Charitable mission

In the fall of 1881, a few men and a Catholic priest met in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn. The Rev. Michael J. McGivney wanted to honor the efforts of Christopher Columbus, who not only discovered America, but brought a determination to spread Christianity with him. In March, 1882, the group officially incorporated as the Knights of Columbus.

Today, the Knights are the largest Catholic fraternal organization, with more than 1.5 million members worldwide. Its primary commitments are to country, families and faith. One of its goals was to establish a life insurance program for the families of members who have died. The fund that was created for this purpose continues to receive high ratings for financial stability from independent appraisers.

The Knights have been represented in Auburn by Council No. 207 since 1897.