The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with 1.7 million members. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.

As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world's largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal benefits.

Members of the St Francis of Assisi Council assist the parish community in five key areas: Church Activities, Youth Activities, Family Activities, Community Service and Council Activities. For church, we are a helping hand for everyinging from the Christmas Bazaar to traffic control. For youth, we conduct a "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest and several sports activities. For Family, we sponsor a Baccalaureate Mass and the Adopt-A-Family Christmas program. For community service, we collect and donate funds to support individuals with disabilities and we participate in Habitat for Humanity. For our council, we conduct retreat days, and we sell Christmas cards to support our activities.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. Application blanks are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus.

For membership information, please contact our Membership Director, Carl Petchik, by e-mail, or by phone at 301-953-3053.

 
Any Third Degree member in good standing, one year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights' respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups (called "assemblies"). Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus.

Our council is associated with the Fr. Michael J. McGivney Assembly 2595, which meets the 4th Thursday of each month at St Michael Catholic Church, Poplar Springs, Maryland. The Faithful Navigator of the Assembly for 2009-2010 is Jim Conko. Further information on the Fr. McGivney Assembly may be found by clicking here.

The Ladies of Hope, our council's ladies auxiliary, was instituted in the fall of 2004 under the leadership of Charter President Joan Morris. The Ladies support the council by helping out at council events, organizing, cooking, setting up, and making things look right. Far more important, the Ladies conduct their own fundraising in the parish to support worthy charitable causes.

The Ladies of Hope meet the 3rd Wednesday of each month except July and August, either at the parish or at another local facility. Membership is open to women with a connection to a Knight of Columbus. The President of the auxiliary is Brenda Houston. You may contact the Ladies through her e-mail at bhouston129 AT yahoo DOT com, or by phone at 410-880-1968, especially to find out the current meeting location - which is frequently at a local restaurant.

Send comments or questions to the web page editor, webweaver@stfranciscouncil.org.

Page last updated 17 July 2009.