Supreme Knight's Report

Telling Our Story

Knight Al Smith, the first Catholic to be nominated for the U.S. presidency by a major party, greets voters during the 1928 election.

Our 125th anniversary has given us a wonderful opportunity to tell our story. Newspapers around the world have run feature stories about the Order and our extraordinary history.

Parish Priest, the best-selling biography of Father McGivney, was released in paperback on Founder’s Day, March 29. This edition is an ideal choice for summer reading lists, high school and college level courses on Catholic history in America, and much more.

We have also arranged for the production of two hour-long television programs designed for cable TV channels like the History Channel and Biography Channel – a documentary on the history of the Knights of Columbus, and one on our founder, Father McGivney.

This year we will also distribute to every council our new video series on the history and mission of the Knights of Columbus, entitled, Father McGivney: His Vision, Our Mission.

The Catholic Information Service (CIS) continues to distribute its fine offerings of catechetical materials and online courses in Catholicism.

In July we welcomed a new director, Dominican Father Juan Diego Brunetta. He succeeds Father Gabriel B. O’Donnell, who is now vice president and academic dean at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Father O’Donnell retains his close association with the Order, continuing as postulator for the cause of canonization for the Servant of God Father Michael J. McGivney.