Knights of Peter Claver holds joint convention

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

Friendship, hope and Christian charity – the central tenets of the Knights of Peter Claver and its Ladies Auxiliary – were on full display July 16 at the opening Mass of the fraternal Black Catholic organization’s national convention in New Orleans July 13-19.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington, Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry and other priests concelebrated the 107th annual Mass, which was televised on EWTN and on the Knights’ Facebook page. 

In his homily, Cardinal Gregory reflected on St. Matthew’s Gospel account of the parable of the sower, using the phrase, “He was like us all things but sin.”

Cardinal Gregory said he finds comfort “that Jesus might be quite like me – except perhaps for my many rough edges.” He also noted Jesus’ sense of humor, because how could he not, “considering our own foolishness.”

“We are the fields that are filled with weeds, rocks, old tires, broken glass, discarded cans and so many thorns,” Cardinal Gregory said. “Our hearts are unyielding soil that doesn’t allow God’s Word to penetrate and to take root and, when we do, the harvest is often meager and less than what it ought to be. … We know what we’re supposed to do as disciples (love our neighbor, work for justice, care for the poor, etc.), but we are not very good at or very consistent with our follow-through.”

Cardinal Gregory said Jesus taught in parables because his followers “look but do not see, and hear but do not listen or understand.”

“It’s as though Jesus is telling us this story about God’s words and our own thorny lives,” Cardinal Gregory said, “and then asking us, ‘Do you get it folks? Is anybody out there? A man like us in all things but sin!’ When we finally do meet him in judgment, I really do hope that he still is able to laugh!”

Family of leaders
This conference was the first in the Knights of Peter Claver’s 114th-year history to include its Junior, Third and Fourth Degree Knights and the Ladies Auxiliary at the same place and time. Approximately 1,700 Knights and Ladies Auxiliary members attended and discussed a myriad of topics including all facets of what it means to be pro-life while holding an end-to-gun violence rally, conducting community service, holding fundraisers, medical panels and, for the first time, a wellness component to promote healthy lifestyles, said Athanase Jones, a lay board member and public relations committee member. 

The Knights of Peter Claver was founded in Mobile, Alabama, in 1909 by the Josephites, but is now headquartered in New Orleans. It was named after St. Peter Claver, a Spanish Jesuit priest who ministered to African slaves in Colombia in the 1600s.

Cardinal Gregory, a 4th Degree Knights of Peter Claver member, mentioned how the Knights of Peter Claver and the Ladies Auxiliary have long since become an indispensable part of Catholic Church life in our nation,” born “when other Catholic fraternities would not welcome people of color.”

“This conference brings together the past alongside the future, and we thank God for both, and we pledge him our trust and love as did our forerunners from yesterday who obviously did that as they established and carried on a noble and enduring example of true Catholic faith. May we be as faithful, loving and steadfast as they were.”

Cardinal Gregory sees the Knights as extremely important “to the proclamation of the faith in bringing together extraordinarily good men and women who want to do something for the faith and to engage the church with our culture, our traditions, our zeal and passion.”

“Our people have faith and determination, and it was out of that faith and determination that that Claver family was born,” he added. “The founding people were convinced it was important that African-American Catholics would be able to celebrate our identity in a collaborative way, and to make a statement to whole the church.”

Cardinal Gregory, a papal appointee to the upcoming synod – his fourth synod – said he will also participate in two other gatherings being held this week where African-American Catholics will celebrate their faith – the 13th National Black Catholic Congress and the 4th African Eucharistic Congress, both in Washington, D.C.

He described the synod in October as unlike the others he’s attended due to the large delegation of lay, religious and clergy who are not bishops but have a vote. At previous  synods, they could only attend and speak.

“This synod engages all the participants in an active way with the synod as voters,” Cardinal Gregory said. “The goals of this one include an engagement of the broader church – clergy, religious, laity and hierarchy – to speak to one another and listen to one another about issues of importance about the evangelization of the world. What I think (the pope) would like us to do is to open our hearts and minds to the prompting of the Holy Spirit so we can better evangelize the world.”

Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 330 Grand Lady Janice Collins of New Orleans said she has attended several national conventions and enjoys them. The conventions, she said, promote unity while highlighting the wonderful works of the fraternal organization. And, having the Junior Knights at the convention for the first time helps the older Knights serve as role models.

“Friendship, unity and charity are the three virtues of our whole organization,” Collins said. “We share ideas between the organization, make resolutions and see where we can better our organization.”

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