Knights of Columbus
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About
The Knights of Columbus was founded in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882 in the basement of St. Mary’s Catholic Church by Father Michael J. McGivney and a handful of Catholic laymen. The aim of the founder and those first members was to set up a parish-based lay organization that offered insurance benefits. In an era when parish and fraternal societies were popular, Father McGivney felt there should be some way to strengthen the religious faith of his flock and provide financial support for families overwhelmed by illness or death of the breadwinner. Today we have grown from that one local unit, or council, to nearly 11,000 councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam, Spain, and just recently, Poland. The Knights of Columbus offers the Catholic man and his family opportunities for leadership training through active involvement in a local unit, or council; volunteer opportunities in the parish and community; low-cost life insurance; fraternal benefits like college scholarships and student loans for himself, his wife, and children; Columbia magazine; and so much more. An example of the local council's involvement is reflected in the recent citation for community service given jointly by the city of Collinsville and Collinsville Unit 10 School district, on behalf of the Knights' annual mentally handicapped/ learning disabled fund drive. Over the last 37 years the Knights have raised and distributed $185,000 to the special school district and Special Olympics. Membership in the Knights of Columbus offers the member and his family fellowship with like-minded Catholic families not only in his community or parish, but throughout his state, region, and even internationally.
Current Events
Bringing Friends & Family Together
Our local Knights of Columbus, Council 1712, is a perfect venue for your family and friends to gather for all occasions -- Birthdays, Anniversaries, Class Reunions, Weddings, and Wedding/ Baby Showers. We offer four different venues, full service catering, daily lunch and dinner service, plus Collinsville's biggest back yard.
Along with family events, the facility also hosts multiple business and civic organizations each month. Keep the KC in mind when planning your groups' meeting agendas/ locations for the year!