Sioux City to host statewide Knights of Columbus convention

By KARA KOCZUR, Globe staff reporter
April 24, 2008

The 107th Annual Iowa state Knights of Columbus Convention will take place May 1-4 in Sioux City at the Convention Center.

According to Mike Gaspers, state deputy of the Iowa jurisdiction of the Knights of Columbus, the convention is important for several reasons. First, he said, it provides an opportunity for Knights to get together for fraternity.

"Secondly, the convention is a time for us to recognize outstanding performance by individuals and councils in the work of Columbianism, which is serving those less fortunate, building up our Catholic church and assisting our priests and bishops in the renewal of parish life," added Gaspers, a parishioner at St. Mary's in Danbury.

The convention also provides a time to elect new leadership and consider resolutions that are important to the organization.

Some of the highlights of past conventions, Gaspers said, are Masses with bishops, banquets and award ceremonies. Bishop R. Walker Nickless of the Diocese of Sioux City, is scheduled to celebrate Mass the Saturday of the convention.

There are also some new events planned this year. One of the new things Gaspers is looking forward to is a pilgrimage and prayer service at Trinity Heights.

"I am also looking forward this year to some plans we have to provide seminars on Saturday afternoon instead of a long list of reports," he continued. "The reports are printed so the delegates will be given a chance to discuss membership ideas, programming ideas and in general share more about what is working in their specific areas of the state."

The site of the Knights of Columbus convention changes each year. The last time it was held in Sioux City was in 2003. While attendance varies year to year, depending on weather and location, Gaspers is expecting close to 600 attendees.

With more than 1.7 million members, the Knights of Columbus is the world's largest lay Catholic organization. As of April 1, there were 31,160 Knights in Iowa, Gaspers said.

"Knights are men of faith whose goals include taking care of each other's families, strengthening and supporting each other in their Catholic faith, dedicating a portion of their lives to building up their local parishes and helping their priests and finally and foremost assisting and protecting whenever possible those less fortunate, especially the innocent unborn," he said.

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, a priest from Connecticut. According to the Knights of Columbus Web site, the organization operates under the principles of charity, unity and fraternity, and was formed to provide financial assistance to members and their families. Father McGivney was recently named "venerable" by Pope Benedict XVI.

Deadline for meal registration has passed, but Gaspers noted that Knights of Columbus members can register as a delegate any time before the first business meeting. Official delegates receive a partial mileage reimbursement and $80 per diem to help cover costs.

In a culture that is becoming increasingly secular, Gaspers said it is important that the Knights stand together and be a witness to God's love in the world.

"We all know that while each of us can and often do provide courageous example and perform heroic deeds, it's when we unite and stand together that we can really make a larger difference," he said. "As Knights we stand together united by our common Catholic faith and our baptismal call to the three-fold mission of priest, prophet and king."

More information, including the convention schedule can be found at www. iowakofc.org.