Knights of
Columbus - Kentucky State Council
Columbian Squires Program
The
Columbian Squires
The Columbian Squires is an
energetic organization dedicated to promoting service and the Catholic faith -
while providing opportunities for fun and leadership training to young Catholic
men in the world. As an organization of more than 1,300 circles with
nearly 25,000 Catholic youth members, the Columbian Squires is making a
difference in the world and in the Church. The Squires are active
throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Puerto Rico and
Guam.
The Columbian Squires program gives young men
leadership training and the spiritual and moral guidance that they need to
succeed in life. Catholic young men between the ages of 10 and 18 are
eligible for membership. Local units of the Squires, called circles, are
modeled after Knights of Columbus councils
Sponsoring a circle means establishing an advisory
board to assist the circle by providing a meeting place and providing adult
supervision and leadership. The last two responsibilities belong to the
Knights that work directly with Squires as counselors.
Every circle has four main activity committees -
spiritual, service, circle and membership. Squires operate these
committees under the supervision of counselors. The committees organize a
wide range of activities such as volunteering at soup kitchens, raising funds
for children's hospitals, praying for religious vocations, cleaning up city
parks, social activities, and membership recruitment drives.
Squires raise money for charity through different
methods, such as raffles, benefit breakfasts, car washes, sports tournaments,
and penny collections. Squires get to know one another better as friends
by going on camping trips, attending sporting events, or sponsoring other
activities for young people.
Sponsoring a circle offers the opportunity to conduct
meaningful youth programming that also satisfies the Youth Activities
requirement for the Knights' Columbian Award. Circles also provide a
training ground for future Knights because, upon turning 18-years-old, Squires
are eligible for K of C membership. Fathers of Squires who are not yet Knights
are also potential members.
Communities and parishes benefit from having a circle
in their midst, as they will be the recipients of service programs conducted by
the Squires. For the young men who become Squires, a circle helps them
grow into leaders with a deep love of the Catholic faith.
Kentucky has four active
Squires circles and another circle in the works. Each April, the
Knights of Columbus celebrates Columbian Squires month. This provides an
opportunity for councils across Kentucky to become more involved in the
Columbian Squires program...either in helping the Squires in their recruitment
programs, or in the development and establishment of new Squires circles.
There is a great deal of help and assistance available, both from the State and
National levels. Those Knights interested in becoming involved as a
sponsor and counselor should order the "Sponsorship and Counseling of a
Columbian Squires Circle" handbook available from Supreme (publication #472).
Information on establishing a Squires Circle can be ordered on line from this
website. Form 2395 can be filled out and
transmitted on-line...no stamp required!
The Columbian Squires and Catholic schools go together
like bread and butter. Catholic schools are the ideal locations to
consider when establishing a new circle. Though Squires Circles meet in
many locations, especially in council or parish halls, another popular place for
circles to meet is in local schools. The safety and security that the
school building provides is an extra plus for parents who know their children
are in school with many other school administrators still in the building.
School-based circles draw their membership principally
from the school itself. Meeting generally take place after school as all
members are already present and parents need only to make the one trip from
home. Keep in mind that a minimum of ten young men are needed to start a
circle. Materials to operate a Squires circle are provided by the Knights
of Columbus at no cost, thus making most schools very willing to permit the
Columbian Squires on the school grounds. Helpful flyers and a video can be
ordered from Supreme including the video "Something More" (#R88LP), and the
leaflet ""Twenty Questions About the Columbian Squires (#480) and the flyer
"Building a Better World (#4296). All are available from the Supreme
Council Supply Department. (See Supply Catalog, pages 15-17.)
Hopefully, with the good work of all Knights across
Kentucky, our Squires program will continue to grow and eventually our Squires
can look forward to soon having their own State Circle and annual convention as
do so many other jurisdictions in Canada and the US.
|
