The Knights of Columbus formed a council at Sacred Heart several years ago. Since
that time, the Knights have been active in almost every area of service around the
parish and school. Membership is open to the men of Sacred Heart parish. Meetings
are held the second Sunday of each month in the Parish Center at 7:00 PM. Please
call the Parish Office at 229-1595 for more information about joining the Knights
of Columbus.
Mailing Address
Knights of Columbus
P.O. Box 1524
Tampa, FL 33601-1524
Meeting Place and Time
We meet the second Sunday of every month at 7:00 PM in the Parish hall
at Sacred Heart Church, corner of Marion and Twiggs Streets, Tampa, Florida.
History of the Knights of Columbus
Founded by Father Michael J. McGivney, curate at St. Mary's parish in New Haven, Conn.,
the Knights of Columbus was chartered on March 29, 1882, in the State of Connecticut.
As the priest explained to a small group of men at a meeting in the basement of St. Mary's
Church in October 1881, his purpose in calling them together was manifold: to help Catholic
men remain steadfast in their faith through mutual encouragement; to promote closer ties of
fraternity among them; and to set up an elementary system of insurance so that the widows
and children of members in the group who might die would not find themselves in dire financial
straits.
The founder and first officers of the fledgling organization chose the name "Knights of
Columbus" because they felt that, as a Catholic group, it should relate to Christopher
Columbus, the Catholic discoverer of America. This would emphasize that it was Catholics
who discovered, explored and colonized the North American continent. At the same time
"Knights" would signify that the membership embodied knightly ideals of spirituality and
service to Church, country and fellowman.
By the end of 1897 the Order was thoroughly rooted in New England, along the upper Atlantic
seaboard and into Canada. Within the next eight years it branched out from Quebec to California,
and from Florida to Washington.
From such promising beginnings Father McGivney's original group has blossomed into an
international society of nearly 1.6 million Catholic men plus their families, in 11,000
councils who have dedicated themselves to the ideals of Columbianism: Charity, Unity,
Fraternity and Patriotism.
How to Become a Knight of Columbus
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practical Catholic men in union with
the Holy See, who shall not be less than 18 years of age on their last birthday. A practical
Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church.
Application blanks are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus, or
CLICK HERE.
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