About the Knights of Columbus

Knights - Fr MichaelFounded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus has grown to a worldwide Catholic fraternal brotherhood of more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members. Every member of the Knights of Columbus plays a part in improving the world around them, one community at a time. Knights stand together in faith, dedicated to uphold the principles they cherish while lending their support and strength to parish, home and fellow Knights.

From charity for worldwide causes, to helping closer to home with volunteer activities, to a top-rated insurance program, the Knights makes the most of its brotherhood.

What we provide

SERVICE

Charity is the first principle of the Knights of Columbus. Knights are men who get things done. We volunteer our time to serve our parishes and our communities. And by working together, we were able to donate more than $1.4 billion and 664 million volunteer hours to worthy causes in the past decade. You can read more about Council 11445’s service activities here.

SUPPORT

Unity and Fraternity are the second and third principles of the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus was founded so that men could work together to serve their parishes and communities, protect the well being of their Catholic families, and support each other in faith and in many other ways along life’s journey. The Knights of Columbus offers its members the opportunity to grow in their faith through living the example of a charity that evangelizes and personifying what it means to be a Catholic gentleman through the practicing of good works.

STABILITY

Knights and their families have exclusive access to our top quality insurance products. In fact, no insurer in North America is more highly rated than the Knights of Columbus. As an organization founded to protect the well being of Catholic families, we have continued to take that mission seriously for more than 130 years. Generations of Catholics have counted on the Knights of Columbus, and in an increasingly turbulent world,the Knights of Columbus can be trusted to affordably and securely protect the future of loved ones and to be there when we’re needed most.


Past Grand Knights of Council 11445

Robert Foster, PGK October 1994 – June 1996
Glen Allie, PGK July 1996 – June 1998
John Heller, PGK July 1998 – June 1999
Scott Mergenthaler, PGK July 1999 – June 2001
Anthony Matlak, PGK July 2001 – June 2004
David Barrett, PGK July 2004 – June 2005
Michael Gross, PGK July 2005 – June 2006
Scott Mergenthaler, PGK July 2006 – June 2008
Cyrus Cottrell, PGK July 2008 – June 2009
John Greve, PGK July 2009 – June 2011
Brett Gissel, PGK, PFN July 2011 – June 2013
Patrick Rosmarin, PGK July 2013 – June 2015
Aaron Hamilton, PGK July 2015 – June 2016
Greg Eckert, PGK July 2016 – June 2018
Chris Fricke, PGK July 2018 – June 2020
John Greve, PGK July 2020 – June 2022
Seth Walker, PGK July 2022 – June 2024

Current Grand Knight

Michael LaMorte July 2024 – Present

Honorary Past Grand Knight

Christino “Chris” Damo, FDD June 2015