Who are the Knights?
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with 1.7 million members. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.
Membership Benefits
As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world’s largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal benefits.
Here at Saint Patrick’s, we work with our parish family and the community and plan a calendar of activites for each fraternal year. We also publish a Council newsletter called The Shamrock. Members can participate in Church, Council, Youth, Family and Community activities. As practicing Catholics, we consider ourselves brothers in faith. We also share fellowship through Council fraternal and social activities. We are proud to be members of Saint Patrick’s Basilica and are committed to raising funds for the restoration of the basilica.
Saint Patrick’s Basilica Knights of Columbus Council 12158 was named the Best Overall Council in Ontario for the 2004-2005 fraternal year. This was particularly gratifying, coming in the year of the 150th anniversary of Saint Patrick’s Basilica. For nine consecutive years, we have been among the top ten per cent of councils to achieve the Star Council Award, which recognizes excellence in fraternal and charitable activities, membership recruitment and insurance promotion.
How To Join
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church. Application forms are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus.
We always seek out new members, who bring new ideas and friendships. The Saint Patrick’s Basilica Knights of Columbus extend the invitation to take part in the important activities of the Knights of Columbus in our parish. You can get in touch with any of the knights whose phone numbers and emails are included on this site.
How often have you felt the need to do something meaningful for others? How better than to join an international society of more than 1.7 million members who are dedicated to the ideals of Columbianism: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Here at Saint Patrick’s, we aim to foster the parish community by contributing to the needs of the parish restoration fund and other charitable works. As a Catholic fraternal organization, members of our Order are brothers in faith. We support one another through prayer and by working together on common goals.
We received our charter on March 17, 1998. At the time, Saint Patrick’s Basilica Council’s membership was 34. Towards the start of the 2007-08 fraternal year, membership stood at some 160 members and we continue to grow.
4th Degree
Any Third Degree member in good standing, one year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights’ respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups (called “assemblies”). Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus.
Many of our members belong to the Cartier Fourth Degree Assembly. This assembly was founded in Ottawa in 1922 and is one of the oldest in Ontario. The Cartier Assembly and our Council use the meeting chamber located in the basement of Saint Patrick’s Basilica. Knights of Columbus Council 12158 at Saint Patrick’s Basilica and the Cartier Assembly often come together for social events, family gatherings and religious celebrations.