Faith

A Higher Purpose The ¡Viva Cristo Rey! program celebrates the sanctity of the Mexican Martyrs, including members of the Knights of Columbus, who were killed for their faith during the religious persecution of Catholics by the Mexican government in the early 20th century. During the persecution, which led to “La Cristiada,” or the “Cristero War,” priests, missionaries and members of religious orders were expelled from the country, more than a million Mexicans migrated to the United States seeking refuge and others spontaneously organized to defend themselves against government oppression, some peacefully and others taking up arms under the banner of “Cristo Rey y Santa María de Guadalupe” or “Christ the King and Holy Mary of Guadalupe.”

Eucharistic Congress Encounter Jesus! Join us for the 2026 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress, when tens of thousands of people from across the Carolinas and beyond gather at the Charlotte Convention Center to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and feel Jesus’ Presence among us. The two-day event includes a Eucharistic Procession through Uptown Charlotte, a Holy Hour and Mass with the Bishop of Charlotte, Eucharistic Adoration, engaging and incredible speakers (English, Spanish and Vietnamese), sacred art and music, the opportunity for confessions, fellowship, food, Catholic merchandise for sale, and more! Friday, September 11, 2026 - Saturday, September 12, 2026 Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., Charlotte, N.C. 28202

View this program for additional information.

Encourage deep personal encounters with Christ through Eucharistic adoration in the form of Holy Hours and Eucharistic Processions. As Catholics, we believe in the Real Presence: that Jesus Christ is truly present – body, blood, soul, and divinity – in the Eucharist. As such, we are compelled to grow in our devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and to share His presence with the world.

The Imitating Saint Juan Diego program encourages councils to promote devotion to St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe. As Knights of Columbus, whose patroness is Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are called to be her messengers, just as St. Juan Diego was throughout his life. Overview The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego led to the mass conversion of millions of indigenous people to the Catholic Faith and continues to serve as a means of evangelization today. Councils can teach others about the lives of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego and emphasize their status as powerful intercessors by organizing a traveling image of Our Lady of Guadalupe which can be shared between families, by encouraging acts of popular piety, and by sharing other devotional materials with members and their parish community. Suggested Dates To Host Your Event The suggested timeframe for this program is early December, coinciding with St. Juan Diego’s feast day on December 9 and Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day on December 12. Alternatively, your council can end the program on these dates and host a celebration on his feast day.

Deepen members' spirituality and formation to combat the crisis of religious faith in our world through instituting men’s study groups to read the Apostolic Exhortation Into the Breach and use copies of the Into the Breach Booklet (#340) as a resource.

Spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray for Our Lord to make his heart our own, so that we may see and love in others what he sees and loves in us.

To bring Christ to the people and places that need him most, including those incarcerated in prisons and jails.

Build faithful families and communities through rosary prayer. The Knights of Columbus Rosary Program encourages councils to promote devotion to the rosary in our families and parishes by scheduling regular rosary prayer services. Kits with rosary rings, rosary prayer guides, and leader books are available for councils to order.

Keep the faith alive by supporting our seminarians and postulants. As the strong right arm of the church, Knights of Columbus are committed to providing moral, financial and spiritual support to our future priests and religious at all stages of their formation. A featured program, RSVP counts for two credits toward the Columbian Award.

Support families during the most important events in the life of the domestic church: the sacraments. Councils will play an integral role in these momentous faith events and the lives of our families and parish community through prayer and the presentation of symbolic gifts.

Create annual opportunities for prayer and reflection together as a fraternity. Under the guidance of their chaplain, councils can attend a retreat or day of reflection together or perhaps organize their own event for the men of their parish.

Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Gospel for Sept. 13, Mt 18:21-22) To forgive others can be very difficult at times, especially when someone repeatedly offends us. Jesus tells us there is no magic number that limits our obligation — our desire to forgive and show mercy to others must be boundless, just as God’s mercy toward us is infinite. We pray in the Our Father, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us .” Our very salvation depends on our willingness to forgive, for God will forgive us in the measure that we forgive others (cf. Mt 6:14-15). Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori: This month, I challenge you to make a list of the people in your life — past and present — whom you find or have found difficult to forgive, and to sincerely pray for them each day. Questions for Reflection: Are there people in your life whom you find difficult to forgive for past offenses? Do you sometimes find yourself saying the words “I forgive you,” but holding on to the hurt like a grudge? What steps can you take to move to true forgiveness?