Columba Magazine Autumn 2018 Edition

AUTUMN 2018

“Knight Commander”
for
Papal Knight of St Gregory
Bro. Ken Hargreaves KCSG

Knights of St Columba www.ksc.org.uk

serve god by serving others

TM

Board of Directors & Cover Story COLUMBA Magazine

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Congratulations Brother Ken KCSG

The Board of Directors On Saturday 13th October, at St Bernadette’s Catholic Church,
2018 — 2019 Bispham, Lancashire, the Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP,
Archbishop of Liverpool, celebrated Mass with a special intention for
Supreme Knight Papal Knight of St Gregory the Great and Past Supreme Knight of the
Order of the Knights of St Columba, Brother John Kenneth Hargreaves
Bro. Bertie M. Grogan (Brother Ken), awarding him the higher accolade of Knight Commander
of St Gregory the Great.
Ecclesiastical Adviser

Most Rev. Malcolm McMahon OP

Archbishop of Liverpool

Immediate Past Supreme Knight

Bro. Charlie McCluskey KSG

Supreme Director for
Communications & Media

and
Deputy Supreme Knight

Bro. Joseph C. Rodriguez

Supreme Director for
Spirituality & Welfare

Bro. Sean Mulligan

Supreme Director for
Youth

Bro. Michael Akinrele

Supreme Director for
Membership & Development

Bro. Brian Henry

Supreme Director for Brothers Eamonn Fleming KCSG and
Action & Social Charlie McCluskey KSG, both Past
Supreme Knights of St Columbanus and
Bro. Harry Welsh St Columba respectively, were Brother
Ken’s sponsors. They, together with the
Director congregation, comprising of members of
the Board of Directors, Past Supreme
Bro. John Campolini Knights, Brothers, friends and family
witnessed the installation and decoration
Director of Brother Ken Hargreaves KCSG.

Bro. Brian Lafferty

Director

Bro. Stephen Ferris

Director Supreme Knight and Deputy Supreme
Knight, Brothers Bertie Grogan and Joe
Bro. Sean Smith Rodriguez sent good wishes and
congratulations from Ireland, as they were
representing the Order at the Knights of St
Columbanus’ Supreme Council.

Produced by After the wonderful celebration at Mass
The Knights of St Columba the congregation retired to the church hall
75 Hillington Road South for a buffet and refreshments. A
Glasgow, Scotland. G52 2AE celebratory cake which stood at the centre
Telephone : 0141 883 5700 of the buffet was then cut in an unusual
Email : [email protected] way. Using his regalia sword, Bro Ken,
Website : www.ksc.org.uk assisted by his wife Sheila, made the first
insertion to slice the cake.
Editor
Tom Knight Supreme Knight Brother Bertie Grogan
commented: “On behalf of the Order of
Please note the articles submitted for this publication are the Knights of St Columba,
for interest and information purposes only and are not CONGRATULATIONS Brother Ken”.
necessarily the opinion of the Editor or the
Order of the Knights of St Columba

AUTUMN Edition 2018 The Supreme Knight 3

1919-2019 A Century of Service

It is my great delight to have been re-elected as your Supreme Knight to
lead our Order into this our Centenary year.

Shortly after the end of the Great War We now have an opportunity; indeed travelled across Scotland, England,
our country was in turmoil, so much so we have a duty, to emulate those wise Wales and the Channel Islands, it will
that PJ O’Callaghan and 23 others and far seeing men who founded the then return to Glasgow for 5th October
founded this great Order of ours, to Knights of St Columba. 2019, to be displayed at both Supreme
assist those less fortunate than Council and our Centenary Mass in St
themselves. The Order has also engaged with Andrews Cathedral Glasgow.
many struggles over those 100 years.
Founded on the precepts of “Charity, The history of the Order records all this, Our Centenary pilgrimage year
Unity and Fraternity” the Order was but as we move forward there are more West Park, Jersey
enthusiastically received across our on the horizon. Current issues facing
country by all Catholic men and Church the Order range from our continuing fight Our Pilgrimage to Iona and the Abbey
leaders, to serve the Hierarchy and on abortion and to voicing our opinion on of St Columba, on the weekend of the
Clergy of our Church. This has carried euthanasia, that dreaded scourge which 9th June 2019 will be a highlight of this
on for almost a century, I say “almost” is creeping in by the back door. Centenary year, along with our
because we are fast approaching the pilgrimages to Aylesford Priory, to Our
5th October 2019—100 years from the We claim to be a Christian country but Lady’s Dowry at Walsingham, to the
founding date 5th October 1919. we are being engulfed by the rising tide Marian Shrine at Carfin and many
of secularism, which clearly has support others.
Across the country we are celebrating from Parliamentarians and Civic leaders,
this momentous event in our history by who should know better. This threatens Provinces and individual Councils
holding social events and by celebrating the very existence of our great Order. throughout the country are already
Masses in Cathedrals and Churches Our values are being undermined under working full out to mark our Centenary
across all dioceses, not only to express the banners of “equality” and “political year by arranging special celebratory
thanks to our founding fathers, but to correctness”. Abortion, gender choices events and outings, perhaps involving
pray for all Knights and their families and strictures on free speech have been their local Civic leaders in their plans.
who have supported the Order over forced upon us in an arbitrary manner by
those years. our elected political representatives. Together with the Board of Directors I
will be in attendance to represent the
In those first 100 years we have had We must become visibly and Order at as many of these events as
many great successes in making a publicly more active possible. I am already committed to be
difference and promoting our faith. Our present at most of these celebrations,
achievements include: The Order was This means we have to become more both on Pilgrimage and attending Social
instrumental in instigating the Roman active both visibly and publicly in the events, but most of all leading the Order
Catholic Relief Act, which abolished battles that beset our country and our in this our Centenary year.
many of the anti-Catholic clauses of the Catholic Faith.
Penal Laws; Participation of 2000 What an opportunity we have to Tell
Knights at the 31st Eucharistic Congress Over this coming Centenary year we Our Story and Share Our Dream.
in Dublin; 10,000 Knights took part in the are urging all Brothers, their families and
“Silent March” against Atheism and friends to support us, join us in our Bertie M Grogan
Communism in London; The Rosaries for the Order, ask more young Supreme Knight
establishment of “Hostels for Forces” in men to join our local councils, including
London, Glasgow, Liverpool, those young men going to Universities
Birmingham, Llandudno and Malta across the country and ask the
during the Second World War; opening Chaplains to seek out the Knights to
of St John’s Hostel for boys in Leeds; assist them. We should ask our own
Stewarding of the celebrations marking priests in parishes across the length and
the centenary of the restoration of the breadth of Britain to join the Knights in
Hierarchy of England, held at Wembley this our quest to maintain our Order and
Stadium; Involvement in the “Freedom Catholic Faith. This will make us more
from Hunger” campaign; The Purchase visible and in doing so it will also attract
of a Jumbulance for Access Trust; A more men to carry on our work - our
huge involvement in the Italian work of “Serving God by Serving others”.
Earthquake Relief Project; Stewarding of
Pope (now Saint) John Paul II’s visit to The Fraternal Cross – the Order’s
Britain (The then Supreme Knight Pat National Symbol of Brotherhood -- has
Leyden was immediately created a commenced its visits across all
Knight Commander of St Gregory by the Provinces in the Order, starting off in
Pope); The “Wells for Water” National Province 40 North East Scotland -
Action Campaign. Aberdeen and Inverness. Having

Our Fraternal Guests COLUMBA Magazine

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Address by Brother Gerald Harbinson - Supreme Knight of the Knights of St Columbanus

To use cricketing terminology “99 not out” is a great achievement and
coming up to your century with the next ball on the 5th October, 2019,
I bring my Order’s congratulations and fraternal greetings to you on this,
with the verge of you becoming, full of energy and enthusiasm, a
centenarian.

Brothers, how many organisations do year. For the first time ever, our Sinking Brother Gerald Harbinson
you know who did not make it to 100 Fund will soon be doing what it was Supreme Knight
years old? I suggest they are the vast intended for. We thank God that our
majority. However, with the help of God predecessors had the wisdom to Knights of St Columbanus
and the prayers and actions you, and the envisage that the rainy day would come.
generations past, have accomplished; the For me, one of the great stories was at
threshold stares you in the race. Right A second event, and the most the Christmas Day Dinner in the RDS –
from the start of his visit Pope Francis heartbreaking, was the referendum on the hundreds of volunteers filling thousands
mentioned St Columba and St 8th Amendment to the constitution. Our of bags of necessities and treats, packed
Columbanus in his list of six Irish Order assisted the Pro-Life campaign at in a conveyor belt type system. What hit
missionaries; by the way, he mentioned local and national level. me most were the guests. As I moved
St Columba first. around the tables, l listened to the music
It was agreed that our assistance would provided and spoke to the guests I
Last weekend we were honoured to be best through our Brothers, their family witnessed a world of people who needed
have Brother Bertie’s wife Pauline, and friends praying and volunteering i.e. what we gave that day – a square meal, a
Brother Bertie and the Deputy Supreme Faith in Action – canvassing, lobbying, “goody bag” and to have their spiritual,
Knight, Brother Joe, as our guests at our marching, using social medial, getting on physical, psychological and social needs
Supreme Council in the ecclesiastical local radio, etc. Statistics mattered little, met, if only for a short time. Our Order
capital of Ireland, Armagh. Brothers, I do but the importance of personal stories has been giving a Christmas Day Dinner
hope you enjoyed it but I know you came to the fore more than ever before since 1924.
watched, listened and learned about; the and those whom we stood up for will
good stories we had to tell, the ups and never get to tell their personal story On my travels I attended many Pope
downs of a Supreme Executive in its first outside of the womb. The fundamental Saint John Paul II Awards ceremonies. I
year, the problems encountered with little life is a poor second in this new Ireland. have seen over 1,000 young people
or no income and the marvellous World Archbishop Eamonn Martin of Armagh received their award after their service to
Meeting of Families and our Holy Father’s told us in Knock only two days after the our Church and their community – it is an
visit to our country. It is something which, result: “At a time like this it is easy for edifying sight to witness.
when we come to Glasgow, we take faithful Catholics to become despondent.
seriously, as we, your Brothers in Christ, This is a time for mission and teaching Our Schools Debating competition is
seek to learn from your wisdom, your the truth of the Gospel.” going from strength to strength. The
work on recruitment in universities and participants are the media personnel, the
one thing I have taken from my previous The third outstanding event came eight business people, the lawyers of the future
visits is the Supreme Knight’s medal, the weeks ago, this time it was a great event and hopefully more living members of our
Columba Cross. We have called it the – the World Meeting of Families and the Church and of others, as we have an
Canon O’Neill medal, after our founder visit of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. increasing number of non-Catholic
and the first went to a Brother I described Pope Francis had chosen Dublin for the schools taking part.
here last year – he was the one who after WMF as we, who lived on the peripheries
a heart attack decided to ask for a relic of of the known world during the Dark Ages, Our good news stories include a brand
St Teresa of Calcutta and took it around when there was a loss of Christian new Council, Council 147 Ashbourne Co
Ireland to make St Teresa better known. memory in Europe – Ireland saved it by Meath; Council 127 Killarney
This he did; his idea he saw through to sending its missionaries to the Continent. re-established after 40 years in abeyance,
make it a reality – Faith in Action. Councils 2 Belfast and 4 now based
We assisted with the devotions relating Bangor re-established. These are signs
Last Saturday I started my speech to to the relics of Saints Louise, Zeile and of resurgence.
Supreme Council, asking are you a Therese Martin prior to the WMF. At our
storyteller? Unlike yourselves, we have stand at the RDS we got the names of 35 Pope Francis, in his homily in Phoenix
Brothers who can spin a good yarn or tell men who wanted more information about Park, said: “I think of St Columbanus, who
a tall tale. However I was thinking of the Order and some will definitely join. with his small band of companions
story of my Order. brought the light of the Gospel to the
Croke Park witnessed a tremendous lands of Europe in an age of darkness
During my first year as Supreme Knight festival of Faith and Action and we saw and cultural dissolution.” He continued:
my ears and eyes were opened hearing and heard the testimonies of five families “Yet like us St Columbanus and his
and witnessing many great stories. I from around the world speak of their companions, who faced the icy waters
witnessed them at the Christmas Day experience of being a family – and stormy seas to follow Jesus, may we
Dinner, Bru Columbanus, the Pope John tremendous testimonies which were
Paul II Awards, the Schools’ debating almost totally ignored by the media.
competition and many more. It is
important for these stories to be told, as For the Sunday of the Pope’s visit,
the good news stories of what the Knights which we in Ireland would call “A soft day
can do. I asked every one of my Brothers thank God”. I am sure Brother Charlie
to become a storyteller. McCluskey would agree with that
description as he and Sandra were in
As I mentioned, our Supreme Executive Phoenix Park. Half of our volunteers
in its first year in office had a tough were at our Marian Shrine t Knock and
baptism. Firstly it was Ely Court, our half at Phoenix Park in Dublin.
office development behind Ely House, our
HQ in Dublin, the Government At Knock our Deputy Supreme Knight,
department moved out in March. They Brother Brendan McCann, led the
will return with a new lease in a few volunteers and Brother Tom Walton, our
months’ time. Brother Niall Kennedy has Supreme Secretary in Phoenix Park.
spent many hundreds of hours on the Brother Brendan will tell you about the
negotiations – it has become a miniature very early start, the pouring rain, but also
Brexit. We lost 86% of our income for a the great atmosphere and the sense of
spirituality in Knock.

AUTUMN Edition 2018 Our Ecclesiastical Adviser 5

never be swayed or discouraged by the icy Address by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP
stare of indifference, or the stormy winds of to Supreme Council
hostility. Both our Orders encounter such
icy stares and stormy winds on a regular allow for this, and permeate the way we
basis. function as a fraternal Order. One
objection is that we enter a world of
As a counter to the liberal agenda which chaos if we don’t work within a rigid
has infiltrated into Irish life in the last 50 structure of rules and regulations, but
years we have decided to assist with t what is clear is that this need not be the
he need for trained catechists. On 10th case. If we can become more
December last we had eight Nigerian transparent in our workings then we not
Brothers join as Knights of St Columbanus. only create an attitude of trust, that we
The new Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Jude have nothing to hide, but we also leave
Thaddeus Okolo, told me in Ely House that ourselves open to the workings of God’s
he could see in the Nigerian children grace in our lives, families and our Order.
coming to receive Holy Communion that That is what we try to do already but if the
they truly believed that they were receiving Church as a whole moves away from
the Body of Christ. Importantly, they were other structures of authority, then it
receiving catechetical classes in their own makes our work of living the Gospel and
community on a monthly basis. spreading the message to others so
much more easy to carry out.
Therefore, the training of catechists is
among the most vital parts we can play in There is a new and very welcome There is no doubt that the Church has
the building of faith on solid foundations. mood in Rome. It seemed that messed up at various moments in history.
every one of the Cardinals and There is no doubt that in our day it is the
On the international stage, IACK and Archbishops we met during the horrific record of child sexual abuse and
Unum Omnes participation and recent Ad Limina shared its cover-up by Priests, Bishops and other
leadership is important for both of us. Our something of themselves which senior figures whom we trusted to guide
Order, as is the Knights of St Columba, is we had never seen before. and support us in our faith. The sense of
supporting a new IACK initiative which is tragedy which covers us is simply
an international Essay Competition, entitled One Cardinal filled up with emotion overwhelming. Even though the Church
“Walking in joy to serve the Lord.” when the forthcoming canonisation of is working to do everything it can to give
Pope St John Paul VI was mentioned. victims justice and support, in some
In Drogheda I completed the St Oliver Another shared something of his deep cases the damage is so deep that the
Plunkett Camino, visiting and praying in personal spirituality when talking about wounds will never be healed.
churches around the town – the diocesan the celebration of Mass, and yet another
churches, the Order churches and those of revealed his powerful intellect when When we met the Holy Father towards
different Christian denominations. I found talking about moral and political situations the end of our visit it became obvious that
it a way to build up my faith and enhance that the Church often finds itself in. No he was the source of this new way of
ecumenical relations. issues were avoided and we were able to working together. He likes to call it
speak openly about the turmoil affecting synodality. We were with Pope Francis
I attended Holy Mass as a Mass rock the Church. for over two hours without an agenda.
recently. It was another soft day – we were Conversation flowed to and fro and he
huddled together, the rain coming side- There was a recognition that we can revealed his heart to us. What did we
ways, a bitingly cold September wind – only overcome the present crisis in the find? We encountered a man at peace.
added to my experiencing a bit of what it Church if we leave ourselves open to He said that this peace had been with
was like for our forefathers to attend Holy each other and to the grace of the Holy him since his election as Pope, and it
Mass in this natural bowl on top of the hill Spirit. We asked for their help and they supported him through every moment of
whatever the weather – unseen because of asked for ours. There was no sense of every day. It was always with him. This
those Penal Laws. I wondered to myself “us” and “them” – we are all workers in is the peace that has been given to a
are we seeing a 21st Century version of the same vineyard and a successful man who is close to God but has opened
those Penal Laws in our country. harvest depends on each of us pulling his soul to the world. That peace is what
out weight. we hope to find at the end of our earthly
We always want to be better and videos journey, but it can be available to us and
are being planned to show the best This new way of working, which may to those we encounter, even victims of
possible way to have an Initiation seem very obvious to us as a way of clergy sexual abuse.
Ceremony, hold a Provincial Council dealing with the issues that the modern
meeting and a Primary Council meeting, Church faces is refreshing and helpful. It I came away from Rome believing that
promoting development to show at Pope occurs to me that as the Knights of St the need for our Order is greater than
John Paul II awards evenings. Columba starts its centenary year we too ever. We are close to people right across
are ready for a fresh start and a new the social spectrum – we can listen to
It took me five months to find a Supreme approach. In fact, we have a head start them and be changed by them, but we
Chaplain and five months to get Episcopal when it comes to introducing a can also use that experience to be a
approval for him. He is Father Pat collaborative way of working as our relevant and lively moment within the
Mernagh, a native of Enniscorthy. He is an principles of fraternity, charity and unity Church to help those who don’t know
Army Chaplain to the 2nd Brigade and has Jesus, to listen to his words and be
been on five tours of UN duty. He has all transformed by them.
the makings of a great Supreme Chaplain,
as I think Brother Bertie and Brother Joe May the Peace of Christ be with you
will attest. too.

To conclude, I ask God’s continued + Most Rev. Malcolm McMahon OP
guidance on the work of the Order of the
Knights of St Columba and especially on
you, Brother Supreme Knight, Brother
Bertie. I would like to return something
which you might wish to place in your
Order’s archive. It is something I got very
recently. It is something which comes from
within five to six years from the beginning
of your Order. It is silver Grand Knight’s
medal. It is inscribed “Rev T.S. Simpson
OSB GK of Council 86 1924-25.”

Brother Supreme Knight it is home.

Won by a neck

During his visit to Birmingham in September for the Council 127,
Province 18, 29th annual youth drama awards Supreme Knight Brother
Bertie Grogan, who was wearing the Order’s new Centenary tie, met with
the Provincial Officer for Youth, Brother Columba Conway, who had the
opportunity to see and admire the finished result of his winning entry in the
Centenary Tie competition.

Brother Columba Conway admiring Supreme Knight Bertie Grogan’s new tie.