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Atlantic Council #18 125th Anniversary year - 1885-2010 Founded by Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney Former Pastor of Saint Thomas Church |
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On April 8, 1885, the Venerable* Fr. Michael
McGivney, then Pastor of St Thomas Church, founded the 18th Knights of Columbus Council, the "Atlantic Council" in Thomaston, CT. The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works. Since then, the Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in 18 councils to more than 13,000 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, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. |
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| Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, in the St Thomas Church Hall at 7:30 PM. | |||||||||
| CURRENT LEADERSHIP | |||||||||
| David P. Guertin Jr | Grand Knight | Phone no. 203-525-6441 | |||||||
| Eric Kociszewski | Deputy Grand Knight | Phone no. 203-509-1391 | |||||||
| Rev. Robert Grant | Chaplain | Phone no. 860-283-5817 | |||||||
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Activities Speak with leaders about upcoming events! See the Atlantic Council's 4th Degree Knights in Regalia every weekend at different masses escorting the Prayer Chalice. Find us on facebook: Knights of Columbus Thomaston,CT |
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About the Knights Thanks to the efforts of Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, pastor of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston,CT, the Connecticut state legislature on April 8th,1885 officially chartered the Knights of Columbus. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity. |
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| The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities. | |||||||||
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Through the Knights, Venerable Father McGivney sought to form young Catholic men into good spouses and fathers. He has become known as Apostle to the Young and Defender of Christian Family Life. He saw strong families as the foundation of his parish, of the Church and of society at large. He was convinced that the Catholic layman had a unique role in influencing society and promoting the values found in what Pope John Paul II has since named the Culture of Life and Civilization of Love. Venerable Father McGivney did not use the vocabulary of the 21st century, but he espoused the same Gospel values that Catholics affirm today. |
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Increasingly, Church leaders realize that part of Venerable Father McGivney's spiritual genius is that nearly a century before the Second Vatican Council addressed the important role of the laity in the Church, Venerable Father McGivney built a way for laymen to make a substantial and enduring contribution to their parishes, communities and physical and spiritual security of their families. And he saw that by doing so one parish and community at a time, Catholic families could help build a better world. |
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| He was a man ahead of his time. | |||||||||
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Father Michael J. McGivney Founder of the Knights of Columbus Former Pastor of Saint Thomas Church |
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| * Venerable (Abbr. Ven. or V.) | |||||||||
| 1. Roman Catholic Church. Used as a form of address for a person who has reached the first stage of canonization {to become a Catholic Saint} | |||||||||
| Prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney | |||||||||
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God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the window and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your son, Jesus Christ, move closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (her make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father Hail Mary Glory be to the Father |
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