(297) St. Pope John Paul II and President Reagan Worked Together in the Overthrow of Communism in Europe

 AMDG

President Ronald Reagan speaking with St. Pope John Paul II at one of their four meetings in the 1980s, in which they laid the groundwork for the overthrow of Communism in Europe.  Both were actors in their youth and had a remarkable stage presence.  Reagan stared in many black and white Hollywood movies.  This acting experience served both of them well on the world stage and contributed to their charisma.  President Reagan would always be civil and presidential, even joking with those who opposed him in his presidential campaigns.  He would even play golf with the Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neil, a leader of the Democratic Party.  That relationship helped them to act in a bipartisan way for the common good of the Country as opposed to a hostile polarization and tearing each other apart with insults.  He showed how a democracy should work.  Sincerely following President Reagan's example would have helped Donald Trump to achieve even landslide victories in the elections of 2016, 2020, and 2024. 

    When Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan met in private for the first time in 1982, the encounter went far beyond formalities and official business. According to the Knights of Columbus publication, Knightline for its members, the two men shared their spiritual views.  They discussed the assassination   attempts that nearly ended both of their lives the year before. They prayed.  Was it providential that both survived? 

During that meeting, “they forged a lasting spiritual bond and a close friendship,” recalled Past Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, a member of the White House staff at the time. “Years later, Mrs. Nancy Reagan would say that the Pope was her husband’s ‘closest friend.’”

The relationship between President Reagan and John Paul II, world leaders united in the struggle to defeat Soviet communism and bring a peaceful end to the Cold War, was the subject of an exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.   The exhibit “The Pope and the President: Bringing Hope to the World” opened August 31 and ran through October 27 with major sponsorship from the Knights of Columbus.

Past Supreme Knight Anderson, who served as a special assistant to President Reagan from 1985 to 1987 and worked with St. Pope John Paul II as founding vice president of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, spoke at the exhibit’s opening ceremony on August 29.  “Our exhibit gets the relationship between these two extraordinary world leaders just right: They were men of peace, of hope and, perhaps most of all, they were men of courage with a united vision,” Anderson said. “I would suggest that even more than friendship, what really united these two men was … their moral vision regarding the demands of freedom.”

Included in the exhibit are documents and items related to the four face-to-face meetings between the two men: at the Vatican in 1982 and again in 1987, in Alaska in 1984, and in Miami in 1987.  Also on display were never-before-seen gifts between the President and the Pope, as well as a ciborium used by John Paul II during his 1987 visit to Los Angeles and a new bronze bust of St. Pope John Paul II by the American sculptor Gordon Kray. The bust, a gift of the Friends of John Paul II Foundation, remains on permanent display at the Reagan Library.

In 1982, President Reagan addressed the 100th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Hartford, Connecticut, and described the Order as “unrivaled in its dedication to family, community, country and Church.”  “What [President Reagan] said during those remarks still rings true today,” said Melissa Giller, chief marketing officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. “The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is deeply grateful to the Knights of Columbus for its generous support of this exhibition.”

For more information visit  www.ReaganLibrary.com.  Very interesting is their Christmas Around the World exhibition at www.reaganfoundation.org/library-museum/special-exhibits/christmas-around-the-world.  It includes a Christmas Tree from the Vatican decorated entirely with white ornaments featuring a life-size white peacock.  The Gold Star Family Memorial Tree honors families who lost a loved one in the military. 

     The Vatican was especially valuable in providing information to Alan Dulles, Director of the CIA regarding the Solidarity movement and conditions in Poland which was placed under martial law.  Thus the Vatican was able to channel funds to the Solidarity Movement for informing the people and undermining the communist regime.

    In 1989 the Berlin Wall separating communist Europe from free Europe was torn down by the people themselves.  Communism suddenly and miraculously collapsed in Europe; no one expected that.  It was reminiscent of the walls of Jericho collapsing after God’s command.  Today most of the former Soviet satellite countries are now free democracies, namely Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, East Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia. 

However, the same cannot be said of the Russian Federation, an aggressive dictatorship, more Fascist than Communist, that has subjugated former members of the Soviet Union that aspired to be independent democracies and is trying to do the same with its invasion of Ukraine, another former member of the Soviet Union, on February 24, 2022.  

Although not communist as such, the dictator Vladimir Putin, a former member of the dreaded KGB, uses the same methods including murder to smother opposition to his rule.  His goal is to restore the old Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, thus endangering the Baltic States in particular and even its former satellites.  Unless there is spiritual conversion, one tyranny will be replaced by another.

Please continue to pray the Rosary for peace in Ukraine as well as the world and for the conversion of Russia as Mary requested at Fatima.  St. John Paul II had a tremendous devotion to Mary and the Rosary which he prayed daily and more during trips by auto and air.  The loss of his earthly mother at an early age brought him ever closer to our heavenly mother whom Christ gave us from the cross.  His theme for his papacy and coat of arms is “Totus tuus” which means all is yours, Mary.  John Paul II was indeed the Marian Pope.  May we also have a strong devotion to Mary, our common mother.

(296) The Persecution of Greek Catholics (Ruthenian) by Soviet Russia in the 1940s & 50s and the Loya Family Connection

AMDG

As Told By Deacon Gregory Loya

The Greek Catholic Martyrs (Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Rite).  From left to right are Blessed Basil Hopko, Auxiliary Bishop of Presov, Slovakia; Blessed Theodore Romzha, Bishop of Mukachevo-Uzhorod, Ukraine; and Blessed Paul Gojdich, Bishop of Presov, Slovakia.  This is a mural painted by Fr. Thomas Loya on the west wall of Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glenn Illinois.  Fr. Loya continues as its pastor.  He welcomes visitors to come and pray while enjoying his murals that cover the entire interior of the church, which is open to all daily from 9 am to 5 pm.  See the article done by WGN News at the following link.  Go to:

https://wgntv.com/2018/12/18/priest-called-michelangelo-of-the-midwest-for-paintings-in-suburban-church/

“Priest called ‘Michelangelo of the Midwest’ for elaborate church paintings” – WGN Chicago article on the art of Fr. Thomas Loya.

    In 2008, the Eparchy of Parma, Ohio sponsored a dinner in memory of our martyred Paul Bishop Gojdich.  As we remember our four martyred bishops, Hopko, Romzha, Gojdich, and Chira, let us never forget that this sort of persecution was not rare amongst other clergy and faithful in the “old country.”  I recount a story that touches me personally by at least a couple of related priests from the family of my father’s mother (Elizabeth Bachinsky Loya).  There were other martyrs, de facto as described below, including my great grandfather Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Sr. and my great uncle Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Jr. 

A photo of my grandparents, my father’s (Joseph Loya) parents, the late Rev. John Loya and his wife Pani Elizabeth.  Her maiden name was Bachinsky and they were married before his ordination in November of 1922.  Elizabeth was one of eight children, among them Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Jr., her brother.  (Her father was Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Sr.)

 

    The communists of the Soviet Union in the mid-20^th century started a campaign of demoralization and intimidation toward the Greek Catholic clergy and faithful of the Trans Carpathian Rus area of Eastern Europe.  Around 1944, the Greek Catholic church there was being pressured to “unify” with the Russian Orthodox Church.  Our blessed bishop, Theodore Romzha, was not about to give up our Church to any communist controlled church.  More and more, his freedoms were limited and more of our churches came under communist control.

In October of 1947, Theodore Romzha, Bishop of Mukachevo-Uzhorod, Ukraine went to the re-dedication of a newly renovated church in Laviki (Lavki). The pastor of this church, Fr. Petro Vasko, was also pastor of a church in Lok’hovo, He was married to Margaret Bachinsky, the younger Fr. Daniel’s sister.  Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Jr. was married to Maria Vasko, Fr. Petro’s sister. To demonstrate that he was not being controlled by the Soviets and to encourage the faithful in their devotion to the Church, Bishop Romzha made the trip despite the warnings and pleas of the parish people and clergy.

      The Liturgy itself was held without incident, but there was a suspicious Studebaker truck present with men in uniform, to be joined later by a jeep with more uniformed men.  Despite their concerns, on October 27^th, the bishop decided to depart.  He was accompanied by two seminarians, Michael Bugir and Michael Maslej, a coachman and two priests, Fr. Bereznaj and Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Jr. (Fr. Daniel was my great uncle, the brother of my grandmother Elizabeth Bachinsky or Pani Loya, married to my dad’s father, Fr. John Loya.)

       As they left in their horse-drawn carriage, the truck followed and just outside Ivanivtski, the driver accelerated and rammed into the carriage.  Though the horses were killed, all of the riders initially survived, only to be attacked by the soldiers with iron rods.  The seminarians ran into town for help and a mail truck from Mukachevo arrived which finally caused the attackers to flee.

     The coachman ultimately died of his injuries. Father Daniel Bachinsky Jr. was unconscious for three weeks with a fractured skull, broken right scapula, broken ribs and a spiral fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg.  (Some think that he was mistaken for the Bishop, since he did not have his usual facial hair and they looked similar to one another.) The Bishop had a severe head injury, a two-fold fracture of the mandible, a linear tibia wound, broken teeth and bruises all over.  The Bishop’s jaw had to be wired and braced; however he could speak and his prognosis for recovery was excellent. 

    It was the mysterious helper at the hospital named Odarka that was brought on the scene, along with the removal of regular staff doctors who were replaced with Red Army doctors.  In late October, Sister Theophilia, the chief hospital nurse along with the chief surgical nurse were caring for Bishop Theodore and Fr. Daniel, who  was often cared for by his wife, Mary.  A certain Dr. Bergman was there and the two nurses were removed from the room. In less than ten minutes, they returned to hear the Bishop moan “Oh Jesus!” and see his body torn by a convulsion.  Despite the efforts of the staff, his heart gave out and at 12:30, he died. There is much evidence to conclude, including the testimony of my great uncle Fr. Daniel, that our beloved Bishop Theodore Romzha was murdered.  

    In a couple more days, the “special commission” concluded that Bishop Romzha had died of a cerebral hemorrhage.  This conclusion came from a Soviet pathologist who prepared the report, with none of the doctors allowed to examine the body during the autopsy to find the so-called ruptured vein.  However, the killers were unaware that Fr. Daniel was conscious during the whole episode at the hospital and being able to speak for a moment, told Sr. Theophilia, “That girl was here and slipped something under the bishop’s nose!”  The doctors concurred in this, for the Bishop’s nose was turning blue and beginning to spread through him.  The doctors determined that he was killed with potassium cyanide.

Fr. Daniel was finally able to leave the hospital in early 1948, several months after the attack.  He was later arrested on June 21, 1949 and deported under a ten year sentence to a prison camp for the disabled.  He returned home in broken health in 1955 and in order to feed his family, had to work in a margarine factory.  He died of a severe heart attack in 1968 at the Uzhorod (Ukraine) Municipal Hospital. During his hospital confinement, he often repeated, “I suffer gladly for there are so many things to offer my sufferings for.”  His funeral was attended by 10,000 people.  Sister Theophilia was also arrested and exiled to Siberia for ten years. 

It was Father Daniel Bachinsky’s father, also Fr. Daniel, that brought the Sacramental Mysteries to his son and the bishop in the hospital.  It was the elder Fr. Daniel, by request of Bishop Romzha, who heard the Bishop’s last confession and gave our blessed Theodore his last Holy Eucharist.  The elder Fr. Daniel Bachinsky was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in a labor camp and confiscation of all of his possessions. One of the lawyers petitioned for his freedom because he was already 73 years old, had only 1/3 of his stomach left, no teeth and his feet were swollen.  Unfortunately, no one did anything about his case and he died shortly after this in a communist prison on July 15, 1951.

Many more details can be found in the book Theodore Romhza: His Life, Times and Martyrdom, by Laslo Puskas.

Below is a translated article about the senior Fr. Daniel Bachinsky.  His son, Ivan (John, shown below) was a professor at Bratislava University.  He was also a priest, but much more in secret and did not suffer the fate of his brother.  His granddaughter told me recently how they used to sneak over to Grandpa’s house to have liturgy in his secret chapel and then go home by other means as they were being watched.

 

Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Sr.

 Great Grandfather of Deacon Gregory Loya

The article pictured above is about the senior Fr. Daniel Bachinsky.  It appeared in an Eastern European newspaper in 2001.  It was translated into English by one of his great grand-daughters, Rita Dolinay. (Who is related to our late Metropolitan, Archbishop Thomas Dolinay).  Note the spelling of the name when translated can be Bachinsky, Bachinskyj or Bacsinsky.

Fr. Bachinsky was a mysterious person for the detectives at the beginning of the 1950’s.  Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Sr., Greek-Catholic (Byzantine) priest, was arrested at the end of December, 1950.

He was born in Vishkovo (near Hust) into the family of a Greek-Catholic priest.  After finishing the seminary in Uzhorod, Austria-Hungary, (today Ukraine) in 1902, he was assigned as a helping priest in Zaritcha.  From 1907 until 1921 Fr. Bachinsky served as a priest in Siltse and later in Dubrivki (near Uzhorod).  He was part of the organization which made the financial, medical and agricultural decisions that concerned the population of the village of Dubrivka.

One of the witnesses reported that Fr. Daniel Bachinsky Sr. was a member of the delegation which traveled to Budapest, Hungary to convince the Hungarians to occupy the Transcarpathia.  Witnesses also stated that he represented the civil and clerical aspects of the village.  Without Fr. Bachinsky’s consent there were no decisions made in the village.  He could also change any decision that was approved by the civil head of the village.

Fr. Bachinsky’s house was taken away from him by the communists.  As a 70 year old man he went to live with his children.  It is known from the documents that until 1946 Fr. Bachinsky had much land, four horses, 10 cows, two full time servants and a house with six rooms.  Fr. Bachinsky had 9 children, one of them being a Greek-Catholic priest who was arrested in 1949.  One of Fr. Bachinsky’s younger daughters became the wife of a priest in the 1920’s and moved to the USA (this daughter was Elizabeth, who was married to my grandfather, the late Rev. John Loya.)

The elder Fr. Bachinsky was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in a labor camp and confiscation of all of his possessions. One of the lawyers petitioned for his freedom because he was already 73 years old, had only 1/3 of his stomach left, no teeth and his feet were swollen.  Unfortunately, no one did anything about his case and he died shortly after this in a communist prison on July 15, 1951.  (His body was buried in an unmarked grave and a man on his deathbed confessed to where his body was and finally returned it to the family cemetery.)

 -----------------------------------------------

Let us remember, pray for, and be inspired by those courageous men, who were martyred for their faith!  Let their courage and martyrdom, as well as the many other clergy and faithful of that time, be an example to us when we consider our own sacrifices for our faith.  Do we have the same courage as these brave souls?  Do we have the same “stuff” they did? May their memory be eternal.  Mna no haja I blahaja ljita!

 

Bachinsky Family Coat of Arms

Similarity of Joseph Loya (son of Eizabeth Bachinski) to Bishop Andre Bachinsky.

Editor’s Note: Some believe that if Russia conquers all of Ukraine, the Greek Catholic Church will again be suppressed and absorbed by the Russian Orthodox Church.  For years the Archbishop of Moscow controlled the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but a few years ago the Ukrainian Orthodox declared their independence.  Thus it is no surprise that the Russian Orthodox Archbishop Krill supports the invasion of Ukraine.  The Roman Catholic Rite is a minority.  In Russian occupied Ukraine the Knights of Columbus, a strong Catholic Men’s fraternity, are already suppressed.

    Let us not forget that the dictator Vladimir Putin is a product of the Soviet Union in which he grew up.  Furthermore, he is a former officer of the KGB and has that same mindset, using their methods for maintaining power that includes eliminating those who speak out in criticism by jailing and murder under often mysterious circumstances.  Although not a communist as such, he admires Joseph Stalin and has dreams of restoring the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

 

Fr. Vladimir Mihalich

Great Grandfather of Deacon Gregory Loya

On my mom’s (Martha Foley Loya) side of the family: These are my great-great grandparents from Yarembina (not sure how to spell that).  Fr. Adelbert Mihalich and his wife.  My cousin told me that the Mihalich clergy were in that village for a couple centuries!

This is my great grandfather Fr. Vladimir Mihalich (1874 – 1943) with his wife Olga Podajevsky and family in about 1910.   My mom’s (Martha) mom, Irene Mihalich Foley (black hair) on her father’s left.  Fr. Vladimir came to America in 1921 and was pastor of St. Peter & Paul Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church) in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, a steel town south of Pittsburgh from 1928 until his death in 1943).  He had 5 daughters (Ella, Lilly, Irene, Martha, and Stephanie in that order) and the long line of priests stopped there.  It was almost customary for seminarians to marry daughters of priests.

Living in what was Austria-Hungary at the time, the Mihalich Family was ethnically Ruthenian, but culturally Hungarian.  Thus they were conversant in Slovak which was similar to Ruthenian, a dead language and practiced many Ruthenian customs, but spoke Hungarian in their home.  This was common among the clergy.

            After skipping two generations, Fr. Thomas Loya, Fr. Vladimir’s Great Grandson, became a priest.  His brother Gregory became a Deacon as did Fr. Vladimir’s grandson John V. Sebastian.  According to his youngest daughter, Dr. Stephanie Mihalich Sebastian, Fr. Vladimir taught one of the Greek Catholic martyrs in the seminary at Eperes, Austria-Hungary.  Both Olga and Fr. Vladimir came from lines of priests. 

    

This is the church of my great grandfather, Fr. Vladimir Mihalich in Rozadomb (Rose Hill) in Austria-Hungary (later renamed Bodruzal-Slovakia).  The name of the rustic church was either St. Basil or St. Nicholas, dating from 1658!  This rustic church is now a tourist attraction and was a model for the Greek Catholic Union’s replica of an old rustic church in Butler, Pennsylvania.  The rectory there was built in 1905 by Fr. Vladimir.  He was pastor of four such churches and traveled to them by horse and buggy.  There are records in the parish of Pleasant City, OH of a Fr. Vladimir coming to America for short trips to help set up the Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Ruthenian Rite) in the United States.

This photo is from one of our family albums, showing a “typical” eastern wedding of a man who would soon be a priest, Fr. Emil Gulyassi and his bride Lilly Mihalich Gulyassi in Fr. Vladimir’s Church in Charleroi, Pennsylvania in about 1922.  Fr. Emil was pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Bridgeport, CT.  Byzantine Rite Catholic priests may marry before their ordination.  Since they did not have their own bishop in the United States yet, Fr. Emil was ordained in Canada.  During that time the parish was subject to the local Roman Catholic Bishop. 

By Deacon Gregory Loya:  great grandson of Fr. Vladimir Mihalich, the grandson of Irene Mihalich Foley and grandson of Fr. John and Elizabeth Bachinsky Loya and son of Joseph and Martha Foley Loya.

 

APPENDIX I

Below is an article from the June 20, 2018 issue of “Horizons” the newspaper of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, OH.  It gives more information on the Greek Catholic Martyrs.

 

Pilgrims to walk in the footsteps of three martyred Ruthenian bishops

  

Blessed Theodore Romzha was killed by the Soviets in 1947.  Pilgrims will go to Ukraine to venerate his relics.

by Fr. Andrew Summerson

CHICAGO — Pilgrims on Horizons’ fall pilgrimage to Central Europe will walk in the footsteps of three holy Ruthenian bishops martyred for the faith and pray at their tombs in Slovakia and Ukraine.

The Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church boasts three 20^th-century martyrs as outstanding examples of faith in the modern age. The three bishops, Theodore Romzha, Paul Gojdich, and Basil Hopko, all victims of communism, stood for the Gospel in the face of abject hatred of and violence against the church.

Blessed Theodore Romzha was bishop of Mukachevo-Uzhorod in present-day Ukraine, when the region was annexed by the Soviets in 1945. He had been prepared for the role of a missionary bishop for a persecuted church in Soviet territory at the Russicum, a college in Rome founded to train Catholic missionaries to Russia. He urged the underground church to keep the faith by his example. He was beaten and poisoned by the Soviets in 1947.

Blessed Paul Gojdich was bishop of Presov in present-day Slovakia. A zealous missionary priest and pious monk, he was named apostolic administrator of Presov in 1927. In 1950, the Communists took over the region. He was arrested and accused of being an enemy of the state. In prison, he remained an exemplary Christian, choosing to do the dirty work so as to embrace fully Christian humility.

Blessed Basil Hopko was a dedicated Byzantine Catholic priest, having founded the first Byzantine Catholic parish in Prague. As auxiliary bishop of Presov, he was forcibly imprisoned by the communists. He later was released and suffered greatly from mental anguish associated with his imprisonment, yet remained committed to the Gospel.

The pilgrimage will offer moments to learn more about these lessed who died for their commitment to the Church of Rome.

For information on the Sept. 16-28 pilgrimage to Central Europe, go to www.parma.org, email horizons@parma.org, or call (216) 470-3287.  Sign up for the e-newsletter.

Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma

5000 Rockside Road, Suite 310 • Independence, Ohio • 44131
Phone: (216) 741-8773 • Email: chancery@parma.org • Hours: Mon-Fri., 9 am–5 pm

 

APPENDIX II

The Diverse Rites of the Catholic Church According to Culture

    When the apostles embarked on their great mission to teach all nations, they encountered people of different languages and cultures.  To make it easier for the people to accept the apostles adapted the liturgy and certain customs to the culture of the country without compromising doctrine and Church teaching. 

    The West had a Roman influence with Latin as the predominant liturgical language.  The East had a decided Greek influence.  Thus the Church was divided into the Latin Rite (Roman Catholics) and the Byzantine Rite (Greek Catholics).  Eastern European countries used their own languages in the liturgy…..we have Byzantine Ruthenian, Byzantine Romanian, Byzantine Hungarian, Byzantine Ukrainian, Melchites, etc.  Because of the great schism in 1050, the Church was split in two and the Orthodox Church was the result.  Centuries later some of the Orthodox returned to Rome under the condition that they be allowed to maintain their customs as married clergy, but marriage only before ordination.  For more detail go to:       

(251) The Diverse Rites of the Catholic Church........Our Byzantine Catholic Experience Deep in the Heart of Texas During the Eastertide

  https://paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com/2021/05/251-our-byzantine-catholic-experience.html

            

 

(295) Many Catholic Priests and Knights of Columbus Among First Responders on 9/11

AMDG

This photo records the scene moments after one of the two terrorist captured planes crashed into one of the two 110 story towers of the World Trade Center about 9 am on a clear sunny Tuesday morning, September 11 as summer was drawing to a close.  The terrorists actually believed that as martyrs for their cause, they would go straight to heaven and have multiple virgins at their disposal.  My family of six went to the top of one of the towers a year earlier and had a magnificent view of the city, the Bay, and the Statue of Liberty.  Our nine year old daughter, Stephanie actually got lost on the large observation deck.  Probably, everyone over the age of ten at the time can recall where they were on that fateful day.  I arrived at the University of Rio Grande and the staff was watching the events on television.  The students were so afraid of a full scale attack that we had to cancel classes that day.

    The fire departments of New York City, including the boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn immediately responded to rescue as many of the people trapped in the twin towers as they could, despite blinding and suffocating smoke, probably in the hundreds.  It was horrific.  In desperation a number of people jumped out of windows to their deaths before the flames could consume them.  Of the 9,000 or so in each tower a total of about 2,150 people perished in the disaster.  Most on the floors below the impacts were able to escape, thanks in great part to the first responders.  Those in the second tower had a better chance during the sixteen minutes before the second plane hit.

The first responders included not only fire fighters and medical personnel, but also Catholic priests, who counseled and gave absolution.  Many of the first responders belonged to the Knights of Columbus, who followed their ideals of charity and patriotism.  They served with heroism and at least 45 of them sacrificed their very lives in serving.

    Not many know that the Church was right there, helping people of all faiths.  Let us read the account of brother knight, Msgr. Thomas Machalski, from his interview by Knightline and Columbia Magazine.  He was actively involved.  Born in the Queens Borough, Msgr. Machalski was ordained for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1985 and now serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bayside, where he is a member of Ridgewood Council 1814. 

United States flag is posted in the rubble of the World Trade Center at Ground Zero on Sept. 13, 2001.  As during the Cuban Missile in 1962, there was a sudden and substantial increase in church attendance all over the Country.  People were scared and prayed.  Sadly, that return to God did not last.  A monument now stands at the site to honor the over three thousand people who died there.  It can happen again; we must be vigilant.

In 2001, then-Father Machalski was among the priests who ministered to first responders at ground zero in the days after the attack on the World Trade Center.

“Shortly after the attacks, a call went out from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn.  They wanted to make sure there were two Catholic priests at ground zero at all times.  So there was never a moment, from the very beginning until the last day of cleanup, that there were not two Catholic priests on duty, 24/7.”

“About 400 of us priests volunteered, and we took six-hour shifts. During the first of four shifts I took — I always had the 12-6 a.m. shift — I was standing right on that smoldering pile that you see in photos and videos, as they were literally pulling buckets filled with pieces of people from that rubble. They would take them into a makeshift morgue, where we would have a small prayer service and bless the body parts, and then go back onto the pile again.

“We were there, really, to provide emotional and spiritual support to the police officers, the firefighters and those who volunteered. They would say things like, ‘We know that you don’t have an answer to this, Father. Nobody does. But we just know God is here when we see you.’  They saw the collar, and that was a sign that God was there with them.”  

“I think our presence also gave a great deal of solace to people who lost family members — to know that if their loved ones’ remains were found, there was a priest who prayed over and blessed them."

    “When I went home and thought about it later, it would bother me that such evil could exist in the world and be perpetrated by one human being against another. But Christ’s example of redemptive suffering allowed me to make sense of what had happened and minister better, I think, to those who were left behind.”

“On Sept. 21, the [New York] Mets played their first game since the attacks, and I had a ticket to the game. It was against Atlanta, our biggest rival, and we were losing in the eighth inning.  But then [Hall of Fame catcher and lifelong Catholic] Mike Piazza got up, and he whacked a home run like you wouldn’t believe. Once he hit that ball, I knew it was gone.”

“That place just — I’m getting emotional just thinking about it — it just exploded. And we won that game. I still look at that moment and think that was God saying, ‘You guys need this’ — not the Mets, but the people of New York.”  Brother knight Msgr. Machalski would go on to become the New York Mets’ Catholic chaplain since 2007.  Read more about Msgr. Machalski’s life and work in this May 2024 Columbia feature on Knights who serve as Major League Baseball chaplains.

Three brother knights who are Catholic Major League Baseball Chaplains.  From left to right are Msgr. Thomas Machalski of the New York Mets, who is described in this article, followed by Fr. Burke Masters of the Chicago Cubs and Fr. Pedro Rivera of the San Diego Padres.

Watch the video produced by the Knights of Columbus, “Service and Sacrifice: Remembering 9/11”at 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isd4pUNRGK0 or search for that title at www.youtube.com.   It gives a glimpse of what the first responders went through.  This short film commemorates the heroic work of first responders and priests as well as the K of C Life Insurance Field Agents’ efforts to bring financial assistance to grieving families of First Responders who lost their lives.  The Knights of Columbus raised $1.5 million for the Heroes Fund to help many of the families of over 400 fallen first responders….police, firefighters, medical personnel, etc. regardless of religious affiliation.  At least 45 of the fallen first responders were knights.  Surely, some of the other 2000 victims were also knights.

Having breathed so much toxic fumes and smoke, many of the surviving first responders suffered from chronic ailments for years…..respiratory, cancer, etc. 

Fr. Mychal Judge, a 68 year old Franciscan friar and chaplain of the New York City Fire Department, accompanied his men and was killed when the south tower collapsed. He was the first certified fatality of the attacks. Other priests also put their lives at risk.

It should be mentioned that one of the large financial companies that had many offices in the World Trade Center took care of the families of the personnel it lost in the disaster. 

Upon announcing the annual World Day of Prayer for Peace at the Supreme Convention in Dallas in 2004 and calling people of all faiths to annually observe September 11 as a day of prayer for worldwide peace, former Supreme Knight Carl Anderson made the following statement: "TERRORISM AND THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, PRODUCE MANY EMOTIONS, RANGING FROM ANGER TO PROFOUND SORROW. BUT AS WE RECALL THE LOSSES OF THAT AWFUL DAY AND HONOR THOSE WHO DIED, WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THAT PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING, NOT REVENGE AND RETRIBUTION, MUST BE OUR ULTIMATE GOAL. WE CAN BEST ACHIEVE THAT GOAL BY RAISING OUR VOICES TO GOD, REMINDING HIM THAT WE SHARE HIS DEEP AND ABIDING DESIRE FOR PEACE ON EARTH, AND ASKING HIS DIVINE GUIDANCE AND HELP."

(294) The Significance of Each of the Four Degrees of the Knights of Columbus

 AMDG

Sir Michael Merry and Sir Michael Dressel, New 4th Degree Knights

      Our St. Louis Council 3335 has had a shortage of 4^th Degree knights and two of our most active knights filled the bill on April 6.  They demonstrated their interest in learning more about the history of the Knights of Columbus and what the 4^th Degree is all about by sacrificing much of a busy Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marietta, Ohio.  In the ceremony the over 40 candidates were urged to be always faithful to God and His Church and to continue being active in their local councils.  The key is to desire being a 4^th Degree knight and to participate at a higher level.  In Knights of Columbus circles these two faithful Catholic men may now be addressed as Sir Michael Merry and Sir Michael Dressel as with the knights of old and in Great Britain today.  Both men considered it all an enjoyable experience.    

       Mike Merry has been a knight for 31 years (it’s about time for the 4^th Degree).  Besides his obvious spirit of service, what attracted him to the knights was that it is Catholic and worldwide.  He was Grand Knight for three years and has served as deputy and secretary.  Mike was in charge of the parish youth group for ten years and continues as President of Gallia For Life for the last 22 years.  While raising four lovely daughters, Merry worked for S&J Lumber in operations and maintenance.  After 22 years with S&J, this entrepreneur started his own logging business.   

       Mike Dressel joined the Knights 23 years ago because he enjoys helping people and being part of a team.  He followed in the footsteps of his father, who also was a knight.  After serving as Deputy, Mike succeeded Matt Bokovitz as our current Grand Knight.  Previously, Dressel was an altar server at the Knights of Columbus Masses for several years, but now he will process as part of the honor guard.  Until his retirement, Mike kept our lights on as a team leader in operations at American Electric Power’s Gavin Plant.   

The Mission. The Knights of Columbus was established in 1882 by the Blessed Michael J. McGivney to provide a means by which Catholic men could support the Catholic Church, provide financial protection to protect their families, and engage in works of charity to benefit the less fortunate.

       Four Degrees and Four Principles.  The 4^th Degree is the highest degree of the order.  The 1^st Degree is the initiation step of a new knight.  It focuses on the first principle of the Knights of Columbus…..CHARITY.  The motto of the knights is: “In Service to one, in service to all”.  To join the knights and strictly speaking to remain one, is to be a practicing Catholic.  Regular Sunday Mass attendance is a bare minimum.

    The 2^nd Degree focuses on the second principle of the Knights of Columbus…..UNITY.  We are united in helping our parish in need of constant renewal and the surrounding community in need of its best citizens.  We are united with the Church and its mission of saving souls and in its fight for life, for peace, for the integrity and welfare of families.  We are united for God and Country in the fight against the evils that plague our society and do our part in the battle against them as we can.

The 3^rd Degree focuses on the third principle of the Knights of Columbus……FRATERNITY.  We are brothers; we care about each other; we help each other as necessary in any way we can by prayer, encouragement, sympathy, friendship, etc. 

The 4^th Degree focuses on the fourth principle…..PATRIOTISM.  We loyally love our country and perform our civic duties for a better community and country.  We are willing to fight for our country if called upon to defend it in a just war. Many knights died rescuing people trapped in the two World Trade Center Towers of New York City on 9/11, not to mention the numerous wars America has had to fight in the 20^th & 21^st Centuries against aggressive foes.

 The honor of the 4^th Degree brings certain privileges…..the privilege of wearing the regalia and processing at special Masses, devotions, and other functions.   Upon death the deceased 4^th Degree knight receives an honor guard of other 4^th Degree knights if that is the previous wish of him and his family. 

Invitation to Be a Knight and Eventually a 4^th Degree Knight.  The 4^th Degree Knights in our Council 3335 include Keith Elliott, Bruce Davison, Matt Bokovitz, Michael Haas, Paul Sebastian, Dr. Mel Simon, and more recently Michael Edelmann three or four years ago.  Mike Merry and Mike Dressel increase this number to 9.   Two of those have moved away.  If you are an active knight please consider adding yourself to the group of elite knights by making yourself available to become a 4^th Degree Knight.

At the same time all practicing Catholic men 18 or over are cordially invited to join the Knights of Columbus, which has councils all over the world, including Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Ukraine, among others.  There’s great fellowship with a meal at each meeting and opportunities to serve the parish and community as your time permits.  

Furthermore, any knight may choose the Knights of Columbus life insurance, which gives security to his family.  It has a savings feature and other financial services.  Any surplus goes to charity and not to the stockholders of a conventional insurance company.  Knights of Columbus Insurance is rated among the very top insurance companies in the United States in financial stability. Contact our Grand Knight, Mike Dressel at 740-853-1842 to join.