For over 130 years the Knights of Columbus has provided opportunities for service, support, and stability for its members. It’s not just a fraternity in name. It’s a brotherhood of Catholic men who each play a part in improving the world around them, one community at a time. They stand together in faith, dedicated to uphold the principles they cherish while lending their support and strength to parish, home, and fellow Knight.
From charity for worldwide causes, to helping closer to home with volunteer activities, to a top-rated insurance program that protects those closest to you, the Knights makes the most of its brotherhood. Make a stand among them, and you can discover how easy it is to make a difference in your life and that of others.
To learn more about the Knights of Columbus, please visit www.kofc.org.
Fr. Michael Joseph McGivney
The Knights of Columbus were founded by Father Michael J. McGivney, an American Catholic priest in New Haven, Connecticut, on Feb. 6, 1882 with a mission of charity.
In the late 1800s, discrimination against American Catholics was widespread. Many Catholics struggled to find work and ended up in inferno-like mills. An injury or death of the wage earner would leave the family penniless.
Called to action in 1882 by his sympathy for these suffering people, Fr. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus to help save families from the indignity of destitution. From its uncertain beginnings, when Fr. McGivney was the only person willing to work towards its success, it has grown into an international membership of over 1.9 million members, and he has left a legacy of hope still celebrated around the world.
Thought he was only thirty-eight when he died, Fr. McGivney has never been forgotten. He remains a true “people’s priest,” a genuinely holy man, and perhaps the most beloved parish priest in U.S. history.
Joseph Mario Reali Council 16261 