By Corbin Hubbell
Social Media Coordinator
For 40 years, the Knights of Columbus have gathered annually to set the table for the priests of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln.
The Knights of Columbus Clergy Dinner started at a deanery day with the priests and bishop gathered. This year’s dinner was held in February at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln. In attendance were Bishop James Conley, many priests, seminarians, the Knights of Columbus, and even some laymen with their sons. The evening began with a social hour and fellowship. Bishop Conley led the prayer before the meal, and a short program followed dinner.
Bishop Conley spoke on the relationship between the Knights and the clergy.
“I think it shows the closeness the Knights have to the priests and it’s one of the fundamental, I might say, ‘charisms’ of the Knights... to support the clergy. So it’s one way that they can show their appreciation and their gratitude to the priesthood and to all that the priests do in the parishes. There’s always been a great collaboration between the Knights and priests. They have our backs and they want to show us that they have our backs by putting on a nice dinner for us once a year.”
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SNR photos | Corbin Hubbell
“This is our way of serving them back,” explained Gary Gandara, Knights of Columbus district deputy #12.
Father Kenneth Borowiak, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Friend, thanked the Knights for honoring and supporting the priests of the diocese with this dinner.
“They go through a lot of work in planning for months, set up, paying for the meal, it’s just encouraging to see the Knights who are brothers in the Faith, the role model of what a Christian gentleman should be. They affirm us in our identity as Catholics, and they support us in our role as priests, and they’re truly our right arm in many ways. They help us in so many ways. So I can’t say thank you to them enough.”
Founded in 1882 by Venerable Father Michael McGivney in New Haven, Conn., the Knights of Columbus began as a grassroots effort to support Catholic men and their families — and their priests — in a time of uncertainty and prejudice. Father McGivney believed deeply that a man could be both a faithful Catholic and a devoted citizen — a conviction rooted in Christ’s own teaching to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mt 22:21).
Since their founding, the Knights built upon the pillars of charity, unity, and fraternity. Those principles continue to guide their mission today, especially in the Diocese of Lincoln, where local councils serve parishes, support seminarians, and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among clergy and laity alike. and this annual dinner is just one of many examples.
“May God reward them for their efforts as good Catholics and good citizens,” Bishop Conley said.
