Programs Overview

Today, a man's work follows him home through his smartphone. At the same time, he is picking up a larger share of household responsibilities and striving to meet the intense demands of fatherhood as kids' activities accelerate. Despite this, many men want to express their faith by working alongside peers in service to others. They want to spend precious free time with their families while also building bonds of fraternity that last a lifetime.

As leaders and brother Knights, we are excited about men's desire to serve. We relish the opportunity to continuously adapt to the demands of a changing world and the needs of future members. We know that demonstrating our faith through service is as powerful as it is rewarding. This calling is a fundamental part of the Order's history and the genesis for our program model, Faith In Action.

FAITH

Our goal is to strengthen our men and their families in the faith. When we entered the Order, we were reminded to constantly form ourselves in the Catholic faith. This formation goes beyond mere facts or religious practice to an authentic connection with a loving God and his son Jesus Christ. Programs in this category are designed to draw us closer to God and the Church in a tangible and meaningful way. These programs arm us for the spiritual battle that our men and families face daily. For Faith program resources, visit kofc.org/faith.

FAMILY

The programs in this category are developed for families by families. Blessed Michael McGivney sought to strengthen the familial bond of father to mother and children to parents. Catholics often struggle with the reality that they do not have the opportunity to socialize and/or pray with other faith-filled Catholic families. It can be a challenge to continue to ground ourselves and raise our children in the faith. For Family program resources, visit kofc.org/family.

COMMUNITY

As Knights of Columbus, we are called to serve our family and our God. Our first principle is Charity, at home with our families and in our communities. This is a critical part of our Knights of Columbus mission. Have you ever wondered, "How can I make my community better?" Individuals can do great things on their own but there is something bigger than self when Knights of Columbus members come together as one through their council and accomplish great things. Councils that conduct these programs are positively shaping their communities by addressing the needs of its citizens. For Community program resources, visit kofc.org/community.

LIFE

The urgency of the threat to a culture of life cannot be misunderstood. Respect for the dignity of life demands a commitment to human rights across a broad spectrum. Both as Knights of Columbus and as followers of Christ, "Catholics must be committed to the defense of life in all its stages and in every condition" (St. John Paul II, 1995). For Life program resources, visit kofc.org/life.

Woven within these four categories is the opportunity to share something that all generations and cultures within our organization seek in their membership in the Knights of Columbus. The Faith in Action model allows us to come together to share our faith, celebrate fraternity with our families, and do what we to best — stand shoulder to shoulder in service to our community and to defend life at all stages and in every condition.

Source: Knights of Columbus (2022). Faith in Action Guidebook. New Haven, CT.