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

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

The foresight of Father McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is under investigation by the Vatican, led to the creation of what has become the world’s foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Knights have helped countless families secure economic stability through life insurance, annuity, and long-term care programs, while also contributing time and energy worldwide in service to communities.

From a single council in 1882, the Knights of Columbus has grown to nearly 17,000 councils and over 2.1 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, Saipan, Lithuania, Ukraine, and South Korea.