Name: Dale and Mary Flamand
Age: Dale, 69; Mary, 68
Parish: Christ the King Church
City: Little Rock
Family: Three sons; five grandchildren
Why you want to know Dale and Mary: Dale Flamand has been the Culture of Life chairman for the Knights of Columbus in Arkansas since 2010, when his family moved to Arkansas. Dale and his wife, Mary, have been instrumental in working in the Knights of Columbus and in pro-life groups and organizations across the state for the past 14 years. Together, the two have attended marches and walks and raised money for a Safe Haven Baby Box and a mobile pregnancy resource center, among other activities.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What feeds you spiritually?
Mary: Just knowing God’s word.
Dale: I think trying to get us to be as good of a disciple as possible. As a Knight and as a Respect Life couple, we’re asked to lead, but I think it’s more about following Jesus, trying to keep what his vision of our lives should be. I think that’s what keeps us going squarely.
How did you get involved with the Knights of Columbus?
Dale: I’m a convert, and you know us converts — we just go crazy after becoming Catholic. … all of a sudden, you want to get so involved in everything. I had a really good RCIA sponsor (when I converted in 2004), and he said don’t do anything for the first two years. Just let it all settle in and see what you want to do. After about two years, a Knight asked me, “Hey, did you ever think about the Knights of Columbus?” So I got involved back in Michigan at our parish there.
How did you get involved in the pro-life side of the Knights of Columbus?
Dale: I wasn’t as involved when we lived in Michigan. When we (moved to Little Rock and started attending Christ the King), there were two ladies in the lobby, and they were trying to get men to come out for the 40 Days for Life for the evening hours. They asked if I would like to take the and six o’clock hours, and I said yes. That’s when I got started in pro-life work in Little Rock 14 years ago.
Knights work very closely with their wives. Tell me a little more about some of the things you’ve participated in and helped with.
Mary: It made me step outside the box. How many times have I been down at Planned Parenthood, praying out in front? Which I never thought in the past that I would ever do something like that. A lot of people believe it’s the right thing to do, but it’s hard for people to do — we know that when we try to have people come out and stand with us. It’s not something easy that people want to do. So I’ve done that a lot. I’m always in the background. I like to do the 40 Days for Life and the Life Chain, which is also not easy. There’s a lot of ridicule from people, too, as you’re standing out there. You have to be pretty strong. We’ve worked at the State Fair as a couple, helping Rose Mimms with the Arkansas Right to Life booth on the last day of the fair.
Dale: The Procession for Life, which we think would be great for the community to get out and do something. It’s not as intimidating as standing out in front of Planned Parenthood, but that would be something to get more involved. Oct. 6, the Eucharistic Procession for Life, I hope everyone comes. It’s an outward statement of our inward beliefs that life is the most precious gift that God could give us. Christ is going to lead the march. What’s better than that?
What is something that you wish other Catholics knew about abortion?
Mary: It’s important to “be not afraid,” but even from what I’ve heard and talking to different people and different religions, they do not really understand what abortion is. I think we need to educate, even in the Church. We just read a poll from Pew when Ohio passed an abortion amendment there that 59 percent of Catholics believe in abortion. That’s a big problem. You don’t expect that even in our Church. I think that we need more education in our churches, because people don’t really understand that the world has fed them a different version here. And I think we need to help get that out.
— Katie Zakrzewski
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Publish date : 2024-10-02 20:15:00
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