rayne, LA 70578-0752H: 337-393-2080B: 337-739-7304E-mail: hwiltz@hotmail.com

Mrs. Diane T. AsberryNat’l. Counselor Jr. Daughters8253 S. East EndChicago, IL 60617-1739H: 773-734-3961Fax: 773-734-3962 E-mail: d_asberry@hotmail.com

Mrs. Mary L. BriersPast Supreme Lady4360 Sunnybrook Dr.Montgomery, AL 36108-5042H: 334-281-7316 Fax: 334-288-9668E-mail: mlbriers4360@aol.com

Mrs. Michelle C. JacksonState Deputy of Louisiana2316 13th StreetLake Charles, LA 70601H: 337-474-6120B: 337-437-9132 1-800-782-6706 Ext. 132Fax: 337-478-7610E-mail: michannjack@aol.com Ms. Micaela LeBlancDistrict Deputy of Western States13428 Maxella Avenue, #185Marina Del Rey, CA 90292H: 1-888-KPC-LAWSB: 310-646-1245Fax: 310-568-9157E-mail: mleblanc@lawa.org

Mrs. Gwendolyn LewisDistrict Deputy of Gulf Coast 518 Rawls Ave.Prichard, AL 36610-2049H: 251-452-2735Fax: 251-441-6486E-mail: gel518@comcast.net

Ms. Janice M. GrayDistrict Deputy of Central States20668 E. Hamilton Circle Aurora, CO 80013H: 303-400-8713B: 720-493-6633Fax: 303-400-8714E-mail: jgraycsd@yahoo.com

Mrs. Nan ArceneauxState Deputy of Texas9203 Cornett DriveHouston, TX 77064-7601H: 713-937-3236B: 281-405-4064E-mail: nan_arc@yahoo.com

Mrs. E. Annetta WilsonDistrict Deputy of Northern States 4241 West 21st PlaceChicago, IL 60623H: 773-521-4033B: 773-542-8634Fax: 773-542-9817E-mail: annetta.wilson@sbcglobal.net

Mrs. Audrey Woods Supreme NavigatorFourth Degree, Ladies of Grace5435 Providence St.New Orleans, LA 70126H: 504-304-7677 E-mail: abwfaithinthefuture@yahoo.com

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Address

City/State/Zip

Council # or Court #

Insurance Certificate #