Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Fr. Michael J. McGivney Wednesday, paving the way for the beatification of the founder of the Knights of Columbus.

Fr. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882. Today it is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization, with nearly two million members in more than a dozen countries.

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1852, Fr. McGivney played a critical role in the growth of the Church in the United States in the latter part of the 19th century. After his ordination in Baltimore in 1877, he served a largely Irish-American and immigrant community in New Haven. 

He would not be the first member of the Knights of Columbus to be canonized. A group of six Mexican members of the organization were martyred during the Cristero War of 1926-29 and its aftermath. 

The six are St. Luis Batis, St. Rodrigo Aguilar, St. Miguel de la Mora, St. Pedro de Jesús Maldonado, St. José María Robles, and St. Mateo Correa.

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 The Knights of Columbus
Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 as a fraternal benefit society at a time in the United States when Catholic immigrants were being forced to renounce their faith in order to earn a livelihood for their families.  Our mission is to keep Fr. McGivney’s dream alive, to actively seek out Catholic men and invite them to be a part of our community of Christian family life through participation in our social and fraternal programs of service to our Church, community, families, and youth.

Monsignor David M. Stotenbur Council #7237
 The Monsignor David M. Stotenbur Council was chartered on February 8, 1979 through the efforts of the Catholic men of St Jude.  It is named after Monsignor David M. Stotenbur, who was a founding member of the Catholic Community of St. Jude Council.  Our Council works closely with the Catholic Communuty of St. Jude parish, located in Dewitt, MI, while also providing funds for numerous church and community projects.  Contact:  Eric Simon, Grand Knight, at [email protected]

Saint Francis Assembly #2982
 The Patriotic Fourth Degree (formerly the Fourth Degree)  is the highest degree of the order.  It is an extension of the Knighthood Degree (formerly the Third Degree).  The members of this degree are addressed as "Sir Knight" and are eligible to join the Color Corp.  The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism and to encourage active Catholic citizenship.  The Patriotic Fourth Degree Assembly in the DeWitt area is the Saint Francis Assembly #2982.  Contact:  Paul Koleda, Faithful Navigator at [email protected].

Both the Monsignor David M. Stotenbur Council and the St. Francis Assembly have several different fund-raising initiatives that go to provide assistance to several charities or programs, such as Right to Life, Pregnancy Services, Mental Disabilities, Seminarian Formation, Youth Development, etc.  

Please visit our website at Dewittkofc.com or follow us on Facebook @Council7237.