Membership
Who are the Knights?
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization
with over two million members worldwide. It provides members and their families with
volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their families and
communities.
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.
Why Join?
As followers of Christ, we are called not only to
have a burning faith in God but also to express that love to our neighbors through
charitable works. Membership in the Knights provides many easy opportunities to serve
our fellow man nurturing our own spiritual lives and benefitting our community.
Some of our charitable activities include our financial support for our three area parishes, Immaculate Conception School (pre-K through 8), the Cay Galgon Life House in Bethlehem (pro-life) and the Miracle League of Northampton County (children with challenges). These and many other charitable works are the guiding principles of the Knights of Columbus.
As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 monthly issues of Columbia magazine, the world’s largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal benefits.
How to Join
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men "in union with
the Holy See", who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who
acknowledges and strives to live up to the commandments of God and the precepts of the
Church. If you're unfamiliar with the term, the "Holy See" is the governing structure of
the Roman Catholic Church.
In order to make joining easier, the Knights of Columbus began a new type of membership known as online membership. You may sign up online here JOIN . After filling in some basic contact information, the name and location of your parish, your intended council (3862, of course), and attesting to the fact that you are a baptized, practicing Catholic man, hit the submit button. At present, free membership is available by entering "BLESSEDMCGIVNEY" as a promo code and clicking the "add" button. Within 24 hours you will receive an email which you must confirm. You will then be an online member.
Although you can remain an online member forever, your most meaningful experience will be had by transferring to a council. If you entered "3862" as your intended council when you joined, we will be notified. Before we can transfer you into our council, you must attend a ceremony called the "Unified Degree." Someone from our council will help you find and attend one. In the presentation you will learn about the first three principles of the Knights of Columbus. Your family and friends are welcome to attend.
Anyone interested in joining should contact our council at
610-863-9883 (leave msg) or email us at
info@kofc3862.org
Fourth Degree
Any Third Degree member in good standing is eligible for membership in the Fourth
Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism
by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to country through active
membership in local Fourth Degree groups called “assemblies”. Optionally, members of the
Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity that
has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus.
Update Your Information
Please email us at
info@kofc3862.org
to update your address, phone and email address.