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For the second time in the
annals of the Louisiana State Council, the annual meeting was held in 1943
at Thibodaux, La. This was the 38th annual assembly of the State Council,
May 16 and 17. The Jeffries Hotel was designated as headquarters. The
officers and delegates marched from the Lafourche Council Home to St.
Joseph's Church, where Rt. Rev. Msgr. Auguste M. Ravoire, VY, pastor, sang
the Solemn High Mass. A powerful sermon was preached by Rev. John W.
Hynes, S.J., director of laymen's retreats, stressing what Knights of
Columbus could do on the moral front during the war. Opening convention
ceremonies were held at the K.C. Home, where Grand Knight P. Davis
Martinez presided. Mayor Charles E. Delas, member of Lafourche Council,
offered greetings from the town of Thibodaux. State Deputy Zernott
responded. After a barbecue, the sessions were resumed in the Council
home, with opening prayers by State Chaplain Father Schexnayder.
The State Deputy told of the September 6, 1942,
meeting of state officers and District Deputies at the invitation of
Supreme Director Guste and with permission of the Supreme Knight, to plan
a program for the year. It was agreed to push vigorously the Five Point
Program, he said, with District Deputies urging Councils to work for
attainment of all objectives of the program. In his convention report, the
State Deputy reported 28 official visits to various Councils, reviewed the
mounting number of Catholic and civic activities among Councils, urged
furthering of boys' work, announced appointment of V. Palmer Joe,
Past State Deputy of North Carolina, as general agent for insurance,
commended the contributions of various Councils to the Catholic Student
Center fund, then reviewed the war activities of the order in the state,
and the participation of the Knights in the anniversary celebrations for
the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Lafayette.
The State Council re-adopted a resolution proposed by
Houma Council No. 1317, and previously adopted at the 1942 convention.
This called for intensified and sustained support for the work and efforts
of the Legion of Decency, and co-operation with parish priests in this
matter. The Catholic action program of Bienville General Assembly, Fourth
Degree, was also recommended and approved. The Good of the Order Committee
made a number of terse and pointed recommendations, including closer
contact with members in the armed forces, and fulfillment of obligations
in the nation's war effort.
At the election, Gerald A. Zernott, K.S.G., was re-elected
State Deputy. Three other state officers were re-elected: State Secretary
Edward A. Veillon, State Treasurer Sidney B. De Bellevue, and State
Advocate Tanos Joseph. Louis Gimbert, Jr., was chosen as State Warden.
Henry Lemmon and J. C. Chenevert were chosen as insurance delegates, and
P. Davis Martinez as associate delegate.
For its 39th annual meeting, the State Council of Louisiana
returned to Lafayette
for the fourth time, May 20 to 22, 1944. Headquarters were established at
the Evangeline Hotel. Because of war restrictions, no meeting of state
officers and District Deputies had been held during the year, so these
officers met at The Evangeline on May 20. In the evening a reception was
held for delegates and guests at Oak Grove Tavern.
A Pontifical High Mass was celebrated on Sunday morning by Rt. Rev.
Msgr. John A. Vigliero, P.A., in St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. Rt.
Rev. Msgr. A. F. Isenberg, rector of the Cathedral, gave the sermon, in
which he sounded a warning against the infiltration of Communism into this
country, and scored the abominations of Fascism. He urged Knights to be on
guard against both of them, which directed their attacks first of all
against the Church. |
