Knights of Columbus: History, Membership, Degrees & Catholic Mission
Your independent, informational guide to the Knights of Columbus — covering history, faith, degrees, charitable programs, and how to get involved.
The Knights of Columbus has been serving Catholic men, families, and communities since 1882. Whether you’re curious about joining, researching the degrees, or trying to understand what K of C councils actually do — KnightSite.org is your go-to informational resource. No membership required to read. Just clear, well-researched articles written for Catholics and the simply curious alike.
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History & Origins
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. Explore how a small parish brotherhood became one of the world’s largest Catholic fraternal organizations, its connection to Christopher Columbus, and its defining role in American Catholic history.
Membership & Degrees
The K of C has four degrees — Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Each degree involves an initiation ceremony called an Exemplification. This section explains what each degree means, what membership requirements look like, and what rights and responsibilities come with being a Knight at each level.
Charity & Service
Knights of Columbus councils collectively donate tens of millions of volunteer hours and hundreds of millions of dollars each year. This section covers the K of C’s signature charitable programs — from Coats for Kids and ultrasound initiatives to disaster relief — and explains how local councils serve their communities in practice.
About
KnightSite.org has been serving Knights of Columbus members and the Catholic community since 1994. What started as a web directory for K of C councils has grown into a comprehensive informational blog covering history, degrees, charitable programs, Catholic faith, and community service. This site is maintained by Brother Knights for Brother Knights — but it is not affiliated with the official Supreme Council. Everything here is written to inform, not to sell. No ads selling membership. Just honest, useful information about one of the world’s most impactful Catholic organizations.
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