Who are the Knights?
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with 1.6 million members. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.

Membership Benefits
As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world's largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal benefits.

How to join
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. Application forms are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus, or by emailing the St. Dominic Council at: Information@KofCStDominic5343org.

4th Degree, the Patriotic Degree  
Any Third Degree member in good standing, one year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights' respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups (called "assemblies"). Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus.

For additional information on the Fourth Degree, visit the Supreme Council's 4th Degree portion of thier web site.

Ladies Auxiliary
Currently St. Dominic Council is studying the feasibility of forming a Ladies Auxiliary in support of the Council's ongoing activities. We welcome and encourage feedback on this topic from all interested parties. Please contact the Council at: Information@KofCStDominic5343org.

For more information on the Columbiettes, the affiliated woman's auxiliaries of the Knights of Columbus, please visit the Columbiette's Supreme Council website.

Columbian Squires
Under the guidance of Christian Brother Barnabas McDonald (1865-1929), the first Columbian Squires circle was instituted in 1925. Membership in the Squires is for Catholic boys between the ages of 12 and 17. Squires' activities are many, varying from spiritual to active service for the Church and community. Each circle elects officer members from their own rank, teaching skills of leadership and responsibility. St. Dominic Council welcomes comments and suggestions regarding sponsoring and supporting a Columbian Squires circle. Please contact the Council at: Information@KofCStDominic5343org.

For additional information on the Columbian Squires, the official Knights of Columbus youth organization, please visit the NY State Columbian Squires Circle website.

College Councils
College Knights belong to units called College Councils. The only difference between the a college council and any other local council is that college councils are located on college or university campuses. Today there are more than 16,000 college Knights and 160 college councils in the United States, Canada and the Philippines.

Some college councils are located at Newman Centers, which also serve as the community parish. Other college councils function as independent student organizations. Over the past few years college Knights have shared many ideas at the annual college council conference.

The Saint Dominic Council #5343, Knights of Columbus, is willing to assist local college students in organizing College Councils on thier respective campuses. Please contact the Council at: Information@KofCStDominic5343org.

For additional information on the College Councils, and thier role within the Knights of Columbus, please visit the Supreme Council's College Knight portion of thier website.

McGivney Guild
The McGivney Guild was founded to promote the canonization of the Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Michael J. McGivney (1882-1890). Fr. McGivney, before his untimely death in 1890, had a vision of a Catholic fellowship of young men, which provided a model of service to the family, in the spirit of the Gospels, thus giving birth to the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic fraternity in the world.. This remarkable curate is rightly considered the Apostle to the Young, by all who join our Order. The exemplifications of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity in the degrees of our order were handed down to us by our Founder, in New Haven, CT, in 1882.

All Knights of Columbus, and others interested in Fr. Michael McGivney's cause for canonization may enroll online in the McGivney Guild.

For additional information on the The McGivney Guild, and the cause for the canonization of our beloved founder, please visit Guild's portion of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council website.

Send comments or questions to the web page editor, webmaster@KofCStDominic5343.

Version 3.30, Last updated on June 4, 2004.