St. Peter Chanel Assembly 3098 – Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Lubbock, TX
Patrick Wallace ~ Faithful Navigator
806.544.9993
Assembly3098@gmail.com
The St. Peter Chanel Assembly of 4th Degree Knights was founded in 2008 with Dr. Brad Brooks serving as the first Faithful Navigator. The Assembly was named after St. Peter Chanel, a Marist priest and martyr. Two of the glass windows in the main sanctuary at Holy Spirit church commemorate Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, and St. Peter Chanel.
The Knights of Columbus began to develop its 4th Degree for Patriotism in 1898 (sixteen years after the Order was founded) just before the Spanish-American War. The Catholic bishops of America at first opposed the war, but after it began, the Church announced its patriotic allegiance and many K of C members enlisted in the military. Introduction of the 4th Degree did a great deal to counter the anti-Catholic propaganda of the era, which falsely claimed that allegiance of American Catholics to the pope would lead to treason against the United States. The first members of the Patriotic Degree were inducted at New York City in 1900.
The title of the chief officer is Faithful Navigator.
Anthony Rodriguez ~ Faithful Navigator ~ 2012
David Gonzales ~ Faithful Navigator ~ 2014
Cruz Delgado ~ Faithful Navigator ~ 2016
Marty Ledesma ~ Faithful Navigator ~ 2017
Patrick Wallace ~ Faithful Navigator ~ 2022
The 4th Degree is distinguished from the other three degrees in that 4th Degree members belong to an Assembly in addition to a Council. Extra dues are levied upon Assembly members. Also, the Assembly members alone wear the formal uniform designed to depict knighthood. The standard uniform consists of a tuxedo worn under a color-lined cape (the color of the lining indicates the knight’s rank), a Social Baldric with the 3rd Degree insignia displayed, a sword, a plumed hat with the 4th Degree insignia displayed, and white gloves. A small bust of Columbus adorns the tip of the sword handle. The 4th Degree Color Corps is the most visible arm of the Order. These Knights of Columbus escort bishops, priests, and other dignitaries during worship services and parades.
In 1952 members of the 4th Degree K of C were among the first to champion the inclusion of the “under God” phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance. Other fraternal societies joined the Knights and petitioned Congress to include the phrase in the Pledge. The Knights of Columbus have been on the front lines opposing recent attempts in the courts to remove “under God” from the Pledge.