The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old parish
priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's
Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Today, more than a century later,
the Knights of Columbus has become the largest lay organization
in the Catholic Church.

The Order has been called "the strong right arm of the Church," and
has been praised by popes, presidents and other world leaders, for
support of the Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic
education, civic involvement and aid to those in need. As recently
as 1992, Mother Teresa of Calcutta praised the Knights in a speech
on the occasion of her reception of the first
Knights of Columbus Gaudium et Spes Award.


Thanks to the inspired work of Father McGivney as well as that of
millions of other Knights over the past century the Knights of
Columbus now stands at its pinnacle of membership, benefits and
service. Currently, there are over 1.6 million Knights of Columbus
more than ever before in our Order's history. Together with their
families, the Knights are nearly 6 million strong. In addition,
from the first local council in New Haven, the Order has grown to
more than 12,000 councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico,
the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
Panama, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
Each year, the Order continues this strong growth.