• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Father James Bors, left, associate pastor, and Father Stephen Hook, pastor, try their hand at the St. Jane Frances De Chantal axe throwing event sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Sept. 26, 2022, in Pasadena. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Bullseye: Men fling axes in Anne Arundel County to step up faith

September 26, 2022
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Knights of Columbus, Local News, News

RIVIERA BEACH – The moment the axe left Bob Uhl’s hand, there was no question where it would land. Hurtling through the air, after a rotation or two, it hit with a loud thwack right in the center of a large wooden board.

Bullseye.

“That was my satisfying throw,” said Uhl, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Chesapeake in Lake Shore. “It made my day. I didn’t know how to do it right, but I managed somehow to get one in the middle.”

Bob Hubbard III, scored a convincing 96 points to win the St. Jane Frances De Chantal axe throwing event sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Sept. 26 in Pasadena. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Uhl was one of more than 70 men from Our Lady of the Chesapeake and St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Riviera Beach who gathered for a night of axe throwing and log splitting Sept. 24 at St. Jane Frances.

Sponsored by two area councils of the Knights of Columbus, the friendly competition was designed to give men a fun experience and also introduce them to the Knights’ “Into the Breach” video discussion series that encourages Catholic men to take their faith more seriously.

Father James Bors, associate pastor of the pastorate of Our Lady of the Chesapeake and St. Jane Frances, noted that even before the Knights announced the event, 40 men signed up just through word of mouth.

“We’re just praying that the Holy Spirit works at full force here among the men,” said Father Bors, who was ordained to the priesthood this year. “We know that when we can get the men back into the parish, the whole family comes.”

A.J. Monaco, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park, gave a testimonial about how the Into the Breach series makes a difference in men’s lives, touching on issues related to spirituality, evangelization, spiritual warfare, family prayer and more. His parish has featured small group discussions among men who watch the series, an approach that will be duplicated by the Our Lady of the Chesapeake/St. Jane Frances pastorate when its Into the Breach discussion series launches in October.

“We were able to develop our fraternity and bring guys in and then pray together,” Monaco said, “which is something Catholic men don’t tend to do.”

Following the isolation of the coronavirus pandemic, Monaco said men are hungry for fraternity and fellowship.

Families from St. Jane Frances De Chantal in Riviera Beach enjoy roasting marshmallows during the axe throwing event sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Sept. 26, 2022. Family movie night followed in the evening for the parishioners from St. Jane and Our Lady of the Chesapeake in nearby Lake Shore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“We need to be with each other,” he said. “We need to pray together. We need to help each other. It’s a cornerstone of our faith.”

Monaco said events such as the axe-throwing and log-splitting competition are “exactly what the doctor ordered.”

“I think this is a great way for people to just talk and get together and be around like-minded people,” he said. “So it’s a great start.”

Steve Quigley, Grand Knight of the Monsignor Raymond Kelly Council of the Knights of Columbus at St. Jane Frances de Chantal, said the targets were built by one of local Knights using repurposed materials recovered from a local axe house. Members of the Knights worked together to get the event organized and staffed, even fire-roasting hot dogs and S’mores. Families also enjoyed a showing of “Sing 2,” an animated feature movie. 

Quigley noted that it’s a misconception that the Knights of Columbus is only for older men. College councils are totally made up of young men, he said, and his own council includes men of different generations.

“We have guys who’ve been in the Knights for 50 years, and we have guys that have only been in the Knights for six months who are very active,” he said. “I think you build that fraternity and you become friends with guys, and then you want to spend time with them and you never let them down.”

Bob Hubbard III, a former Eagle Scout from St. Jane Frances, was the victor in the axe-throwing competition, earning a total of 96 points. 

Kevin J. Parks contributed to this story. 

Email George P. Matysek Jr. at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Read More Knights of Columbus

Knights’ novena marks 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate, includes Archbishop Lori’s prayer

Archbishop Lori sees resilience in Ukraine, helps distribute Knights’ aid

Pilgrims, including Maryland family, walk ‘in the footsteps’ of Blessed Michael McGivney

Overturning of Roe provides ‘chance to win fight for life,’ says top Knight

Knights honor family of year, present inaugural Blessed McGivney Medal

Online exhibit shows links between Knights of Columbus and baseball

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: Dining with the Saints
  • Fire guts historic Catholic school in parish connected to St. John Neumann
  • Sister Elizabeth Ellen Kane, O.S.F., dies at 81
  • Legendary communist-era priest, Father Blachnicki, was murdered, Polish authorities confirm

| Latest Local News |

Catholic Charities’ William J. McCarthy Jr. named Loyola’s Business Leader of the Year

Sister Joan Cooper, O.S.F., dies at 94

Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history

| Latest World News |

Vatican envoy warns UN General Assembly racism mutating and ‘reemerging’ globally

‘We all need to do more’: House hearing demands action over Nicaragua regime’s anti-Catholic persecution

Notre Dame Cathedral reopening date announced as reconstruction on its famous spire wraps up in eastern France

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • An invitation from God
  • Vatican envoy warns UN General Assembly racism mutating and ‘reemerging’ globally
  • ‘We all need to do more’: House hearing demands action over Nicaragua regime’s anti-Catholic persecution
  • Notre Dame Cathedral reopening date announced as reconstruction on its famous spire wraps up in eastern France
  • AI and the meaning of life: Tech industry turns to religious leaders
  • Movie Review: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4, a festival of fatality’
  • Pope calls European bishops to be prophetic voices for peace
  • En la frontera de México y EE.UU., defensores de migrantes que buscan asilo hacen un llamado a la acción
  • At U.S.-Mexico border, migrants’ advocates call for action on U.S. asylum policy

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED