The Knights of Columbus are the world's largest Catholic international family fraternal service organization of men, founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael McGivney, a parish priest in New Haven, CT. Fr. McGivney's vision was to provide an alternative for the hardships of working families when the loss of a job, a workplace injury or even death, left a man’s family in poverty. Through the establishment a parish-based group of men committed to a fraternal assistance and insurance program, Fr. McGivney inspired Catholic men to truly become “their brother's keeper."
Named for the great Catholic explorer Christopher Columbus, the "Knights of Columbus" live by the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. With almost 1.8 million members in a dozen countries around the world, the Knights of Columbus provides Catholic men with many opportunities for personal and spiritual growth and development by helping our parish community through family and youth activities, volunteering and charitable fund-raising to benefit our parish, the larger Church and our civic community.
You can read more about Father McGivney and the Knights of Columbus at
http://www.kofc.org