...Without his optimism, his will to suceed, his counsel and advice they would have failed... -William Greary 1st Council meeting

Fr. Micheal J. McGivney August 12, 1852 - August 14, 1890

...That act alone of thine, which gave life to the Knights of Columbus has surely secured for thee everlasting joy and eternal peace...

The Founder Of The Knights Of Columbus

In October of 1881, Father Micheal J. McGivney; exploring the idea of creating a catholic, fraternal, benefit society; called a small group of men together. Meeting in the basement of St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Haven, Connecticut, Father McGivney stated his two-fold purpose clearly:

Form a group to promote closer ties of fraternity among Catholic men so as to help them remain steadfast in their faith through mutual encouragement.

and

Set up an elementary system of insurance to provide for the financial needs of families overwelmed by illness or death of the breadwinner.

From these humble beginnings, guided by the vision and leadership of this preist, the KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS came to be. Father McGivney's original group was chartered by the State of Connecticut on March 29, 1882 with 24 members. The Order has blossomed into an international society of more than 1.5 million Catholic men in over 10,000 councils. All have dedicated themselves to the ideals of Columbianism, those ideals first envisioned by Father Micheal J. McGivney.

More information about Father McGivney can be found throughout the Knights of Columbus webring. Council # 366 suggests:

Supreme Council's Founder Page

Supreme Council's Cannonization Guild Page

These Men They Call Knights
Courtesy of Council # 1477 and the University of Notre Dame.

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