Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus

Founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus began as a fraternal organization dedicated to strengthening the faith of Catholic men, promoting unity, and offering support to families in need—especially widows and orphans.

From those modest beginnings, the Knights quickly grew beyond Connecticut, establishing councils across the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and beyond. During World War I, the Knights served soldiers through welfare centers, and in the years that followed, they supported veterans with education and job training. Over the decades, the Order has taken part in major Catholic projects, including building the National Shrine in Washington, D.C., supporting papal initiatives, and even providing technology for global Vatican broadcasts.

Guided by the founding principles of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity, the Knights of Columbus today counts more than 2 million members in over 17,000 councils worldwide. In recent years, the Order has contributed more than $185 million and nearly 50 million volunteer hours annually to charitable works.

Our Local Council – Seaside, Oregon

The Seaside Council of the Knights of Columbus, founded in 1983 under the patronage of St. John Paul II, carries forward this legacy of faith and service in our parish and community. Our members live out the Knights’ mission through hands-on projects, financial support, and community outreach.

In recent years, some of the many projects our council has facilitated and/or funded include:

• Remodeled the OLV gravel parking lot by removing old trees and shrubs, leveling and regraveling, and building a block wall.
• Paid for resealing and painting the paved parking lot.
• Pressure washed the bell tower and cleaned church gutters.
• Built a classroom wall, installed new flooring, painted rooms, and repaired water-damaged soffits in the parish hall
• Repaired parish kitchen drywall after a rodent infestation.
• Provided ongoing financial support to Father Joe’s Orphanage and the Mount Angel Seminary.
• Volunteered at the Seaside St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and financial aid programs.
• Served regularly in the OLV Sunday Supper program.
• Upgraded church and parish building lighting to energy-efficient LEDs.
• Repaired the fence at SPF.
• Purchased and distributed coats for children in need through St. Vincent de Paul each fall.
• Our two major fundraising events—the Oktoberfest Celebration and the Lenten Fish Fry—help fund many of these efforts. We also sell Christmas wreaths each year to support our Coats for Kids program.

Through all these works, the Seaside Knights remain committed to building a stronger parish and a more compassionate community, living out the same principles that inspired Father McGivney more than a century ago.

David Hurley, Grand Knight

Chris Rose, Recorder

Joe Pszeracki, Treasurer

Steve Wilcox, Financial Secretary

If you’d like to learn more about joining the Knights of Columbus or supporting their mission, please contact the parish office at olvoffice@archdpdx.org - or, visit us on Facebook.

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