January 14, 2010

The Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus has sent a donation of $50,000 in earthquake relief funds to Catholic Relief Services, which has a large presence in Haiti.  Damage from Tuesday afternoon's 7.0 earthquake is widespread, and officials now say that hundreds of thousands of people may have perished under the rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings.  Among the dead is Catholic Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot of Port-au-Prince whose body was found in the ruins of his office.  The Knights of Columbus will earmark all donations between now and the end of January to its United in Charity Fund for earthquake relief in Haiti.  Donate by clicking on the link below:

www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/about/charities/UIC_donate.html

 

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.

The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.