The Knights of Columbus is the world's
largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with 1.6 million members.
It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service
to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people. Founded by
Father Michael J. McGivney, curate at St. Mary's parish in New Haven, Conn., the
Knights of Columbus was chartered on March 29,1882, in the State of Connecticut.
As the priest explained to a small group of men at a meeting in the basement of
St. Mary's Church in October 1881, his purpose in calling them together was
manifold: to help Catholic men remain steadfast in their faith through mutual
encouragement; to promote closer ties of fraternity among them; and to set up an
elementary system of insurance so that the widows and children of members in the
group who might die would not find themselves in dire financial straits.
Saint Joseph the Worker has a very active Knights of Columbus
council which has raised nearly twenty-five thousand dollars in charitable
donations during the past two years for local and international needs. The Grand
Knight of Council 10921 for the 2009-2010 Columbine Year is Craig Traverson.
MEMBERSHIP in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing
Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who shall not be less than 18 years of
age on their last birthday. A practical Catholic is one who lives up to the
Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church. Application blanks are
available from any member of the Knights of Columbus. Every Knight is happy to
propose eligible Catholic men for consideration as members. In fact, one-to-one
recruitment is the most successful method of attracting new members.
Acceptance of the applicant depends upon a vote of the
members of the subordinate council in which he is making application. All
priests and religious brothers having duly made application for membership and
participated in the ceremonials become honorary life members of the Order and
are exempt from payment of dues.
Application for membership must be made through the council
in the community nearest the applicant's place of residence. Interested
prospects without a permanent domicile, such as men temporarily away from home
through duty in the armed forces, must make application through their home-town
council.
If favorably voted upon, the applicant becomes a member by
initiation in what is known as the Admission Degree. He subsequently is advanced
through the Formation Degree to the point in membership where he is entitled to
wear the emblem of the Knights of Columbus by initiation in the Knighthood
Degree.
The road to Knighthood is one of ongoing preparation and
constant study. Subjects of this study are the truths of the Catholic Faith and
a knowledge of the Order. Our principles of charity, unity, fraternity,
patriotism and defense of the priesthood are derived from the truths of religion
and undergrid our every activity.
Click HERE
to
Learn More About
The
Knights of Columbus
at Saint Joseph the Worker
Parish and Visit their Website.