Knights of Columbus: Knights Mass

[David2010]

My local council of the Knights of Columbus has brought up the idea of having a “Knights Mass.”

At this point, it is just in the idea stage. Not sure if an existing mass would be selected as the “Knights Mass”, or if an additional mass would be held specifically as the “Knights Mass.”

Basically, it would be a mass in which everything was done by members of the local council: Lectors, Sacristans, Bearers of Gifts, etc. It is intended to get local members more involved and, hopefully, stimulate an interest to get even more involved.

Have any CAF members been involved with a similar mass in their parish? Or been directly involved as a brother knight? I’d be interested to learn about it (what was done, how it went, ideas for changes, etc.)

 

[Phemie]

The Mass on the first Sunday of each months is the K of C Mass in our parish. The only thing they don’t do is serve.

 

[David2010]

Thanks for the reply.

Was this mass already offered, and later designated as a knights mass?

What is the turnout like?

Is it any different than any other mass?

 

[dochawk]

Ask your state deputy (or district deputy) about a “Corporate Communion”.

They are highly encouraged, and the guidelines are already there.

I think my council’s bylaws require one, but . . .

hawk

 

[Phemie]

Thanks for the reply.

Was this mass already offered, and later designated as a knights mass?

What is the turnout like?

Is it any different than any other mass?

We only have two Sunday Masses: one on Saturday evening and one on Sunday morning. The Knights’ Mass is no different from any other Sunday Mass beyond the fact that we don’t have to schedule who will read, be EMHC, take up the collection, and bring up the offerings. The Knights do their own scheduling.

I don’t know how it got started, I’ve only been in the parish for the last 20 years and it was the Knights’ Mass when I got here.

Attendance is no different from other Sundays, except perhaps that a couple of families who normally attend on Saturday evening attend the Sunday Mass that week because Dad is a Knight and involved in the liturgy in some way.

 

[commenter]

I am the “Church Committee” for our Council. We are free standing, have our own building, not connected to a parish. We have Mass several times a year in our hall. We have a portable altar constructed by a member, and all the materials necessary for the Mass except the vestments. The altar is used for no other purpose. We do not usually have an altar server, though one of the wives does that when the Mass is the annual one for our ladies auxiliary.

The priest is usually our chaplain, who is a local pastor. But sometimes, if he is not available, another priest may celebrate. (As a courtesy, the chaplain should always be asked first). Sometimes the 4th degree will hold a Chalice Mass; our council chaplain is also our 4th degree chaplain, at this time.

We hold a Memorial Mass for brothers who have died in the past year; the widows are invited. The names are slowly read off, and if present, the family members come up and ladies receive a rose. A candle is lighted for each deceased member, and one for the council as a whole.

The Color Corp is present for and participating for Council and 4th degree Masses. Readings are done by council officers, gifts are brought up by persons appointed, if it is a memorial Mass then it is family members who have lost someone. For music, we have in the past had a whole music group from one of our supporting parishes, but lately we “only” have one of our brother Knights. I write the Prayers of the Faithful, print out the readings (in giant print, none of us is getting younger).

One problem is that I have to count as best I can the number persons likely to go up for Communion, so as to have enough, but not too many hosts prepared for bringing up the gifts. We have no chapel for excess consecrated hosts, so the priest will consume what is left over. We also have no sacrarium. I take altar linens home, wash them by hand, water the flowers.

We have a breakfast afterwards, right there, if it is a Sunday Morning Mass. If it is an evening Mass, for instance for installation of officers, we have other refreshments afterwards. We always follow the celebrant’s (chaplain, or other priest) wishes, in terms of connecting any kind of service with the Mass; usually it is right afterwards.

 

[edtaylor51]

There’s Scout Sunday, where the greeters, servers, collectors, gift bearers etc are all parish cub scouts, Boy Scouts, daisy scouts and Girl Scouts. Usually in early February.

 

[Phemie]

There’s Scout Sunday, where the greeters, servers, collectors, gift bearers etc are all parish cub scouts, Boy Scouts, daisy scouts and Girl Scouts. Usually in early February.

Yes, that’s usually done at the beginning or end of Baden Powell week. Since our town only has one Scout group with no religious affiliation, if they attend a church during that week it’s a Protestant one
.