Knights of Columbus

Families are the heart of the Knights.

Family is paramount in the Knights of Columbus. In fact, it's almost like one big family - husbands, wives, children, widows, college students and religious. All K of C programs allow families to work together, involving everyone to aid their Church, their community and one another.

Every K of C council provides a wide variety of opportunities for family involvement. Picnics, dances, parties, athletic events. Communion breakfasts, family Masses. Father / daughter and mother / son activities, outings and plenty more. All revolve around the family, and the warmth and joy that comes with being an integral part of it.

"Family on the Month" and "International Family of the Year" awards programs recognize families that serve as strong role models.

Commitment of family begins with the basics... the "Crusade of Life". Recognizing that 1.5 million unborn lives are ended by abortions each year in North America alone, the Knights have made a determined effort to aid pro-life activities and groups, and will continue to do so until the lives of the innocent unborn are saved.

The Knights of Columbus' family commitment extends to education. There are a host of K of C merit scholarships available on the Supreme, state and local council level.

A federally guaranteed Student Loan Program is also available to assist members and their families pursuing higher education.

*Knights help the Church.*

Making sure the Catholic Church remains vigorous and undiminished is one of the primary missions of the Knights of Columbus. Take the priesthood, for instance. To help counter the decline in the number of candidates to the priesthood and religious life, the K of C has RSVP - the Refund Support Vocations Program. Through local council involvement, RSVP provides moral and financial support to individual seminarians and postulants pursuing religious vocations. Since its inception, RSVP has helped over 28,000 seminarians achieve their goal of the priesthood with nearly $16 million donated by local councils. That's not all. In the late 1980's the Knights funded the massive and faithful restoration of the four-century-old facade of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.		There's the $20 million Vicarius Christi Fund, established in 1982. The interest from this fund is given annually to the Pope for his personal charities. Since 1982, the fund has generated over $24 million. Annual contributions will continue in perpetuity. The Knights can also be found lending their support to the Church at the diocesan and local level. Whether they're providing manpower and funds for church projects or playing a role in the life of the parish, the Knights are always searching for ways to help the Church.