About Our Council

Knights Of Columbus (KoC) Council 10257

The Boonvile Council 10257 of the KoC is comprised of members from St. Clements and St. Ruperts.  The Council is active and focused on a variety of service projects for the church and community. 

The Council sponsors an annual Fishing Tournament for Special Needs children and adults.  The 2013 version of the Tournament served 124 participants.  Over 75 voulnteers from the KoC, Civitan's of Newburgh, 2 local National Guard units, Boy Scout Troop 463 from Evansville as well as many members and friends of the KoC pitched in to make the event a success. The most important ingredient, Lake Last Cast, was generously donated for the day by Ed and Peggy Coburn.  Sponsors included The IGA in Boonville, Reis Tire Sales, Anchor Industries, Big4Cycle and Marine, Knapp’s Service Center, Stellar Technologies, Tri-State Trophy’s, FOP #73, D & M Construction just to name a few.

Other activities throughout the year include the sponsorship of local and Regional Basketball freethrow competitions sponsored by the Indiana KOC.  And the Council in conjunction with the Womens Club conducts the best Fish Fry in two counties Friday evenings during Lent.  Participants are treated to a delicious meal that comes with good fellowship in the St. Clements Parish Hall.  Join the crowds at 4:30-7:30 PM most Fridays in Lent.

Knights of Columbus Council 10257 entered their float named the Nina in the 92nd Fall Festival Parade hosted by the West Side Nut Club and was rewarded with a Second Place Trophy overall as well as the President’s Trophy and a check for $1,000.00.  The Council float set sail and glided down Franklin Street as entry number 89 after winning the awards presented by the judging committee before the Parade. The parade route proceeded west from the intersection of Franklin Street and 5th St. and ended on St. Josephs Ave.

Over 30 members and family members of Council 10257 set up, rode and tore down the float on a beautiful evening that marked the official end of the Fall Festival.

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Knights of Columbus (National)

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic Fraternal service organization.  Founded by the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Conneticut, in 1882, it was named in honor of the mariner Christopher Columbus. Originally serving as a  mutual benefit to low-income immigrant Catholics, it developed into a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services, promoting Catholic education and actively defending Catholicism in various nations.

There are more than 1.8 million members in 15,000 councils, with nearly 200 councils on college campuses. Membership is limited to "practical" Catholic men aged 18 or older. Membership consists of four different degrees, each exemplifying a different principle of the Order.

Councils have been chartered in the United States (including some territories), Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam, Saipan, and on US military bases around the world. The Knights' official junior organization, the Columbian Squires, has over 5,000 circles and the Order's patriotic arm, the Fourth Degree, has more than 2,500 assemblies.

For their support for the Church and local communities, as well as for their philanthropic efforts, Pope John Paul II referred to the Order as a "strong right arm of the Church." In 2012, the Order gave over US$167.5 million directly to charity and performed over 70 million man-hours of voluntary service, with over 413,000 pints of blood donated in 2010. The Order's insurance program has more than $90 billion of life insurance policies in force, backed up by $19.8 billion in assets, and holds the highest insurance ratings given by A.M. Best and the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association. Within the United States on the national and state level, the Order is active in the political arena lobbying for laws and positions that uphold the Catholic Church's positions on public policy and social issues.

Motto: In Service to One,

          In Service to All.

Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.

The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.

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