Founded in 1882, the Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic Fraternal Organization in the world with over 1.6 million members. The Order was initially founded with several aims such as strengthening the faith of Catholic men, uniting them in service to the Church and community and providing for the financial needs of families in the event the father passed away. All men who are practicing Catholics and over the age of 18 are invited to join.
The main principles of the Order are Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The greatest of all virtues is charity where nationally, the Knights donate over $100 million/yr to church, community and youth, and volunteer over 55 million hours each year. The financial strength of the Knights rests with its insurance program. We continue to maintain the highest industry standards as an insurance provider as acknowledged by A.M. Best and Standard and Poors.
The Knights also have programs involving scholarships, financial aid and annuities and long-term care. Here at Holy Spirit Parish, we engage in many areas such as kids' Halloween and Christmas parties, sprinkler blowout, altar server training, Special Olympics, Keep Christ in Christmas, Marian Hour of Prayer, church support, weekly rosary, youth free throw event, parish picnic, and many other areas. We also provide support to seminarians both spiritually and financially through our Refund Support for Vocations Program (RSVP) and "Pennies for Heaven." The State Pennies for Heaven program provided almost $50,000 to the three bishops of Washington state for seminarian aid.
One of our most successful community programs is KC-HELP, which stands for Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program. We provide at no charge in-home hospital equipment from bedpans to wheelchairs for anyone who needs the equipment that is not covered by their insurance.