Camden Knight installed as state secretary

Hailing from around New Jersey, the Knights of Columbus who gathered July 10 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, had the same three tenets in mind: charity, unity and fraternity. The faith-based organization, dubbed by St. John Paul II as the church’s “strong right arm,” celebrated its leadership during its annual Mass of installation of state officers and district deputies.

Raymond C. Sands, a member of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, Northfield, was installed as New Jersey state secretary. Capsulizing the reasons he dedicated so much of his time to the Knights, Sands explained, “It is an organization of like-minded Catholic men who live the new evangelization and perform corporal works of mercy. I have always stressed to the men that these are the only things you can take across ‘the great divide.’”

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Diocese of Trenton served as principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass, during which Sands and four additional state officers, one from each of New Jersey’s five arch/dioceses, were installed as leaders in the organization first established in New Haven, Conn., by the Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Concelebrants included Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski of the Metuchen Diocese, state chaplain of the Knights.

Bishop Bootkoski blessed the beribboned medals, or jewels, of office for each state officer and district deputy. The jewels were draped upon the men’s necks by the newly installed state deputy, James E. Stoever of the Diocese of Trenton, and each Knight promised to uphold the laws of the constitution, be unswervingly loyal to the church and its hierarchy, and do all in their power to follow the principles of the order of the Knights of Columbus.

In addition to Sands and Stoever, other New Jersey state officers installed included James P. Sweeney, state treasurer, Diocese of Paterson; Russell D. Petrocelli, state advocate, Archdiocese of Newark, and Scott C. Williams, state warden, Diocese of Metuchen.

“The difference between the Knights of Columbus and every other successful organization is the motivation they derive from their Catholic faith,” Bishop O’Connell said. “My experience and belief is that three things make the difference in any worthwhile, successful organization: a good and noble purpose, a hardworking membership united and convinced about that purpose, and strong, effective leadership. The Knights exhibited all three of those characteristics.”

Referring to the five men seated before him, eager to assume statewide responsibilities, and the scores more who would take up local duties, Bishop O’Connell continued, “Today is a day dedicated to strong and effective leadership. Leadership is the capacity to turn vision into reality; that is what our officers have always done, and what the new officers are called to do.”

Labelling the ongoing pandemic as “a very dark period,” Stoever urged his fellow Knights to adopt the mantle of leadership and inspiration to others.

“Together we will lead the Garden State out of the darkness of these past 16 months,” he said, “back into the light of Christ, back into the Church, back into what it is we do and do so well. Work with us and support us in building our mission of the order.”