Knights Of Columbus Founder’s Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Knights

Every year on March 29, Knights of Columbus Founders Day is observed. This day commemorates when Father Michael J. McGivney and other Catholics with similar beliefs met in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, to establish the order’s first council. The order, which has close to two million members in over sixteen thousand councils, was founded in response to the suffering of the impoverished, Catholics, and Irish immigrants. The Knights advocate the Catholic position on contentious issues of public policy, including opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion.

The background of Knights Of Columbus Founder’s Day

Michael Joseph McGivney was an Irish-American Catholic priest who resided in New Haven, Connecticut. He was born on August 12, 1852. In 1882, he founded the Knights of Columbus in a local church to provide mutual aid and fraternal insurance for working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States. (U.S.). In 1890, McGivney died in Thomaston of pneumonia. In 1996, the Archdiocese of Hartford initiated the canonization procedure for McGivney. He was authorised for beatification on May 27, 2020, meaning that McGivney could be declared ‘blessed,’ the pre-sainthood stage. A second miracle attributable to McGivney’s intercession will be required before he canonised.

The Knights of Columbus evolved to become the largest Catholic fraternal organisation in the world during the 20th century. It aids refugees, Catholic education, local parishes and dioceses, and global Catholic political and social concerns. The Knights advocate for the Catholic position on matters of public policy such as same-sex marriage and abortion. In addition, they offer financial services to Catholic individuals and institutions. Additionally, its financial advisors invest in accordance with Catholic social principles. The order adheres to four principles, also called degrees. These are altruism, solidarity, brotherhood, and patriotism. To cultivate a sense of community solidarity, the members must hold these degrees.

Knights of Columbus Founders Day is observed to recognise and commemorate the significance of Knights to communities and parishes. Participating councils will be reminded of the accomplishments of the Knights of Columbus, the ideals of the order, and the accomplishments of their own local council.

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5 fascinating facts about knights

During World War I, the Knights established military welfare centres in the United States, and after the war, they participated in veteran employment, education, and occupational training programmes.

The Knights of Columbus challenged the Oregon Compulsory Education Act, which prohibited Catholic and other parochial institutions in that state.

The publications “The Gift of Black Folk” by W. E. B. Du Bois, “The Jews in the Making of America” by George Cohen, and “The Germans in the Making of America” by Frederick Schrader were written to combat prejudice against ethnic and religious minorities.

The National Council encouraged local councils to establish funds to assist members impacted by the U.S. economic depression of the 1890s.

In 2018, the Supreme Knight, Carl Anderson, reported that the order had donated over $185 million and 76 million volunteer hours to charitable causes.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOUNDER’S DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	March 29	Wednesday
2024	March 29	Friday
2025	March 29	Saturday
2026	March 29	Sunday
2027	March 29	Monday