Knights of Columbus History

HOME JOIN US CONTACT INSURANCE NEWS BINGO SCOUTS HISTORY LINKS ABOUT THE KNIGHTS COUNCIL 3444 HALL ACTIVITIES	History of the Knights On Oct. 2, 1882, 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. These men 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. Father McGivney's founding vision for the Order also included a life insurance program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased members. Father McGivney’s holiness, devotion to priestly ministry, and work to protect family life provide a powerful spiritual influence for the Knights, their family members and a growing number of other Catholics. Father McGivney’s cause for canonization was opened in 1997 by then Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin of Hartford, Conn. Its diocesan phase has been completed. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican is currently reviewing Father McGivney’s life and works and investigating two reported miracles attributed to his intercession. His final resting place is in the church where he founded the Knights: St. Mary's in New Haven. The Knights of Columbus has established the Father Michael J. McGivney Guild to provide people with information about his life, works and spirituality. If you are interested in joining the Father McGivney Guild, please visit the Father McGivney Web site.
		History of Council 3444
		The Emblem of the Order
		The emblem of the Order dates from the second Supreme Council meeting on May 12, 1883, when James T. Mullen, who was then supreme knight, designed it. The emblem indicates a shield mounted upon the Formée cross (having the arms narrow at the center and expanding toward the ends). The shield is that associated with a medieval knight. The Formée cross is the representation of a traditional artistic design of the cross of Christ through which all graces of redemption were procured for mankind. This then represents the Catholic spirit of the Order. Mounted on the shield are three objects: a fasces (a bundle of rods bound together about an ax with the blade projecting) standing vertically and, crossed behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword. The fasces from Roman days, carried before magistrates as an emblem of authority, is symbolic of authority which must exist in any tightly-bonded and efficiently operating organization. The anchor is the mariner's symbol for Columbus, patron of the Order, while the short sword or dagger was the weapon of the Knight when engaged upon an errand of mercy. Thus, the shield expresses Catholic Knighthood in organized merciful action, and with the letters, K of C, it proclaims this specific form of activity.