Frequently Asked Questions for the KC's
Q: Do I need to be Catholic to become a
Knight
A: Yes.
Q: How many members are there?
A: There are approximately 1.6 million members worldwide and growing.
Q: Who founded the Knights of Columbus?
A: In 1882, Fr. Michael J. McGivney invited a small group of
parishioners to gather in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New
Haven, Connecticut. His goal was simple - to establish an Order that
would unite men in their faith as well as help provide for Catholic
families in times of need.
Guided by four core principles - charity, unity, fraternity, and
patriotism - these founding members strove to overcome the hardships
of the time. Poverty. Unemployment. Even persecution.
Fr. Michael J. McGivney's perseverance and foresight have resulted
in the largest Catholic fraternal and humanitarian organization ever
created. An organization that has endured for a century because of
the inspirational courage of so many.
Q: If I wanted to become a Knight, do I
have to buy Knights of Columbus Insurance?
A: No; unlike many fraternal organizations one does not become a
member by purchasing insurance. In the Knights of Columbus a man has
to be a member before he may avail himself of the insurance benefit.
Purchasing insurance is optional, however; the life insurance and
long-term care insurance products offered by the Order are not only
competitively priced, they are among the most solid and highly rated
products available anywhere. Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best, the
leading independent agencies that rate insurance companies, give K
of C insurance their highest ratings.
Q: When do the members meet?
A: We meet on the third Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm in the
KC Hall, with a Rosary beginning at 6:30 pm.
Q: Who would I contact if I wanted to
become a member?
A: You can contact any KC member. You can also go to this web site's
"Contact" page.
Q: What types of activities and/or
fundraisers do the KC's do?
A: Every year we have a Tootsie Roll fundraiser, a golf tournament,
and a po-boy sale. These funds go to different non-profit
organizations (e.g. ARC/Special Olympics, St. Jude's Research
Hospital, the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center, just to name a
few). These funds are donated once a year at the KC Banquet that is
put on in St. Peter's Parish Hall.
Q: Explain the "Degrees".
A: There are four degrees within the Knights of Columbus. Each
degree ceremony imparts a lesson on the Order's core virtues of
Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.
