Knights of Columbus St. Xavier Council #16398
Established December 2015 in Paoli
Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm.
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.
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.
Membership in the Knights is open to practicing Catholic men who are at least 18 years of age. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church.
Knights of Columbus Principles
- Charity
- Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself”. Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating food to local soup kitchens and food pantry’s, volunteering at the Special Olympics. Supporting spiritually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies.
- Knights recognize that our mission and our faith in God, compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compassion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day.
- Unity
- None of us are as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that together, we can accomplish far more than any of us can individually. We stick together, we support one another. That doesn’t mean that we always agree or that there is never a difference of opinion. It does mean that as a Knight, you can count on the support and encouragement of your brother Knights as you work to make life better in your parish and community.
- Fraternity
- Venerable Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large to provide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died-often prematurely. The Order’s top rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do the good works of individual Knights, who gave more than 75.6 million service hours in 2017, illustrating how Catholics serve each other in fraternity and mercy.
- Patriotism
- The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
- We are proud of our devotion to God and country and believe in standing up for both. Whether it is in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens.
If you have questions or would like more information you can speak with a Knight after Sunday Mass. At Our Lady, Tony Pitzulo or Jonathon Pankey. At Christ the King, Gerald Hammes, Thom Dupuis or Larry Pinnick. You can also contact Tony at tpitzulo@yahoo.com or call 317-797-2713.