Nearly 200 representatives from 70 college councils across North America gathered in New Haven, Connecticut, Sept. 26-28 for the 60th annual Knights of Columbus College Councils Conference. This year’s theme, “Ambassadors for Christ,” encouraged college Knights to share the hope of the Gospel to their peers — many of whom, conference speakers noted, face an epidemic of isolation made worse by digital distractions.
The event commenced with an awards dinner Friday, Sept. 26, at the Omni New Haven and continued through the weekend with daily Mass, panel discussions, guest lectures and other opportunities for prayer and fraternity.
In his keynote address at the awards dinner, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly pointed to a growing crisis of isolation among young men — and the need for authentic, virtue-based friendship as its remedy.
“A true friend cares about the well-being of the other person,” he explained. “That means a true friend desires only what is best for you — he desires that you become the man that God has created you to be. These are the friends who spur you on to acts of greatness.”
The supreme knight contrasted the example of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, canonized on Sept. 7, with the tragic case of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man in custody for the Sept. 10 assassination of media personality Charlie Kirk.
“Tyler Robinson didn’t have friends who encouraged him in virtue and holiness,” he said. “Nor did he have the most important friendship of all, which is friendship with Jesus Christ. But Pier Giorgio Frassati had both.”
Supreme Knight Kelly also emphasized that Christian friendship is essential to being ambassadors for Christ. He urged college Knights to “always be ready to help those who aren’t your friends — at least, not your friends yet. Do all you can to be there for the young men around you who are struggling in the darkness.”
A prime example of inviting young men to experience Christian fraternity is John Henry Cardinal Newman Council 15105 at the University of Houston, which received this year’s Outstanding College Council Award. Last year, the council achieved 700% of its recruitment goal, in part by partnering with the Thomistic Institute to bring lectures on Catholic theology and philosophy to campus and organizing cookouts and Newman Center fish fries to foster Catholic community. Council members also coordinated a daily rosary and participated in pro-life initiatives, such as 40 Days for Life and the ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program.
Grand Knight David Bartlett, who received the Outstanding College Council trophy on behalf of Council 15105, said it was “the culmination of how the Lord has blessed us so incredibly.” He added, “This conference is essential to seeing the beautiful fraternity our Order has. It’s like a big bonfire: You bring your own bundle of sticks, and then you bring that fire back home.”
Illini Council 2782 at the University of Illinois in Champaign was named first runner-up for the recognition. The first college council established at a public university, Council 2782 holds weekly Cor meetings, and builds fraternity through weekly workouts and an annual polar plunge. The council also raised $3,000 for ASAP and participated in cemetery cleanups and blood drives — while actively recruiting on campus through information tables.
Third place for Outstanding College Council went to Friar Council 5787 at Providence College. Earlier this year, the council assisted the Dominican friars in hosting the relic of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas during its tour of the eastern United States and also hosted a Sacred Heart Pilgrim Icon for a special Holy Hour in remembrance of Pope Francis. Council members annually attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C., and regularly join other Providence College students in prayer outside a local abortion facility.
In total, 43 college councils were recognized as star councils — more than one-third of the 126 active college councils. The following councils were also honored for excellence in each of the Faith in Action program categories:
Faith Award: Father Thomas D. Kraft, O.P. Council 14764 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City
Family Award: Universitario Nuestra Señora del Re Council 18590 at Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Monterrey, Mexico
Community Award: University of Wisconsin-Madison Council 6568
Life Award: Pope Pius XII Council 15457 at South Dakota State University in Brookings
On the second day of the conference, Supreme Secretary John Marrella addressed the college Knights, noting that the conference theme came from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.
“The motivation for our sacrifice as ambassadors for Christ must be the same motivation that led him to the Cross: love,” he said. “If we truly love our family members, friends, classmates and teammates, we will deliver through words and actions that message of reconciliation about which St. Paul wrote.”
On Saturday evening, students joined in a Eucharistic procession through New Haven, followed by a vigil Mass at St. Mary’s Church. Dominican Father Jonathan Kalisch, director of chaplains and spiritual development, was the principal celebrant, and Dominican Father Gabriel Mosher, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and Newman Center in Salt Lake City, preached the homily, in which he echoed the conference theme.
“If you want to know what it is to be a true Christian, what the goal is, what the purpose of this life that you’ve been given is, it’s simple: to give back to God everything that he has given to you,” said Father Mosher, who serves as chaplain of Council 14764 as well as Utah state chaplain. “And brothers, he will not be outdone in generosity, because the more you give of yourself, out of love, in union with him, the more he will give to you and to the world.”
The conference concluded Sunday with remarks from Supreme Master Michael McCusker, who encouraged attendees to remain steadfast and look to the Order’s founder for inspiration.
“Blessed Michael McGivney, just like you, as a young man had already made that commitment: You do not run, you do not abandon your friends, you do not abandon your faith — you do not abandon the truth that lives in your heart and your mind and your souls,” he said.
Cadet Declan Griffin, a member of Msgr. Cornelius George O’Keefe Council 8250 in West Point, New York, and chairman of the College Councils Advisory Board, helped plan the conference since last March.
“The theme ‘Ambassadors for Christ’ means not just having a deep devotion to Christ, but being a diplomat of Christ’s,” Griffin said. “Spreading the Word is not enough. You have to live the Word and truly be a model for everyone.”
He added, “What I’m hoping the Knights can take away from their experience here [is] realizing that we are one giant brotherhood. Whether you go to the Citadel or Benedictine College, we’re all brother Knights and want to grow in faith together and do charitable service.”
Griffin underscored Cor as a valuable resource for sustaining fraternity.
“It’s important for Catholic men to step up into their faith because they are role models for society,” he said. “As Catholic men, you set the standard. Your brother Knights want you to succeed. They want to see you learn and develop in relationship with Christ.”