The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882, the Knights of Columbus has over 1.7 million members in over 12,000 councils dedicated to the ideals of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism.
The name “Knights of Columbus” was chosen to relate to Christopher Columbus, the Catholic discoverer of America, and to signify that the membership embodies the knightly ideals of spirituality and service to Church, country, and fellow man.