On October 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of St. Mary Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Called together by their parish priest, 29- year- old Father Michael J. McGiveny, these men formed a fraternal society, which has become the world?s largest Catholic family service organization (1.6 million members).

The Knights of Columbus are Catholic men committed to the exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, and defense of the priesthood. The Order, consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, is committed to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defense of the family. It was on these principles that the Order was founded over a century ago and remains true to them today.