The Tar Heel Knight

September marks a full return to council activity, and with it, a renewed opportunity to reflect the transformation Christ is working in each of us. A new fraternal year is underway, and as your programs ramp up, it’s essential to ensure your council’s administrative duties are up to date. Form 185 (Officers Chosen) was due July 1, and Form 365 (Service Program Personnel Report) was due August 1. If your council missed either, submit them immediately at kofc.org and email them to forms@kofcnc.org. The monthly Form 10784 (Fraternal Programs Report) should be submitted for each Faith in Action activity — with photos and brief summaries so we can highlight your works on the State Council Facebook page. Don’t forget to begin planning your Fraternal Benefits Seminars and file Form 11077 after each event. These forms are not merely paperwork; they are a record of your council’s witness and vitality.
The principle of Unity calls each of us to build bonds that go deeper than shared projects. Unity in the Knights of Columbus is rooted in our shared relationship with Christ and a common mission to serve His Church. This isn’t merely structural — it’s spiritual. Unity begins with prayer: praying the Rosary together, lifting up brothers’ intentions, and attending Mass as a council. It continues in action — visiting sick members, volunteering side by side, and supporting each other’s families. True unity requires humility, sacrifice, and forgiveness. This month, consider organizing a council event that fosters fraternity: a shared meal, a spiritual outing, or a collaborative service project. A council transformed by Christ becomes a beacon of unity in the parish and community.
This month we remember two apostles named in Eucharistic Prayer I: Saint Andrew and Saint James the Greater. Saint Andrew, the brother of Peter, is often remembered for quietly bringing others to Christ. His response to meeting Jesus was to find his brother and say, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). Tradition holds that he preached in Greece and was martyred on an X-shaped cross. He is the patron saint of fishermen, Scotland, and Ukraine, and his feast day is November 30. Saint James the Greater, one of the “inner three” apostles, witnessed the Transfiguration and the agony in the garden. He was the first apostle to be martyred, as recorded in Acts 12:2, and is the patron of pilgrims and laborers. His feast day is July 25, and his tomb at Santiago de Compostela became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Church. Both saints model lives of courageous witness and remind us that a life transformed by Christ is a life of mission and sacrifice.
To deepen our spiritual transformation, consider incorporating the Morning Offering into your daily prayer routine. This simple yet profound prayer unites all your day’s joys, works, and sufferings to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the intentions of the Church:


O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for the intentions of our Holy Father, for the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and all members of the Apostleship of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.
Start your day with this offering, and consider praying it together at the beginning of council meetings or before community events.
This August, the 141st Supreme Convention in Washington, D.C., was a powerful reminder of the global reach and spiritual vitality of the Knights of Columbus. Delegates from around the world gathered to celebrate our shared mission and deepen our commitment to being “Knights Transformed by Christ.” One of the most moving moments came during the presentation of the Fr. Michael J. McGivney Medal, the Order’s highest honor for priestly service. This year’s recipient was my mentor and friend, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. — a man who has had a profound impact on my life and vocation. Fr. Frank was one of the two men who recruited me into the Knights of Columbus and helped shape my journey through long, meaningful conversations in college and well beyond. His priestly example and leadership as Director of the Catholic Apostolate Center have inspired thousands across the country, but for me, it’s the personal investment — the way he listened, challenged, and walked with me — that made the difference. Seeing him honored on the Supreme stage was a moment of immense gratitude.
Another powerful highlight was the recognition of the International Family of the Year, the Duppong family of North Dakota. Their life of faith, hospitality, and joyful Catholic witness deeply moved all in attendance. Particularly inspiring is the story of their daughter, Servant of God Michelle Duppong, whose life of holiness and evangelization continues to touch souls across the country. Her example is a reminder that sainthood begins in the home — and that families rooted in Christ can bear fruit for generations. The Duppongs’ example challenges each of us to make our homes true domestic churches — places where faith is lived, vocations are nurtured, and love is poured out daily.
As we move into the fall season, take a moment to thank your brother Knights for their service and recommit yourselves to the mission ahead. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) and Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15) call us to unite our own crosses to Christ’s and to walk with Mary in hope and faith. May your council be a place where men are not only active but spiritually alive — united, faithful, and transformed by Christ.

Vivat Jesus!