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Cathedral Council honors Bishop Loverde

Mike Flach | Catholic Herald

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde accepts a pectoral cross from Cathedral Council Grand Knight John Knox April 16 at The Portofino Restaurant.

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Bishop Loverde (center) is surrounded by Virginia state officers of the Knights of Columbus and diocesan priests during the April 16 dinner in his honor at The Portofino Restaurant in Arlington.

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The Knights of Columbus hold a special place in the heart of
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde. Not only has he been a
Knight for 40 years, but he served as state chaplain both in
New York while he served in Ogdensburg and for the last 17
years as bishop of Arlington.

The Knights showed their appreciation for the bishop’s
loyalty when they hosted a dinner April 16 at the Portofino
Restaurant in Crystal City and presented him with a new
pectoral cross. Among those in attendance were many Grand
Knights from councils across the diocese, as well as State
Deputy Stephen Raschke from the Richmond Diocese.

Grand Knight John Knox of Cathedral Council No. 6790 hosted
the celebration. Father Robert J. Rippy, cathedral rector and
chaplain of the Cathedral Council, served as master of
ceremonies. Past Grand Knights Larry Cerruti and Kerry Gorton
helped organize the event.

Father Rippy read letters of congratulation from Batlimore
Archbishop Willaim E. Lori, supreme chaplain, and Archbishop
Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military
Services.

“Over the past 17 years as the bishop of Arlington, Bishop
Loverde has taught us all how to be the best Catholics and
the best Knights we can be, fully honoring his motto of
‘Encourage and Teach with Patience,'” said Knox. “For the
past 50 years of his priesthood, Bishop Loverde has been
called many things – friend, teacher, father – but most of
all we are proud to call him our brother Knight.”

“I still can’t understand why God called me to be a bishop,”
said Bishop Loverde. It has been a privilege and a challenge
to be a bishop for 28 years, the last 17 as shepherd of the
Arlington Diocese, he said.

“You belong to an order committed to the church,” the bishop
told his fellow Knights. “I can say as a testimony wherever I
have been, the Knights of Columbus have been such a stalwart
for the church in so many ways,” promoting vocations, helping
families, young people and those with disabilities.

“I am proud to be a Knight and honored to be state chaplain,”
he said. “I treasure what you do for the church.”

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