Squires will spend the first six months of their membership in the Knights of St. Tarcisius receiving advanced server training and time in fellowship with their elder brethren, serving in the white alb, before receiving their own cassock and surplice.
The image above is of our first twelve members of the Knights of St. Tarcisius. Although indistinguishable in their cassocks and surplices, six members belonged to the Order of the Knight's Apprentice while the remaining six were Squires who were almost finished with their first year in the Knights of St. Tarcisius.
Apprentices and Squires serve together at an episcopal Mass with Abbot James Albers.
Our first six members of the Knights of St. Tarcisius completed their Knighthood Vigil Retreat on April 22, 2017. The above picture is from their Knighthood Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament.
Full Knights of St. Tarcisius also become Extraordinary Mininsters of Holy Communion. Pictured above is one such Knight acting in this role during the Thanksgiving Mass of Deacon Steve Nguyen. Note: While full Knights receive red cassocks, the local pastor preferred they continue wearing black on the altar. We believe the red reflects our martyr-patron, marks out our full Knights, and lets clergy know who is a trained EMHC.
Elige Nos! - Choose Us! Motto of the Knights of St. Tarcisius
ORDER OF THE SQUIRE The path to Knighthood begins with the Order of the Squire. Boys at the end of 8th grade who serve Mass at their parish or who are willing to be trained by the Knights of St. Tarcisius can participate in our Squire Initiation and take the Squire's Oath, making them official members of the Knights of St. Tarcisius. From this time on, they will be expected to join us for our monthly meetings currently held at St. Ann Catholic Church (Prairie Village, KS). After about six-months of formation, fellowship, and service at the Altar, they will participate in a vesting ceremony and receive their very own cassock and surplice.
Click on the button below to LEARN MORE about the requirements for becoming a Squire, the expectations of Squires, and some items that each Squire will need to obtain for our regional monthly meetings and for serving Mass with the Knights of St. Tarcisius.
ORDER OF THE KNIGHT'S APPRENTICE As our young men prepare to enter their second year in the Knights of St. Tarcisius, they participate in their next ceremony: Initiation into the Order of the Knight's Apprentice. During this ceremony the Squires pledge themselves to continued service at the Altar and begin taking on the spiritual tools of the Knight in training and preparation for full Knighthood the following year.
Click on the button below to LEARN MORE about the Order of the Knight's Apprentice.
BECOMING A KNIGHT: THE TRADITION OF THE KNIGHTHOOD VIGIL Men seeking the honor of becoming Knights in the middle ages practiced the custom of keeping an all-night vigil in preparation for their Knighthood the following morning. The Knights of St. Tarcisius keeps this tradition by having our young men participate in an all-night Knighthood Vigil Retreat. Our first retreat took place on April 21-22, 2017 and we are extremely proud of our very first full Knights of St. Tarcisius! These young men are now not only equipped to serve at Masses and Benedictions, but they are now fully trained Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and - like our patron, St. Tarcisius, equipped to bring the Eucharist to those unable to come to Mass.
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ORDER OF THE GRAND KNIGHT Each August 15 - the feast of St. Tarcisius and the Assumption of Mary - the Knights gather to honor our patron and Queen Mother as the young men beginning their fourth year in the Knights of St. Tarcisius take their final oath and become Grand Knights in the Knights of St. Tarcisius. This marks a culmination in their membership and looks ahead to living out a Catholic life as young men after high school.
Click on the button below to LEARN MORE about the highest rank of the Knights of St. Tarcisius and the arduous path towards attaining it.