WHAT IS THE ORDER
OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBA?
1. It is the
largest Order for Catholic laymen in the United Kingdom and through
the International Alliance of Catholic Knights, throughout the
world.
2. It is an organisation of Catholic men who have joined together to
serve the Church, their fellow men and each other in charity and
fraternity.
3. It is organised in about 450 local councils, including
Swindon, grouped into some 30 Provinces who are all represented on a
Supreme Council.
1. We help our
Parish Priest and other Parish organisations i.e. SVP, Legion of
Mary etc., in carrying out practical work in the parish.
2. We assist the Hierarchy in the organising of the diocesan and
national activities of the Church.
3. We help one another in sickness and in need. We care for our
widows and dependents. We pray for the souls of our departed
members.
4. We care for the needs of our young people. We organise practical
activities for them and activities that will promote their spiritual
welfare and development.
5. We organise social activities for members and their families
through an active social committee.
6. We constantly help each other in the practise of our faith
through the Mass and other spiritual activities. We organise
pilgrimages and retreats for our members.
7. We are in the forefront of the apostolate of the laity. We
actively take part in all national and local organisations of the
Church when Catholic men are represented.
8. We give active support to organisations, which promote virtue,
respect for human life and the welfare of the family.
9. We work to help solve social problems, such as unemployment and
poverty, particularly among our fellow Catholics.
10. We contribute to the material needs of other organisations
through fund raising activities.
FURTHER
INFORMATION:
For more information
on the Knights of St Columba, please visit
www.ksc.org.uk
For information on
becoming a Knight of St Columba please contact:
Bro Roger
Dyson, Membership Secretary of the Swindon Council 225, Tel: 01793 721808
Deanery Sponsored Walk held at Coate
Water Country Park, September 2011
"We
were delighted to welcome over 100 walkers representing all the
parishes of the Swindon Deanery with the incredible sum of over
£5,000 collected so far with another £1,400 pledged.
The
Sponsored Walk has become a much loved event in the Deanery calendar
and every year gives people the opportunity to take part in a fun
event while helping and supporting so many other charitable
organizations in what they do for the poor and most vulnerable
members of society.
This
year, as in previous years, our main beneficiary will be the
Prospect Hospital in Wroughton who will receive a gift from the
Swindon Catholic community of £2,500. Every year we are deeply
touched by the stories told by walkers who's lives have
been enriched by the care and dignity provided by the staff of The
Prospect Hospital for loved ones who have lost their battle with
illnesses such as cancer.
We
provide grants to support the youth of the Deanery through the
Chaplaincy at St Joseph's College to assist in bringing children to
support the HCPT in Lourdes at Easter and also provide grants direct
to the HCPT to sponsor the full cost of travel for one of their
members.
Each
year it is a great pleasure to provide assistance for the Catholic
Handicap Fellowship to fund the rent on a meeting place to enable
them to come together in support and friendship of each other which,
without the grant, they would be unable to do.
The
Easter and Christmas posters provided every year to display in the
homes of Deanery parishioners are paid for from the proceeds of the
sponsored walk and distributed by members of the KSC.
Internationally we continue to support the educational needs of
children in the developing world by direct sponsorship through
organizations such as the Joe Homan Trust and by grants to
individuals who take part in voluntary work in schools and hospitals
in countries such as Rwanda and India. Where funds allow we give in
response to emergency appeals made through aid agencies such as
CAFOD for extraordinary events in regions hit by famine, flood and
disease.
Every
year participants can elect to nominate that 50% of the money they
have personally raised can go to a charity, organization or event
that they wish to support personally. Through this scheme groups
such as LIFE, Alzheimer's Society, Salvation Army, SVP and parish
projects have all benefited."
|
KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBA