Michael Joseph McGivney was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on August 12, 1852, the first of 13 children born to Patrick and Mary McGivney, who were Irish immigrants that came to the United States in the great 19th-century wave of Irish immigration. Life was not easy, especially for Catholic immigrant families who often faced prejudice, social exclusion, and financial and social disadvantages. They often worked in low-paying, dangerous, and undesirable working-class jobs. Michael attended the public schools of Waterbury’s working-class neighborhoods. A good student, he graduated three years early and at the age of 13 began work at a local factory to earn extra money for his family. At the age of 16, he left home to pursue the priesthood. He studied at the College of St. Hyacinthe in Quebec, Canada; Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Niagara Falls, New York; and St. Mary’s Seminary in Montreal, Canada. In June 1873, his father unexpectedly died and the 20-year-old Michael McGivney returned home where he debated whether to complete his studies or return to factory work to support his family. Recognizing his potential, the Bishop of Hartford intervened and provided financial support for him to enter St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland and complete his studies. On December 22, 1877, Michael McGivney was ordained by the Archbishop and later Cardinal James Gibbons in Baltimore’s historic Cathedral of the Assumption, the first cathedral in the United States.

Father McGivney began his priesthood in Connecticut where he was appointed assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Church, the first Catholic Parish in New Haven, Connecticut. There he faced the challenges of a priest shortage, parish debt, illnesses, and hostility toward Catholics. While his first concern was always the faith of his flock, he was attuned to familial, social, financial, civic and societal issues as well. Intent on building a dynamic parish for his hard-working and largely poor flock, he staged parish plays, outings and fairs, and he revitalized a group dedicated to overcoming alcoholism within his community. Decades ahead of his time, Father McGivney had a keen sense of the layman’s unique vocation, needs, and potential contributions to the Church, and he drew his people into the life and activities of the parish.

This respect for the laity led Father McGivney to found the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization for Catholic men, in 1882. At the time, when a breadwinner died, without means of financial support, families were often split up, threatening both the integrity of the family and — depending on the destination of the various family members — their faith as well. The new It was Father McGivney’s hope that a fraternal organization for Catholic men would help men keep their faith; would make the case that one could be both a good Catholic and a good American citizen; and would financially help families who had lost a breadwinner to stay together. Father McGivney proposed that the new group be named for Christopher Columbus, which at the time was universally esteemed as the heroic discoverer of the New World an example of the deep roots of Catholics in America and the long history of Catholic evangelization in the Western hemisphere. On March 29, 1882, known as Founder’s Day, the Connecticut state legislature granted a charter establishing the Knights of Columbus as a legal corporation. The Order’s original principles were unity and charity. Father McGivney wrote, “Unity in order to gain strength to be charitable to each other in benevolence whilst we live and in bestowing financial aid to those whom we have to mourn.” Principles of fraternity and patriotism were added later. Knights were led by their founder to take on the many challenges facing Catholic family life — poverty, early death, secret societies, and anti-Catholicism. As an indication of respect, the first Knights of Columbus moved to elect Father McGivney as leader of the new Order. However, the humble priest insisted that a layman should lead the lay organization. Father McGivney originally served as Supreme Secretary but after only 2 years, became Supreme Chaplain.

Never robust in health, Father McGivney fell ill with tuberculosis and was stricken with severe pneumonia in January 1890. He was eventually confined to bed in the rectory, where his concern and prayers for his people only increased. He died on August 14, two days after his 38th birthday. His funeral mass was attended by delegations from almost every one of the 57 Knights of Columbus councils that had been chartered in the Order’s first eight years. Father McGivney’s holy example also inspired his two younger brothers, Patrick and John, who followed him into the priesthood and served the Order as Supreme Chaplains. Father McGivney was interred in a polished sarcophagus in New Haven’s St. Mary’s Church, where he founded the Knights of Columbus. Today his vision and mission are carried forth by nearly 2 million Knights of Columbus throughout the world, who form a band of brothers under the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.

On March 15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the title “Venerable Servant of God” on Father McGivney, which recognized that Father McGivney lived a life of heroic virtue with an extraordinary love of God and neighbor. On May 26, 2020, Pope Francis approved a miracle through McGivney’s intercession. The approved miracle involved the healing of a child in the womb from a fatal condition. While expecting their 13th child, Daniel and Michelle Schachle of Tennessee were told that the boy had Trisomy-21 (Down syndrome). A few weeks later, an ultrasound diagnosed fetal hydrops, in which multiple organs were filled with fluid. Doctors said that there was no hope of survival and abortion was the best option. As faithful Catholics, the Schachles refused abortion and began praying to Father McGivney for a miracle. An insurance agent with the Knights of Columbus, Daniel earned a trip to the Marian Shrine in Fatima, Portugal, and brought his wife for a prayerful pilgrimage. At Mass in Fatima, Michelle felt something change within her when she heard the words of Gospel about the Roman official whose son was healed by Jesus: “Go; your son lives.” A few days after returning to Tennessee, an ultrasound indicated that the unborn child was healed of fetal hydrops. Studied for years at the Vatican, the healing was declared miraculous by medical and theological experts. Today, Michael McGivney Schachle is an active 5-year-old, with Down syndrome, who is surrounded by a loving family. A second confirmed miracle through the intercession of Father McGivney is needed for canonization and sainthood. Learn More about the life of Father McGivney at fathermcgivney.org.

On October 31, 2020, the Knights of Columbus will celebrate the beatification of Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney. We are excited to share the schedule of events activities being conducted at the Council, State, and Supreme levels to celebrate this step towards Sainthood.

Schedule of Events:

• Clemmons Beatification Mass – On October 31st at 9am, there will be a special Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church to celebrate the beatification of Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney. Prior to Mass, morning prayers from the Liturgy of Hours will be sung by Brothers in the Council. A short reading on the life of Father McGivney will then be read, followed by a Mass to celebrate his beatification. Masks are required, and social distancing guidelines will be in effect.
• Special Novena for Father McGivney – The North Carolina State Council is asking Catholics across the state to participate in a special novena for Father McGivney beginning on the feast day of St. John Paul the II, October 22^nd, 2020, and ending on October 30^th, 2020, the day prior to the beatification Mass. A copy of the novena is available at https://kofcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Father-McGivney-Novena.pdf.
• Blessed Michael J. McGivney Medallions – To celebrate the beatification, cemmorative medallions will be awarded by the State Council to every Brother who recruits 5 or more members during the 2020-2021 fraternal year.
• Father McGivney Documentary – A new short film titled Father Michael McGivney: An American Blessed will be broadcast on the Order’s YouTube and Facebook pages. You can watch the documentary on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRbjAWHvyy8. The 20-minute documentary, produced by the Knights of Columbus, explores Father McGivney’s life, legacy and spiritual impact. DVDs of the film will also be made available for purchase at com.
• Prayer Vigil & Mass of Thanksgiving – On Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. EDT, a prayer vigil for priests will be livestreamed from St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn. A Mass of Thanksgiving, with Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori as the principal celebrant, will also be livestreamed from St. Mary’s Nov. 1 at 12 p.m. EDT. Visit org/beatification.
• Supreme Beatification Mass – The Mass will be celebrated Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. EDT in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Conn. It will be broadcast live on EWTN, CatholicTV and Salt + Light TV, and also livestreamed on the Knights of Columbus website, with Spanish, French and Polish interpretation available.
• Free Online Memberships – Through December 31^st, the Supreme Council is waiving first-year dues for men who join online using the code MCGIVNEY2020. Please share this with any Catholic men interested in joining the Knights of Columbus. Men who join online are significantly more likely to join a local council than other methods of soliciting new members. 

Prayer for Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your venerable servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request).

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).