Mobile Journalism article

Breaking away from the world of sports, this is an article for my class. I'm sure I'll remove it in the near future. I wrote about my buddy Pat and the positive experiences he has had with the Knights of Columbus.

The Knights of Columbus: A worthwhile experience

Ah, the life of a college student. If you’re reading this, then it’s very likely you know what I’m talking about. You concern yourself primarily with things such as classes, midterms, jobs, internships and Thursday nights – maybe not necessarily in that order. There are, of course, many other things available. For instance, some take up extra curricular activities, such as joining a fraternity or other club.

While the things mentioned above are all well and good, there is another organization that offers dedicated individuals the chance to make a difference – the Knights of Columbus. Surely, most of us have heard of the KOC, yet it remains a mystery. Pat Hegarty, a student at Fitchburg State College, believes firmly in the values the Knights instill in its members. Those principles are, as Hegarty explains, “charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.”

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Roman Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus, and is dedicated to the four principles mentioned above (Wikipedia). Hegarty: “The Knights do a lot for the community. I was able to collect donations for special needs children.” In terms of unity, Hegarty says the bond between the Knights is very strong. “There is a great brotherhood among the knights. You feel like you’re a part of something special.”

For something that can be so personally rewarding, the Knights of Columbus does not require much of a sacrifice. “Time is really the only thing you have to give up”, says Hegarty. It’s not as though the KOC is a full-time job either: “Meetings take place about twice a month, and usually only last roughly 30 minutes.” But how does a person get their foot into a meeting? Hegarty explains: “To go to the meetings, you have to make your first degree. To do that, you simply have to go through the ceremony and come to understand the degrees.” The whole idea is to understand and commit to the concept of the organization. “Your sponsor will speak on your behalf at the ceremony, saying that you are a good candidate at the first degree”, points out Hegarty.

The Knights of Columbus seems to run in the Hegarty family. Terry Hegarty, Pat’s older brother, actually joined the organization before his brother. “I joined to become more involved in service projects”, says the elder Hegarty. Terry actually recommended the Knights to his younger brother. “I think the biggest reward is the fraternity, and getting to know a lot of different people.” Terry actually continued on with his involvement in the Knights of Columbus at Catholic University in Washington, DC. “In college, I packed up prayer books to ship to troops overseas, and was able to volunteer with Little Sisters of the Poor. Terry adds, “my only concern would be that I wish there were more service projects besides fundraising with which to work.”

If you want to learn more about the Knights of Columbus, you can visit their website: http://www.kofc.org/un/index.cfm