Who Are The Knights?
The Knights of Columbus is a 125 year old organization of Catholic men and their families. 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. A fourth principle patriotism was added to these founding principles.The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 13,000 councils and 1.7 million members worldwide. In 2008 the Knights donated over $150,000,000 to charitable organizations.
In the past decade, Knight have given nearly $1.325 billion to charity and provided in excess 626 billion hours of volunteer service.
St. Thomas Aquinas Council 6532 has over 150 members, and each year has donated countless hours and thousands of dollars to the St. Thomas Aquinas community, including the priests, deacons, ministries, parishioners and local charities.
The Knights of Columbus provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church and their communities.
Emblem of the Order
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 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. |
Membership Benefits
As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world's largest Catholic family magazine; eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program; and many others.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men who are at least 18 years old. A practicing 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. You can also email us at KofC6532@gmail.com, or call Jim McGee at 770-663-7322.
Knight's Prayer
Our Lady, Queen of the Knights, bless all the activities of our order.Keep us true to the pledge to extend the Kingship of thy Divine Son on earth. Through thine intercession, win for us the grace ever to exemplify in our public and private lives the virtues which should characterize those specially dedicated to the service of the heavenly court. Make us always aware that as your Knights we are constantly observed, our faith judged, and our order appreciated.
Accept, O Mary, this renewed pledge of fealty and devotion of thy servants, the Knights of Columbus.
AMEN