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Who We Are
The
K of C is Catholic
The K of C is Family
The K of C is Fraternal
The K of C Means Service
Father Michael J. McGivney at St. Mary,
a parish church in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Order of the Knights of
Columbus in 1882. Today, more than a century later, the Knights of Columbus has
become the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church. Popes and
presidents praised the K of C for their support of the Church, programs of
evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in
need.
Thanks to the work of millions of Knights
over the past century the K of C reached an impressive level of membership,
benefits and service. Currently, there are over 1.75 million Knights; together
with their families, the Knights are nearly 6 million strong. The Order has
grown to more than 12,000 councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the
Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Virgin
Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
CHARITY, UNITY, FRATERNITY, AND PATRIOTISM
The K of C are Catholic gentlemen committed to the exemplification of charity,
unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defense of the priesthood. The Order is
consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The K of C are unequivocal in their
loyalty to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth, are firmly committed to the
protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the
preservation and defense of the family. These bedrock principles are the
foundation of the Order from the conception in 1882 till today.
INSURANCE
Father McGivney's founding vision for
the Order also included establishing a life insurance program to provide for the
widows and orphans of deceased members. The Order's insurance program has
expanded year after year to serve the growing membership. The K of C Insurance
has earned the highest possible quality ratings for financial soundness from
A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. K of C Insurance is a member of IMSA
(Insurance Marketplace Standards Association) and has
assets of $9 billion, and over $43 billion worth of life insurance in force.
K of C Insurance refunded
$195 million in dividends to insurance members and paid $70 million in death
benefits.
VOCATION AND
CHURCH
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Vocations Support Program provides
allowance to seminarians ($2 million in 2001).
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$15.8 million Vocation Scholarship
Fund assisted 604 seminarians.
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$1 million grant for World Youth
Day organizers in Toronto.
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Distribute monthly about 10,000 K
of C rosaries, primarily to new members.
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Renovation of St. Mary's Church
and entombing of Father McGivney’s remains.
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Sponsor daily Mass at St. Mary's
for deceased Knights.
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Renovation at Basilica of St.
Peter in Rome (Facade, Statues of Sts. Peter and Paul and
Madermo Atrium).
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Mobile TV production unit and
satellite uplink for papal ceremonies to promote evangelization.
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Support the Archdiocese for
Military Services to provide for the spiritual welfare of armed services
personnel and their families around the globe.
CHARITY AND
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
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Raised and donated $144 million to charity last year.
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Knights volunteered more than 68 million hours of service during 2007.
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$2 million endowment for the
Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
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$20 million Vicarius Christi Fund
provided since 1981more than $34 million for pope’s personal charities.
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$1 million Hero Fund
for families of professional rescue workers
who were killed on 9/11/2001.
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Defended the innocent unborn by
promoting legislation to secure their right to life.
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Financed the Natural Family
Planning offices of U.S. and Canadian bishops and assisted the NFP offices of
Mexican bishops.
FRATERNITY
AND PATRIOTISM
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Enhance the need for strong
Catholic families through our "Family of the Month" and "Family of the Year"
programs on the local, state and international levels.
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Develop leadership skills with
more than 25,000 young men who belong to over 1,000 Columbian Squires circles,
each sponsored by a K of C council.
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Promote
patriotism in over 2,200 assemblies having 250,000 Sir Knights in the Fourth
Degree, the patriotic arm of the Order, fostering responsible citizenship and
love of country.
08/14/08
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