Hello! My name is Clay Keefer, Grand Knight of Council #12788. I’ve been a Knight for 28 years. My wife Theresa and I have been married for 49 years, have one son, and a grandson. We have been members of Saint Joseph parish for six years. This past October our Council celebrated its twenty first anniversary. Chaplain Father Snyder and Grand Knight Joseph Sisto initiated Council 12788 at the start of the millennium. I am honored to carry on its legacy and rich tradition.

Who are we and what do we do? The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic fraternal male lay organization in the world. We are men, ages 18 and older who are building their faith, Parish, and community through our Order’s principles of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. Our Order is 1.9 million members. Our Council has 259 members. My goal is to have every Catholic male become a member of the Knights of Columbus. WHY do we do what we do? The Knights of Columbus, through its principles, make us better men, husbands, fathers, and Catholics. We become closer to Our Lord and Heaven’s goal. I would be negligent not to desire our Brothers in Christ to be Knights.

The Knights of Columbus legacy of faith and service began with our founder Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882. Father McGivney, assistant pastor of Saint Mary’s church in New Haven Connecticut, wanted his parishioners to grow in their faith and offer protection to their families in time of need. From these fundamentals of Christianity, the Knights of Columbus came to be. Now 139 years later, our Order provides financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled, and needy, both members and non-members. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted through charitable, religious, social welfare, refugee relief and public relief projects. Through our Fraternal benefits program: life insurance, long-term care and annuity programs, member’s families can obtain both economic security and stability. We change lives and save lives through our Faith in Action Program. Knights are empowered to do what they do best: serve their parish, members, and community and to defend life at all stages and every condition. Our Faith In Action Program and our brand new initiative, Leave No Neighbor Behind Program, brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, are life changers.

The Knights of Columbus have four main program categories, Faith, Family, Community, and Life. Under Faith, the programs are designed to help us deepen our Faith. For example, “Into the Breach” helps teach men how Catholic men should relate to their families and communities. Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) helps seminarians and postulants financially and spiritually. Under Family, the programs strive to build up the domestic church by strengthening our family and families within our community. For example, our Council, with our Parish family, collects food for New Hope Ministries, supporting the Food for Families program. Our Council participates in the Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest and recognizes outstanding Catholic families with the Family of the Month program. Under Community, the programs enhance the wellbeing of those in the larger population. For example, we collected coats to help children in need for the winter, under the Coats for Kids program. Each year we conduct a Free Throw contest for male and female youth in our community. Under Life, the programs are intended to promote and defend life in all stages and aspects. For example, we participate in the March for Life every year in Washington DC. Our Silver Rose program shares the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe to promote respect for life. We engage in Special Olympics both physically and financially. These programs help Knights, like myself, and my family commit to a life of discipleship.

It starts with me as a father, grandfather and brother Knight. I encourage, every father and grandfather to join the Knights and transform your life by serving Saint Joseph Parish, growing in faith and having access to top-rated insurance protection. Our ministry meets twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays in the Lee Horan room at 7:00 PM. For more information, contact me at 717-418-5726 or by email at cdkeefer12788@aol.com. Join us for free, now through December 31, @ Kofc.org/join us.