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May 7, 2023A Brief History of the Knights of Columbus and Council 338
In 1882 Father Michael McGivney saw a need to provide Financial support for families overwhelmed by the illness or death of their breadwinner. Thus, Fr. MeGivney and a hand full of Catholic laymen founded the Knights of Columbus, a parish-based lay organization that offered life msurance to the local community in New Haven, Connecticut.
Today the K of C has grown to over 16,000 Councils throughout the Americas and Philippine Islands with over 2 million Knights. Last year the Knights provided almost 76 million hours of voluntary service along with over $185 million donated to charitable and fraternal projects. The early system of fraternal benefits has grown into a top-quality life insurance society, offering a variety of policy plans to members and their families. Both A. M. Best Co. and Standard & Poor's rate K of C insurance
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest organization of Catholic men and their families. It has been called "The strong right arm of the Church," and has been cited by popes, presidents and other world leaders for support of the Church, for programs of evangelization and Catholic education, for civic involvement and aid to those in need. In May of 1898 the Olean Knights of Columbus received their charter from the Supreme Council in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1981 the Council Hall on Hamilton Street was destroyed by fire. The Council moved to an available structure on the same street and, in 1994 opened its new hall adjacent to the existing facility. In 20 12 the Council building and hall were sold to aid in the expansion of Jamestown CC. We currently meet in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary's Basilica.
