Seminarian instrumental in organizing college KC council

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted April 17, 2003

Brent Lingle, a seminarian of the Diocese of Sioux City, joined the Knights of Columbus in Sioux City, the Sacred Heart Council, after the group had extended a fair share of financial and spiritual support to him upon his entrance into the seminary.

When a priest - the chaplain at St. Mary's University and a faculty member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn. - wanted to get a KC college council reactivated, he looked to the men that were already involved in the organization at their home parishes.

"He approached us and told us that there used to be a council at the university," noted the 22-year-old Lingle. "He knew there were a few us of that were very involved and active in our councils back home."

The priest, who is a KC and serves as the chaplain for a parish council in Winona, urged the men to see what it would take for the college council to start up again.

"The council was dormant on the campus here for 30-some years," said Lingle, who is in his final year at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn. "It had essentially been inactive since the late '60s."

One of the reasons why Father Tom Jennings wanted the college students to reactivate the college council, explained Lingle, was that he saw it as a way for the campus to increase its Catholic identity.

"He looked to the Knights of Columbus as something for young men of college age to become active in their faith," explained the seminarian. "Eventually when they graduate from college, they would go back to their parish and take on active roles whether they be ordained or be married."

Seeing the value in such a council, Lingle and two other seminarians took charge of reactivating the council. One of the first steps they took was visiting with the local Winona council, and they were beneficial in helping the college students get in contact with the Supreme Council.

Membership in the council was extended to male students at St. Mary's as well as seminarians at Immaculate Heart.

"We started to work on this in October, and when we contacted Supreme they told us it usually takes about six months to get a council reactivated. It only took us about two weeks," he said. "Everyone is surprised and shocked at what has happened here."

The council's official name is St. Mary's University Council #5202. And while it is a permanent council, membership is more fluid than a traditional council as it changes with the students.

Of the 60 members of the council, about 20 are St. Mary's students. Students who were members at their home parishes transferred membership to the St. Mary's Council.

"I think we will have a huge increase in numbers next year," noted the seminarian.

Since Lingle played such a vital role in helping to get the council reactivated, his fellow college-age Knights elected him Grand Knight of this council. Father Jennings serves as the faculty advisor of the group, while Father Jim Steffes, rector of the seminary, is the council's chaplain.

He pointed out that the seminarians live and complete formation at Immaculate Heart Seminary but take classes on the university campus.

As a member of the Knights of Columbus, Lingle said it provided fraternity.

"It is an opportunity for the guys to get together and talk about important issues such as their faith," he said. "It also gives us a chance to do various service activities for the community and university. Some of the projects we have done have made us feel good about what we believe in."

On the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the KCs led a campus march for men and women that included praying the rosary. And currently, they are in the process of making 500 corded-rope rosaries to send to military troops in Iraq.

The Supreme Council from New Haven, Conn., is sending representatives out to meet with this college council after Easter as they were so impressed by the group.

After graduating on May 10, he expects to enroll in St. Meinrad Seminary.