The Knight of Columbus, the biggest fraternal men’s organization of the Catholic Church, will hold its fourth degree exemplification rites this coming on Jan. 21 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Baguio City with an estimated 150 candidates in attendance.
Jass Taguiling, faithful navigator of the host Baguio City District Assembly, said the candidates are expected from the nine district assemblies of Mountain Province, Benguet, and Pangasinan comprising of the Ferdinand Magellan Province District 19.
The fourth degree is the final and highest fraternal order where a candidate upon formation is expected to give witness their personal commitment to foster the virtue of patriotism in their lives. Once confirmed, a graduate will be addressed as “Sir Knight” by fellow brothers.
With more than two million members worldwide, a Knight lives by the principles of service on charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Incoming members must be a practicing Catholic and at least 18 years old.
The initiation rites will also pay homage to the late Bishop William Brasseur, the first bishop of the Vicariate of the Montañosa, who is also known as the first priest to join the fraternal organization and earned a fourth degree fraternal order.
A cultural presentation will also highlight the program following the patriotic degree spiritual formation course, fraternal mass celebrated by Diocesan Chaplain Joel Calatan, exemplication proper and ends with the pinning of lapel pin among the candidates counting Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas, fathers Calatan, and Mario Tambic in the roster.
The Knight of Columbus was founded by Rev. Fr. Michael McGivney in Connecticut, USA in 1882 and was established in the country in 1905 by a group of Americans. – Fred Puntawe
April 23, 2024
