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November 8, 2024New Haven, Conn. — The Knights of Columbus announced today that its local councils have helped to donate more than $100 million directly to seminarians, postulants and novices through its Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP). Launched in 1981 in response to a growing vocations crisis in North America, RSVP encourages Knights to stand in solidarity with men and women pursuing religious vocations by providing financial, moral and spiritual support. Last year, more than 2,700 local councils donated $4.1 million, an all-time high since the program began.
“For more than 40 years, RSVP has supported tens of thousands of men and women as they answer the Lord’s call to serve the Church and the people of God,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. He continued, “Our support for vocations speaks to the love Knights of Columbus have for the Eucharist, our parishes, and the Church.”
Speaking about the experience of the organization’s founder, Supreme Knight Kelly noted, “Michael McGivney almost had to leave seminary after his father’s death because of the financial strain facing his family. Thankfully, the Bishop of Hartford stepped in and provided the necessary scholarship that allowed McGivney to continue his studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. Were it not for that crucial financial support, the Knights of Columbus would not exist. So RSVP and our other vocation scholarships are really our way of paying that forward, and supporting the next generation of priests and religious.”
Through RSVP, for every $500 that a local council provides to a seminarian, postulant or novice, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council refunds to the council $100 (up to $400 for $2,000 donated) as an incentive. The council must also provide non-financial support such as correspondence, personal visits to the seminary or religious residence, or an invitation to the seminarian, postulant or novice to attend a council event. Councils and their members have formed strong and long-lasting bonds with thousands of priests and religious thanks to RSVP.
Click here to learn more about RSVP.
About the Knights of Columbus
In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into the world’s premier lay Catholic men’s organization, with more than 2.1 million members in over 16,800 local councils. As members of one of the world’s leading international charitable organizations, Knights around the world donated more than 47 million service hours and over $190 million for worthy causes in their communities in 2023. The Knights of Columbus also offers a range of life insurance products to members and their families and was named by Forbes as one of America’s Best Insurance Companies 2024 in the permanent life insurance category. Knights of Columbus Insurance currently has more than $123 billion* of life insurance in force. In addition, the organization offers investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through its wholly owned subsidiary, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds more than $28 billion** in assets under management. Based on the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus is committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes, and to practicing faith in action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.
*As of September 30, 2024
**As of September 30, 2024
