The Knights of Columbus Board of Directors presented the cardinal with a resolution recognizing his service to the Church at their quarterly meeting
By Cecilia Engbert
4/16/2024
Source
The Knights of Columbus Board of Directors recognized Cardinal Seán O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, during their recent meeting in Boston, honoring him with a formal resolution for his years of leadership and service to the Church.
The cardinal, a longtime Fourth Degree Knight, celebrated Mass for the board members at Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross on April 5, with Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori and several priests concelebrating. After Mass, the board hosted a dinner in his honor, at which Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly presented him with the resolution.
“[Cardinal O’Malley] is an example of what it means to surrender to the will of Jesus,” the supreme knight said during his congratulatory remarks. “That surrendering led him to serve as bishop in four dioceses, on numerous committees of the U.S. bishops conference, and to several appointments in Rome, serving Pope Francis and the universal Church. And all the while, he has been a tremendous friend to the Knights of Columbus.”
The cardinal, who joined the Knights in 1993, has participated in many K of C events over the years, including the annual Supreme Convention, where he has offered Mass and delivered keynote speeches and homilies. In January, he delivered the homily at Life Fest, hosted by the Knights with the Sisters of Life before the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
In addition to noting these examples of friendship with the Order, the resolution acknowledged some of the cardinal’s many accomplishments, his heart for the poor and marginalized, his dedication to the cause of life, and his sensitive leadership of the Archdiocese of Boston amid the clerical abuse scandals.
Cardinal O’Malley thanked the Supreme Directors warmly for the honor, saying, “You all know what affection I have for the Knights of Columbus and their families, and all that you mean to our Church and country.”
Earlier that day, in his homily, the cardinal described the influence the Order has had on him personally and in his work as a priest. He then challenged his brother Knights to continue witnessing courageously to the good news of the Gospel.
“In the Acts of Apostles, it’s the body of Christ, his disciples, who are caring for the sick and the poor and casting out demons — curing the sick and raising the dead, just as Jesus had done,” he said. “The Knights of Columbus are a sequel to this wonderful book of the Acts of the Apostles. [They] are still fishing in the dark and rough waters, thanks to the Holy Spirit and Father McGivney.”
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CECILIA ENGBERT is a content producer for the Knights of Columbus communications department.