St. Rita

Knights of Columbus

Council #14230 is comprised of men from within the parish who wish to take an active part in supporting the parish through a variety of offerings: They support the parish through donations, a monthly Sunday breakfast, scholarships for youth, and other events.

The Knights of Columbus actively support life issues, a monthly Rosary, and other liturgical events.

News & Events

• Our members have access to our own optional insurance program, and new members can invest in attractive-rate savings annuities.
• The children of Knights can compete for college scholarships valued at $3,000 over five years.
• Each member receives the “Columbia” magazine monthly, a bi-monthly newsletter, and periodic email updates.
• We don’t forget your family! We have many family-oriented events, golf outings, picnics, trips, parties, and more!
• You can make your family proud by earning recognition through the “Knight of the Quarter,” “Family of the Quarter,” and “Knight and Family of the Year Awards.”

• The Knights provide pamphlets on “How to Prepare for Confession” and “How to Say the Rosary, pro-life materials, vocation materials, booklets, and posters on many church topics to our parishes.
• We show our priests appreciation and confirmation for all they do.
• We provide support for our seminarians.
• The Knights nationally sponsor several programs for our parochial schools. Our local council participates in many of these, including the School Essay Contest with cash awards and certificates, altar server certificates, school library support, and school fundraiser support.

History of the Knights of Columbus

On October 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut. Called together by their 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society that would one day become the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization.

United by a noble cause, they pledged to be defenders of their country, their families, and their faith, seeking strength in solidarity and security through unity of purpose.

These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas and the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New World. Their efforts came to fruition with the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882.

The Order, often referred to as "the strong right arm of the Church," has garnered praise from popes, presidents, and other world leaders for its unwavering support of the Church, its impactful programs of evangelization and Catholic education, its civic involvement, and its aid to those in need.

Father McGivney's founding vision for the Order also included a life insurance program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased members. The Order's insurance program has expanded substantially to serve the Knights' growing membership more effectively.

Year after year, the Knights of Columbus has earned the highest possible financial soundness ratings from A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The Order provides its members with the highest-quality insurance, annuities, long-term care products, and many other fraternal benefits.

The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Knights of Columbus and is responsible for the organization's overall development. Its duties include establishing the Order in new regions and setting up regional authorities, defining and advancing its values and goals, undertaking organization-wide initiatives, promoting awareness of the Knights' mission worldwide, and protecting the families of members through its extensive insurance program. Members working in local or subordinate councils, however, carry on the majority of the Knights' beneficial work.