In October of 1881, a young priest named Father Michael J. McGivney called together a small group of men to meet in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. His purpose was to help Catholic men remain steadfast in their faith, promote closer ties of fraternity among them, and set up a system that would help fellow members and their families in times of hardships. 

These men, of this fledgling organization, were chartered on March 29, 1882 to be known as the 'Knights of Columbus'. 

Like the Knights of Yore, the organization  embodied the ideas  of spirituality and service to Church, country and fellow man. 

Today, the Knights of  Columbus has blossomed  into an international society of more than 1.70 million Catholic men in some 12,000 councils throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. They have dedicated themselves to these basic ideas: Charity. Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. 

The framework of our great organization is that we are a "Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization".  This theme permeates the entire Service Program: all church, community, council, family and youth activities.   

CATHOLIC is ­the common denominator for all our members.  Catholicism serves as the foundation for continued growth for our faith in God.  FAMILY is the very basis of society around which all our programs and activities evolve.   FRATERNITY means ­banding  together for the purpose of providing for spiritual and material welfare of our membership. SERVICE means our involvement with and commitment to Church, community, council, family and youth. 

Last year (2004) alone, the Knights donated more than $135 million and more than 63 million volunteer hours to charitable causes! 

The Protection of Human Life - The Knights of Columbus is unambiguously and proudly pro-life. In accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Order defends human life from the moment of conception until natural death. Building a new Culture of Life where every human life is welcomed and protected by law is one of the highest priorities of the Order! 

Church Support - Supporting the Catholic Church has been a hallmark of the Knights of Columbus. From funding the restoration of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to operating an usher ministry at a local parish, the Knights of Columbus serves the Church in countless ways. Annually, the Order raises and distributes more than $45 million to Church groups in support of programs at the local, national and international levels. Local Knights and their families donate more than 25 million hours of volunteer time to the Church each year. ‘In Solidarity with our Priests’ – we heartily support Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life! 

Through the years we have dedicated ourselves to God's calling.  We become involved and participate in what is taking place in the world around each and every one of us.  Conditions of present life require that we participate in shaping social issues and political issues, from speaking for the unborn to lending our hands to the less fortunate, and from making our society a place where there is more justice to where there is more love. The challenge to the Knights is trying to see where God is asking us to go and in what direction to move.  By becoming a Knight you can be an added voice, a helping hand to humankind, a sign to someone less fortunate - that God truly loves and cares for them. 

Why Join The Knights of Columbus??

Camaraderie! Community Involvement! Growing in one’s faith! Supporting the Church! Protecting one’s family! Helping others and expressing love of all! These are a few of the reasons that Catholic men and their families join the Knights of Columbus!

Pope John Paul I Council 6020 was instituted on December 5, 1967 and serves the parishes of St. Bonaventure and St. Vincent de Paul.