COUNCIL INFORMATION
About Us
The Rev. S. P. McVeigh Council #4186 was Chartered April 8, 1956 through the efforts of the Kenilworth Catholic community. In the beginning 58 Catholic gentlemen founded the council. Initially meetings were held in the basement of the Old Chapel (now called the Kenilworth Funeral Home) until the early 60’s when the new home on Market Street was purchased from L&J Body Works. The council was named after Fr. McVeigh the pastor at St. Theresa's Church and also our first Chaplain. As the years have gone by we have grown in our ties with the Church and the community of Kenilworth.
The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney (the founder of the Knights), 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.
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 Kenilworth Knights are a Catholic fraternal organization and many of our members can be found involved with the church as Ushers, Lectors or Eucharistic Ministers. Members are also found in many volunteer positions with the town such as Fire/rescue squad, coaches, Salvation Army and various other services.
Through the years the Council has given their full support to The Church of St. Theresa as well as many other local organizations: Kenilworth PBA #135, Kenilworth Veterans Center, Kenilworth Volunteer Fire/Rescue, Kenilworth Historical Society, Kenilworth Little League (for which we received an award as the longest team sponsor), Kenilworth youth softball, St. Theresa’s Food Bank, Hillside Food Bank, David Brearley M/H PTO, NJ Special Olympics, Center for Hope Hospice, HomeFirst and Life Choices Resource Center.
The council also sponsors Scholarships for 8th graders going to a Catholic HS, Free Throw contests and Poster contests. We have volunteers that go to Lyons Veterans Hospital four times a year to help assist Veterans to Mass, we help the Salvation Army with their Christmas collecting, send representatives to the March for Life in Washington DC and run our own council food drives.