Our History

The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney on March 29, 1882.  Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men.  It is led by Patrick E. Kelly, the order's 14th Supreme Knight.  The organization is named after the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.

The organization was founded in March 1882 as a mutual benefit society for working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States.  In addition to providing an insurance system for its members, its charter states that it endeavors "to promote such social and intellectual intercourse among its members as shall be desirable and proper."  It has grown to support refugee relief, Catholic education, local parishes and dioceses, and global Catholic social and political causes.

Join Us!

If you are interested in the Knights of Columbus organization, you can speak to any Knight after any of the masses at St John Vianney. Most Knights wear a maroon Knights of Columbus name tag. Any Knight will be able to help you, or, take your name and contact information and pass it on.

If you are interested in learning about what the Knights do, you can look at the Georgia website at www.gakofc.org or the national website at www.kofc.org. Once on the national website, explore What We Do and Who We Are. You can then click on the Join button to become a Knight of Columbus. Once you have filled out the form, a local member will contact you to complete the process and bring you into Council 12580.

Council 12580 supports many programs including: