Who We Are - St. Bridget Knights of Columbus

We Are Catholic Men Living Our Faith

Our History

The Knights of Columbus was founded by The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. He gathered a group of men from St. Mary's parish for an organizational meeting on October 2, 1881 and the Order was incorporated under the laws of the U.S. state of Connecticut on March 29, 1882. Though the first councils were all in that state, the Order spread throughout New England and the United States in subsequent years.

Our Mission

We are committed to the exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and to the defense of the priesthood. Our order is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is firmly committed to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defense of the family.

Our Faith

Our commitment to charitable service is just one of the many ways that we express our Catholic faith. We're here to build a daily bridge back to what matters, for our members and fellow Catholics.

6 Reasons to Join the Knights

You Can Change Lives – The Supreme Knight and the Board of Directors has forged a partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission, which provides low-cost, high-quality wheelchairs to poor people around the world. The Supreme Knight has personally seen in Haiti how a wheel chair can change a life. During his experience in Haiti, he joined others in lifting people into wheelchairs who were injured in the earthquake. In addition, the Order is making available prosthetic limbs to all children who lost a limb in the Haiti earthquake, at no charge.

You Can Save Lives – The Knights of Columbus is dedicated to providing ultrasound machines to pro-life pregnancy centers across the United States. Thus far, over 500 machines have been delivered to centers across this country. One machine saved a set of twins when the mother canceled a scheduled abortion after seeing the babies on an ultrasound. She was the first woman to have an ultra- sound on that machine.

You Can Help Build Up the Church – As stated by Pope John Paul II, The Knights of Columbus is the strong right arm of the Church and the helping hand of every pastor. The Order is an ardent supporter of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and many of the newest vocations today come directly from Knights of Columbus families and the members of college councils.

You Can Discern Your Own Vocation – Whether God is calling you to priesthood or the lay life, membership in the Knights of Columbus is a sure way to discern just what God has in mind for you. In the fraternal company of like-minded Catholic men; in the process of planning and carrying out charitable and religious programs with your council, and in prayerful reflection at spiritual events, you are more likely to hear God’s call, and to have the courage and conviction to respond with generosity.

You Can Develop Leadership Skills – As a knight, men are called to be not only tomorrow’s leaders, but the leaders of today. By joining a Catholic organization of 1.8 million men and their families, a man has a built-in structure and tradition through which to express his individual talents and skills and build them as he moves along the leadership positions in his council.

You Can Protect Your Family – As a Knight you have exclusive access to top rated insurance protection for your family. We provide financial security to members and their families without compromise to the highest ethical and moral standards aligned with our Catholic faith. How strong and secure? There is no more highly rated insurer in North America than the Knights of Columbus!

Jonathan Roumie

Jonathan Roumie, Knight of Columbus and star of The Chosen, gives a tour of life on the set of his hit television series. He also discusses what it means to play the role of Christ, as well as the impact being a Knight has had on his life.

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KofC Legacy

Since its founding in 1882, the Knights of Columbus has responded to the needs of the times with charity and faith. Do you have a place in our history as a Knight?

The Founding and Impact of the Knights of Columbus

Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.

The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world’s foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.

The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Spain.