Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Fairfield County will be one of three recipients of the Blessed Michael McGivney Award from the Connecticut State Council of the Knights of Columbus.
The award “recognizes individuals or organizations who have made significant humanitarian, civic and social contributions to their state, church or country,” according to a statement from the Council.” The awards will be presented at the Council’s annual banquet on March 24 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
“We are profoundly grateful to have received this award,” said Mike Donoghue, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County which serves people in need throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport. “Catholic Charities holds numerous fundamental beliefs in common with the Knights and are equally committed to helping and fostering hope for our most vulnerable community members. It is truly fulfilling to see our efforts, and those of our partner Catholic Charities agencies, acknowledged in this manner.”
This large tapestry portraying Father Michael McGivney was unveiled at his 2020 Beatification ceremony and remains in the sanctuary at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.
Also being honored are the Catholic Charities agencies in the Archdiocese of Hartford and the Diocese of Norwich. Together, the three human service nonprofits provide services to every community in Connecticut and “have been ministering to our neighbors as a foundation, helping the needy and most vulnerable to improve their lives,” said the Council statement. “Catholic Charities is well known; however, at times its efforts go unnoticed.”
The award was established by the Council in 1975 to honor Father Michael McGivney, a Waterbury native who became a priest in 1877, founded the Knights of Columbus, and was beatified by Pope Francis and declared “Blessed” in 2020. He was the eldest of 13 children born to Irish immigrant parents, and left school at 13 to work in one of Waterbury’s brass mills.
In 1882, while serving as an assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, he founded the Knights of Columbus as a mutual aid society to help needy families. It has since grown to become one of the largest Catholic fraternal services organizations in the world.
For more information about the Connecticut State Council or the March 24 banquet, visit www.ctstatecouncil.org.
To read more about Father McGivney and the Beatification ceremony held in Hartford, visit www.hartfordcathedral.org/beatification-of-fr-mcgivney.html.
To learn more about Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, visit www.ccfairfield.org.