How the Knights began
Father Michael McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus to support Catholic immigrant families in New Haven. At the time, many working families faced serious hardship if a husband or father died. The new organisation offered friendship, mutual aid and a way for men to help protect their families.
The name honours Christopher Columbus, whom the founders viewed as a symbol of Catholic presence in the Americas. The Knights are not a separate church, denomination or spiritual authority. They are a lay organisation that works within the Roman Catholic Church and its parish life.
Their original concern for families carries a recognisably Christian instinct. Paul tells believers to help carry one another's burdens, rather than leaving people to face hardship alone (Galatians 6:2).
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
What they do
Knights usually belong to local groups called councils. A council may support parish events, collect food, raise money for people in need, assist people with disabilities, respond after disasters or organise community projects. What a particular council does can vary from place to place.
The organisation is also known for its insurance programme, designed to provide financial support for members' families. Its stated ideals include charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. At its best, that service puts into practice James's challenge that faith should not remain words alone, but should result in compassionate action (James 2:14-17).
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Who can join
Membership in the main order is generally for practising Catholic men aged eighteen and over, subject to its membership requirements. Women, young people and families may take part in related programmes, parish events and charitable work, but the Knights themselves are a men's Catholic fraternity.
Christians organise service in different ways. Some serve through a parish council, a local charity, a prayer group or an informal network of friends. Scripture does not require every Christian to join one particular organisation. It does encourage believers to meet together and stir each other towards love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25).
How to view their role
It is fair to see the Knights of Columbus as a Catholic service and fellowship organisation. Individual members and councils will have different strengths, so if you are curious about one nearby, ask what it does in the parish, how it serves the wider community and how it handles donations.
The deeper measure is not a title, uniform or membership card. Jesus describes caring for hungry, thirsty, lonely and vulnerable people as service that matters to him (Matthew 25:35-39). He then identifies such care for the least regarded people with care offered to himself (Matthew 25:40).
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.