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WHO CAN BECOME A KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS?
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practical Catholic men in union with the Holy See,
who shall not be less than 18 years of age on their last birthday. A practical Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments
of God and the precepts of the Church. Application blanks are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus. Every
knight is happy to propose eligible Catholic men for consideration as members. Acceptance of the applicant depends upon a
vote of the members of the subordinate council in which he is making application. All priests and religious brothers having
duly made application for membership and participated in the ceremonials become honorary life members of the Order and are
exempt from payment of dues. Application for membership must be made through the council in the community nearest the applicant's
place of residence. Interested prospects without a permanent domicile, such as men temporarily away from home through duty
in the armed forces, may make application through their hometown council or at the nearest council on a military base. If
favorably voted upon, the applicant becomes a member by initiation known as the First Degree. He subsequently is advanced
through the Second Degree and the Third Degree. There are modest initiation fees and dues set by subordinate councils under
regulations established by the Supreme Council. The insurance privileges are available to all members who can qualify, which
represents an important advantage of membership. For men in every walk of life the name Knights of Columbus engenders the
image of a united organization, efficiently going about it tasks of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism and defense of
the priesthood. It is composed of men who are giving unselfishly of their time and talents in service of God and their country.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus provides opportunity for wholesome association with congenial companions who are, first
of all, practical Catholic gentlemen. It offers the opportunity for fellowship with those who are of the same belief, who
recognize the same duty to God, to family and to neighbor and who stand side by side in defense of those beliefs. Programs
are so organized as to appeal to the individual interest of the members. Through many constructive activities of Christian
fraternity, members are enabled to render service to their Church, their country and their fellowman. Through membership they
develop a consciousness of their ability to lead and to assist. Organized Columbianism, united behind the individual Knight
of Columbus, provides the power of an intelligent, alert body of Catholic men--a strength which the individual by himself
cannot achieve. Knights of Columbus has a proud heritage. The qualified Catholic man can share in that heritage and build
an even greater future by affiliating himself with this forceful, effective body.
Twelve Reasons Why
You Should Be
A Knight of Columbus
1. To unite with 1.5 million Men in the largest society of Catholic men in the world in over 10,000
local councils situated throughout North America and the Pacific.
2. To gain a unique opportunity for personal leadership
development through its organizational structure.
3. To share in the Knights' apostolate for the Catholic Church --
the promotion of vocations, prayer (particularly the Rosary), religious education and parish activities.
4. To participate
in the Family Life movement of the Knights, a family organization of some six million men, women and children.
5.
To work in the community for others who need you. Last year more than $95 million and over 41 million man-hours if service
were given by Knights in charitable and community endeavors, particularly for the retarded, the deaf, the blind, youth, the
poor, the aged, the sick and many others.
6. To help build future leaders through the Knights' own Columbian Squires,
and through Scouting, CYO, Big Brothers, 4-H Clubs, etc.
7. To enjoy with your family in our local council a wide
variety of social, cultural, and athletic activities.
8. To have available to yourself and your family a fraternal
low-cost life and health insurance program.
9. To qualify for college student loan and scholarship programs for yourself
and your family. (Even after the death of a member, his spouse and dependent children continue to qualify for these benefits.
10. To receive COLUMBIA, the largest Catholic monthly magazine in North America. After the death of a member his spouse
continues to receive COLUMBIA for life.
11. To be remembered with your family in a monthly Mass offered by the Supreme
Chaplain. Deceased members are remembered in a daily Mass at St. Mary's Church, the birthplace of the Order in New Haven,
Connecticut.
12. To take pride in helping the Holy Father bring the message of Christ to the world by providing annually
for global telecasts of the Christmas and Easter liturgies and other papal ceremonies from Vatican City.
The Knights
of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. It provides members and their families
with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people. With 1.6 million
members, the Knights of Columbus in 12,000 local councils distributes approximately $116 million to charitable causes annually.
In addition, they volunteer approximately 68 million hours of service a year.
MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP
We welcome to the ranks of our Holy Family Council the
following:
who have taken their first degree,
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