Michael J. McGivney | |
|---|---|
 Fr. Michael J. McGivney, c. 1890 | |
| Born | Michael Joseph McGivney August 12, 1852 Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | August 14, 1890 (aged 38) Thomaston, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | October 31, 2020, Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Hartford, Connecticut, United States by Joseph Cardinal Tobin (on behalf of Pope Francis) |
| Major shrine | Church of Saint Mary, New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Feast | August 13 |
Michael Joseph McGivney (August 12, 1852 – August 14, 1890) was an American Catholic priest based in New Haven, Connecticut. He founded the Knights of Columbus at a local parish to serve as a mutual aid and insurance organization, particularly for immigrants and their families. It developed through the 20th century as the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization.
The cause for his canonization started in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1996; in March 2008, Pope Benedict XVI declared McGivney "Venerable" in recognition of his "heroic virtue".[1] On May 27, 2020, Pope Francis announced that McGivney had been approved for beatification, which officially occurred on October 31, 2020.[2]
- ^ "Knights of Columbus Founder Declared Venerable". Zenit.org. March 16, 2008. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Knights of Columbus founder Fr. Michael McGivney to be beatified". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved May 27, 2020.