ST. JOHN – A local member of the Knights of Columbus has stepped up to a state leadership position bringing skills learned as an Army combat medic and a “blue collar know-how” geared toward giving brother knights what they need to succeed.
Patrick Glavan, 39, is a fourth degree knight and member of the Abraham Lincoln assembly 235. The St. John resident and St. Michael the Archangel of Schererville parishioner accepted a nomination as the master of the Indiana District for members of the K of C rank that emphasizes patriotism and civic engagement.
“I’m here not as your boss, but as a resource,” Glavan said during a recent informal gathering of brother Knights. “I want to give you the tools.”
Knights of Columbus vice supreme master Michael McDougle of the Father Sorin Province, which encompasses Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia, appointed Glavan to start in the state leadership capacity effective Sept. 1.
Glavan grew up in the Chicago South Side neighborhood he affectionately calls “the 10th Ward.” Beginning as a member of the Eastside-based Trinity Council 3755, he joined the Griffith-based Marquette council 3631 when he moved to Indiana in 2018. He ascended to leadership roles including as a former grand knight within the third degree, which emphasizes charity, unity and fraternity.
Tim Jevyak of Munster’s Monsignor Weis Council 10596 will fill Glavan’s vacated role as faithful navigator among members of the local fourth degree. The St. Thomas More parishioner and past grand knight of his council said his brother knight’s selection as master is a “feather in the cap” of area members.
“This is quite an honor for us as an assembly," said Jevyak, noting that most masters have come from downstate.
Jevyak said Glavan’s youthful leadership could help the K of C as it faces the challenges of maintaining membership, “(We should) let people know we’re relevant.”
He also said new leadership must resolve thorny issues such as the organization’s move to prohibit the wearing of traditional fourth degree regalia such as decorated hats and capes. The men now appear in public settings in more business-like suits and sport berets. “It hasn’t worked out,” Jevyak said.
“It's not going to be easy, but I wish Pat God’s success,” Jevyak said. “Pat is obviously somebody who is well suited for the job.”
Those assessments of Glavan’s leadership skills are shared by his longtime neighborhood friend Michael Ticich, who also moved to Indiana and is a member of the same third- and fourth-degree groups.
“Pat is a man who leads by example and is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the work necessary to not only get a task done, but also to inspire others to work alongside him,” said Ticich.
Glavan’s six years of service as a frontline combat medic in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring freedom, a theater in the U.S. War on Terrorism, has drawn the praise of those who serve and work with him.
David Negrete, color corps commander and faithful admiral for assembly 235 wrote that Glavan is very modest about his military accomplishments, though “He looks like a lopsided Christmas tree when he wears his service ribbons.
“I’m extremely proud of (Glavan) for what he has done for God and country,” Negrete added.
From a Boy Scout to a soldier to a knight, Glavan has retained a respect for civic duty, traditions and an overall sense that “everything is earned.” In the home-based medical products distribution business he has built since he became a civilian, which he likened to a “Geek Squad for hospitals," he hopes to help those dealing with wound care issues.
When Glavan was a senior at St. Francis DeSales High School in Chicago, he witnessed the attacks of 9-11 on television in a history classroom. He said he and others initially could not believe their eyes. Though not many of his friends spoke of joining the military he focused on the timely opportunity to serve his country.
On his tours in Afghanistan, he had to redouble his efforts to keep perspective in hostile areas where he administered life-saving medical care amid live-fire situations.
“War is hard to prepare for because situations can evolve so quickly. We had a cynical joke that regardless of the situation, it could always get worse,” he said.
Glavan said that for a young man whose faith “wasn’t as strong in boot camp,” a vocation fraught with daily emergencies and thoughts of one’s own mortality helped him learn to depend on God’s assistance.
“Our faith tells us that God is always there; he is all knowing … I’m not saying don’t pray otherwise, but in some situations, that’s the only option,” he explained.
The father of two young boys, Glavan said his prayer life has developed into three main categories: thanksgiving, guidance and help. “I ask God to make me the best man I can be for my family.”
Just weeks into his new role with the K of C fourth degree, Glavan has already identified facets of the organization that he’s willing to travel the state to advocate for further investment. He singled out veterans’ causes, youth scholarships and combating human trafficking.
Though there are a cornucopia of concerns, Glavan said he has developed a patience to see things along step by step.
“I’m more of a day-by-day guy – I do the best in the job that’s put in front of me," he said.
Glavan believes what is true in the military is true for other organizations. There are difficult people and difficult situations to contend with but there’s nothing better than a unified front and a sense of brotherhood.
“(Knights) are a family; we’re there for each other. It’s important that we act in a cohesive fashion,” said Glavan.
Caption: Fourth degree Knights of Columbus member Patrick Glavan (left) holds the casket cover during funeral services for Bishop Dale J. Melczek on Aug. 29, 2022 at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. Glavan, a St. John resident and member of the Abraham Lincoln assembly 235, was appointed on Sept. 1 as the master of the Indiana district, leading men of the fourth degree throughout the state. (Northwest Indiana Catholic file photo)