Knights of Columbus Council 9343 San Sebastian Parish SNZ

December 17, 2023
The Knights of Columbus Council 9343 serving arrozcaldo and pandesal to parishioners after the 2nd Missa de Gallo mass. These aligns with the principles of charity ang unity upheld by the Knights of Columbus, and contributes to the positive and supportive atmosphere within the parish.

December 8, 2023
The 22nd Installation of Assembly Officers for the Knights of Columbus President Ramon Magsaysay Assembly LP2750 for the Fraternal Year 2023-2024 held at Hiyas ng Kalikasan, San Narciso, Zambales.

Worthy Sir Knight Ritchie John D. Bolaño of San Sebastián Council 9343 is the Faithful Navigator of PRMA LP2750 for FY2023-2024.

District Master WSK Raul L. Lara, PGK, FDD, PFN served as the installing officer.

Congratulations to the Assembly Officers. May their term be filled with successful initiatives, strong camaraderie and continued dedication to the values upheld by the Knights of Columbus.

December 2, 2023

A meaningful and festive activity organized by the Knights of Columbus San Sebastián Council 9343 in celebration of the worldwide “Light up for Christ” of the K of C. The ceremonial lighting of the Christmas Tree and parols and Belen reflects a commitment to spreading joy and goodwill during the Christmas season.

The involvement of Rev. Fr. Ian Ela Maniago, Parish Priest of the San Sebastián Parish, adds a special religious significance to the event, as he officiates the Mass and blessing of the Christmas Tree, parols and Belen.

The participation of the officers and members of Council 9343, led by Worthy Grand Knight Orlando S. Dimailig, showcases the unity and dedication of the Knights in bringing the spirit of Christmas to the community.

The presence of Worthy Supreme Director Brother Rene Sarmiento and wife Honorable Mayor La Rainne Abad-Sarmiento, Faithful Navigator Worthy Sir Knight Ritchie John D. Bolaño, District Deputy Rommel F. Rosete, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Punong Barangay Carey Relorcaza and Council, highlights the activity.

Such initiatives not only bring joy and festive spirit to the community but also exemplify the Knights of Columbus’s commitment to service, charity and spreading the light of Christ during the holiday season.

November 26, 2023
“PATNUBAY SA ATING KALUSUGAN” -a very special community health project of the Knights of Columbus Council 9343 and Daughters of Mary Immaculate, San Sebastián Parish, San Narciso, Zambales.

This collaborative effort of the K of C and DMI suggests a shared commitment to the well-being of the community. The name itself implies a focus on providing guidance or assistance in matters related to health.

November 18, 2023

The Knights of Columbus Council 9343 organized a “Blood Letting Activity 2023” in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross Zambales Chapter and the Municipal Rural Health Unit. Blood donation is a critical and life-saving endeavor that directly contributes to the well-being of the community.

The fact that 82 donors participated in the event, representing different organizations and individuals, is a significant achievement. Such initiatives play a vital role in ensuring an adequate and safe blood supply for medical treatments, surgeries and emergencies.

Collaborating with reputable organizations like the Philippine Red Cross demonstrates a commitment to responsible and effective community service. The Knights of Columbus, through this event, not only strengthens the bonds within the organization but also makes a positive impact on the broader community.

October 15, 2023
The exemplification team of the Knights of Columbus Council 9343 conducted The Admission Degree, also known as the 1st Degree Exemplification at San Roque Parish, San Felipe, Zambales. It is a significant event within the Knights of Columbus. During this ceremony, 8 new members are admitted to the order and are initiated into the first degree of the Knights.

Congratulations to the new members, and may their journey within the Knights of Columbus be filled with camaraderie, service and spiritual growth.

VIVAT JESUS.

The Knights of Columbus Council 9343 organizes a special event (October 7-15, 2023) during the month of October 2023, which is traditionally dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The event involves a block rosary, where an image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is transferred to the houses of eight selected brother knights. During these visits, the knights, along with their families, come together to pray the rosary.

The culminating event takes place on the ninth day at the grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the parish grounds.

This practice reflects a strong devotion to the Rosary, a form of prayer in the Catholic tradition that focuses on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the meditation of the mysteries of the Rosary. It is a wonderful way to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and faith within the Knights of Columbus community.

“Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters.” ~ Amy Leigh Mercree

September 10, 2023
In the spirit of brotherhood, the Knights of Columbus Council 9343 headed by WGK Orlando Dimailig and WDD Rommel Rosete visited WSK Carlos Abello Jr. and managed to donate wheelchair and cash assistance.

“No brother is ever left behind”

The Knights of Columbus Council 9343 in Action
Brigada Eskwela 2023 at Namatacan Elementary School, headed by Grand Knight Orlando S. Dimailig.
August 19, 2023

Beyond the Christmas Cheers and holiday greetings comes the true spirit of Christmas which is hope and love to our fellowmen. Posting this not to brag but to inspire that beyond the adversity there would be people who are willing to lend an extra hand. as Anne Frank once said, “NO ONE HAS EVER BECOME POOR BY GIVING” . The Knights of Columbus Council 9343 living its principle that No Brother is Left Behind! May God Bless you a Hundred Fold Worthy Grand Knight Orlando Dimailig, Worthy District Deputy Rommel F. Rosete, Worthy FS Plong Floresca, Worthy FN Ritchie John Distor Bolano and to all Worthy Brothers of KofC9343. Thank you very much for making a brother’s Christmas truly happy and blessed! Vivat Jesus! Ave Maria!

Congratulations to our newly Exemplified 2nd Degree Brothers Keven Generale and Daniel. Vivat Jesus! Ave Maria! - greetings from Worthy Grand Knight Bro. Orlando Dimaiilig and your KofC9343 family

“Turn your eyes incessantly to the Blessed Virgin; she, who is the Mother of Sorrows and also the Mother of Consolation, can understand you completely and help you.” - Pope St. John Paul II.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

August 28 - Feast of St. Augustine of Hippo

"Thou hast made us for Thyself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee"

Patron Saint of the Diocese of Iba, Pray for us.

Psalm 91:16 says that “it is with long life that you satisfy the Lord and show him your salvation.” Happy Birthday and be blessed Bro. Jeff! - from you KofC9343 Family

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary celebrated on the 15th day of August is a very important day in the Catholic religion. It is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin, the mother of Jesus Christ.

his feast commemorates two events – the departure of Mary from this life and the assumption of her body into heaven.

The Church’s official doctrine of the Assumption says that at the end of her life on earth Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heaven.

Pope Pius Xll, in 1950, defined that Mary “after the completion of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into the glory of Heaven.” Her body wasn’t allowed to corrupt nor was it allowed to remain in a tomb.

Happy Feast Day!!! Vivat Jesus! Ave Maria!

Psalm 91:16 says that “it is with long life that you satisfy the Lord and show him your salvation.” Happy Birthday and be blessed Bro. Brian! - from you KofC9343 Family

In Celebration fo the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney, Founder of the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Columbus San Sebatian Parish Council No. 9343 under the able stewardship of Worthy Grand Knight Bro. Orlando S. Dimailig, held a Nine Day Novena which started August 4, 2023 and culminated today August 13, 2023 with a Holy Eucharist celebration officiated by our Worthy Chaplain and Parish Priest Bro Rev. Fr. Ian Ela Maniago. Happy Feast Day to our worldwide brother knights. Vivat Jesus! Ave Maria!

BLESSED MICHAEL McGIVNEY

The founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Michael J. McGivney was a central figure in the growth of Catholicism in America, and he remains a model today. His example of charity, evangelization and empowerment of the laity continues to bear fruit and guide Knights of Columbus around the world.

In his Apostolic Letter that was read at the Mass for Beatification on Oct. 31, 2020, Pope Francis stated that Blessed Michael McGivney’s “zeal for the proclamation of the Gospel and generous concern for the needs of his brothers and sisters made him an outstanding witness of Christian solidarity and fraternal assistance.” The Holy Father set his annual feast day for Aug. 13, the day between Father McGivney’s birthday (in 1852) and the day he entered eternal life (in 1890).

The beatification ceremony in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, Conn., was a high point in a long process that began with the opening of the Cause for Canonization in December 1997. Shortly after Father McGivney was named a Venerable Servant of God in March 2008, Pope Benedict XVI cited him as a key figure in “the impressive growth” of the Church in the United States, stating, “We need but think of the remarkable accomplishment of that exemplary American priest, the Venerable Michael McGivney, whose vision and zeal led to the establishment of the Knights of Columbus.” Through the spiritual genius of Father McGivney, the Knights of Columbus has become a way for Catholic men to transform friends into brothers — brothers who care for one another.

Just as those in need sought Father McGivney’s help in life, understanding that he was a “Good Samaritan” figure, more than 2 million members of the Knights of Columbus and their families, and many others around the world, continue to seek out Father McGivney as a heavenly helper in times of need today. On May 26, 2020, Pope Francis approved a decree for a miracle attributed to his intercession, opening the way for Father McGivney to be beatified. A second approved miracle is needed for him to be canonized as a saint of the Catholic Church.

Those who knew him best in life saw in him both a “genial” countenance and a man with an “indomitable will” to achieve the good. In sum, his founding of the Knights of Columbus “attests to the love in which he held his brother man.”

source: https://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/his-life/index.html?1tab=1tab0

The Knights of Columbus San Sebastian Parish Council 9343 under the stewardship of Worthy Grand Knight Orlando S. Dimailig conducted feeding program for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) at the Zambales Provincial Jail this 12th day of August 2023 as part of the festivities for the Feast of Blessed Michael J. Mcgivney, Founder of the Knights of Columbus. About 210 PDLs were given snacks coming from the contributions of our Worthy Council Brothers. Present during the program were WFN Ritchie John Distor Bolaño and WDD Rommel F. Rosete. Our gratitude to OIC Provincial Jail Warden Sir Joseph C. Tacdoy for allowing the council to conduct this activity. Vivat Jesus! Ave Maria!

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney on August 13, let us get to know the Founder of the Knights of Columbus.

A SAINT IN THE MAKING

On May 26, 2020, Pope Francis approved a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Father McGivney and opening the way for his beatification. On Oct. 31, the Mass for Beatification was celebrated in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, Conn. An Apostolic Letter was read from Pope Francis that declared Father McGivney would now have the title of Blessed Michael McGivney. He is the third priest born in the United States to be raised to this honor, and the first priest to be beatified who spent his whole priestly ministry in a US parish.

The pope’s Apostolic Letter stated that Blessed Michael McGivney’s “zeal for the proclamation of the Gospel and generous concern for the needs of his brothers and sisters made him an outstanding witness of Christian solidarity and fraternal assistance.”

The Cause for Canonization for Father McGivney was opened in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1997, when he was given the title Servant of God. On March 15, 2008, his heroic virtue was recognized by Pope Benedict XVI, and Father McGivney was given the title Venerable Servant of God. This important step occurred after years of careful investigation of Father McGivney’s life, spirituality and holiness by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The declaration of Venerable confirmed what those who knew him in life, and others who call upon him since his death, have believed about Father McGivney: He lived a life of heroic virtue with an extraordinary love of God and neighbor.

Having been raised to the honors of the altar, Blessed Michael McGivney has an annual feast day of Aug. 13, the day between his birthday (in 1852) and the day he passed into eternal life (in 1890). His cause has now entered the final phase toward canonization or sainthood. One more confirmed miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney is needed for him to be declared saint.

All Knights and their families, as well as all those devoted to Father McGivney, are asked to pray for his intercession in their daily needs, especially in cases of serious illness, and to report any favors and healings to the Guild. You may submit your reports here.

Source: https://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/sainthood-cause/saint-in-the-making.html

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney on August 13, let us get to know the Founder of the Knights of Columbus.

PRACTICAL VISION, ENDURING MISSION

With an eye toward leading others to heaven, Father McGivney was attentive to the ways of the world as he worked to better the spiritual and temporal conditions of his immigrant parishioners. His innovative efforts to draw laypeople closer to Christ – especially through his founding of the fraternal Order of the Knights of Columbus – was creative, effective and bold.

A priest who knew him well wrote:

Genial, approachable, of kindly disposition, cheerful under reverses, profoundly sympathetic with those upon whom had fallen the heavy hand of affliction, a man of strict probity and sterling integrity in his business transactions. He was charitable to a fault ... The poor found in him a good Samaritan, and were the frequent recipients of his bounty. … There are few clergymen in my recollection who enjoyed in a greater degree than he the respect of his colleagues and the reverence of the people. … His energy was restless, ever seeking new outlets. And to this disposition are we indebted for the existence of the Knights of Columbus.

When he arrived for his first assignment at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, he met an ailing pastor who had to turn much of the pastoral work over to his new assistant. In a letter to his seminary mentor, he wrote that the whole work of the parish had been laid upon his shoulders and he had been unable to take even one day off. Seven years later, as pastor of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, Father McGivney’s workload only increased, with a mission church added to his duties.

Falling ill during the global viral pandemic of 1889-90, Father McGivney developed tuberculosis and was forced to cut back on his routine to seek a cure. After months of heroic struggle against the illness, and after intense prayer for his parishioners and their future, he finally received the last rites and succumbed to pneumonia on Aug. 14, 1890, two days past his 38th birthday.

The funeral Mass and procession were attended by Knights and other Catholics from across Connecticut, and even secular news reports described him as an exemplary priest and a model Christian man.

Source: https://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/sainthood-cause/practical-vision.html

Psalm 91:16 says that “it is with long life that you satisfy the Lord and show him your salvation.” Happy Birthday and be blessed Bro. Edel! - from you KofC9343 Family

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney on August 13, let us get to know the Founder of the Knights of Columbus.

HE EMBODIED LOVE OF GOD AND NEIGHBOR

On fire for the faith, Father McGivney was also approachable and trusted by the powerful and lowly alike. His ability to mourn with those in sorrow and bring joy and support to those in need of encouragement marked his priestly ministry. To him, faith was a gift to be treasured by every Catholic, and there were no human boundaries that could not be overcome by the love and care of a good and gracious God. Despite the anti-Catholic sentiments of the time, Father McGivney wanted to see Catholics keep the faith and thrive. He often stepped outside the church walls to become an advocate for parishioners in court to keep their families together; he engaged cordially with those of other Christian faiths, even a prominent New Haven minister; and he staged plays and fairs for all comers.

It can well be said that Father McGivney was a man ahead of his time, anticipating by nearly a century the Second Vatican Council’s “universal call to holiness” for laypeople as well as clergy, and embodying the opening words of the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes:

The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts

Protector of Catholic Families

A man of practical thought and action, Father McGivney knew that the pursuit of holiness did not consist in an aloof attitude or separation from people and their problems. As a parish priest, his primary concern was for the welfare — both spiritual and temporal — of the largely Irish-American and immigrant Catholic population that teemed into New Haven, where he began his ministry at St. Mary’s Church in 1878.

Catholics then were especially vulnerable. It was a time when many employers had a policy of “Irish Need Not Apply.” Immigrants often had to take the most dangerous positions in the mines, on the railroads, and in the factories. Accidents, disease and overwork led too often to the family’s breadwinner suffering an early death, leaving his wife and children destitute, with no social safety nets.

His Solution: The Knights of Columbus

Father McGivney had lived through hard times himself as the eldest of 13 children, six of whom died young. After finishing elementary school, he joined his father in the factory for three years, and this experience formed in him a deep solidarity with working men and their families. He also knew personally the effects of the death of a breadwinner. His own father died in 1873 and young Michael had to leave seminary to tend to the family before returning to his studies.

These experiences — viewed through the lens of faith — formed the man who went on to form the Knights of Columbus as an answer to the many problems his people faced. A little more than four years after being assigned as an assistant priest to St. Mary’s, he gathered a handful of men in the church basement to establish a new fraternal association dedicated to helping men and their families with spiritual and temporal needs.

Charity, Unity and Fraternity

The Order was formed as a fraternal benefit society, but Father McGivney and the men he gathered saw a “higher calling,” that was expressed in the Order’s three main principles of charity, unity and fraternity. Father McGivney saw them as three legs of a stool, each one dependent on the other, and each one critical to helping the Catholic men of Connecticut keep the faith while supporting also their personal, civic and social needs.

Charity — The greatest of all virtues is charity or love, writes St. Paul. But the modern mind has distorted these words; charity is more than giving to the needy, and love is more than romance. What these words really mean is this — to will the good of the other person for his or her own sake, even if that means suffering for me. This is the charity, the love, that Jesus had for us on the cross, and we are to approach every person with this same love and charity.

Jesus gave us a new commandment: “Love one another, as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). This new love in Christ inspires Knights to reach out through a myriad of organized programs to help those in need next door, across town, across the country and around the world

Unity — None of us is as good alone as all of us are together. United in the Catholic faith, Knights support one another in times of joy and grief and at every moment in between. They form a network of men and their families dedicated to building their homes as domestic churches of faith and love, and they work in union with priests to support parishes in the mission of faith formation and evangelization. In the words of one of Father McGivney’s contemporaries: “Unity of purpose, unity of action and unity of faith complete a trinity which makes the Knights of Columbus a mighty agent for good, an upholder of order, a protective force in society.”

Fraternity — Networks of Knights provide men with something that is too often lacking in today’s fragmented society — authentic fraternal fellowship lived out in councils, parishes, online, and in common faith and worthy projects. Working together, we know the truth of the biblical statement: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov 27:17). Early in the Order’s history, Knights were told to exemplify “the Golden Rule, which is the essence of Fraternity.”

Father McGivney’s vision for his Knights has made a difference in millions of lives and brought hope and healing to countless others. More than 130 years after his death, his vision remains our mission.

Source: https://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/his-vision/index.html

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney on August 13, let us get to know the Founder of the Knights of Columbus.

HIS FAITH

Father McGivney not only lived a life devoted to the Catholic faith; he also focused all his spiritual, mental and physical energies on helping others persevere and grow in that faith, and he guarded against whatever might diminish the practice of Catholicism.

For Father McGivney’s newly formed Knights, protecting the faith of Catholics was the prime concern, and this quickly took three forms.

First, the Knights would serve as an antidote to those secret societies that lured Catholic men away from their faith by offering financial benefits.

Second, the Order’s insurance program would help keep Catholic families together when a breadwinner died; this would also help prevent a loss of faith among widows and orphans forced to live in state institutions or with non-Catholic relatives or adoptive families.

Third, the Knights would champion the full rights of American citizenship for Catholics. This, too, would support the Church, since ensuring equal rights for Catholics would help limit the social or civil pressure on them to abandon their faith.

Source: https://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/his-faith/index.html

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney on August 13, let us get to know the Founder of the Knights of Columbus.

HOLY DEATH

Never robust in health, Father McGivney fell ill during the pandemic known as the Russian or Asian flu in late 1889. He developed tuberculosis and was stricken with severe pneumonia in January 1890. The young priest lost physical strength just as his Order was moving toward new vitality. After seeking respite and remedies, he was eventually confined to bed in the St. Thomas rectory, where his concern and prayers for his people only increased. After receiving the last rites from a fellow priest, he died on August 14, two days past his 38th birthday.

The funeral in Thomaston was an indication of the love and respect the people held for this hard-working, holy parish priest, drawingCatholics from across the state, including the bishop, more than 70 fellow priests, and civic leaders. The funeral cortege in Waterbury was the largest ever in that city at the time, with mourners renting every available carriage within miles for the procession to the McGivney family plot in St. Joseph Cemetery.

The funeral also reflected the deep personal appeal that Catholics found in the Knights of Columbus. Delegations came from almost every one of the 57 Knights of Columbus councils that had been chartered in the Order’s first eight years. Father McGivney’s holy example also inspired his two younger brothers, Patrick and John, who followed him into the priesthood and served the Order as supreme chaplains.

Today, the earthly remains of Father McGivney are interred in a polished sarcophagus in New Haven’s St. Mary’s Church, where he founded the Knights of Columbus. His vision and mission are carried forth by more than 2 million Knights of Columbus throughout the world, who form a band of brothers under the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.

Source: https://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/his-life/index.html?1tab=1tab5

As we prepare to celeberate the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney on August 13, let us get to know the founder of the Founder of Knights of Columbus

PASTOR

In November 1884, Father McGivney was named pastor of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, a factory town more than 30 miles from New Haven named for the clockmaker Seth Thomas. The parish served working-class parishioners who had few resources beyond their faith. With prayerful acceptance, Father McGivney put his seven years at St. Mary’s behind him and moved from the bustling city of New Haven to the smaller town of Thomaston.

At his last Mass at St. Mary’s, Father McGivney offered a heartfelt farewell to an overflowing flock of parishioners: “For the past seven years I have been with you and toiled with you and no matter where I go the people of St. Mary’s will occupy the best place in my heart. Would that I could express my gratitude for the love and affection you have shown me. If I have offended anyone in the performance of my duty, I beg him to forgive me. People of St. Mary’s whom I leave now, good-bye. I trust that we may meet again in Heaven.” The large church was filled with grateful souls, some openly sobbing and heartbroken over his departure. They felt closer to God through his ministry and provided a printed testimonial that said that his courtesy, kindness and purity of life, despite burdens and afflictions, had “secured the love and confidence of the people of St. Mary’s, which will follow him in every future field of labor.”

In his six years at St. Thomas, Father McGivney was an admirable pastor who built strong ties with parishioners and cared for their spiritual and temporal welfare. He also cared for a mission church, driving his horse and carriage to celebrate Sunday Mass in both locations. He continued to serve as supreme chaplain, but like a true “Father” and pastor of souls, he trusted the leaders of the Order in New Haven to carry on the work he began among them, as the Knights of Columbus continued to grow beyond Connecticut.

Source:

His Life Father McGivney’s Christian inspiration, leadership and administrative drive brought him the loyalty and affection of people who knew him as the founder of the Knights of Columbus.

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Fr. Michael J. Mcgivney on August 13, let us get to know the Founder of the Knights of Columbus.

FOUNDER

Decades ahead of his time, Father McGivney had a keen sense of the layman’s unique vocation, needs and potential contributions, and he drew his people into the life and activities of the parish. This respect for the laity led Father McGivney to found the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization for Catholic men, in 1882.

The young priest designed a way to strengthen the Catholic faith of men and their families while providing financial protection when they suffered the death of the breadwinner. He well knew that keeping families together assisted both temporal and spiritual needs. At the time, without means of financial support, families were often split up, threatening both the integrity of the family and — depending on the destination of the various family members — their faith as well. His new fraternity was designed to provide Catholic men with an alternative to anti-Catholic secret societies that offered social and employment advancement but drew them away from the faith.

Father McGivney proposed that the new group be named for Christopher Columbus. Universally esteemed at the time as the heroic discoverer of the New World, Columbus would highlight the deep roots of Catholics in America, and the long history of Catholic evangelization in the hemisphere.

On March 29 – a day celebrated annually as Founder’s Day – the Connecticut legislature granted a charter establishing the Knights of Columbus as a legal corporation.

The name “Knights” appealed to the Civil War veterans in the group who saw noble principles of knighthood in the Order’s protection of the faith, family finances and the civil and religious rights of Catholics. A charter member wrote that Father McGivney was “acclaimed as founder by 24 men with hearts full of joy and thanksgiving; recognizing that without his optimism, his will to succeed, his counsel and advice, they would have failed.”

In a letter to priests of his diocese, Father McGivney said that his first goal in founding the Knights of Columbus was “to prevent people from entering Secret Societies, by offering the same, if not better, advantages to our members.” His second purpose was “to unite the men of our Faith throughout the Diocese of Hartford, that we may thereby gain strength to aid each other in time of sickness; to provide for decent burial, and to render pecuniary assistance to the families of deceased members.”

The Order’s original principles were unity and charity. “Unity in order to gain strength to be charitable to each other in benevolence whilst we live and in bestowing financial aid to those whom we have to mourn,” Father McGivney wrote. Principles of fraternity and patriotism were added later. Knights were led by their founder to take on the many challenges facing Catholic family life — poverty, early death, secret societies, anti-Catholicism — with the flexibility to take on other duties in the future. With a vision for growth, he asked the pastors in Connecticut to kindly help “in the formation of a council in your parish.”

As an indication of the respect the first Knights had for Father McGivney’s leadership, they moved to elect him head of the new Order. However, the humble priest insisted that a layman should lead the lay organization. James T. Mullen, a Civil War veteran, was elected the first supreme knight and Father McGivney took up the office of supreme secretary. Two years later, when operations were on a sound footing, Father McGivney resigned his executive post to become supreme chaplain, explaining that his first obligation to the Order was to serve as a priest.

Source: https://www.fathermcgivney.org/en/his-life/index.html?1tab=1tab3