Florida Catholic | Claver Knights Convene In ‘Love And Fellowship’

Claver Knights convene in ‘love and fellowship’

African–American religious association holds national convention in Jacksonville.

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 07.31.08

Archdiocese of Chicago auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry poses for a photograph with Mary J. Holly, Grand Lady of St. Felicitas Court #223 in Pensacola, during a July 28 awards banquet at the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary national convention in Jacksonville.

Archdiocese of Chicago auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry poses for a photograph with Mary J. Holley, Grand Lady of St. Felicitas Court #223 in Pensacola, during a July 28 awards banquet at the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary national convention in Jacksonville. Holley, who was awarded the Gulf Coast District Grand Lady of the Year Award in May, received National Grand Lady of the Year honors at the convention.
Courtesy Photo

JACKSONVILLE | With men in dark suits, women in white and officers in regalia, 1,500 African-American Catholics from across the country gathered in worship with six bishops and the priests, deacons, brothers and religious who came to support them.

For many, Mass was the highlight of the 93rd annual national convention of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, held in Jacksonville July 25-30.

“Mass on Sunday was beautiful,” said Mary J. Holley, Grand Lady of St. Felicitas Court 223 in Pensacola, a parishioner of St. Jude Parish there and the recipient of the order’s national Grand Lady of the Year award. “Bishop Victor B. Galeone of the Diocese of St. Augustine presided. Our national chaplain – Bishop Joseph N. Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago – and four more bishops concelebrated as well. The overall message for me was of love and fellowship, a sea of Catholic men and women able to worship together.”

St. Peter Claver, born in Spain in 1580, became a Jesuit priest and traveled to Colombia, which was a hub of the slave trade at the time. He is credited with bringing more than 300,000 people into the church.

Four Josephite priests and three laymen founded the order on Nov. 7, 1909, in Mobile, Ala., because southern African-Americans were being denied admission to the Knights of Columbus, which was not racially integrated at the time. Today, the order and it’s ladies’ auxiliary boast more than 100,000 members in 368 councils and courts for men and women, representing 47 dioceses in the United States; in San Andres, Colombia; and throughout South America. By the end of this year, officials said that they hope to establish a new council and court in the Bahamas.

Members of Bishop Gracida Council #223 of the Knights of Peter Claver and St. Felicitas Court #223 in Pensacola join Bishop Joseph N. Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the national chaplain of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, at the organization’s national convention in Jacksonville.

Courtesy Photo
Members of Bishop Gracida Council #223 of the Knights of Peter Claver and St. Felicitas Court #223 in Pensacola join Bishop Joseph N. Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the national chaplain of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, at the organization’s national convention in Jacksonville. From left to right: Mary J. Holley, Grand Lady; June Reaves; Evaline T. Jones, delegate to the convention; Bishop Perry; Marian Maxey; Thomas S. Jones, Grand Knight; and Carrie Ford.

Bishop Perry explained, “By the grace of God … for almost 100 years we’ve been able to provide education, scholarships and grants, helped the outright poor, and assisted the pastors and bishops in anyway we’ve been summoned. It is a highlight for me to see so many African-American Catholics feel ownership and participation in their church. In this association, they can make the most difference. They love their church and their faith overflows.”

The convention schedule featured many education and enrichment sessions for attendees, including technology and computer workshops. Organizers also ran a health fair, featuring information on sickle-cell anemia and other topics of special relevance to African-Americans.

Pamela Anderson, assistant to the executive vice president of U.S. operations for Catholic Relief Services, addressed the assembly regarding the agency’s domestic programs promoting international social justice and solidarity with the poor and marginalized. Participants also held meetings to share their Claverite activities across the country.

The younger side of the organization was also present at the convention in the form of the Junior Knights and Ladies, which prepares children and teens to assume leadership in the senior organization. Yvonne Nellum, vice-Grand Lady of St. Peter Claver Court 379 and a parishioner at St. Peter Claver Parish in Tampa, was most energized by “the emerging leaders in the organization and the roles they were given to play at the convention so that they can take over,” she said. “They are being groomed in such a loving atmosphere for them to develop. It was inspiring in this day and age, when we have so much negativity, to see such ability.”

Both youth leadership and vocation formation were particularly relevant to William Sands, Grand Knight of Knights of Peter Claver Council 352, which meets at St. Andrew Parish in Orlando. He is a parishioner at St. Augustine Parish in Casselberry. “I’m looking forward to working with the parishes, trying to reach into the high schools for junior Knights and Ladies, so that they can carry the mission forward another hundred years into the future,” Sands shared. “We want to see if we can get young men and young ladies to become priests and religious. The bishops are emphasizing the need.”

Thomas S. Jones has been a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Pensacola for 60 years – he went to school there, and is currently the Grand Knight of its associated Bishop Gracida Council 223. He attended the convention with his wife, Evaline T. Jones, a past Grand Lady, a delegate to the convention from St. Felicitas Court 223 and the certification coordinator for the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese. Together, they said, they shared their joy in participating through attending the meetings and in their interactions with different people.

Thomas Jones was also struck by the need for vocations. “Bishop Perry spoke about ways we can get more black priests – we need to guide our youths into the priesthood.”

Evaline Jones found the order’s charitable contributions awarded at the convention most uplifting. More than $40,000 was awarded to various charities, with $5,000 remaining in Jacksonville, $4,000 to the National Kidney Foundation of Florida and $1,000 to the Clara White Mission for the homeless.

“We brought all the items you would bring to a baby shower to be given to unwed pregnant mothers, and toys and teddy bears for children with cancer or HIV/AIDS. The whole process is amazing. I’ve gone to so many conventions, but I just love this organization,” she said.

At the banquet Monday evening, Florida’s participation in the order was acknowledged with the presentation of the award for National Grand Lady of the Year to Holley, “recognizing leadership, outstanding contributions and accomplishments exhibited to the church, charity, community and the noble order,” according to official documents.

Holley was previously lauded as “Gulf Coast District Lady of the Year” at a district conference May 2 in Biloxi, Miss.

“It is inspiring seeing where we’re moving and changing in a positive direction. We’re incorporating the information age and embodying our youths because they are our future,” said Holley.

Athanese Jones, a fourth–generation Claverite, former executive director of the national organization, is the current Gulf Coast district deputy, convention committee chairman and Grand Knight of the Msgr. Walter J. Darcy Council 335 of St. Pius V Parish in Jacksonville. He was presented with the Silver Medal of Merit which recognizes his significant and outstanding contributions to the good of the order, the church and community, as well as for outstanding Catholic leadership.

For Athanese Jones, the Mass on Sunday was also the highlight of the convention. “It was the first convention Bishop Galeone could attend and it was impressive. The media has been so supportive. This has been a keynote event to show the public what we’re about.”

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