Mission

Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men's organization, promoting moral, intellectual and spiritual development by striving to live according to the Gospel and dedication to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. 

From the Beginning

Thanks to the efforts of the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society on March 29, 1882. 

The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Venerable Father McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is in progress, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout the United States and world.

Our Principles

Charity - Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Knights recognize that our mission and our faith in God compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compassion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day.

Unity – Together we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. As a Knight of Columbus, you can count on the support and encouragement of your brother Knights.

Fraternity – The Venerable Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to provide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely due to industrial work. The Order’s top-rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do individual Knights, who last year gave more than 10 million hours of their time to assist sick and/or disabled members and their families. In the Knights of Columbus, we watch out for and take care of one another.

Patriotism – We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens.