The Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s fraternal organization that is dedicated to serving the community. Jacob Lowe is currently serving the local council as Grand Knight. Lowe is a middle school teacher at St. Michael School in Grand Ledge. He has been Grand Knight since July 2021.

“Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney started up the Knights in the latter part of the nineteenth century as an organization designed to take care of widows, orphans, and the needy of his own parish,” said Lowe. “From there, the Knights grew into an international organization that does charitable work with programs found around the world. We help out our communities in any way that the bishops and the priests ask of us,” he said.

Any Catholic man who is at least eighteen years of age and who is in good standing with the Catholic Church may join the Knights. He is encouraged to volunteer his time as he can do so and to reach out to the council for ways that he can help it.

“There are four degrees of membership in the Knights,” said Lowe. “Completing the first three degrees makes a man a full Knight. The fourth degree is optional and it is called the patriotic degree. These men perform special services for our church,” explained Lowe.

The Knights of Columbus provide financial services to its members. These services include such financial instruments as life insurance, annuities, and mutual funds. These services are designed to help the families of Knights who pass. This assistance in time of need is what blessed Fr. Michael McGivney intended the organization to do.

“Fr. McGivney is undergoing the process of canonization,” said Lowe. In 2020, Fr. McGivney was declared ‘blessed’ by Pope Francis. With one more miracle attributed to Fr. McGivney’s intercession, he could be declared a saint of the Catholic Church.”

The Knights hold business meetings on the first Monday of the month at 7 PM with social gatherings on the third Monday also at 7 PM. The Knights sponsor dinners, banquets, and breakfasts throughout the year at their hall on Maynard Road, as well as Red Cross blood drives and social gatherings that include bingo and card parties.

“Our hall is available for renting,” said Lowe. “It is a very nice venue for wedding receptions, birthday parties, luncheons, and funeral dinners. We have made many improvements to the hall in recent years and it is a beautiful facility.”

Men who wish to join the Knights may contact Lowe at gk2168@mikofc.org. Those who wish to rent the hall may call Jude Kramer at 517-647-2274. Interested individuals may also follow the Knights on their Facebook page.

Logo image from https://www.kofc.org/. Photo by Kurt Fedewa.