Knights of Columbus groups serve local communities despite controversial namesake

The legacy of 15th-century Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus has sparked controversy in recent years, but there remain about 100 Knights of Columbus councils in Western Pennsylvania.

“When you join the Knights of Columbus, you swear to do charitable works,” said Albert Borgony, grand knight for a Westmoreland council. “Christopher Columbus was not a saint, but he was just a figure who did good works. We try to emulate that same principle in the things that we do.”

The 1.9 million-member organization is made up of councils across the country that serve under one or more Catholic parishes.

The Greensburg Council, which comprises five parishes and about 300 members, hosts a Columbus Day Mass and dinner every year. Pittsburgh area members often attend the Columbus Day parade in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, hosted by the Western Pennsylvania district of Italian Sons and Daughters of Italy.

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by the Rev. Michael McGivney to foster acts of charity, particularly for women who lost their husbands in dangerous factory working conditions.

According to Borgony, a North Huntingdon resident, Columbus is not the only driving force of the Knights’ work.

“We support celebrating Columbus with the Columbus Day dinner, and that’s about the extent of it,” said Borgony, of the St. Jude Council.

The council envelops Immaculate Conception Church in Irwin, as well as St. Agnes and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton churches in North Huntingdon. The Knights, he said, draw inspiration from founder McGivney, who is under consideration for sainthood.

Although some view Columbus as an important explorer in American history, others see him as a purveyor of mistreatment to Native Americans.

Jeff Peterinelli, former grand knight for the Greensburg Council, said the Knights’ mission is more based on Catholic values than Columbus.

He said local councils often deflect questions on Columbus to the voice of the Supreme Council, located in New Haven, Conn.

“I can honestly say I have not heard any (complaints about Columbus),” said Peterinelli, of Greensburg. “I’ve heard about them online, but I’ve never heard in this local area about it.”

Timothy Richards, state Knights of Columbus secretary, said McGivney named the organization after Columbus because of his Christian faith.

“(The Knights) still consider him the founder of America, even though the Vikings were ones, but they never came forward and really made it known that they did,” said Richards, of Pleasant Hills.

Early Knights’ members recognized Columbus as an explorer and a person who “brought the gospel to the New World,” said Tom Rudolph, grand knight for the John F. Kennedy Council, which is based out of West Deer’s Our Lady of the Lakes Parish.

It is important to acknowledge Columbus’ discoveries, said Rudolph, of West Deer.

“Unfortunately, our schools are teaching all of the young people the bad things that happened,” Rudolph said. “And this is a point that really irks me — that we are taking all of these statues down.”

Controversial figure

Pennsylvania is among 16 states that exclusively celebrate Columbus Day, according to Pew Research Center. Four states and Washington, D.C., renamed the day Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Four other states celebrate Columbus Day and another holiday.

The remaining 26 states do not have an official paid holiday on the second Monday in October.

Pittsburgh will vote on adopting Indigenous People’s Day on Tuesday. City Council unanimously supported the legislation in a preliminary vote Wednesday.

The Columbus statue in Schenley Park was wrapped in plastic around Columbus Day in 2020 after then-Mayor Bill Peduto recommended the statue’s removal the week prior.

The statue was covered to protect it from being defaced, Peduto said. The Italian Sons and Daughter of America sued to keep the statue, but a judge ruled last year that city officials have the right to remove it.

The statue is still covered in plastic. Its fate is unclear.

Regardless of people’s opinions of Columbus, the Knights of Columbus will continue serving the communities they live in, Borgony said.

“Our order is still going to continue even if they get rid of Christopher Columbus statues,” Borgony said. “Our founder is Father Michael McGivney.”

Ron Sherer, member of the St. Jude Council, is particularly inspired by the North Huntingdon group’s project ASAP — Aid and Support After Pregnancy. The project, Sherer said, will donate diapers, clothes, cribs and other supplies to mothers and families with newborns.

This will accompany the Knights’ annual Baby Bottle Campaign, which collects money to support young families and pregnancy centers, said Sherer, of North Huntingdon.

“We’re involved in an awful lot of things,” he said.

The John F. Kennedy Council is poised to donate two $1,000 scholarships to students from Deer Lakes High School who plan to pursue careers in medicine, Rudolph said.

Since August, Knights of Columbus councils in the state have generated enough funds to purchase 15,000 coats for local children through its Coats for Kids program, Peterinelli said.

Members from councils across Western Pennsylvania gathered Saturday morning in McCandless to pack meals for families in need.

More than 120 people have shown up to help pack meals in previous years, Richards said.

The Knights collaborated with nonprofit Cross Catholic Outreach to pack about 50,000 meals, 90% of which will go to families in Guatemala, Richards said. The remaining 10% will go to local food pantries.

The Western Pennsylvania Knights generate thousands of dollars in fundraising for charitable causes annually.

West Deer’s John F. Kennedy Council has raised $30,000 over 10 years for children and young adults with intellectual disabilities through the Bishop’s Project, Rudolph said. And, last year, councils across the state raised about $105,000 for the Special Olympics, Peterinelli said.

“Right now, we’re (about) helping your neighbors, helping the churches — helping whoever needs help,” Peterinelli said.

Membership shrinking

But some councils are struggling with membership.

When Rudolph joined the John F. Kennedy Council 15 years ago, there were about 120 members. The number is now half, Rudolph said.

“With young people, it seems like so many different activities that their children are involved in,” Rudolph said. “It’s hard to get men involved, because no matter what night of the week we choose for meetings, someone has something going on.”

The same was true for Borgony before he joined the Knights more than 25 years ago.

“I had other functions supporting my children,” Borgony said. “When they left to go to college and everything, I was looking for something to do. Nothing better than supporting your local church.”

This story was updated Monday to correct which council supports the Bishop’s Project.