About Our Council
Knights of Columbus Council 10525 serves St. Michael’s parish, our families, youth and the surrounding community.
Our Council continues an exciting history. The Order of the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, CT. In December 1990, 31 men along with Father Michael Ruane chartered our Council known as St. Michael’s of Poplar Springs Council, the 10,525th of our Order, under the leadership of Sir Knight Vincent E. Kirchner, our first Grand Knight. Today, St Michael’s is one of over 13,000 councils with 1.8 million members internationally.
St. Michael’s of Poplar Springs Council predominantly serves St. Michael’s Parish, although we do have some members from other parishes. Members sing in the choir, or volunteer as religious education teachers, or participate as members of the Pastoral Council. Other members are ushers or lectors or serve as Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist. But, regardless of our individual talents and contributions, we all come together as Knights with a common mission to spread God’s message of faith and love through the four core principles of the Knights of Columbus – charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.
Affiliations
St. Michael’s Parish
Maryland State Council
Supreme Council Information
WHAT ARE THE KNIGHTS
Charity
Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, we volunteer at the Special Olympics, and we support both spiritually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies. Knights recognize that our mission, and our faith in God, compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compassion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day.
Unity
None of us is as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that – together – we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. So we stick together…we support one another. That doesn’t mean that we always agree or that there is never a difference of opinion. It does mean that – as a Knight of Columbus – you can count on the support and encouragement of your brother Knights as you work to make life better in your parish and community.
Fraternity
Venerable Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to provide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely. The Order’s top-rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do the good works of individual Knights, who gave more than 73.5 million service hours in 2015, illustrating how Catholics serve each other in fraternity and mercy.
Patriotism
Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens.