Knights of St Columba

Relevant for you and your family in Petts Wood

The Knights of St Columba is the largest Catholic men’s organisation in the UK and this year it is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its foundation in Glasgow in 1919. Here in Petts Wood, we are having a special recruitment drive for new members during May.

It is a fraternal organisation based on the three principles of Unity, Charity, and Fraternity to promote the spiritual, intellectual, and material welfare of its members and their families and the Catholic community in general. Its main aim is to help the clergy, raise money for charities, and support causes in the community. Last year we raised £1,000 for Samaritans here in the Petts Wood / Orpington area and £100,000 nationally, while this year we have been raising money for the Phoenix Centre for children on Bromley Common. We recently held a family social here at St James’, which was very well attended and enjoyed by all, especially the children. In the process £300 was raised for good causes. One of our Knights has recently completed a 40 mile bicycle ride in aid of the RNLI and St Michaels Hospice in Hastings. The Knights are also concerned with the work of Justice and Peace in this country and support various projects in the Third World in conjunction with CAFOD. At most of the great Catholic celebrations, for example the major pilgrimages at Aylesford, the Knights are called upon to provide stewarding duties so that processions and ceremonies are carried out with dignity.

The local Council of Knights for Petts Wood / Orpington is Council 327 and we have over 500 councils throughout the UK. We meet once a month on the third Monday of the month in St James’ Social Centre, Petts Wood and membership is open to any practising Catholic male over 18 years of age.

Come and join us in our work in the community and for the Catholic Church and you will receive a very warm welcome. If you are interested in joining, you can email the Deputy Grand Knight at St James' for more details.