Historically

The Knights of Columbus (KOC) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. It is led by Patrick E. Kelly, the order’s 14th Supreme Knight.

The organization was founded on March 29, 1882, as a mutual benefit society for working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States. In addition to providing an insurance system for its members, it has grown to support refugee relief, Catholic education, local parishes and dioceses, and global Catholic social causes. The Knights of Columbus have played an active role in politics ever since its formation, and promote the Catholic view on public policy issues around the world. 

The organization also provides certain financial services to the individual and institutional Catholic market. Its wholly owned insurance company, a Fortune 1000 company based on its annual revenue, underwrites more than twomillion insurance contracts, totaling more than $123billion of life insurance in force as of 2025. The order also owns the Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, a money management firm which invests in accordance with Catholic social teachings.

As of 2025, the Knights reported having over 2.2million members around the world. Women may participate in KOC through the Columbiettes and other female auxiliaries, and boys may join the Columbian Squires. The Order comprises four different “degrees”, each one of which exemplifies one of the core principles of the order. There are more than 17,000 local Knights of Columbus councils around the world, including over 400 on college campuses.

Our Mission

The Knights of Columbus empowers Catholic men to live their faith and serve their family, parish, community and country.

Our Vision

Founded by Blessed Michael McGivney in 1882, the Knights of Columbus is the premier lay Catholic men’s organization. Guided by the principles of charity, unity and fraternity, we build lifelong relationships with our members and families. We are multigenerational and international. We offer formation, mutual aid and financial security to members through our charity, products and outreach. We aspire to invite every Catholic man to join the Knights of Columbus and to extend our charitable reach as widely as possible.

Our Principles

• Charity – Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, by volunteering at Special Olympics, and by supporting, both spiritually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies.
• Unity – None of us is as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that – together – we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. So we stick together…we support one another.
• Fraternity – The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to provide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely.
• Patriotism – Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both.

Catholic Media 

• EWTN TV (English and Spanish) and EWTN Radio (English)
• CatholicTV
• Salt+Light TV
• Relevant Radio
• The Catholic Channel (SirisuXM Channel 129)

St Peter Chanel Links

• SPC Clergy & Staff
• SPC Events

Other Knight Links

• Knights Gear
• Patriotic 4th Degree Knights Info

Membership Info

Local Council #13217 Info