Knights of Columbus Council 7069

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic Fraternal Service Organization founded 120 years ago by the Venerable Father Michael McGivney.

In keeping with our founder's vision for the organization, our activities foster our spiritual growth within our church, enrich our fellowship with our brothers and fellow man, and support the ideals of our country. The Knights uphold four key principles as pillars of the Order: Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.

There are activities that are fun-filled for the entire family as well as those that improve us as individuals and as members of our church and community.

Some of our volunteer and community activities include the annual Knights Friday Night Fish Fries during lent, the annual St. Patrick's Dinner dance and the November spaghetti dinners, and the monthly highway clean-up project. We also provide physical and financial support for St. Peter the Apostle Church, St. Peter the Apostle School, and St. Peter Thrift Shop, as well as community organizations such as Fallbrook Food Pantry, Hope Clinic, REINS, D'vine Path, and the Boys and Girls Club.

Our members meet every second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall of St. Peter's. We also enjoy family potlucks every fourth Wednesday also in the Parish Hall. If you are interested in joining our ranks and want to be a man of service and meet like-minded Catholic men, please contact our Grand Knight Adam Nogueira at 760 535 5387 or adamnogueirahomes@gmail.com.

The only requirement for membership is that you must be a practicing Catholic and must be at least 18 years of age. Our annual dues are $60.

History of the Knights of Columbus

Founded by Father Michael J McGivney, curate at St. Mary's parish in New Haven, Conn., the Knights of Columbus was chartered on March 29, 1882, in the State of Connecticut.

As the priest explained to a small group of men at a meeting in the basement of St. Mary's Church in October 1881, his purpose in calling them together was manifold: to help Catholic men remain steadfast in their faith through mutual encouragement; to promote closer ties of fraternity among them; and to set up an elementary system of insurance so that the widows and children of members in the group who might die would not find themselves in dire financial straits.

The founder and first officers of the fledgling organization chose the name "Knights of Columbus" because they felt that, as a Catholic group, it should relate to Christopher Columbus, the Catholic discoverer of America. This would emphasize that it was Catholics who discovered, explored and colonized the North American continent. At the same time "Knights" would signify that the membership embodied knightly ideals of spirituality and service to Church, country and fellowman.