About the Knights of Columbus: Local Chapter 4060 and National
This video animation explains the K of C emblem.
An explanation in text for the KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS EMBLEM: The emblem of the Order dates from the second Supreme Council meeting May 12, 1883, when it was designed by James T. Mullen, who was then Supreme Knight. A quick glance at the emblem indicates a shield mounted upon the Formée Cross. The shield is that associated with a medieval Knight.
The Formée Cross is the representation of a traditionally artistic design of the Cross of Christ through which all graces of redemption were procurred for mankind. This then represents the Catholic spirit of the Order. Mounted on the shield are three objects: a fasces standing vertically, and, crossed behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword.
The fasces from Roman days is symbolic of authority which must exist in any tightly-bonded and efficiently operating organization. The anchor is the mariner’s symbol for Columbus, patron of the Order, while the short sword or dagger was the weapon of the Knight when engaged upon an errand of mercy. Thus, the shield expresses Catholic Knighthood in organized merciful action, and with the letters, K. of C., it proclaims this specific form of activity. The red, white and blue in the background of the shield and the foreground of the Cross of Malta are the colors of our country.
As such, red is the symbol of stout-hearted courage, of pulsing activity and a full measure of devotion. Blue is the symbol of hope, of calm tranquility under God and of confidence in the protection of our country. White is the symbol of nobility of purpose, of purity of aim and of crucible — tried ideals to be carried out.
But there is another symbolism of color in red, white and blue. This is the ecclesiastical symbolism in which red becomes the reflection of the drips of Christ’s redemptive blood shed upon Calvary, and of the martyr’s blood shed in defense of the faith.
Red then is the symbol of Faith, of belief in Christ, in the Redemption and in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. White is the color of the Eucharistic Host, pledge of God’s Eucharistic presence among men, of the infinite love God has for man and the overwhelming affection which the God-man has for each individual. White then is the symbol of Christ-like Charity. Blue is the color of Our Lady’s mantle, in which she wrapped her beloved Son, through Whom came salvation to a sinful world. Blue is then the symbol of Hope.
See also this booklet, explaining of the Knights of Columbus Emblems, Squires, and Jewels.
St. Isidore the Farmer was originally founded as a parish in 1910, pastored then by Father John Collins. The new St. Isidore Church which you see above was completed under Pastor Julius Bensen, and dedicated by Oakland Diocese Bishop Floyd Begin
on Sunday, May 27, 1962, as reported in The Monitor, which was the Oakland Diocesan newspaper of the time.
St. Isidore's Knights of Columbus Chapter was formed in 1975, also under the leadership of Monsignor Bensen. The Parish and our Knights Chapter continued to grow rapidly after Father Daniel Cardelli became our pastor in 1978, on through the pastorate of Father Gerard Moran beginning in July of 2005.
Father (later Monsignor) Cardelli oversaw extensive Parish and school-building additions, including the wonderful Ministry Center in which we hold our Knights' meetings. Father Moran commissioned St. Isidore Church's exquisite stained-glass windows.
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Sadly, we lost Pastor Emeritus, Monsignor Cardelli on December 29, 2021. The February, 2022 edition of the Diocesan Catholic Voice carried a fine two-page tribute to FatherCardelli's life and his vocation to the priesthood. Father Moran retired in 2021. But God's grace in Parish leadership continues now under Father Matthew Murray as our pastor. Father Matthew is also the Oakland Diocesan Director of Seminarians.
We have blessed as well to have Parochial Vicars, Father Candelario Jimenez and now Father Mark Ruiz as our enthusiastic Knights Chaplains! Our immediately past Grand Knight is John Pluth, and our current St. Isidore Grand Knight is Rich Schiffer.
Our St. Isidore chapter is named in honor of Father Frank Colacicco, who became apriest in residence at St. Isidore in 1995. He eventually became a devoted supporter
of, and dedicated fundraiser for, Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Our Little Brothers and Sisters), an organization that builds and maintains orphanages in Central America. He died in Nicaragua on February 15, 2006, and is buried at Casa Padre Wasson there. His work continues under the direction of Father Frank’s Kids.
We have a vibrant Knights chapter, with monthly dinner meetings and numerous activities which we undertake on behalf of our Church and the community at large. If you're a man of faith and a Saint Isidore parishioner, we urge you to consider joining our Father Frank Colacicco Chapter 4060.
National History
Late-19th century Connecticut was characterized by growing fraternal benefit societies, anti-Catholic prejudice, and dangerous factory working conditions that left many families fatherless. Recognizing a need in his community, Father Michael J. McGivney, the 29-year-old assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, gathered a group of men at his parish on October 2, 1881. He proposed establishing a lay organization to prevent Catholic men from entering secret societies antithetical to Church teaching, while uniting Catholic men and helping families of deceased members.
To demonstrate their loyalty to their country as well as their faith, these men took Christopher Columbus — recognized as a Catholic and celebrated as the discoverer of America – as their patron. The Knights of Columbus elected their first officers in February 1882.
Babe Ruth
Fulton Sheen
Floyd Patterson
Vince Lombardi
Mike Ditka
Samuel Alito
Ed Sullivan
Joyce Kilmer
Today, there are approximately 2 million members of the Knights of Columbus, in more than 16,000 councils around the world. Fr. McGivney's beatification -- on what we hope is ultimately his path to sainthood -- was celebrated in Hartford, Connecticut on October 31, 2020. And today, fulfilling Father McGivney's concerns about family security in the event of a Knight's death: the Knights have $25 billion in assets under active investment management, and over $100 billion of life insurance in force.
Knights' charitable activities encompass an extraordinary variety of local, national, and international projects -- from international charitable partnerships with Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission, and Habitat for Humanity, to our own Food for Families and Coats for Kids projects and other local and national charities.
The Knights of Columbus is an amazing organization. For a timeline and more historic details, see the Our History page.
Some Famous Knights