Thousands of Knights from across the globe gathered for the Knights of Columbus’ 144th Supreme Convention focused on the theme “In the One, We Are One,” with an emphasis on the virtues of unity and charity.
The Catholic fraternal organizationʼs annual convention is being held Aug. 4–6 in Denver. It includes Masses, prayer services, an awards session recognizing member and council achievements, and a summary of the organizationʼs annual report.
The event, focused on the order’s principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism, opened with Mass celebrated by Archbishop James Golka of Denver along with dozens of bishops, hundreds of priests and deacons, and thousands of Knights and families.
In his homily, Golka shared his personal relationship with the Knights, as he is a fourth-degree Knight, his six brothers are Knights, and his late father was a Knight. In 2021, the year Golka was named bishop of Colorado Springs, his family was named Family of the Year by the Knights of Columbus Nebraska State Council.
“The Knights of Columbus exists to help our men grow in their faith, and they sure did for my dad,” Golka said.
“God wants the Knights of Columbus to help him care for his children. God wants the Knights of Columbus to help carry out Godʼs purposes. God wants the Knights of Columbus to live for God and Godʼs purposes, not ours,” he said.
“And when we do that, we care for the people of God,” he said.
“The Knights of Columbus empowers Catholic men to live their faith and serve their family, parish, community, and country,” he said.
“But I think if I step back and look at the Knights of Columbus, along with many other apostolates doing such good work, I think weʼre all part of a bigger mission. The Knights of Columbus exist because God wants his world back,” he said.
In order to further this mission, we must “listen to God” and “beg God for clarity,” Golka said.
“He already has a plan for the Knights of Columbus. He has a plan for your council. He has a plan for your marriage and your family. We need to be experts in listening to him so we know what his plan is,” he said.
“And brothers and sisters, whenever I look at Jesus to find out his plan, he is never anxious. He is never afraid. Heʼs excited to show us who he is,” Golka said.
Supreme Knight presents Knights’ annual report
During the convention, Knights and observers also gathered for Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly’s presentation of the Knights’ report on Aug. 4, which highlighted the Knights’ work aiding the most vulnerable, and its growing membership.
“Just as Christ came to serve, we devote our lives to serving others, especially the vulnerable,” Kelly said. “All of our charity reflects the love of God. It’s a charity that evangelizes.”
Kelly’s address included a comprehensive summary of the Knights of Columbus’ work over the past year, highlighting initiatives that have advanced the mission of the organizationʼs founder, Blessed Michael McGivney.
“We are not just another charitable organization. We are not a social club,” Kelly said. “We are a global brotherhood of Catholic leaders and we are united in Jesus Christ. He is the true source of our strength. And as we reflect on our service over the past year, we give all the glory to God.”
“Last year, our brother Knights devoted more than 48 million hours to volunteering,” Kelly said. “Thatʼs 130,000 hours of volunteer service every day. And around the world, we donated more than $200 million. And thatʼs a new record.”
Addressing some of the specific efforts, Kelly shared that “California Knights delivered more than 800 wheelchairs to the Philippines last year, and through this program, weʼre serving refugees fleeing war, soldiers injured in the line of duty, and children with nowhere else to turn.”
“We also serve children who need a warm jacket to get through the winter, and our Coats for Kids program is growing faster than ever. Last year, we gave more than 300,000 coats to children in need. Thatʼs the most ever,” he said.
He also detailed the Knights’ work aiding those affected by natural disasters, including the earthquakes in Venezuela in June and those in Jamaica.
Kelly discussed the growing number of men joining the Knights and how the organization is reaching new groups.
“More than 2.2 million men now count themselves as Knights of Columbus, and last year we welcomed more than 105,000 new members. Thatʼs the most growth weʼve had in more than a century since the surge that followed the first world war,” he said.
“Last year, 15% of new members who joined in the United States and Canada were Hispanic, and our commitment to Latino communities has never been stronger,” he said.
“Father McGivney also wanted to reach young men. The fastest-growing group of Knights is men under the age of 35. And we continue to reach young men during their college years. We now have more than 37,000 college Knights at 320 college councils,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Supreme Knight also shared new initiatives by the Knights intended to continue McGivney’s mission and further guide the fraternity’s members.
“For years, weʼve heard … from Knights about the need for a retreat for men,” Kelly said. The Knights responded by creating “Heart of the Gospel” in collaboration with ACTS XXIX.
“It gives councils everything they need to hold a retreat for the men of the parish,” Kelly said. “This retreat will help you grow in your faith so you can witness to others.”
To advance Knights’ faith, the Knights of Columbus also launched “Cor,” a small-group program “to give young men exactly what they are looking for — a community centered in Jesus Christ.”
He also announced a new video series, “Encountering the Poor,” which is in partnership with Denver-based Christ in the City, to better equip Knights to serve the homeless.
Supreme Knightʼs Awards Session
To acknowledge the works of the fraternity councils, more than 2,100 Knights and their families also gathered for the Supreme Knight’s Awards Session.
Presented by Kelly, the awards recognize individual Knights, councils, assemblies, and jurisdictions throughout the world who have carried out McGivney’s mission.
The annual Blessed Michael McGivney Medal went to Father Robert F. Higgins, who serves as the parochial vicar of St. John Neumann Parish in Columbia, South Carolina, the South Carolina Knights of Columbus district friar, and the South Carolina Knights of Columbus state chaplain — a role he has held for 19 years.
Following in the footsteps of McGivney, Higgins is the diocese’s first vicar of prisons, ministering in four federal prisons, 24 state prisons, and 48 county jails.
Other winners included a council in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, which won “Faith Program of the Year” for coordinating a pilgrimage to Poland for the more than 45 widows and orphans of Ukrainian men who died defending their country.
Kelly also awarded “Family Program of the Year” to a council in the Philippines, recognizing its work restoring the marriage of 18 couples, who were previously only civilly married or living together unwed. The council worked to bring the couples to full communion with the Church through the sacrament of matrimony.
Kelly honored a council in Carbonear and Labrador, Newfoundland, as the “Community Program of the Year” for aiding 50 firefighters and volunteers during the 2025 Kingston, Newfoundland, wildfire.
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