ATTR: "Trinidad, Colorado - Knights of Columbus sign" By Joe Mabel, CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Flickr.
CV NEWS FEED // The Knights of Columbus council at the United States Naval Academy almost doubled in size earlier this month as the council welcomed 17 new members in a special exemplification ceremony.
The Knights of Columbus (KofC) newsroom reported that the ceremony marked “a significant step” in revitalizing the Naval Academy council, which became less active during the COVID-19 pandemic. The council previously had 19 members—with the new Knights, the council now has 36.
The council is under the mentorship of retired Navy Capt. Joe McInerney, who also serves as the council’s financial secretary. According to the KofC, McInerney said there is “a cultural affinity between the Knights and the military that makes the Order appealing to many Catholic midshipmen.”
“Mankind has been fighting warfare forever, but the knight is this idea that comes out of Christianity—to be ferocious in battle but a servant to others,” McInerney said. “Men and women who go to the service academies are willing to sacrifice for something that’s good, and that’s exactly what the Knights asks of its members.”
According to the KofC, the council is currently developing “an active presence” at the Naval Academy, which also includes a series of discussion forums on Catholic intellectual tradition.
“Members take turns presenting on an aspect of the faith that interests them, followed by an open discussion,” KofC reported.
Future plans to develop more activities include expanding the council’s homeless outreach ministry.
“The council is continuing to grow, to focus on becoming more active in the local community,” McInerney said. “We are the hands and the feet and the muscle of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s time for us to start flexing that muscle so we can help others and start bringing others to faith in him.”
