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Restored Faith in Humanity….Again!

Jim Wade, Council Growth Director

This morning I had the privilege to beg on the street corner in our semi-annual Diocesan wide Tootsie Roll Drive.  As everyone knows we are in a tough economy and of course no one has money left over for charity, right? Wrong!!!!!

After the first three donations were made there was $16 in my bucket… a $10, a $5 and a$1.  In fact by the end of the day my bucket felt empty.  It wasn’t because there was no money in it, quite the opposite; it was almost all folding money!!!!!! WOW and this is a tough economy!!!!  Oh but you were just in a “rich” neighborhood.  No not really, in fact the folks that gave $5’s and $10’s weren’t driving the Caddy’s or Beemer’s, they didn’t have big cars, just big hearts.  Oh but they were just committed to your project or were Knights,  A few may have given because they knew and liked the Knights, but most represented a very diverse group, all faiths all ethnicities.  Almost none knew where the funds were going. The fact is they saw a group of men of good will giving up their Saturday morning to help others in need and they were also willing to help.  Not one person asked what reward they would get.  Not one person asked if it would be counted towards their goal.  Imagine that, they just opened their hearts and out popped money. 

Witnessing this kind of genuine Charity I cannot fathom the fact that in this Great State of Texas we have 130 Councils with 12,362 Brother Knights, all of whom were taught the Principle of Charity in the First Degree, that have closed their hearts to the needs of their Bishop and other Brother Knights throughout the State.  Could it be that these councils are Knights in name only?  Could it be that they have forgotten the lessons of the First Degree?  Maybe their response is that, “we have too many needs within our own parish to take care of,” but is this what Our Lord taught us?  Did he not give us the lesson of the Good Samaritan?  Take a few moments and ask yourself, “Is my Council really living the first principle of our order or are we just pretending to be Knights of Columbus?”  You can make the difference.  You can change the hearts of your brothers.  Now is the time to act……


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