The origin of the Knights of Columbus was based on mutual aid. Father Michael J. McGivney was the founder of this movement. In 1882 as an insurance fraternity for immigrant Catholic working men at a time when anti-Catholic, ant-immigrant hostilities were great. Insurance in our order is voluntary. Father McGivney wanted more for his parishioners than just insurance. Since they were not welcome in many institutions and industries, he wanted them to look out for one another.

Time and labor were all the original Knights could usually offer an orphan, soup kitchen or parish. Today, many Knights of Columbus Councils could just as easily just write a check, but members value working together for worthwhile causes. Coming from various occupations, they demonstrate amazing creativity. Recently, one council was helping a problem pregnancy center where many clients are battered women. They’ve involved other councils to adding a counseling center next door.

Today, the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic men’s fraternal organization. Membership consists of almost 14,000 councils with over 1.7 million members. Whereas it is a men’s lay organization, our work and cooperation with the clergy at all levels and with parishes has earned the title of “Right Arm of the Church”. Clergy are welcomed to join and members such as Francis Cardinal George, many bishops, priests and deacons serve as spiritual advisors and leaders.

The programs of the Knights also provides the families of the members with volunteer opportunities to serve the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.

There are hundreds of examples of Knights’ compassion. They range from building an access ramp for a member who uses a wheel chair to giving a woman bi-weekly rides to dialysis, from donating a stained glass window to the parish, to renovating entire rooms, even buildings if the need arises and the resources are there.