Did You Know that……..

as a Knight of da Gama, you ……

become a member of a brotherhood of Catholic men. The Order aims to train its members to be better Christians who, by their action and example, will contribute to the spread of the Kingdom of Christ on earth.

There are around 1500 members who are organised into around 40 local groups, known as councils, throughout South Africa.

 In these local councils you can participate in a variety of activities –

1. You can participate in spiritual activities within the brotherhood, which include rosaries, home masses, corporate masses, retreats, prayer campaigns and improving knowledge of our faith.

2. You will make many new friends in the Order, people you can count on in times of need as well as in good times.

3. You can participate with your wife and family in a wide variety of social and sporting activities. These range from caravanning and camping to golf, hiking and braais at members’ homes.

4. As a knight you can work closely with your parish priests in a wide variety of ways including serving as ministers of the Eucharist, readers, collectors, ushers, pastoral council members, etc.

5. You can help many deserving charities in communities in your area and throughout South Africa by raising funds and offering your time and talents.

6. You can participate in Brotherline if you are out-of-work or can help fellow brothers and their families to find employment.

7. You become a member of the family death benefit scheme that provides immediate cash to your widow in the event of your death.

8. You can obtain insurance at competitive rates through the Knights Insurance Brokers who have saved the Catholic Church significant sums in insurance costs.

9. You can attend, or help present, public speaking courses given by knights to members of the Order as well as to high school students, equipping them to present themselves well in their future careers and social occasions.

10. You will be able to take part in actions and campaigns of a regional and national nature in addition to the projects individually chosen in your particular area.

11. You can participate when the Order assists the bishops at both diocesan and national levels. Projects have included the visit of Pope John Paul II to South Africa, the Right to Live campaign, and other projects where help is needed. In certain councils the knights organise the clergy medical aid and homes for women in distress.

12. “Put Christ Back into Christmas” campaign has succeeded in making available reasonably priced Christmas cards with a real Christmas picture and message. Nativity scenes are erected in public places and banners and posters remind everyone of the true spiritual meaning of Christmas. Crib scene booklets are given to children to colour in. Knights organise Carols by Candlelight in many parts of the country.

13. Care of the Aged projects are developed to assist older people to retire gracefully in the secure knowledge that, for the rest of their lives, they will be cared for. Alan Woodrow Park homes are in Boksburg, Welkom and Brakpan. Knights also assist homes in many other parts of the country.

14. The Order supports the Catholic Bishops’ Right to Live Campaign, which aims to fight abortion and to provide alternatives.

15. Toys for Happiness has brought joy at Christmas and at other times to less fortunate children.

But the Order is even wider than a national organisation. You become a member of the world-wide International Alliance of Catholic Knights which has fraternal orders of knights in Africa, America, the British Isles, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. All these orders have the common aim of assisting the Church and its members to live as better Christians throughout the world.

For further information contact the Secretariat