Father Michael J. McGivney and a handful of Catholic laymen founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, in the basement of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Haven, Connecticut. The aim of the founder was to set up a parish-based lay organization that offered insurance benefits to the widows and children of members. In an era when parish and fraternal societies were popular, Father McGivney felt there should be some way to strengthen the religious faith of his flock and provide financial support for families overwhelmed by illness or the death of the breadwinner.

Today the Knights of Columbus have grown from that one local unit, or council, to over 12,000 councils in the United States (including Puerto Rico and Guam), Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, and Saipan. In January 2006, the Knights of Columbus expanded to Poland.

Membership is over 1.7 million members, plus their families – approximately 5.6 million people total – many of whom are actively involved in volunteer service programs for the Catholic Church, their communities, their families, young people and one another.

The Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest organization of Catholic men and their families, has been called “the strong right arm of the Church,” and has been cited by popes, presidents and other world leaders for support of the Church, for programs of evangelization and Catholic education, for civic involvement and aid to those in need.

One of the primary missions of the Knights of Columbus is to support local charities. The Knights are a familiar sight around town during the annual Mentally Challenged Citizens drive, which raises funds for charities that support those with special needs. We also support other fund raising drives to aid local parishes and charities.

The Knights of Columbus promotes family values by providing numerous activities throughout the year that the entire family can participate in. Additionally, the organization provides an opportunity to ensure that a knight’s family is provided for in the event of his death. Here is short list of reasons you may want to join the Knights of Columbus:

• An opportunity to become part of the world’s largest Catholic fraternal organization;

• Make a personal contribution to the Church and community through charity and fraternity;

• A sense of “belonging” in an organization that shares your religious beliefs and brings to together like-minded men joined in a common cause;

• Concerns for your family and retirement years can be addressed by the Orders optional, low-cost life insurance; and

• Knowing that the Knights of Columbus is second to none in support of our Holy Father, our Bishops and Priests, and our fellow man.