About Knights of Columbus

The Strong Right Arm of the Church

Knights of Columbus headwear

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Today, more than a century later, the Knights of Columbus has become the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church.

The Order has been called "the strong right arm of the Church," and has been praised by popes, presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need. As recently as 1992, Mother Teresa of Calcutta praised the Knights in a speech on the occasion of her reception of the first Knights of Columbus Gaudium et Spes Award.

As we celebrate 125 years of putting our faith into action, there are over 1.7 million Knights of Columbus—more than ever before in our Order's history. Together with their families, the Knights are nearly 6 million strong. In addition, from the first local council in New Haven, the Order has grown to more than 13,000 councils in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan and most recently in Poland. Each year, the Order continues this strong growth.

Volunteer Service & Insurance

Knights of Columbus flag

As the Order has grown, its benevolence has multiplied.

The Order continues to break all previous records for charitable contributions and volunteer service. In the past decade, the Knights donated nearly $10 billion to numerous charitable causes and nearly 540 million hours of volunteer service.

In 2008 alone, the Knights donated $150,036,865 million and 68,783,653 million volunteer hours to charitable causes. Blood donations exceeded 413,000.

Father McGivney's founding vision for the Order also included establishing a life insurance program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased members. The Order's insurance program has expanded substantially to serve more effectively the Knights' growing membership. Year after year, the Knights of Columbus has earned the highest possible quality ratings for financial soundness from A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The Order provides the highest quality insurance and annuity products to its members, along with many other fraternal benefits.

Charity, Unity, Fraternity & Patriotism

Knights of Columbus are Catholic gentlemen committed to the exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defence of the priesthood.

The Order is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Order is unequivocal in its loyalty to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. It is firmly committed to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defence of the family. It was on these bedrock principles that the Order was founded over a century ago and remains true to them today.

If you want to join this great organization of Catholic men, Council 1453 would like to invite you to join us. Here you will find brother Knights working to fulfill the central mission of the Order: striving in charitable works; serving the Church and unified in following its teachings; supporting brother Knights in their temporal and spiritual needs; acting for the good of their country; and giving aid to widows, orphans, the sick and the poor. This is Father McGivney's dream, echoing across the century, and living today in the hearts of his brothers and all of those they touch.

Council Newsletters

Windsor Council 1453

Council 1453 is the oldest council in this area. We received our Charter in 1910 and will celebrate 100 years of service in February 2010.

We make annual donations to Rite to Life with the proceeds from our Rose Sunday collections at the various parishes that we represent. We also have contributed to the Cystic Fibrosis association and various other local charities.

We have a very active Ladies auxiliary that compliments us with their works of Charity.

Every year we celebrate our long time members with a dinner honouring them. We also have a Memorial Mass every year to commemorate our deceased Brother Knights and prayers at the wake of a deceased member.

Our council sponsors a mixed bowling league and a golf league and golf tournament. We send teams yearly to the Knights of Columbus International Bowling Tournament.

Executive Officers, '09/'10

Chaplain - Fr. Martin Vavrak

Grand Knight - Bob Burns

Deputy GK - A. Vincent Deluzio

Chancellour - Gerald E. Tino Jr.

Warden - Ivan Marcoux

Financial Secretary - Ray Dupuis

Treasurer - Larry Tremblay

Recorder - Roy Renaud, PGK

Trustees
- Rene Trudell, PGK
- J.P. Rivard
- Edwin Kornacki

Guards
- Otto Valvasori
- Paul D. Chesnik

Advocate - Howard Levis, PGK

Lecturer - Dave Pare

For a complete directory, including contact information, please visit our executive officer page.