History of "The Knights of Columbus"

On Oct. 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut. Called together by their 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society that would one day become the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of purpose and devotion to a holy cause: they vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith. These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New World. Their efforts came to fruition with the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882. They were Knights of Columbus.

The Order has been called "the strong right arm of the Church," and has been praised by popes, presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need.

Father McGivney's founding vision for the Order also included a life insurance program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased members. The Order's insurance program has expanded substantially to serve more effectively the Knights' growing membership. Year after year, the Knights of Columbus has earned the highest possible quality ratings for financial soundness from A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The Order provides the highest quality insurance, annuity and long-term care products to its members, along with many other fraternal benefits.

 The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Knights of Columbus and is responsible for the development of the organization as a whole. Supreme Council duties include establishing the Order in new regions and setting up regional authorities, defining and advancing its values and goals, undertaking organization-wide initiatives, promoting awareness of the Knights' mission worldwide, and protecting the families of members through its extensive insurance program. Members working in local, or subordinate councils, however, carry on the majority of the Knights' beneficial work.

Degrees of the Order

There are four "Degrees" of Knighthood within the Knights of Columbus. The initiation ceremonies into each of these Degrees (the ceremonies themselves are also called "Degrees") are the only facets of the Order which are not made known to non-members. Each of the Degrees is designed to exemplify one of the four Principals of the Order: Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The Degrees must be taken in order.

Every applicant must take the First, or Membership, Degree before he can be considered a Member of the Knights of Columbus. Once he has taken his First Degree, he becomes a member in good standing in the Order. To reach full Knighthood, members must also take the Second and Third Degrees, and all members are strongly encouraged to do so. Members must have taken the Third degree to be elected to Council offices or to enter into the Fourth Degree. Once a man has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for a year and has taken his Third Degree, he is eligible to join a Fourth Degree Assembly. The Fourth Degree has its own structure separate from that of the Council. Fourth Degree Assemblies gain their membership from Third Degree members of several Councils within a larger geographic area. The most visible members of the Order are often the Fourth Degree Color Corps, with their colorful capes, chapeaux and sabers.

Interesting Links 

Cathedral of the Assumption

St. Agnes

St. Albert the Great

St. Aloysius, Pewee Valley

St. Aloysius, Shepherdsville

St. Ambrose, Cecilia

Annunciation, Shelbyville

Ascension

St. Athanasius

St. Augustine, Lebanon

St. Augustine, Louisville

St. Barnabas

St. Bartholomew

St. Bernadette

St. Bernard, Louisville

St. Boniface

St. Brigid, Vine Grove

St. Catherine, New Haven

St. Christopher, Radcliff

St. Edward

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Epiphany

St. Frances of Rome

St. Frances of Assisi

St. Francis Xavier, Mt. Washington

St. Gabriel the Archangel

St. Gregory, Samuels

St. Helen

Holy Family

Holy Name

Holy Spirit, Louisville

Holy Trinity

St. Ignatius, White Mills

St. Ignatius Martyr

Immaculate Conception, LaGrange

St. James, Elizabethtown

St. James, Louisville

St. John Chrysostom

St. John the Apostle, Brandenburg

The Basilica of St. Joseph Proto
Cathedral, Bardstown

St. Joseph, Louisville

St. Lawrence

St. Leonard

St. Louis Bertrand

St. Luke

St. Margaret Mary

St. Martin de Porres

St. Martin of Tours (Flaherty)

St. Martin of Tours (Louisville)

St. Mary

St. Michael

Most Blessed Sacrament

Our Lady

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Mother of Sorrows

St. Patrick

St. Pius X

St. Rita

St. Stephen Martyr

St. Thomas, Bardstown

St. Thomas More

St. William

Support
Your Local Parish

Meetings Are Easy!


You show up a little early


Steve takes care of us before and after the meeting


Meeting starts at 7:30


Good things happen during the meetings


Somebody always wins $10


There's even a Door Prize


Enjoy your friends after the meeting

Come out and join the fun!

___________________

Why Join?

Imagine being part of an organization that fills your heart and your mind with the joy of giving to others and the feeling that comes with making a difference.

Knights are Catholic men, 18 years of age and older, who are committed to making their community a better place, while supporting their Church. Being a Knight is more than camaraderie; it is being involved with your community; it is supporting your local Catholic Church, while enhancing your own faith; it is about protecting and enhancing your family life. Come see just what we are all about and take the first steps to enhance your personal life.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practical Catholic men, who are at least 18 years old. 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.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus starts at the local councils throughout the jurisdiction of this State (as well as throughout the U.S. and Canada, Latin America and the Philippines.) The Order's membership at its local councils help foster the principals of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. These four principals are the driving force behind the many activities within our local and state programs. Each council involves its membership in these programs; some are listed on this Web site to give you a quick insight into the mission of the Knights of Columbus.

 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.

    Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree

Knights of Columbus Insurance

Knights of Columbus insurance has been "Making a Difference for Life" for more than 120 years. Since our founding in 1882, our primary mission has been to protect families against the financial ruin caused by the death of the breadwinner. When our organization began, in order to help each other, our members "passed the hat" to assist families of deceased members. Soon, however, this became impossible, as the number of our members grew. Out of this simple process, we've evolved into a modern, dynamic insurance organization, and offer a wide variety of products to suit virtually everyone's needs. 
 

Buying life insurance is something that’s easy to put off until tomorrow.  And with the busy lives we all lead, tomorrow can easily become next week, next month, or even next year.  For the sake of those you love, don’t let that happen.  I consider it my fraternal obligation to make sure that every Knights of Columbus member has the opportunity to protect his family with the Order’s top-rated insurance products.  I’ll work with you to put a plan in place that will help your family when that help is most needed.

We all know someone whose health, instantly and seemingly out-of-the-blue, changes.  You may think this can’t happen to you.  Think again.  And keep in mind that no one will ring a bell warning you that your health is about to change.  Medical technology has turned many diseases previously termed “death sentences” into very treatable conditions. What medical advances haven’t changed, however, is that being diagnosed with one of these diseases will dramatically affect your ability to purchase life insurance coverage.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Your Knights of Columbus insurance program is second to none.  Knights of Columbus life insurance represents a safety net for Catholic families that’s unsurpassed, and I’m proud of that.  I’m also concerned.  Why?--because so many of our brother Knights have no life insurance with the Order.  I suspect that, for many of them, tomorrow has become next week, next month or next year.  Don’t be one of them.  Don’t wait for the bell to ring.  It isn’t going to.

Contact your local field agent or myself.  We are here to help and answer any questions you may have. 

                                                            Daniel R. Turnwald   

                                                            Kentucky General Agent

                                                            859-331-0249

                                                            daniel.turnwald@kofc.org

•  Permanent Plans - Policy lasts as long as you live, premium stays the same.
• Term Plans - Policy ends at end of specified term: renewable or convertible.
   
• Annuities - Provides an income that is guaranteed for life.

   

• Long Term Care - Provides funds for long-term, out-of-hospital care
  
  The Knights of Columbus offers special benefits of membership. Among these are unique programs that exist exclusively for K of C families faced with needs that often fall outside traditional insurance plans. The Family Fraternal Benefits package, available to all our good-standing members and their families, adds value to membership in our organization.

• Guaranteed Life Insurance Benefits for Uninsurable Children

• Death Benefits Available for Stillborn/Miscarried Children  

• Orphan Benefits  

• Member/Spouse Accidental Death Benefits 
  

  
  
  Momentous Milestones
  
  By Thomas P. Smith, Jr.
  
  Executive Vice President
  (Agencies & Marketing)
  
              This past year has been a momentous one for the Knights of Columbus insurance program.  Let me just highlight a few milestones.

•  

  ·         The order issued more life insurance than ever before in its history:  $6.6 billion.

  ·         Our total insurance in force reached a new high of $70 billion.  To put this remarkable number in perspective, consider that at the end of 2003, just five years ago, we stood at $49 billion.

  ·         Our field force grew again, and we finished the year with a net gain of new field agents.  The total number of brother Knights now dedicated to serving you full-time is nearly 1,300.

  ·         Our annuity business saw record growth from 2007 to 2008.  Annuity deposits received grew 72 percent over last year.

  ·         We introduced a completely revamped series of life insurance products beginning in October.  Known as the “800 series”, the products have been re-priced to reflect trends in mortality and include several new enhancements to benefit our policyholders.

  ·         When the 2008 totals are included, we can claim that over the past five years, more than 100,000 members of the Knights of Columbus joined the ranks of our insured members—whether purchasing life insurance, long-term care or a retirement product.

  ·         Our AAA rating from Standard and Poor’s and our A++ rating from A.M. Best were reaffirmed.

  ·         2008 was the eighth consecutive year our issued life insurance increased over the previous year.

   

   

  What does all of this mean to you?  First, it means that you can take great pride in the success your organization is having in fulfilling the vision of Father Michael J. McGivney by caring for the financial security of our members and their families.  Second, in case you haven’t already, this would be a great time to get on the bandwagon and have a discussion with your agent.  You can contact your local field agent, or Daniel Turnwald, Kentucky General Agent.
  
  

  Daniel can be reached at 859-331-0249.