Arizona State Deputy Message for August 2023

Brother’s All,
This years state theme for the Arizona Knights of Columbus is “Faith over Culture”.
The definition of culture is “the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.” When you talk about customs it is defined as: "long-established practice considered as unwritten law”

When we start talking about unwritten law, this is where the culture has, in some cases, superseded not only natural law but God’s law.

Catholicism teaches that our faith should shape our actions and worldview, not the other way around. We need to live our Catholic faith every day. We need to be Knights every day, not just on meeting nights, not just at events, but every day.

There is a diagram that is also introduced. In the data terms, it is called a flywheel. This one is what I like to call a multi engine flywheel. (below)

God is the center of all that a knight does, his family comes second, and self third. God drives all that we do.

In order to be successful, he needs to:

•Recruit •Engage •Motivate •Evangelize •Retain

The areas of focus are:

•Membership •Programs •Cor •Insurance

As we head into the fraternal year, I ask that each brother knight challenge himself to live his faith more fruitfully. This could be an hour (or extra) at adoration, attending one more mass during the weekdays, praying a rosary (or extra) a day, donating water or food to your local food bank, volunteering for an extra event that your council hosts, asking a man to join your council to enrich and grow his faith. By doing all of these different things, we are living our lives as Catholic men, evangelizing along the way.

By doing all of these, you are living your life with Faith over Culture.

Tom Katp

State Deputy