Considering membership in the Knights of Columbus

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Seeks_God

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I’m not sure if this Forum is the appropriate place, or if it might belong in a different category…

Recently, I was invited to be a member of the K of C and I have to admit that I don’t know a whole lot about the Knights. I’ve looked at the websight and have only briefly spoken to a few people about it, but I’d love to hear more perspectives…

What pros vs. cons do any of you have regardning membership in the Knights? Anything you want to share with me form a personal perspective would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,

SG
 
Seeks_God said:
I’m not sure if this Forum is the appropriate place, or if it might belong in a different category…

Recently, I was invited to be a member of the K of C and I have to admit that I don’t know a whole lot about the Knights. I’ve looked at the websight and have only briefly spoken to a few people about it, but I’d love to hear more perspectives…

What pros vs. cons do any of you have regardning membership in the Knights? Anything you want to share with me form a personal perspective would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,

SG
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I give the KofC 2 👍 👍

SK tee :knight2:
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Seeks God, I’m a knight and the most important advice I have is: find a council where you fit and that seems to have the same mission as you.

In my case, I think perhaps I jumped into it too early and joined a group where the average age of members is probably double mine.

In my experience as well, the knights at my council are more culturally and politically Catholic in their actions and ideals than they are spiritually and mentally Catholic. They’re purely Catholic certainly, but not Catholic purely. We’re more likely to fund raise for the school attached to the church than we are to organize a retreat for ourselves. I can expand on that if you don’t get the idea.

I don’t doubt there are councils that are different than mine – in fact, I will more than likely look to transfer my membership soon to one of them. Don’t jump in. Get to know the group.

mp
KofC (3rd deg.)
 
Agree - find one that fits what you want to do in service to the Church. We are defenders of the faith and wholly traditional.

Our organization does a lot for the community, church, and school of our parish church. Many worthwhile activities like BBQ fundraisers for all kinds of charitable reasons, helping Habitat for Humanity build homes, we provided assistance after Hurricane Katrina/Rita, and provide meals for events for the Diocese or Retreats.

We also socialize with each other at events to celebrate our own families and sporting events.

We also help our own parishioners when one is ill (meals and yardwork) and assist for funerals etc.

It is a Catholic service organization and the key is to find the one that suits your talents best. Good luck - or should I say vivat jesus (3rd degree KofC since 84 or so)
 
I would highly recommend the Knights of Columbus to any Catholic man who is serious about his faith and is seeking an avenue to do the Lord’s work. We are all called to charity and this organization is a fun way to help others. In addition, the insurance opportunities to members is fantastic!

I am 28 and the average age of my council’s members is probably over 60, but it is a great joy to learn from them.

I honestly don’t know anyone who regretted joining.
 
I agree with Martin Porres. It’s a good organization, but its leadership really needs to figure out how to reconcile the 70 year olds with the 30 year olds.

If the Knights can’t do it, if the organization is just a club for Catholic seniors, it’s shooting itself in the foot for the future and for the present. It will mean a place to play cards, talk and drink beer, watch TV, rather than be a more active force in the community.

I’m a member and 43. The age difference is still apparent to me!
 
Sounds to me like the 30 year olds need to quit disparaging the older Knights and join them in their work. If it weren’t for the old guys, there wouldn’t be an organization for you to join in the first place. What do you want it to be, Logan’s Run or something similar?
 
geezerbob (Brother Bob), to an extent, I agree with you. I think if I were a little more outgoing, I wouldn’t have as big of a problem fitting in. Median age of council brother, regardless.

But Maxply’s comment is spot-on: even though fraternity is a two-way street, I’d expect longer-standing brothers to take it upon themselves to make new brothers feel included – at least for the first few months until they feel comfortable. It just seems that’s the way it should work if they want people to stick around. That’s not the way it worked for me after I powered through my degrees, sad to say.

That said, I’m not the type of person to give up so quickly. I think I’ll audit other council meetings with my trusty traveling card.
 
I would recommend the Knights to anyone! I am a Knight and am currently the Grand Knight of our Council.
Knights are Catholic men, 18 years of age and older, who are committed to making their community a better place, while supporting their Church. Being a Knight is being involved in our communities; it is supporting our Parishes, all the while enhancing our own faith - in short it’s about protecting and enhancing our family life.
This year the Knights are celebrating their 125th year in existence, so we’ve been around for a while. The Knights have grown from very humble beginnings to the becoming largest Catholic fraternal and humanitarian organization ever created – so we must be doing something right!
Knight’s activities operate on many levels, our activities can be local, state, national or even international in their scope and reach; but whatever the activities are and where ever the activities happen they are always guided by our four core principles - charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.
Here are just a few bullet points to let you know what a few guys getting together can accomplish.
As an organization:
• We contribute to charity. In 2005 total contributions to charity were roughly $140 million dollars.
• We volunteer. Annual volunteer hours by Knights for charitable causes are over 64 million hours.
• 400,000 Knights donate blood annually
• We visit the sick and bereaved. Knights make more than 5.4 million visits to the sick and bereaved each year.
• During the past decade the Knights have donated more than $1.2 billion to charity and provided in excess of 574 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable causes.
• When Pope John Paul II was installed to the papacy it was broadcast around the world, it was the Knights who funded the telecast.
• In addition to the countless hours of service and dollars contributed to Catholic causes, the Knights of Columbus has stood alongside the pope on a wide range of social issues, answering the pope’s call to spread the Gospel and foster a Culture of Life.
• The Knights made the “Pledge of Allegiance” a patriotic oath and a public prayer - in 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, ‘under God,’ to the Pledge.
Locally Knight do many many things. We are a small Council from a couple of small rural communities but we still:
• Support Seminarians in our Dioceses. Over $500.00 per year is given to help support a seminarian.
• Offer college scholarships to senior students from our Parishes.
• Provide support to individuals and families in our communities who are in need.
• Have and will continue to support Birthright, Special Olympics, local organizations who assist those with disabilties
• Our small council donates over 1,200 hours of service to our Parishes and over 1,100 hours of service to our communities every year.

This may have sounded a lot like a commercial for the Knights - sorry I got carried away, but it all true.

Remember One Knight cna make a difference 😃
 
The Knights of Columbus is a great organization, though each council is unique. Some are great promoters of orthodoxy, are strong supporters of clergy, religious, seminarians, and those in religious formation. Others are little more than a group of old men who do nothing but smoke, drink, cuss, and tell dirty jokes.

I can say, personally, that being a Knight has made me a better Catholic, and a better man. I have friends through the Knights of Columbus that cross many different generations, and I see firsthand the work we do for Bishops and Priests. Being a Catholic has changed my life (for the better) in so many ways that I can’t even begin to imagine my life without my faith. My Knights of Columbus council has really helped me keep up the practice of the Faith.
 
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