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.
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.