About

About The Knights

Father Michael J. McGivney

Father Michael J. McGivney

Father Michael J. McGivney

On March 29, 1882, the Connecticut state legislature officially chartered the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal benefit society founded by Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney with a group of parishioners in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven. Still true to its founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity 128 years later, the Knights of Columbus has grown to the largest lay Catholic organization in the world with more than 1.8 million members. The world –wide organization has also contributed billions of dollars and millions of hours of volunteer service to charity. No other Catholic men’s organization has been in existence that long or has been dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. You can learn more about the history of the KOC at the Supreme Council website of www.kofc.org.

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church was the first “over the mountain” catholic parish in Birmingham. The Knights of Columbus council at St. Peter’s was chartered on May 12, 1980 with over 50 Knights. Since then several other parishes (Prince of Peace, Our Lady of the Valley, St. Thomas, and St. Marks were established from the huge geographic boundaries of the original St. Peter’s being basically everything south of the City Limits of Birmingham in Jefferson and Shelby County. As each of those parishes opened they also spawned a KOC Council. Our current council has approximately 100 members. We also have a Ladies Auxiliary having about 35 wives of Knights and a few individual ladies. The ladies have been very active over the years in supporting the Council and initiating their own activities. Pastor Thomas Kellyis the chaplain of our Council.

In 1998 St. Peter’s and Prince of Peace formed a joint 4th Degree Assembly, which is still growing today to a membership of over 50 Knights. They service the needs of both parishes.

Over the years we have won numerous state awards including Star Council and supported the needs of our parish and the surrounding community.

It is our constant goal to contribute to the well being of our parish, our community and our country, through our unity, service and charity.