August 2025 | VOLUME 18, NUMBER 8 | KOFC.ORG/CHAPLAINS

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

Director of Chaplains and Spiritual Development

The month of August offers several significant occasions for Knights of Columbus chaplains to recall the love of the heart of Jesus at the center of our mission as priests. I encourage you to begin a novena to Blessed Michael McGivney on Aug. 4, the feast of St. John Vianney, patron of priests. The novena will conclude on Aug. 12 — Blessed Michael’s 173rd birthday and the day before his feast day, Aug. 13. On Aug. 14, we recall the heroic gift of self offered by St. Maximilian Kolbe at the Nazi death camp in Auschwitz, and also commemorate 135 years since Blessed Michael McGivney’s death in 1890.

Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary remained close to these great and holy priests, so she remains always close to us. As we anticipate the upcoming feasts of the Assumption (Aug. 15) and the Queenship of Mary (Aug. 22), you might consider organizing a pilgrimage to a Marian shrine or planning a special celebration around one of these feasts of Our Lady. May our Blessed Mother help us fulfill all that God desires as we continue serving as his priests. Vivat Jesus!

This month, in which we celebrate the feast of Blessed Michael McGivney on Aug. 13, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori challenges Knights to pray each day the Litany of Blessed Michael McGivney or the prayer for his canonization — and take time to reflect on his humility in serving the people of God.

Supreme Convention

The 143rd Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus will be held in Washington, D.C., from Aug. 5-7. Watch the convention’s proceedings and liturgies via livestream at kofc.org/convention.

Main Events and Masses (all times Eastern Daylight Time):

• Monday, Aug. 4, 6 p.m.: Awards Session and Welcome Concert
• Tuesday, Aug. 5, 9:30 a.m.: Opening Mass
• Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1:30 p.m.: Opening Business Session and Supreme Knight’s Annual Report
• Tuesday, Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m.: States Dinner
• Wednesday, Aug. 6, 8 a.m.: Convention Mass 
• Thursday, Aug. 7, 8 a.m.: Memorial Mass

Follow Knights of Columbus social media for updates, and tune in to Catholic media outlets — EWTN, CatholicTV, Salt + Light TV, Relevant Radio and The Catholic Channel (SiriusXM 129) — for broadcasts of major events and additional coverage. 

Blessed Michael McGivney's Corner

Blessed Michael McGivney’s feast day is Aug. 13. Although the liturgical observance is officially marked only in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Knights of Columbus chaplains and other priests are invited to offer votive Masses for local gatherings of Knights on that day, provided they have their bishop’s approval. Materials to support parishes and councils in honoring Father McGivney’s feast day, including updated Mass propers and themes for preaching, are available here. Councils are also encouraged to organize a novena to Blessed Michael McGivney from Aug. 4-12. A Cor discussion guide, based on the life of Blessed Michael McGivney, is also available as a free digital download here.

Pope Leo Meets with Supreme Knight and Supreme Chaplain

Pope Leo XIV received Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori in a private audience at the Vatican for the first time on July 4. The supreme knight and supreme chaplain pledged the Order’s loyalty to Pope Leo and promised ongoing prayers and support for his pontificate. They also presented the Holy Father with special gifts related to the patriotic occasion of the visit and the pope’s Augustinian background. Read more about the visit here. 

‘Christ at the Center’ — State Deputies Meeting

Knights of Columbus leaders representing more than 70 jurisdictions gathered in New Haven, Connecticut, June 4-8 for the annual Organizational Meeting of State Deputies, uniting in prayer and preparing for the upcoming fraternal year. Many state deputies also met with their state chaplains, who attended a concurrent State Chaplains Meeting, June 4-7. During the meeting, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly emphasized the call of Knights to missionary discipleship, urging leaders to grow the Order and evangelize through witness to Christian charity. “Everything that you do to serve and sacrifice for the Order is much more than mere volunteerism,” he said. “We have to keep Christ at the center of everything that we’re doing. And if we can do that, God will do the rest.” Read the full article here. 

As bishop of Hippo from 396-430 A.D., St. Augustine became one of the leading Christian thinkers of his age. He also founded early hermit communities, which later developed into the Augustinian Order. As an Augustinian, Pope Leo XIV is a spiritual successor of St. Augustine — a point he emphasized in his first public message: “I am an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine, who once said, ‘With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.’”

Pope Leo’s episcopal motto, In Ille uno unum — “In the One, [we are] one” — comes from Augustine’s commentary on the Psalms and expresses the pope’s commitment to unity and peace. Read more about the Holy Father’s Augustinian spirituality here.

In his recent column for the July/August 2025 issue of Columbia, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly reflected on Augustinian spirituality and how it relates to the Order’s principles and mission: “The Augustinians’ core values are often described as unity, community and friendship — themes that Blessed Michael McGivney also infused into the Knights of Columbus.” Read the full column here. 

In wartime Ukraine, the Knights of Columbus is helping chart a path forward for the country’s future priests. Through the Order’s Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP), Ukrainian Knights have fostered a dynamic expansion of seminary councils — integrating future priests into parish and council life while supporting them morally and financially. In 2024, 17 seminarians in Ukraine received Knights of Columbus scholarships. “These scholarships influenced my decision to start and not to be afraid,” said Father Vladyslav Ihnatiuk, a Greek Catholic priest who serves at St. Nicholas Parish in Dnipro. “Thanks to the contribution of the Knights of Columbus, I was able to begin studying, for which I am very grateful.” Read more about Knights of Columbus support for Ukraine’s future priests here. 

The month of August is dedicated to diocesan and personal pilgrimages during the Jubilee 2025. There are several Jubilee itineraries within the city of Rome.

• The Seven Churches Pilgrimage was initiated by St. Philip Neri in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest Roman traditions. The route includes the catacombs and the most beautiful basilicas in Rome.
• The Patronesses of Europe and Doctors of the Church Pilgrimage focuses on the places connected with European female saints venerated as patronesses of Europe and doctors of the Church — such as St. Bridget, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Hildegard of Bingen.
• The Papal Basilicas Pilgrimage consists of the four papal basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Each has a Holy Door that was opened by Pope Francis to begin the Jubilee last year. 

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