It’s no surprise that when Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, an insurance program was at the heart of his vision for the Order. The young priest, after all, knew firsthand the devastation that a lack of proper insurance planning can bring to Catholic families.
We can point to several events in Father McGivney’s life that undoubtedly helped shape his vision for the Knights of Columbus insurance program.
Check out these key experiences from Father McGivney’s life below, and then learn how Knights of Columbus Insurance can provide financial security to you and your family today.
In those days, the court had the right to assign children to public institutions if it had reason to believe that their families could not properly support them. The Downes family faced the very real prospect of losing their three teenage boys unless each had a guardian to sponsor and stand for him in court, and provide $1,500 to back the claim to guardianship.
On Feb. 6, 1882 – the very same day as the first meeting for what would become the Knights of Columbus – Father McGivney appeared in court to stand as guardian for Edward’s brother Alfred. The court accepted.
A man of strategic vision, Father McGivney used these experiences — the struggles of growing up in a family trying to make ends meet, the death of his father, and the challenges his fellow Catholics faced — as inspiration to find a solution. Meeting driven Catholic laymen like Driscoll and Mullen no doubt helped the priest envision an Order that would bring together men of faith while securing the financial future of their families.
The life insurance program that Father McGivney founded would grow to be one of the most respected life insurance programs in North America.*
Connect with your dedicated Knights of Columbus field agent and learn how we can help provide financial security to you and your family. Click here to find your agent.
*As of January 2020, rated A+, Superior for financial strength by A.M. Best
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