It means a life of faith in action, a life of boldness in brotherhood, a life worth living. Join 2 million Catholic men on a mission.

Charity - 
Charity is at the Heart of our work. and our faith and it always has been. For the Knights of Columbus, Charity means supporting a virtually boundless variety of projects.

Faith - 
Our Commitment to charitable services is just one of the many ways we express our Catholic faith. We're here to build daily bridges back to what matters, for our members and fellow Catholics.

Membership - 
With 1.9 Million members around the world, we have been investing our time, effort and resources into our values of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism since 1882.

Insurance - 
The Knights of Columbus is a Fraternal benefit society, which means we can provide financial security to members and their families, while turning premiums into charitable impacts.

Our Code of Ethics and Conduct - 
The Knights of Columbus' principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism servces as the basis of the Order's core values which are Integrity, Professionalism, Excellence and Respect.

Late-19th century Connecticut was marked by the growing fraternal benefit societies, anti-Catholic prejudice and dangerous factory working conditions that left many families fatherless. Recognizing a need in his community, Father Michael J. McGivney, the 29-year-old assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., gathered a group of men at his parish on Oct. 2, 1881. He proposed establishing a lay organization to prevent Catholic men from entering secret societies antithetical to Church teaching, uniting Catholic men and helping families of deceased members.

To demonstrate their loyalty to their country as well as their faith, these men took Christopher Columbus — recognized as a Catholic and celebrated as the discoverer of America – as their patron. The Knights of Columbus elected officers in February 1882 and assumed corporate status on March 29.

In addition to the Order’s benefits, Catholic men were drawn to the Knights because of its emphasis on serving one’s Church, community and family with virtue. Fraternity and patriotism were added to the Knights’ founding principles of charity and unity in 1885 and 1900, respectively.

1882: The Knights of Columbus is born on Feb. 6, 1882, when the first members choose Columbus as their patron. Immediately after the Order’s March 29 incorporation, Father McGivney sends a diocesan-wide appeal for new members to priests.

1886: By the end of his four-year term as supreme knight, James T. Mullen presides at the institution of 22 of the first 38 councils. John J. Phelan is elected and is the first supreme knight to see the Order’s future as a national society.

1890: Father McGivney dies Aug. 14, 1890.

1892: The Order passes laws allowing noninsurance (associate members) to join.

1892: 6,000 Knights march in the New Haven Columbus Day parade to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of the New World.

Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Michael McGivney Founder of the Knights of Columbus

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify Blessed Michael McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.