July 30, 2025 • 43 mins
Mark Messier is the State Deputy for the New Hampshire Knights of Columbus. Alongside his wife Darlene, Mark leads the New Hampshire State Council, focusing on growing the organization’s jurisdiction and guiding Catholic men and their families toward faith and community service. Through charitable outreach and Faith in Action programs, he promotes the core values of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, aiming to enhance member engagement and spiritual growth.
Thank you for watching The Ever-Living Podcast, a heartfelt space to share the stories and voices of women who champion a culture that values and protects life. Each episode we seek to empower, offering connection, hope, and strength through the journeys of those who work and pray for this cause. Crafted for women seeking purpose and community, we welcome you to join us in cherishing every single heartbeat.
Thank you for watching The Ever-Living Podcast, a heartfelt space to share the stories and voices of women who champion a culture that values and protects life. Each episode we seek to empower, offering connection, hope, and strength through the journeys of those who work and pray for this cause. Crafted for women seeking purpose and community, we welcome you to join us in cherishing every single heartbeat.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
M hm.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hm.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Welcome to Every Living Podcast. It's a podcast about sharing
the voices of those who work and pray to UH
value life in New England and beyond. Welcome back to
the pod.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Hi Jessica, Hi Cindy. How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I'm doing well. It's a beautiful day.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
I know.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I see your see you're outside enjoying, enjoying the nice weather.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yes, got to enjoy it. In New Hampshire we have
the sunny days.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
That's true. I know they're coming coming, coming to an end.
The summer is going very fast so well not god,
not an end yet, but.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It is September. September can be warm, September can be nice,
too hot. So what's what's uh, what's new in your life?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Jess Yeah, what's new? Well, tomorrow I have the day off.
Speaking of summer, I'm going to the beach. So that'll
be fun. Kind of my first time really going to
the beach this summer. I did go briefly when I
was on my Italy trip. We did go to the
beach in Sorranto a little bit. But tomorrow I'm taking
the day to go to the beach with my family,
(01:20):
so that'll be fun. I'm excited for that, spend some
time with my dad and my brothers. So yeah, it's
probably the newest update for me.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Do you know who else is Italian?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Who?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Christophero Colombo?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Why do you bring why do you bring Godhead him up?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Why do I bring up Columbus? Because today we have
not one, not two, but three honorable brothers of the
Nights of Columbus in New Hampshire. Let's welcome them. They
are Mark, Tim and Roy.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Welcome the afternoon, ladies.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
Hello, there are great here we are.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Thank you, thank you all for joining us. Yeah, this
is great.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Glad to be here. Thank you for having us.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Let's get a little intro from each of you, gentlemen.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
Okay, Basically they call me an immediate past State Deputy
because from the two years ending in from July first,
I was the State Deputy and as that's responsible for
leading all the Nights within the State of New Hampshire.
At this point in time, Mark Messier is the State
Deputy and he carries that responsibility. I've been a Night
(02:44):
since two thousand and five, very active in my council
state level. Once I got once I fell into the
Nights of Columbus, this became my ministry because as far
as I'm concerned, the Nights of Columbus is doing the
work of the Good Lord. With that, I'll let Mark
take over.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, thanks Tim, And again, as Tim mentioned, I'm his
immediate predecessor. I've been working through the chairs the last
six years, following it in Tim's footsteps, and I now
have the honor to carry the gavel so to speak
for the state and be the leader of our members
(03:24):
here in the state. I've been a member for sixteen
plus years, and you know, I fell in love with
the Knights of Columbus because of the fraternity and fellowship
that we share as a Catholic manner as what we
(03:46):
refer to ourselves sometimes as a Catholic gentleman. And so
that fraternity and fellowship has allowed me to grow my faith,
grow my relationship with our Lord and Savior. And you know,
through all the good works that we uh do and
have done and will do, you know, I credit the
(04:07):
Knights for making me a better man, a better husband,
a better friend, a better Catholic and and of course
definitely a better follower of our Lord and Savior. So
you know, we h I love the the activities that
we do, especially centered around life and how we impact
(04:30):
the families in this state of New Hampshire. And I
guess would then I'll give roy an opportunity to chat.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Yeah, I'm roy Denahey.
Speaker 8 (04:43):
I live in in a town called Wyndham, New Hampshire,
and I'm the State Life Director for the Knights of
Columbus here in New Hampshire. And prior to that, I
and I still belong to our local council which is
in wind Him at Saint Matthew's Church. And I'm retired
(05:07):
from a real you know, a real job, and this
is right now.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
This is my mission, my life's mission.
Speaker 8 (05:15):
I've been assigned, I always tell people, and I've been
assigned to this mission by the by the Holy Spirit.
And my mission is to to uh to help save
lives from the moment of conception to natural death. So
it's really looking not just at at life in the womb,
(05:39):
but also open life as a whole, from conception all
the way through natural death. And and that's that's really
where my mission is here in the Knights of Columbus.
And I'm so blessed to to work with about seven
thousand brother Knights here in New Hampshire and will go
(06:00):
through explaining our structure here no answer, but it's it's
really not a job, it's it's a mission working with
so many other pro life organizations throughout the state of
in New Hampshire because it is a big effort. It's
not just one little, you know, one silo so to speak,
with the Knights, but it's a it's a whole life
(06:23):
mission which represents many different pro life organizations.
Speaker 6 (06:28):
So this is this is what I do.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Awesome, Well, thank you all for introducing yourselves.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
And I'm familiar with the Knights. I have several people
in my life that are Nights.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I'm in Connecticut, but they're they're Knights in councils in Connecticut.
But for those of our listeners that are not as
familiar with the Knights of Columbus, could you tell us
a little bit more about just in general, what the
Knights are, maybe you know how they were starting, who
they were started by. Just a little bit more background
on what the Knights of Columbus is.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
Sure, I'll take a lead on that one. The Knights
of Columbus was formed in eighteen eighty two by a priest.
At this point is Blessed Michael McGivney. Yes, we are
working on trying to bring him to sainhood. So the
council has. The Knights of Columbus started in New Haven, Connecticut,
(07:25):
and it has been steadily growing over the last one
hundred or so years. Currently, we have over two million
men worldwide. And I do mean worldwide. It's not just
the United States. We are in about twenty five countries
outside of the United States. Basically that's where the two
million men come from. It's basically any country where we
(07:47):
have a heavy Catholic presence. This is where the Knights
of Columbus exists. What we are as an organization. We
are a fraternal benefit organization. Men join the Knights of
Columbus primarily to basically become friends because we're doing work
to help benefit people. You end up becoming friends with
(08:10):
the people that you do work with, so therefore it's fun,
but it's also extremely rewarding and as much that as
far as doing the work, because I have found men
who take the time to raise the sweat to help
other people. Somewhere in that process your own faith grows
(08:30):
and you become more focused as a Christian. But basically
as the Nights. We're made up of councils, over fifteen
thousand councils worldwide at this stage of the game.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Awesome, that's great. No, thank you, thank you for that
background that you're sharing. You guys are wonderful. The Night's
do so many good things. Could you talk a little.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Bit more about or one of you who speak about
some of the projects that you guys are involved in.
I know you said that you know you grow in
your faith when you work on projects together. So what
are some of what are some of the things that
the Knights of Columbus does and maybe some of the
projects that you've worked on specifically in New Hampshire.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Well, yeah, go ahead, I'll start with a few and
then Roy can share. So a couple of things that
we work with are what we call an ultrasound program.
So the Knights of Columbus sponsors an ultrasound program where
(09:33):
we provide these ultrasounds to the pregnancy centers not only
here in New Hampshire, but around the country around the world.
I believe, as we are speaking right now, our worthy
program director is working on finalizing what we believe is
to be the twelve hundredth.
Speaker 7 (09:55):
Twelve twelfth in New Hampshire, the twelve yes I'm sorry, yes,
the twelfth.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Ultrasound that New Hampshire has provided to local pregnancy centers.
So we are very happy about that and we know
that they have a huge impact. Obviously, once some young
mothers to be see that their baby is a viable,
living entity in their body, it often, most oftentimes turns
(10:30):
them towards choosing life and going to full term as
opposed to leaning towards pregnancy. We also, again on an
annual basis, we do provide local support financial support to
our I think at sixteen pregnancy centers throughout the state.
(10:51):
We have an annual dinner which we call the Birthright Dinner.
Last year and this year again it will be held
over in Rochester by Rochester Council. And what we do
is we gather all the pregnancy centers, the managers or
leaders of those centers to this dinner. All of our
(11:13):
councils we have sixty five plus active councils in New
Hampshire provide monetary support, whether it's through money or gift
cards and things of that nature, which are then you know,
Roy has has the pleasure of trying to delve those
out evenly throughout the states again to give these folks
(11:38):
the support that they need to keep their ministries going. So,
I mean, those are two of the what I would
call the more significant programs that we're involved with on
an annual basis. And again we're very proud to say
that yields an awful lot of support for these folks.
(11:58):
And again Roy works more specifically and more closely to
the Windows centers. But those will be the two main
programs that I would want to share regarding pro life.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Mm hm.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Is there any memorable stories from Protecting Life as a
Night of Columbus?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Well, boy, I can tell you about a lot of
tears I've shed with folks at the pregnancy centers. You know,
just uh, you know when when you're when you're there
at ground zero, you see these these vulnerable women and
men uh come in and they're they're lost and not
(12:48):
sure what they want to do or should do. And
many of them come in clearly stating, hey, I'm looking
probably at doing an abortion. And then when you watch
these volunteer years just work with these folks to try
to steer them in the life direction, you know, and
you just and again we have the opportunity to share
(13:09):
our faith as well. Oftentimes we can. That is a
real big help to some of these folks. Whether they
come with faith or not, they often will lead with
some change. But again, I've had situation, especially here in Laconia.
(13:30):
I'm in Belmont, so Laconi is only five or six
miles away, you know where I've been able to go
in and chat and again at a loss for the
gal's name. I know, I know that Roy will know
her name, but you know, we'll sit there and hug
and cry about the victories and you know, unfortunately sometimes
(13:52):
you know, battles that we might have lost for now.
So that's those are the you know, I know that's
not specific stories per se, but that that is very
much you know what it what it means for me,
you know, to have to be with these people and
(14:14):
support them and they just know that we're we're in
the fight with them, and to see them just pour
out their faith, their their heart and souls for these
men and women who come in looking for help, is
it's just uh, it's just awesome and awe inspiring.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
You know, I can I just gotta jump in.
Speaker 8 (14:42):
Yeah, I was just going to jump in and and
talk talk a little bit about working with the New
Hampshire legislator legislature.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Excuse me, uh in conquered.
Speaker 8 (14:56):
It's a big part of what I do in what
we do is as a Knights of Columbus organization because
we're a pro life organization where we're made up of
Catholic men were where we have strong Christian values that
we support. We work very closely with the Catholic Dioce's
(15:18):
Office in New Hampshire, Bishop Lebaski, who's our bishop in
the Catholic Church. And part of our mission is to
do is to protect our church, protect our priests and
also to protect is as Mark talked about protecting vulnerable
pregnant women and helping them to decide for life.
Speaker 6 (15:42):
So when we when.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
I attend variety of sessions in Conquord, New Hampshire, both
in the House and the Senate, working making presentations and
doing giving testimony to members of the House and the
Senate on on pro life legislation, supporting them the legislature,
(16:07):
the legislation bills that are coming up for review.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
And also to oppose UH anti.
Speaker 8 (16:16):
Life legislation that's that comes in front in front of
all the House and Senate committees as well. So it's
it takes a lot of courage to bring fellow brothers,
brothers in Christ to New Hampshire, to stand in front
(16:37):
of elected officials and to stand up for your faith.
And you talk about moments of elation, is when when
you're in in the chamber the House for example, the
House Chamber and a vote is being cast to defend
life or to to vote against life. The victory when
(17:01):
that vote comes in and there's enough pro life votes
coming out of the legislature, that is an incredible experience
knowing that it's it's just not our effort, but it's
the effort. It's it's God supporting our efforts. Is the
Holy Spirit being involved. It's really a spiritual battle that
(17:23):
we're fighting. It's not just you know, Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal, whatever,
but it's it's God against Satan in many times, in
many instances, good against evil.
Speaker 6 (17:37):
So it's it's really assion.
Speaker 8 (17:39):
And so that's one of the aspects of of what
I do and what we do as a as an
organization supporting life.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
You know, Roy, you talk about being strong and and
and courageous. You know, we also have men who will
stand in front of the abortion clinics right and pray
very peacefully and and you know, again share our faith
(18:12):
and and make sure that folks see us peacefully out
there quietly opposing you know, you know what they're doing
inside that building. So that's that's another aspect of what
it is that we will do. You know, obviously we're involved.
I have not been involved specifically, but we have the
(18:34):
Marches for Life both here in New Hampshire, in and Washington,
and I know you're intimately involved with those roy but
you know, again where we try to be as visible
as possible as much as we can again so that
we can hopefully gather support from you know, other other folks,
(18:56):
whether their brother knights or not.
Speaker 8 (19:00):
Right absolutely, I mark one of the things that that
we do locally in in Manchester and Jessica and your case,
you're from the down in Connecticut, but Manchester is the
biggest city in the state of New Hampshire. It's about
a half million people and it's centered right in the
(19:21):
middle of New Hampshire. And there's a planned parenthood facility
right there on Pennacook Street, right off the main dragon
in Manchester and We work with a fellow Knight fellow
named Norman Tebo Norm is a member of the Knights
of Columbus in the Merrimack Council, and he coordinates the
(19:45):
group called forty Days for Life and we have a
fall program campaign and a spring campaign and we pulled
together many New Hampshire to Columbus councils where we take
a one hour segment every Saturday, for example during the
(20:07):
fall in the spring, and we show up with our
council men of our Knights of Columbus Council and we
pray the Rosary in front of the plant Parenthood because
part of our organization is working with and praying toward
our Lady, our Blessed Mother, who is an integral part
(20:28):
of the Knights of Columbus in terms of our prayer organization.
And we stay the Rosary in front of the planned
parenthood and we pray to our Lady to interested and
help women make make the decision for life. So that
and we've had many, many cases of that happening in
(20:50):
front of planned parenthood. It's it's not confrontation confrontational in
any way. It's it's it's compassionate care where we have
an opportunity to walk up to the to these young
ladies and ask and tell them that they have another option,
they don't have to go into that facility and to
(21:12):
frankly disguard their life, the life of their child, that
there isn't another way. There's another option by choosing life.
And the beautiful thing is that Pennacook Pregnancy Care Center
is one block away from Planned Parenter, right up the street.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So in many cases.
Speaker 8 (21:31):
We're able to convince the young lady who's pregnant to
come up to pregnant. Pregnant Penacook Pregnancy Care Center is
not easy to say. And work with Kathy Kelly who's
the director, and Kathy's is a tremendous uh director for
(21:53):
that facility and she personally, along with her staff, has
saved many lives and given women an opportunity to to
choose life and to to learn how to be a
mother and to cherish the life of their their preborn
daughter or son that's living in the momb and and
(22:16):
help them carry that that life right to the moment
of birth. So it's it's it's an exciting and positive experience. Yes,
there's a lot of negatives that go on but we're
in the trenches.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
I think that's really the key phrase.
Speaker 8 (22:33):
Whether they were conquered standing in front of committees, were
standing in front of planned parenthood. We work very closely
with the sixteen pregnancy resource centers in the state. I
personally know each each one of the executive directors and
I communicate with them quite a bit.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
And that's their mission. So it's it's.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Really a whole life issue that we deal with on
a daily basis. So it's a great experience.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
That's awesome question.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
My question is if we have listeners out there, young
men who are listening, how how would you What would
you say is how to be a godly man, a
godly father, a godly husband. What kind of qualities would
you encourage the young men who are listening to imitate.
Speaker 6 (23:31):
That's a great value women, That's.
Speaker 8 (23:34):
A great question, you knowt of remind it's exactly what
we do at our churches. Local churches are Catholic churches,
Like in my case at Saint Matthew's, when I see
a couple that I know, the husband or the boyfriends,
not a knight. Many times I'll walk up and introduce
(23:55):
myself and tell them who I am. That I'm a
member of the Knight of Columbus and parish, and I said,
you know you, you would make a great example for
your family or for your wife, or if he's married
and he has children, to consider becoming a brother Knight
in our organization to stand up and protect our church,
(24:19):
protect your family, and and and instill in your family
wonderful Christian values that that we exhibit through you know,
the four pillars of our organization. Charity, fraternity, unity, and patriotism.
Those are the four pillars of Nights of Columbus. And
many times we invite them to come to our meetings.
(24:42):
We have a meeting once a month, a general meeting
for our brother Knights, and that's how we get young
men involved in our organization. And because it's our future,
we need young men to to expand the Mexicolo.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
In my case, my son's a member.
Speaker 8 (25:04):
I have a many of our Knights of Columbus brothers
have family members part of the Knights of Columbus.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
But the.
Speaker 8 (25:14):
Man has a tremendous impact on that pregnant woman, whether
it's the girlfriend or it's the husband or the girlfriend
or the wife in terms of carrying on that the
pregnancy and bringing it to the woman of birth and
to accept life in the family.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
So I'd like to jump in here thank you.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
Basically, one of the things that we really focus on
for younger men, okay, is we are considered a family organization.
The membership does base is based on the men. But
basically when we do events like at a church, we
run at dinner or things of this nature, it is
a family event. Women often jump in and how help out,
(26:01):
and also older children jump in and help out. But
even for the men who have the younger kids, we've
created an environment where these men can come and their
family is welcome, and at that point it becomes they
can join with other people in the parish and it
becomes a truly social event for them. That's where the
(26:21):
fraternity aspect of the Knights come. But this is way
it's important to create that friendly environment. That's something that
where the children are as welcome because younger people today
they all have children, which is what you would expect,
so therefore we want them to feel welcome.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
I think that's really I appreciate you emphasizing that because
I think that was honestly my dad growing up. That
was always like his hesitancy of like joining the Knights,
because I think my dad worked a lot growing up,
and yeah, and it was like exactly his time off,
like he wanted to spend with his family. But the
fact that you guys do include the family in these
(27:02):
events are such an important thing.
Speaker 4 (27:03):
So if a man, you know that's listening.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
To this podcast, whether young or old, is interested in
becoming a Knight, a Catholic man, because obviously because it's
a Catholic organization, how exactly would they go about doing that?
Speaker 7 (27:20):
Several ways, Mainly the way we've traditionally done it is
we have recruiting drives within the church, but basically that
it's so that still works for older men. We advertise
within the church bulletin that way, anyone who was interested
in joining can speak to anyone at their church. We
(27:43):
also now have online membership, whereas men who who are
very well connected to their phone, like most young people today,
they can basically go out to the KFC dot org
slash join and they can literally join the Nights of
Columbus online at the particular point, and they can basically
put in things like what parish they want to join to,
(28:05):
so it helps point them to the correct council for
them to join. So basically those are the two main
ways to get in. And then once they're an online member,
they will be contacted by a council, uh and at
that point they will be invited to participate in some way.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
But also through that process, Tim, as we all know,
you know, once somebody has signed up on on online,
they then over the course of those next many weeks,
they will get information, right, more information from our home
Office Supreme regarding you know, things of you know what's next,
(28:45):
how you know what to do, uh, what kind of
programming that is available for them to get involved with
prayer groups, those types of things. So it's you know,
as Tim said that in the old used to be
one on one, face to face, but again this day
(29:06):
and age, more and more of the youth are on
social media, right, and so we're just trying to make
access to our fraternity a little bit easier to those folks,
not having to worry about running into one of us
by happenstance or literally having to go into a church
(29:27):
to find us. So it's kind of revolutionized our ability
to reach out two more folks. And then of course
you still need to get to get to know them
and be vetted and then again ultimately hopefully join one
of our local councils where they can actually begin to
roll up their sleeves and get that experience of what
(29:50):
it's really like to show love for our neighbor, which really,
at the end of the day is what we're trying
to do, if trying to follow our Lord's command right
of love thy neighbor. And and and that's what we
do through all of all of our through all of
our programs, and and and again the fellowship, now just
(30:14):
I'll touch very quickly. You know, one of the I
think one of the attractive things that would be for
these younger men is is a a fellowship environment where
you know you can talk to like minded men and
and know that you have their compassion and their and
(30:38):
their genuine interest in your well being and the well
being of your family. You know, I I can't tell
you how many times, you know, I have either had
to help prop up another man or another man has
had to help prop myself up. And and so that's
you know, that's what that's one of the allures to
(30:58):
me of our Brotherhohood is just I got you back.
We locked arms and and we we we go to
work together again, all all for the good of building
up the kingdom, you know.
Speaker 8 (31:16):
And I'll just jump in and say too that it's
called Brothers in Christ. That's really the issue with us
in terms of our mission is all of the men
in our and every just about every parish in the
State of New Hampshire has a council and Knights of
(31:36):
Columbus Council. We work hand in glove with the pastor
of each of our churches. In my case, Father Mike
Taylor is my pastor and we work very closely with
Father with Pastor Mike on many of many activities within
the parish. And and so Brothers in Christ is is
(32:00):
very important. And every console has a life Director which
is very important, so that in my case being State
Life Director, I work closely with each life director and
each console so that there's a there's a very strong
communication with each of us on a on a local basis,
(32:25):
and it works out very well so that when we
do have for example, we have the new Hafter Right
to Life Annual rally in March up and conquered this year,
it's going to be January tenth of twenty twenty six,
and we're in the planning process for that and the
(32:47):
Life directors are involved on a planning basis with me
to develop that because we have speakers at the rally.
Last year, we had somewhere between six and seven hundred
people involved in that rally in March, and the temperature
(33:08):
was about fifteen degrees that day, so it's not it's
not like today being ninety degrees. So it's a totally
different ballgame, you know, the dead of winter.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
But it's it's an annual event.
Speaker 8 (33:20):
And it's it's it's incredibly well attended and we have
great speakers and and all of every council is involved
in that in that event, So it's yeah, and we
we incorporate you know, many other churches involved to it,
not just not just the Catholic Church, but we encourage
(33:43):
other non Catholic churches to be involved that are that
are also involved in pro life activities, and it works
so wonderfully. It's so it's it's economic ecumenical, if you will, for.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
For this right to life. It's not just to Catholic issue.
Speaker 8 (34:01):
It's a total Christian issue, and it's a whole life issue,
not only from a conception and then in the womb
for the babies. But also we've we have opposed any
state assistant suicide that takes place or legislation that comes
(34:22):
up and conquered. And we're you know, as a member
of the Knights of Columbus, we we oppose that legislation
because we're all about cherishing human life.
Speaker 6 (34:32):
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
No, thank you, guys, thank you for all that you
do for life. And we're reaching the end of our
time here a little bit, but we appreciate question.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
Yes, go ahead, I want to double back to the
ultrasound machines. How much does one of those costs?
Speaker 3 (34:47):
I know that.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
I'd like to I'd like to go ahead, go ahead, No,
you go ahead, all right.
Speaker 7 (34:54):
Basically they average around thirty thousand dollars. The way the
Knights of Columbi this handles the donations is that locally,
whether it be a local council or the state council,
will raise the half of that money fifteen thousand dollars.
Then Supreme will then come forward with the other fifteen
(35:15):
thousand dollars, therefore getting the machine completely paid for at
this point in time, like Mark was saying earlier, we
weren't working on our twelfth device here locally within the
state of New Hampshire, but the Knights of Columbus Supreme
Office has funded approaching around two thousand ultrasound machines at
(35:36):
this point in time. So when you consider the volume
of the babies that have been saved by having these
machines out there, it really is a tremendous program.
Speaker 8 (35:48):
Yeah, and I'm just a spin off on what Tim
just said. We we just donated an ultrasum machine to
the Pregnancy Resource Center out in Keene, New Hampshire. Evelyn
Connig is the executive director, and she is on cloud
nine having that new ultrasound because every day she's able
(36:13):
to save lives because when a pregnant woman who is
concerned about whether she could carry this baby to full
term and she sees that baby on the screen and
she hears that heartbeat, seventy five percent of the time
she chooses life. So it's an incredibly powerful tool to
(36:37):
save lives. And Evelyn is thrilled, and we have we
have an ultrasound that we're working to get approval for
Pregnancy Center in the Upper Valley, which is in Claremont.
Anne Burge is the executive director there and Anne we'll
(36:58):
be working with and we are working with Anne with
the paperwork and all of the details so that we
can get approval for Anne as well.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
So it's wonderful, it's a great opportunity.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Awesome, awesome.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Well, you guys are doing great work and say both
you know, spiritually, you know, physically and originally supporting women
and unexpected pregnancies and just all all the efforts and
things you guys do throughout New Hampshire and throughout the world.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
But yeah, but yeah, again, thank you for coming on today.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
And I know we did ask all three of you
to bring a life affirming Bible verse, so I would
love for us to close with that.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
So Mark, do you want to go first with the versus?
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Mark Ken? And so I chose. I chose the verse
right out of Isaiah forty nine, and it's a lord
called me from the womb, formed me from the womb
to be his servant. And isn't that the case with
all of us? We're all called And that's what I
feel that I'm doing. And these men alongside of me,
(38:06):
in the seven thousand men in this state is that
you know we have serving as we have been called.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
That's awesome. That's a beautiful verse for shame.
Speaker 8 (38:21):
Yeah, go ahead, Jim, I got to I'll finish.
Speaker 7 (38:26):
I basically chose Jeremiah, chapter one, verse five. It's really
the first part of that verse is what really speaks
to me on this subject. Before I formed you in
your mother's body, I chose you. Basically, this speaks very
specifically that once an egg is fertilized in the mother, okay,
(38:46):
that person is known by God.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (38:50):
So it's there's none of this question about when the
baby is gets to be a certain number of weeks.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
It's and it's instantly that baby.
Speaker 7 (38:58):
Is known to God and to me that is so
important and drives what we do.
Speaker 6 (39:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (39:06):
Now, I'll just finish up by saying, we just finished
reading a book in our book club in our parish
where we have a number of nights involved in in
our book club. And the book that we finished is
called The Breath of God, and it's written by Father
David Pavanka. The father Bravanka is the president of the
(39:30):
Franciscan University out in Steubenville, Ohio, and he wrote this
book describing what the Holy Spirit is all about. You know,
I'm a lifelong Catholic, lifelong Christian, and I thought I
knew a lot about the Holy Spirit. After reading this book,
I absolutely knew nothing about the Holy Spirit, the third.
Speaker 6 (39:51):
Person of the Trinity.
Speaker 8 (39:53):
And I just want to quote part of the he
leads off in his book with Romans, chapter eight, verse eleven.
If the spirit of the One who raised Teesues from
the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ
from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies
(40:14):
also through his spirit that dwells in you. Do you
realize that the Holy Spirit lives within each of us?
Speaker 6 (40:24):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 8 (40:25):
I mean here, I am a Christian my entire life.
I didn't realize that the Third Person of the Trinity
lives within me and lives within each of us and
guides us on a daily basis. The problem is we
don't listen. So this book helps us to understand and
listen to the Holy Spirit who dwells within us to
(40:47):
guide our life. And this is what our mission is,
you know, being part of the Knights of Columbus and
focusing on charity, fraternity, unity and patriotism and everything that
combines that in the state life character. I'm just I'm
humbled to be involved in this vision.
Speaker 6 (41:07):
Frankly, that's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
I'd bless you all, brother Knights, for all that you
do for spreading the Kingdom of God bring to Hampshire.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Well, thank you so much for I just wanted to
finish with just so everybody knows.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
So if you want to become a Knight, go to
w W dot k O f C dot org so
k of Columbus a or dot.
Speaker 4 (41:36):
Org and can we find slash is.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
A slash join joined?
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Yes, that's the key word, the slash join.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Okay, So Knights of Columbus dot org or k of
C dot org slash join And then is it can
any can people follow your work on any form of
social media or anything? Is Knights of Columbus on Facebook
or Instagram or any other social media platform?
Speaker 1 (42:01):
We are really just in our own infancy, uh. Regarding
social media. We do have a chairman that has recently
been appointed this year beginning in July. I haven't really
built up any level of momentum yet, but uh, we
hope that that will be coming real soon in the
(42:22):
upcoming months. So we look, we look forward to that opportunity,
and what an outstanding opportunity you've given us to to
share a little bit about us and what we've done.
And we hope that folks who are gonna hear and
listen to this podcast at a later time are gonna
truly be uh touched and and maybe intrigued enough to
(42:45):
uh to look us up and see, you know, if
we can, if we can help them find their path
and and and their calling as well, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
Well, thank you all for being here. Thanks for the
time to join the podcast today. We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 6 (43:04):
Jessica, great great talking to you, you.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
Too, you as well. This is great, awesome all right,
talk to you soon.
Speaker 6 (43:11):
Bye everyone, Yeah, goodbye bye.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
Thank you for listening to the ever Living Podcast. If
you have scripture.
Speaker 9 (43:20):
Questions or things you'd like to share, please feel free
to email us at ever livingpod at gmail dot com.
Also make sure to follow us on Instagram at ever
dot living podcast. And if you like this podcast, please
make sure to subscribe and share with a friend and
give us a five star review.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
See you next week.
Speaker 9 (43:40):
May God bless you and be very near to you,
and may you be ever living
M hm.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hm.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Welcome to Every Living Podcast. It's a podcast about sharing
the voices of those who work and pray to UH
value life in New England and beyond. Welcome back to
the pod.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Hi Jessica, Hi Cindy. How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I'm doing well. It's a beautiful day.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
I know.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I see your see you're outside enjoying, enjoying the nice weather.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yes, got to enjoy it. In New Hampshire we have
the sunny days.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
That's true. I know they're coming coming, coming to an end.
The summer is going very fast so well not god,
not an end yet, but.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It is September. September can be warm, September can be nice,
too hot. So what's what's uh, what's new in your life?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Jess Yeah, what's new? Well, tomorrow I have the day off.
Speaking of summer, I'm going to the beach. So that'll
be fun. Kind of my first time really going to
the beach this summer. I did go briefly when I
was on my Italy trip. We did go to the
beach in Sorranto a little bit. But tomorrow I'm taking
the day to go to the beach with my family,
(01:20):
so that'll be fun. I'm excited for that, spend some
time with my dad and my brothers. So yeah, it's
probably the newest update for me.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Do you know who else is Italian?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Who?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Christophero Colombo?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Why do you bring why do you bring Godhead him up?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Why do I bring up Columbus? Because today we have
not one, not two, but three honorable brothers of the
Nights of Columbus in New Hampshire. Let's welcome them. They
are Mark, Tim and Roy.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Welcome the afternoon, ladies.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
Hello, there are great here we are.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Thank you, thank you all for joining us. Yeah, this
is great.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Glad to be here. Thank you for having us.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Let's get a little intro from each of you, gentlemen.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
Okay, Basically they call me an immediate past State Deputy
because from the two years ending in from July first,
I was the State Deputy and as that's responsible for
leading all the Nights within the State of New Hampshire.
At this point in time, Mark Messier is the State
Deputy and he carries that responsibility. I've been a Night
(02:44):
since two thousand and five, very active in my council
state level. Once I got once I fell into the
Nights of Columbus, this became my ministry because as far
as I'm concerned, the Nights of Columbus is doing the
work of the Good Lord. With that, I'll let Mark
take over.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, thanks Tim, And again, as Tim mentioned, I'm his
immediate predecessor. I've been working through the chairs the last
six years, following it in Tim's footsteps, and I now
have the honor to carry the gavel so to speak
for the state and be the leader of our members
(03:24):
here in the state. I've been a member for sixteen
plus years, and you know, I fell in love with
the Knights of Columbus because of the fraternity and fellowship
that we share as a Catholic manner as what we
(03:46):
refer to ourselves sometimes as a Catholic gentleman. And so
that fraternity and fellowship has allowed me to grow my faith,
grow my relationship with our Lord and Savior. And you know,
through all the good works that we uh do and
have done and will do, you know, I credit the
(04:07):
Knights for making me a better man, a better husband,
a better friend, a better Catholic and and of course
definitely a better follower of our Lord and Savior. So
you know, we h I love the the activities that
we do, especially centered around life and how we impact
(04:30):
the families in this state of New Hampshire. And I
guess would then I'll give roy an opportunity to chat.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Yeah, I'm roy Denahey.
Speaker 8 (04:43):
I live in in a town called Wyndham, New Hampshire,
and I'm the State Life Director for the Knights of
Columbus here in New Hampshire. And prior to that, I
and I still belong to our local council which is
in wind Him at Saint Matthew's Church. And I'm retired
(05:07):
from a real you know, a real job, and this
is right now.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
This is my mission, my life's mission.
Speaker 8 (05:15):
I've been assigned, I always tell people, and I've been
assigned to this mission by the by the Holy Spirit.
And my mission is to to uh to help save
lives from the moment of conception to natural death. So
it's really looking not just at at life in the womb,
(05:39):
but also open life as a whole, from conception all
the way through natural death. And and that's that's really
where my mission is here in the Knights of Columbus.
And I'm so blessed to to work with about seven
thousand brother Knights here in New Hampshire and will go
(06:00):
through explaining our structure here no answer, but it's it's
really not a job, it's it's a mission working with
so many other pro life organizations throughout the state of
in New Hampshire because it is a big effort. It's
not just one little, you know, one silo so to speak,
with the Knights, but it's a it's a whole life
(06:23):
mission which represents many different pro life organizations.
Speaker 6 (06:28):
So this is this is what I do.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Awesome, Well, thank you all for introducing yourselves.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
And I'm familiar with the Knights. I have several people
in my life that are Nights.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I'm in Connecticut, but they're they're Knights in councils in Connecticut.
But for those of our listeners that are not as
familiar with the Knights of Columbus, could you tell us
a little bit more about just in general, what the
Knights are, maybe you know how they were starting, who
they were started by. Just a little bit more background
on what the Knights of Columbus is.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
Sure, I'll take a lead on that one. The Knights
of Columbus was formed in eighteen eighty two by a priest.
At this point is Blessed Michael McGivney. Yes, we are
working on trying to bring him to sainhood. So the
council has. The Knights of Columbus started in New Haven, Connecticut,
(07:25):
and it has been steadily growing over the last one
hundred or so years. Currently, we have over two million
men worldwide. And I do mean worldwide. It's not just
the United States. We are in about twenty five countries
outside of the United States. Basically that's where the two
million men come from. It's basically any country where we
(07:47):
have a heavy Catholic presence. This is where the Knights
of Columbus exists. What we are as an organization. We
are a fraternal benefit organization. Men join the Knights of
Columbus primarily to basically become friends because we're doing work
to help benefit people. You end up becoming friends with
(08:10):
the people that you do work with, so therefore it's fun,
but it's also extremely rewarding and as much that as
far as doing the work, because I have found men
who take the time to raise the sweat to help
other people. Somewhere in that process your own faith grows
(08:30):
and you become more focused as a Christian. But basically
as the Nights. We're made up of councils, over fifteen
thousand councils worldwide at this stage of the game.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Awesome, that's great. No, thank you, thank you for that
background that you're sharing. You guys are wonderful. The Night's
do so many good things. Could you talk a little.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Bit more about or one of you who speak about
some of the projects that you guys are involved in.
I know you said that you know you grow in
your faith when you work on projects together. So what
are some of what are some of the things that
the Knights of Columbus does and maybe some of the
projects that you've worked on specifically in New Hampshire.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Well, yeah, go ahead, I'll start with a few and
then Roy can share. So a couple of things that
we work with are what we call an ultrasound program.
So the Knights of Columbus sponsors an ultrasound program where
(09:33):
we provide these ultrasounds to the pregnancy centers not only
here in New Hampshire, but around the country around the world.
I believe, as we are speaking right now, our worthy
program director is working on finalizing what we believe is
to be the twelve hundredth.
Speaker 7 (09:55):
Twelve twelfth in New Hampshire, the twelve yes I'm sorry, yes,
the twelfth.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Ultrasound that New Hampshire has provided to local pregnancy centers.
So we are very happy about that and we know
that they have a huge impact. Obviously, once some young
mothers to be see that their baby is a viable,
living entity in their body, it often, most oftentimes turns
(10:30):
them towards choosing life and going to full term as
opposed to leaning towards pregnancy. We also, again on an
annual basis, we do provide local support financial support to
our I think at sixteen pregnancy centers throughout the state.
(10:51):
We have an annual dinner which we call the Birthright Dinner.
Last year and this year again it will be held
over in Rochester by Rochester Council. And what we do
is we gather all the pregnancy centers, the managers or
leaders of those centers to this dinner. All of our
(11:13):
councils we have sixty five plus active councils in New
Hampshire provide monetary support, whether it's through money or gift
cards and things of that nature, which are then you know,
Roy has has the pleasure of trying to delve those
out evenly throughout the states again to give these folks
(11:38):
the support that they need to keep their ministries going. So,
I mean, those are two of the what I would
call the more significant programs that we're involved with on
an annual basis. And again we're very proud to say
that yields an awful lot of support for these folks.
(11:58):
And again Roy works more specifically and more closely to
the Windows centers. But those will be the two main
programs that I would want to share regarding pro life.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Mm hm.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Is there any memorable stories from Protecting Life as a
Night of Columbus?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Well, boy, I can tell you about a lot of
tears I've shed with folks at the pregnancy centers. You know,
just uh, you know when when you're when you're there
at ground zero, you see these these vulnerable women and
men uh come in and they're they're lost and not
(12:48):
sure what they want to do or should do. And
many of them come in clearly stating, hey, I'm looking
probably at doing an abortion. And then when you watch
these volunteer years just work with these folks to try
to steer them in the life direction, you know, and
you just and again we have the opportunity to share
(13:09):
our faith as well. Oftentimes we can. That is a
real big help to some of these folks. Whether they
come with faith or not, they often will lead with
some change. But again, I've had situation, especially here in Laconia.
(13:30):
I'm in Belmont, so Laconi is only five or six
miles away, you know where I've been able to go
in and chat and again at a loss for the
gal's name. I know, I know that Roy will know
her name, but you know, we'll sit there and hug
and cry about the victories and you know, unfortunately sometimes
(13:52):
you know, battles that we might have lost for now.
So that's those are the you know, I know that's
not specific stories per se, but that that is very
much you know what it what it means for me,
you know, to have to be with these people and
(14:14):
support them and they just know that we're we're in
the fight with them, and to see them just pour
out their faith, their their heart and souls for these
men and women who come in looking for help, is
it's just uh, it's just awesome and awe inspiring.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
You know, I can I just gotta jump in.
Speaker 8 (14:42):
Yeah, I was just going to jump in and and
talk talk a little bit about working with the New
Hampshire legislator legislature.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Excuse me, uh in conquered.
Speaker 8 (14:56):
It's a big part of what I do in what
we do is as a Knights of Columbus organization because
we're a pro life organization where we're made up of
Catholic men were where we have strong Christian values that
we support. We work very closely with the Catholic Dioce's
(15:18):
Office in New Hampshire, Bishop Lebaski, who's our bishop in
the Catholic Church. And part of our mission is to
do is to protect our church, protect our priests and
also to protect is as Mark talked about protecting vulnerable
pregnant women and helping them to decide for life.
Speaker 6 (15:42):
So when we when.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
I attend variety of sessions in Conquord, New Hampshire, both
in the House and the Senate, working making presentations and
doing giving testimony to members of the House and the
Senate on on pro life legislation, supporting them the legislature,
(16:07):
the legislation bills that are coming up for review.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
And also to oppose UH anti.
Speaker 8 (16:16):
Life legislation that's that comes in front in front of
all the House and Senate committees as well. So it's
it takes a lot of courage to bring fellow brothers,
brothers in Christ to New Hampshire, to stand in front
(16:37):
of elected officials and to stand up for your faith.
And you talk about moments of elation, is when when
you're in in the chamber the House for example, the
House Chamber and a vote is being cast to defend
life or to to vote against life. The victory when
(17:01):
that vote comes in and there's enough pro life votes
coming out of the legislature, that is an incredible experience
knowing that it's it's just not our effort, but it's
the effort. It's it's God supporting our efforts. Is the
Holy Spirit being involved. It's really a spiritual battle that
(17:23):
we're fighting. It's not just you know, Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal, whatever,
but it's it's God against Satan in many times, in
many instances, good against evil.
Speaker 6 (17:37):
So it's it's really assion.
Speaker 8 (17:39):
And so that's one of the aspects of of what
I do and what we do as a as an
organization supporting life.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
You know, Roy, you talk about being strong and and
and courageous. You know, we also have men who will
stand in front of the abortion clinics right and pray
very peacefully and and you know, again share our faith
(18:12):
and and make sure that folks see us peacefully out
there quietly opposing you know, you know what they're doing
inside that building. So that's that's another aspect of what
it is that we will do. You know, obviously we're involved.
I have not been involved specifically, but we have the
(18:34):
Marches for Life both here in New Hampshire, in and Washington,
and I know you're intimately involved with those roy but
you know, again where we try to be as visible
as possible as much as we can again so that
we can hopefully gather support from you know, other other folks,
(18:56):
whether their brother knights or not.
Speaker 8 (19:00):
Right absolutely, I mark one of the things that that
we do locally in in Manchester and Jessica and your case,
you're from the down in Connecticut, but Manchester is the
biggest city in the state of New Hampshire. It's about
a half million people and it's centered right in the
(19:21):
middle of New Hampshire. And there's a planned parenthood facility
right there on Pennacook Street, right off the main dragon
in Manchester and We work with a fellow Knight fellow
named Norman Tebo Norm is a member of the Knights
of Columbus in the Merrimack Council, and he coordinates the
(19:45):
group called forty Days for Life and we have a
fall program campaign and a spring campaign and we pulled
together many New Hampshire to Columbus councils where we take
a one hour segment every Saturday, for example during the
(20:07):
fall in the spring, and we show up with our
council men of our Knights of Columbus Council and we
pray the Rosary in front of the plant Parenthood because
part of our organization is working with and praying toward
our Lady, our Blessed Mother, who is an integral part
(20:28):
of the Knights of Columbus in terms of our prayer organization.
And we stay the Rosary in front of the planned
parenthood and we pray to our Lady to interested and
help women make make the decision for life. So that
and we've had many, many cases of that happening in
(20:50):
front of planned parenthood. It's it's not confrontation confrontational in
any way. It's it's it's compassionate care where we have
an opportunity to walk up to the to these young
ladies and ask and tell them that they have another option,
they don't have to go into that facility and to
(21:12):
frankly disguard their life, the life of their child, that
there isn't another way. There's another option by choosing life.
And the beautiful thing is that Pennacook Pregnancy Care Center
is one block away from Planned Parenter, right up the street.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So in many cases.
Speaker 8 (21:31):
We're able to convince the young lady who's pregnant to
come up to pregnant. Pregnant Penacook Pregnancy Care Center is
not easy to say. And work with Kathy Kelly who's
the director, and Kathy's is a tremendous uh director for
(21:53):
that facility and she personally, along with her staff, has
saved many lives and given women an opportunity to to
choose life and to to learn how to be a
mother and to cherish the life of their their preborn
daughter or son that's living in the momb and and
(22:16):
help them carry that that life right to the moment
of birth. So it's it's it's an exciting and positive experience. Yes,
there's a lot of negatives that go on but we're
in the trenches.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
I think that's really the key phrase.
Speaker 8 (22:33):
Whether they were conquered standing in front of committees, were
standing in front of planned parenthood. We work very closely
with the sixteen pregnancy resource centers in the state. I
personally know each each one of the executive directors and
I communicate with them quite a bit.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
And that's their mission. So it's it's.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Really a whole life issue that we deal with on
a daily basis. So it's a great experience.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
That's awesome question.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
My question is if we have listeners out there, young
men who are listening, how how would you What would
you say is how to be a godly man, a
godly father, a godly husband. What kind of qualities would
you encourage the young men who are listening to imitate.
Speaker 6 (23:31):
That's a great value women, That's.
Speaker 8 (23:34):
A great question, you knowt of remind it's exactly what
we do at our churches. Local churches are Catholic churches,
Like in my case at Saint Matthew's, when I see
a couple that I know, the husband or the boyfriends,
not a knight. Many times I'll walk up and introduce
(23:55):
myself and tell them who I am. That I'm a
member of the Knight of Columbus and parish, and I said,
you know you, you would make a great example for
your family or for your wife, or if he's married
and he has children, to consider becoming a brother Knight
in our organization to stand up and protect our church,
(24:19):
protect your family, and and and instill in your family
wonderful Christian values that that we exhibit through you know,
the four pillars of our organization. Charity, fraternity, unity, and patriotism.
Those are the four pillars of Nights of Columbus. And
many times we invite them to come to our meetings.
(24:42):
We have a meeting once a month, a general meeting
for our brother Knights, and that's how we get young
men involved in our organization. And because it's our future,
we need young men to to expand the Mexicolo.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
In my case, my son's a member.
Speaker 8 (25:04):
I have a many of our Knights of Columbus brothers
have family members part of the Knights of Columbus.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
But the.
Speaker 8 (25:14):
Man has a tremendous impact on that pregnant woman, whether
it's the girlfriend or it's the husband or the girlfriend
or the wife in terms of carrying on that the
pregnancy and bringing it to the woman of birth and
to accept life in the family.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
So I'd like to jump in here thank you.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
Basically, one of the things that we really focus on
for younger men, okay, is we are considered a family organization.
The membership does base is based on the men. But
basically when we do events like at a church, we
run at dinner or things of this nature, it is
a family event. Women often jump in and how help out,
(26:01):
and also older children jump in and help out. But
even for the men who have the younger kids, we've
created an environment where these men can come and their
family is welcome, and at that point it becomes they
can join with other people in the parish and it
becomes a truly social event for them. That's where the
(26:21):
fraternity aspect of the Knights come. But this is way
it's important to create that friendly environment. That's something that
where the children are as welcome because younger people today
they all have children, which is what you would expect,
so therefore we want them to feel welcome.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
I think that's really I appreciate you emphasizing that because
I think that was honestly my dad growing up. That
was always like his hesitancy of like joining the Knights,
because I think my dad worked a lot growing up,
and yeah, and it was like exactly his time off,
like he wanted to spend with his family. But the
fact that you guys do include the family in these
(27:02):
events are such an important thing.
Speaker 4 (27:03):
So if a man, you know that's listening.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
To this podcast, whether young or old, is interested in
becoming a Knight, a Catholic man, because obviously because it's
a Catholic organization, how exactly would they go about doing that?
Speaker 7 (27:20):
Several ways, Mainly the way we've traditionally done it is
we have recruiting drives within the church, but basically that
it's so that still works for older men. We advertise
within the church bulletin that way, anyone who was interested
in joining can speak to anyone at their church. We
(27:43):
also now have online membership, whereas men who who are
very well connected to their phone, like most young people today,
they can basically go out to the KFC dot org
slash join and they can literally join the Nights of
Columbus online at the particular point, and they can basically
put in things like what parish they want to join to,
(28:05):
so it helps point them to the correct council for
them to join. So basically those are the two main
ways to get in. And then once they're an online member,
they will be contacted by a council, uh and at
that point they will be invited to participate in some way.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
But also through that process, Tim, as we all know,
you know, once somebody has signed up on on online,
they then over the course of those next many weeks,
they will get information, right, more information from our home
Office Supreme regarding you know, things of you know what's next,
(28:45):
how you know what to do, uh, what kind of
programming that is available for them to get involved with
prayer groups, those types of things. So it's you know,
as Tim said that in the old used to be
one on one, face to face, but again this day
(29:06):
and age, more and more of the youth are on
social media, right, and so we're just trying to make
access to our fraternity a little bit easier to those folks,
not having to worry about running into one of us
by happenstance or literally having to go into a church
(29:27):
to find us. So it's kind of revolutionized our ability
to reach out two more folks. And then of course
you still need to get to get to know them
and be vetted and then again ultimately hopefully join one
of our local councils where they can actually begin to
roll up their sleeves and get that experience of what
(29:50):
it's really like to show love for our neighbor, which really,
at the end of the day is what we're trying
to do, if trying to follow our Lord's command right
of love thy neighbor. And and and that's what we
do through all of all of our through all of
our programs, and and and again the fellowship, now just
(30:14):
I'll touch very quickly. You know, one of the I
think one of the attractive things that would be for
these younger men is is a a fellowship environment where
you know you can talk to like minded men and
and know that you have their compassion and their and
(30:38):
their genuine interest in your well being and the well
being of your family. You know, I I can't tell
you how many times, you know, I have either had
to help prop up another man or another man has
had to help prop myself up. And and so that's
you know, that's what that's one of the allures to
(30:58):
me of our Brotherhohood is just I got you back.
We locked arms and and we we we go to
work together again, all all for the good of building
up the kingdom, you know.
Speaker 8 (31:16):
And I'll just jump in and say too that it's
called Brothers in Christ. That's really the issue with us
in terms of our mission is all of the men
in our and every just about every parish in the
State of New Hampshire has a council and Knights of
(31:36):
Columbus Council. We work hand in glove with the pastor
of each of our churches. In my case, Father Mike
Taylor is my pastor and we work very closely with
Father with Pastor Mike on many of many activities within
the parish. And and so Brothers in Christ is is
(32:00):
very important. And every console has a life Director which
is very important, so that in my case being State
Life Director, I work closely with each life director and
each console so that there's a there's a very strong
communication with each of us on a on a local basis,
(32:25):
and it works out very well so that when we
do have for example, we have the new Hafter Right
to Life Annual rally in March up and conquered this year,
it's going to be January tenth of twenty twenty six,
and we're in the planning process for that and the
(32:47):
Life directors are involved on a planning basis with me
to develop that because we have speakers at the rally.
Last year, we had somewhere between six and seven hundred
people involved in that rally in March, and the temperature
(33:08):
was about fifteen degrees that day, so it's not it's
not like today being ninety degrees. So it's a totally
different ballgame, you know, the dead of winter.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
But it's it's an annual event.
Speaker 8 (33:20):
And it's it's it's incredibly well attended and we have
great speakers and and all of every council is involved
in that in that event, So it's yeah, and we
we incorporate you know, many other churches involved to it,
not just not just the Catholic Church, but we encourage
(33:43):
other non Catholic churches to be involved that are that
are also involved in pro life activities, and it works
so wonderfully. It's so it's it's economic ecumenical, if you will, for.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
For this right to life. It's not just to Catholic issue.
Speaker 8 (34:01):
It's a total Christian issue, and it's a whole life issue,
not only from a conception and then in the womb
for the babies. But also we've we have opposed any
state assistant suicide that takes place or legislation that comes
(34:22):
up and conquered. And we're you know, as a member
of the Knights of Columbus, we we oppose that legislation
because we're all about cherishing human life.
Speaker 6 (34:32):
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
No, thank you, guys, thank you for all that you
do for life. And we're reaching the end of our
time here a little bit, but we appreciate question.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
Yes, go ahead, I want to double back to the
ultrasound machines. How much does one of those costs?
Speaker 3 (34:47):
I know that.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
I'd like to I'd like to go ahead, go ahead, No,
you go ahead, all right.
Speaker 7 (34:54):
Basically they average around thirty thousand dollars. The way the
Knights of Columbi this handles the donations is that locally,
whether it be a local council or the state council,
will raise the half of that money fifteen thousand dollars.
Then Supreme will then come forward with the other fifteen
(35:15):
thousand dollars, therefore getting the machine completely paid for at
this point in time, like Mark was saying earlier, we
weren't working on our twelfth device here locally within the
state of New Hampshire, but the Knights of Columbus Supreme
Office has funded approaching around two thousand ultrasound machines at
(35:36):
this point in time. So when you consider the volume
of the babies that have been saved by having these
machines out there, it really is a tremendous program.
Speaker 8 (35:48):
Yeah, and I'm just a spin off on what Tim
just said. We we just donated an ultrasum machine to
the Pregnancy Resource Center out in Keene, New Hampshire. Evelyn
Connig is the executive director, and she is on cloud
nine having that new ultrasound because every day she's able
(36:13):
to save lives because when a pregnant woman who is
concerned about whether she could carry this baby to full
term and she sees that baby on the screen and
she hears that heartbeat, seventy five percent of the time
she chooses life. So it's an incredibly powerful tool to
(36:37):
save lives. And Evelyn is thrilled, and we have we
have an ultrasound that we're working to get approval for
Pregnancy Center in the Upper Valley, which is in Claremont.
Anne Burge is the executive director there and Anne we'll
(36:58):
be working with and we are working with Anne with
the paperwork and all of the details so that we
can get approval for Anne as well.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
So it's wonderful, it's a great opportunity.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Awesome, awesome.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Well, you guys are doing great work and say both
you know, spiritually, you know, physically and originally supporting women
and unexpected pregnancies and just all all the efforts and
things you guys do throughout New Hampshire and throughout the world.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
But yeah, but yeah, again, thank you for coming on today.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
And I know we did ask all three of you
to bring a life affirming Bible verse, so I would
love for us to close with that.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
So Mark, do you want to go first with the versus?
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Mark Ken? And so I chose. I chose the verse
right out of Isaiah forty nine, and it's a lord
called me from the womb, formed me from the womb
to be his servant. And isn't that the case with
all of us? We're all called And that's what I
feel that I'm doing. And these men alongside of me,
(38:06):
in the seven thousand men in this state is that
you know we have serving as we have been called.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
That's awesome. That's a beautiful verse for shame.
Speaker 8 (38:21):
Yeah, go ahead, Jim, I got to I'll finish.
Speaker 7 (38:26):
I basically chose Jeremiah, chapter one, verse five. It's really
the first part of that verse is what really speaks
to me on this subject. Before I formed you in
your mother's body, I chose you. Basically, this speaks very
specifically that once an egg is fertilized in the mother, okay,
(38:46):
that person is known by God.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (38:50):
So it's there's none of this question about when the
baby is gets to be a certain number of weeks.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
It's and it's instantly that baby.
Speaker 7 (38:58):
Is known to God and to me that is so
important and drives what we do.
Speaker 6 (39:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (39:06):
Now, I'll just finish up by saying, we just finished
reading a book in our book club in our parish
where we have a number of nights involved in in
our book club. And the book that we finished is
called The Breath of God, and it's written by Father
David Pavanka. The father Bravanka is the president of the
(39:30):
Franciscan University out in Steubenville, Ohio, and he wrote this
book describing what the Holy Spirit is all about. You know,
I'm a lifelong Catholic, lifelong Christian, and I thought I
knew a lot about the Holy Spirit. After reading this book,
I absolutely knew nothing about the Holy Spirit, the third.
Speaker 6 (39:51):
Person of the Trinity.
Speaker 8 (39:53):
And I just want to quote part of the he
leads off in his book with Romans, chapter eight, verse eleven.
If the spirit of the One who raised Teesues from
the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ
from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies
(40:14):
also through his spirit that dwells in you. Do you
realize that the Holy Spirit lives within each of us?
Speaker 6 (40:24):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 8 (40:25):
I mean here, I am a Christian my entire life.
I didn't realize that the Third Person of the Trinity
lives within me and lives within each of us and
guides us on a daily basis. The problem is we
don't listen. So this book helps us to understand and
listen to the Holy Spirit who dwells within us to
(40:47):
guide our life. And this is what our mission is,
you know, being part of the Knights of Columbus and
focusing on charity, fraternity, unity and patriotism and everything that
combines that in the state life character. I'm just I'm
humbled to be involved in this vision.
Speaker 6 (41:07):
Frankly, that's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
I'd bless you all, brother Knights, for all that you
do for spreading the Kingdom of God bring to Hampshire.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Well, thank you so much for I just wanted to
finish with just so everybody knows.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
So if you want to become a Knight, go to
w W dot k O f C dot org so
k of Columbus a or dot.
Speaker 4 (41:36):
Org and can we find slash is.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
A slash join joined?
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Yes, that's the key word, the slash join.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Okay, So Knights of Columbus dot org or k of
C dot org slash join And then is it can
any can people follow your work on any form of
social media or anything? Is Knights of Columbus on Facebook
or Instagram or any other social media platform?
Speaker 1 (42:01):
We are really just in our own infancy, uh. Regarding
social media. We do have a chairman that has recently
been appointed this year beginning in July. I haven't really
built up any level of momentum yet, but uh, we
hope that that will be coming real soon in the
(42:22):
upcoming months. So we look, we look forward to that opportunity,
and what an outstanding opportunity you've given us to to
share a little bit about us and what we've done.
And we hope that folks who are gonna hear and
listen to this podcast at a later time are gonna
truly be uh touched and and maybe intrigued enough to
(42:45):
uh to look us up and see, you know, if
we can, if we can help them find their path
and and and their calling as well, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
Well, thank you all for being here. Thanks for the
time to join the podcast today. We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 6 (43:04):
Jessica, great great talking to you, you.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
Too, you as well. This is great, awesome all right,
talk to you soon.
Speaker 6 (43:11):
Bye everyone, Yeah, goodbye bye.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
Thank you for listening to the ever Living Podcast. If
you have scripture.
Speaker 9 (43:20):
Questions or things you'd like to share, please feel free
to email us at ever livingpod at gmail dot com.
Also make sure to follow us on Instagram at ever
dot living podcast. And if you like this podcast, please
make sure to subscribe and share with a friend and
give us a five star review.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
See you next week.
Speaker 9 (43:40):
May God bless you and be very near to you,
and may you be ever living
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