What Are The Squires?
Membership in the Columbian Squires means many things to many people. To some it means being a part of a worldwide organization of young Catholic men, and to others it means being part of a small parish ir community youth group. Some look upon their membership as a chance to change the world through volunteer involvement in the Church and the community; and others look upon membership as a way they can simply help their pastor, neighbour, school or parish.
Being a member of the Columbian Squires means all of these things and more. It means being a leader -- someone who knows what to do and when to do it. Sometimes, it means showing others the way, and at other times following their lead.
Actively participating in programs, serving as an officer, making decisions, attending meetings and conventions -- these are the things Columbian Squires do.
"How did the Squires get started?"
At the annual meeting of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus held in Atlantic City in August, 1922, the Most Reverend Thomas J. Walsh, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, made a plea to the Knights of Columbus to enter the field of boy work. He said, "If the Knights of Columbus will take care of the growing boy, then the boy grown into manhood will take care of not only the Knights of Columbus, but of the Church and the nation as well." The sincerity and urgency of the archbishop's request prompted the Supreme Knight James A. Flaherty to name a special committee headed by the then Deputy Supreme Knight, Martin H. Carmody to study the feasibility of organizing a junior order.
At about the same time that the Knights were setting up their special committee, Brother Barnabas McDonald, FSC, a Christian Brother regarded by many to be an expert in the field of youth apostolate, was working on a proposition for the Knights of Columbus to become involved in the field of boy welfare. Brother Barnabas' plan included the formation of an elite group of boy leaders as the junior organization of the Knights of Columbus. His plan was brought to the attention of the Knights' special committee, which eagerly approved the proposal and recommended its adoption at the June, 1923 meeting of the Board of Directors. This recommendation was formally adopted at the Supreme Council meeting in Montreal in August, 1923.
Two years later, on August 4, 1925, the first Columbian Squires circle -- Duluth Circle 1, Duluth, Minnesota -- was instituted in ceremonies that highlighted the Knights of Columbus annual convention. In the years to follow, the program experienced widespread and rapid growth. Circles were instituted throughout the United States, in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine Islands. Today there are over 22,000 young Catholic men between the ages of 10 and 18 holding membership in and participating in the programs of approximately 1,000 Columbian Squires circles.
What is a Circle?
Squires are organized into units or groups called "circles" which are sponsored by either a Knights of Columbus council or assembly. (A minimum of ten young men is needed to form a circle.) The sponsoring council or assembly provides a meeting location for the circle. Responsibility for the conduct of the circle is retained by the sponsoring council's advisory board which consists of the council's Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Chaplain. In the case of an assembly, the advisory board consists of the Faithful Navigator, Faithful Captain and Faithful Prior.
Each circle has four elected officers and four appointed ones. The circle's presiding officer is the Chief Squire. The other officers are: Deputy Chief Squire, Notary and Bursar who are elected each June, and the Marshall, Sentry, Arm Captain and Pole Captain who are all appointed by the Chief Squire. The Chief Squire also appoints the chairmen of the Spiritual, service, Circle and Membership Activities committees. Another circle officer is the Father Prior, who must be a priest. He is appointed by the Grand Knight of the sponsoring council or by the Faithful Navigator of the sponsoring assembly.
The Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services at the Knights of Columbus office in New Haven, Connecticut helps to spur growth and create unity between Squires circles by planning and promoting Orderwide campaigns. The Department of Fraternal Services also publishes the monthly SQUIRES NEWSLETTER, which helps keep every Squires, Counsellor, and Knights of Columbus leader informed of programs and activities. The Supreme Council office also provides hadnbooks and training aides to the local council leadership and membership to help develop the full potential of each member and every circle.
The Squires emblem symbolizes the ideals which identify a squire.
Centred in a circle and on a Maltese cross with the letters "P", "I",
"S", and "C" (which symbolize the unity of physical, intellectual,
spiritual, and civic life in a squire) are the larger letters "C,"
representing Christ, "S," the Squires, and "K," the Knights of
Columbus by whom the Squires program is sponsored. The Squires
motto "Esto Dignus" is Latin for "Be Worthy".
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