INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF CATHOLIC KNIGHTS (lACK)
Post-Conference
Statement September 2005
The twenty-first meeting of the International Council of IACK was
held in Berg-en-Dal,
Kruger National Park,
South Africa from 19 to
23 September 2005. Member Orders from
Australia,
Belgium, The Gambia, Ghana (encompassing councils from
Togo,
Benin and Liberia), Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa attended.
Unfortunately a number of Orders were unable to attend, for a
variety of reasons. The most calamitous was the effect of Hurricane
Katrina in the
United States of America
causing the Knights of Peter Claver to prioritise their relief work at
home. Prayers and messages of sympathy and support for the victims of
Katrina were sent from the meeting.
The meeting was unanimous in its support of
the campaigns to protect the Holy Name of Jesus and to emphasise the
central position of Christ in Christmas. Furthermore the meeting was
concerned about the ongoing spiritual integrity of Easter and other
Christian feasts.
The meeting discussed strategies to inspire younger men to become
members of Orders of Knights around the world as a means of further
encouraging young participation in the Church.
The meeting welcomed the document of the Pontifical Council for the
Care of Migrants and Itinerant People called "The Love of Christ towards
Migrants". It was agreed that a study guide would be made available to
member Orders to enable them to respond appropriately to the needs in
their own particular areas.
During the meeting a vote of thanks was passed to the retiring
Secretary-General Tony Rouse for his twenty-five years of dedicated
service to the
Alliance. The incoming Secretary-General is Niall
Kennedy of
Ireland,
who has completed a two-year term of office as International President
of the Alliance. Frank Wightman of South Africa was installed as the
International President for 2005 - 2007. Sam Barnes of Ghana was
installed as Deputy International President.
Bishop Donal McKeown of Down and Connor, Ireland, who has served the
Alliance as International Chaplain since 2003, stressed in his keynote
address the need for member Orders to continue striving to be part of
the living Church in an ever-changing world. Bishop Michael Coleman of
Port
Elizabeth, South Africa, was appointed International Chaplain for the
next two years.
The meeting reaffirmed the filial loyalty
of the
Alliance
to the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.
Issued
23 September
2005 in
Pretoria,
South Africa
Signed by Niall M Kennedy
International President
International Alliance of Catholic Knights
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