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Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J.
McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature
on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to
its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity. The
history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated
by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped
families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed
time and energy worldwide to service in communities. The
Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 13,000 councils and 1.7 million members throughout
the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the
Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
The Knights was formed to render financial
aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families.
Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious,
social welfare, war relief and public relief works.
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 with the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882.
They were Knights of Columbus.
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.
Father McGivney’s founding vision for the Order also included 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, annuity and long-term care products to
its members, along with many other fraternal benefits.
The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Knights of Columbus and is responsible for the development of the organization
as a whole. Supreme Council duties include establishing the Order in new regions and setting up regional authorities, defining
and advancing its values and goals, undertaking organization-wide initiatives, promoting awareness of the Knights’ mission
worldwide, and protecting the families of members through its extensive insurance program. Members working in local, or subordinate
councils, however, carry on the majority of the Knights’ beneficial work.
For more details please see the
Supreme Council site from which the previous paragraphs are taken.
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