‘ON THE FRONTLINES’

10/3/2018




Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Matt Birk, a 15-year veteran of the National Football League, and Super Bowl XLVII champion, who was the conference’s keynote speaker, with Captain Julian Gluck of the United States Air Force. Capt. Gluck, past grand knight at the United States Air Force Academy Council 8200, received the inaugural Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Super Bowl champion Matt Birk addressed more than 250 college Knights at the 53rd College Councils Conference

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson challenged college Knights to be leaders on their campuses at a recent gathering in New Haven.

“You are evangelists and disciples now, not sometime in the future,” he said at the 53rd College Councils Awards Banquet. “Your colleagues on your campus need you.”

He said Knights are called to be witnesses of authentic faith and leadership.

“It's up to us to assume that kind of leadership.”

Two hundred and fifty-five Knights — the largest attendance in conference history — came from 97 campuses across North America. The attendees participated in leadership training, attended Mass at St. Mary’s Church, and took part in a special consecration to St. Joseph.

Attracting younger men to the K of C is a key priority for the Order. Attracting college Knights is a top priority. By being true Catholic gentlemen, Supreme Knight Anderson said, college councils will grow. He pointed to Matt Birk as a witness of true faith.

Birk, a 15-year veteran of the National Football League, and Super Bowl XLVII champion, was the conference’s keynote speaker.

“Right now today in our society and our culture and our world, there is a war going on with our faith,” Birk said.

Birk noted that college Knights — as students on campus — are on the frontlines. “I'm one of two million Knights. There's strength in numbers. If you're going to fight a war, you better have an army.”

Even as a professional football player, Birk practiced the same drills he practiced as a kid. It’s the same for practicing the faith, no matter one’s age, Birk said.

“The fundamentals are all right there for us. We have Mass. We have the Eucharist. We have Confession. We have the rosary. We have Adoration.”

At the dinner, Supreme Knight Anderson and other supreme officers conferred awards to college councils for exemplary service and achievement.

Captain Julian Gluck of the United States Air Force received the inaugural Distinguished Alumnus Award. A past grand knight at the United States Air Force Academy Council 8200, Captain Gluck is responsible for piloting a five-person heavy bomber and supporting the combatant command and global bomber task force operations. He is deployed in support of the Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedoms Centennial and participated in the liberation of Mosul and Iraq from ISIS.

For a full listing of award recipients, click here.

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