IWKnights Corner (Bulletin Insert) for June 2, 2019

Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?

General Jeff Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa, and Lt. General Chris Cavoli, commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, are two of the highest-ranking members of the American military.

Several weekends ago, they joined the thousands of military pilgrims who traveled to Lourdes, France seeking healing and peace.

Harrigian and Cavoli were asked to join the official American delegation to the International Military Pilgrimage, Warriors to Lourdes.  Warriors to Lourdes is a program of the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.  Although the two generals are both Catholic, neither had been to Lourdes previously.  Both explained to Catholic News Agency (CNA) how their faith impacts their military career, and what the pilgrimage meant to them.

Harrigian has been in his current position for only a few weeks, but joined the Air Force in 1985 and attended the Air Force Academy.

Harrigian was unfamiliar with the story of Lourdes prior to this trip, but he said his wife taught him about the significance of the site, and thought the pilgrimage would be fruitful for the family, for a multitude of reasons.  The size and scope of the pilgrimage came as a surprise to the general, who repeatedly used the word “extraordinary” to describe the event.  Approximately 12,000 service members from about 40 countries traveled to Lourdes.

'The first thing I would say is, I didn't truly understand the breadth of all the nations that participated in this,' he said.  'And to have an opportunity to interact with the different nations, the families, the warriors, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, one that I'm not sure I truly appreciated as I read about it.'

'But now that I'm here I find it to be an extraordinary experience' he added. Part of this experience included talking to senior French military officers and members of the Italian military.

'The interaction has been extraordinary,' he said. 'It’s been a great opportunity to interact with them on a personal basis and get a sense of what Lourdes means to them as well.'

Harrigian said that he considers his Catholic faith to be an important facet that helps him maintain balance in his life and helps him with his military duties. He told CNA he is 'always praying for our troops that are deployed down-range.'"  ...

This article originally appeared on the KofC.org site – you can find the link to the entirety of this article featured on the KofC.org web site at www.IWKnights.com/bulletin or at facebook.com/IWknights9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights.

Links Related to this week’s column:

• MAY 22, 2019: GENERALS WHO MARCHED WITH 'WARRIORS'
  By Christine Rousselle of Catholic News Agency (Lourdes, France, May 22, 2019 / 12:00 pm).
  • Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa, and Lt. Gen Chris Cavoli, commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, are two of the highest-ranking members of the American military. And over the weekend, they joined the thousands of military pilgrims who traveled to Lourdes seeking healing and peace.....
    • Click here for the article.