Knights of Columbus

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Knights of Columbus

• A TRADITION OF PROTECTION

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The Knights of Columbus was founded in New Haven,
Connecticut, in 1882 in the basement of St.
Mary's Catholic Church by Fr. Michael J. McGivney
and a handful of Catholic laymen. The aim of the
founder and those first members was to set up a
parish-based lay organization that offered
insurance benefits.
In a time 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.
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What we Offer...
In a word, fraternity. More specifically, the
Knights of Columbus offers the Catholic man and
his family opportunities for leadership training
through active involvement in a local council
volunteer opportunities in the parish and
community low-cost life insurance annuities
Membership in the Knights of Columbus offers the
member and his family fellowship with like-minded
Catholic families not only in his community or
parish, but throughout his state, region, and
even internationally
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Surge with Service
We are a Catholic, family, fraternal, service
organization. This theme permeates the entire
service program all Church, community, council,
family and youth activities.
CATHOLIC - the common denominator for all of our
members. Catholicism serves as the foundation for
continued growth and performance.
FAMILY - the very basis of society around which
all our programs and activities evolve.
FRATERNAL - banded together for the purpose of
providing spiritual and material welfare of our
membership.
SERVICE - our involvement with and commitment to
Church, community, council, family and youth.
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FACTS ABOUT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

• Chartered to serve and provide financial aid and
  assistance to members and their families

• The Order has grown to more than 12,000 councils

• Total membership exceeds 1.6 million Catholic
  families

• In 1998 we contributed a record 110.7 million to
  charitable efforts that we all support as
  Catholics

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DID YOU KNOW?

• In 1998 Knights of Columbus volunteered more than
  55 million hours of personal service to the
  Catholic Church, community projects and youth
  programs, another all time high

• Besides giving 55 million hours of volunteer
  service, members also gave 8.3 million hours of
  their time in fraternal service such as
  attending meetings, functions and other
  activities of our Order

• Knights also made 5.6 million visits to the sick
  and bereaved in 1998

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DID YOU KNOW?

• The K of C supports vocations

• The K of C provides student loans, scholarship
  programs, and Church mortgages

• The K of C provides programs of support for our
  Brother Knights who serve as law enforcement
  officers, fire fighters and in the armed forces

• The K of C provides charitable contributions and
  volunteer services worldwide

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As a Knight of Columbus you

• Created a 20 million Vicarius Christi fund -
  the earnings on which are conveyed annually to
  the Holy Father for his Charities

• Bring the Pope to the world at least three times
  a year by providing the satellite uplink cost for
  the televising of papal ceremonies.

• Presented a new mobile television production
  unit to the Vatican Television Center for the
  taping, recording and transmission of Vatican
  ceremonies.

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The Primary Goal of the Knights of Columbus
Remains
To render financial aid to its members and
beneficiaries of members -From the Knights of
Columbus charter
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The Knights of Columbus is dedicated to uniting
families in service to the Church, Youth, the
community fellowman
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