Our home parish is Incarnate Word – located in Chesterfield, Missouri. The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization that was founded by the Servant of God, Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney in 1882. The organization was initially formed to help support the surviving families of deceased members. Over the years, the organization has grown to over 1.7 million men in more than 13,000 councils in 12 countries.
The main principle of the organization is charity, and to that end, the councils engage in a variety of activities aimed at helping those in need. The Incarnate Word Knights hosts a variety of charitable undertakings each year . . . including the annual fish fries, the “tootsie roll” drive, blood drives, golf tournaments and many others.
Chartered in 1989, our Council here at Incarnate Word Parish has made significant financial contributions to the parish over the years. Funds raised through our charitable events have helped to provide furniture for the new rectory, the establishment of the Adoration Chapel, and many others.
| IW Knights Mission Statement |
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Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, by volunteering at Special Olympics, and by supporting, both spiritually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies. Knights recognize that our mission, and our faith in God, compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compassion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day.
None of us is as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that – together – we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. So we stick together…we support one another. That doesn’t mean that we always agree or that there is never a difference of opinion. It does mean that – as a Knight of Columbus – you can count on the support and encouragement of your brother Knights as you work to make life better in your parish and community.
The Blessed Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to provide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely. The Order’s top-rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do individual Knights, who last year gave more than 10 million hours of their time to assist sick and/or disabled members and their families. In the Knights of Columbus, we watch out for and take care of one another.
Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens.