Vocations Fundraiser

Sponsored by KofC District 1

For Diocese of Victoria

Nets $9,500.00

Who are the Knights?
A Catholic priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut.  Fr. McGivney studied for two years at the major seminary of St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, and one year at St. Mary’s College in Montreal.  The Order was formed by him to support Catholic men (mostly lower income immigrants who were subject to serious discrimination) in their Catholic faith, and their families in the event of the loss of the family breadwinner.  The organization has continued to grow and now numbers nearly 1,700,000 worldwide, with local councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Bahamas, Central America and Guam, among other countries.  While it is an international organization of Catholic laymen and their families, it has been active in Canada for more than 100 years.  The first council outside the United States was formed in Montreal, Canada in 1897.

Our Canadian membership numbers nearly 230,000.  Our insurance products protect approximately 71,000 members’ families.  These members belong to 1,876 local councils situated in every province of Canada.  In the latest statistics (for calendar year ending December 31, 2003), these members contributed cash donations to charitable causes of $24,939,570 and volunteer hours of service totalling 9,375,352.

In 2003, the Order of the Knights of Columbus paid the transportation costs for the Canadian Special Olympics Team to travel to Dublin, Ireland, so that they could participate in the first Special Olympics outside of North America.

The Order contributed $1,000,000 to the World Youth Day held in Toronto in 2002.  It has pledged $1,000,000 for the upcoming Eucharistic Congress to be held in Quebec City in 2008.  The Order has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to assist victims of various natural disasters in Canada over the years.

In Canada, the Knights of Columbus provides a role for, as well as services to, its members.  Knights of Columbus in Canada are involved in a wide range of Church, community, education and service related activities from assisting in parish activities, sponsoring and coaching hockey and other sports teams, fundraising for numerous causes, especially those that assist physically and intellectually challenged children, disaster relief assistance, and many more.

The Order’s headquarters is located in New Haven, Connecticut, where it was founded 123 years ago, but Canadians are and have for many years been represented at the highest levels of the Order.  Currently, the Board of Directors includes two inside directors, namely the Deputy Supreme Knight (the second highest elected officer of the Order and the equivalent of the Chief Operating Officer of the company) and the Assistant Supreme Treasurer, and one outside director, the Immediate Past State Deputy from Ontario.

How to join
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, 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.   See Membership Info for further information on how to join.

 Charity Appeal Ticket Winners! Please click on the attached Web link

Please contact District Deputy Michael O'Rielly and provide information concerning your parish if you wish us to contact you concerning membership.

email: info@kofcvictoria.bc.ca