Knights of Columbus

knights of columbus

In service to One, In service to all.

Upcoming Events 2023

October 29, 2023 - Food Drive with the Food Pantry ( 2 - 4pm )!

A member of the Knights of Columbus will unload your car. You only need to bring the food!

Do You Have 24 Hours?

In today’s world, the Catholic gentleman faces multiple commitments to his family, workplace, community, and Church. Every day these responsibilities seem to grow while the time to meet them is ever-shrinking. It can be a distinct challenge for today’s man to find time to volunteer and serve his fellow man. However, consider this: If you give only 24 hours per year to the Knights of Columbus, you could have a positive impact in your community and Church.

Here is a sample breakdown of how little time it takes to be an active member in the Order:

Twelve hours reading the weekly parish bulletin, the council newsletters, Columbia magazine, and surfing the state council and Supreme Council Web sites.

Two hours to volunteer at our annual Intellectual Disabilities (ID) drive to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Two hours attending prayer services at the parish. Praying the Rosary at St. Edna or another Parish in the area.

Two hours to support a council-sponsored event.

Two hours to attend two (you may attend more!) council business meetings, which are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. We try to finish by 8:30 PM and then enjoy some fraternalism. It’s a great way to find out what’s happening and make sure your voice is heard when important decisions are made.

Four hours for you and your family to enjoy two or three Council social functions such as a Lenten Fish Fry, Breakfast with Santa, etc.

Almost any man can fit these activities into his schedule. There are 8,760 hours in a year. By dedicating only 24 of those hours to the Knights, a man has an opportunity to become a better Catholic, father, husband, and member of the community.

Monthly Meeting Information

Business meetings (members only) are normally held at 7:00 PM on the first Thursday of each month.

Social meetings (open to all) are normally held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00PM.

Meetings are held at the Council hall, 15 N. Hickory, AH. Current calendars can be found on the K of C Council 4483 website.

Activities

The Knights of Columbus Programs are divided into five major categories: CHURCH, COMMUNITY, YOUTH, FAMILY, and COUNCIL. Each group of programs and activities are headed by a program director.

Church activities include monthly Rosary night, Vocations financial support, Pro-Life program, Thanksgiving Day Mass, Corporate communions at our parish churches, May Crowning, etc.

Community activities include parade participation, Intellectual DisabilitiesDrive, Clearbrook client dinner dances, etc.

Youth activities include children’s Breakfast with Santa, Spelling Bee, Free-Throw Contest, etc.

Family activities include Pancake Breakfasts, Family Picnic, Fish Fries, etc.

Council activities include PGK honor night, Council Open Houses, Council Newsletter, etc.

There are a wide variety of interesting activities from which a Knight may choose to determine his level of involvement in the Council’s work. Many activities, such as the Social Meeting, provide programs which include the wives and children. The spouse of a Knight is automatically a member of the council’s Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Council 4483

"Imagine being part of an organization that fills your heart and your mind with the joy of giving to others and the feeling that comes with making a difference. Knights are Catholic men, who are committed to making their community a better place, while supporting their Church. Being a Knight is more than camaraderie; it is being involved with your community; it is supporting your local Catholic Church, while enhancing your own faith; it is about protecting and enhancing your family life." - K of C website

Council 4483 includes members from St. Edna, St. James, Our Lady of the Wayside, and St. Collette parishes, as well as surrounding parishes. There are a total of about 450 members. There is also a Ladies Auxiliary composed of member’s wives and widows.

Did You Know That...

The Knights of Columbus is an organization of Catholic men and their families, and is the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world, with over 1.8 million members?

The first principle of our order is charity, and that over the last decade, the Knights around the world have donated over $1.5 billion to charity and provided more than 673 million hours of volunteer service?

Among the ways Holy Rosary Council supports this community is by supporting this parish’s SPRED program through its “Tootsie Roll” drive, and parish youth programs through its Lenten Fish Fries?

History of Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization of Catholic gentlemen. The Order was founded in 1881 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut for the benefit of local Catholic workers, who were discriminated against for their religious beliefs at that time, and who were unable to obtain insurance to protect their families against financial ruin if they were unable to continue their support.

Charity, Unity, Fraternity

The Knights of Columbus has since grown to be the largest Catholic family fraternal service organization in the world. There are currently over 1.8 million Knights, in over 14000 councils, in 14 nations around the world.

The fundamental principles of the Knights of Columbus are Charity, Unity, and Fraternity, which are the basis of the First, Second, and Third Degrees through which a Knight advances to full Knighthood. A Fourth Degree, based on Patriotism, is in many ways the face of the Order. Fourth Degree Knights are perhaps best known for providing honor guards, in regalia, for Bishops and other clergy, among other duties.

The Knights of Columbus are dedicated to the defense of the Church and its teachings. Examples of this include annual fundraisers for Vocations and support of Respect Life programs. In addition, a strong emphasis is placed on the support of multiple charities, especially those helping the intellectually challenged. Examples include the annual Intellectual Disabilities (Tootsie Roll) Drive, support for Special Olympics, and the Clearbrook Dances hosted by Council 4483.

All practical Catholic gentlemen are invited to join the Knights. Benefits include the availability of insurance programs to protect the Knight and his family, the opportunity to participate in Council activities that help those who most need our support, and the fellowship of the Council meetings.

Types of Membership

KOC offers the opportunity for fellowship with those who are of the same religious beliefs, who recognize the same duty to God, to family and to neighbors and who stand side by side in defense of those beliefs. Upon acceptance, the applicant becomes a member by participating in a ceremonial known as the First Degree. Later he advances through the Second Degree and Third Degree ceremonies. After a period of six months, and having achieved both the Second and Third degrees, a Knight is eligible to become a Sir Knight. This Fourth Degree, also known as THE PATRIOTIC DEGREE, is the highest degree in the Order. Knights who advance to the Fourth Degree join St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Assembly, which includes members from several other Councils as well as Council 4483.

Source: Knights of Columbus Council 4483 website