The Knights of Columbus was organized in 1882 by Father Micheal J. McGivney. Since then, the Knights have grown dramatically. There are councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Panama, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
The Knights of Columbus have four main objectives.
1. To aid our Church
2. To develop fellowship
3. To perform charitable, educational and patriotic works
4. To provide a system of fraternal insurance.
Today, the Knights of Columbus has over 1.5 million members. The purposes, aims and objectives of our Order are administered in over 10,000 local community councils.
The strength and stability of the K of C is further reflected in assets of over 4 billion dollars. Our insurance in force is nearly 22 billion dollars.
The Knights of Columbus is headquarted in New Haven, Connecticut -- the birthplace of our Order.
Our society is govered by the Supreme Council, the top legislative body, which meets annually in August.
International affairs are administered by a 21-man Board of Directors under the chairmanship of the Supreme Knight.
Elected state officers operate the state council. They administer its programs and activities under the guidance of the state deputy.
The district deputy respresents both the Supreme Knight and the state depty. The district deputy servers as the leader of an area known as a district -- which is made up of several councils.
The chief executive officer of the local council is called the grand knight. Along with the officers, he is eleceted each year by the members.
Any member who has attained the level of third degree knight is eligible to be a K of C officer in the council levels or higher. How high in office one goes is up to each knight.
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization. It offers unlimited opportunities for its members and their families.
Knights share their time and talnets in a vigorous program of service. Coming from every walk of life -- doctors, bricklayers, lawyers, plummers, teachers, farmers -- K of C members enly working together to help their Church and their community.
Firmly founded upon the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, the Knights of Columbus are able to accomplish a wide range of worthwhile goals -- thanks to the strength and mutal support of members and their families.