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. They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of purpose and devotion to a holy cause: they vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith.

These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New World. Their efforts came to fruition when on March 29, 1882, the Connecticut state legislature officially chartered the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal benefit society. Still true to its founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity 126 years later, the Knights of Columbus has grown to the largest lay Catholic organization in the world with more than 1.7 million members.

Throughout its history, the Knights of Columbus has been an effective advocate and defender of civil and religious rights for all. The organization has also contributed billions of dollars and millions of hours of volunteer service to charity.

Just about every day Catholic laymen bound in a common association gather to advance the welfare of their Church and communities. They meet in harbor towns of Nova Scotia, suburban New Jersey, Mexican cities and Philippine villages. Some will help families pay off huge medical bills or secure aid for disaster victims. Others will help finance Catholic schools or independent living for people with disabilities. More will organize nutrition programs for disadvantaged children or prayer services for an end to abortion.

They are the Knights of Columbus, the legacy of Father Michael J. McGivney.

KNIGHTS STAND IN FORMATION TO HONOR POPE BENEDICT XVI

The first visit to the United States by Pope Benedict XVI as Holy Father marked a historic first for the Knights of Columbus. During Pope Benedict’s April 16 meeting with President Bush at the White House, 30 Fourth Degree Knights in full regalia provided an honor guard for the ceremony.  It was the first time the Fourth Degree stood in formation for a pope and president at the White House. “We take this, first and foremost, as a supreme honor to be here for this historic event,” said Joseph P. Schultz, supreme master of the Fourth Degree. “We are greatly honored that we would be chosen for such an honor, and I think it’s a sign of the high regard that is given to the Knights of Columbus as a whole.” The White House ceremony took place in the Rose Garden.

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Last modified: 08/31/08

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