b'and I think that dioceses appreciate the help that the Knights give theTJ: So, what are your thoughts on the upcoming eucharistic renewal?Bishops, I appreciate the support that the Knights of Columbus give. BP: Im very excited about it, I know in our Diocese of Savannah we Now at the diocese of Savannah I have attended a number of vocationshave a clergy conference, and we have a speaker from the U.S.C.C.B dinners that were put on or sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, andcoming to speak about it. So, Im looking forward to it because I think you just see the enthusiasm and the support that they have, because itits an opportunity for us as a church to focus on the importance of the tells me that the Knights of Columbus want to ensure that the Church isEucharist. around for a long time and has good leaders. I think that the continua-tion of the work that you are doing is important. Second of all I think isTJ: Now are you going to have big events in Savannah?that if you have a seminarian in your parish is to encourage them in theirBP: We are looking at next year, we dont have a tradition of diocese role, get to know them, and to encourage them.wide events, but weve been asked to host one for this. Were very much in the planning phases of this. TJ: If you look in this years issue and the last two years issues youre going to see a letter from aTJ: If there anything we can do to help you, let seminarian by the name of David DesPres, he grewus know. up in my parish.BP: Thank you. BP: Ok.TJ:Haveyoueverbeentothel631council TJ: So hopefully were doing stuff right.home? BP: Then again I think that the Knights of Colum- BP: I have. I went there recently to speak to bus can provide for our seminarians, an example ofyoung adults at a theology on tap. faithful Catholic men who are faithful disciples. And thats encouraging, just to witness that the KnightsTJ: Did you have to buy your own beer? of Columbus give provides inspiration to our semi- BP: I did not. I was a speaker, so I did not in-narians, and Im sure to our religious sisters as well.dulge. Im not a big drinker, but I had a coke. Because it sends a message to people that we are called to serve who it excites also.TJ: The goal of the knights of Columbus is to help Knights and their families grow closer to God, what I: Well thanks for that.advice do you have for men seeking to play a great-BP: Yeah,er role in their parish? First I would ask them to discern their gifts and I: What about an individual family? What can theytalents, because when we know what we have to do to support the mission of growing the priest- share were more open to sharing it. I would en-hood?courage someone to speak to their parish priest BP: In my own family we have two priests in ourand ask what is needed. With the last two years family, two bishops in our family. I start out by saying that the Churchmany parishes have lost lay ministers, so churches are often very grate-was a large part of our lives, so, it wasnt a slice of the pie, it was theful for help. But very often people are of the frame of mind of When I filling. Which means that our life wasnt something that we took a sliceretire I want to be a minister to the sick Why wait until you retire?of pie out of on Sunday morning, went to church and put it back, the life of the Church was part of our family life. We knew that it was importantTJ: Yeah, because then youll be one of the sick.My parents made sure that we saw church and faith as a priority, ourBP: (chuckles), Why not do it now because you could be such a bea-family was not particularly devotional, but we were very faithful. So,con of light to someone? Often people feel that they receive more than we did not necessarily participate inthey give. And thats the wonderful or pray the rosary every night, but wething about ministry. were consistent and faithful in pray-ing before meals, in attending church,TJ: What advice do you give about and in being involved in the church.fostering the vocation of priesthood?My parents were involved in our localBP:Oh,aboutfostering?Inthe parish growing up, and that exampleparishwhereIservedinAltamont was invaluable. Eking from my ownSprings, we had what was called the family, Id say that there are a lot ofvocations cup, many parishes have families that have a sort of broken- adopted this. It was a cup that fam-ness, like families where theres di- ilies would be able to host the cup in vorce, like families where theres sep- their home, and we would ask that aration, and I think that this exampleif they hosted the cup in their home can help future priests because theythat they would come around it in the know the pain of it. I might come fromevening or the morning or whenever a family where we were considered aworked for them and say a prayer. typical family of the 1970s, in the family of today the culture of the fam- Over a thousand families hosted the cup, and we had three cups come ily is changing, and the traditional family as weve known it doesnt existthrough. In it we had some material that they could read or watch on the in every household. We can only hope that our future priests, no mattertopic of religious vocations, so we could introduce the idea of religious what their family background or family history is, that they will bringvocation to them.that family history into their priesthood to be able to help those who are wounded, to help those who need healing, help families that are inTJ: And a follow up question, my assembly has a program where distress, so that there will be a greater compassion for them. I guesswhen three members die we engrave their names on a chalice, and Im talking about the pain of divorce, and the children are affected bywere having trouble with giving those away. I was wondering if these that, and those children are our future priests. They realize that life canchalices would work for that. be messy, that family life is messy. And as priests we give up our ownBP: Sure, Im sure that there are parishes especially in South Georgia family, the love of one woman and one family, so that we may embracewhere we have missions that would welcome a new chalice. the entire family of God. So, were called upon to minister to all families, and our own personal experiences can help us. TJ: Our Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly has said that as Knights we see 53'