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On October 2, 1881, a small group of men met in thebasement of a church in New Haven, Connecticut.Gathered together by their priest, Father Michael J.McGivney, they formed a fraternal society called theKnights of Columbus in honor of the Catholic explorerwho had brought Christianity to the New World. Originallyconceived as a mutual aid society, the Knights of Columbuswas dedicated to helping Catholic families in need -- people in the community who, in many cases, wereexcluded from unions and other organizations that providedsocial services to so many others. The members alsovowed to be defenders of their nation and their faith.Well over a century later, the Knights of Columbus isgoing strong and, with over 1.8 million members, it hasextended its reach to embrace people around the world.