<P> The Knights of Columbus is the world 's largest Catholic fraternal service organization . Founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven , Connecticut , in 1882 , it was named in honor of the mariner Christopher Columbus . Originally serving as a mutual benefit society to working class and immigrant Catholics in the United States , it developed into a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services , promoting Catholic education and Catholic public policy positions , and actively defending Catholicism in various nations . </P>
<P> The Knights of Columbus is the world 's largest Catholic fraternal service organization . Founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven , Connecticut , in 1882 , it was named in honor of the mariner Christopher Columbus . Originally serving as a mutual benefit society to working class and immigrant Catholics in the United States , it developed into a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services , promoting Catholic education and Catholic public policy positions , and actively defending Catholicism in various nations . </P>
who was the founder of the knights of columbus
who was the founder of the knights of columbus
Father Michael J. McGivney
Father Michael J. McGivney