The History of the Knights of Columbus

For nearly 150 years, the Knights of Columbus has stayed on mission to bring Catholic men together in brotherhood and help protect their families.

< class='stripe-heading-text info-card-content-header'>Out History

1882-1918

A Thriving Beginning

Late-19th century Connecticut was marked by anti-Catholic prejudice and dangerous factory conditions that left many families fatherless. Recognizing a need, 29-year-old Father Michael McGivney gathered a group of men at his parish on Oct. 2, 1881.

His vision: a lay-led group to unite Catholic men and help families of deceased members.

To demonstrate their patriotism as well as their faith, the first Knights took Christopher Columbus — regarded as an American hero, despite his Catholicism — as their namesake. Their founding principles were charity and unity (fraternity and patriotism would be added later).

The Knights of Columbus assumed corporate status on March 29, 1882, an anniversary our Order recognizes as Founder’s Day.

1882

The Knights of Columbus is born on Feb. 6, 1882, when the first members choose Columbus as their patron. Immediately after the Order’s March 29 incorporation, Father McGivney sends a diocesan-wide appeal for new members to priests.

1886

By the end of his four-year term as supreme knight, James T. Mullen presides at the institution of 22 of the first 38 councils. John J. Phelan is elected and is the first supreme knight to see the Order’s future as a national society.

1890

Father McGivney dies Aug. 14, 1890.

1892

The Order passes laws allowing noninsurance (associate members) to join.

1892

6,000 Knights march in the New Haven Columbus Day parade to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival in the New World.

1895

The Vatican’s first acknowledgment of the Knights comes when Archbishop Francesco Satolli, apostolic delegate to the United States, writes a letter extolling the “merits of this splendid Catholic organization” and giving the Order his apostolic blessing.

1897

On Nov. 25, 1897, Canada’s first council — Montreal Council 284 — is chartered.

1900

The first exemplification of the Fourth Degree takes place on Feb. 22, 1900, in New York City, where 1,100 Knights receive the degree. The following May, another 750 Knights take the degree in Boston.

1904

More than 10,000 Knights and their families attend ceremonies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where a check for $55,633.79 is presented to the school for the establishment of a K of C chair of American history. From 1909 to 1913, Knights raise $500,000 to establish a permanent endowment for CUA.

1905

The first council in the Philippines — Manila Council 1000 — is chartered after the Spanish-American War. The Order also expands to Mexico, establishing Guadalupe Council 1050 in Mexico City.

1906

The Knights of Columbus moves to a new headquarters in New Haven, next to the New Haven green.

1909

U.S. workers in the Canal Zone start Balboa Council 1371 in Panama City, and San Agustin Council 1390 is instituted in Havana, Cuba.

1909

A reported 5,000 Knights meet James A. Flaherty’s train in Philadelphia in 1909 when he arrives at the annual convention, where he is elected supreme knight.

1912

With support from the Knights, the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain is dedicated in Washington, D.C. Some 20,000 Knights attend the ceremonies, which are overseen by President William H. Taft.

1914

Tens of thousands of copies of a “bogus oath” are circulated to defame the Knights of Columbus. The Knights, in turn, lay the groundwork for a lecture series and educational programs to combat anti-Catholic hostility. Between 1914 and 1917, the number of anti-Catholic publications drops from 60 to fewer than five.

1917

When the United States enters World War I, Supreme Knight Flaherty writes President Woodrow Wilson telling him that the Order plans to establish centers to provide for the troops’ “recreational and spiritual comfort.” The Knights’ services, he says, will be offered “regardless of creed.”

1917

By the summer of 1917, the Order opens service centers, or “K of C Huts,” in training camps and behind the lines of battle. The Knights and independent fund drives raise nearly $30 million to finance the huts, which are open to Allied servicemen of all faiths. K of C Huts throughout the United States and Europe were known for their motto, “Everybody Welcome, Everything Free.”

Everybody meant everybody, regardless of race or creed. In fact, the Order was praised by a contemporary African-American historian of World War I, because “unlike the other social welfare organizations operating in the war, it never drew the color line.” 

1919-1960

Bold Service at Home and Abroad

The years after World War I and through the Great Depression saw the Knights continuing to make a name for themselves with charitable work, as well anti-defamation education in the face of rising Ku Klux Klan and nativist campaigns.

In the early 1930s, the Knights also responded to the growing threat of atheistic communism in Europe by organizing anti-communism rallies and sponsoring educational programs to combat the ideology.

In the post-war era, the Knights of Columbus initiated a campaign for the public adoption of the phrase “under God” in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. Their efforts came to fruition in 1954 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

1920

 Two years after launching educational, vocational and employment programs for World War I veterans, more than 50,000 students are enrolled in K of C-sponsored evening school programs across the United States and Canada. The Order also launches a correspondence school.

1920

235 Knights sail from New York City to France. In Paris, they are greeted by Church and civic authorities, who thank the Knights for their WWI work. In Metz, a large equestrian statue of the French Revolutionary War hero Lafayette, funded by the Knights, is unveiled. The K of C delegation continues to Rome, where it is received in a private audience with Pope Benedict XV on Aug. 28, 1920.

1923

In response to the passage of laws in Oregon prohibiting children under 16 from attending private schools, the Knights work to overturn the law. In 1925, the Supreme Court declares the Oregon law unconstitutional.

1924

In response to a request from Pope Benedict XV, the Knights opens St. Peter’s Oratory, the first K of C recreation center for youth in Rome. Four more are established between 1924 and 1927.

1925

The Knights’ Rome youth work stimulates interest in similar projects in North America, and the Columbian Squires program is established. Brother Barnabas McDonald consults with the Knights on the creation of the Squires. The institution of the first Squires circle takes place at the Supreme Council meeting in Duluth, Minn.

1926

Supreme Knight Flaherty, Deputy Supreme Knight Martin H. Carmody and other K of C officers meet with President Calvin Coolidge about the persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico. The Order launches a $1 million educational campaign to influence American public opinion on the need for a strong stand against the Mexican government’s attacks on the Church. It takes more than 10 years for the tensions to ease.

1932

The 50th anniversary of the Knights is celebrated with Commemoration Week, June 24-30, 1932. Among the highlights is the unveiling in Washington, D.C. of a statue of Cardinal James Gibbons, an early supporter of the Knights who ordained Father McGivney.

1935

On July 8, 1935, Supreme Knight Martin Carmody and other K of C officials meet with President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the ongoing situation in Mexico.

1936

Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, Vatican secretary of state, visits the Knights of Columbus headquarters in New Haven; in 1939, Cardinal Pacelli becomes Pope Pius XII.

1939

Less than two weeks after World War II begins, Canadian Knights establish a welfare program for soldiers comparable to the KC huts program that operated during World War I. Within a year, Canadian Knights raise nearly $250,000 to support troops.

1941

When the U.S. enters World War II, the Order’s outreach to soldiers is conducted via the National Catholic Community Service organization. The NCCS models many of its programs on the Order’s successful WWI efforts.

1944

The Order creates a $1 million trust fund for the education of children of members who lost their lives in or as a result of World War II. This evolves into the current scholarship fund for use at Catholic colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

1945

John E. Swift is elected supreme knight. Among his first initiatives is to authorize funding for full-page advertisements in 12 major U.S. newspapers and five Canadian papers highlighting the dangers of communism. The ad offers a free copy of Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen’s pamphlet, “Communism, the Opium of the People.”

1946

The Order launches its Crusade for the Preservation and Promotion of American Ideals. Educational pamphlets on communism and the dangers of secularism are published and distributed. By August 1948, there are more than 1,300 K of C discussion groups.

1947

Several hundred radio stations broadcast K of C-sponsored programs with the titles “Safeguards of America” and “Foundations of Our American Ideals.”

1951

The Order votes to fund the microfilming of irreplaceable documents from the Vatican Library, some dating to the pre-Christian era. The library at St. Louis University is named as the repository for the microfilm. By the 1956 opening of the Knights of Columbus Vatican Film Library at St. Louis University, 9.5 million manuscript pages have been microfilmed and made available for scholars. 

1953

Luke E. Hart becomes supreme knight. He is the first supreme knight to move to New Haven to assume his duties, reflecting the development of the Knights as a corporation. 

1953

For $2.5 million the Knights of Columbus purchases the land that Yankee Stadium is built on. When news breaks of the Knights’ acquisition, councils and members send congratulatory telegrams to New Haven.  

1953

A Catholic advertising program launched by Missouri Knights in the 1940s is adopted nationally by the Order. The ads encourage readers to learn more about Catholic teaching by contacting the Religious Information Bureau, later called the Catholic Information Service. 

1954

On June 14, 1954, Flag Day, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law adding “under God” to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance, completing an effort Knights began three years earlier. 

1959

On Nov. 20, 1959, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., is dedicated with a more than 1,000 Knight honor guard. Knights contributed $1 million, via a $1.25 per-capita assessment over five years, for construction of the 329-foot bell tower. 

1961-1999

Meeting the Needs of a Modern World

The early 1960s marked a period of transformation and upheaval for the Church and society.  

At the 1966 Supreme Convention, Supreme Knight John W. McDevitt said it was time to see the Order as more than just “a fortress” for its members in a world hostile to the Catholic faith. In revising its admission policies and supporting several social justice initiatives, the Order took positive steps to eliminate racial discrimination.  

During this time, the Order’s insurance program began a period of dramatic growth, tripling the amount of insurance in force from $1 billion to $3 billion from 1960 to 1975.

Finally, with the Knights’ support, the Archdiocese of Hartford officially opened the cause for Father McGivney’s canonization in 1997. 

1961

On Oct. 11, 1961, Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart visits President John F. Kennedy — the first Catholic president — in the White House. Kennedy, a Fourth Degree Knight, reportedly greets Hart by saying, “Hello, Chief.” 

1963

In the spring of 1963, Hart attends a special White House meeting of religious leaders to discuss civil rights. 

1964

Supreme Knight John W. McDevitt takes office. His first priority is to amend the Order’s admission policies to counter charges of racial discrimination. 

1965

In April 1965 with the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Order co-sponsors a Conference on Human Rights at Yale University in New Haven. More than 2,000 people attend.  

1966

Supreme Knight McDevitt visits the Vatican Transmitting Center for the blessing of a new shortwave radio transmitter donated by the Knights. Pope Paul VI blesses the transmitter. 

1969

The present Supreme Council headquarters is completed. Its four 320-foot towers symbolize the Knights’ four principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.  

1969

The Order publishes a booklet on Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical affirming the Church’s teaching on marriage and procreation. 

1971

The Order marks the achievement of $2 billion of insurance in force; today that figure is nearly $125 billion. 

1975

The Order agrees to fund “uplink” transmissions for major worldwide satellite telecasts from the Vatican; the program continues to this day with audiences estimated in the billions for Midnight Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica.  

1977

Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant begins his administration with a visit to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where he places the Knights of Columbus under the Virgin Mary’s protection. 

1978

Beginning this year, each new First Degree Knight receives a rosary blessed by the supreme chaplain, a practice that continues to this day. 

1978

Pope John Paul I receives Supreme Knight Dechant and other K of C representatives in the pontiff’s first private audience after his election. 

1979

In cooperation with the U.S. bishops, the Order underwrites the filming of Pope John Paul II’s first pastoral visit to the United States. 

1979

The Knights establishes a $1 million Father Michael J. McGivney Fund for New Initiatives in Catholic Education to be administered by the National Catholic Educational Association. Annual proceeds are used to this day to finance programs that advance Catholic schools.  

1981

The Order begins a four-year restoration of St. Mary’s Church, the birthplace of the Knights. The renovations include work on the organ, floors, pews, ceilings, statues and more. The project is capped by the placement of a 179-foot steeple atop the church. 

1982

The Knights of Columbus celebrates its centennial. President Ronald Reagan attends the  100th Supreme Convention, as well as Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, sent by Pope John Paul II as his personal envoy. 

1982

The Order establishes several funds to help finance studies for priests and seminarians in Rome at pontifical colleges. These funds have been increased over the years to support seminarians and priests from the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines. 

1984

In recognition of the Order’s volunteer service, President Ronald Reagan awards the Knights a President’s Volunteer Action Award at a White House ceremony. 

1985

The Order agrees to underwrite the restoration of the 65,000-square-foot facade of St. Peter’s Basilica, the first time it has been cleaned in more than 350 years. Several subsequent projects have taken place at St. Peter’s, including the restoration of chapels and of the Holy Year Door. 

1988

Mother Teresa visits the Supreme Council office. The Order agrees to print copies of her Constitutions of the Missionaries of Charity, prayer cards and other religious items, a project that continues today. 

1988

The Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family opens a North American branch in Washington, D.C., with funding from the Knights. Carl A. Anderson is the institute’s first vice president and dean. 

1989

The Bicentennial of the U.S. Hierarchy Fund is established in the amount of $2 million to benefit The Catholic University of America. Earnings from the fund pay for projects at the university each year. 

1992

The Knights celebrates the fifth centenary of evangelization in the Americas. Replicas of the Cross of the New World presented to Pope John Paul II on his pastoral visit to Santo Domingo in 1984 are distributed by the Knights for use in dioceses throughout the Order in prayer services highlighting the theme of evangelization.  

1992

Mother Teresa is presented with the Order’s first Gaudium et Spes Award at the 110th Supreme Convention in New York. The “Joy and Hope” award acknowledges her contributions to the Church and the world. 

1995

The Order co-sponsors with the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., Pope John Paul II’s Mass at Aqueduct Racetrack during the pope’s pastoral visit to the United States. 

1997

The Archdiocese of Hartford officially opens the cause for canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney with support from the Knights of Columbus. The Father McGivney Guild is established to promote his cause. 

2000-Present

First in Faith and Charity

The Knights of Columbus stepped into the new millennium with resolve to continue living out its mission of faith and charity.

From delivering supplies in the wake of wildfires and hurricanes, to serving victims of war in Ukraine, the Order has become adept at responding to natural and humanitarian disasters. Other charitable work includes advocating for persecuted Christians in the Middle East, providing over 2,000 ultrasound machines to pregnancy centers and much more.

2020 brought both challenges and rejoicing, with Father McGivney’s beatification on Oct. 31 of that year. The Knights of Columbus emerged from the pandemic era fully committed to bringing Blessed Michael McGivney’s mission to life in a changing world.  

2000

Pope John Paul II canonizes six Mexican priest-members of the Knights of Columbus who were martyred during the persecution of the Church there early in the 20th century. The following year, John Paul II beatifies Blessed Carlos Rodríguez, a layman from Puerto Rico and a member. Three additional members from Mexico have since been beatified, and one canonized. 

2001

The Knights of Columbus Museum opens in New Haven. In addition to a permanent exhibit on the Order's history, the museum has featured numerous temporary exhibits and priceless works of art, such as Michelangelo's 16-foot wooden study model for the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

2001

In response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, on Sept. 12 the Knights establishes its $1 million Heroes Fund. Checks for $3,000 are presented to the families of all full-time professional law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who lost their lives at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Forty-five Knights were killed on Sept. 11. 

2003

100,000 copies of a pocket-sized prayer book,  Armed with the Faith, are printed by the Order and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with 10,000 rosaries. 

2005

The Knights send 2,000 wheelchairs to land-mine victims and people with disabilities in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Through its partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission, Knights have since distributed wheelchairs around the world. 

2006

In its first international expansion in almost a century, the Order charters its first councils in Poland, beginning with John Paul II Council 14000 in Krakow. 

2006

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Knights donate more than $10 million and 100,000 volunteer hours to help rebuild Catholic churches and schools that were destroyed.  

2007

The Knights of Columbus Incarnation Dome, a 3,780-square-foot mosaic depicting mysteries of Christ’s life, is constructed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. 

2008

On March 16, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI approves a decree of heroic virtue for Father Michael J. McGivney, declaring him “Venerable.” 

2008

The Order is present throughout Pope Benedict XVI’s pastoral visit to the United States. A K of C-commissioned plaque commemorates the pope’s Mass at Yankee Stadium. It accompanies two similar plaques, which commemorate Masses that Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI celebrated there.  

2008

McGivney Hall, the new home of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America, is dedicated Sept. 8.  

2009

The Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative launches on Jan. 22. To date, more than 2,000 ultrasound machines have been purchased for pro-life pregnancy centers using matching funds from the Order’s Culture of Life Fund, established in 2008. 

2010

Following the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, the Order gives immediate assistance to Catholic Relief Services, establishes a relief fund and purchases 1,000 wheelchairs for Haitians suffering disabilities. In partnership with Project Medishare, the Knights’ “Healing Haiti’s Children” program provides prosthetics and physical therapy for children who lost limbs in the earthquake.  

2010

Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of Havana, receives the Gaudium et Spes Award, and with assistance from the Knights, the first new seminary in Cuba in more than 50 years is opened. Two years earlier, a delegation of Knights from Cuba attended the Supreme Convention for the first time in 60 years.  

2011

The Order establishes a Shrine of Saint John Paul II in Washington, D.C., at the site of the former John Paul II Cultural Center.

2012

The Guadalupe Celebration, the largest religious event in Los Angeles in a generation, is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, along with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Institute for Guadalupan Studies. 

2012

The Knights of Columbus ships aid and funds to those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, with more than $500,000 in funds donated.  

2013

A new K of C initiative provides funding for Boston Marathon bombing victims, helping amputees acquire prosthetic devices not covered by insurance.  

2013

Following the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, Knights of Columbus in the Visayas jurisdiction deliver basic necessities and establish a livelihood project to help those left jobless after the storm. 

2014

The Knights of Columbus Christian Refugee Relief initiative reaches more than $2 million in public donations and Order-raised funds, which are distributed to support humanitarian assistance to refugees fleeing persecution in Iraq and the surrounding areas.  

2015

The Knights of Columbus provides $400,000 to the Ukrainian-rite and Latin-rite Catholic communities of Ukraine. The funds go toward humanitarian relief, including projects to feed and aid homeless children and refugees living on the streets of Kyiv. 

2015

Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors announces the creation of four faith-based investment solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of Catholic institutions. 

2015

In July, the Knights of Columbus begins the Christians at Risk national campaign to raise funds and foster awareness of the persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East.  

2015

On April 18, Supreme Knight Anderson presents charters for St. Andrew Kim Daegun Council 16000 and St. Paul Chong Hasang Council 16178 in Seoul, South Korea. Named for 19th-century Korean martyrs, these are the first councils instituted in Korea outside a military base and the first on the mainland of Asia.  

2015

The Knights of Columbus surpasses $100 billion of life insurance in force, highlighting the fraternal benefit society’s mission to protect Catholic families. 

2016

The U.S. State Department declares that Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East face genocide at the hands of ISIS. The Order was credited for its effort in pressing for this declaration, particularly through the preparation of a 300-page report containing information regarding dangerous, genocidal conditions in the Middle East.   

2016

Ukraine, the Order’s newest territory, has nearly 600 members in 13 councils. The Knights of Columbus also takes root in France and Lithuania.  

2017

The Knights of Columbus contributes nearly $2 million to various aid programs in the Middle East that have received little to no funding from the U.S. government or international community since ISIS began its genocidal campaign against the region’s religious minorities in 2014.   

2019

The Ultrasound Initiative reaches over 1000 machines donated to pregnancy centers. 

2019

Eighteen-year-old Kendrick Castillo, who died while protecting fellow students during a school shooting in Colorado, is posthumously made a Knight at the Supreme Convention in Minneapolis, Minn. 

2019

Work finishes on McGivney House, a 140-unit apartment building for Chaldean and Syriac Christian families in Iraq. This came about thanks to more than $1 million in donations from Knights.  

2019

Work finishes on McGivney House, a 140-unit apartment building for Chaldean and Syriac Christian families in Iraq. This came about thanks to more than $1 million in donations from Knights.  

2019

The Order launches the Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund, allowing donors to make potentially tax-deductible contributions to charitable causes in line with Catholic values. 

2019

Following a series of devastating earthquakes in Puerto Rico, Knights of Columbus lead efforts to aid those severely impacted by disaster.  

2020

On New Years Day, the first combined, public exemplification takes place at St. Mary’s Church.  

2020

The Order’s “Leave No Neighbor Behind” initiative begins, focusing on blood drives and food donations to assist those adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

2020

The Knights of Columbus helps U.S. dioceses weather the financial impact of the pandemic by establishing a $100 million fund to offer up to a $1 million secured line of credit per diocese. 

2020

The first online exemplification draws more than 13,000 participants. 

2020

The Supreme Council donates $100,000 to the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital for a high-intensity treatment room for infants and newborns with COVID-19 infections. The unit is named for the Knights’ founder, Father Michael McGivney. 

2020

On April 7, the Supreme Council announces an initial donation of more than $1 million to food banks in more than 20 major cities throughout the United States and Canada. 

2020

May 27, Pope Francis announces that Father McGivney will be beatified. 

2020

Beatification of Blessed Michael McGivney takes place on October 31. 

2020

The Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven, CT, is reestablished as the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center. 

2021

February 28/March 1 – Supreme Knight Carl Anderson retires, and Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly takes office.  

2021

Knights of Columbus supplies oxygen for COVID-19 patients in remote regions of Brazil and Peru. 

2021

California and Korea Knights celebrate pro-life milestones: 100th ultrasound in California, and the first in South Korea. 

2021

Supreme Knight Kelly and new supreme officers are installed in June.

2021

Columbia celebrates 100 years of publishing. 

2021

August 13, Knights celebrate the first feast day of Blessed Michael McGivney 

2021

The Knights launch Cor, a major initiative to bring men to Jesus. Cor’s in-person gatherings are open to all men and seek to build Christ-centered brotherhood through prayer, formation and fraternity.

2021

Knights of Columbus Asset Advisor (KoCAA) launches the Investment Advisor Representative Program with more than 100 advisors overseeing approximately $28 million in assets. Shortly after, KoCAA hits one billion dollars in mutual fund assets. 

2022

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Knights of Columbus commits $1 million in immediate aid to Ukrainian relief and launches the Ukraine Solidarity Fund®. By mid-March, total contributions reach over $6.5 million, with 100% going to assist internally displaced persons and refugees.

2022

Polish Knights establish K of C Mercy Centers to assist Ukraine refugees. K of C Charity Convoys bring relief supplies to communities throughout Ukraine. 

2022

In April, Pope Francis meets with Supreme Knight Kelly and discusses the Order’s work in Ukraine. As the meeting ended, Pope Francis gestured with both hands and encouraged the supreme knight, saying: “Go on! Go on!” 

2022

The Knights of Columbus announces the ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program. By the end of its first year, the program exceeded its goal of $5 million by $1 million. 

2022

During the 140th Supreme Convention in Nashville, the first Blessed Michael McGivney Medal is presented to a Knights of Columbus chaplain, Father Matthew Keller, for outstanding service and dedication.

2022

Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, a feature-length documentary produced by the Knights of Columbus, premieres at the Vatican. The film’s release in the United States earns more than $1.2 million to go toward charity and preserving her legacy. 

2022

In December, Supreme Knight Kelly again visits Ukraine and Poland and presents Poland President Andrzej Duda with the Order’s Caritas Award in recognition of his country’s charitable efforts for the people of Ukraine. While there, he meets both Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church leaders, along with visiting parishes, convents and seminaries that have opened their doors to refugees and displaced persons. 

2023

Supreme Knight Kelly reconsecrates the Order to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the basilica named in her honor in Mexico City. 

2023

In early June, the Archdiocese of Hartford announces that the eight Catholic churches in New Haven, including the Order’s birthplace, St. Mary’s Church, would merge July 1 to form Blessed Michael McGivney Parish. 

2023

The Order’s Catholic Information Service® marks 75 years of spreading the Church’s teachings and forming people in the Catholic faith. 

2023

Knights of Columbus rapidly respond to the wildfire that razed the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 8. Within 48 hours, Knights from several councils in Oahu were loading a boat with emergency supplies and navigating toward Maui’s west coast. 

2023

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly celebrates a major milestone of 1 million coats distributed through the Order’s Coats for Kids program. Since Coats for Kids launched in 2009, Knights have given coats to children in 49 U.S. states and all 10 Canadian provinces. 

2023

On Dec. 8, a new statue of Blessed Michael McGivney by artist Chas Fagan is unveiled and dedicated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. 

2024

In January, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly announces that the Knights of Columbus would fund a yearlong restoration of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s iconic baldacchino above the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. Upon its unveiling in October, in anticipation of 2025’s Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis called the restored baldacchino “more sublime than ever” and a way for worshippers to “rediscover that it frames the true focal point of the entire basilica, namely the glory of the Holy Spirit.”   