Fr. Michael McGivney Beatified

Fr. Michael McGivney Beatified

Saturday, October 31, was a day of great joy for the Knights of Columbus throughout the world as their founder, Fr. Michael McGivney, was proclaimed a “Blessed” by Pope Francis. We offer our felicitations to the Hamilton Council of the Knights on this auspicious occasion and pray that the new “Beatus” will ever intercede for their members and for all their undertakings.

Fr. McGivney was born in Waterbury, CT, the son of Irish immigrants. His zeal for his flock was apparent from the first day of his assignment to St. Mary’s Church in New Haven. His dedication to families in challenging times led to his being called the “apostle to the young” and “protector of Christian family life.” His desire to see that families, especially widows and children, were provided with financial security moved him in 1882 to found the Knights of Columbus. Today it counts some 1.9 million members worldwide. The four pillars of this Catholic Order of service are charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.

Fr. McGivney died in 1890, the victim of a pandemic.

To honor the new Beatus and the Knights of Columbus of our Diocese, Bishop O’Connell commissioned a painting of Blessed Michael McGivney to be enshrined at our Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine this coming Saturday, November 14. It is the work of Fr. Peter Gray of the Society of St. Sulpice.