St Philip Howard Catholic Parish
CURRENT OFFICERS FOR COUNCIL 287
Office Holder Landline Mobile
(Click to Email)
Council Grand Knight Joseph Coyle 01638 669280
Deputy Grand Knight Mr Eduardo Fajardo 01223 411499 0779 555 2437
Chancellor Mr Gerry Dorrian 01223 882933 0771 949 4422
Treasurer Mr Ronilo Padua 01223 249520 0791 786 5739
Warden Mr Bernard Barga 01223 410073 0790 370 4903
Secretary Mr Francis Pillai 01223 415149 0772 936 6635
Youth Officer Rony Habacon
Social Secretary Mr Jun Arpon 01223 210424 0784 349 4658
Action Convenor Bro Rolando Perez 01223 410076 0772 721 8507
Welfare and Spirituality Mr Colin Ball 01223 704438 0794 779 0728
Publicity Officer Mr Noel Cruz 01223 247870 0791 033 0709
Order of the Knights of St Columba
Membership of the Knights
Who can join the Knights?
Membership of the Knights of St Columba is open to all practicing Catholic Men over 16 years of age.
Members join local units called 'councils', many of which are based at parish or deanery level. New members take part in a brief admission ceremony; where the objects of the Order are explained, conducted either in the Council or at Mass in Church. They also participate in monthly meetings.
Pope John Paul has appealed to the laity to assist in the mission of the Church by becoming more involved in the work of the parishes and our communities. Membership of the Knights of St Columba provides the opportunity to respond to our Holy Father's appeal.
Reasons to join the KSC
As an integral member of the UK's largest Catholic lay organization, you will be involved with over 8000 fellow Brothers of the Order and their families, located in over 340 Councils throughout the UK.
You will enjoy a sense of 'belonging' in an organization that shares your religious beliefs, brings together likeminded men in a common purpose and offers the opportunity to develop and cement friendships for years to come.
Your personal involvement as a Knight will provide opportunities for service to the Church at all levels; to your community and to those less fortunate in our midst.
Your active participation in council affairs, spiritually, fraternally and socially, will serve as an example to others and enable you to develop your own abilities.
You will share in the sense of pride that all Knights feel in knowing that their Order is second to none in support of Our Holy Father, the Hierarchy and Clergy; in working for our fellow man, especially those most in need.
Join Now!
There are only two requirements for a man to join the Knights of St Columba; that he is a practicing Catholic; as understood by the Church and that he is 16 years of age or over. Members also pay annual dues which vary according to Council levies, however consideration is given to individuals circumstances.
Who Are the Knights?
The Knights of St Columba are an Order of Catholic Laymen dedicated to the Service of the Church and fellow man. The Organisation, which is non-political and essentially democratic, exists to support the mission of the Catholic Church and at the same time to work for the spiritual and material good of its members and their families.
In accordance with the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church, members will diligently work for the Moral and Social Welfare of our Country and in particular to help young people develop in the likeness of Christ. Members of the Order will strive to achieve these aims through the fundamental virtues of Charity, Unity and Fraternity.
The KSC is not a secret society; there are no passwords, handshakes, etc. The Order is completely open and potential members may attend meetings. Admission ceremonies often take place in Church during Mass.
The Family Organisation
The KSC is a Family Organisation, dedicated to The Holy Family. It is firmly committed to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defence of the family.
From the Order's earliest days it has focused on the family unit; by supporting family life through the provision of fraternal benefits, communicating with our young people and social participation. Promotion of family values is an integral part of the Knight's activities, as can be seen by the many action programmes.
Not only do Knights work hard in achieving the Order's fundamental goals but the majority of Councils have a varied programme of social activities in which families and friends are involved.
Knights as Lay Apostles
Every Knight is by definition a Lay Apostle; one who aims to promote the Catholic Church by Christianising his own environment. By his words and actions, a Knight can influence those with whom he associates and make a positive contribution to the Church's Social Teaching. As a member of the Order his obligation also extends to joining with fellow Knights in those activities which rely on organisation and commitment for their success.
No Knight should lose sight of his obligation to assist the clergy of his parish, in every way possible. On every Catholic there lies the obligation to contribute to the support of his pastors. On the Knight there rests a greater responsibility; which is to be discharged by providing willing assistance to the clergy in their duties, whenever that assistance is required.
The harmonious relationship which exists between the Knights of St Columba and the Clergy is apparent by the co-operation and support provided by the Hierarchy. From the Order's earliest years the Hierarchy has appointed one of their number as Ecclesiastical Advisor to the Order; the present one being the Rt Rev Phillip Pargeter, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
The Knights in Action
What do the Knights do?
Knights Activities
Structure of the Order
The Knights of St Columba constantly participate in activities for the betterment of the community at large. Although the KSC has declined in numbers; its commitment to charitable causes remains undiminished. As the Order has matured in years, its benevolence has grown. Large sums of money and volunteer hours have been donated to numerous charitable causes each year.
Knights, their families and friends regularly help out at hospitals, hospices for the terminally ill, respite homes for the elderly and infirmed, refuges for the homeless and disadvantaged in society. The KSC have been at the forefront in the fight against Substance Abuse, by producing and distributing awareness literature to parents; for Justice and Peace, many early groups were drawn from KSC Councils; and for the various Right to Life groups.
The KSC have a wide variety of activities aimed at young people; including local and national competitions in football, netball, public speaking and a general knowledge quiz. There are Seminars for young people held each year and a Nativity Scene Christmas Card painting competition, open to all primary school children.
Knights are responsible for the erection of many of the Christmas Cribs; seen and admired throughout the country; as part of the KSC's Keep Christ in Christmas campaign. They also produce and distribute the Christmas, Easter and Pentecost posters, with which many Christians will be familiar.
National Action Projects
The vast majority of volunteer and charitable works carried out by the KSC is in response to the needs of the local community. However, each year the Knights of St Columba as an Order, undertake to support financially, a charitable cause, as a National Action Project. Supreme Council may provide guidance on National Action Projects, but it is at the grassroots in the Councils and their members to whom the success of any ventures must be attributed.
In recent years, National Action projects have resulted in the purchase of incubators for baby care units; a workshop for the production of artificial limbs for children in Ghana; a home for destitute children in Southern India and substantial grants to two homeless centres in London and Glasgow. In addition, an emergency relief fund is maintained to respond to National and International appeals for aid.
The most ambitious KSC National Action Project undertaken by the Order was; to provide the equivalent of at least 2000 bore-wells, supplying fresh clean water where none exists at present, in Africa and India. This was seen as a tangible way of marking the 2000 years since the birth of Christ and as a consequence the project was called The Jubilee Experience. Thanks to the generosity of local Council members, their families, friends, schools and members of the community in general, the project realised a total of £277.000; with all the proceeds raised being used to provide safe clean water, essential for human survival.
The National Action Project just finished, was designed to raise funds for the national charity 'Help the Hospices' . The charity, which exists to support more than 200 local hospices throughout the United Kingdom; provides support in various ways, including training bursaries for hospices and hospice staff, supporting major projects to develop hospice services, including research into palliative care, an awards scheme for hospice volunteers and an advice line for hospices, on charity law and taxation. The appeal raised funds in excess of £100,000.
In its new National Action Project, entitled 'Partners in Health', the Knights of St Columba, in conjunction with the Christian Aid charities CAFOD and SCIAF; will raise funds for health projects in Third World Countries. The project, will run for three years, with the emphasis placed on the provision of primary health care, using simple low-cost methods. These projects will include providing clean water, child health care, education, drugs and projects to combat communicable diseases.
Provincial Council
Charter Council
Supreme Council is just as much a Council of the Order as a Provincial or Charter Council. As presently constituted, the composition of Supreme Council is of a representative nature - Supreme officers and the board of Directors who constitute the "Government" are members of the Council, in addition to, past Supreme Knights, current and immediate past Provincial Grand Knights. The main body of Supreme Council members are those who have been elected by the Provincial Councils in proportion to the numerical strength in each province.
As the title implies, the Supreme Council is the Governing body of the Order. It is vested in the constitution; with absolute and unrestricted authority to make, alter and repeal, all rules and regulations for the government, discipline and control of the order; and its decisions of all matters concerning the Order are final. Alterations and amendments to the constitution and to the rules are subject to approval by a two thirds majority at Supreme Council. Delegates who attend meetings have a duty to consider all matters in "the interest of the whole Order" and vote accordingly.
Council Officers
Council Officers serve for one year, and with the exception of the Grand Knight (serves a maximum consecutive three years), are always eligible for a further year in office.
Grand Knight
Deputy Grand Knight | Chaplain
Chancellor | Action Convener | Secretary
Youth Officer | Training Officer | Social Secretary | Warden
Treasurer | Auditors | Trustees
The duties of each officer are defined within the rules and constitution of the Order. In accepting election to a position, officers accept these rules unreservedly and the obligation to fulfil them.
Successful government of the Order demands that officers inspire all those who serve under them to greater effort and achievement.
Branches of the KSC
Charter Council
The basic unit of the Order is a Council; which may cover a single or number of local church parishes. Councils will meet once or twice monthly.
When Councils are erected; they receive a KSC 'Charter of Constitution', empowering them to conduct meetings under the Order's name; elect members as Office Bearers; initiate new members; create their own rules and bye-laws and entitlement to full representation at Provincial Council meetings.
Each Charter Council is autonomous under the constitution; elects its own executive, with the presiding officer being the Grand Knight. In addition to its various officers, every Council should have a Chaplain, duly approved by the Bishop of the diocese in which the Council is established. There are in excess of 340 KSC Councils in the Order.
Provincial Council
Groups of Councils are formed into a Province, which meets quarterly. The Provinces of the Knights have generally corresponded to the areas covered by the Catholic dioceses of the country, although today there tend to be more sub-divisions. Provinces are established by the Board of Directors to co-ordinate the work of a number of subordinate Councils in a given area. A Province is an important branch in the structure of the Order; through it the vast volume of work of the Order is organised and carried out.
Supreme Council
The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Order of the Knights of St Columba. Members from throughout the KSC meet each September, in changing locations, to discuss the Order's development and future policy. Decisions taken by Supreme Council are final and the Board of Directors are responsible for their implementation. The Supreme Knight, Supreme Officers and Directors are elected annually by the Supreme Council; as the Order's Board of Directors.
A Brief History of the Order
The Beginnings
At a meeting held in Glasgow on 5th October 1919; attended by twenty-four Catholic gentlemen; Corkman Patrick J. O'Callaghan asked those present to agree to the formation of a new organisation, which would ultimately be called the Knights of St. Columba. This proposal was agreed and a further meeting was convened. The new Order was to be modeled, as far as was practicable, on the example of the Knights of Columbus in the USA (founded by Fr Michael J. McGivney in 1881).
Development and Growth
When the Order was founded, there was no immediate prospect of establishing Councils outside Scotland. However, by the early 1920's the Knights of St. Columba had crossed the border to England with a foundation in Liverpool. By 1925 the Order had reached London. From that period and up to the outbreak of World War II was the heyday of the Order with up to 200 members at a time being initiated at a ceremony. The period following the Second World War was again a time of expansion, but during the late 1950's/early 1960's, with the decline of the inner city parishes and the dispersal of the Catholic population, recruitment slowed. At present there are over 8,000 members; 340 subordinate Charter Councils; 32 Provinces; around the UK, from Inverness in the North to the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and from Cornwall to East Anglia.
In it's early days, the Knights of St Columba had been a ritualistic Order. Early in the 1920's a degree system came into operation; with three stages to membership; a full range of ritual evolved to cover ceremonies and meetings, held in each of the three degrees. Secrecy concerning these ceremonies was demanded.
A new generation of members and changing attitudes made it evident that changes in the ritual of the Order were desirable. By 1966, a simplified form of ritual had been adopted and all elements of secrecy were eliminated. As from 1969, the second level (degree) was abolished and the two remaining simple forms of ritual are Membership (on joining the order) and Knighthood (upon later elevation).
The Incorporators
Those men of vision, who recognised the need for an organisation to be formed; "based on strictly Catholic and democratic ideals, with safeguards to prevent any departure from Catholic principles", were considered to be Incorporators of the Order of the Knights of St Columba. Their names are inscribed on the constitution and will forever be remembered.
A Board of Directors was chosen from these Incorporators, at the first Supreme Council in Glasgow; empowered to remain 'in office' until January 1, 1923, when they handed over the now sturdy organisation to new custodians.
John Neary, the last living Incorporator, died at the age of 86, in Glasgow on the 29th September 1967.
The Order's First Home
With the phenomenal expansion of the Order in its first year, the need for a 'Knights' premises became obvious. The Subway Halls, in the Partick area of Glasgow, was acquired and volunteers set to work on making the premises suitable for 'The Knight's First Home'.
On the 29th May 1922, some two years after the birth of the Order; the Supreme Office was established at 132 West Nile Street, Glasgow. The Order's expansion and the resulting growth in administration caused the board of directors to take this decisive step. By 1927; owing to the continued progress of the order; the number of councils had reached 178; permanent headquarters were established at 54 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, where it remained until 1982.
Although the majority of the Order's members reside beyond Scottish shores and its offices have moved from its original site on two occasions; 'Supreme Office' or Head Office, as it is now more commonly known; retains its roots in Glasgow.
BASIC FACTS ABOUT COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS
Committees meet on arranged dates and times before the regular monthly Council meetings. The reports from the Committees are read out at the monthly Council meetings. This prevents long discussions taking place about Committee projects that would cause the monthly Council meetings to last beyond one hour in length.
Each Committee is headed by an "Officer". He will discuss with the members of his Committee when would be the best time and day for them to meet in order for people’s schedules to be respected.
Youth
As the name suggests, this Committee attempts to provide or sponsor activities relating to young people.
Welfare
This Committee attempts to provide for the needs of infirm members of the Order and their spouses. This may include the occasional visit or something else which will fulfil their basic needs and dignity as members of the Order.
Action
This Committee attempts to encourage interest in any of the projects which Supreme Council, Provincial Council of the Local Council have decided on for the year.
Social
This Committee arranges various social events to which the Knight’s wives are invited. It attempts to underline one of the principle aims of the Order to be a "Family Organisation".
Training
This Committee provides for the information and formation of new members of the Order so that they will understand the objectives of the Order, the purpose of Committees and the procedures and protocol to be followed at the monthly Council meetings.
The site is updated weekly - this page last updated 28th April 2008