Raymond G. Bennett Council 7289 at 24 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 US - Our History - Learn more About Us
Our History - Learn more About Us
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Today, more than a century later, the Knights of Columbus has become the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church. Ninety-seven years later our Council came into existence. Shortly after Rev. D. J. Schiller was named Pastor of Holy Family Church he encouraged the formation of a Council of the Knights of Columbus. With the assistance of the Michael O'Connor Council of Beaufort, which had jurisdiction over Hilton Head Island, Raymond G Bennett Council 7289 was chartered on April 8, 1979. The chartered Knights were: R.L. Acuff, D. Ashdown, C.R. Bender, J.P. Brennan II, J.J. Burke, J.M. Capin, F.L. Drake, L.C. Duncan, C.A. Grant Jr, P.F. Hofmann, A.C. Hogge, F.H. Kelley, R.P. Kulzer, R. H. Lang, D.J. Mahaney Jr, L.J. McIivaine, J.E. Michaud, T.H. Mongan, E.J. O'Brien, T.S. O"Brien III, J.H. Palmer Jr, F.H. Peterson, C.J. Rumsey, Rev D.J. Schiller, C.BV. Sillery, E.W. Spengeman, C.J. Urato, J. Urato, H.J. Wilkins, J.S. Wysocki. Raymond G. Bennett, whom the Council was named after, was a retired US Navy Captian who selflessly served the parish - assuming the responsibility for a myriad of tasks. He earned the respect of his peers for his humility and demeanor. We are Catholic gentlemen committed to the exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defense of the priesthood. The Order is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Order is unequivocal in its loyalty to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. It is firmly committed to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defense of the family. It was on these bedrock principles that the Order was founded over a century ago and remains true to them today. If you want to join this great organization of Catholic men, we invite you and your family to our Regular Meeting on the first Saturday of each month, following our 5:00 PM Corporate Mass at Holy Family.. Our First Saturday meeting is social - normally a guest speaker on a topic of interest to our Council and our parish with a potluck meal enjoyed by all.