Knights of Columbus (KofC) is a fraternity of lay Catholic men who share the core ideals of Charity-Unity-Fraternity and Patriotism. Founded by Blessed Father Michael McGivney, the order began as a means to support Pastors, Parishes and Parish families in time of need. The order has grown to be so much more since its founding in 1882.

KofC, through its 16,000+ councils worldwide has contributed over $200 million dollars annually to charities and contributed over 57.6 million manpower hours to Parishes and Communities worldwide.

A significant part of that is through its FAITH IN ACTION programs that follow four key categories: LIFE, FAMILY, COMMUNITY and FAITH. These four categories include over 32 different programs in which KofC members are encouraged to support.

FAITH IN ACTION AND HAWAII CATHOLIC SCHOOLS:

As part of our 32 program initiative, the Hawaii Knights has highlighted five programs that we encourage Hawaii Catholic schools to consider incorporating into their established curriculum. These programs include:

1. Keep Christ In Christmas Poster Contest
2. Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest
3. Soccer Challenge
4. Free Throw Championship

Schools have a unique opportunity to incorporate these programs into their everyday curriculum. In the past, we have had:

• KCIC Poster and the Drug Awareness Poster contests as a part of a School's Art class. Providing a theme for creative expression while incorporating key messages of faith and wellbeing.
• Our Soccer Challenge and Free Throw Championships have served as a fun way to promote active healthy responsible lifestyles while incorporating basic athletic skills that are often already part of a Schools PE program. 
• Our Catholic Citizenship Essay contest has been used in School's English departments or Literature courses as an assignment that takes a key faith based theme and challenges our youth to express themselves through their writing on how this faith based theme relates to them. Helping to encourage critical thinking of Faith and Religion in their own lives. Used as an opportunity for extra credit or as a planned class assignment, we have found this particular program to be very successful.

KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER:

• The manner in which these programs have been executed in the past is for the Knights to provide teachers with the tools, forms, certificates, outline, everything needed to execute these programs. within their everyday/weekly class schedule.
  
• Knights of Columbus members from local or State groups can assist as much or as little as the teachers or schools deem appropriate.
• Teachers are encouraged to implement a recognition process for each program and the KofC can assist with providing reasonable awards for the students achievements, for example GC to Starbucks in the amount of $5-$10-$25 depending on the final recognition plan.
• Winners in each category of each program have the opportunity to move onto District, State and in some programs International levels of competition within the KofC system. Just a few years ago a Aiea student from St. Elizabeth had her KCIC Poster recognized on the international level.
• These programs also allow for the opportunity for the Knights of Columbus to establish a relationship with our Catholic schools. These relationships have benefited our Hawaii Catholic Schools, both in manpower support as well as financial donations to Schools, scholarships and more.

Click on Image below for a Snapshot of Each Program!

4 Principles, 4 Reasons

All the good works we do are informed by our four core 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 the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, by volunteering at Special Olympics, and by supporting, both 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 is 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 could individually. So 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 of Columbus – 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 – Blessed Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, 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 – Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens.