Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus are an indispensable pillar of faith, charity, and brotherhood within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough. From supporting our parish families and working hand-in-hand with local Catholic schools, to funding vital community outreach programs, the Knights turn Catholic values into real-world action. As the “strong right arm of the Church”, this lay fraternal service order empowers men to deepen their faith while transforming local communities.

Our Roots: Founded in Faith and Mutual Aid

The history of the Order began in 1882, when a 29-year-old parish priest, Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney, gathered a small group of laymen in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut.

Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus to address two pressing challenges:

Protecting Vulnerable Families: At a time when dangerous working conditions frequently claimed the lives of working-class men, immigrant Catholic families were routinely left penniless and fractured. Father McGivney envisioned a mutual benefit society that would provide financial aid to widows and orphans through a pioneering life insurance system.
Uniting Catholic Men: The Order offered an alternative to secular secret societies, giving men a way to take pride in their faith, build deep brotherhood, and serve their community.

The movement quickly expanded beyond its origins, officially taking root in Canada with the establishment of Montreal Council No. 284 in 1897. Today, it has blossomed into a global brotherhood of over 2.1 million members.

Our Mission and Core Principles

The foundational mission of the Knights of Columbus remains unchanged: to empower Catholic men to live out their faith at home, in their parish, and throughout their community. Every charitable effort, prayer circle, and community program is anchored in four core principles:

Charity: Our largest and most vital principle. We love our neighbours by volunteering our time and resources to lift up the disadvantaged, vulnerable, and marginalized.
Unity: Standing together, we accomplish what we cannot do alone. United in faith, the Knights form a resilient backbone for the parish and the broader Church.
Fraternity: We cultivate a Christ-centered brotherhood where men encourage one another to grow in holiness, virtue, and leadership as grandfathers, fathers, and sons.
Patriotism: We remain fiercely dedicated to serving our country and local community, always grounded in our allegiance to God and the common good.

The Knights in the Diocese of Peterborough

Within the Diocese of Peterborough, the Knights are a vibrant and highly active presence. Across the diocese, there are 25 local councils and 5 assemblies dedicated to serving our regional parishes and surrounding neighbourhoods. From the urban core of Peterborough to rural parishes, the Knights consistently rally men together to support our clergy and protect parish life.

How the Knights Serve Today: Collaborative Community Impact

The Knights do not work in isolation; their mission succeeds because they collaborate closely with pastorates, charitable agencies, and educational institutions.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐

│ KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COLLABORATION │

├───────────────────┬──────────────────┬─────────────────┤

│ Parish Support │ Community Care │ Catholic Schools│

│ ∙ Clergy aid │ ∙ Food banks │ ∙ Bursaries │

│ ∙ Facility events │ ∙ Shelters │ ∙ Poster contests│

│ ∙ Men’s ministry │ ∙ Special Olympics│ ∙ Faith formation│

└───────────────────┴──────────────────┴─────────────────┘

Nurturing Faith in Catholic Schools

The partnership between the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic schools is a shining example of faith in action. The Knights actively support the next generation of believers by:

Sponsoring values-driven initiatives like the “Keep Christ in Christmas” and Substance Abuse Awareness youth poster contests.
Offering academic bursaries, scholarships, and awards to celebrate graduate excellence and community service.
Providing direct volunteer and financial assistance for school faith development, athletic gear, and special educational tools.

Lifting Up and Supporting

In true alignment with the teachings of Jesus Christ, our local councils organize robust seasonal clothing drives and ongoing food drives to supply local food banks and safe havens like the YWCA Crossroads shelter. They are also fierce champions for those people with intellectual disabilities, driving bottle drives and fundraising campaigns directly benefiting the Special Olympics.

Building Up Local Parishes

Whether it is funding vital church building renovations, organizing community parish dinners, running charity gaming events, or hosting regular times for communal prayer, the Knights ensure that our parishes remain warm, welcoming sanctuaries for all.

Answer the Call: Join the Brotherhood

If you are a practicing Catholic man looking to deepen your personal faith, form lifelong friendships, and leave a lasting charitable footprint on the Diocese of Peterborough, the Knights of Columbus welcome you.