The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. Created to provide financial support to families in need, the organization quickly expanded its mission to include a wide range of charitable activities, all rooted in Catholic values. The organization also offers extensive life insurance services to members and their families, resulting in more than $120 billion of life insurance in force.
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Guided by the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, the Knights of Columbus is dedicated to serving the community and supporting the Church. Charity remains its core focus, with members engaging in various initiatives, from disaster relief to supporting those with intellectual disabilities. The organization has donated billions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to these causes. With over two million members worldwide in more than 16,000 parish-based councils, the Knights of Columbus is one of the largest Catholic organizations. It continues to foster a strong sense of brotherhood, promoting mutual support among members while upholding the ideals of faith and service to both Church and the community.
In the year 2014, started as the first Syro Malabar Council in Canada with 28 charted members, Knights of Columbus St. Thomas Syro Malabar Council #15871 have grown into a strength of 212 Members, majority of them as insurance members. Our council won the prestigious Star Council Award this year also, the international organization’s top honor for local councils. The presence and the good standing of our Council was very instrumental in securing a Church loan of $3.5M towards the purchase of our Church building. We enjoy the ‘Go to People’ status within the community and volunteer in regular maintenance upkeep of the Church and support several capital projects.
We conduct family get together and several Clergy appreciation and Seminarian support events every year. We are partnered with Canadian Blood Services to donate blood to the needy. We initiated COR program (spiritual friendship) for men in the community and actively participate in Night Vigils on first Fridays. We arrange and give full support to the youth programs and arrange for undergraduate scholarships. We conduct the ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ poster competition, and Essay competitions. We also do a Winter Coats drive to donate to the needy, and monthly bottle drives to fund our charitable activities. Our sick and bereavement program is rated as one of the top programs that we run. To know more about our Council activities, please drop in to our social and information center at the church foyer and enjoy the coffee, that the Knights volunteers proudly serve every Sunday soon after the 9am Holy Mass. We invite all men in our community of 18 years or older to join the organization.
The 10th anniversary celebrations of this prestigious Council will be earmarked with a mega gathering in early 2025 and to commemorate the occasion we have announced a special volunteer project for the Church. Knights team is working with Parish Council on selecting the most suitable and needed project for our Church from the various proposals submitted. We call upon all community members to come forward and volunteer for our programs to achieve the common goal of a strong and unified community. Please contact any of the office bearers to volunteer for the programs of your choice.
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