STATE DEPUTY MESSAGE FOR April 2025

My Brothers in Christ,

Spring has sprung! We are now in the month of April, still in Lent but headed towards Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. We are asked to prayerfully identify areas for growth as Christian witnesses, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Jesus and serving him. May the holy hope of eternal life we receive from Christ’s sacrifice carry us through the Easter season and beyond.

March was a busy month with Spiritual retreats, ultrasound blessings, a march for life at the Capitol building in Sacramento and of course evangelizing and growing the Order. You were asked to remember our Founder on Founder’s Day and Brothers you really came through. I am so proud to call all of you my Brother. We brought in 73 new Knights on Founder’s Day weekend. Changing lives and saving lives!

Continue to prove to the world that where there is a need, there is a Knight. Continue to feed hungry families, give coats to kids, give wheelchairs to those that have the need of mobility, protect the vulnerable from disaster, and defend the unborn. When I am referred to as this all-important State Deputy, I remind the person, I am a simple servant of Christ, I ask all of you to be that servant alongside me. The Knights are known as the strong right arm of the Catholic Church. Stand with our bishops, support our priests and aid in the formation of seminarians and religious. We strengthen our own families — the domestic church — helping our brothers build strong marriages and raising faithful children. We strive to be the family’s first line of defense, encouraging men to embrace their vocation with generosity and self-sacrifice. Keep doing what we do, keep showing the world who we are and what we are. Be proud!

I’m hoping to see many of you at the Annual State Meeting/Convention in May. God bless you all.

Yours in Christ,

Jim Larson
California State Deputy

STATE CHAPLAIN MESSAGE FOR April 2025

Dear Brother Knights,

Happy Lent! How is Lenten journey? Some may feel good or some may feel not so much. Whatever we feel is not so much important. The most important is we want to respond of God’s call for deepening our faith day by day especially through prayers, fasting and almsgiving.

I invite all brothers Knight to receive mercy and healing through Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) that offered this coming 2-3 weeks before Easter. Bring your family together to receive Jesus forgiveness. Teach them to prepare this healing sacrament with good examination of conscience. As we ask God’s forgiveness, lent is a good reminder for us to forgive those have deeply hurts us in the past or in the present time. Remember Jesus words to forgive our enemies 70 times 7. Ask His grace on the cross to forgive and forget those people as Jesus forgave our sins on the cross.

Again, let us deepen our prayer life as we approach Holy Week and Easter. Mother Teresa of Calcutta remind us that not so much words to say but prayer is God’s invitation for us to slowdowns and listen to Jesus heart to heart. Let us fast not only meat on Fridays but fasting from our bad and sinful habits. Let us give our almsgiving not only for charity outside but time and care for our family at home.

May all our Lenten practices and conversion to lead us to Easter Joy and new resurrection for us. Have a blessed and joyful Easter for you and your family!

Vivat Jesus,

Rev. Budi Wardhana
State Chaplain 

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