The
Strong Right Arm of the Church
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old parish priest,
Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New
Haven, Connecticut. Today, more than a century later, the Knights of
Columbus has become the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church.
In Solidarity With Our Bishops and
Priests
The Order has been called "the strong right arm of the Church", and has been
praised by popes, presidents, and other world leaders, for support of the
Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic
involvement, and aid to those in need. As recently as 1992, Mother Teresa of
Calcutta praised the Knights in a speech on the occasion of her reception of
the
first Knights of Columbus Gaudium et Spes Award.
Thanks to the inspired work of Father
McGivney-as well as that of millions of other Knights over the past
century-the Knights of Columbus now stands at its pinnacle of membership,
benefits, and service. Currently, there are over 1.6 million Knights of
Columbus-more than ever before in our Order's history. Together with their
families, the Knights are nearly 6 million strong. In addition, from the
first local council in New Haven, the Order has grown to more than 12,000
councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico,
Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam,
and Saipan. Each year, the Order continues this strong growth.
Volunteer Service and Insurance
As the Order has grown, its benevolence has multiplied. The Order continues
to break all previous records for charitable contributions and volunteer
service. In the past decade, the Knights donated nearly $1 billion to
numerous charitable causes and nearly 400 million hours of volunteer
service. In 1999 alone, the Knights donated nearly $109 million and 55
million volunteer hours to charitable causes.
Father McGivney's founding vision for the
Order also included establishing a life insurance program to provide for the
widows and orphans of deceased members. The Order's insurance program has
expanded substantially to serve more effectively the Knights' growing
membership. Year after year, the Knights of Columbus has earned the highest
possible quality ratings for financial soundness from A.M. Best and Standard
& Poor's. The Order provides the highest quality insurance and annuity
products to its members, along with many other fraternal benefits.
Charity,
Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism
Knights of Columbus are Catholic gentlemen committed to the
exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defense of
the priesthood. The Order is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The
Order is unequivocal in its loyalty to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on
earth. It is firmly committed to the protection of human life, from
conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defense of the
family. It was on these bedrock principles that the Order was founded over a
century ago and remains true to them today.
If you want to join this great organization of Catholic men, it is likely
that there is a local council near you. There you will find brother Knights
working to fulfill the central mission of the Order: striving in charitable
works; serving the Church and unified in following its teachings; supporting
brother Knights in their temporal and spiritual needs; acting for the good
of their country; and giving aid to widows, orphans, the sick and the poor.
This is Father McGivney's dream, echoing across the century, and living
today in the hearts of his brothers and all of those they touch. Vivat
Jesus!