Knights of Columbus Establish Blessed Karl Roundtable in Kabul, Afghanistan

Patrick Abbott, Financial Secretary to O'Boyle Council 11302 and acting Roundtable Chairman, is shown in Kabul, Afghanistan, with his image of Blessed Karl during a recent deployment.

The Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle Knights of Columbus Council 11302 has reestablished its Kabul, Afghanistan Roundtable under the name and patronage of Blessed Karl of Austria.

The Blessed Karl Kabul Roundtable acts as a satellite to the Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle Council 11302, comprised of the Washington D.C. parishes of Saint Dominic, Saint Peter's on Capitol Hill, Saint Joseph's on Capitol Hill, and Saint Vincent de Paul. The Blessed Karl Kabul Roundtable works to connect Council members from these parishes who are currently deployed in the Middle East, particularly in Kabul, Afghanistan.

New Council efforts and a patronage under Blessed Karl of Austria help emphasize the Roundtable’s work in advancing the values of Christian soldiership in the areas of peace, the family, and the love of God and neighbor. 

Currently, the Blessed Karl Kabul Roundtable works to support the following groups and communities:

The Missionaries of Charity: This group of five Sisters are engaged in the care of mentally and physically disabled children as well as abandoned, orphaned children. Currently, they have 11 children in their house and care for 321 poor families with 2066 children in the surrounding community. They are in need of any kind of donation.

PBK (Pro Bambini di Kabul): This intercongregational community is comprised of three Sisters from the following congregations: the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catharine of Siena; the Sisters of Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, and the Daughters of Saint Mary of Divine Providence (Don Guanella). They are engaged in the inclusive education of mentally disabled children and at present assist 40 children. They are in need of school supplies.

The Little Sisters of Jesus: This community of three Sisters has been active in Afghanistan since 1955 and are primarily engaged in public health services. Their mission is marked by the simple friendship that exists between persons of different religions and backgrounds. They live a contemplative religious life and work primarily in areas of division and exclusion. They are in need of financial support because they are not salaried.

Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity: Begun as a small community with 12 members in Calcutta, India, today it has grown to over 4,500 Sisters worldwide. They operate orphanages, AIDS hospices, and charity centers. They care for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor and homeless and victims of floods, epidemics and famine in Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Europe, and Australia.

Click to learn more about the Blessed Karl Kabul Roundtable and how you can help their efforts in Afghanistan.