Knights of Columbus
John Cardinal Newman Council #9445
Fresno, California
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Welcome! Thank you for visiting our web site!
The Knights of Columbus has been in existence more than 100 years. It was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 to help provide aid to widows and their children by the men of the parish. He used Charity, Unity and Fraternity as the founding principles of the Order. In 1900 Patriotism was added as the fourth principle of our Order. Today, the Knights of Columbus is a worldwide men's organization that is still growing. The Supreme Council of our Order is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut. The Order also consists of State Councils, Regional Chapters, Individual Councils and Fourth Degree Assemblies.
The Knights and their families here at St. Paul Newman Center help to support the Church and their community through Council programs that includes both labor and money. The Knights have chaired the ice cream booth at the annual Renaissance Festival, hosted the Lenten Dinners, given out scholarships to worthy students, and have donated money collected during our annual "Tootsie Roll Drive" to a local organization for mentally retarded children. Brother Knights also serve the Newman Center as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers and Choir Members.
To become a Knight, there are only two requirements that you must meet to be eligible:
If you meet the above requirements and wish to become a Knight click on
How to Join.Our Council meetings are at the St. Paul Newman Center on the second Thursday of each month starting at 7:00pm. The St. Paul Newman Center is located at 1572 E. Barstow in North Central Fresno. It is on the frontage road just across the street from Bulldog Stadium. You must have a current membership card to attend the meeting.
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The first visit to the United States by Pope Benedict XVI as Holy Father will also mark
a historic first for the Knights of Columbus. During Pope Benedict’s April 16 meeting with President Bush at the White House, 30 Fourth Degree Knights in full regalia will provide an honor guard for the ceremony. It is the first time the Fourth Degree will stand in formation for a pope and president at the White House. “We take this, first and foremost, as a supreme honor to be there for this historic event,” said Joseph P. Schultz, supreme master of the Fourth Degree. “We are greatly honored that we would be chosen for such an honor, and I think it’s a sign of the high regard that is given to the Knights of Columbus as a whole.” The White House ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Rose Garden. The Fourth Degree also is scheduled to take part at the Masses in Washington’s Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium in New York, as well as at the pope’s departure ceremony at John F. Kennedy International Airport. |
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Vice Supreme Master Ralph Rossi is organizing the Fourth Degree’s activities for the pope’s
visit in the nation’s capital, and Masters Martin Loughlin and Marvin Dalton are handling
arrangements in New York. Rossi said that the 30 Sir Knights at the White House will represent the entire Order and the Catholic Church. “I have told my men that we are representing not only the 1.7 million Knights and their families throughout the world, but also the 68 million Catholics in the United States and the 1 billion Catholics in the world, since people will be watching this ceremony all over the world,” Rossi explained. “Any Knight who sees the Fourth Degree honor guard on TV will know that he is being represented. People all over the world will be able to see who we are and what we are, that we are Knights of Columbus.” Rossi was enlisted in the U.S. National Guard for 41 years, retiring two years ago with the rank of sergeant major. He will draw on his military training as he prepares the honor guard for its most important assignment. He said that at the White House, the Sir Knights will march in three rows of 10, with six different colored capes displayed. No ceremonial swords will be carried at any of the papal events. At Nationals Stadium on April 17, an honor guard of 50 Sir Knights will lead the liturgical procession at the beginning and the end of Mass. At Yankee Stadium on April 20, as many as 165 Fourth Degree members will accompany priests and deacons as they distribute Communion to the thousands attending. Later that day, a contingent of 50 Sir Knights will serve as honor guard as the Holy Father departs from JFK Airport. “This is a unique opportunity to show the world what the Knights are about,” said Supreme Master Schultz. |
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TO GUIDE YOU AND PROTECT YOU |
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How do I Join?
Officers
Usher/Greeter Ministry
Rosary Prayer Service
How to Help
Brothers Information
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Links
The information on this site is constantly being revised
to reflect current
events as they take place.
