WHAT THE KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS (KSC) DO
HISTORY
A Catholic Men’s Organisation originally
established in 1919 to help fellow Catholics obtain work and to
support each other’s families to live their Catholic Faith. The
organisation is known as The Order of the Knights of the Southern
Cross Australia and is a member of the International Alliance of
Catholic Knights, whose members are recognised by the Vatican.
The Objects of the Order have been agreed by
the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and are:
1.
To promote the Advancement of Australia;
2. To foster
the Christian way of life throughout the Nation;
3. To promote
the welfare of members of Member Organisations and their families;
4. To
encourage social and intellectual activities amongst members of
Member Organisations; and
5. To conduct
and support educational, charitable, religious and social welfare
work.
The Member Organisations are the State Branches
(Organisations) of the Order. Each State Branch is an autonomous
body which is represented on the National Council of the Order – the
Governing Body of the Order.
THE WORKS OF THE KNIGHTS
The Knights of the Southern Cross carry out a
wide variety of works which vary from State to State. Some of the
works are included below:
In Australia:
- Annual Mass for deceased members.
- Formation Programme written each year to
be used by Branches throughout Australia to develop the
spirituality of members and the knowledge of their Faith.
- Anzac Day Mass – Provision of Ushers and
assistance with invitations and seating.
- KSC Education Foundation (established by
KSC (WA) in the early 1990s) – provided over $70,000 in 2006 to
assist 41 teachers in the Catholic School system to attain
qualifications in the area of Religious Education and Theology.
$8,000 of scholarships went to seminarians from the
Redemptorist Mater Seminary studying
at UNDA.
- Southern Cross Charitable Trust –
donations made to the Sisters of St Joseph through the Mary
MacKillop Foundation to help the
disadvantaged and to Centacare (Qld)
for assistance to people with disabilities through
Soubirous Place.
- Sponsorship of an award in the Rock Band
section of the Performing Arts Festival in Perth for Catholic
Schools and Colleges.
- Australian Defence Force Project – the
Order has provided 10,000 specifically designed prayer books and
single decade rosaries to Catholic members of the Australian
Defence Force.
- Australian Defence Force Support – The KSC
provides support to all Catholic Defence Force Families and
Military Chaplains as required.
- Working with aboriginal elders and young
boys in WA.
- Financial support to committee arranging
exchange of seminarians between the Perth Archdiocese and a
Greek Orthodox seminary.
- Assistance to St Charles Seminary (WA) to
overcome an urgent maintenance problem.
- Assistance to a Presentation Sister in WA
to publish and promote a faith education and development program
for young children that involves participation of
Parish/School/Family.
- Financial support to Bishop
Bianchinni to assist aboriginal
youth in his Diocese.
- Sponsorship of Fr Peter Hung
Manh Tran
C.Ss.R to publish his book “Advancing the Culture of
Death: Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide”
- Working with Southern Cross Care
(Australia) in the provision of aged care facilities throughout
Australia.
- KSC is represented on the WYD08
Communities Advisory Committee for World Youth Day 2008 in
Sydney and will be greatly involved in the project.
- Assisting voters to make informed choices
at elections by obtaining the views of political candidates on
matters of morals and ethics – abortion, same sex marriage, etc.
– and facilitating public forums to meet candidates.
- Promoting the “Keep Christ in Christmas”
campaign throughout Australia throughout the year.
- Visiting detention centres for asylum
seekers.
- Established Priests Support and Education
Funds to assist clergy and seminarians in a number of States –
fundraising is generally carried out
through annual dinners.
- Creation and sponsorship of the
Festival of Faith in Sydney – to showcase the organisations
and works of the Catholic Church.
- Mobile phones for jobseekers – Canberra
- Australia Day Mass – Organisation and
Assistance
- Golf Tournaments for Members
- Barney’s Picnic for Members
- Retired Members Group
- Monthly Branch Meetings for Members
- Monthly State Council Meetings – Sometimes
in Country Areas
- State Conferences for Members and Wives
- National Triennial Conferences for Members
and Wives (Special Programmes for Wives)
- Collection of recycled paper and cans.
- Assistance with Christmas Bowl Appeal
sponsored by the SA Council of Churches (KSC-SA).
- Preparation and distribution of regular
State Newsletters to all members in Australia and to all IACK
(International Alliance of Catholic Knights) organisations
overseas.
- Helping the Josephite
Sisters in a project to have a framed picture of Mary
MacKillop sited in every church
throughout Australia (KSC-WA initiative).
- Presentation of Rosary Beads to all First
Communicants (KSC – WA initiative) in certain parishes.
- Installation of stained glass window
depicting a Christian Knight in St Thomas’ Parish in Claremont,
WA.
- Preparation of submissions to Government
on matters affecting morals and ethics.
- Support for Southern Cross Bioethics
Institute in SA.
- In partnership with Notre Dame University
Australia – organised a seminar on Ethics in Business for
invited business leaders in Perth and the Alumni of the
University.
Overseas:
- Tools for East Timor – Huge project to
provide 3 shipping containers of good quality tools to enable
students in East Timor to learn trades to help themselves and
their people.
- Running Water for St Peter’s Junior
Seminary, Tanzania - $10,000 from KSC (NSW) to help extend water
pipes to three dormitories. KSC(NSW)
had been helping the seminary for three years previously.
- Pakistan - $5,450
in support to Fr Anthony for his work to provide a safe
environment for Catholics in the area. All IACK Orders were
asked to contribute.
- KSC is represented by the Supreme Knight
at all meetings of the International Alliance of Catholic
Knights (IACK) held every 2 years in different countries.
- Twinning Arrangements have been
established with the Knights of Our Lady Queen of Peace in
Mauritius and joint projects are being arranged.
IN-HOUSE TIPS AND SUGGESTED TASKS FOR
KSC MEMBERS
- KSC Branches should be Visible, Vibrant
and Vocal.
- Provide a Christian perspective on
Halloween for families in the parish.
- Provide a Piety Stall at the local Church
on special days or every week.
- Wear standard name tags – similar to
Lions.
- Hold a Garage Sale annually as a
fundraiser.
- Hold a Trivia Night.
- Support youth groups in the parish.
- Congratulate Australia Post on the use of
Christian Images on Stamps.
- Notify Head Office in Each State promptly
on funeral notices.
- Contact members by e-mail where possible –
if you can build up an e-mail group for local members,
information can be disseminated quickly.
- Consider raising money to provide School
Scholarships in the name of the KSC.
- Provide assistance to members who wish to
contact the media to express their views on matters of morals or
social justice.
- Run Parish Dinners with Guest Speakers.
- Driver Reviver – provide a reviver stop
for travellers – with Branch support or assist an organisation
already running the facility.
- Assist at local country shows – assist
with parking (possibly raising money) – you are covered by the
National KSC Insurance Policy.
- Run a Parish Picnic.
- Organise a Ladies’ Social Outing for
wives, relatives and friends.
- Provide Transport to Masses or Outings for
Aged or infirm parishioners.
- Provide support for Catholic Institutions
and Clergy.
- Provide Baptismal Cards at Baptisms in the
Parish.
- Run a Games Night or Social Night for
those who assist the work of the local KSC Branch.
- Erect a Crib at Christmas and lights.
- Support Schools in their fundraising
efforts.
- Repair headstones of deceased clergy.
- Organise a combined dinner for Catholics
and other Christian Churches in your area.
- Support Carols
promotion at Christmas and especially in aged care facilities.
- Visit parish priest and invite him for a
meal – he may be feeling isolated.
- Watch media standards and act where
necessary.
- Organise or support The Way of the Cross
activities.
- Support St Vinnies
and CWL in their efforts.
