News
Welcome to the New Jersey State Council
Welcome to the New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus. Father Michael J. McGivney and a handful of Catholic laymen founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, in the basement of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Haven, Connecticut. The aim of the founder was to set up a parish-based lay organization that offered insurance benefits to the widows and children of members. In an era when parish and fraternal societies were popular, Father McGivney felt there should be some way to strengthen the religious faith of his flock and provide financial support for families overwhelmed by illness or the death of the breadwinner.
Today the Knights of Columbus have grown from that one local unit, or council, to over 15,000 councils in the United States (including Puerto Rico and Guam), Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, and Saipan. In January 2006, the Knights of Columbus expanded to Poland.
Membership is over 1.8 million members, plus their families - approximately 5.6 million people total - many of whom are actively involved in volunteer service programs for the Catholic Church, their communities, their families, young people and one another.
The Knights of Columbus, the world's largest organization of Catholic men and their families, has been called "the strong right arm of the Church," and has been cited by popes, presidents and other world leaders for support of the Church, for programs of evangelization and Catholic education, for civic involvement and aid to those in need.
New Jersey Bishops Release New Statement on Marriage
As published in the National Catholic Register and linked via Cafe Bistro:
"Marriage as a union of a man and a woman has its roots in natural law. Throughout all of human history marriage has been held to be a union of man and woman. Marriage as a union of man and woman existed long before any nation, religion or law was established. Marriage which unites mothers and fathers in the work of childrearing is the foundation of the family, and the family is the basic unit of society.
Sadly, the institution of marriage is being challenged by a society so concerned with individual freedom that some view marriage as a temporary or disposable convenience. Now, there is even an attempt in the New Jersey Legislature to pass a law that would change the very definition of marriage as a union of one man and one woman.
As citizens, we must protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Same-sex unions may represent a new and a different type of institution, but it is not marriage and should not be treated as marriage. "
"ObamaCare and Religious Freedom"
As Published in the Wall Street Journal and linked via Headline Bistro:
How about some respect for Catholics and others who object to treating pregnancy as a disease?
By: Cardinal Designate Timothy M. Dolan, Archdiocese of New York?
"Religious freedom is the lifeblood of the American people, the cornerstone of American government. When the Founding Fathers determined that the innate rights of men and women should be enshrined in our Constitution, they so esteemed religious liberty that they made it the first freedom in the Bill of Rights.
In particular, the Founding Fathers fiercely defended the right of conscience. George Washington himself declared: "The conscientious scruples of all men should be treated with great delicacy and tenderness; and it is my wish and desire, that the laws may always be extensively accommodated to them." James Madison, a key defender of religious freedom and author of the First Amendment, said: "Conscience is the most sacred of all property."
'I Have Come That You May Have Life' - A Message from Bishop David M. O'Connell C.M.
As published in The Monitor, the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.
"Illness always seems different when it’s our own we are facing. As difficult as it may be to handle sickness in others, especially those we love most, an adverse medical diagnosis presented to us can be, no, is particularly sobering."
"A Tragic and Flawed Ruling"
As published in the Bergen Record, Written by Marie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life.
"Every year in our nation’s capital and in state capitals across America, people from every walk of life, age group, ethnicity, race and gender will gather once again to call for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and an end to one of the greatest injustices against humanity of our time.
The 39-year old Roe v. Wade decision is flawed for many reasons, not the least of which is that it defined “person” based on place of residence rather than the humanity of the person.
In 2012, we call that discrimination."
Catholic Men For Jesus Christ Men's Conference - Diocesan Schedule
- Camden
- Metuchen
- Newark
- Paterson
- Trenton
- Saturday, February 25, 2012
- St. Raphael Church
- 3500 South Broad St., Hamilton, NJ 08610
- More details to follow
Street in Rome, Italy Named For Knights of Columbus
Largo Cavalieri di Colombo was officially unveiled on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 during a ceremony presided over by Gianni Alemanno, Mayor of Rome and Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.
The relationship between the Knights of Columbus and the City of Rome dates back to shortly after World War I when the Knights, acting on a request from Pope Benedict XV initially built and maintained a series of parks for children throughout "The Eternal City."
Those parks have evolved into five sports centers, free for the children of Rome.
The unveiling was just one in a series of events involving the Knights of Columbus throughout Rome and at the Vatican. Read more.
Important Message for All Councils and Assemblies
To Brothers At All Levels Of Involvement:
Please click HERE and read the important message from our Supreme Advocate regarding new and updated regulations regarding Councils and Assemblies. Please note that the regulations have changed drastically and the penalties have also increased.
If you have any questions, contact the Supreme Advocate's office.
Challenge to Pledge
Supreme Court Upholds "Under God" in Pledge
Knights of Columbus waged successful defense on East and West Coast cases
June 14, 2011 - (Flag Day) (NEW HAVEN, CONN.) - The United States Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance, thus ending a seven year battle involving two separate cases, one originating in California and the other in New Hampshire. The Knights of Columbus, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, played a key role in defending the Pledge as a "defendant intervenor" in both cases. For more, click here.
Father McGivney
Read about Father McGivney; the beginnings of the Knights of Columbus; the Father McGivney Guild; and the Cause for Canonization. more
Special Olympics - NJ State Fundraisers
The 2012 Polar Bear Plunge will be held on Saturday, February 25. Once again, the NJKofC Polar Penguins, led by State Deputy Dan Rossi and Team Captain PSD Tom Ciborski, will be one of the groups plunging for Special Olympics. Last year, more than 5,000 people participated in he plunge.
In the past 2 years, the NJKofC Polar Penguins have raised almost $25,000. Come plunge for the kids.
Team members should contact John Gazis for directions to the Plunge. The Team will meet at the Parish Cneter of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, located on the corner of West Central Blvd and Grant Avenue. Continental breakfast will be served before the Plunge. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. We will have a hot lunch for the team and their supporters after the Plunge, as well as parking on the Church grounds. However, there is to be NO tailgating on Church property
Charity Dinner Honoring Bill Kennedy, PSD
Chapter 4, Metuchen Diocese, is hosting a Charity Dinner honoring the late William Kennedy, PSD. Bill served as State Deputy in 2002
Recent Event Pictorials
Read about Father McGivney; the beginnings of the Knights of Pictures and stories from recent events held thourhout the State:Columbus; the Father McGivney Guild; and the Cause for Canonization.