Knights share programs, ideas at convention

April 20, 2023

Ruth Archer had been up for 24 hours before Mass began April 16 to conclude the Iowa Knights of Columbus annual convention.

She had attended the convention on Saturday, then drove to the community hospital in Perry where she worked a midnight to 6 a.m. shift before returning early Sunday to watch her husband, Jim, serve in the fourth degree honor guard at Mass. Jim is the Grand Knight for the council at St. Patrick Parish in Perry.

“I wanted to experience it with him,” she said. 

The Archers were among the many families attending the successful Iowa Knights of Columbus convention held April 14-16 in Des Moines. Wives, children and various organizations such as Iowa Catholic Radio, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Trappist Caskets and Innervisions Healthcare were among those at the Knights convention.

It drew members wanting to visit with each other and learn what’s happening in parish councils and how they might be of better service to their fellow Catholics.

“We both think it’s a good, positive experience for any Knight to be here,” said Rick Brecht, Grand Knight of the council at St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale. “There’s plenty of things for us to learn as leaders in our council.”

His friend, George Cockayne, also of St. Pius X Parish, agreed.

“It’s wonderful to be in a group of like-minded believers in Christ who are all trying to help do the things that Father (Michael) McGiveny based the Knights of Columbus on: Charity, fraternity, unity and patriotism.”

It was the second convention Jeff Robinson, of St. Jude Parish in Cedar Rapids, attended. As Grand Knight, he was looking forward to hearing stories of what activities other councils are engaged in.

“We’re looking for different or new programs, or different ways to present programs,” said Dave Olson, Deputy Grand Knight at St. Jude. 

 State Advocate Jason Follett, of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny, said a number of important initiatives were discussed throughout the weekend from the national Eucharistic Revival shared by Des Moines Bishop William Joensen, to the Aid and Support After Pregnancy program. While the Knights support women in crisis pregnancies by providing ultrasound machines to pregnancy centers throughout the state, the ASAP effort assists mothers after birth through the pregnancy centers.