The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world. Founded by Father Michael J. McGivey in 1882 it has grown to over 12,000 Councils world wide with a membership of over 2 million members. It supports the church and programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need

In addition to the significant volunteer hours and monetary donations, it has a insurance program for widows and children of deceased members

Knight of Columbus are Catholic gentlemen committed to the exemplification of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism and defense of the priesthood.  The Order is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is unequivocal in its loyalty to the Pope. It is firmly committed to the protection of human life from conception to natural death and to the preservation and defense of the family. It is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut.

The St. Thomas More Council 8488 was chartered in 1983.  It meets in the Tower Room at St. Thomas More Church.  Membership is through application and exemplification and members are encouraged to get involved with the local programs as well as the State and National

Programs.

Grand Knight:                     Wade Greif          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Deputy Grand Knight:  Casey Carver       caseycarver@sbcglobal.net  

Field Agent:                        Adam Bruna          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Who are the Knights?

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with over 2 million members. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.

Entrance into the Knights of Columbus is by Application and Exemplification. The Knights organization is made up of four degrees:  First: Charity. Second: Unity. Third: Fraternity.  Fourth: Patriotic.  Memberships can be transferred.  Applications into the First thru Third Degrees can take place  online. Once completed the Exemplification is done at the church.  The Fourth Degree Exemplification is held on a scheduled basis around the State of Kansas. The First thru Third Degrees comprise STM Council 8488 with meetings held monthly.  The Fourth Degree Assembly 0288 is composed of members from three councils and meets quarterly.  Fourth Degree members serve as Honor Guards at civic and religious functions. 

Membership Benefits

As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world's largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal benefits.

Our council actively supports St. Thomas More parish and our community.

How to Join

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. A world-wide fraternal organization, membership into the Knights is by application. Applications are available on line at https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/join/join-kofc.html  or by calling the church office at 785-776-5151. A Council member will make contact and answer any questions you may have. Or you can join by clicking on the button below. The St. Thomas More Council number is 8488. 

Join the Knights

The Knights of Columbus was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney as a mutual aid society to help Catholics who could not get help from social service agencies due to discrimination against Catholics during that time.  Initially meeting in 1881 it was incorporated in New Haven, Connecticut in 1882.  Father McGivney named the organization "Sons of Columbus" which was later changed to Knights of Columbus to reflect the ritualistic nature of the new organization and which drew from positive historical associations.  In taking Columbus as their patron, the founders expressed their belief that not only could Catholics be full members of American society, they were instrumental in its foundation.  Since it founding in 1882, the initiation ceremonies for the first three degrees of Knights membership focused on the principles of charity, unity and fraternity. They are separate and open to members only.

In 1899 the Fourth Degree was added with its own symbolic dress as a means to create a form of hierarchy and recognition for senior members.  The Color Guard is the most distinctive feature of the 4th degree and is present in ceremonies and church events.  In 1900 the 4th Degree uniform consisted of white ties, top hats and tails.  In 1940 the plumed chapeau, tuxedo, cape and sword were adopted.  The Blue Blazer and Beret were adopted in 2017. 

St. Thomas More Church was started in June 1981. Thomas More was chosen because, since he was a lawyer, his name would reflect the large number of Kansas State University professionals associated with the parish at that time. On July 1, 1981, Father Loren Werth was appointed pastor and Sister Paulette Hake was appointed as the pastoral associate. The parish serves the Northwest part of Manhattan and is located on Kimball Avenue.  Ground breaking for the Parish Hall was April 1982 followed by ground breaking for the Sanctuary and education wing in April 1989. The parish has grown from 190 families to approximately 900 families. The community center was added in April 2006, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the parish.

The Knights of Columbus council was chartered in 1983 and has been active in serving the needs of the parish through acts of charity. Monthly breakfasts, Honor Guard, highway cleanup and a myriad of other charitable and social activities have made the Knights an integral part of the parish and community.

Father Michael J. McGivney was Beatified on October 31, 2020 in New Haven, Connecticut.  This is the step before sainthood and he will be referred to as Blessed Michael J. McGivney.  His Beatification can be viewed at the following link: https://catholicreview.org/watch-livestream-of-the-beatification-of-father-michael-mcgivney/. 

Knights of Columbus Council 8488 is a Fraternal Organization

whose purpose to support the faith community physically, financially and spiritually. 

         The Knights of Columbus is a national organization which in addition to its local program  offers online programs dealing with a variety of subjects.  Included as part of the membership is the Columbian Magazine which is made available to each member. 

• The Knights of Columbus was formed 1886 to offer help to the widows of its membership with its Insurance program which remains a well operated program.
• Meetings are held monthly recognizing those in the membership who has done a little more through its Knight of the Month and Family of the Month Programs.
• The Council sponsors monthly Breakfasts, annual Lenten Fish Frys, and periodically dinners for local non-profits.
• Annually it conducts a Tootsie Roll Drive to benefit those with Intellectual Disabilities, conducts three high way clean-up's, holds an annual parish community Garage Sale  and an annual Veterans Day Breakfast.
• Being a Fraternal organization, when called up members will help members of the parish in variety of tasks such as moving, clean up, etc. Funds  raised through these activities support our parish with such things as kitchen needs, parish equipment, and parish programs. 
• In addition, it supports many  local charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Manhattan Catholic Schools, CASA, and Rachel's Vineyard.
• The Knights also encourage the spiritual growth of our members.  We organize and participate in a monthly prayer vigil for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our parish.

Monsignor Luckey Assembly

 The Msgr Luckey Assembly is comprised of Council members from St. Thomas More Church, Seven Dolors, St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Council Grove, Kansas.  The primary purpose of the 4th Degree is to encourage active Catholic citizenship and foster the spirit of patriotism in its members and community at large. It meets quarterly.  The visible arm of the Knights of Columbus its Honor Guard participates in church and public gatherings. Membership is through Exemplification which can be done online or participating in a scheduled event.

Msgr Luckey was a former priest at Seven Dolors Catholic Church who served as an Army Chaplain in World War One and was the first Commander of Pearce Keller American Legion Post in Manhattan.  A community activist he served on several state and local organizations. A Memorial Service is held Memorial Day at his burial site in Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas.

 Assembly Officers