What We Do

The Knights of Columbus also has a central vision that includes charitable works, serving the Church, supporting fellow Knights, acting for the good of the country, and helping those in need.

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.

Vision Statement

Our order’s central vision is to engage in charitable works, to serve the Church, to support brother Knights, to act for the good of our country, and to give aid to those in need.

“‘Unity and Charity’ is our motto. Unity in order to gain strength to be charitable to each other in benevolence whilst we live and in bestowing financial aid to those whom we have to mourn our loss.”

— Fr. McGivney August 25, 1883

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal benefit society with a mission to help Catholic men live their faith in their community, parish, home, and at work. Their mission includes: 

  • Empowering Catholic men

    The Knights of Columbus help men encounter Christ, pray together, and strengthen their bonds of brotherhood. They also provide opportunities for men to share their faith testimonials and engage in meaningful conversations. 

  • Supporting projects

    The Knights of Columbus support a variety of projects, including charitable works, serving the Church, and supporting brother Knights. They also offer programs to help families and communities lead in faith and service. 

  • Providing financial security

    The Knights of Columbus provide financial security to members and their families through insurance products and annuities. They also offer mutual aid and assistance to sick and needy members and their families. 

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney to provide financial aid to Catholic families. They have over 1.9 million members in more than a dozen countries and are now one of the largest life insurers in North America. 

Our Principles

All the good works we do are informed by our four core principles:

  1. Charity: Charity is the foremost principle of the Knights of Columbus. Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
    Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, by volunteering at Special Olympics, and by supporting, both spiritually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies. Knights recognize that our mission, and our faith in God, compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compassion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day.

  2. Unity: None of us is as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that – together – we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. So, we stick together…we support one another. That doesn’t mean that we always agree or that there is never a difference of opinion. It does mean that – as a Knight of Columbus – you can count on the support and encouragement of your brother Knights as you work to make life better in your parish and community.

  3. Fraternity: The Venerable Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to aid the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely. The Order’s top-rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do individual Knights, who last year gave more than 10 million hours of their time to assist sick and/or disabled members and their families. In the Knights of Columbus, we watch out for and take care of one another.

  4. Patriotism: Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are among the greatest citizens.