The Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus
Over 100 years in existence, the Order of the Knights of St. Columbanus is an order of Catholic laymen dedicated to the service of Christ in daily life, the workplace, marketplace, city, urban and provincial areas.
Welcoming into our ranks Catholic men in full communion with the Church, wishing to bring to the service of Christ their talents and skills towards the promotion of Christian values and principles in society for the greater honour and glory of God the Father.
Membership of the Order is open to Catholic men of twenty one years and older. Prospective new members are nominated by an existing member to join a particular Primary Council. They must be practising Catholics as defined by the Church. There is provision for Junior membership between the ages of eighteen and twenty one years.
The four main objectives of the Knights of St. Columbanus are:
- To promote by personal and group action the extension of a practical Christianity in all phases of life
- To maintain a fraternal society of Catholic Lay leadership
- To honour the Faith
- To prepare its members for the Apostolate.
The motto of the Order is: “To restore all things in Christ”. Knights, as with all Catholics, are primarily concerned with their own spiritual formation and salvation. They strive to express this in the first instance in their family circle. This conviction is exemplified in their place of work and public life. They are always mindful that a Christian Social Order in a changing world is not and cannot be static, it must be a dynamic balance of forces requiring constant evaluation corrections and adjustment. The aim of the Order is to maintain our country Christian in outlook, thought and action. To achieve this end, we are guided by two principles of action. The first is the law of Charity. The second is the law of Justice.