District Master: Blake Krass
Our Lady of Guadalupe Province
We are the Sixth Texas District of the Knights of Columbus Patriotic Degree. We belong to Our Lady of Guadalupe Province which includes both Texas and Oklahoma. The district is led by a District Master who reports to the Vice Supreme Master of the Province. The Vice Supreme Master in turn reports to the Supreme Master who oversees the Patriotic Degree worldwide.
The Patriotic Degree
There are four Degrees in our Order, each with its own core principle.
- You now know about the first three: Charity, Unity, and Fraternity (CUF).
- The Patriotic Degree is obtained via a separate Exemplification of Patriotism.
- Knights who have completed this exemplification are known as “Sir Knights”.
Sir Knights belong to Assemblies in addi<on to Councils.
- A member must be in good standing in his Council to join and remain in an Assembly.
- Assemblies have their own officers, hold their own mee?ngs, and collect their own dues.
- Assembly officers have different titles than Council officers and fall under a different hierarchy.
- The Our Lady of Guadalupe Province includes six Districts in Texas and one in Oklahoma.
- Texas District 6 covers the Diocese of Austin, with 28 active Assemblies across the ~85 Councils.
- Assemblies are not merely extensions of Councils nor are they compe?tors to Councils.
The Patriotic Degree has a distinctive uniform.
- The Patrioc Degree is called the visible arm of our Order because of the uniform.
- Sir Knights start with a dark suit plus a lapel pin. They can purchase a social baldric.
- They can buy the uniform (navy blazer, charcoal pants, special tie, and black beret) later.
- They can also add the sword package (service baldric, sword & scabbard, and gloves) later.
Assembly actvites are separate from Council ones.
- We “fall out” in the uniform on various occasions. Examples:
- Visitations and funerals of priests, deacons, Sir Knights, and some others.
- Special events, ordinations, special Masses (e.g. the Chrism Mass), etc.
- Postng colors and participating in marches or parades, e.g. the January March for Life.
- We may present gifts such as chalices to priests in memory of deceased Sir Knights.
- We may engage in other local activities, such as holding fundraisers, supporting seminarians, etc.
Exemplification of Patriotism
- We hold 3-4 exemplifications per year, hosted by Assemblies within the Diocese of Austin.
- We announce exemplifications a few weeks ahead of time. Check the Events page for the latest information.