[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2876-S2877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE 116TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Knights of 
Columbus and join them in the celebration of 116 years of carrying out 
their mission of ``Unity, Service, and Patriotism.'' In the fall of 
1881, a group of men, under the direction of Father Michael J. 
McGivney, met at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut, for the 
purpose of establishing a fraternal benefit society within the Catholic 
Church. That small meeting was the genesis for a movement which now 
claims nearly 1.6 million members (4.5 million including family 
members) in countries throughout the Western Hemisphere and the 
Pacific.
  After being granted legal corporation on March 29, 1882, the Knights 
of Columbus began spreading their message of pride in faith and nation. 
Indeed, the very name Knights of Columbus was chosen to reflect this 
premise, as it signifies the importance of Christopher Columbus' 
discovery of America to the Catholic Church.
  In times of national crisis, the Knights of Columbus have 
consistently heeded the call for service and sacrifice. This was 
perhaps best exemplified during two of the most pivotal events in our 
Nation's history which occurred this century: World War I and World War 
II. During these trying times, the Knights of Columbus offered an array 
of support programs for the men and women of our armed forces, 
including bond drives and blood donor programs.
  In addition, at the conclusion of World War II and the onset of the 
Cold War, the Knights of Columbus aided in the crusade against 
Communist expansion by sponsoring 1,300 educational discussion groups, 
as well as speakers' bureaus, advertisements and radio addresses. The 
Knights of Columbus' efforts during the Cold War were acknowledged by 
President Harry S. Truman.
  While those accomplishments are indeed admirable, equally impressive 
are the often unsung works undertaken by individual Knights of Columbus 
Councils each day. In 1996, Knights of Columbus members reported 
48,966,132 hours of volunteer service and donated $105,976,102 to 
charity.
  Currently, 229 Knights of Columbus Councils serve parishes and 
communities throughout my home state of Minnesota. The services 
undertaken by each Council cover many areas and aid

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a number of different charities and causes, ranging from providing 
loans for college students to assisting the sick and the elderly in 
getting to Sunday Mass.
  Other examples of service activities in Minnesota include: a fund 
drive in support of the construction of Catholic schools conducted by 
Council 7604 in Eagan, Minnesota; the bowling team from Council 961 in 
St. Cloud, Minnesota, which raised over $6,000 for Big Brothers-Big 
Sisters; and the sponsoring of youth hockey by Council 3166 in Detroit 
Lakes, Minnesota.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to report that the ``World's Largest 
Catholic Family Fraternal Organization'' has a commanding presence in 
Minnesota and will continue to provide communities with an excellent 
example of how to live a fulfilling life of maximum service to God and 
country. I am honored to have this opportunity to acknowledge and thank 
the Knights of Columbus for all their work, and offer my sincerest 
congratulations on the 116th anniversary of their founding. 

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