Our Council
Our Council was chartered on June 16, 1999. It was named Fr. Louis Knight Council 12451 in honor of our founding Pastor here at St. Edward the Confessor. Louis Knight was both a Knight of Columbus and our first Chaplin. We currently have over 260 members in our council. The Knights of Columbus was first started in New Haven Connecticut by a priest named Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1882
. McGivney is up for canonization and has been raised to the title of "Venerable." We meet on the third Thursdays of each month at 7:30 PM with dinner and social hour prior to each meeting. The requirements to become Knight are 3 fold, i.e. you must be at least 18yrs old, male, and a practicing Catholic in line with the Holy See.
2. Contributing:
We encourage our members to become active in the Church as well as our Council. The Knights of Columbus is a volunteer program structured to provide fraternity among Catholic Brothers, faith in our families, and Charity to the Church and Community. However, there is no minimum or maximum to contribute. Each member contributes to the best of their ability.
3. Council Fundraisers
The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world with more than 1.9 million members in over 14,000 councils. Last year, the Knights of Columbus donated 70.5 million volunteer hours and $170 million to charitable and benevolent causes, sponsoring projects to benefit their Church, communities, councils, families, and youth. Our Council is growing and remains very active, always searching for new ways to better serve our Church, Families, and Community. Some examples of our Council's Contributions are:
St. Edward School/Youth -
Flag Poles & Trophy Case
Fiesta BBQ Booth
Scholarship Fund
Free Throw & Soccer Contest
Vocations -
Seminarian Scholarship
Priest Annuity & Retirement Fund
Annual Clergy Night Dinner
Pro-Life -
Birthchoice & Mary's Shelter
Toby's & Laura’s House
Priests for Life
Community -
Blood Drives
Tootsie Roll Drive for Intellectual Disabilities
K of C Wheelchair Foundation
Special Olympics
Patriotism -
Marine Semper Fi Fund, & Naval hospital
Disaster Relief in other States
Church/Faith -
Handi-Knights (Handymen-Church & Parish)
San Felipe de Jesus Heating System
EWTN
Christian Services
Sickness and Duress (Prayer & Support)
Bishop’s Color Guards & Mass Servers
Church Bulletin Board
4. Family Events: & Activities
We sponsor two annual dinners here at St. Edward., the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, & Wounded Warriors Dinner. The latter raises money for the Marine Semper Fi fund and Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton. We meet and participate in mass at our Qtly Corporate Communions. Afterwards our families share a meal together either at the Church for a potluck dinner or BBQ or a local restaurant. Each year we sponsor our Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast, the Kid's smiles say it all! Surfin' Scriptures meets at T St. in San Clemente on Saturday mornings during the summertime for surf, swim, and Bible study. And we host our annual Golf Tournament to help the school at one of the finer golf courses here in the area. Another high profile fundraiser is the Annual Tootsie Roll Drive in October, where we raise money in front of grocery stores to support our Diocese's Summer Camp for adults with intellectual disabilities Our most visible arm, the 4th Degree Color Guard, presides at parades, Confirmations, funerals and other call-outs from the Bishop.
5 Insurance:
The Knights of Columbus is one of the largest Wholesale Life Insurance Companies in the world and is optional to new members. They also provide Annuities, Education Savings, and other policies. All these programs are optional but can be a great way to provide financial security to your family at a reduced cost. Since our insurance is for Knights only, all dividends come back to the shareholders. Each Council has a Field Agent who is there to help with your planning for the future. May God truly enrich you my brother,
SK Louis Ramirez, Membership Director
115 Fleurance, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Phone: 374-0498
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.kofc12451.org
