Knights of Columbus History

Father Michael J. McGivney, a diocesan priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus in St. Mary’s Catholic church on Oct. 2nd, 1881. The goal of which would be to prevent Catholic men from joining popular secret societies whose membership was antithetical to church beliefs, to unite men of faith and to assist families of deceased members. As a symbol that their respect for their country did not conflict with allegiance to the Catholic faith, the organization’s members decided on Christopher Columbus as their patron, recognized as a Catholic and honored as the discoverer of America.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the fledgling Order was growing dramatically. Councils had been chartered throughout the United States and Canada, and international expansion continued to Mexico and the Philippines in 1905, along with Cuba and Panama in 1909.

During the Great War, the Order provided rest and recreational facilities and social services to Allied servicemen of all faiths. These Huts were built throughout the United States and Europe which provided religious services, supplies and recreation with the motto, “Everybody Welcome, Everything Free.”

Just a few weeks after World War II was declared in 1939 and the world began to sink into chaos, councils from the Americas to the Philippines began organizing to serve. A Canadian council of Knights established a welfare program for servicemen to help support their families and within a year, these Knights raised $250,000. In 1944, the Order established a $1 million trust fund for the children of members who died or became disabled in World War II. Following the war, the Knights of Columbus initiated a campaign in 1951 to lobby for the public adoption of the phrase “under God” in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. The success of this campaign was celebrated when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law that officially added the words “under God” to the pledge of allegiance.

Since the start of the new millennia, the Order has continuously built upon its rich tradition of charitable work and spiritual formation. Supreme Grand Knight Carl Anderson was initiated as the 13th Supreme Knight in Mexico City, Mexico during May 2000. Under his leadership, the ongoing relationships with organizations like the Special Olympics, have given Knights countless opportunities to practice the act of charity and humility. Additionally, Knights have increased outreach to pregnancy resource centers, providing greater support for men and women in the military, and expanding their role in the regular World Youth Day for young adults are just some of the many ways that the Order has worked in recent years to promote a true culture of life. 

Under Supreme Knight Carlson, the Order has experienced a international growth of over 2 million members who in 2017 donated over $185.5 million charities around the world and also logged a total of 75 million service hours to communities worldwide, truly showcasing how important the pillar of Charity is to the organization. The efforts of the Knights continue as we seek to become a better example of what Pope John Paul called “a charity which evangelizes.”

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