Blessed McGivney Office - Philippines is a local initiative leading the local promotions of the Cause of Fr. Blessed Michael J. McGivney, a holy parish priest, founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, with a handful of men from the parish. In a life cut short by illness, he left an enduring legacy of faith in action that is carried out today by more t
han 1.8 million Knights of Columbus around the world, including 280,000 members in the Philippines. He holds the title Venerable Servant of God, and is known as Apostle to the Young and Protector of Christian Family Life. Ordained on Dec. 22, 1877, Father McGivney was known for his strong faith, his care and concern for the hardships of his parishioners, and his work with young people. Realizing that some Catholic men left the faith by joining banned secret societies, he set out to establish a fraternal benefit society in keeping with the Catholic faith. By leaving the leadership and daily decisions to laymen, Father McGivney anticipated the call of the Second Vatican Council for a more active role for the laity. After spending all his energy on behalf of his people, Father McGivney died of pneumonia on Aug. 14, 1890, two days past his 38th birthday. A priest who knew him, said: “I saw him but once, and yet I remember this pale, beautiful face as if I saw it only yesterday. It was a ‘priest’s face’ and that explains everything. It was a face of wonderful repose. There was nothing harsh in that countenance although there was everything that was strong.”
His Knights had a simple epitaph for the young priest who gave them their mission: “He was our father.”
