Contact: Andrew Walther, 203-752-4253, 818-522-2005 cell; Peter Sonski, 203-752-4182, 203-410-4693 cell; both with the Knights of Columbus

NASHVILLE, Aug. 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- Media coverage is welcome as more than a thousand Knights of Columbus – and their family members – come together in Nashville, TN., for the organization’s 125th annual convention. The meeting will take place Aug. 6-8 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. This is the first time Nashville has hosted the convention and the second time that it has been held in Tennessee. On the previous occasion – in 1942 – the convention was held in Memphis.

As the world’s largest lay Catholic organization, this year the Knights of Columbus is honored to host Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State – the Vatican’s highest ranking official after the pope. Convention delegates representing the organization’s 1.7 million members will come from all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces as well as from Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Poland. Approximately100 Catholic bishops from the United States, Canada, the Vatican, and throughout the world will also attend.

The following events are open to media coverage:

• Aug. 6, 2 pm - Media Briefing
  Overview of K of C history and this year’s convention events.
  
  
• Aug. 7, 9:30 am - Opening Mass*
  Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Principal Celebrant and Homilist.
  
  
• Aug. 7, 1 pm - Supreme Knight’s Report*
  A comprehensive look at KofC activity over the past year and historically.
  
  
• Aug. 7, 7:30 pm - States Dinner*
  Cardinal Bertone will receive Order’s Gaudium et Spes Award – the highest honor bestowed by the Knights of Columbus – and will make brief remarks.
  
  
• Aug 8, 7:30 pm: Dinner in honor of Cardinal Bertone (8 pm TV)*
  Cardinal Bertone will deliver a keynote address at the dinner.

* These sessions will be broadcast by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

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