The Knights of Columbus recognized Georgetown’s chapter as its Outstanding College Council of the year last Friday.
The Knights of Columbus — an international all-male Catholic fraternity with over 14,000 parish and community councils including more than 260 on college campuses — has origins on the Hilltop dating back to 1972. This was their third time receiving the distinction of best national council, which was bestowed at an annual gathering in Connecticut.
According to the group’s chancellor, Stephen Levy (SFS ’13), Georgetown’s council made it its goal last spring to achieve this recognition.
“I don’t think our guys were expecting it when they went up to Connecticut,” Levy, who is the deputy online editor of The Hoya, said. “So it was a really great surprise for the entire council.”
Georgetown’s chapter, which includes about 40 students, received the award for the demonstration of a strong commitment to community service, social justice activism and spiritual formation.
“We worked pretty hard to put on a lot of events for the Catholic community and for the Georgetown community at-large,” said group lecturer Kieran Raval (COL ’13). “So receiving this recognition definitely gave us a sense of accomplishment.”
In addition to holding a range of religious functions throughout the year, the Knights of Columbus have an active presence off campus.
“The Knights is a service-oriented fraternal organization, and one of our core principles is charity,” Raval explained.
One such program, run in conjunction with St. Paul’s Parrish on K Street, involves delivering breakfast to the homeless in D.C. The Knights also work with mentally ill criminals who are living in Virginia halfway houses and deliver donated diapers to underprivileged mothers in the District.
“Some people may think that the Catholic Church is in decline in the U.S.,” Levy acknowledged, “but looking at the college councils and the turnout we saw in Connecticut, it actually looks like the Knights are doing quite well and increasing members at the college level.”
