 History
of the Knights of Columbus
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.
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