Columba Autumn 2022 Edition - Electronic Edition

ARCHBISHOP MARIO CONTI
20th March 1934 - 8th November 2022
Archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Glasgow

Requiescat in Pace

Columba Magazine C.W.L. Annual Pilgrimage 2022

The Board of Directors Catholic Women’s League Pilgrimage
2022/2023
by Brother Danny O hEarchai, Supreme Director for Membership
Supreme Knight and Deputy Supreme Knight
Brother Harry Welsh
Immediate Past Supreme Knight On Wednesday 22 June, the Supreme Directors for Media and
Brother Bertie Grogan Membership, Brothers Sean Smith and Danny Ó hEarchaí, attended the
Supreme Director for Membership Catholic Women’s League National Pilgrimage, this year held at St John’s
Cathedral, Portsmouth. The Mass was celebrated by The Bishop Emeritus
And of Northampton, Bishop Peter Doyle and concelebrated by the National
Deputy Supreme Knight Chaplain to the CWL, Fr Marcin Drabik, the Dean of Portsmouth
Brother Daineal o hEarchai Cathedral, Canon PJ Smith and Fr Francis Sasinowski.
Supreme Director for Spirituality & Wel-
We were then treated to an afternoon tea in a nearby hotel by the League
fare and a wonderful day was had. We are very grateful to the National
Brother Sean Mulligan President of the CWL, Mrs Jeannette Collins and her National Board for
Supreme Director for Action & Social the kind invite and we were both very honoured to attend and represent the
Brother Stephen McMillan Order on this fabulous occasion and the whole Order of the Knights of St
Supreme Director for Youth & Young Columba wishes the CWL our very best wishes and prayers for your
ongoing service to the Catholic Church.
People
Brother Michael Akinrele Brother Sean Smith - SD for Brother Danny O hEarchai -
Supreme Director for Media Media with the President SD for Membership with the
and ladies f the CWL at St President of the CWL
Brother Sean Smith Johns Cathedral Portsmouth Jeanette Collins at St Johns
Regional Director - Region 1 Cathedral Portsmouth

Brother Frank Kelly Brothers Sean Smith - SD for
Regional Director - Region 2 Media and Danny O hEarchai - SD
for Membership at the CWL
Brother Barry Johnston National Pilgrimage Mass St Johns
Regional Director - Region 3 Cathedral Portsmouth. Also in the
photo is Brother Tony Quigley -
Vacant Provincial Grand Knight of
Regional Director- Region 4 Province 14 - Portsmouth
Brother Peter Sims-Coomber
Regional Director - Region 5

Brother Martin Cook
Regional Director - Region 6

Brother George Johnson
Regional Director - Region 7
Brother Rosario Fichardo
Regional Director - Region 8

Brother John Campolini

Please note the articles submitted for this publication Produced by
are for interest and information purposes only and are The Knights of St Columba, 75 Hillington Road South
Glasgow, Scotland. G52 2AE, Telephone : 0141 883 5700
not necessarily the opinion of the Editor or the Email : headoffice@ksc.org.uk, Website : www.ksc.org.uk
Order of the Knights of St Columba Editor - Martin Hargraves

The Supreme Knight writes AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

The Supreme Knight Re-Elected by Brother Henry Welsh, Supreme Knight

Dear Brothers
I would like to thank you all for electing me as your Supreme Knight for a second term. I promise I
will do the best I can for the good of the Order. There was so much that we did last year, I felt it was
fantastic and Trish and I enjoyed meeting everyone wherever we went. The fraternity shown to us was
truly appreciated, and we look forward to more of the same.
Our diary is already full for the next two months from the 100th anniversary of Middlesbrough,
Province 12’s Elevations at Aylesford, Deceased Brothers Mass at Westminster and lots more. Please
check the diary on the web site.
It was with sorrow we learned of the death of The Right Reverend Bishop Howard Tripp on the 5th of
October. Bishop Tripp served the Order as Ecclesiastical Advisor in the 90’s. We thank him for his
service. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend his funeral, but my Deputy Brother Danny will be
representing me. May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace. Amen.
I have been very busy over the last two months visiting Carfin Grotto for the Knights of St. Columba
National Pilgrimage where we saw the relics of St Columba St Andrew and St Margaret in the
Brechbannoch Reliquary.

Reliquary of St Columba,
St Andrew and St Margaret

Before that I attended the National Shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham where we joined up with the
Brothers from the Knights of Columbus, who were there to thank us for our donation of £20,000,
which they match funded to make our total donation £40,000. Well done, Brothers.

The Supreme Knight pictured
with Knights of Columbus at
Walsingham

Continued on Page 4

Columba Magazine Our Ecclesiastical Advisor Writes

The Supreme Knight Re-Elected by Brother Henry Welsh, Supreme Knight

Continued from Page 3

We then moved on to Jersey for our 99th Supreme Council. Well done Jersey! A brilliant Supreme
Council. I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the organisation of the event. We look
forward to Edinburgh next year 20th to the 22nd of October 2023.
We were off on our travels again a day after coming home from Jersey and attended the Knights of
Columbanus’s SAM meeting held in Monaghan in Ireland. I found that their Council was almost a
mirror image of ours; they have the same trials and tribulations as us. Some of their ideas are
excellent and I am sure that Brothers Michael and Danny will transfer them to our Order. I would like
to thank them for their most generous hospitality.
We now go forward and look forward to all the work we must carry out over the next twelve months.
May St. Columba Protect you and keep you safe.
Supreme Knight.

Henry Welsh

The Month of Remembrance by Bishop Tom Neylon

We are well into autumn. The natural world is slowing down. The leaves
on the trees are changing into some wonderful colours before they fall to
the ground and die.

The month of November is the month during which we remember the
fallen of 2 World Wars and other conflicts as well as our loved ones. We

will pray for the repose of the souls of the Knights and the members of

their families who have died.

The month of November begins with the glorious feast of All Saints. This
feast reminds us of our destiny as the People of God: the fullness of life
with our Father in heaven.

May we find some space each day to be still in the presence of the Lord,
to pray for forgiveness, to give thanks for those we have known who have
died and to bring before the Lord our needs and the needs of the world.

St Columba. Pray for us.

Obituaries AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Fr David Duane RIP 3 October 1934 – 23 July 2022 By Brother John Doran KSG PSK

Fr David was born in Derry on the 3rd October years in a Care Home where he was well looked
1934 and attended the Waterside Primary School, after. My self and others of his close friends in
and then went on to Presentation College, Glasthule Province 6 kept in touch by phone, and when his
and Blackrock College, Dublin. He studied hearing was becoming a problem wrote to him and
philosophy at University College, Dublin, and then he was still the upbeat Fr David that we all knew so
went to Holy Cross College, Clonliffe and St Pe- well, and always inquired and looked forward to
ter’s College Wexford, where he was Ordained to what was going on in the Order and appreciated the
the Priesthood on 5th June 1960. He joined the contact. He always told me to let him know if
Diocese of Lancaster and his first Parish as anyone in the Order had died that he knew, so he
Assistant Priest was at English Martyrs, Preston could say Mass for them and would remember
from 1960-66 then to St Mary’s Barrow-in-Furness them in his prayers.
from 1966-72. It was while he was in Barrow that
he became a Member of Honour of the Knights of Fr David served faithfully in many Parishes of the
St Columba on 18th October 1966, Reg.No. MOH Diocese and his last Parish was in the South Lakes,
79/66. In 1967 he became Provincial Chaplain to Our lady of the Wayside Grasmere in 2004. He
Province 6 Cumbria till 1974. On moving to later assumed responsibility for the Chapel of St
Preston, he became Provincial Chaplain to Province Philip Howard in Glenridding, and the Parish of
7 Lancaster. In 1979 he was re-appointed Mater Amabilis from where he retired in 2013. He
Provincial Chaplain to Province 6 Cumbria, and received a special certificate from the then
remained so until his retirement in 2013, to live Supreme Knight Bro Bertie Grogan KSG for over
near his sister Ellie and family in Castlewellan Co. 50 years as a Member of Honour of our Order, and
Down. During his retirement in Castlewellan he was congratulated for his work for the Knights of
assisted the Parish Priest on Sunday’s and on many St Columba. In life we all from time to time have
other occasions, and was loved by all the the honour of meeting a very special person that
Parishioners with his cheery smile and sense of enhances our lives. Fr David was one such person
humour. In the last few years his health was failing especially and he will always be in our prayers. God bless you Fr David.
his hearing and his mobility was not good, and he spent the last May you Rest in Peace.

Terry MacMahon 12 January 1940 – 16 June 2022 By Brother Terry Hephrun

Born on 12 January 1940 to Arthur and suffered his first heart attack, Mary was Earlier this year, Terry achieved his final
Muriel MacMahon, he was their second pregnant with Angela and she spent life goal: to be married to his sweetheart
son, soon to be joined by another two many hours sat in ICU praying for her for 60 years and receive a letter from the
brothers. husband’s health. It was on one of these Queen. It hangs proudly in the front
visits that she was approached by Terry’s room, a lifetime achievement of love.
Aged seven, Terry suffered an accident employer, who brutally advised he would Not one to shy away from hard work,
in the school yard that hospitalised him no longer be employed by the company. Terry spent his retirement doing. He was
for over six months. Although he was Sacked, whilst recovering from a heart a magistrate for 12 years, an active
told he would never walk again, he did. attack, with three young children at Member of the KSC for over 50 years
The beginning of a character, the start of home, and another on the way. and of the Catenians for over 40 joining
something pretty special.
During his recovery he had a new in 1965 and 1975 respectively. He served
At 11 he won a scholarship to Burnley determination, not wanting to ever be in as grand Knight and Club Chairman from
Grammar School, leaving at 16 to join a position of reliance on an employer, he 1973 to 1976. He was instrumental in the
Parkinson’s Accountants, as an Audit helped found an Accountancy and preparation and fundraising for the
Clerk; Terry enjoyed organisation, tidy Insurance Practice, called Margins. Council’s Golden Jubilee in 1975 – a full
accounts, tidy affairs, a stiff shirt and a In 1977 Terry had another heart attack so week of spiritual, welfare and social
tie well tied. He went to night school to a decision was made to split the practice. celebrations. He also served as Provincial
sit his accountancy exams. Two of the partners took the accountancy Grand Knight for Province 21. He was an
It was around this time that Mary side of the business and two, including active Member until recent years but
Stansfield entered his life, at the Briar Terry, took the Insurance where he maintained a keen interest in Council and
Ballroom, he was 17 and Mary just 16. stayed until he joined Mary in retirement Club life. He also did the accounts for a
They courted for a number of years with in 1997. number of charities and collected hospice
Terry travelling regularly to Hull to see boxes from across
Mary when she was studying to be a With a weakened heart, he subsequently Burnley.
teacher. They married at Holy Trinity on had a quadruple heart bypass in Alongside the
24 February 1962, and eleven months Blackpool. family and the
later, their first daughter arrived, Susan
Mary. Terry’s health declined over the past five career he also had
In 1965 more children were on the cards, years, yet with every Priest visit came a his hobbies,
so they moved to Parklands, where recovery that defied the odds. The family collecting stamps
were able to hold a party for his 80th and ceramics.

Bernard Michael was born in 1966, birthday in January 2020 in KSC 110 Terry will be
Brendan in 1969, the final mini Club. The great grandchildren joined greatly missed.
MacMahon, Angela in 1971. Terry and Mary on the dance floor, along
Earlier that year, on 7 April 1971 he with their children and grandchildren.

Columba Magazine Friends of the Holy Land write

Giving Hope to vulnerable Christians for over 12 years by Brendan Metcalfe CEO of FHL

sustain their future – most importantly to give
them HOPE.

Giving Hope to vulnerable Christians for
over 12 years

Samer and Jane have five children and with

Samer’s elderly parents living with them as well,

their household in Beit Sahour is a busy one.

Eldest son, Daniel is 17 and suffers with a

developmental delay meaning that he requires

specialised care. Friends of the Holy Land have

been paying the fees for him to attend the Life It is little known among Christians in the UK that

Gate Centre for Rehabilitation since 2019. Christians today account for less than 2% of the

Michael, 74 and his daughter Diala, 32, were both overall population of the Holy Land whereas at
found to have tumours that urgently needed the beginning of the 20th century, Christians made
removal. As there is no free healthcare, Friends of up roughly 29%. Without support, the Holy places
the Holy Land took the pressure off the family’s of the Bible could become cultural museums with
finances by contributing nearly half of the cost of no vibrant or secure Christian presence at all.
both surgeries.
Many of the daily challenges facing our brothers

and sisters in the land where Jesus walked are

also little known. With very high unemployment,

travel restrictions and the inability to pay medical

and utility bills where there is little government

support, Friends of the Holy Land is one of the

few, UK based charities, that has the sole focus to

support these ‘living stones’ (1 Peter 2:5) of our

Mother Church.

Adriana, like many six-year-olds, loves drawing
and sport. Supported by Friends of the Holy Land,
she is doing really well at the Rosary School in
Bethlehem. Her family is one of the poorest
Christian families in town. She is one of the 270
school children who were helped by Friends of
the Holy Land with the fees to attend a Christian
school last year.

This is the routine daily work of Friends of the
Holy Land. Established in 2009 with a mission to
secure a resilient and enduring community for
Christians living in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and We are also rare among agencies working in the
Jordan; the focus of our work is providing region as we are registered as a charity in country
practical help directly to the most needy and so we can maintain and staff a local office to deal
vulnerable of our Christian brothers and sisters. with cases directly and we can operate our own
We help in emergencies, support a Christian local bank accounts, so our grants largely go
education and fund practical small projects to directly to individuals and families in need not
create employment and improve housing, all to

Friends of the Holy Land write AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Giving Hope to vulnerable Christians for over 12 years by Brendan Metcalfe CEO of FHL

through agencies. return to the Holy Land. We have prayer resources

We are non-political in our work and do not and a library of spiritual reflections on the prayer
campaign for a solution to the problems and page of our website,
www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/
conflict in the area, rather we deal
prayer which we hope will provide
with the consequences of the facts
inspiration for you and perhaps
on the ground. We are also
for your parish prayer group.
ecumenical and are very proud to

have the endorsement of Church Now that travel restrictions have

Leaders of all denominations such as been lifted, we call for all
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Christians to return on Pilgrimage
Archbishop Justin Welby. We hope to to the Holy Land. Walking in the
add the Knights of St Columba as a footsteps of Jesus can renew our
Christian lives and meeting the

Christian organisation that supports people will help you understand

our essential mission. the issues affecting our Mother

Last year we made grants of almost Church. The Knights already

support many Pilgrimages; we

£600,000 that made a direct hope in 2023 they will be inspired

difference in the lives of our brothers to add a pilgrimage to the Holy

and sisters, we could not achieve this across Land to their agenda to see the
without the generous charity of Christians ‘Fifth Gospel’ and meet the ‘living stones’ of our
faith. The Friends of the Holy Land family will
the UK such as the members of the Knights of St provide a warm welcome to the cradle of

Columba. Please visit our website, Christianity.

www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk to see the full
picture of the work made possible by this support. For much of the world the Holy Land has
We hope you are inspired to support our mission disappeared from the news. But our brothers and
for the year ahead as a direct way of standing with sisters are still there, steadfastly remaining despite
our brothers and sisters in solidarity, love and the daily challenges. While our eyes turn toward
Ukraine and our hearts break at the senseless
friendship.
killing of innocents there, I ask you to remember
Perhaps you can speak to your Parish Priest or those Christians in the Holy Land who are
Headteacher so that one of our representatives enduring the effects of the longest continuing
can come and speak in your church or school to conflict in the world.
share a better understanding of our mission and
how they can help maintain the sacred character www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/donate

of the Holy Land so that Christians will remain in Brendan Metcalfe, Executive Director, Friends of

the geographical point of the union between God the Holy Land.

and men, between eternity and history. www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk
Prayer underpins all that we do so, we invite you

to pray, with us, for our brothers and sisters to be Registered Charity Number 1130054 Friends of the
relieved of their oppression and for peace to Holy Land, Farmer Ward Road, Kenilworth,
Warwickshire, CV8 2DH Tel: 01926 512980

Friends of the Holy Land - Simulcast Ecumenical Advent Service linking Glasgow with Bethlehem.

Saturday, December 3rd 2022. Join us for a unique service led by local leaders from the Church of Scotland, the
Catholic Church and the Scottish Episcopal Church in Glasgow combined with their counterparts in Bethlehem

Simulcast between two locations:
Glasgow Cathedral, Castle Street, Glasgow, G4 0QZ at 14:00 (GMT)
The Church of St Catherine, Manger Square, Bethlehem at 16:00 (Bethlehem Time)

In this year of challenging and dangerous times, join us in Glasgow Cathedral as we remember and are renewed
by the Hope that was born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. Free admission, all are welcome. For more
details see www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/simulcast-advent-service

Columba Magazine Supreme Knight joins Knights of St Colum

Supreme Knight attends Pilgrimage to Knock and Ballycastle with the Knights of St Columbanus

Trish and I were invited by the Supreme Knight of the Knights of
Columbanus Brother Brendan McCann to attend their Annual Pilgrimage to
Knock on the last weekend of May this year,
We boarded a flight at Liverpool Airport early on the Saturday morning
flying direct to Knock. Brother Brendan and his wife Angela (Lizzi) met us
off the plane and we went for lunch at a restaurant attached to the Shrine.
As you can see by the pictures it is an absolutely beautiful place. We spent
the afternoon and evening exploring the Shrine with the help of a wonderful
guide in Lizzi. She took us to the graves of some of the Apparitions that you
would not normally get to see. We ventured back to the hotel where we
were wined and dined and as usual abused by the Brothers; only joking. It
was European cup final night and we all watched the game. Some happy
some not. Then off to bed,
On waking up on Sunday we looked out of our window and had a beautiful
view of Our Ladies Basilica.
We continued our tour of the Shrine by going to the glass Chapel and the
original Parish Church; both fantastic sights. I purchased two Mass cards
one for the Order and another for Brother Danny’s dad who had just died
and Mass will be said every day for both intentions.

banus’ Knock and Ballycastle Pilgrimage AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

by Brother Sean Smith

I had the honour and privilege along with Trish, Brendan, Angela, and a
number of other Knights to have lunch with the Parish Priest Father Richard
and the Bishop of Armagh and the Cardinal. What an honour.
We headed for Mass at 3pm where I was invited to process into Church with
The Knights of Columbanus. A great privilege to represent our Order.
After Mass I had the honour of joining with our Irish Brothers in leading the
Rosary Procession around the Shrine.
When Rosary was finished, we all met outside the glass Chapel where the
Cardinal thanked us all and our own Order for being there. I have to say it was
my privilege.
We then went back to Father Richard’s house for his famous apple pie.
I would like to take this opportunity to Thank Brother Brendan and the
Knights of Columbanus for their fantastic hospitality and I look forward to
joining you with the relic of St Columba next Year.
Fraternally
Harry Welsh
Supreme Knight

Columba Magazine 99th Supreme Council

99th SUPREME COUNCIL by Brother Sean Smith

The ladies head out on one of their The Knights of St Columba Banner carried through
excursions around the island of the Church of St Thomas, St Helier before the Installa-
Jersey tion of Supreme Directors and Mass carried by Past
Director Brother Paul Laird, flanked by Province 39
Provincial Officers. Members of Council 216 Jersey
processed with swords in their hands accompany the
Procession.

The Order’s 99th Supreme Council Restaurant and were entertained by

was held on the weekend of 7th to the Jersey Irish Dancers, which was

Supreme Knight Brother Harry Welsh the 9th of October 2022 and for the wonderful entertainment.
(Right) and Ecclesiastical Advisor
Bishop Tom Neylon conduct the first time it was held off the On the Saturday during Supreme
mainland and taken to Jersey in Council a cheque for £13,500 was
Installation of Supreme Directors at St Province 39. Brothers gathered at presented to Sheila Hargreaves,
Thomas’ Church in St Helier. Also the Raddisson Blu Waterfront Hotel Wife of Past Supreme Knight
pictured is Supreme Warden Dom in St Helier, Jersey in glorious Brother Ken Hargreaves KCSG
Shepherd (left) weather for the weekend, as can be KHS, and treasurer of our last
seen in some of the photos of the National Action Project the John
The ladies enjoying a cup of tea in the ladies. Foster Charitable Trust. We were
sunshine in Jersey. Pictured (front table
left to right) Mrs Sue Ferro, Mrs Sheila Before Supreme Council began we entertained by Pauline of Let the
Hargreaves (wife of PSK Brother Ken
KC*SG KHS), Mrs Sandra McCluskey had the Jack McArdle Lecture on Children Live!, our next National

(wife of PSK Brother Charlie, Mrs the Thursday Night in the hotel. Action Project, who showed a video
Christine Hyde-Linaker (Wife of Broth-
er Roy Hyde-Linaker), Mrs Catherine This was delivered by Reverend that had been prepared by the
Smith (mother of Brother Sean Smith,
Doctor Paul Rowan, Director of Children of Medina, Columbia that
SD)
Beaulieu Institute of Theological was tailored specifically for the

Literacy, Beaulieu Convent School, Knights of St Columba. The video

St Helier. is available for viewing on the

Supreme Council itself started at National Website

3pm on Friday the 7th of October (www.ksc.org.uk).

and the first Session of Supreme As usual just before the close of
Council opened by prayers from our Supreme Council various awards
Ecclesiastical Advisor Bishop Tom were given to Councils and
Neylon. We were joined by Brother Provinces that had done such
Brendan McCann, Supreme Knight wonderful work over the past year.
of the Knights of St Columbanus
and Brother Adrian King, Deputy Supreme Council 2023 will now be
Supreme Knight of the Knights of held in Edinburgh. We very much
look forward to this event which
St Columbanus.
will coincide with Province 3’s
On the Friday night we had a 100th Anniversary as a Province in
wonderful BBQ in the Hotel the Order.

Jersey October 7-9 2022 AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

SUPREME COUNCIL AWARDS

Columba Cross Charles Ferro Trophy for Action

The Supreme Knight bestowed the The Charles Ferro Trophy for
Order’s highest award, the Action was won by Council 299
Columba Cross, to Council 216 Rhyl for the work they have
Jersey for their unfailing faith, even carried out over the past year
during the years of war when the with just 6 Brothers in the
Island was besieged by German Council, including one Brother
Soldiers. Canon Dominic Golding, who has been instrumental in the
Dean of Jersey and Chaplain is work of building a new
pictured here receiving the award Community Centre in the area.
on behalf of the Council. Supreme Director for Action and
Social Brother Stephen Ferris presented the award to
Surrey Shield Brother Martin Hargraves Grand Knight of Council 299
and Brother Roy Hyde-Linaker, Provincial Grand
The Surrey Shield for Membership Knight
was won by Province 18 -
Birmingham for their hard work in Madonna Oakes Trophy
recruiting and retaining Brothers in
the Province. Supreme Director for The Madonna Oakes Trophy for
Membership Brother Daineal O Youth and Young People was
hEarchai is pictured presenting the awarded to Council 977 -
award to Brother James Northey, Gravesend for their outstanding
Provincial Grand Knight. work with young people in their
area. Supreme Director for Youth
Brother Michael Akinrele is
pictured presenting the Trophy to
Brother Tom Breen, Provincial
Grand Knight.

The Order’s The Supreme Knight Brother John Kenyon Peter Sims-Coomber
Ecclesiastical Advisor presents Brother Jim in recognition of his received his Diamond
Bishop Tom Neylon Pugh with his Past years of service as the Jubilee Certificate for
was also presented with
his Member of Honour Directors Jewel Order’s National his 60 years as a
Award by the Supreme Safeguarding Officer. Member of the Order.

Knight Brother John was
presented with a crystal
decanter and glasses by

the Supreme Knight.

Columba Magazine KSC Pilgrimage to

KSC 2022 Lourdes Pilgrimage by Supreme Knight Brother Henry Welsh

The group at the Basilica The Supreme Knight and his At the Basilica ready for the
wife Tricia at the Basilica Candlelight Procession
The group getting ready for Mass
at the Basilica Our Pilgrimage to Lourdes was an absolute fantastic
experience. I would like to thank Fr Emmet O’Dowd,
Chaplain to Council 88 Aberdeen for being our Chaplain
for the week. There is no praise good enough for Fr
Emmet; he was truly spiritual and fraternal and made the
Pilgrimage what it was. Also a big thanks to all who
attended, especially the Merry Widows of Alloa.
We had a wonderful time, there were 22 of us on the trip.
We set off from Manchester airport flying to Bordeaux. A
three-hour bus trip down to Lourdes followed. It certainly
didn’t feel that long.
Once in Lourdes our Pilgrimage started properly. Our guide
John took us around the sights of Lourdes over the next

Trish Welsh and friend at the The group with the KSC banner at the Children with torches a
hotel Basilica light Procession leading

dy onto the

Lourdes 2022 AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

The KSC Banner being carried The KSC Candle which was Pilgrims relaxing in the hotel
through the streets of Lourdes to lit and left at the Basilica restaurant
with petitions. The candle
the Basilica will be lit for a year. The hotel

four days. He was very knowledgeable and it was a
pleasure to have him as our guide.

It was wonderful having Sister Frances Kelly with us who
became our unofficial choir master. Unfortunately she
passed away not long after returning from Lourdes.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest
in peace Amen

Henry Welsh
Supreme Knight

at the end of the Torch- The group with other Pilgrims at Mass after Sister Frances Kelly (RIP), her
g the statue of Our La- the Torchlight Procession Dad Brother Frank and Brother
Sanctuary
relaxing in the grounds

Columba Magazine Mercy Bus Tour 2022

KSC and Friends of Divine Mercy take the Mercy Bus to the North of England

On 23rd of July Supreme Knight Church of St Anne in the city centre

Brother Harry Welsh, Supreme and saw quite a few people come

Day 1 - The Mercy Bus outside Director for Membership Brother along and speak to or have
Leeds Cathedral
Daineal O hEarchai and Supreme confessions with the Priests that we

Director for Media Brother Sean had on board the bus. Each day we

Smith met in Middlesborough the had Priests on the bus at the various

night before a 6 day adventure across locations to hear confessions, or in

the North of England with the Mercy quite a few cases, just talk to people.

Bus. Everyone who came on the bus was

They were joined by Brother John offered refreshments on the bus.

O’Donnell, Provincial Grand Knight Day two saw the group move onto
of Province 1 who had set off with a Salford, where the venue changed to
minibus loaded with the Friends of a Tesco car park, across the road
Divine Mercy and their leader Helen from the Catholic Church St James
Border. The two groups met at the and All Souls, whose team looked
Hotel and set off early next morning after the team for the entire day led
to meet the Bus at the Cathedral ably by Father Frankie Mulgrew.
Church of St Anne and the Church Lunch and refreshments were
of the Holy Rosary in Leeds City provided all day for the team in the
Centre. Church Hall and Fr Frankie made

And thus would begin a 6 day quite the impression on us with his

adventure that would see the group hospitality and his infectious

street evangelising by approaching personality. The Diocese of Salford

members of the public in the streets also sent their photographer to take

to hand out Rosaries, prayer cards photos of the team to be displayed

and leaflets and trying to entice them on the Diocesan website and in their

to come and have their confessions literature.

heard on the Bus. Day 3 and we were back in Leeds

Each day started and ended with again, and once again at another

prayers to the Divine Mercy, the Tesco store car park. This did not

theme of the week and then deter people from coming on the bus

continued with street evangelisation to talk with and have confession with

until 3-3;30pm before the bus was the Priests, even if this was an area

dismantled and everything packed of Leeds that would be classed as a

away and the group moved to the “poorer area” of Leeds, which is just

next hotel. the place that benefitted from a visit

We started in Leeds at the Cathedral from the Mercy Bus.

Mercy Bus Tour 2022 AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Day 4 and we were on the road to Mass on the Mercy Bus itself.

Burnley, across the road from the KSC Again the Supreme Knight remarked, “ I
Burnley Club, which is so well looked have never attended Mass on a bus
after by Council 110 Burnley. This was before!” So this was another new
the first day that the weather was experience for all of us who were there.
inclement and it seemed to change the
mood of the whole team. Footfall was The Supreme Knight stated the
down also as the first three days we were following, “ I have never felt more like
close to large shopping areas. Next door a Jehovah's’ Witness in my entire life,
to the Church of St Mary of the but I would not have missed this for all
Assumption was a home for retired the world. This has been the best thing
Nuns. The staff in the home were the Knights of St Columba have done in
diligent and brought most, if not all of years.”

the Nuns to visit the Mercy Bus. Not all Brother Daineal O hEarchai stated “This
could get on the bus due to their mobility is the first time I have ever done street
but all who came to see the team were evangelisation in my life, and it was the
very grateful that we came to see them. most rewarding and fulfilling experience

Day 5 and we moved on to Wrexham I have ever had. And to do it with the
Cathedral, which was an anomaly in our Knights of St Columba makes it more
week. Whilst the bus was parked at the special.”

Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Brother Sean Smith stated that “This has
Sorrows, the team took off to the local been a long hard week, but the effect of
shopping precinct to carry on the street seeing so many people visit the Mercy
Evangelisation with the local people and Bus has been an eye-opening experience
brought them back to the Mercy Bus on and one that I would hope we will do
a regular basis.
again in another area of England as it has

Day 6 saw us take our final day of the brought so many people together.”

tour and the Mercy Bus Tour to As a result of the Brothers’ attendance at
Liverpool. Here we parked the Mercy the Mercy Bus Tour plans are under way
Bus close to the Church and opposite a for a repeat of the Mercy Bus Tour in the
shopping area, which allowed us to years ahead. Helen Border, leader of the
approach many more people.
Friends of Divince Mercy Scotland also

The day, and indeed the Tour ended in invited the Knights of St Columba to
the best way imaginable where we were attend their Annual Conference in
joined by the Ecclesiastical Advisor of Glasgow in late October which was
the Order, Bishop Tom Neylon, attended by Supreme Director for Media
Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, who held Brother Sean Smith.

Columba Magazine Look after your health

Look after your health, before it’s too late by Brother John Campolini, Regional Director

Are you suffering from heart burn, acid reflux or regarding my position and he explained what he proposed
indigestion? If the answer is yes, please read on because to do surgically which entailed removing my oesophagus,
taking action now could save your life! removing a third of my stomach, reshaping it and taking it
up the left hand side of my body and attaching the
Let me start from the beginning. My name is John stomach to my throat! So, a fair bit of plumbing to be
Campolini, and I joined the Knights in 1968. I come from done! We spoke about timing for the operation and I was
an Italian background and started my early life with my given and agreed a date of the 11th of November 2014
parents and sister in South London before eventually which was Armistice Day. I presented myself at St
moving to Beckenham. As an Italian family, we did what Thomas’s on the 10th, was made ready for surgery on the
most Italians did after the 2nd World War and we made 11th and as I was about to be anesthetised I remembered
ice cream – gallons of it which was sold to the general that I might not wake up from the operation and said my
public from various outlets. prayers and asked the good Lord to look after me, which I

I was educated by the Christian Brothers at Beulah Hill am glad to say he did. The operation was a lengthy one
who although they did their best to educate me, the and I was then transferred Intensive Care on life support,
important lesson they taught me was to look out for those then to a high dependency ward, then a general ward and
less fortunate than myself and at the age of 18 I joined the then, after 4 weeks, home for Christmas complete with
Knights of St Columba and have served the Order at feeding tube. Thankfully the tube was removed 2 days
Council, Provincial and Board level ever since. before Christmas and I was able to have Christmas Dinner

In 2013 I started to suffer from heart burn or acid reflux, with my long suffering family even if it was a small
especially at night and I bought off the shelf medication portion. I then made a major mistake by having a small
which had little or no effect. After a visit to piece of Christmas Pudding which caused me no end of
problems stomach wise!
my GP who prescribed a months supply of
medication with the words that if it did not
improve I was to go back and he would I had been told that I was to take 6 months
carry out further investigations. Well, it off work (I had already partially retired
from a busy corporate life) and that it
didn’t improve so back I went to my GP would take at least 12 months to fully
who ordered an endoscopy which although recover. I asked for and received 6 months
unpleasant, eventually helped to save my leave from the Criminal Justice System (I
life! was a Presiding Justice at Camberwell

After the first endoscopy, my consultant Green Court) but returned after just 2
months, much to everyone’s surprise. A
said that he had found nothing but would few years later, at the age of 70 I retired
bring me back in a years time for a further
endoscopy. A year later I got the call to go after 36 years sitting in Courts.

back and during that endoscopy, attended Some time during this period of time and
by my consultant who was watching his
registrar examining me, my consultant took during a routine check up at St Thomas’
after Bob Mason had retired and his
over and after looking at the scans on position had been taken over by James
screen ordered some biopsies. This was the
Gossage who was one of the 4 man surgical
point that I thought, ah, I might have a problem which at team that operated on me, I was asked by James if I
the time I could not say as my mouth was full of would consider joining the Oesophageal Patients
instruments, cameras etc. After having the medical Association as a Trustee. He explained what the OPA was
equipment removed from my mouth, I said to my and I remember the words I used in reply which were
consultant “do we have a problem” to which his reply was “after all you have done for me I can’t refuse” and I
a very short, “yep”! He suggested we wait for the results became a Trustee and am now in my second year as
of the biopsies and that I would see him again in three Chair. At every opportunity including this one in
days time which I did. After exchanging pleasantries he Columba, I do my best to make Oesophageal Cancer more
asked me if I thought what might be wrong. I replied, yes, well known as early diagnosis and treatment saves lives.
I think I have Cancer and he replied, that I was correct It is one of the most serious forms of Cancer because
and very lucky! Just being told I had Cancer and then when the symptoms appear it is often too late. Anyone
being told I was lucky was difficult to take in all at once. who is taking medicine for reflux etc should make sure
He went on to say that the plan was not to treat me but to they receive an endoscopy, which at present is the best
cure me and that I had already been transferred to St way of finding out if there is a problem.
Thomas’ Hospital, London and my first appointment was
three days later. I duly presented myself to St Thomas’, Who or what is the OPA. The Oesophageal Patients
was talking to a Cancer specialist nurse when the door Association is the largest national Cancer charity support
opened and in came a man who was ultimately to save my group for Oesophageal Cancer. It has a national web site
life, Bob Mason, one of England's authority on which offers advice, booklets etc free of charge to anyone
Oesophageal Cancer. We had a full and frank discussion asking for them. We have support groups up and down

RD Brother John Campolini writes AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

the country. Have a look at our web site, The Oesophageal Patients Association - Cancer Charity (https://opa.org.uk)
where there is plenty of useful details and contacts.
In the past year we have handled thousands of emails from patients, carers and family members, hosted a number of
Zoom meetings because of the lockdown and are about to restart face-to-face meetings in 2022 now that we have
hopefully seen the end of lockdowns etc and be back to some normality.
My hope is that we support each other in various ways such as meeting up, having discussion groups, inviting
specialist speakers to our meetings, make GP’s more aware and asking for further investigations to be carried out for
the patient.
So, please visit the OPA website, https://opa.org.uk. Please make sure you are referred if you have symptoms as
described above and make sure you seek medical advice asap – it really could save your life!

“I was in prison…” sent anonymously

“I was in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25 :36)

I was 19 years old when I first went into a prison as a visitor - to play basketball against the inmates at Pentonville.
From that moment, and armed with the verse from St Matthew’s Gospel I held a vocation to volunteer in prisons.
When I retired from a very demanding job and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I felt that the time had come to “get on
with it”.

So, as a first step I joined the Prison Fellowship (https://prisonfellowship.org.uk), an ecumenical charity which is
organised around local prayer groups affiliated to a prison or prisons in their area. The fellowship organises a range of
activities. One of these is called “Sycamore Tree”, after the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19), which involves a training
course over 6 weeks on Victim Awareness and Restorative Justice for 18 to 20 participants.

We ran such a programme in our prison for the first time in 2013 and I was a group facilitator. After 3 successful
iterations I took on the role of lead trainer until COVID-19 put a stop to visiting prisons.

A second initiative organised through the fellowship is called “Angel Tree” and is designed to help maintain the
prisoners’ family ties. In the Autumn, with the cooperation of the prison Chaplaincy, inmates are able to sign up to the
programme and, after appropriate safe-guarding checks, the nature and interests of their child or children are
established and these are passed anonymously to collaborating Parishes. Parishioners then buy and donate suitable
small presents. At the end of November, during the course of one evening, our team comes together, reunites the forms
with the gifts, and a message to the child from the inmate. The gift is wrapped in Christmas paper and then the whole
wrapped again in brown paper with an address label and put in sacks ready to go to the Parcel Service.

Separately from the Fellowship activities and through the good offices of the Roman Catholic Chaplain I have been
attending weekly faith and liturgy sessions with a group of up to 18 prisoners. Together we say the Rosary or evening
prayers. During Lent we observe the Stations of the Cross, and at Christmas we hold an ecumenical carol service.

It is an eye opener to go into prison and a challenge to see our Lord’s face in the offender before us. But I have found it
immensely rewarding and would recommend involvement to any Knight.

Anonymous

Columba Magazine Columba Magazine

Council 572 - Enfield Brother celebrates 70 years as a Knight by Brother Marco Amato, GK

On Sunday 12th June Council 572 Enfield celebrated 70 years in the Order with a special Mass at Our Lady of Mount
Carmel and St. George to celebrate Brother John Egan’s 70th Year in the Knights of St Columba.
Bro John Egan joined the Order in 1952 in Peckham and over the years has held every job in the Order including
being Deputy Supreme Knight, and was instrumental in setting up Council 572 in 1962. At the other end of the
spectrum, young Joshua Aghadiuno has recently joined the Order.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Daniel Humphrey and the presentation was made by Bro. Jim Pugh, who was a
Director at the time.

Pictured l-r: Brother Jim Pugh - (now Past) Brother Joshua Aghadiuno with Brother John
Director, Fr Daniel Humphrey and Brother John Egan
Egan

Council 223 - Walsall - Pictured l-r: Brother Jim Pugh - (now Past)
Amazing who you meet Director, Brother Joshua Aghadiuno, Brother
on Pilgrimage John Egan and Fr Daniel Humphrey.

By Brother Stephen Ferris, Past Supreme Director for Action & Social

On 30th May my wife Deborah Ferris was delighted to bump into Brother David Miller from Walsall Council 223 in
Lourdes at the Marian Torchlight Procession.
Deborah was with St Francis of Assisi Catholic College as part of the Birmingham Diocese Pilgrimage.

Around the Councils AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Council 261 gets back to normal by Brother Kevin Donnelly - Grand Knight

Like most Councils, Council 261 - Holy Cross, Palmers Green has experienced a very bleak time over the past two
years. Previously, we have always enjoyed an active social life with curries, dances and quiz nights and have always
had the support of our Parish Clergy. The lack of social interaction has hit us hard, and it is also frustrating that we
have been unable to make our usual charitable donations. Thanks be to God we are now slowly returning to our usual
routine.
One of the highlights of our year has always been our Quiz. Profits from this event go to many worthy causes. We
recently organised such an event raising £600, and we decided to focus on two charities: Angelmans and Thalassemia.
Additionally, we sponsored a young Parishioner, Rachel de Freitas, who is going to help as a Redcap in Lourdes.
I hope that the coming year will allow our Council to return to our usual function of serving God whilst serving others,
and having a great time in the process!

GK Bro Kevin Donnelly presents a cheque for GK Bro Kevin Donnelly presents a cheque of £500
£100 to young parishioner Rachel de Freitas to to Ira Jankowski who is involved with the charity
help her with her work as a Redcap in Lourdes Thalassemia UK. Ira is married to Bro Dominik
later on this year. Jankowski.

Pictured receiving a £500 cheque with Brother Back row includes the GK Brother Kevin
Kevin are Ira Janlowski and Felicity Moy, along Donnelly, his Deputy Bro Louis Appiah and
with two of Felicity’s children Tobias and Ruby, Brother Peter White (proud Father and
who suffers from Angelman’s syndrome, and Grandfather), Dominik Jankowski (husband of
Brother Peter White, Ruby’s father. Also pictured Ira)
are Ruby De Freitas and Canon Mehall Lowry, Front Row - Ira Jankowski, Felicity Moy with
Parish Priest at St Monica’s in Palmers Green Ruby and baby Lucy.

Columba Magazine Columba Magazine

Province 2 - Liverpool gets a new Provincial Grand Knight

By Brother David Keane, Provincial Press Officer

At the Provincial Council Meeting held at St Anne’s Ormskirk on 12th December
2021, Brother Alf Swain, then Deputy Provincial Grand Knight was elected
Provincial Grand Knight for the next 3 years in succession to Bro Ray Pealing who
had been Provincial Grand Knight for the previous 4 years having served an extra
year due to the pandemic. We welcome Bro Alf, who in addition to serving as
Deputy Provincial Grand Knight was also the Provincial Action and Youth Officer.

We thank Bro Ray who performed the Office with distinction over the last 4 years.
New Officers were officially Installed into their positions during 11.15am Mass at
St Mary’s, Little Crosby on Sunday 24th April.

Brother Alf Swain, who was installed as the
new Provincial Grand Knight of Province 2 -
Liverpool on 24th April 2022

Province 3 Councils visit Scanlan by Brother Brian Beaton, Provincial Grand Knight

During Holy Mass, which was outside, and the main celebrant was His Grace Archbishop William Nolan and was
supported by Bishop Joseph Toal and six Priests. Bro. Brian Beaton (WPGK of Province 3) was asked to do the
First Reading and the Psalm. After Holy Mass, His Grace Archbishop William Nolan (the new Archbishop of Glasgow)
blessed all the Brothers.

After Holy Mass, the Brothers travelled to the Boat of Garden Hotel for evening meal.

A good enjoyable day was had by all.

Around the Councils AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Council 974 - Croydon has a recruitment drive by Brother Joseph Fadele

In order to boost Membership of the Order, Brothers in
Council 974 Croydon decided to embark on a massive
recruitment drive in all Parishes in Croydon area.
The District Deputy Brother Fergal Keane also used the
opportunity to thank the Parish Priest - Rev. Fr. Fernández
DeSouza for his unflinching support for the Order.
The visit to this Parish fell on the 'Holy Trinity Sunday'
which the Council's Worthy Grand Knight Brother Donald
Ekekhomen used in highlighting the important works
being done by the Order nationwide.

Here are some of the Brothers at St. Dominics
Catholic Church in Waddon on Sunday 12th
June 2022.

Council 223 - Walsall does their Annual Sponsored Walk by Brother Stephen Ferris, Past SD

On Saturday 2nd July some Brothers of Council 223 Walsall (and their families) did the annual sponsored walk around
Sandwell Valley. Some Brothers did the walk separately to self isolate. This years event was in aid of Acorns Hospice
and was undertaken in memory of Jackie Conway who was a big supporter of the Knights over many years. Within 3
days over £1200 was raised on the ‘just giving page’ with more expected.

Brothers, family and friends on the Sponsored Walk.

Council 280 - Worthing sends helper to Lourdes by Brother Trevor Stauss, Grand Knight

Brothers of Worthing Council raised £500 from a Race Night to
help Peter McGuire attend the Arundel & Bright Diocesan
Pilgrimage to Lourdes this year as a Red Shirt Helper.
Peter told the Council that it was an amazing experience which
brought him closer to God and that he learned a lot about his faith
through those around him.

Peter McGuire, with some of Council 280, receiving the cheque
from GK Trevor Stauss.

Columba Magazine Columba Magazine

Council 937 - Basildon raises money for local Charity by Brother Patrick Gomes, Secretary

The Knights of St Columba, Basildon Council 937, In the picture are the Grand Knight, Bro Jonathan
took part in the annual Brentwood Catholic Children's Emelieze (centre), Action Convenor, Bro Vince Toman
Society Relay 100 event this year and raised
£2,447.74 for the Society. The Council supports the (left of GK) and other Knights from the Council.
Society every year with fundraising to help them with
their work.
The whole event consisted of 100 legs covering 450
miles and joined Churches throughout Essex and East
London. The Parishioners and Knights covered 4 legs
either walking and/or cycling over 16 miles. The
routes covered St Joseph's in Stanford-le-Hope, St
Therese of Lisieux in Laindon, Holy Trinity Church
and St Basil the Great in Basildon and Holy Family in
Benfleet. The Bishop of Brentwood, Rt Alan
Williams, started this year's event by walking the leg
from St Therese of Lisieux in Laindon to Holy Trinity
Church, Basildon accompanied by the Clergy, Fr
Sabu and Fr Saji, from Our Lady and All Saints
Parish and local Knights.

Council 110 - Burnely support Mayor’s Day by Brother Patrick Gomes, Secretary

The Brothers of Burnley Council 110 with support
from Burnley Catenians provided a Guard of
Honour as the newly elected Mayor of Burnley,
Councillor Cosima Towneley, attended a
traditional Mayor's Sunday Mass at St Mary's -
her home Church. Councillor Cosima Towneley
has been elected Mayor of Burnley
2022/23. Councillor Towneley was born in
Cliviger and was educated at St. Joseph’s, Park
Hill before going away to school in Dorset and
Shropshire.
For the special occasion, Fr David Featherstone,
Parish Priest at the Parish of the Good Samaritan,
wore a 16th century chasuble from the Towneley
collection.

The photo shows a group of KSC Council 110 Brothers with
Grand Knight, Tony Young, Fr Featherstone and Councillor

Cosima Towneley.

Council 248 - Edmonton has a busy period by Brother Paul Porter - Secretary

Edmonton Council 248 based at The Most Precious Blood and St Edmund Church in Edmonton North London have
had a busy time of it lately.
In May there was the Instillation of Officers Mass combined with presentations and reception.
Province 29 Provincial Grand Knight Brother Ben Agwunobi attended and installed the new GK Brother Peter King
and all Officers of the Council. The new GK then presented Br Elias Ogiemwonyi with his Immediate Past GK collar
and Br Elias presented Br Francis Sarsah with his 25 year medal and certificate. Mass was followed by a reception in
the [Continued on page 23]

Around the Councils AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Council 248 - Edmonton has a busy period by Brother Paul Porter - Secretary

Church Hall where all attending Mass were invited along with all Brothers, their families and Council Widows.

The following day there was the monthly Coffee Morning to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support. At each
morning Mass, Brother Paul Porter asks the congregation to come and buy pancakes, bacon sandwiches and hot dogs
alongside free hot drinks and biscuits. The first Sundays in June and July there were more Coffee Mornings for
Macmillan.
Also in May, Brother Michael Boggis, the Parish Catechetical Coordinator asked the Brothers to organise the barbecue
to celebrate the completion of the First Holy Communion programme. The Knights cooked and served a burger, hot
dog and drink to every child who had made their First Holy Communion and also fed their siblings.
In July, Youth Officer Brother Cyriac Maliakan and Br Paul Porter attended St Edmund’s School to present the prizes
for the Nativity Scene Painting Competition. Three entries were forwarded to Province for judging and came 1st, 2nd
and 3rd and were forwarded for National judging. Certificates, medals and cash prizes were distributed to 14 children.
July also saw our Church’s Summer Fete. The Knights erected all gazebos and brought all the tables and chairs into
the Parish garden from the hall and returned them afterwards. Brothers organised the school bottle collection, the
public address and music system, BBQ, beer tent, hot and cold drinks, grand draw and South Indian food
stalls. £3,022 was raised for parish projects.

There are currently preparations for a social at the seaside, a social gathering in our Parish garden as a recruitment tool
and a charity car wash.

At the most recent Council Meeting, the new Parish Priest Fr Noel Chukwudike MSP thanked all those who actively
participate in KSC work, saying the Knights are the most active men in the Church and we need more. He said he
would ask other Church societies to follow our example and ask more men to join our organisation.

Brother Peter at the party Brothers at the Coffee Morning

Brother Cyriak and Brother Paul present awards Brother Elias Ogiemwonyi presents Brother Francis
to the winners of the Nativity Scene Painting Sarsah with his 25 year medal and certificate
Competition at St Edmund’s School

Columba Magazine Columba Magazine

Archbishop Malcolm celevrates 40 years of Priesthood by Brother Stephen Ferris

On Sunday 26th June the Supreme Knight, Board of Directors, PGKs, Brothers and wives from Province 2 -
Liverpool and other Provinces attended the 40th Anniversary to the Priesthood of his Grace Archbishop Malcom
McMahon at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. At the Mass the Supreme Knight presented Archbishop Malcolm,

our Past Ecclesiastical Advisor, with a Papal Blessing

Council 184 Elevates 2 Brothers by Brother Alex Moore

Wolverhampton Council has been busy Elevating
two Brothers to Full Knighthood and also
supporting one of our Members of Honour,
Father Sean Gough, on the occasion of the
Corpus Christi procession on 19th June. The
Brothers Elevated were Chike Emmanuel on
050622 and Patrick Obinna on 030722. Both
ceremonies were lead by our WPGK James
Northey.

Around the Councils AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Council 280 - Worthing has a busy time by Brother Trevor Stauss, Grand Knight

Council 280 held a very successful Race Night in May, thanks to the generous
support of Worthing & District Parishioners, to raise funds to support refugees
from Ukraine. They decided to start close to home when they learned that Mrs
Lidiia Kondratyk and her large family from Ukraine were moving into their area.
GK, Trevor Stauss here presenting a cheque for £500 to Mrs Kondratyk.

Council 280 present certificates and prizes to KSC Easter Scene Painting
Competition entrants from St Mary’s Primary School, Worthing. Right to left:
Maria Mayid local winner, NoemiVeeren - Highly Commended, Noah Purdy -

Highly Commended. Certificates presented
include a scanned miniature of their entry.

Members of Council 280 in Arundel & Brighton Province following Mass to
celebrate their 1000th Council Meeting. September 1934 - April 2022 This was
followed by a celebratory lunch for Members, families and Widows.

Council 630 - Hastings presents Knight’s Shields by Brother Philip Coates, Secretary

The Knights Shields along with a £20 prize are presented each year at the three Catholic Primary Schools in the
Deanery to the pupil, selected by the Head Teacher/Staff, who has shown help and kindness throughout the year at
home and school.

The Shield this year at St Mary Magdalene School in Bexhill was presented to Grace Hewett by Brother Solomon
Ezobi (Provincial GK) on behalf of the Hastings and Rother 630 Knights of St Columba [Pic 1]

At St Mary SOS, St Leonards, Julia Wiszowaty was a well deserving recipient of the Shield. Julia can be seen here
with her delighted parents and Grand Knight Fidelis Okoliko and Sean Harkins Deputy Grand Knight, and at Sacred
Heart School in Hastings, Aada Edwards was awarded the Shield [Pic 2.]

Columba Magazine Columba Magazine

From Choirboy to Cardinal - Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald by Brother Michael Doyle

On the 16th of June 2022 His Eminence Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald gave the
Joseph Leckie lecture, which was organised by the “Churches Together” group in
Walsall.
Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald was born in Walsall on 17th August 1937. He joined
the White Fathers, the Society of Missionaries of Africa, and was Ordained a
Priest in 1961. He has worked in Africa and various parts of the world as a
Missionary.
In 1987 he was appointed Secretary of the Vatican’s Secretariat for Non-
Christians which later became the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
He was Ordained a Bishop in 1992 and was Ordained Archbishop in 2002, when
he was appointed President of the Pontifical Council. In February 2006 he
became Nuncio to Egypt and served as the Holy See’s Representative to the Arab
League.
He retired at the age of seventy-five in 2012, but Archbishop Michael continued to serve the Missionaries of Africa
Community in Jerusalem. Late in 2018 he moved back to England to work in the inner-city Parish of St Vincent De
Paul in Liverpool.
On 5th October 2022 Pope Francis created him a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.
The Cardinal’s lecture was a most interesting one which reflected his missionary work in different Countries and
cultures. While working as a diplomat he made a reference to the book “three men in a boat” written by Walsall’s
novelist Jerome K. Jerome - the trip along the river with three men which required everyone to get on with one
another - this His Eminence said prepared him for diplomatic life.
When asked where he came from, people thought he was Polish coming from Warsaw, the capital not from Walsall.
Cardinal Michael mentioned that his parents, Dr Tom and Dr Nora came from Ireland to work in Walsall. They were
the first Catholic doctors to work in the Borough of Walsall.
The lecture gave everyone a truly Catholic perspective on the world with the great message of peace and love.
The Mayor of Walsall, Bishop Wright, Bishop Evans, Fr Jobin and the Vocationalist Fathers, plus 60 people were in
attendance. This included Brother David Miller and Brother Michael Doyle from Council 223 - Walsall.

Saint Edith Stein 1891 - 1942 by Brother Michael Doyle

In my article on St. Edith Stein I would like to share the story of her life with you
all so we can learn to know the Lord better on our journey of faith.

Edith Stein was born on October 12th 1891 in Breslau, Germany; now Wroclaw,
Poland. The youngest of 7 children in a Jewish family, Edith lost her father at the
age of two, when he suddenly died. Edith’s mother carried on the family timber
business from her home.

At school Edith was a very bright student, and leaving school she spent two years
at the University of Breslau. It was at Breslau she discovered the writings of
Edmund Husserl. Husserl founded the School of Philosophy called
“phenomenology”. She had a great desire to search for the truth and found
enlightening the work of Husserl’s writings on the nature of the human person. She
transferred to the University of Gottingen in 1913 to study under him. At
Gottingen she began to explore the spiritual dimension to human existence and was greatly influenced by professors
Adolf Reinach and Max Scholar. During this time of her life she stopped believing in God and became an atheist.

In 1915 Edith stopped her studies to serve as a Red Cross volunteer during World War I. After her return she taught in
Breslau. She received her doctorate “summa cum laude” in August 1916 aged twenty-five. At this time Husserl had
been offered the phenomenology chair of Freiburg University and invited Edith to join him as his first assistant. Edith

Around the Councils AUTUMN 2022 EDITION

Saint Edith Stein 1891 - 1942 by Brother Michael Doyle

taught his first year philosophy students, there she wrote “Psychic Causality and the Individual” shortly followed by
“The State”.
In late 1917 Edith learned that her friend Adolf Reinach had died during military action. When she went to comfort his
widow Edith found her to be a woman of tremendous internal strength. Anna Reinach told her that her faith in Jesus
was the reason for peace.
Edith had a number of encounters with people of faith. In her late teens a deep impression was made on her when she
and some others lodged at a farm house while hiking through mountains. In the morning the farmer and his men knelt
in prayer before setting off to work.
Whilst visiting the Catholic Cathedral in Frankfurt as a sightseer, she saw a woman with a shopping basket kneeling in
prayer. Later she said, “I saw someone coming straight in from the busy market place into this empty Church, as if she
is going to have this intimate conversation. It was something I never forgot”.
Incidents such as these opened her eyes and then in 1921 she found an autobiography of St Teresa of Avila. “When I
had finished the book, I said to myself, ‘This is the truth!’.” Next day she bought a Catholic Catechism. She
recognised the truth Teresa wrote about, and perceived the meaning of the Saint’s vocation.
Her life became a reflection of humility and surrender. She wanted to lead a contemplative life, despite living a busy
professional academic life. After her conversion to Catholicism, she resigned her post at the University and taught for
ten years at a Catholic School in Speyen.
During these years she wrote and lectured on education and women and became the voice of Catholic feminism,
giving lectures throughout Europe from 1928 - 1932. These lectures are the basis of her work “Essays on Women”.
She translated St Thomas Aquinas’ De Veritate into German. This work included a phenomenology commentary as
well as a translation. Edith was invited to establish an education programme for women at the German Institute for
Scientific Pedagogy in 1932. Her lecturer post was shortened as a result of the Nazi’s policies of persecuting Jews in
1933. The Jews lost the right to vote and to publish their work. Edith was sure that what began as persecution of the
Jews would lead to persecution of Catholics also.
At the end of 1933, after much fervent prayer, she made a decision to become a Carmelite Nun. Aged 42 Edith entered
the Carmelite Convent in Cologne. Edith received the name St Teresa Benedict of the Cross in April 1934. She
continued her studies finishing her masterpiece “Finite and Eternal Being”. The Carmelite Order invited her to write
“The Science of the Life of the Cross”, a phenomenology study of St John of the Cross.
As the Nazi machine swept through Germany rounding up Jews, the Sisters from the Convent arranged for Edith to be
transferred to a Convent in Echt, Holland on 31st December 1938. Her sister Rosa joined her in the Convent in Echt
where she served as a porter. On 26th July 1942 the Dutch Bishops published a Pastoral Letter condemning the
deportation of Jews. The Nazis did not like this criticism and ordered the arrest of all Catholics of Jewish descent.
The Gestapo arrested Edith and her sister Rosa - they were moved to the death camp Auschwitz, Poland where they
were murdered in the gas chambers on August 9th 1942.
Pope John Paul II described her when she was beatified as a “daughter of Israel who, as a Catholic during Nazi
persecution, remained faithful to the crucified Lord and as a Jew, to her people in loving faithlessness.”
Edith Stein was declared a Saint on October 11th 1998 by Pope John Paul II. St Edith’s journey of faith is a great
inspiration to us all - seeing the faith of ordinary people moves her to think more about the Church of God. Reading
the autobiography of St Teresa of Avila enabled her to see the truth in a very perspective way. The guide to our faith
journey can be seen in the framework of hope and joy in the life of St Edith Stein - a great inspiration to us all.
Brother Michael Doyle
Council 223 - Walsall
Book References
[1] The Science of the Cross, Edith Stein, ICS Publications 2002
[2] Women of Faith, Gabriel Communications Limited Manchester,
[3] Bible Alive, Edith Stein, 2021

SCAN THIS QR CODE INTO In 2022 the Knights of St Columba an-
YOUR PHONE TO GO TO OUR nounced that for two years they would be
GoFundMe PAGE TO MAKE A
fundraising to support Let the Children
DONATION Live!

OR GO TO The Knights of St Columba have set up a
special GoFundMe page to send any
https://gofund.me/659a1904
raised funds. There is a current target of
£20,000 which the Knights of St Columba

hope to raise in the next two years
through various fundraising events.

If you would like to sponsor a child for any
of the amounts listed below, just go to the

GoFundMe page at:

https://gofund.me/659a1904

to donate.

The Knights of St Columba are hoping to
not only reach but exceed that target!

1. £50 would provide lunch and a healthy
snack for one child at Casa
Walsingham for one month.

2. £25 would pay for one child’s bus fares
to and from Casa Walsingham for one
month.

3. £10 would buy a school pack for one
child of primary age.

P. O. Box 11

https://letthechildrenlive.org
letthechildrenlive@mac.com

Tel: 01302-858369