Who are the Knights of Columbus?

Fr. Michael J. McGivney, the 29-year-old assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., gathered a group of men at his parish on Oct. 2, 1881. He proposed establishing a lay organization to prevent Catholic men from entering secret societies antithetical to Church teaching, uniting Catholic men and helping families of deceased members. We now have more than 16,000 councils headquartered in Catholic parishes around the world. Knights put their faith into action every day to make life better in their parishes and communities. We offer men the opportunity to grow in their faith while helping others and supporting the Church, and to become better Catholics, husbands and fathers. Our founder – Blessed Michael McGivney – has been beatified by the Church. People around the world seek his intercession through prayer.

What do the Knights of Columbus do?

The Knights of Columbus annually contributes nearly $200 million to worthy charitable causes around the world, and our members donate nearly 100 million hours of their time.

What do I need to become a Knight?

You cannot be less than 18 years of age, and must be a practical Catholic man in union with the Holy See, which means that you accept the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, that you aspire to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and that you are in good standing in the Catholic Church.

Are there fees or dues when I join the Knights?

At the current moment (8/28/24), there is no cost to join the online membership. You can get those fees waived by using the Promo Code BLESSEDMCGIVNEY. But, the Salve Regina Council does assess dues every year to its membership. Dues are expected on July 1st of every year, as we follow the Columbian calendar. They are payable via check, or any number of online payment services. We do waive the fees for the first year of membership for new Knights. The dues for the 24-25 Columbian year were $50.00.

What parishes does Salve Regina Council serve?

Currently, we are a part of the Eastside Faith Parishes. That consists of St. Cecilia, St. Mary and the Oratory of St. John Vianney. We typically serve and get our membership from parishioners from those churches. But, not being in one of those parishes is not a disqualifying factor; you can join our council as long as you are a practicing Catholic.