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 | By One Voice Staff

Love of God and Country

Bishop Raica Invested as a Knight Commander of the Fleur De Lis

On Sept. 8, Bishop Steven Raica stepped away from his office to take a short walk across the street to the Cathedral of St. Paul. Upon entering the Cathedral, he was greeted by members of the Order of the Fleur de Lis ready to invest their newest Knight Commander. The Order’s Grand Chancellor, Gerard Thomas, from the Archdiocese of New Orleans conducted the ceremony.

During his investiture, Bishop Raica pledged to “defend the constitution of the United States,” to fulfill his “duties as a Catholic by ever affording an example of good citizenship,” and to “render full and complete obedience to the Holy Father when he speaks as Vicar of Christ on earth.”

Founded in 1966 by a Louisiana group of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, the Order of the Fleur de Lis is a Catholic men's service organization active in the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee with the mission of promoting love of God and country. The not-for-profit organization encourages public morality, unselfish service to God and country, and support and defense of the Catholic Church.

Membership to open to all lay men as well as priests and deacons; however, a current member must submit a name for nomination, which first goes through a selection process then final approval by the Board of Governors. All bishops in states which the organization is active are automatically accepted once they request membership. Although not a requirement, most members are also Knights of Columbus. Investitures occur in odd-numbered years with lay membership set at a maximum of 70 members and no limit to the number of clergy Knight Commanders.