April 2026 | VOLUME 19, NUMBER 4 | KOFC.ORG/CHAPLAINS

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

Director of Chaplains and Spiritual Development

Christ is risen! The joy that we experience at Easter after celebrating the beautiful mysteries of our faith and accompanying our Lord during the Easter Triduum does not always come easily.

In his Jubilee Catechesis on Hope, Pope Leo XIV spoke about the Resurrection of Jesus as a response to human sadness. Describing sadness as a particular malaise of our time, Pope Leo spoke of a “feeling of precariousness, at times profound desperation, which invades one’s inner space and seems to prevail over any impetus to joy.” Recounting the disciples’ “sad journey of defeat” on the way to Emmaus, he described how “sadness robs life of meaning and vigor, turning it into a directionless and meaningless journey.” It is only after their encounter “on the paths of the heart” with the Risen One who “walks with us and for us” that hope returns to the disciples. Pope Leo summarizes for us the hope of encountering the risen Christ: “To recognize the Resurrection means to change one’s outlook on the world: to return to the light to recognize the Truth that has saved us, and that saves us.”

When we consider the ongoing wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan and elsewhere; the challenging economic and political circumstances in which we live; and the personal upheavals so many experience, we need the hope that the encounter with the risen Christ brings to overcome the sadness of our days. In his last book, Memory and Identity: Conversations at the Dawn of a Millennium, St. John Paul II proclaimed that Divine Mercy is God’s answer to the mystery of evil. Recounting the horrors of World War II, he said that the response of Divine Mercy limited the Nazi tyranny to only 12 years. Likewise, we should pray for the outpouring of God’s mercy to overcome the evils of our day.

May the joy of the risen Christ assist you in leading our brother Knights and their families to respond to paralyzing sadness, not with indifference but with solidarity toward all in need. With confidence that Christ has defeated every enemy, may our brothers live with the knowledge, as Pope Leo said, that “history still has much goodness to hope for.”

Blessed Easter!  

This month, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori challenges Knights to remain in prayer and adoration for several minutes after Mass to grow in awareness of Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist.

Blessed Michael McGivney's Corner

Blessed Michael McGivney lived as a true shepherd of his people. As a parish priest, he cared deeply for Catholic families, especially those in need. He visited the sick, supported widows and children, and stood close to those who were struggling. He also ministered to prisoners and helped bring many people back to the Church. He not only answered God’s call himself but also supported his younger brothers in their journey to the priesthood, showing care, generosity and faith. Read this article about the three McGivney brothers who answered God’s call and served for decades as Knights of Columbus chaplains.

Blessed Michael McGivney’s life reminds us that vocations grow where they are encouraged. Let us follow his example by actively fostering vocations — through prayer, mentorship and practical support of the Order’s Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP). Our encouragement can help future priests say “yes” to Christ.

The Hope of Easter

As Easter approaches, we are invited to reflect on the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection, and on how his victory over sin and death fills us with hope and joy. A helpful inspiration for this holy season is the video Our Easter Mission, which explores what it means to live with Easter joy and embrace the Lord’s gift of Divine Mercy. You may also want to reflect on this homily delivered by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land last September, where he spoke about Christ’s triumph and the hope it brings to all who follow him.

The Light of Easter in Ukraine

Just before Holy Week 2022, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly met Pope Francis at the Vatican, where the Holy Father blessed an Easter basket symbolizing thousands of care packages prepared by Knights in Poland for families in Ukraine. Filled with basic food, an Easter candle, and a message of solidarity, these gifts became a sign of hope amid suffering. The Supreme Knight then traveled to Poland and Ukraine to be with brother Knights and witness their ongoing humanitarian work. In places marked by war, their service reflects the heart of Easter: Christ’s light endures even in the darkest moments.

We invite you to read this homily given by Archbishop Lori during his 2024 visit to Kyiv, where the hope of the risen Christ meets the reality of suffering — a powerful reflection for this Easter season.

April 12 — Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, is a special invitation to rediscover the message of trust and hope given to the Church through St. Faustina Kowalska — a reminder that no one is beyond God’s mercy. We encourage you to watch and share the most-viewed video on the Knights of Columbus YouTube channel: “St. Faustina and the Image of Divine Mercy.” This powerful talk on Divine Mercy by Sister Gaudia Skass of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy offers a clear and moving reflection on God’s boundless love.

'Only Mercy Can Bring Peace'

“God’s second name is mercy — mercy that surpasses justice. This is our way of acting,” said Cardinal Konrad Krajewski in a recent interview with Columbia. The recently appointed archbishop of Łódź, Poland, served as papal almoner from 2013 until March 2026, carrying out works of mercy and raising funds for charitable aid on the pope’s behalf. Part of this ministry included making several visits to war-ravaged Ukraine as a representative of Pope Francis.

In the interview, he reflected on Pope Leo’s apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), thanking the Knights for carrying out its call to help the poorest and most vulnerable. “I know that whenever we turn to the Knights with a request, it will never go unanswered,” he said. “Our cooperation with the Knights of Columbus allows us to move mountains — to perform true miracles. These are not our miracles, but God’s — and thanks to his blessing, we are allowed to participate in them. For this, I thank every Knight.” Read the full interview with Cardinal Krajewski here.

April 26 — Good Shepherd Sunday

The image of the Good Shepherd invites us to contemplate Christ’s tender and faithful love — a love that knows each person by name and never abandons the flock. Following the example of Jesus, we are called to be attentive and compassionate shepherds to our councils and the people entrusted to us.

Each year, Good Shepherd Sunday, which is celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, coincides with the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The purpose of this observance is to the carry out the Lord’s instruction in the Gospels: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). In his message for the 63rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people to develop a life of prayer and communion with the Good Shepherd, who will guide them to their vocations. “A vocation, therefore, is not an immediate possession — something ‘given’ once and for all. Instead, it is a path that unfolds much like life itself,” he wrote. “The gift we have received must not only be protected but also nourished by a daily relationship with God in order to grow and bear fruit.”

We also encourage you to support vocations through the Order’s Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP), which offers practical help to seminarians and religious. Additionally, you may support priests in Ukraine, where the war continues, by requesting Mass intentions — an expression of solidarity that provides real assistance in their ministry.

Pope Francis: A Pilgrim of Hope

A year ago, on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, Pope Francis made his final public appearance, delivering his Urbi et Orbi message from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. He died the next morning at age 88 in his Vatican residence at Casa Santa Marta. Knights of Columbus leaders, including Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, attended the pope’s funeral later that week, honoring his legacy of charity and fraternity. “Pope Francis was a powerful witness to charity and fraternity,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly following the pope’s death, “calling us from his first days as pope to reach out to the margins of society and serve those who are too often forgotten.” As we pray for the repose of his soul a year later, you can read more about his lifelong witness to the Church here. You may also read about his legacy of support for the Knights of Columbus here.

'In the One Christ, We Are One'

On May 8, the Church will celebrate the first anniversary of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from North America. Pope Leo’s first year has been defined by his vision for a Church united in peace and devoted to missionary work. He has made historic trips to Turkey and Lebanon; issued his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”); and has consistently upheld the dignity of all human life, including the unborn, migrants and those displaced or harmed by war. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly affirmed the Knights of Columbus’ solidarity with Pope Leo in a statement issued shortly after his election on May 8: “I pledge our loyalty to Pope Leo XIV as well as our prayers today and every day of his pontificate. In the years ahead, we will proudly stand with him as we seek together to build up the Kingdom of God.” Read more in this article from the June 2025 issue of Columbia.

Read more about Cardinal Robert Prevost’s path to the papacy in this Columbia article. You may also enjoy reading the homily he delivered at his inaugural Mass on May 18.

May 1 — Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

At the beginning of May, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph the Worker — a man who understood his duties as a husband and father and carried them out with quiet faith and decisive action. This feast on May 1 is an excellent opportunity to highlight the latest video series produced by the Knights of Columbus: Into the Breach: The Dignity of Work, which was released earlier this year.

You can plan for your April or May Cor sessions to use one of the five videos in this series. Resources include a study guide for small group discussion, a St. Joseph the Worker prayer card and a promotional poster. All episodes and resources are available at kofc.org/intothebreach. Read more about the series in this recent article from Columbia.

May 13 — Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

The feast of Our Lady of Fatima, celebrated on May 13, invites us to reflect on Mary’s call to prayer, conversion and trust in God’s providence. Commemorating the 1917 apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, it is a day to honor Mary through the rosary, Eucharistic devotion, and acts of reparation for sins, helping hearts grow closer to Christ even in challenging times. The Knights of Columbus have long cultivated a deep Marian devotion, present throughout the history and life of the Order. We encourage you to read this article outlining many of the most significant Marian initiatives and related events in the Order’s history.

To view previous editions of Chaplain's Report, click here.

If you do not receive Chaplain's Report and would like to, please click SUBSCRIBE and complete the form.