|
 On
Oct. 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of
St. Mary’s Church on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven,
Connecticut. Called together by their 29-year-old parish
priest, Father
Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society
that would one day become the world’s largest Catholic
family fraternal service organization.
Father
McGivney dedicated his life to the spiritual and physical
welfare of others, creating the Knights of Columbus to
provide insurance for the protection of widows and orphans,
and the spiritual benefit of its members and families.
Today, a growing number of schools, medical centers and
social service agencies named for him associate their work
with his charisma, and the Knights of Columbus insures the
lives of more than 1.2 million men, women and children.
But beyond
charitable works, Father McGivney wanted each Knight's heart
and mind attuned to greater love of God and his Son, both
within the Church and within the family. That is his
spiritual legacy.
Through the
Knights, Father McGivney sought to form young Catholic men
into good spouses and fathers. He has become known as
Apostle to the Young and Defender of Christian Family Life.
He saw strong families as the foundation of his parish, of
the Church and of society at large. He was convinced that
the Catholic layman had a unique role in influencing society
and promoting the values found in what Pope John Paul II has
since named the Culture of Life and Civilization of Love.
Father McGivney did not use the vocabulary of the 21st
century, but he espoused the same Gospel values that
Catholics affirm today.
Increasingly, Church leaders realize that part of Father
McGivney's spiritual genius is that nearly a century before
the Second Vatican Council addressed the important role of
the laity in the Church, Father McGivney built a way for
laymen to make a substantial and enduring contribution to
their parishes, communities and physical and spiritual
security of their families. And he saw that by doing so one
parish and community at a time, Catholic families could help
build a better world. He was a man
ahead of his time.
Click here to view a chronological history of the
Knights of Columbus and their faith in action.
Family
Activities
Take
a
look
at
what’s
happening
to
our
family
life.
Do
we
communicate?
Do
we
share?
Do
we
take
time
to
get
involved
with
each
other?
Are
there
opportunities
for
improvement?
What
is
God’s
plan
for
us?
Today’s
society
makes
it
hard
to
be a
family.
Television
takes
up a
lot
of
our
time
together.
The
hustle
and
bustle
of
business,
rushed
meals,
school,
work,
committee
meetings,
sports
and
shopping
are
cramming
our
days
and
weeks.
The
family
is
under
heavy
attack
today.
The
battle
is
largely
over
values
and
commitments.
To
survive,
the
family
needs
support.
Its
primary
source
of
strength
must
be
found
in a
growing
religious
and
parish
life.
But
it
also
can
be
helped
substantially
by
an
organization
such
as
ours.
Help
prevent
the
death
of
the
family
by
administering
preventive
medicine.
Conduct
those
programs
and
activities
which
aid
in
rebuilding
the
family
spirit
from
within,
making
it
vital
and
strong
enough
to
resist
society’s
ills.
Encourage
members
and
their
families
to
choose
as
their
model
the
Holy
Family,
copying
their
attitude
of
interdependence,
sharing
and
respect
for
authority.
Work
to
strengthen
family
life.
Nourish
wholesome
home
life
through
the
sponsorship
of
activities
involving
entire
families
on a
scheduled
and
continuing
basis.
Encourage
communications
and
routines
which
involve
family
members
within
their
own
homes
as
well
as
bringing
families
together
in
social
and
recreational
events
in
the
community.
Stimulate
togetherness
within
family
units.
There
are
many
ways
in
which
families
can
enjoy
time
together
in a
scheduled,
organized
way,
even
when
the
age
range
of
members
of
the
family
varies
widely.
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Last modified:
12/29/11
© 2007-2011 Knights of
Columbus Star of the Sea Council #371 Bayonne NJ ∙
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