September 2018 will mark 35 years since the establishment of the Knights of Columbus Foreign Mission Fund (FMF) and a truly remarkable record of support to seminarians and religious in foreign missions, particularly India. And with many Indian priests now serving PEI Parishes, the modest aspirations of the project in 1983 have come full circle. The FMF began by helping the seminarians in India and now graduates of these same seminaries serve throughout the Diocese of Charlottetown.
In the past 35 years over 100 seminarians and 100 aspirants (religious sisters) have received support through to graduation and ordination. In 2018 the FMF is supporting 30 seminarians at three seminaries in India. This financial support covers all costs for education and room & board. The FMF provides this support from the earnings of a capital fund that has been built up over the past 35 years.
The FMF is administered by a Board of Knights of Columbus members from across PEI. Current President Ralph Dunn is delighted with the support of Brother Knights like the members shown above. Together with his executive and advisors, Fr. Augustine Ignasimuthu and Fr. Raju Chebattina, President Dunn has guided the FMF over the past several years to the point where 5 or 6 seminarians are ordained annually in India. On a recent visit to India, Bishop Richard Grecco visited one of the supported seminaries and met with recently ordained priests assisted by the FMF. Bishop Grecco was pleased to witness first hand the fruit borne from the efforts of the PEI Knights of Columbus.
Donations in support of our mission are always appreciated. And as a charitable organization registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, all donations will receive a tax receipt. The FMF mailing address is P.O. Box 3055, Charlottetown, PE C1A 1N9.
The Knights of Columbus of PEI 