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Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of
St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some
of his parishioners, the Connecticut
state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of
Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its
founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.
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The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members
and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled
and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is
promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable,
religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.
The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father
Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the
Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic
fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic
security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term
care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in
communities.
The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one
council to more than 13,000 councils and 1.7 million members throughout the
United States, Canada, the Philippines,
Mexico, Poland, the Dominican
Republic, Puerto Rico,
Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
(Excerpted from the Knights of Columbus, Supreme Council web
site, www.kofc.org)
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As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many
benefits, including 12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world's
largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus
top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal
benefits.
For more information on joining and what it means
to be a member of the Knights of Columbus, click here.
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.
For information on joining Maria Council, please
contact our Grand Knight, Cristov Dosev
at ftinbengal@aol.com or
847.702.5830 or our Membership Director Scott
McClintock at scottmcclintock@mac.com.
Any Third Degree member in good standing, one
year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership in
the Fourth Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the
spirit of patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and
loyalty to the Knights' respective countries through active membership in
local Fourth Degree groups (called "assemblies"). Certain members
of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions,
an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of
Columbus.
Fourth
Degree members of Maria Council belong to Bishop Raymond P. Hillinger
Assembly which conducts its regular business meetings at Notre Dame High School
in Niles, Illinois.
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