Welcome to the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest lay Catholic family service organization. As their forebears did more than a century ago, today's Knights and their families stand shoulder to shoulder in support of one another. Through their charity and the examples of their lives, they stand in service to all as witnesses to the Good News of the Gospel.
Knights of Columbus
Archbishop Neale Council, No. 2279
Knights of Columbus
Archbishop Neale Council, No. 2279
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The Vision Of Father McGivney

Led by the quiet, unassuming curate of St. Mary's Parish in New Haven, Conn., a small group of men established the Knights of Columbus in the church basement early in the spring of 1882. The priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, saw clearly that both Catholics and the Church faced serious problems in the last half of the nineteenth century such as anti-Catholicism and ethnic prejudice; under-employment; lack of social standing and early loss of the breadwinner.
To resolve those problems Father McGivney conceived the idea of an organization of Catholic men who would band together:
To aid one another in times of sickness or death, by means of a simple insurance plan, so that their wives and children would not face abject poverty.
To strengthen themselves and each other in the Faith.
To strengthen families and family life.
To be a strong pillar of support for their priests and bishops.
To be of service to Church and community by coming to the aid of those most in need in society.



They called themselves Knights of Columbus - Knights to emphasize chivalry's ideals of charity and support for Church and state, and Columbus as a reminder that Catholics had been the backbone and bulwark of America's growth and greatness from the very beginning.
The State of Connecticut officially chartered the Order on March 29, 1882. It's founder, Father McGivney, and those first Knights dreamed of the day when there would be a council in every parish in Connecticut. Little could they know that their small group would grow into a global organization of more than 1.6 million members in nearly 12,000 local councils in 13 countries: the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cuba, Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan.
In the years since 1882 the Knights of Columbus has become one of the largest and strongest life insurance companies in North America with approximately $60 billion of insurance in force. More than $6.2 billion in new insurance is sold annually and recently the Order paid $300 million in death benefits to the families of deceased members and $327 million in dividends to insurance members.









Council Meetings
Archbishop Neale School,
104 Port Tobacco Road, La Plata MD
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Rosary starts at 7:10 p. m.
Each name is linked to an e-mail address.
* No e-mail address.
Father Michael J. McGivney
From left DD 12 Phil Tabbita, new 1st and 2nd degree brother Brett O'Neill and his father Jim O'Neill and GK George Grooms. Congratulations Brett.
At the 14 March council meeting, DD Phil Tabbita, presented the new Starfish Award to brother William Wannall. He is the first brother in our council to receive this award which is earned by recruiting 3 or more new members in a Columbian Year. Congratulations Bill.
First and Second Degree Ceremony
On 14 March at Archbishoop Neale Council, 2279. From left SK Jeff Koscho, GK 11171, new 1st and 2nd degree Knight, Father Mike Siconolfi, SJ and SK Larry Perkins, DGK 11171. Congratulations Fr. Siconolfi.
First and Second Degree Ceremony
Mulch Sale and SHC Beautification Day.
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