|
 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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