About the Knights
of Columbus

by Patrick Korten

The Knights of Columbus was founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney, with the help of a handful of Catholic men who met with him in the basement of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882. Today, it has grown to an international organization of 1.7 million men around the world, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and countries in Central America and the Caribbean. It is one of the largest Catholic lay organization in the world. Later this year, the Knights of Columbus will establish its first presence in Europe when it forms councils in Poland. The Knights of Columbus is dedicated to four principles: charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Last year, members of the Knights of Columbus donated more than $135 million and 65 million hours of volunteer service to charity. It also offers its members life insurance, and it is among the largest and most highly rated insurance companies in North America. Its charitable work includes substantial support for the Catholic Church, both in the Vatican and in the countries in which it is organized.
For more information about the history, work, and leadership of the Knights of Columbus, visit http://www.KofC.org.