January 2026 | VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1 | KOFC.ORG/CHAPLAINS

By Fr. Jonathan D. Kalisch, O.P.

Director of Chaplains and Spiritual Development

How engaged is your Knights of Columbus council in the faith lives of the men of your parish? As we prepare for the Lenten season, and to welcome newly catechized members of the Body of Christ through OCIA, it is the perfect time to launch a faith formation component in your local Knights of Columbus council. As you no doubt are aware, there are a great number of videos, Catholic Information Service booklets, Bible studies, and Cor materials that have been produced by the Knights of Columbus and can be seamlessly woven into the normal program activity of your council.

A simple way to begin is to work with your grand knight or his designee to organize a viewing of one of the videos on the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council YouTube page, and then lead a short discussion about the video, concluding with some intercessory prayer around the topic. Many of the videos would also make a compelling showing in a parish hall during a Lenten fish fry, parish day of reflection, or men’s retreat. The K of C-produced Bible study Men of the Word — or new Cor materials on the life of Blessed Michael McGivney or a topic of your choice — would also make an excellent way to start or enhance a Cor session for all the men of your parish.

Each state council has a designated state Cor facilitator who could also be invaluable should you desire further assistance to get Cor training for your local council leaders or to talk through ideas you may have, given the dynamics of your parish. All of this will likely require your pastoral participation to at least encourage a new foothold of the faith in your council. It is also likely that the men of your council want to go deeper, but may just need your assistance. It’s 2026: Let’s ensure that every man who comes to a Knights event leaves with a deeper knowledge of his faith, an encounter with the Body of Christ, and an opportunity to pray with another.

Vivat Jesus! 

This month, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori challenges Knights to make an examination of conscience every day — perhaps using A Guide to Confession, published by the Order’s Catholic Information Service — and to make a good confession at least once.

Blessed Michael McGivney's Corner

In 2015, Daniel and Michelle Schachle received a diagnosis that no expecting parents ever want to hear: “There is no hope for your son to live.” Their unborn child had been diagnosed with Down syndrome and fetal hydrops caused by a genetic abnormality — a condition doctors considered fatal. Continuing the pregnancy also endangered Michelle’s life. The couple prayed for a miracle and sought the intercession of Father Michael McGivney, joining a Knights of Columbus pilgrimage to Fatima and Rome that year.

Hope in God’s mercy — and in Father McGivney’s intercession — proved stronger than death. On May 15, 2015, Michelle gave birth to a healthy baby boy with Down syndrome: Michael McGivney Schachle. The healing was officially recognized by the Church and led to Father McGivney’s beatification in 2020. Read the November 2020 Columbia article and watch the video to learn more about Michael “Mickey” Schachle’s remarkable life.

Fourth Anniversary of the War in Ukraine

Nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the humanitarian consequences of the conflict remain severe. From the war’s earliest days, the Knights of Columbus has delivered vital support to those most in need in Ukraine — efforts that, along with those of other relief groups, led to the Order’s prohibition in Russian-occupied territories.

We invite you to learn how to stand with those who continue to suffer. In 2024, the Order started a partnership with the Protez Foundation, a Ukrainian American nonprofit, to provide prosthetics and comprehensive care to civilians who lost limbs in the war. The first recipient was Viktor Openko, who lost his leg while evacuating civilians during a deadly shelling in northeastern Ukraine. A few months later, Knights and the Protez Foundation helped Tetiana, a young woman who lost her leg in a Russian missile strike. Watch short videos about Tetiana’s and Viktor’s stories.

As in previous years, we invite all Knights to pray the Novena for Peace in Ukraine leading up to the Feb. 24 anniversary. Visit kofc.org/ukraine to learn more and support the Order’s humanitarian work.

New Faith Formation Resources

The Knights of Columbus is offering several new resources to help the men of your council and your parish grow in their spiritual lives, including:

• The Gospel of Life Study Guide: A new discussion guide on St. John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) features excerpts, explanations and applications, as well as discussion questions and prayers. Part of the Cor Ecclesiae Series published by the Catholic Information Service, this booklet is an excellent resource for Cor or other adult faith formation in your parish.
• The Vivat Jesus 2026 Spiritual Planner is now available for purchase. It is designed to help men develop and maintain a daily prayer routine while also highlighting saints and traditional Catholic devotions tied to each month so men can introduce them to their families. This year’s edition is in a new, larger format that is perfect for keeping at your desk.
• Look for the release of a new installment of the Into the Breach series of videos later this month. Into the Breach: The Dignity of Work explores the Catholic understanding of work and how men are called to work in the world. The videos will be a perfect resource for Cor and will have a corresponding discussion guide. You can watch the trailer here.

Jan. 23 — March for Life and Life Fest

The 2026 March for Life will take place Jan. 23 in Washington, D.C., beginning with a rally on the National Mall followed by a peaceful march to the U.S. Capitol. The largest annual human rights demonstration in the world, the March for Life draws tens of thousands of people from across the country to celebrate life and take a stand against legalized abortion. For more details, visit marchforlife.org. You can read about last year’s march here or watch some of the highlights.

The Knights of Columbus will once again partner with the Sisters of Life to host Life Fest 2026 in Washington on the morning of Jan. 23, prior to the March for Life. This dynamic event will include a morning rally and Mass, speakers, music and more. Tickets and more information are available now at lifefestrally.com. Members of the clergy are invited to participate in Life Fest, with opportunities to hear confession and concelebrate Mass. For more information and to register, visit here. Click here to read about last year’s Life Fest or watch this video to learn more. 

Feb. 2 — The Presentation of the Lord

On the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, commonly called Candlemas, the Church observes the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. The candles blessed on this day symbolize Christ as the light of the world, reminding the faithful that consecrated men and women are called to share this light with others.

The Knights of Columbus remains committed to supporting those who are preparing to become priests or religious by offering both financial and spiritual assistance. Through the Order’s Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP), more than $100 million has been donated to support over 150,000 vocations. In Ukraine, the Order’s financial assistance for seminarians is critical for men who are studying amid the challenges of war. Read this article to learn more about the Knights’ support for future priests in Ukraine.

Learn how you and your council can support this program here. You can also find information and resources to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life here.

Christmas Kolęda tradition

Kolęda, a longstanding Polish custom, presents a meaningful way for evangelization that may be of interest to priests abroad. During the period between Christmas and Candlemas, priests in Poland visit homes, pray with families, and sing Christmas carols. “It allows us to know our flock better, and in knowing them better, we can serve them in a better way,” explained Father Witold Kania, a professor of theology at the Silesian University in Katowice, Poland, and chaplain of Our Lady of Piekary Council 14983 in Tychy. Discover more about Kolęda in this interview with Father Kania.

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