Knights of Columbus

Admission Course

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus

• Catholic Organization• Family Centered• Fraternal• Service Oriented

Why Knights?Knights are men of:

GOOD MORAL CHARACTERFAITHFULLCOURAGEOUS

CHURCHCOUNTRY

FELLOW MEN

SPIRITUAL CONVICTION & COMMITMENT TO SERVICE OF:

Knights in the olden days Before Knights were from men who held land

in Military tenure Not inherited,but

merited From Common People

who had to undergo training in the

Code of Chivalry

The Code of ChivalryCourage, Fighting Ability, Generous

and

Faithful to his Lord or Saviour

To be a KnightA boy of 7 or 8 of noble birth is given to a lord for training

At 15 or 16 the boy becomes an SQUIRE to assist the knight

In battle, he takes care of his knight when wounded

After the boy, now a man, had proven his worth he was dubbed a knight

Knights of Columbus

Are called “Knights” because they too, are courageous in proclaiming their FAITHThey are ready defend their FaithThey love their fellow men and are generous in helping the poorAbove all, they are FAITHFUL TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Who was Columbus?• Columbus discovered America for Spain.• He was looking for a shorter ocean route to India• He wanted to bring the gospel to the Indians.• Nobody believed him that there is an ocean route to India,

as they believed that the earth was flat.

Love for Christ CharityFortitude Determination

Knownfor his

“Columbus” the name was adopted because the Knights today has the same ideals:

Pride in the

Catholic HeritageIt was theCatholic Faiththat evangelizedAmerica and the world

Why K of C was founded?

1. Help Catholic men to remain steadfast in the faith;

2. Promote closer ties among members;

3. To set up an insurance for the widow and children of departed members.

Knights of Columbus• Render PECUNIARY AID to member &

Families and their beneficiary• Mutual AID to sick, disabled and needy

members and families• Promote social and intellectual intercourse

among members and their families• Promote educational, charitable, religious,

social welfare & public relief work.

Objectives

KNIGHTS OF

COLUMBUS

HOW DID IT

START

It was founded by

Fr. MICHAEL J. MC GIVNEY

1882 America was recovering From the civil war of 1861-65

1881-83 Immigrants are coming

in from Europe and China

America was facing a war with Spain (1998)

1882

There was wide spread poverty

Fr. Michael J. McGivney saw the need for

a Catholic Fraternal organization to help the poor

MARCH 29,

Birth of the Knights of Columbus

Who is Fr. Michael J. Mc.Givney?

Born to Patrick and Mary McGivney (Irish immigrant) on August 12, 1852 at Connecticut. Michael is the eldest of 13 children (6 died during infancy)

1859 – Finished Primary Sch. Worked in a spoon factory1868 - Attended Saint Hyacinthe’s Seminary at Quebec, Canada1873 -Finished at St. Mary’s Seminary Dec.22, 1877-Ordained as Priest by Archbishop James Gibbons at the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was assigned at St. Mary’s Church. Feb. 2, 1882 – Appointed Pastor of the Saint Mary’s Church.

March 29, 1882 - Knights of Columbus was born August 14, 1890 – Died of tuberculosis at age 38

Fr. Michael J. McGivney talked to 9 men and formed the organization

• Daniel Colwell• Cornelius T. Driscoll• William M. Geary• John T. Kerrigan• James McMahon• James T. Mullen (The First Supreme Knight)

• Matthew C. O’Connor, MD• William Sellwood• Michael Tracey

Knights who attained Sainthood May 21, 2000

St. Miguel dela Mora dela Mora (Council 2140)St. Pedro de Jesus Maldonado Lucero(2419)St. Jose Maria Robles Hurtado (Council 1927)St. Rodrigo Aguilar Aleman (Council 2330)St. Luis Batiz Sainz (Council 1926)St. Mateo Correa Magallanes (Council 2140)

October 15, 2001St. (Bishop) Rafael Guizar Valencia

(Council 2311)

Beatified

Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodrigues (Puerto Rican layman)

April 29, 2001

November 20, 2005 Blessed (Fr.) Jose T, Rangel Montano (Council 2484)

Blessed (Fr.) Andres Sola Molist (Council 1963)

The Cause for SainthoodFr. Michael J. McGivney

October 1997Vatican grants “NIBIL OBSTAT"(Finds no objection for the cause of his cannonization)

1996 DOM. Fr. Gabriel B. O’Donnel, O.P. was named postulator for the sainthood of Fr. Michael McGivney June 1997U.S Bishops unanimously approve the opening of Fr. Michael Mc Givney Guild to gather & assemble information on his life and legacy

Second Investigation into a Reported miracle was carriedTo the Congregation for the Cause of Saints of Rome

JANUARY 2004

The Cause for Sainthood of Fr. Michael McGivney

August 2007Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Sec. of State spoke his intention to support the cause which was under review by the Congregation for the Causes of Saint

March 15, 2008Pope Benedict XVI declaresFr. Michael McGivneyVenerable Servant of God

The Knights of Columbus

• More than 1.733 Million members worldwide

• More than 13,000 councils worldwide• Among the top 5% insurance

companies in the U.S and Canada• Raised over a BILLION Dollars for

Charity

Today

CHARITABLE WORK

• Restoration of the façade of St Peter Basilica in 1980• Underwrite cost of satellite TV of liturgical celebration from the Vatican• Restoration of St. Mary’s Dome at Washington D.C.• Established Vicarious Christi Fund of $20M. To support popes charitable initiatives • Annual assistance to CBCP projects

Works of MERCYDonated P1M Heroes Fund ($3,000) per family of the victims of 9/11

Gave $100,000 Humanitarian aid to the conflict at Lebanon

Send 2,000 wheel chairs for victims of land mine at Afghanistan

Raise $10,000 for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Victims

Works of MERCY

Donated $50,000

relief fund for Bicol

flood victims

What are knights?Knights care for the CHURCH, for the COMMUNITY,

for the FAMILY,

for the youth, and fellow members

Knights says

NO TO ABORTION THEY ARE PRO LIFE ADVOCATE

NO TO GAY MARRIAGES

NO TO MARRIED PRIEST and WOMEN’S ORDINATION

XXX

Knights say

YESYES TO GOD AND LIFE

The Philippine Experience

• April 5 1905- American soldiers and civilian established the first KoC council in the Philippines -Richard Cambell was the First Grand Knight ( council 1000 was all American)

• 1907-1908 – Filipinos were admitted to KoC as 1st degree members• Oct. 1918- Dr. Jose Ma. Delgado established council 1900 San Pablo

• 1920 – Organization was composed of predominantly Filipinos• 1940-1943-Activities were suspended because of WW II• 1943 – George J. Willman reestablished KoC• 1948- Rev.Fr. George Willmann was appointed First District Deputy; (1954-Territorial Deputy, and in 1962, Philippine Deputy up to his death in 1978)

The Philippine Experience (con’t)

• 1978 – Sen. And Amb. Oscar Ledesma was the first Filipino Philippine Deputy• 1980 – 40,000 Filipinos are in the K of C• 1983 – Oscar Ledesma was appointed first Filipino Supreme Director and Vice Supreme Master of the 4th Degree • 1983 - Mardonio R. Santos replaced Don Oscar as Philippine Deputy• 1988 – Philippine Jurisdiction was divided to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

Today there are more than 225 Thousand Filipino Knights

Supreme Council

Board of Directors/Supreme Council Officers

State Council

District Deputy

Subordinate Council

Grand Knight

Supreme KnightCarl Anderson

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SUPREME COUNCILState Deputy, Last Living State Deputy, Territorial Deputy, Supreme Councils Officers, Delegates to the Supreme Council, Board of Directors and Past Supreme Knights

State CouncilGrand Knight, Past Grand Knight, State Officers and Last Living State Deputy

COUNCIL ORGANIZATIONALCHART

Grand Knight

Lecturer Recorder Treasurer Advocate Warden

Chaplin

FinancialSecretary

DeputyGrandKnight

Guards Trustee

Appointed

Chancellor

Elected

Principles of the Order of Knighthood

•Charity – Love of God and neighbor

“Faith without works is dead” - James 2:20 “If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says ‘May things go well for you, be warm and satisfied, without attending to their materials needs, what good is that?’ So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead”

-James 2:14-17

Principles of the Order of Knighthood

•Unity – oneness in Faith, purpose and action

Knights stand united in faith speaking out for religious-ground moral values

“… Holy Father, keep them in your Name, so that they may be one just as we are one…” John 17:11

Principles of the Order of Knighthood

•Fraternity – Christian brotherhood

Knights band together as brothers to help one another in times of distress

“…and all of you are brothers…” -Matthew 23:8

Principles of the Order of Knighthood

• Patriotism – Our love of Country

“Our citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ…”

Philippians 3:28

“There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for one’s friend;…” -John 15:13

Our Principles

•CHARITY•UNITY•FRATERNITY•PATRIOTISM

Service Program Organizational Chart

Grand Knight

Member-ship

Director

ProgramDirector

CommitteesRecruitment

RetentionInsureancePromontion

CommitteeWays & Means

Director

CommitteeYouth

Director

CommitteeFamily

Director

CommctteeCouncilDirector

CommitteeCommunity

Director

CommitteeChurchDirector

Commitees• Ways & Means –Fund Raising Activities

• Church- Lay Apostolate, Parochial Serviced, Religious Devotions, Holy Week Participation• Community-Pro-life Volunteerism, Human Need, Civic Involvement, Decency, Public Safety, Health Service• COUNCIL – Public Relations, Fraternalism, Cultural, Social, Blood Donors, Athletics• FAMILY-Survivors Assistance, Memorials, Education, Family Projects, Recreation• YOUTH – Columbian Squires, Youth Groups, Athletics, Youth Welfare, Religious Activities, Social & Civic Activities• MEMBERSHIP – Recruitment and Admission, Retention, Insurance Promotion

CERMONIALS

• CLOSE Ceremonials – rituals that are exclusive only to the members in good standing of the Order

1. Regular Council or Assembly Meeting 2. The Exemplification to any Degree 3. The Renewal of Obligation of the

Fourth Degree

The Salute• Saluting knight puts his right hand with palm

facing left in front of his face, about head level and makes a vertical gesture downwards –making the vertical portion of the cross

• The Salute – to answer the salute, the knight puts his hand across his shoulder, about shoulder level with the palm facing down, then he swings this palm horizontally to going to the right, to make the horizontal beam of the cross

CEREMONIALS

• OPEN Ceremonials – rituals that are SEEN by the public and sometimes non KoC may even participate

1. The Council or Assembly Charter Presentation 2. The Installation of Officers 3. The Necrological Service

Dress Code(during Fraternal meetings and

events)• White Long sleeve Barong

(not jusi or pina material) with insignia of the Order

• Black pants• Black Socks and Shoes

PROTOCOLS• KNIGHTS gives precedence to Bishops

and Priest (give them the honored seats)• In 3rd Degree affairs, Grand Knight takes

precedence over Faithful Navigator• In 4th Degree affairs, Faithful Navigator

takes precedence over the Grand Knight• 1st and 2nd Degree are called - “Brothers”• 3rd Degree are called – “Sir”• 4th Degree are called – “Sir Knight” or SK

Who can be Knights?

Practicing Catholic Gentlemen in union with the Holy SeeBelieve in marriage Never been convicted of a crimeAt least 18 years of ageResident of the council (or willing to attend that parish)

Willing to SERVE and render FREE SERVICE to the Church and fellow men

Meaning of the Logo (Insigna)

The Cross• The Cross symbolizesour Christian and Catholic Faith“that He might fully reconcile both peoples in one body of God through the cross… Ephesians 2:16

The Shield The Shield is our Good Works

“Shield of Faithwith which we will beable to quench the burning arrows of the wicked one.”

Ephesians 6:16

The Colors• WHITE is for purity & peace ”They have washed their robes with the blood of the lamb” Rev.7:14• RED is for our faith & courage in the blood of the lamb• YELLOW is our unity with the Pope, the color of the Vatican where we get directions • And BLUE The color of hope, it is color of our mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, who us always interceding for us.

The Triangles• The First is for CHARITY the first degree for a person seeking knighthood• The second is for UNITY for second degree seekers

• The Third is for FRATERNITY the brotherhood of knights

• The Fourth is for PATRIOTIC representing the knights’ love for the land that God gave us

The Sword

The SWORD is our PRAYER, our defense

“…the SWORD of the spirit, that is the word of God, Ephesians 6:17

The Anchor

The Anchor is the symbol our HOPE

the symbol of a Navigator, like Christopher Columbus,who was not afraid to venturenew places to proclaim the faith

It is a symbol of stability and power

The Mace

The MACE, is the symbol of

AUTHORITY AND

PROTECTIONThis symbolizes the knights’authority and duty to dependthe Faith, the church andits fellow knights

The SEAL Wear it with PRIDE

and

DIGNITYHonor

Now that you are a knight in the

Knights of Columbus,

you are now part of a worldwide brotherhood of noble

Christians knights.

Why be a Knight of Columbus• GOOD HEALTH• LONG LIFE• SALVATION• LIFE WITH THE LORD“Give and it will be given to you” –Luke 6:38“Happiness is more in giving than to receiving”

–Acts 20:35“Whatever we do, do it in the name of the Lord

–Col. 3:17“Good is not unjust that He will forget the good

things that you have done -Eph. 6:7

Benefits of a Knight

Free Holy Rosary blessed by Supreme Chaplain

Lifetime subscription to Columbia Magazine

Financing and Social programs

College Student loans & Scholarship program Awarded over $1.6 college grants to 756 students in 2006-07 from the Philippines, Canada & Mexico

Participate in all Catholic fraternal and social activities in more than 13,000 councils world wide

What is expected from you?

• Attend Mass in formal attire• Attend Mass as a family unit• Attend council meetings in proper attire• Participate in council meetings• Read literatures about the Knights• Protect you family’s future• Pay your dues promptly

• End of Admission Course