Written by Vanessa Santilli on August 31 in The Catholic Register

Canadian Knights of Columbus provinces led the way in charitable fundraising and time volunteered for the worldwide fraternal organization in 2013.

The Quebec Knights led the 70-plus regions worldwide by giving $11.4 million in 2013, while the Knights in Prince Edward Island registered the highest amount of time volunteered with more than 135 hours per member.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson speaks at the Knights of Columbus 132nd annual international convention in Orlando, where Canadian Knights received top honours. (Photo courtesy of the Knights of Columbus)

“Quebec’s charitable donations went to many worthy causes, including nearly $5 million to community activities and more than $4.5 million to Church activities,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

The total Canadian contribution was an all-time high of more than $30 million and 9,323,063 hours of service.

The Canadians Knights’ contributions were recognized at the three-day 132nd annual international convention in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month that drew 2,000 Knights from North and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe along with nearly 90 archbishops and bishops.

Canada’s provinces have historically been very well represented among the top Knights of Columbus jurisdictions in charitable activity,” said Anderson.

“Quebec and Ontario have consistently led the Knights of Columbus in charitable donations for at least the past five years. The generosity of our members in Canada is an inspiring example to every member of our organization.”

Pope Francis has led by example and has asked Catholics everywhere to pay special attention to those on the margins by helping those in need in a spirit of fraternal charity, added Anderson.

“Looking back on our record setting year, it is clear that Knights in Canada and around the world are responding to that call every day.”

Aside from P.E.I. taking top volunteer honours per member, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia rounded out the Canadian presence in the top 10 of hours volunteered.

Other Canada-wide highlights included Coquitlam Council 5540 in B.C. receiving the 2014 International Service Award for Church Activities for their role in the completion of a chapel dedicated to eucharistic adoration. The council raised $15,000 for a new altar and tabernacle topped with a wooden cross made from a piece of the altar used by St. John Paul II when he celebrated Mass in British Columbia during his 1984 visit. And past State Deputy Walter N. Streit of Alberta accepted the Top Recruiter Award for efforts that led to 261 members joining the community in western Canada.

Cardinal Gérald Lacroix of Quebec was among the convention speakers as well, delivering the keynote address where he spoke on the importance of being rooted in faith and in Christ in order to accomplish good intentions.

“He is the One who sends us the Spirit, who continuously renews us and gives us the perseverance, the generosity and the love to build the Kingdom of God in today’s world through charity, unity and fraternity.”

But the convention was as much a prayerful time as it was a time for reflection and charting the course, added Andrew Walther, vice-president of communications for the Knights of Columbus.

“We had a very special moment where we had a veneration of the relic of St. John Paul II’s blood.”

(Santilli is a freelance writer in Toronto.)